St. Matthew's Messenger

This Week At St. Matthew's
Sunday, December 2, 2018
The First Sunday of Advent
First Sunday of Advent

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist

9:00 a.m. Breakfast

9:30 a.m. Sunday School and
Christian Education

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist



READINGS FOR THIS SUNDAY :
are found here . Year C  

    Adult Christian Education

Connecting Through Holiday Traditions
10/ 28: 11/ 4, 11; 12/ 2, 9, 16


Advent At St. Matthew's


PRAYER BOOK CLASSES
WITH MOTHER LIZ 
AND HYMNAL CLASSES WITH KYLE
This Sunday and Next, 9:30 a.m.
As many of you know from previous Sunday announcements, instead of having a comprehensive printed bulletin, we will be using the 1979 Book of Common Prayer for our worship during the four Sundays in Advent, and we will also be referring music to the 1982 Hymnal. However, we also  realize that for some, they have not used the Book of Common Prayer. For others, it’s been awhile since they used these books. 
So on this Sunday (Dec. 2) and next Sunday (Dec. 9), there will be classes on the prayer book with Mother Liz in her office, starting at 9:30 . For those who want to understand the 1982 hymnal better (just what does that “S” in front of the number mean, anyway/), Kyle will be available in the sanctuary beginning at 9:30 to cover use of the hymnal.  You can do one Sunday on the prayer book, and one Sunday on the hymnal. 
Musings from Mother Liz

Dear Beloved, Advent is upon us! What is known in the world as the Christmas Shopping Season has an almost opposite meaning in the Church. Rather than the busyness that inevitably comes with this month before Christmas, Advent invites us to slow down and reflect on the miracle that gave us the reason for Christmas: God chose to become incarnate and dwell with us in the Person of his Son Jesus Christ. Last Sunday, we finished Year B with acknowledgement of Christ as King. This Sunday, we begin the story again, but told through the voice of St Luke.  

It is my favorite season, and I think I put more emphasis on the first Sunday of Advent than January 1st as the start of a new year. That’s because this time in the church calendar invites us into a season of hope – hope that counters the encroaching darkness of winter; hope that tells us that as difficult as things may be, the resiliency and persistence of God in Christ to bring light into that darkness perdures (endures). 

I mark time using an Advent wreath at home that I light as I begin evening prayers. There is something about the light of those candles as the day goes dark and cold that is meaningful to me. I keep the wreath lit through the reciting of the Phos hilaron (BCP 118), so that the candles might last the whole season of Advent. The lighting of the wreath and the praying of the Evening Office settles my heart and mind for the evening. All the stress of the day fades as I consider the miracle of God’s love in the gift of his Son.

Last year, I put together a list of readings materials that are good to mark the season. If you would like a copy of the list, send me an email and I will send it to you. This year, I would like to share a couple of websites that will have Advent meditations on line. The first is from my seminary in Austin, the Seminary of the Southwest. The link can be found here:  https://ssw.edu/blog/advent-meditation-sunday-december

If you click on the link, on the right side you will see a place where you can enter your email to sign up.
The other link is from Virginia Theological Seminary. The link can be found here:

There may be other places on-line, but these are two good ones with which to start.
I pray that you are able to set a side time for prayer, or reflection, or just time to be quiet, so that you are able to prepare your heart for God’s gift to us at Christmas: Emmanuel, God with us.  

Advent Blessings,
Liz+




THE SYMBOLISM OF THE COLORS OF THE ADVENT FLOWERS
By Beth DiGiovanni
Advent, the start of a new year for the church, begins four Sundays before Christmas. During this season, we wait, prepare, reflect, and watch hopefully for the coming of God through Jesus in the real world- a world filled with good and bad, happiness and sorrow. Advent is the time for us to celebrate “God with us,” which is the literal translation of “Emmanuel.” The colors of Advent are either purple symbolizing suffering, repentance, Christ’s royalty, and the connection between the birth and death of Jesus, or dark blue, like a predawn winter sky before the sun rises and the light of Christ comes, symbolizing expectation, the hope of faith, heaven and the Virgin Mary.

The altar flowers for Advent reflect the darkness before Christ and get lighter each Sunday. Click the link below for a guide for the Advent altar flowers.

The Advent Wreath: A Home Tradition

The season of expectation, called Advent, is upon us. Advent begins the fourth Sunday before Christmas and marks the start of a new liturgical year. This new year, which we begin on this Sunday, is noted as Year C, and our gospel focus moves from the Gospel of Mark (Year B), to the Gospel of Luke. 
 
The four Sundays of Advent are also commemorated by the lighting of the Advent Wreath. According to information provided on Wikipedia, the concept of the Advent Wreath originated with the Lutherans during the 16th century. It was a way to mark time from the first Sunday of Advent to Christmas. The original Advent wreath had 20 small red and four large white candles. A small candle was lit successively on weekdays and Saturdays and on Sunday a large white candle was lit. The use of the wreath changed to marking only the four Sundays in Advent, and some churches added a fifth white candle in the center, which was lit on Christmas. The Roman Catholic Church in Germany adopted the custom in the 1920’s and it spread to the United States sometime in the 1930’s.




ST. MATTHEW'S CHRISTMAS PAGEANT!!

4:00 p.m. December 24
at the
Family Christmas Eve Service


We still have space for kids who would prefer to have a group part (animal, angel, etc) and would love to have them involved. 

