Sunday, January 2
The Second Sunday after Christmas
Masks and social distancing required for all services.
Holy Eucharist Rite I, 8 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 10 worshippers
Please sign up in advance here.
Holy Eucharist Rite II, 10 a.m.
In-person attendance for up to 10 worshippers
Please sign up in advance here.
Also live-streamed at 10 a.m.
Worship Notes, Sunday, January 3, 10 a.m.
Fr. Ben Hankinson, officiating, Henry H. Evans, Organist

Coffee Hour via Zoom, following the 10 a.m. service.

Communion station at 12 p.m. on the rear church lawn.
Readings for January 3
  • Old Testament - Jeremiah 31:7-14
  • Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a
  • Psalm 84 or 84:1-8
  • Luke 2:41-52
The Holy Gospel | Matthew 2: 1- 12

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, "Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage." When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born.

They told him, "In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:
  • `And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for from you shall come a ruler who is to shepherd my people Israel.'"

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, "Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage." When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.
Make Your Offering!
Schedule for the Week of January 3

  • Evening Prayer, Sunday, 7 p.m.+
  • Compline, Monday, 7 p.m. +
  • Noonday Prayer, Tuesday, 12:05 p.m.+
  • Holy Eucharist, Wednesday, The Epiphany, 7 p.m. ++
  • Noonday Prayer, Thursday, 12:05 p.m.+
  • Morning Prayer, Friday, 9: a.m. +
  • Week-End Update Newsletter, Saturday, delivered midday
  • Compline, Saturday, 7 p.m. +
+ Designates a Facebook Livestream service
++ Designates an in-person and Facebook Livestream service.

Looking Ahead
  • Vestry meeting, Thursday, January 21, 6:30 p.m. via Zoom
  • Annual Meeting, first or second Sunday in May (tbd)
The Feast of The Epiphany, January 6

Holy Eucharist for The Feast of The Epiphany will be celebrated on Wednesday, January 6, at 7 p.m. via Facebook Livestream. Also, up to 10 in-person attendees will be accommodated. Watch for further information concerning in-person attendance.

The feast of the Epiphany is twelve days after Christmas. In the Western churches (including the Episcopal Church), Epiphany celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men from the East to the Christ child in Bethlehem.

Epiphany means "manifestation" or "revelation" or "appearing". It makes sense that the Epiphany season comes right after Christmas. Christmas is about the birth of Jesus; Epiphany is about the spread of the good news to the wider world.
From the Rector
The Twelve Days of Christmas
After several requests, I am sharing my sermon notes from last Sunday. See the introduction below and follow the link at the bottom to see the whole piece.

Before beginning, it is worth noting that while the suggested history cannot be confirmed, that in no way diminishes our ability to take advantage of such an interpretation in our time and for the teaching and sharing of our faith. Like any other teaching aids, such as mnemonic devices, we may utilize this song to make connections and grow in the knowledge and love of God. Likewise, as one version was shared in the Sunday sermon, alternatives that have been or could be used are provided below as well.
+  +  +
The Christmas season is the 12 days between Christmas Day and the Epiphany on January 6 (which I should note were established long before the well-known song I’m about to reference). The celebration begins with the triumphant moment on Christmas at the birth of Christ and concludes with the arrival of the Magi, or Wise Men, from the East bearing their gifts to the newborn king.
In some traditions, potentially illustrated by the song in consideration, the 12 days are marked by gifts each day. In others, the gifts are withheld until the Epiphany when at the giving of the gifts of the Magi we too would receive our presents. However it works out, Christmas continues. It is not merely one day but a season for us here in the life of the church.

The well-known song for the 12 days of Christmas may have a bit of history as well. It is held by some (though there is no clear evidence to support the claim) that the song itself was a form of catechism or Christian teaching dating back to the time of the Reformation in England. In it, each aspect of the song corresponds with some truth or grace or gift which God shares with his people of faith. -Fr. Ben

Click here to continue reading The Twelve Days of Christmas.
2020 Christmas Gift Offerings
Thank you from St. Andrew's ministries for these generous parishioner gifts at Christmas!

