Christmas Services of Holy Eucharist

@ St. Francis-in-the-Fields

 

December 24 - Christmas Eve

 5:00 PM - A child-friendly service with bells, gifts and a special sermon for our young guests.

10:00 PM - A traditional, solemn Mass with a more contemplative tone.

December 25 - Christmas Day

9:00 AM - A simple service of Holy Eucharist in the solitude of  Christmas Morning.

December 30 - The First Sunday of Christmas

8:00 AM - Holy Eucharist

10:00 AM - Holy Eucharist with Lessons and Carols

 

 

What Are We Waiting For?

 

We Americans aren't fond of waiting. Practically speaking, very little of what we need or want takes more than a few hours, at most, to obtain. If Wegmans doesn't stock my favorite yogurt, I can find it at Giant or Acme. Rushed at lunch? I can skip the lines at Wawa and order that hoagie through an app on my phone. Need a song for the big dance? I can download it in an instant from any number of vendors. And what about that lime-green shag throw pillow? Yes, I can have that, too - shipped in two days from a distant warehouse from the website of you-know-who. Just one day, if I'm willing to pay.

That's our life. A life without waiting. And if heaven forbid we have to wait at all, we have a hundred ways to be "productive", or at the very least numb the pain.

 

But "waiting" has a deep history in the scriptures, among the people of God. It's born of the longing for restoration and renewal. God's broken people, scattered or enslaved, waited for the day when God would vindicate them. Over and over again they waited: In Egypt under Pharoah, during the time of the Judges, in captivity in Babylon, under oppression from Rome. No one could press a button, enter a code and satisfy the longing. Only God could come and save his people. So hope and expectation became the brushes of faith, and waiting became an art. The language of faithful anticipation saturated the prayers of the Psalmist:

Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD. Psalm 27:14
I wait for the LORD and keep His way, And He will exalt you to inherit the land; When the wicked are cut off, you will see it. for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul wai
I wait for the LORD, my soul does wait, And in His word do I hope . Psalm 130:5
 

Advent is a season designed to teach us to wait. But rather than whipping out our cell phones to pass the time, this beautiful, liturgical gift admonishes us to wait on the Lord; to direct our gaze to the God who loves and delivers his people.

This Advent, I'm personally committing to learning again what it means to wait on God; to have hopes and expectations that only God can fulfill, and that don't come neatly packaged in two days time. Personal struggles. Fires and floods. Wars and rumors of wars. Weary migrants waiting at the border.

There is no end to the ways we can call on God. In times of darkness, the world needs people who practice the long, lost art of Holy Waiting. It's only a matter of asking. What are we waiting for?

                 

St. Francis-in-the-Fields will be brimming with preparation and celebration during the Advent and Christmas seasons. The Invite-Welcome-Connect Committee encourages you to share news about upcoming events on Facebook by liking and following the St. Francis Facebook page or sharing the posts on your own page. Invite friends to join us for the Cookie Walk on Dec. 1 from 9 - 11 a.m., Las Posadas on Dec. 16 at 6 p.m., Christmas Eve Services at 5 and 10 p.m., and Christmas Service at 9 a.m. Use social media to spread the word about our lovely church home during this festive season.

 

IWC also reminds all parishioners to wear your nametag every Sunday, making it easier to warmly welcome newcomers and existing parishioners alike.

   Monday, December 24

   Tuesday, December 25

   Wednesday, December 26 

 

When submitting blurbs for the insert in the Sunday leaflet, please keep them short and to the point, preferably four lines or less. This helps make room for other announcements. Full-length announcements can be posted in the weekly Parish News that is emailed on Fridays, and the monthly newsletter.  Thank you for your cooperation with this request.

The Rector's Study on spirituality continues on Tuesday, December 4 at 3:30 p.m. with a look at the topic of "Practice as a Virtue". All are welcome!

 

Brown Bag Lunch

We welcome Emma Koontz and Robin Meixner from Friends Association for Care and Protection of Children Info to the Brown Bag Lunch on Tuesday, December 4 from Noon - 1PM.  

