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St. Luke's News
Dear People of St. Luke’s,
Recently someone asked me, “What do we do
to prepare for Advent?” That is a good question. As we
look around, Christmas is in full swing. Stores have had
their Christmas merchandise out since November; radio
stations are playing carols non-stop, and many people
set up their Christmas tree over Thanksgiving break. It
appears that the festivities already have begun! But not
for us. It is not yet Christmas; it is not yet the time for
celebrating. For us the weeks before Christmas are a
time of preparation for Christmas. We get ready for the
feast but we do not yet celebrate. The celebration will
come, but for now we prepare.
This spirit of preparation sets us at odds with
the culture around us. It takes a measure of discipline to
refrain from the Christmas hubbub and make room for
quiet. Yet this is what the church calls us to do: to look
at our relationship with God and each other and to reflect
on what we need to change to prepare for the coming
of God into the world and into our lives.
Here are some practical ideas to help us wait
and prepare::
*Slow down your Christmas decorating. Begin
with greens, an Advent wreath and your crèche. Each
week add a little more. Save your most festive Christmas
decorating for the week before Christmas.
*Postpone decorating the tree. Instead of having
the tree up in December, decorate in mid-December
(mid-Advent) and keep it up until the Feast of the
Epiphany (January 6).
*Send out Christmas cards that reflect the birth
of Christ. Include a family photo inside a card that reflects
what Christmas is to Christians. Remember that
Christmas season is the 2 weeks after Christmas, so don’t
stress about getting those cards out by Dec. 25.
* Make time for quiet. This may mean turning off
the television or computer one night a week. It might mean
avoiding the mall or postponing a party. An intentional
time of quiet makes room for God.
* Use that quiet to spend with God. Use a devotional
guide for prayer and reflection, a booklet like Forward
Day by Day or an online devotional like
www.d365.org/followingthestar or www.adventdevotions.net. Look at what changes God is
calling you to make in your life, what relationships need to
be mended, what work God is inviting you to do. Give
thanks for the gift of God’s presence with us in Jesus Christ.
* Refresh your memory of what Christians say about
the coming of the Messiah. Use the bulletin inserts to guide
your Bible reading during Advent. Also read Luke 1 and
Matthew 2.
The season of Advent is a great gift to us. Advent
compels us to slow down, to say “no” to the Christmas pressure,
and to claim what is at the foundation of our lives: our
relationship with God. Advent not only is the beginning of
a new church year; it also may be the beginning of a new
phase in our life with God.
I wish you all a blessed Advent.
May God’s peace be with you,
~Patty
The Rev. Patty Mouer
Rector
What is Advent?
We have entered into the holy season of Advent, the first season of the church year. Advent comes from the Latin word
adventus which means “coming.” This is the season when we reflect on the coming of the Messiah, both as a baby in a manger
and as the King of glory at the end of time. During Advent our readings and our hymns remind us of this dual focus:
we are invited to look carefully at ourselves and our lives to prepare for the coming of God. We change our focus in Advent: the altar hangings are blue, the color traditionally associated with Mary. (Some churches
use purple to underscore the penitential and preparatory nature of Advent.) Instead of singing “Glory to God in the highest”
we sing “Lord, have mercy.” Our Eucharistic prayer shifts to Prayer B which highlights the Incarnation of God – God
made flesh. We use greens on the altar instead of flowers to remind us that this is a season of quiet preparation – the celebration
comes later. We sing Christmas carols at Christmas, but for us it is not yet Christmas! We will decorate the Christmas
tree and the church later. For now we wait.
The Advent wreath is a visual reminder of waiting: each week we light one more candle in anticipation of the arrival of
Emmanuel.
Foyer and XYZ Groups
The Foyer group and the XYZ group (age 50ish and over) will meet at June & Rick
Metcalf’s home for a Christmas gathering on Friday, Dec. 18 at 6:30 p.m.
Please call June if you are able to come.
Sign up to be a
Greeter
Do you enjoy the fellowship
after the 10:30 service?
A chance to visit with
old friends and greet newcomers?
Then sign up to
take a turn as a greeter!
Greeters provide the refreshments
after the 10:30
service and create a welcoming
atmosphere for
parishioners and visitors
alike. This is an important
ministry of hospitality as it
gives us a chance to catch
up with each other weekto-
week. We will meet
Sunday, Dec. 6 at 11:30 to
talk more about it, or see
Patty. Thanks to our current
greeters, some of
whom have been serving
for years: Ginny Hunneke,
Lynda & Bill Keith,
Jeanne & Buddy Luther,
Patty & Joe Mouer, Jo& Bruce Stahle and Jan Trantham.
