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By George!Growing with You in God’s Love and Service
DECEMBER 2015
Rule of Life for St George’s
Based on our spiritual values andpractices, this is our commitment toeach other.
We:
! Nurture ourselves with the
Bible and spiritual books
! Care deeply about each other,
including in prayer.
! Fellowship together and have
fun.
! Are grateful, glad and giving
stewards of God’s creation.
! Reach out to the world, living
and spreading the Word.
St.George’s Episcopal Church
5600 Winding Way
Carmichael, CA 95608
(916) 487-5600
By George!DECEMBER 2015
A monthly publication of
St. George’s Episcopal Church
5600 Winding Way
Carmichael, CA 95608
(916) 487-5600
http://www.saintgeorgeca.com
The Very Rev. Ray Hess, III
Priest in Charge
916-753-9939
Ryan Saunders
916-696-0280
Rev. Bob Gould, Assoc.
916-488-5757
Rev. Robert Olsen, Deacon
916-729-1019
Tess Testeza,
Organist/Choir Director
Sandy Olsen, Editor
Dolores O’Brien, Deacon Bob and
Carol Adkins, Circulation
In this issue
BIRTHDAYS & ANNIVERSARIES . . . . . . . . . . 4
BISHOP’S VISIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
BOOK CORNER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
BOUNTY BAG . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 12
CHRISTMAS VIGIL . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
DEACON BOB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. . . . . 7
FROM OUR PIC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
HAPPENINGS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
HOSPITALITY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
ROSTER . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
ROUND TABLE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
SENIOR WARDEN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
SERVICES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
WOMEN’S GUILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Thoughts from Our PIC (Priest in Charge)
Give Me Patience – Now!!Advent is a season of preparation, quiet, and patient waiting. Does this sound like
your pre-Christmas season? It doesn’t sound much like mine. With Christmas
decorations and sales starting before Halloween, the pressures and busyness of the
season seem to go on forever.
The Church has been very counter-cultural with the Advent Season. Advent
as a season of quiet, patient waiting runs against the grain of the holiday season
going on around us. I’m not a perfectionist about this, but I do think that some of
the elements of the Advent Season can be helpful for us, either in the official time
of Advent before Christmas, or maybe later after Christmas Day when things
might calm down more.
One of the main Advent themes is patience – waiting patiently and
expectantly for the birth of Jesus. I don’t know about you, but patience is not my
best quality. I don’t like to wait for things to happen. I prefer to try to make them
happen right now!
Being patient and open for God’s action in our lives is a very essential part
of our faith. If I am overly busy and running around, I leave little space for the
leading of the Spirit. God may be trying to communicate with me, but I’m too
busy to notice. I like the idea of margin. Margin is the space between things, like
the margin on a printed page. If I do not have margin in my life – space between
my activities – I can find it difficult to relax and be open to God.
This Advent and Christmas, I encourage you to think about ways to find
some margin in your life. This does not have to be whole days of quiet and prayer,
but could be just a few minutes here and there to sit still and wait for God.
Perhaps you could take a bit of time to listen to music or admire your Christmas
lights. This could give you some needed rest at the least. And who knows – you
might experience the presence and leading of the Holy Spirit!
I wish us all a wonderful season of patient, expectant waiting.
In Jesus’ love, Father Ray
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SENIOR WARDEN
It was so nice to see you all after a hiatus for the soccer season. I received
such a heart warming welcome from so many friends at St. George’s. Even though
my own preference is the 9am service, it is always so wonderful when we have a
combined service at 10am and the entire congregation is able to worship together.
And what an inspired worship it was! The choir was spot on, Father Ray’s sermon
was on point, and the new stained glass windows were on display. As a bonus, we
were able to participate in a blessing of the beautiful new vestiments donated by
the Cookmans, and the gorgeous new banner put together by Carol Adkins and
Joanne Cookman.
The festivities didn’t stop there. After the service, we were all treated to a
tremendous amount of foods brought in by so many generous folks in our
congregation. I filled my entire plate to the tipping point and was barely able to
try half of all of the dishes on display. Fortunately, I played the role of MC for our
entertainment segment. Otherwise, I probably would have gone back for two or
three more plates of food and someone would have had to roll me out of St.
George’s with a wheelbarrow.
