|
Dear Friends in Christ,
“We punch above our weight.”
My colleague Nate had this to say at the Stewardship Dinner last week. As you may have gathered, he was comparing Incarnation to a boxer who packs a punch just as powerful as someone in a heavier weight class. In other words, our level of ministry activity – from worship services to formation opportunities, to engagement in outreach and fellowship – is on par with churches much larger than we are. We punch above our weight.
This is especially true during the holidays. From transcendent worship with a choir of angels to the infectious joy of toddler sheep in the Christmas Pageant, our communal life embraces all the festivities of the season. The Incarnation Christmas Fair is back for the first time since Covid – Hallelujah! – and we have opportunities for service and spiritual reflection.
But first, a word about the spectacular music we have in store for Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 11, at 5:00 p.m.
|
|
From the Interim Director of Music |
|
Lessons and Carols at Incarnation celebrates with the ethereal sounds of harp and movements from the Britten Ceremony of Carols to great waves of sound from a brass quartet, to the rousing and mesmeric finale from the Vierne First Symphony, to Bach’s sublime “Saviour of the Gentiles Come” and the Canonic Variations. Each musical selection reflects anticipation and excitement as we together journey from seasonal darkness and chill into the radiant light of Joy and Redemption. The choir and I and all our musicians send everyone at Incarnation our best wishes for a Glorious Advent and Christmas.
– Thomas Reefer
|
|
November 27, the first Sunday of Advent, marks the start of a new church year and the return of our ever-popular “Sermon Talkbacks.” Grab your coffee and a folding chair for a roundtable discussion with the preacher about the sermon. There is much food for thought in our Scripture texts before we reach the crescendo of Christmas.
Talkbacks will take place in the Assembly Hall from 12:30 to 1:15 p.m. on November 27, December 4, and December 18. This will be a time when you can ask questions, give feedback, and help us all to deepen the conversation that the sermon has only just begun.
|
|
Sermon Talkback with Bishop Roskam this past Lent |
|
Incarnation’s Christmas Fair is one of our annual highlights and longstanding traditions. Saturday, December 3, will mark our 78th fair. Please stop by the Parish House between the hours of 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Enjoy a Silent Auction, a Christmas Boutique, a Café and Bake Sale, as well as the sale of lovely holiday gifts. Parishioners are essential to the Fair’s success.
Contact Lenore Ritter if you can serve in the Café and/or donate baked goods.
Contact Monica Culoso to volunteer in any of the following capacities:
-
Donate or solicit an item for the Silent Auction. Examples include gift certificates to local restaurants, theater tickets, pieces of silver, jewelry, and items for gift baskets (nice wines, fancy mustards, gourmet coffee, etc.).
-
Donate gently used housewares and other saleable items. (Please note we cannot accept clothing.)
-
Give an hour or two of your time for set-up. We’ll be setting up in the Parish House the week prior to the Fair (November 27 to December 2).
-
Serve customers and help with logistics during the Fair, 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
-
Help with clean-up immediately after the Fair, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
|
|
getting ready for the last Christmas Fair (in 2019!) before opening the doors |
|
The biggest party of the year for 20s/30s in the Episcopal Diocese of New York (EDNY) is the annual EDNY “St. Nick's Party.” This year, the celebration will take place on the evening of Saturday, December 3 (start time TBA).
The party will be held at Trinity Wall Street's version of a “parish house” – Trinity Commons, located at 79 Trinity Place. It's sure to be a festive night, full of all that the season holds. Contact the Rev. Dr. Nate Lee to RSVP, and he'll keep you posted on details as they're made available.
|
|
Children's Christmas Pageant |
|
Children of all ages are invited to participate in a short and simple pageant, held in place of the sermon, during the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, December 11.
There will be one rehearsal from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 10, in the church, followed by hot chocolate and donuts (with healthy snacks too) in the Parish House.
Please reply to this email if your child would like to participate so that we can have enough costumes and parts for all.
|
|
a scene from last year's Pageant - super cute even with masks! |
|
The Parish Christmas Party follows our 5:00 p.m. service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 11. After worship, we'll bring out festive food and drink and continue our celebration in the church.