Thanks to:
†Kaye Edney for making cookies for our butterfly garden planting party
†Christy Dickson for binoculars and for magazine subscriptions for the children: Our Big Backyard and Ranger Rick
†Bill Currie for a donation of The Reformation by Will Durant
†Lynda Keith, Jan Trantham and Jo Stahle for coordinating the Holland/Metcalf wedding reception
†Everyone who helped out at the parish Clean-up Day! We had a great turn out. We raked leaves, removed brush, polished
woodwork, cleaned out closets, oiled chairs and more! Special thanks to Junior Warden Bruce Stahle for
organizing.
Christmas Services
Please mark your calendar for Christmas services – and bring a friend who would like to worship with us.
Thursday, Dec. 24, Christmas Eve
5:00 p.m. - Children’s Service & Pageant (Mary Sparks, dulcimer)
10:30p.m. Lessons & Carols with Holy Communion (Mary Sparks, dulcimer),
followed by a festive reception (bring an appetizer to share)
Friday, Dec. 25, Christmas Day
10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Prayer Books
We’ve ordered new Prayer books for St. Luke’s. If you would like to dedicate
one in honor of, or in memory of someone, please fill out the form below
and return it to the parish office.
Prayer Book Dedication Form
Name________________________________________________
Phone # ______________________ E-mail:______________________________
I would like to dedicate one prayer book:
In memory of_______________________________ or
In thanksgiving for___________________________
By: __________________________________________
A donation of $15.00 is appreciated. Please make checks payable to St. Luke’s.
Copy and paste this form into a Word document to print
Pledges
Thank you to everyone who has made a
pledge to St. Luke’s for 2010. Currently we
have received 21 commitments. We are
looking for commitments from at least 21
more households. Please return your pledge
to the church before Christmas. If you have
any questions, contact the Senior Warden,
Ginny Hunneke.
Vestry
Thank you to Christy Dickson, who was
elected to the vestry by acclamation. As you
know, vestry members serve as the governing
body of the parish for three years. We
will elect one more vestry member at the
parish meeting in January.
Please remember in your prayers:
Our parishioners:
Kit Schmeiser, Sherry Shields, Rosanne Gourlay, DJ Halpeny, Al
Jensen, John Overbey, Wanda Chaillett
Those who are home-bound, especially:
Dot McGee, Gig Nelson, Carleton Gray & Dot Summit
We pray for our friends and family…
Loretta & the Reynolds family
Kim and Karen (friends of Gregory Leddy)
Mike, Amy & their family (grandchildren of Louise Hamilton)
Bowling & Cynthia Wills (brother-in-law of Kate Chason)
Jean Inglis (cousin of Maureen Mosher)
Sandy LaFeaver (friend of Mike & Sherry Johnson)
Kent (brother of Bruce Stahle)
Mary Anne (friend of Julie Mascarella)
Oscar (father of DJ Halpeny)
Rick Chamberlain (friend of the parish)
Sam (friend of Julie Mascarella)Flo (step-mother of Nancy Davis)
Randy Taylor (uncle of Jenn McDuff)
Worth Hester (friend of the parish)
John (infant son of a friend of Sarah Cain)
Kiril (nephew of Blair Miller)
Al Reimers (brother of Beatrice Romanowski)
Jonathan Mathis (10-year-old cousin of Sherry Shields)
Lindsay (infant daughter of Sherry Shields’ co-worker)
Wilma & John Pope (parents of Kit Schmeiser)
Jim & Miriam (father & mother of Miriam Fallon)
Martha Lewis (sister of Louise Hamilton)
Jeanne Gagnon (aunt of DJ Halpeny)
Kathy Fayssoux (sister of Alice Sluder)
Andy Connolly (brother of Margie Connelly)
AA and recovery groups
Mission Manna (ministry in Haiti)
Those serving in the military, especially Christopher (son of DJ Halpeny)
Birthdays
Dec. 3 Connor Elliott
Dec. 6 Josh Earnhardt
Dec. 9 Marell Richardson
Dec. 15 Sharon Cummings
Dec. 16 Linda Freck
Dec. 18 Bill Keith
Dec. 19 Jonathan Worley
Dec. 20 Jennifer Freck
Dec. 21 Al Jensen
Dec. 22 Ed Crenshaw & Kit Schmeiser
Dec. 26 Julie Mascarella
Dec. 30 Abigail Edney
Dec. 31 Dusty Freck
Anniversaries
Dec. 26 Margot & Bob Cain,
Mary & Bill Currie
Dec. 30 Blair Miller & Gregory Leddy
Birthday and Anniversary Prayers
"O God, our times are in your hand; Look with favor, we pray, on
your servant, N as he begins another year. Grant that he may grow in
wisdom and grace, and strengthen his trust in your goodness all the
days of his life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
The Book of Common Prayer, p. 830
"Eternal God, creator and preserver of all life, author of salvation, and
giver of all grace: Look with favor upon the world you have made,
and for which your Son gave his life, and especially upon this man
and this woman whom you make one flesh in Holy Matrimony.