Speaking of entertainment, what a rousing series of songs, readings, and
skits we experienced! All of which is homegrown talent here at St. George’s. Our
fabulous choir, led by Tess Testeza on the accordion, sang some well known songs
that turned into joyful sing-a-longs. Tess’ prowess with the accordion continued
with a few dramatic solo pieces. Bill Keye provided additional drama with his
reading, and Sandy Olsen raised the bar for sing-a-longs with an inspired
performance on her new four-string guitar. Lastly, Lani Hahn, Aaron Adkins, and
Dolores O’Brien were humorous and thought provoking with their interpretation
of a C.S. Lewis passage. What an impressive group of people we are fortunate
enough to worship with!
Thank you for a wonderful day spent with friends. And thank you for the
opportunity to be a part of this very special family that is St. George’s of
Carmichael.With much love,
Ryan Saunders, Senior Warden
2
WOMAN’S GUILDDecember! – I think many of us are saying ‘Where has the year gone?’ It
has been a good year at St. George’s. Much has been accomplished.
At our November meeting, the Guild voted to pay for the purchase of the
wireless microphones needed by the church for use by the choir and by others as
need for various functions. We have been stretching the wires and cables across
the floor to connect to the sound system in the church. These new microphones
will eliminate the safety hazard.
We extend a big ‘Thank You’ to Mel Rose and Deacon Bob Olsen for their
expertise in setting up our power point and sound systems. Just a few years ago,
did any of us think we would become so technically up to date?
Have you signed up to attend the Christmas luncheon on Saturday,
December 12? We will meet at the Spaghetti Factory in Roseville (731 Sunrise
Avenue) at 12:30 pm. The luncheon is open to all women and men of the
congregation, and their friends. We will be able to order from their menu and they
will provide individual checks. If you have not put your name on the sign-up
sheet at church, you may call the church office [916-487-5600] and leave your
name. Please bring an unwrapped gift for a young person. They will be taken to
the Veteran’s Center at American River College for distribution to the families of
veterans.
We continue to encourage everyone to take a turn providing Sunday coffee
hour nibbles. They do not need to be fancy. Homemade or store bought does not
matter. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board next to the kitchen window.
Also, help with washing coffee pots and putting things away is always
appreciated.
There will be no Guild meeting in December. The next Women’s Guild
meeting will be Wednesday, January 20, 2016 at 11:00 am. The business part of
our meetings is usually brief and then we have time to enjoy some refreshments
while visiting with one another. Please mark your calendars and plan on
attending. Carol Adkins, President
Women’s Guild St. George’s Church
3
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS3—Sandy Olsen
14—Peter Perparos
17—Nancy Landers
18—Bob Gould
20— Kylie Koolzer
21—Betsy Hack
25—Mary Ann Benbow
26—Ann McConnell
28—Rachel Perparos
31—Junette Avey
31—James Breen
(If your name was not included, please let Sandy know
so she can add your name.)
ANNIVERSARIES20—Conrad & JoAnn Conrad
27—Song & Lani Hahn
30—John & Patty Borgman (`51)
Hospitality Sunday
will be the 1st
Sunday of each
month, special
offering envelopes
are included in the
bulletin. These are used by the
Women's Guild to provide weekly
coffee hours, special receptions and
other events for parish members.
Please make checks payable to St.
George's Church with a memo note in
the left corner for HOSPITALITY.
The women’s
Guild is happy to
provide the book
corner for your
enjoyment. We
appreciate the
books you all
donate. However, I would like to
remind you to bring fiction, non-
fiction, historical or humorous books.
Please NO self-help or study books.
Thanks for your attention to this
matter.
CDs...$1
BOOKS...$1
PAPERBACKS...50¢
Happy reading! Janet Jenkins
4
Christmas CelebrationSt Matthews Community
Resource Center is closed while they
are in the process of reorganizing -
Unfortunately, this time of transition
has left many of the community
members they had been serving in
need. To help ease the burdens this
holiday season, St Matthew’s has
partnered with St. Michael's
Carmichael and will be hosting a
community dinner on December 7th
at 5pm. They are hoping to provide a
Christmas celebration for 150 people
including gifts for 120 children. The
organization that has, in the past,
donated toys to families served by St.
Matthew's is unable to do so this year.
St Matthew’s is asking other
Episcopal Churches in the area if they
would donate toys to for the
Christmas Celebration. They expect
children between toddler ages and 12
years old.
December 7th is coming up
quickly so if you can help please let
me know or simply drop off presents
at the office.Deacon Bob
Year-End Giving OpportunityOur diocese is offering help to us in
year-end giving to our parish. It’s called the
Bishop’s Partnership Appeal. It works like
this – the Office of the Bishop and the
Episcopal Foundation will send a fund-
raising letter to members of our parish (from
a mailing list we provide them). If you
donate to this, all of the funds you give –
100% - will come back to our parish. The
idea is to encourage church members and
friends to give something beyond their
regular pledges at the end of the year. The
majority of all giving to organizations
happens near the end of the year, and our
diocese is helping us request donations by
doing the leg work on our behalf.