 

Emma and Robin will share information about the organization, homelessness in Chester County and how the organization is working to strengthen the lives of these families. This being the Christmas season our theme will be "focusing on family homelessness".

 

For over a century, Friends Association has provided essential social services for children and families. Their programs, which have changed over time in response to the needs of those they serve and the needs of the community, currently focus on homeless or near homeless families with children. They operate one of only three family shelters in Chester County and one of the few homeless prevention programs in the region.  

 

The organization's mission is to strengthen our community by helping the families we serve find or maintain permanent housing and achieve stability and self-sufficiency.

 

Chester County is one of the wealthiest counties in Pennsylvania, yet on any given day; approximately 684 persons experience homelessness. The causes of homelessness vary among individuals and families, but one of the many factors that contributes to homelessness is the lack of affordable housing.

 

To help children and families celebrate the Christmas season, the Brown Bag Lunch Ministry will be donating gift cards for $5, $10 or $15 (or other amounts) from Giant and Acme supermarkets or Wawa. We also welcome and appreciate gift card donations from anyone else who wish to contribute. Please contact Shirley Warren at [email protected]

 

Thank you in advance for making the Christmas season a little brighter for these families. We look forward to seeing you on Tuesday, December 4 at noon.

Tuesday, December 11, 2018 at 7 PM

 

Alternative Christmas charity gift cards will be available for gifts on Dec. 9, 16 and 23 between services and after the 10:00. 

 

Las Posadas follows Mary and Joseph on a musical journey through the streets of the city looking for a place suitable for Jesus' birth. Rejected three times, the wandering couple is finally welcomed and those gathered on the journey celebrate with feasting and fellowship!  

 

It's going to be a fun evening, and a new way for many to experience this wonderful story. Everyone gets to play a part! Volunteers are especially needed for the following:

 

(Las Posadas, cont.) The journey begins outside (but the party is inside), so dress warmly! Everyone is encouraged to bring a donation of diapers and/or baby wipes to be donated to the West Chester Food Cupboard. For questions and volunteering, contact Fr. Kevin.

 

 

The Vestry are proposing to make some minor updates to the By-Laws to make them consistent with current practice.   The by-laws with the proposed changes are posted on the bulletin board in the Narthex.  The Vestry will vote on them at their December 11 meeting.  Any questions should be directed to the Rector or Rector's Warden

 

 

 

After 16 years, Kate Burkholder returns to Painters Mill, Ohio as Chief of Police.  Her Amish roots and big city law enforcement background make her the perfect candidate for this position. When the first body is discovered in a snowy field Kate vows to stop the killer before he strikes again. But to do so, she must betray both her family and her Amish past

Our Annual Parish Meeting and Vestry Election will be held on Sunday, January 27, after worship. One service of Holy Eucharist will be held that morning at 9:00 a.m. The state of the parish, ministries report and other presentations will be made.

 

The deadline for committee reports is Friday, January 11. ALL reports are due to the office that day or they will not be included in the Annual Report. Please respect the deadline!!

Want to get personally involved?  If you are over the age of 18 and want to donate your time and talent to the 100% volunteer team at the West Chester Food Cupboard, please email Charlotte Cain at [email protected].

 

Money and food is welcome too, because no one should go hungry.

 

Thank you!

 

610-344-3175

 

431 S. Bolmar Street, West Chester, PA  19382

Did you know that you can dedicate the Sunday Altar Flowers in honor of a friend or family member, in remembrance of a loved one, or for some other special recognition? Altar Flower dedications are just $50.00, and helps provide a fresh arrangement each week. The form for dedicating Altar Flowers can be found on our parish website at: https://stfrancisfields.com/wp-content/uploads/Altar-Flowers-Dedication-form.jpg

Sunday Lessons  

If you would like to read the lessons for Sunday, click on the link below. 

Monday, December 17!

For the calendar of events, please click the link below to the website.

St. Francis-in-the-Fields Calendar