December 6, 2018
Important Links
A Note from our Rector
Greetings beloved St. Georgians,

I wish you all a blessed Advent. For many of us the time seems to quicken as we get closer and closer to Christmas. I came across this simple Advent practice calendar which I commend to you to help us slow down a bit. It is part of the Episcopal Church’s “Way of Love” program. You can learn more about the “Way of Love” also through the Episcopal Church website. 

This second Sunday in Advent, we will gather our parish family at a combined service and annual meeting at 10:00 a.m. We are shortening the “meeting,” so that the primary agenda item is the vestry election, in which we pray first for God’s help in discerning which four people are called to serve in the next class of our leadership board. The vestry election is not about who is most “qualified” or well-known. It is rightly about discerning whom God is calling to offer their gifts for this time in the life of our parish. You can learn more about the candidates here, and there is a short video in which you can hear them introduce themselves included below. We are blessed with seven wonderful people who are willing to serve. To step forward knowing that they might not be selected requires courage and vulnerability. Please keep this whole process and these parish family members in your prayers.

Voting in the vestry election is on the honor system. By church law, eligible voters are active, registered “communicants” of St. George’s, age 16 or above. This means being regular in worship attendance and giving and being registered with our church office. If you are not sure if you are registered, please contact the church office. 

Regardless of the voting, everyone is welcome, as usual, at the service/meeting on Sunday. This includes the children, as always (and both children’s choirs are singing!). We are offering children an optional short break in the middle of the service during the brief reports after “the peace.” This will help them stretch and help their adults to be able to focus on the words from our vestry wardens, treasurer, and 300th anniversary commission. The kids will have their own short meeting during that time with our children’s and youth formation director, Hecti Musa. There will be special materials for them to look at in the children’s packets as well. 

Please help us spread the word among parishioners about the 10:00 a.m. service so we all come at the right time (a call, text or social media post to friends perhaps?). Assure those who are wary of the meeting that the business will be brief. I hope folks can stay afterwards to visit at coffee hour (and check out the ECW gift baskets and Haiti crafts). Thank you for your help. 

By the way, today, Dec. 6, is the Feast of Nicholas of Myra, often referred to as St. Nicholas. We might take a minute to learn a bit about this Advent saint and practice kindness in his memory.

Please see the announcement below about the Micah churches Advent devotion and lunch next Tuesday at the Micah Cafe. It is an opportunity to gather with our downtown neighbors to mark this season. I will be sharing a devotion on being “magnifiers of the light,” based on the sermon I gave last Sunday at Shiloh Baptist (New Site). That celebration with our combined choirs was also a wonderful time of experiencing the Holy Spirit with our neighbors in this season of waiting.

Your rector and brother in Christ,
Joe+ 
   
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Video of the Week: Hello from the Candidates
Here's your chance to put a face with the name in this short video.
Click here to get to know our candidates better by reading their bios.
Adult Christian Education
Adult Christian Education Offerings Sunday at 10 a.m.:

There is no Christian Formation this Sunday due to our Annual Parish Meeting and combined worship service at 10 a.m.
This Week at St. George's
PARISH ANNUAL MEETING AND VESTRY ELECTION
This Sunday at 10 a.m. we will celebrate our blessings of the past year and look ahead to 2019. There will be a 10 a.m. service during which the Annual Meeting and voting will occur. See the vestry candidate profiles on our website or printed in the tract rack in the narthex.

ART SHOW FEATURING ARTISTS OF MICAH CHURCHES
Fredericksburg Baptist Church will host a First Friday art show in their welcome center during December. Artists are welcome to bring pieces to their office the week of December 3, and by Thursday, December 6. Just include your name and phone number on the back of the piece. And medium is welcome and pieces do not have to be framed. All are invited to see the art at an open house from 5:30 - 8 p.m. on Friday, December 7.

GIVING TREE
Thank you to all who picked up tags and bought gifts for the Giving Tree! This year, we bought gifts for 36 unaccompanied minors and Habitat for Humanity youth. Please return gifts by Dec. 9 (this Sunday). Directions on the tag note whether the gift needs to be wrapped or left unwrapped. 

HAITIAN CRAFTS FOR SALE
The Haiti Team brought back many items from their recent trip and will be selling Haitian crafts after the 10 a.m. service during the coffee hour in Sydnor Hall on this Sunday. 

ECW SILENT AUCTION
The Avis Harris Chapter’s silent auction concludes this Sunday! Come bid on fun themed baskets after the morning services such as: martini, horse-lovers, kitchen, and more! Proceeds go towards funding ECW grants.
Youth News and Events
REGISTER NOW: WINTER RETREAT
The annual Youth Winter Retreat is 1/19-1/21 at Shrine Mont with optional skiing at nearby Bryce Resort. Other winter activities are available as well. Registration is now open online. Space is limited and expected to go quickly for this fun and popular event. Price is $155 and the deposit of $100 holds your space. 