When you receive a letter from the
bishop and our diocese in the next few
weeks, please know that this is not a fund
raising letter for diocesan ministries. It is an
opportunity given us through diocesan staff
to enable us to give something extra to our
parish near the end of the year. If you have
any questions about this appeal, please call
me at 916-753-9939 or e-mail me at
Father Ray
5
DECEMBER/JANUARY
Lessons can be found on our websiteHTTP://www.stgeorgeca.org
DECEMBER 6th 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Baruch 5:1-9 Canticle 4
Philippians 1: 3-11 Luke 3: 1-6
CELEBRANT: ` Anne McKeever
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Ryan Saunders
LECTORS: Annelise Connell & Carol Adkins
ALTAR GUILD: Vicki Karsten & Cruz Siaz
USHER: Cathy Crosby & friend
DECEMBER 13th
3rd SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Zephaniah 3: 14-20 Canticle 9
Philippians 2:4-7 Luke 3 :7-18
CELEBRANT: ` Fr. Ray Hess
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Aaron Adkins
LECTORS: Karen Lolmaugh & Joan Tennis
ALTAR GUILD: JoAnn Cookman & Barbara Cooper
USHER: Conrad Cookman & friend
DECEMBER 20th
4th SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Micah 5: 2-5a Canticle 3
Hebrews : 10: 5-10 Luke 1:39-45 [46-55]
CELEBRANT:` Fr. Ray Hess
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Karen Lolmaugh
LECTORS: Michael Williams& Becky Freie
ALTAR GUILD: Angela Saunders & Vicki Karsten
USHER: Carol Adkins & friend
DECEMBER 24th
CHRISTMAS VIGIL
SIGN-UP
CELEBRANT: ` Fr. Ray Hess
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Diane Perparos
LECTORS: Anne Mangles& Annelise Connell
ALTAR GUILD: Vicki Karsten
USHER: Michael Williams & friend
DECEMBER 27th 1st SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
LESSONS & CAROLS—SIGN-UP
WORSHIP LEADER: _ Deacon Bob
LECTORS: SIGN-UP
ALTAR GUILD: Angela Saunders & JoAnn
Cookman
USHER: Cathy Crosby & friend
JANUARY 3rd 2nd SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS
Jeremiah 31: 7-14 Psalm 84
Ephesians 1: 3-6, 15-19a
Matthew 2: 13-15, 19-23
CELEBRANT: ` Anne McKeever
EUCHARISTIC MINISTER: Dave Allmuth
LECTORS: JoAnn Cookman & Aaron Adkins
ALTAR GUILD: Vicki Karsten & JoAnn Cookman
USHER: Marilyn Grimshaw & friend
6
A few thoughts for the Christmas Season.
As this issue of the By George comes out, we are already into the season of Advent, so
I’ll say a belated “Happy New Year.” It also means that this will be my last article as a deacon
before I retire at the end of the month – next month’s article will be from your retired deacon. As
such I have a couple of things I want to touch on.
First – If you’re stuck for an answer when family or friends ask “what do you want for
Christmas?” then here are a couple of suggestions for organization that help the poor in our area,
country and around the world. In that order they are: Our diocese Episcopal Community Services
of Northern California www.norcalecs.org/ ; Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD)
www.Episcopalrelief.org/giftsforlife ; and Heifer Project International (HPI)
http://www.heifer.org/catalog. Clearly this is not an exhaustive list, with many other agencies
that day-in and day-out do work to help those in need.
Next – my yearly reminder about having family let us know when you are in the hospital
or at your passing. They can call Fr Ray, me or the office. As one of my final projects, I’ve put
together a Burial Service worksheet, copies are available in the office or you can e-mail me and
I’ll send you one electronically. While you may think it is a bit morbid planning your funeral, I
can assure you that those you leave behind will greatly appreciate knowing your wishes at a time
that will be very stressful for them. After filling out the worksheet, keep one copy with your
other important papers and give a copy to the church. If you don’t want to fill out a form –
simply writing a note to your family with what kind of a service and hymns you want would be a
great help to them. One lady had written 5 short lines on a 3x5 card, while it didn’t mean much
to her sons, it was enough that any clergy would know exactly the kind of service she wanted,
including a hymn and who she wanted to sing it.