As a special treat, The Crickets, a local glee club, will perform a few numbers. Then we'll all join in to sing Christmas carols together, accompanied by Thomas Reefer on piano. Partygoers will have the opportunity to cast final bids in the Silent Auction and can also participate in Operation Santa and Make a Joyful Noise (mission and service opportunities described below).
As always, we need volunteers in order to bring the Christmas cheer. If you would like to help with the party, please reply to this email.
|
|
caroling at last year's Christmas Party |
|
Christmas Flowers, Music and Parishioners in Need |
|
Many people like to make donations for Christmas flowers or music as a way to honor loved ones. Please send in your donations by Sunday, December 18, along with any names you would like to be listed in the Christmas Eve leaflet. The funds for the flowers and the supplemental choral and instrumental music are provided by this appeal.
Another holiday custom at Incarnation is the Christmas Fund. The Fund helps people within the Incarnation parish family who need financial assistance; grants from the Fund are made in confidence. You can use the this form to make gifts for Christmas flowers, Christmas music, and the Christmas Fund. You can also request offering envelopes for 2023.
|
|
Operation Santa
Operation Santa is our annual Christmas service project. Parishioners are invited to select a letter written to “Santa” by a child in need and to purchase gifts for that child. This year we are providing presents for 50 children living in a nearby domestic violence shelter. You can select a letter in person at Coffee Hour or at the Parish Christmas Party. You are also welcome to visit the Operation Santa page on our website to select a letter online.
Please note, we ask that participants spend approximately $50 per child – and all presents must be gift wrapped and delivered to the Parish House (by hand or mail/courier) by Sunday, December 18.
Hour Children
Hour Children is in need of volunteers to help out at their Christmas party on Saturday, December 17, from 12:00 to 4:00 p.m. at St. Rita’s Church (3642 12th Street, Long Island City, NY 11106, across the street from the Hour Children headquarters). They are expecting around 150 adults and 150 children at the party. If you would like to volunteer, contact Kellie Phelan at kphelan@hourchildren.org.
Moravian Open Door
You may have noticed a large glass container (3 gallon bottle) in the back of the church. This is for our “Make a Joyful Noise” campaign for Moravian Open Door (MOD). Parishioners are invited to toss in their loose change. If you empty your change into a jar or container at the end of the day, consider bringing your collection of coins to church. It will definitely make a joyful noise.
Donations of cash or check are also welcome and will go to support “winter care packages” with knit hats and other items for MOD residents as well as people experiencing street homelessness.
In the new year, we'll invite MOD residents to join us for a coin-rolling party in the Assembly Hall. Stay tuned for details on this and more mission and service opportunities! (The Rev. Deacon Denise LaVetty has some ideas up her sleeve.)
|
|
Help us fill it to the top! |
|
For a church named after the Feast of the Incarnation, Christmas Eve and Day hold an exceptionally special place in our hearts. The murals by John La Farge on either side of the reredos above the high altar depict the nativity, reminding us always of the joy of Christmas brought by the birth of the Christ child.
Our worship on Christmas Eve includes a Holy Eucharist at 6:00 p.m. with two soloists from the Incarnation Choir and traditional Christmas hymns sung by all.
Our later service is Incarnation's version of "Midnight Mass" – a beautiful and transcendent celebration of Holy Eucharist with harp, trumpet, organ and the Incarnation Choir. A musical prelude is offered at 10:30 p.m., and the service begins at 11:00 p.m. I will preach the same sermon at both Christmas Eve services.
The Rev. Dr. Nate Lee will preach on Christmas morning at our Christmas Day services of Holy Eucharist at 8:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. We also will have a "visit to the crèche" and children's homily for the children present at 11:00 a.m.
|
|
I hope you will join us for all the ways we are observing Advent and Christmas at the Church of the Incarnation. As we make room in our hearts and in our lives for Christ to enter anew, may you have a felt sense of Emmanuel (God with us) and an open spirit ready for wonder and awe. “Hark!” the herald angels will sing. There will be glory for our newborn King.
On behalf of the Wardens, Vestry and Staff, I wish you a blessed Advent and truly joyful Christmas.
Yours in Christ,
Adrian+
The Rev. Adrian Dannhauser, Priest in Charge
|
|
If you would like to receive hard copies of Incarnation's newsletters but are not currently on our mailing list, please reply to this email with your name and mailing address. |
|
See what's happening on our social sites |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