GLORY RIDGE
We will be heading to Glory Ridge June 30 - July 6, 2019. Please mark your calendar so you don't miss out! The trip is open to rising 8th graders through graduating seniors.

News and Announcements
2019 PLEDGE UPDATE
We only need $120,324 to fully fund our 2019 budget. So far, we’ve received a total of 372 responses - which is 63% of our pledge database. Additional or increased pledges will help us fund our ministry goals.

NAMETAGS
Please wear your nametags as we prepare to welcome guests this Advent and Christmas season. Contact Jan in the office if you need one.

CHIME CHOIR
Children grades 3 - 8 are invited to join our Chime Choir! Rehearsals are Mon. from 4:30 - 5:15 p.m. in McGuire beginning Jan. 7. Contact Lisa Bogardus for more information. 

FLIGHT BOIIS IN CONCERT
On Dec. 22 at 7 p.m. at The Recreation Center (213 William St.) our friends the Flight Boiis will perform a family-friendly concert with Ashleigh Chevalier. Tickets are $5 with proceeds benefiting The Table.

WORSHIP LEADER PRACTICE
All Sunday Servers - especially those serving on Christmas Eve - are invited to a practice session on Sat., Dec. 15 at 11 a.m.

GERMANNA INGATHERING
There is a food pantry for use by students at Germanna Community college. Currently they are in need of toiletries, feminine products, men's and women's packaged underwear, and socks. If you would like to contribute towards this effort, please leave your donation in the box located in the narthex. Please contact The Rev. David Casey for more information.  

DISASTER RESPONSE PLANNING GROUP
St. George’s World Mission Commission would like to form a planning group or team to brainstorm how we at St. George’s might position ourselves to better respond to natural disasters. In the last two hurricane seasons, parts of the United States have been devastated by hurricanes. The World Mission Commission would like to be able to quickly respond to such when needed so we invite your input. If you feel called to be part of this new effort, please contact Bob Miller.

MICAH CHURCHES PRAYER SERVICE AND LUNCH
The Micah Churches are planning a join prayer service and lunch on December 12. Join us at 11:30 a.m. at the Micah Cafe! Our rector, Joe Hensley, will give a brief devotion. The Micah Café is located at Fredericksburg Baptist Church Annex, 1016 Caroline St. It offers lunch to anyone, regardless of ability to pay. Donations are encouraged as you are able.

CHRISTMAS GIVING
It’s time to start thinking about your Christmas memorials and thanksgivings! You can donate Christmas Greens or give to one of St. George’s funds for the holidays. Donation forms are available in the narthex or online. To be printed in the Christmas bulletin, donations are due to the church office by Dec. 14.

CHRISTMAS PAGEANT REHEARSAL
Saturday, Dec. 22, 2 p.m., meet in Sydnor Hall, kids currently 3 years old through 5th grade will be able to learn our simple play. Parts and costumes will be given out. The Pageant is part of our 4 p.m. Christmas Eve worship service.

SOUND TECHNICIANS NEEDED
We are looking for volunteers to help adjust our sound system as needed during Sunday services. If interested, contact the office.

HELP OUT THE TABLE AND COMMUNITY DINNER
Our produce team needs adult and teen volunteers on Sunday afternoons from 2:30 - 4 p.m. to meet and unload the fresh produce from the farm truck. Crates can weigh up to 40 lbs., so a little muscle helps. 3rd Monday of the month Community Dinners need to update their list of volunteers. If you are able to come serve, clean up, wash dishes between 4:30 to 7 p.m., please let us know. For both - Contact Grace in Action to get involved.

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
If you are interested in volunteering with our children’s or youth formation, please contact Hecti Musa ( hector.musa@stgeorgesepiscopal.net).

CHAMBER SERIES CONCERT
Join us on Sunday, December 16 at 3 p.m. for a free concert by Hazel Run.
Christmas Worship Schedule
Please plan to join us as we celebrate Christmas! 
Monday, Dec. 24:
  • Family Service with Pageant at 4 p.m.
  • Jazz Eucharist at 7:30 p.m. music begins at 7 p.m.
  • Choral Eucharist at 11 p.m. music begins at 10:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Dec. 25:
  • Christmas Day Eucharist at 11:15 a.m.
Sunday, Dec. 30:
  • Holy Eucharist, Rite I at 7:45 a.m.
  • Lessons and Carols at 10 a.m.
  • Celtic Evensong + Communion at 5:30 p.m.
St. George's Episcopal Church | 540-373-4133 | office@stgeorgesepiscopal.net |
www.stgeorgesepiscopal.net