Amen.."
The Book of Common Prayer, p. 429
Pastoral Care Committee
Those interested in participating with the Pastoral Care Committee
are invited to join us as per the following schedule:
Sunday, December20th @ noon
Other dates may be scheduled to deliver holiday gifts and cards
as needed.
Any and all are welcome to join us at any time. We can always
use new ideas and extra hands, and our shut-ins always love to
see a new face and hear a new voice. Please join us!
~DJ Halpeny
~Kit Schmeiser
Youth Group Fund Raising
The youth group is hard at work raising funds for their summer mission work and for a pilgrimage
to England. They are still raking leaves: please contact Bruce Stahle to set up a
time. So far, the young people and their parents have raked 7 yards and raised $975.00! Thanks
for your support of their efforts. They have a few more projects:
Gift wrapping: on Sunday, Dec. 6, 2-6 p.m. they will be offering gift wrapping at Accent of Books on Merrimon Avenue.
Come do some shopping at a great, locally-owned business and make a donation to our youth.
Coffee sales: Fair trade coffee is a great Christmas gift! It is delicious, practical, and it benefits both poor
farmers in Latin America and our youth! Cost is $10 per bag, which includes complimentary gift wrap.
If you’d like to place an order, please fill out the form below and return it to the church office. If you’d like to read more
about this product, go to www.equalexchange.org
Youth Group Coffee Order Form
Name_________________________________________________
Phone # _____________________ Email:_______________________________
Regular
___“Love Buzz” (organic whole bean French & Full City roasts)
___“French Roast” (organic whole bean French Roast)
___“Bright Day Brew” (Drip grind coffee, medium roast)
___“Café Salvador” (Drip grind , full city roast)
Decaf
____ “Colombian Roast” (drip grind)
Number of bags ordered________ X $10.00 each = _______________
Copy and paste this form into a Word document to print
The St. Luke’s family celebrated on Sunday, November 29th, Patty
Mouer’s fifth anniversary as our rector. Members of the congregation
joined together during and after Sunday’s services to thank Patty for
her ministry and express gratitude for her past and continuing service.
Reverend Patty’s qualities of intellectual and spiritual luminosity,
conveyed with her usual good humor, patience and kindness,
have given the members of St. Luke’s firm guidance, schooling and
knowledge to help us to affirm and live our Christian faith and values.
Thank you, Patty!
A four-year-old boy was asked to return thanks before Christmas
dinner. The family members bowed their heads in expectation.
He began his prayer, thanking God for all his friends, naming
them one by one. Then he thanked God for Mommy, Daddy,
brother, sister, Grandma, Grandpa, and all his aunts and uncles.
Then he began to thank God for the food.
He gave thanks for the turkey, the dressing, the fruit salad,
the cranberry sauce, the pies, the cakes, even the Cool Whip.
Then he paused, and everyone waited ... and waited. After a
long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and
asked, "If I thank God for the broccoli, won't he know that
I'm lying?"
Christmas flowers at St. Luke’s
At Christmas we decorate the church festively in celebration of the Birth of our Lord.
If you would like to donate flowers and plants for Christmas in thanksgiving or in memory of
someone, please fill out this form and return it to the church office.
Each plant costs about $10.00.
Thank you for helping us celebrate!
Christmas flowers are given to the glory of God and
In thanksgiving for _______________________________________________or
In memory of _____________________________________________________
by _____________________________________________________
amount enclosed __________________________________________________
Copy and paste this form into a Word document to print
Items for the Newsletter and website are always welcome!
Should you have any items you would like to contribute to St. Luke’s News, please let us know.
Ideally, we compile the editorial content for the newsletter around the 25th of each month in order to complete
editing, production and distribution by the beginning of the next month.
We particularly appreciate – and need – news items from all the different groups that contribute so much to
our church family. Please keep us up to date on news from the Vestry, from youth ministry, from our outreach
programs, or any announcements of milestones, special events, and any special requests.
You can let us know by calling St. Luke’s at 254-2133, or you can leave your news item in the Newsletter/
Web Site mailbox located in the Parish House.
You can also send it by e-mail to our Editor-in-Chief, Patty Mouer, at stlukeschurch@charter.net – or to others
on the editorial and production team: Gregory Leddy - Editor: Jennifer McDuff – Design, Production and E-Distribution: Julie Mascarella – Printing and postal distribution: Stephen Savage – Webmaster.