  • An anonymous donor gave a gift to the Flower Guild in honor of LaVernn Wilson, the Music Fund in honor of Henry Evans, and a gift to support St. Andrew’s ministries in honor of Marian and Mike Smithson and Jane and Jim Weingartner.

  • Maxine and Doug Callies donated to the Flower Guild in honor of Ed Pakovich.

  • Lyndia Pezza donated to the Altar Guild in honor of Dorothy and Donald Hallam and to the Music Fund in honor Peter Pezza.

  •  Sharon and Larry Reader donated to the Altar Guild and to the Flower Guild.

  • Fredna Scroggins donated to the Flower Guild in memory of Mike Scroggins.

  • Margaret and Carl Slaughter donated to the Altar Guild in loving memory of Penny Wood and to the Flower Guild in loving memory of Helen and Hugh McGuiggan.

  • Marian and Mike Smithson donated to the Altar Guild in memory of Tom and Catherine Smithson and to the Flower Guild in memory of A.D. and Edna Grover; gifts also were made to Outreach and to support St. Andrew’s ministries.

  • Meg Solon donated to support St. Andrew’s ministries in gratefulness for her family staying healthy.

  • Jane and Jim Weingartner donated to the Altar Guild in thanksgiving for members of the Guild and to the Flower Guild in memory of James and Catherine Weingartner and Kurt and Mary Vahle.

  • Kay and David Werner donated to support St Andrew’s Church School.

  • Dana LaTempt and David Woelfel donated to St. Andrew’s Outreach.

  • Cindy Yelverton donated to the Altar Guild in memory of Ron Yelverton, to the Music Fund, Outreach, and to support St. Andrew’s ministries.
Death of Clara Buckley Laing: St. Andrew's extends condolences to parishioner Sue Buckley, whose sister, Clara Buckley Laing, died Friday, January 1. Further information regarding arrangements will be forthcoming.

In Memory of George Soule:  [Information from Allison Funk, wife of George Soule.] My husband, George Soule, a long-time member of St. Andrews, died on February 2 of 2020, just a few weeks before we went into pandemic lockdown. Since his death, I’ve struggled with how to best memorialize him in our new socially distanced world. 
    
Recently, I have come up with an idea for celebrating his life. I have created the "George Soule Scholarship in English" for an outstanding student with financial need in the English Department at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville. I have committed myself to donate a certain amount yearly to the SIUE Foundation, enough to establish the scholarship going forward.
    
Some of you who knew George have asked if there is something you can do in his memory. If you are so moved, you could contribute to the scholarship fund. The Southern Illinois University Edwardsville Foundation is a 501(c)(3) Not-for-Profit, so your donation would be tax-deductible.
Details for making a gift to the scholarship are available here.
The ENS Good Book Club Will Feature
Readings from the Gospel of St. Mark in 2021

[From ENS] Start the new year with a renewed spiritual practice of reading God’s Word. Forward Movement, with support from partners from around the Episcopal Church and Anglican Communion, will celebrate the time of Epiphany with a new round of the Good Book Club. Starting on January 1, 2021, and continuing through Shrove Tuesday, February 16, the Good Book Club features daily readings from the Gospel of Mark.
Click here for further information.
Glen-Ed Pantry Sends Thanks
The Glen-Ed Pantry’s director of development sent thanks to St. Andrew’s for donations of Thanksgiving baskets from ECW and individual parishioners. Jane Balasters Ahasay reported the Pantry had distributed baskets with turkey and all the sides to 200 families in our community.
St. Andrew's Communications
Communications Coordinator and Newsletter Editor-in-Chief, Marian Smithson
Newsletter Editor, Jane Weingartner | Newsletter Editor, Marianne Cavanaugh