Finally – Retirement. I have submitted my retirement letter to the Bishop, retiring
effective December 31st. That said, you’ll continue to see me on Sunday’s, generally at the 9 a.m.
service and doing announcements at the 10:30, so it may “look” like nothing has changed, but it
is the “other duties” that I’ve done the rest of week that I will no longer be doing or drastically
curtailing if not giving up complexly. _ Deacon Bob
7
DECEMBER 24th @ 7 p.m.
ECS Sunday – December 13, 2015
Bishop Beisner has designated the third Sunday in Advent as
Episcopal Community Services (ECS) Sunday. ECS has supported
the work of ministering to the sick, the homeless, the hungry and the
needy in the Episcopal Diocese of Northern California for nearly 40
years. Please open your hearts and share the coming joy of Christmas
by giving generously to the ECS Ministry Development Fund on
December 13th. All funds raised are used to support congregation in their ministry
to the least, the lost and the needy in their communities. Please place your
offering in the offering plate marked for ECS or mail it directly to: Episcopal
Community Services, 350 University Ave, Suite 280, Sacramento, CA 95825-
6517 or donating online at 222.norcalecs.org.
St George’s has been the recipient of two such grants for our community
garden. The first paid for the tool shed and the second covered about half the cost
of installing the fence around the garden. If you chose to write a check, you can
write the check to St George’s with ECS in the memo line, or writing the check
directly to ECS. Having worked with ECS in one manner or another for 14 years,
I can assure you they are excellent stewards of the donations they receive.
` Deacon Bob
8
MESSAGE FROM ST. GEORGE’S ROUND TABLE
On behalf of St. George’s Round Table, we want to thank church members for your
generous support and contributions. This past year we have been able to distribute over $1,000
for supplies to our soldiers in Afganistan, and help several members of our community who were
in need of financial assistance.
Because of our outreach program we have basically run out of funding and hope to be
solvent once more by having fundraisers which are now on our agenda. We will be sharing
information about these events in the very near future. We also ask you to please begin donating
by putting $1 into our Veteran & Outreach Fund basket in the parish hall; if every member of our
congretation would do so, it would help tremendously.
Another project we will be working on is supplying local jails and prisons with old copies
of “The Daily Word.” It is a known fact that many prisoners find faith during incarceration, and
you could play such an important role in passing on The Word of our Lord. So if you purchase
this wonderful little booklet every three months, please save them and give them to any member
of the Round Table after you have finished reading them. We also plan to send them to our
military when we have reserves in our treasury.
Thank you sincerely for the help you have provided in keeping this important mission
alive and well. My God love and bless you for your efforts.
Members of St. George’s Round Table
Cathy CrosbyJoAnn Cookman
Jan MirroneLani Hahn
Janet JenkinsFr. Robert GouldDelores O’Brian
Rene’ CressMare Evans-Smith
Carol Adkins
LastMonday
@ 11a.m.
9
Poinsettias for ChristmasPoinsettias for Christmas, $15 — includes all Christmas
Decorations—Altar arrangements—Christmas tree—Swags
—Candles—Wreaths, etc.
All gifts are gratefully received by our Altar Guild.
The names of the honorees and donors will be listed in the bulletins on Christmas Eve and the
Sunday following. To be listed, donations must be received by the Last Sunday of Advent
(December 23rd)
……………………………………I would like to help provide the flowers for Christmas and the Sunday following.
Christmas Flowers(Make Check to St. George’s
In Memory of
In Thanksgiving for
Other
By:
Please make checks out to: St. George’s Memo: Altar Guild
Place in Alms basin at any service of worship .
10
Bishop Barry Beisner will be visiting St. George’s at both services on
Sunday January 31st . His visit will provide an opportunity for youth or
adults to be confirmed, received, or renew their baptismal vows. Youth
should be in 7th grade or older to be confirmed. If any youth or adults are
interested, please call the church office at 916-487-5600 or e-mail at
[email protected]. You may also speak with Father Ray or Deacon Bob
at any Sunday service, or contact Father Ray at 916-753-9939 or at
The choir meetsWednesdays@ 7:00
Second Wednesday@ 6:45 pm
11
BOUNTY BAGWe’re collecting dry goods, canned
goods, dried cereals, soaps, toothpastetooth brushes or any non-perishables,
We collect Bags ANYTIME!! NO TIME TO SHOP a check to St.
Georges with memo to River city Food Bank (everything is welcome).
SUNDAY SERVICESFamily Service 9 a.m.Sunday School 9 a.m.Traditional Service 10:30 a.m
UArticles are ways welcome...BUT KEEP it short! The best way to submit an article is via my new e-
mail [email protected]
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