December 15, Third Sunday of Advent
The Holy Eucharist, 8 a.m., Rite I
The Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m., Rite II
Fr. John Thorpe, officiating
Choir Rehearsal 9 a.m. | Child Care 9:45 a.m.
Church School Christmas Pageant Rehearsal 10 a.m.
Advent theme: Joy
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Worship notes
The Collect:
Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever.
Amen.
This week’s lessons: Isaiah 35:1-10; Psalm 146:4-9; James 5:7-10; Matthew 11:2-11
Epistle
Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8
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The Gospel | Matthew 11:2-11
When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. This is the one about whom it is written, ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
who will prepare your way before you.’
“Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”
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December 15 - 21
Sunday, 11:00 a.m., Greening of the church; return Christmas Offering forms
Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., Julian of Norwich Prayer Group
Looking Ahead
Sunday, December 22, Church School Christmas Pageant following the 10 a.m. service
Tuesday, December 24, Holy Eucharist and Children's Homily, 4 p.m.
Tuesday, December 24, Solemn High Eucharist of Christmas Eve, 10 p.m., preceded by a Carol Sing at 9:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 5, Father Thorpe's last Sunday at St. Andrew's; annual reports due
Sunday, January 19, Parish Annual Meeting
Saturday, February 15, Installation of Fr. Hankinson by Bishop Martins
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Highlights of Vestry Meeting, December 11
- Liz Edwards, Senior Warden, reported Fr. Hankinson arrives February 1 and will be installed Saturday, February 15, by Bishop Martins at St. Andrew's. A reception will follow the installation.
- The Search Committee was released from its duties and thanked for its service.
- A few parishioners, primarily vestry and clergy or ones whose email has appeared in a newsletter, have received scam emails recently that appear to have come from Fr. Hankinson, our new rector. Fr. Ben's correct email address is a gmail address that does not start with "TheRev." It will be shared in a future Sunday bulletin.
- The Parish Annual Meeting will be January 19 followed by a brunch potluck.
- Elections will be held for four vestry slots: three slots for three-year terms and one for one-year. Nominations, including self-nominations, are welcome now. Contact any vestry member.
- Ministry leaders are asked to submit their reports to the church office via email by January 5. Specific instructions will be sent to this group by December 18.
- Walt Bohn, Junior Warden, reported that a required boiler inspection will occur soon.
- A presentation on the cost of paving the gravel parking lot will be made at the meeting.
- Fr. Thorpe's last Sunday will be January 5. He is thanked for his excellent support to the parish at this time.
- Communications Chair Marian Smithson reported the newsletter continues to be well received with an average open rate of 68%. The recent announcement of Fr. Hankinson's arrival was opened at 77% rate. During the past year, over twelve thousand emails have been sent.
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Christmas Offering Forms Due by December 15!
To make a special offering at Christmas please click
here
and complete the form so that your gift can be acknowledged in the Christmas Eve service bulletin. Thank you for placing your gift in the offering plate on Sunday, December 15.
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December 15 Greening of the Church
Come one, come all to the greening of the church this Sunday after the 10 a.m. service. Members of the Flower Guild will provide direction to all willing helpers as St. Andrew’s prepares for the season of Christmas.
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Children’s Christmas Pageant December 22
The Church School children are hard at work preparing for the not-to-be missed December 22 performance, following the ten o'clock service!
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A Footnote to Ellen Barrett's Story
The Rev. Paul Moore, who as Bishop of New York ordained Ellen Barrett, had been a candidate in 1962 for the episcopacy of our own diocese to succeed the Rt. Rev. Charles Asa Clough (1948-1961). Moore, then Dean of Christ Church Cathedral in Indianapolis, was pitted against the Rev. Walter Klein, Dean of Nashotah House.
The clergy supported Klein, while the laity favored Moore, a personable and handsome hero of World War II and a liberal activist. The election deadlocked and was recessed for six months. When it reconvened, the Rev. Albert A. Chambers, rector of the Church of the Resurrection in New York City and a theological conservative, was elected on the first ballot and served until 1972.
In the same year that Chambers stepped down as Bishop of Springfield and would later vigorously oppose the ordination of women, Moore was consecrated Bishop of New York and would later ordain a lesbian, Ellen Barret. They personified a division within the Episcopal Church that would only deepen.
-Jim Weingartner
Thanks to Kevin Babb for supplying some of this information.
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A Night to Celebrate!
Members of Troop 816, most in their vests, gathered, recently to celebrate Awards Night. St. Andrew’s is delighted to host them each month, and the Outreach Ministry appreciates their contributions to the Scarf Project.
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Parish Annual Meeting, January 19
Mark your calendar for January 19 when we will meet as a parish for the annual meeting.
Ministry and committee leaders should plan to submit their reports by January 5 via email. Detailed instructions regarding reports will be sent to ministry leaders January 18. The annual meeting booklet will be prepared by the church office.
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Elections
Three slots for three-year terms will be elected at the annual meeting plus one slot for one-year. Contact any vestry member if you are interested in running for election.
Coffee Hour in 2020
A sign-up sheet for 2020 is now on the bulletin board near the entrance to the parish hall.
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The St. Andrew's Week-End Update
, a weekly emailed newsletter, is designed to keep parishioners up to date on church activities. Please send news items to Jane Weingartner by 11 a.m. on Tuesday to have them appear in the following Friday's newsletter.
Newsletter Editor Jane Weingartner
Newsletter & Bulletin Editor Marianne Cavanaugh
Newsletter Design Editor, Marian Smithson
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S
t. Andrew's Episcopal Church
406 Hillsboro Avenue Edwardsville, Illinois
618-656-129
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