We are especially looking for parents, older youth and other adults to assist with dress   rehearsal and pageant help to make this a success.. We especially need help on the 23rd and 24th to help things go smoothly. We would really like this to be a parish-wide effort to tell the story of the birth of our Savior! Rehearsals are every Sunday in December from 2-5 p.m.


Any questions, please contact Karen at karen@stmatthewssnellville.org  or at 770) 979-4210, ext 200.
Advent Opportunities For Engagement
OUTREACH -- CHRISTMAS

1. Glimmers of Hope, SE Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry

We are collecting $25.00 gift cards from Walmart and Target . through November 30 th . If you have cards you have not yet brought in, please bring them to the church office ASAP , or give them to Cheryl Wheeler or Dottie Merrifield.  
 
2. Mending the Gap, Inc. Seniors Ministry
Mending the Gap will be delivering gifts to 400 Grandmas and Grandpas this Christmas. We will be collecting items to help them. If you have taken tags from the donation board and have not yet returned your gift items, please bring them to the church this weekend.. All donated items will need to be returned no later than December 2 nd . There will be bins in the old narthex for your donations. If you have any questions, please contact Becky Olbon.

To find out more about the Southeast Gwinnett Cooperative Ministry click here:

To find out more about Mending the Gap, Inc, go to www.mending-the-gap.org
ECW CHRISTMAS POTLUCK
COME JOIN THE FUN!

Ham and drinks will be provided. 
Bring your favorite side or dessert.
Contact Nancy Drury to her her know what you will be bringing, please or call her at
678-779-3482. 

Instead of doing an ornament exchange this year, we will be collecting socks and lotions for the homeless. Please bring a pair or two of athletic socks and/or any kind of lotion : hand, body, foot, face, etc. All will be donated to Outreach for organizations they are currently working with. Hope to see you there!

All women of the church are members of ECW (Episcopal Church Women) and are invited to attend this fun holiday event.



ECW ANNUAL CHRISTMAS PARTY
POT LUCK
Monday December 3rd. 6:30-8:30.


ST. MATTHEW'S PRESCHOOL
Great Christmas Gift Ideas!
Scholastic Book Fair
Tuesday - Friday December 4 - 7
9 a.m. - 2:00 p.m.
in the parish hall
Proceeds benefit the preschool
SANTA / ST. NICK BREAKFAST 
Saturday, December 8
9:00—10:30 a.m.
Pancake Bar, Ornament Craft,
Photo w/Santa, Story Time
Tickets at the door:
1y-Grade 5—$4, Adults $5, Family $20
Everyone welcome—bring your neighbors and friends!

All proceeds benefit the St. Matt's nursery for supplies and toys/books

LUNCH BUNCH
Thursday, December 13, 2018
12 noon
Always Fresh Restaurant
5394 Five Forks Rd Lilburn, GA

A monthly gathering for fellowship and conversation. Bring a friend!
Please let Gini Peterson know you will attend. ginireid@bellsouth.net
 
December 16 th
5:30 p.m.
St. Matthew's Sanctuary

Nursery provided for children through age 6.
Festival of Lessons & Carols
The Sanctuary and Handbell Choirs will present a Festival of Lessons and Carols modeled after the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols of King’s College, Cambridge. The Lessons and Carols Order was originally conceived by E. W. Benson the first bishop of Truro, later Archbishop of Canterbury, for Christmas Eve 1880. In 1918, Eric Milner-White, Dean of King’s College, adapted the Order of E.W. Benson for use on Christmas Eve at King’s College.
Musical selections will include favorite carols, anthems and readings of the season that celebrate the birth of Christ. The prelude will begin at 5:15pm.
GUYS NIGHT OUT -- TRIVIA!
Wednesday, December 19
7:00 .m.
All men of the parish are invited to come play trivia on the third Wednesday of every month at
Mellow Mushroom Pizza Restaurant
2000 Main Street East, Snellville GA

Bring a friend!
Contact Levi Livermont for more intormation or to let him know you'll be there.
Around St. Matt's
YOUTH GROUP meets Sundays at 6:00 p.m . in the Undercroft. ALL youth of the parish 6th - 12th grades are invited to be a part of this exciting year. For more information, contact Holly Bond or Amanda Livermont.

DIVE BIBLE STUDY FOR HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH meets Wednesday evenings at 6:00 p.m. in Mother Liz's office. For more information on this dynamic Bible study please contact Mother Liz or Amanda Livermont..
THE STEPHEN MINISTRY CORNER

What a Stephen Minister is Equipped To Do

While much has been written about a Stephen Minister’s role, and additional info is available on the St. Matthew's website or from stephenministries.org , many people do not get the whole picture of what a Stephen Minister is equipped to do.


"Other Than Sunday" Offerings During the Week

Click the Icons below for more info:

Wednesdays With the Word


CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
Friday December 21 -- 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve & Christmas Day December 24 - CLOSED
Wed December 26 - Fri Dec 28 December 25 - CLOSED

NEW YEAR'S HOLIDAY
Monday December 31 -- 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
New Year's Day -- CLOSED

PLEASE NOTE that For pledges and financial gifts to be included in the 2018 charitable giving,   contributions must be received by Sunday, December 30, 2018 so they can be deposited by year end. Thanks.  
Events and Serving Schedules
SERMON ON THE AMOUNT - OCTOBER 2018
St.Matthew's Episcopal Church | P770-979=4210 | stmatts@bellsouth.net | itsthepeople.org