December 8, Second 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: Peace
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Worship notes
The Collect:
Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.
Amen.
This week’s lessons: Isaiah 11:1-10; Psalm 72:1-4, 18-19; Romans 15:4-13; Matthew 3:1-12
Epistle
Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Romans 15:4-6
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The Gospel
Matthew 3:1-12
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’”
Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance. Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
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The week of December 8
Sunday, 5:00 p.m., Advent Lessons and Carols Service
Tuesday, 10:00 a.m., Julian of Norwich Prayer Group
Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., Charlie’s Lunch Bunch, Sugo’s
Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Vestry Meeting
Thursday, 6:00 p.m., ECW Christmas Party, Bella Milano
Looking Ahead
Sunday, December 15, return Christmas Offering forms; greening of the church
Sunday, December 22, Church School Christmas Pageant following the 11 p.m. service
Tuesday, December 24, Christmas Eve Services at 4 and 10 p.m.
Sunday, January 5, Father Thorpe's last Sunday at St. Andrew's; annual reports due
Sunday, January 19, Parish Annual Meeting
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Advent Lessons and Carols, December 8 at 5 p.m.
Plan to attend this beautiful service on December 8 and bring a friend. It will include readings, hymns and anthems sung by St. Andrew’s Choir to celebrate the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. A reception in Pearson Hall follows the service. ECW will provide sandwiches, and the parish is asked to bring appetizers, desserts or finger foods.
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Angel Tree Gifts Due Sunday, December 8
Angel Tree gifts will be distributed to our families in need during the week of December 9. Please be sure to bring your Angel Tree gifts to church on or by this coming Sunday with the appropriate Angel attached to each package. Thanks to all who have generously supported this Outreach project!
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ECW Christmas Party December 12 at 6 p.m.
‘Tis the season for the ECW Christmas party, featuring delicious food at Bella Milano, good fellowship, and Mary Jane’s imaginative games. All women of the parish are invited to this gathering. By December 8, email your RSVP to
Nancy Dickens
or call her at 695-9036.
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Return Your Christmas Offering Form by December 15!
Parishioners are encouraged to submit their Christmas offerings early so that they can be acknowledged in the Christmas Eve service bulletin. Click
here
for the offering form; the forms will also be available on the table near the first floor elevator. Please return the form with your offering on or before Sunday, December 15.
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Greening of the Church on December 15!
The Flower Guild will be greening the church on Sunday, December 15, following the ten o'clock service. All parishioners are welcome to assist them in this joyful activity!
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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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Ellen Barrett
Published in the March 1977 issue of
The Illinois Churchman
(as the magazine of our diocese was formerly entitled) is a resolution of the diocesan council. At the end of a list of nine “whereases” and a wordy “Be it Resolved that” is the essence of the resolution: “We recognize the call of our Lord to love all mankind and do in the spirit of that love PROTEST THE ORDINATION OF ELLEN BARRETT TO THE PRIESTHOOD BY THE Rt. Rev. Paul Moore.”
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Ellen Marie Barrett was a lesbian. Born in Lawrence, Kansas in 1946, she was educated at New York University and the General Theological Seminary in New York City. Open about her sexual orientation, she was a charter member and co-president of Integrity, an organization formed to promote the full participation of gays and bisexuals in the Episcopal Church. Barrett had adopted Rosa Parks, whom she thought as applicable to her cause as to that of civil rights, as a model. She noted, “I remember Mrs. Parks’ answer about why she sat down that day on that bus: ‘I don’t know, just tired I guess.’ Yes, tired….Tired of being second-class…defective by nature. Tired of being told that the omnipotent God can’t call me to the priesthood.”
Barrett’s ordination followed shortly after the General Convention of 1976 had approved the calling of women to the priesthood. That pill had been difficult enough for conservatives to swallow, but the Barrett ordination resulted in the sounds of clerical gagging in our diocese and elsewhere. Presiding Bishop John M. Allin issued an ambiguous statement calling upon Episcopalians to “persevere in seeking to understand the complexities surrounding sexuality and the priesthood.”
Those “complexities” were well embodied in the Rt. Rev. Paul Moore, Bishop of New York who, in addition to having ordained Mother Barrett, had numerous bi-sexual affairs while fathering nine children with his long-suffering first wife. He died in 2003, lauded
for his support of liberal causes, one of which was the ordination of Barrett. Fifteen years later, he was branded a “serial sexual predator” by Bishop Andrew Dietsche, the current Episcopal Bishop of New York. Complexities indeed! (
Click here to continue
the story of Ellen Barrett by Jim Weingartner.)
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Lights… Camera… Action!
A scene from an upcoming short film was shot during the Thanksgiving break at St. Andrew’s. The filmmakers expressed their gratitude to St. Andrew's for permission to shoot a brief moment from
The Final Act
in our sanctuary. Added bonus: the movie co-stars our own Ian Smith! (He gave the eulogy for another character.) We’ll be sure to let everyone know when the movie is released. Several pictures of the cast at work can be viewed by clicking
here
.
-Elizabeth Donald
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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. Further instructions regarding reports will be available after this week's vestry meeting.
2020 Vestry Election
The vestry will determine the number and length of vestry positions which will be open in 2020 at their upcoming meeting on December 11 and a notice regarding the election will be mailed by December 18. Interested candidates should speak with Senior Warden Liz Edwards or members of the vestry.
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Coffee Hour
To all who signed up for one or more Sundays in 2019, a great big Thank You!
A sign-up sheet for 2020 Coffee Hours is posted on the bulletin board next to the women's restroom. Sign up now to get the dates that work best for you!
Scarf Project
If you have gently used or new hats, scarves, gloves, mittens, shawls, throws, afghans, blankets or socks to donate, there is a collection box in the coat room. Contacts: Diane Dudding/Mary Bohn
Shop Scrip
Support Outreach ministries while paying for gas, groceries or holiday gifts. Visit the scrip table after services to see the variety of available cards.
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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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