St. Peter's
Episcopal Church
Milford, Connecticut
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November 28, 2021
The First Sunday of Advent
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"Nothing can save us that is possible:
We who must die demand a miracle." -WH Auden.
Like a thief in the night, Advent is about to break into our reality. We between two realities. Preparing for the Second Coming of Christ, while also preparing to celebrate his first Advent...his entrance into our human reality two millennia ago.
Like our "to do" lists, or the long list of things that need to be prepped for Thanksgiving, or the piles of expectations we put on ourselves this season, everything about this season seems to lodge within the realm of impossibility. Which is why I love the punch line from this section of Auden's Christmas Oratorio. We demand a miracle. In this season of the "impossible" we rest on the miracles of Jesus.
I pray that you find some comfort in the miracle of Christ's first coming, as we prepare in our own penitent hearts for the second, as we find ourselves between the Already of Christ's birth in Bethlehem, to the Not-Yet of his return. I look forward to this season of waiting, of wandering and wondering through the impossibility of it all, as we contemplate the miraculous, mysterious, and majestic love of God for each and every one of us.
Matt +
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Help us Prepare our Buildings and Grounds for
Advent and Christmas
Tomorrow (Saturday) at 10:00 am, Church Lawn.
Any who wish to join can meet us on the lawn at 10:00 am on Saturday the 27th as we prepare the grounds and sanctuary.
We'll be putting up green garlands, assembling our creche, and generally tidying up around campus. Should be a fun morning to help us welcome this beautiful season. Coffee and donuts help! Come if you can, leave when you must.
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This week at St. Peter's
8:00 a.m. Holy Communion in the church and online via livestream.
Please note: pre-registration is no longer required.
However, masks are to be worn for all services to protect the most vulnerable among us. Thanks for your patience, and for wearing your mask.
10:00 a.m. Sunday School is meeting in the Parish Hall at 10.
They will rejoin us for Communion.
Wednesday 12 noon Eucharist with healing service in the church
(This service is also livestreamed)
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The Season of Advent and the Advent Wreath
The season of Advent (from the Latin adventus meaning “arrival) spans the four Sundays prior to Christmas and is a time of preparation for the arrival of Christ at Christmas and of hope for his Second Coming. The first Sunday focuses on the Final Advent, the second and third Sundays concentrate on John the Baptist (the immediate forerunner and herald of Jesus, and the fourth Sunday on Mary. The liturgical color is purple for this time of serious reflection and preparation.
The Advent Wreath is rich in symbolism that heightens our increasing anticipation through the season. It is a circle, representing eternity, dressed in evergreens, representing renewal of life in the midst of winter. It contains four candles for the Sundays of Advent: three purple and one rose (for the Third Sunday) with a white “Christ” candle in the center which is lit at Christmas.
The longing and anticipation of Advent is reflected in the Readings and the music. The hymn “Savior of the nations, come” (No. 54) is a five-hundred-year-old melody which is itself based on ancient plainsong. Its plaintive character captures this underlying theme of Advent and may be during the Closing Organ Voluntary.
During the season of Advent, we will sing the Trisagion in place of Gloria in excelsis, and use a plainsong setting of the Sanctus and Agnus Dei by contemporary composer David Hurd. Today, the Choir marks the beginning of Advent with the Matin Responsory which begins softly in the distance and gradually comes closer, bringing to life the Approach of Christ:
I look from afar, and lo,
I see the power of God coming,
and a cloud covering the whole earth.
Go ye out to meet Him and say:
“Tell us: art thou He thou should come to reign
over thy people Israel?”
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The Readings for Sunday,
November 28, 2021
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This week after the 10:00 am service |
Sunday morning, following the 10 a.m. service, there will be Advent wreath making activities for anyone wishing to participate. There will be wreath bases, candles, and greens to create your wreath. To assist in the cost of supplies, a donation of $10 would be gratefully received.
There will be many activities at St. Peter's for all of our Parish family this week, and in the coming weeks that you won't want to miss:
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Weekly Advent Bible Study: 7:00 PM on Zoom. Starts Dec 1.
#Adventword Daily Advent Reflections via Facebook and Instagram.
December 5: St Nicholas Visits the Sunday School at 10:00 am.
December 11: Advent Quiet Day with Jen Fournier at St. Peter's 9:30-12:00 pm
December 12 and 19: Pageant Rehearsal in Sunday School
December 19 at 4 pm: The Pageant at St. Peter's.
December 24, 5 p.m. & 10 p.m. Christmas Eve services
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Christmas Gifts for Kids 2021!
We are grateful to once again partner with Christian Community Action to sponsor Christmas gifts for the families they serve! Inspired by the overwhelming love and generosity of this parish, this year we have taken on the joyful task of buying gifts for 9 children in their program!
Their wish lists are simple and there are items to fit every budget, and you can feel free to sign up for one or multiple gifts. Instructions and deadlines are in the sign-up form. Contact Maureen Lucas at youth@stpetersmilford.org with any questions.
Click this link to sign up to share some Christmas love!
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Happy Birthday to Michael Thomas, Riley DeGregorio, Charlotte Thompson and all who are celebrating birthdays this week, and congratulations to
Bill & Carol Springsteen who will be celebrating their wedding anniversary!
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This Tuesday, November 30 at St. Peter's
7:00 PM in the Parish Hall
Community Partnership for Refugee Resettlement
We are continuing the conversation among the faith communities in Milford about the next steps in partnering with IRIS on refugee resettlement.
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Next Saturday: Training for
Worship Participants!
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We welcome and very much need new members to participate in these important ministries here at St. Peter's. Training to both welcome and train new members into Service Ministries, and to brush up skills and procedures for those already serving in these ministries, will be held on Saturday, December 4.
Since our return to in-person service, some of the duties and responsibilities have changed, so this is an opportunity to brush up our skills, learn new skills and to train new participants.
The schedule is
10:00a.m. for Ushers and Greeters and
10:45 for LEMs and Acolytes.
Think you can help? Come find out what it's all about to see if this is a way you can serve. Please contact Dee Green to let her know if you can make this training.
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We thank you for your pledge!
Your contributions are vital as we faithfully continue living into our God's call to us to Share the Gospel, Prepare Disciples, and Care for our Community.
Please pray about how you might be able to support our mission and ministries in this season of gratitude.
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Your prayers are requested this week for Janice H.,Nora, Pam, Jackie, Elaine, Dick W., Jack, Sophie, Corrine, Matt, Donald, Jim, Emma, Ronald, Rick, David, Ray, Paul, Gail, John, Susan, Nancy, Gabriel, Gretchen, Nicole, Ashley, Pat, Judy, Dorothy, Doug and Corliss, Claire and her family, Kate, Carolyn Martin, Richard, Patricia and Jim, Mike, Helene, Jan, Ruth, Carol, Mark, Ginny, Peggie, Roger, Bob and Connie, and Alice.
+ Pray for those who have died, and for all those who are bereaved.
+ Pray for those who are frightened, anxious, or lonely, especially the sick.
+ Pray for continued wisdom and discernment in our leaders in government and the church alike.
+Pray for the unemployed and underemployed; for all who suffer from addictions; for all who suffer chronic illness, and for all caregivers;
+ Pray for support and strength for health care workers, first responders, hospice chaplains, palliative care teams, funeral directors, and all who attend to end-of-life care.
+ Pray for all communities impacted by climate change and severe weather events.
+ Pray for all who will be persecuted for their faith, and for all refugees seeking safety.
+ Pray for renewal in our church, that the Holy Spirit might bless us with the endurance to run the race before us, and to do so with joy.
+ Pray for our diocese as we seek to appoint a new bishop.
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