“Find the lost; Heal the broken;

Celebrate God’s love for all.”

December 2014 / January 2015

The Hoot

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St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

Holy Eucharist – Sundays at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m. & 5:00 p.m.

Christian Formation (All Ages) – Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

EYC (Youth Group) - Sundays at 3:00 p.m.

Weekly Bible Study – Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m.

7555 Ooltewah-Georgetown Road ♦ Ooltewah, TN 37363

Church Phone: (423) 238-7708; Church Fax: (423) 238-7672

Church Email: sfaec@comcast.net

E-mail for the Rector: louisatp@aol.com

Church Website: www.sfaec.org

The Rt. Rev. George D. Young, III, Bishop of East Tennessee

The Rev. Louisa Parsons, Rector – (423) 238-7708

R.J. Powell, Seminarian—(423) 238-7708

Marie Sugrue, Parish Administrator – (423) 238-7708

William Barger, Organist & Music Director – (423) 309-2662

Charles Nix, Evening Music Coordinator – (423) 605-1882

Caitlin Peabody, Youth Minister – (423) 238-7708

VESTRY

Clerk: Chuck Nix Treasurer: Shelia Crane

Class of 2014

Class of 2015

Class of 2016

Lynn Armstrong

(423) 313-5247

Curtis Baggett (423) 240-1558

Dentzel Landstreet

(423) 667-8222

Jeff Wilson (423) 902-4139

Dexter Cantelou (423) 645-9967

Lenora Lee, Jr. Warden

(423) 637-9126

Cherie Haggard

(423) 344-2337

Stacy Hall, Sr. Warden (423) 802-2862

Greg Love

(706) 218-8700

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We welcome you to the December/January issue of

The Hoot Newsletter. Thank you for taking time

out of the busy season to check out the happenings

at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church. Inside

you will find many opportunities to worship and come together

in fellowship as we prepare for the Nativity of our Lord Jesus

Christ. We hope that you will join us as we wait with

anticipation for Christmas Day. All are welcome in this place

of worship.

The Hoot is published by St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal

Church and the deadline for our next issue is January 5. If you

would like to submit an article or announcement for the next

newsletter, please send it to sfaec@comcast.net.

“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall

bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel .”

Isaiah 7:14

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Message from our Rector

“The best laid plans of mice and men”

In the season of Advent, the story of our Lord’s impending birth

embraces this adage and reminds us that our careful plans uprooted and

changed can still be filled with the Holy. Joseph’s plans for his

marriage to Mary were turned upside down when he learned of her

pregnancy. Joseph knew he was not the baby’s father. Yet, an angel’s

visit quickly changed his intentions to quietly divorce Mary. Instead

Joseph assumed the role of earthly father to this unexpected infant.

We are challenged to remember this adage as we dash around trying to

have the “perfect” Christmas for our family and friends. As tempers

flare at unplanned traffic delays, lost or missing decorations and gifts,

and special foods that did not turn out as intended, we are called to

remember a woman whose time to deliver her baby had come, and

there was “no room in the Inn.”

This year, St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church is joining with other

parishes, both Episcopal and Lutheran, to offer a St. Nicholas Day

Celebration at Battle Academy on December 18 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm.

More details about that event can be found on the Outreach pages of

this newsletter. Still, despite the many plans laid, we did not receive

the names and needs of the 30 children for whom we are buying gifts

until we were going to press with this newsletter.

So Semper Gumby – that always flexible quality we at St. Francis pride

ourselves on having – is the watchword for the coming week. To help

meet the shorter time frame for buying and returning the gifts, which

need to be at Trinity Lutheran for wrapping on Saturday, December 13,

at 10:00 am, St. Francis will be open for drop-off at the following

times:

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Friday, Dec. 5: Late Friday afternoon, the tree will go up in the

Narthex with names and needs.

Saturday, Dec. 6: Church will be open from 2:00 pm - 5:00 pm for

anyone wishing to stop by and pick up the gift

list for one of the children.

Sunday, Dec. 7: Church open from 7:00 am - 7:00 pm.

Monday-Friday,

Dec. 8 –12: Church open from 9:00 am - 3:00 pm.

Wednesday, Dec. 10: Church open from 5:00 pm - 8:00 pm.

Saturday, Dec. 13: Church will be open from 8:00 am - 9:00 am.

Another alternative is to drop the gifts off at Trinity Lutheran on

Hixson Pike at 10:00 am Saturday, December 13.

As we strive to offer a special celebration to children and families, who

would otherwise go without this season, let us remember the true gift of

the Christ’s coming. An unexpected pregnancy and then a delivery in

stable were not in Joseph’s and Mary’s plans, but because they were

open to God’s grace in the midst of their lives, our world has been

forever changed.

Lou †

As a thank you gift to the parish of St. Francis

The Rev. Lou Parsons cordially invites you to an

Epiphany Season Open House

Friday, January 30 ♦ 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.

8321 Georgetown Bay Drive, Ooltewah, TN 37363

Look for RSVP/Sign-up Sheet in January

(423) 238-7708 or sfaec@comcast.net

(Please no gifts.)

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Prints of Stations of the Nativity are available for purchase with proceeds benefiting our Outreach Program. Single prints are $20 each; a complete set of 14 is $250; and the Meditation Book/CD is $50.

Order forms can be found in the Narthex. For more information, contact the office at (423) 238-7708 or sfaec@comcast.net.

Come walk the Stations of the Nativity

and experience this special way to prepare for the birth of the Christ child

6:00 p.m. every Wednesday in Advent

In the Nave at St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church

Station 11

Presentation to Simeon

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Adult Christian Formation — Advent Series

Sundays at 9:00 a.m.

It’s not too late to join us . . . we meet every Sunday at 9:00 a.m. and all are welcome! During Advent, we have a special series taking place. Please see the complete schedule below.

Nov. 30 A Re-introduction to the Stations of the Nativity (lead by Curtis & Suzy Baggett) Dec. 7 Pearl Harbor Day - Childhood Memories of WWII (lead by Arline Caliger) Dec. 14 Christmas Traditions (lead by Elaine Cantelou) Dec. 21 To be announced (lead by Lenora Lee) Dec. 28 Passwords (lead by John Rouser)

Stewardship During the holiday season, we often take time to celebrate with family and

friends the many blessings in our lives. We as a congregation are truly blessed

to have numerous gifts and talents offered by a lot of different people giving us

the ability to help many in our parish and our community.

As the year comes to an end and we reflect back on 2014, let us remember all

the lives we have touched. And in the coming year, let us pray that we can

continue to Find the lost; Heal the broken; and Celebrate God’s love for all.

Greg Love

Stewardship Committee

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Notes From the Music Desk by Bill Barger

You have to do it!

Oh no! Not something else we have to do! Sorry, but if this is to happen, we all must do it. The “it” in this case is to open the door to greater things. First, we must do this for ourselves; then we must do it for those around us and, particularly, for our children. The “door” under consideration is best described by the term “fine arts.” There is a difference between today’s edition of the comic strips and a Shakespearean play. Likewise, there is a difference between the picture panels in the comics and Suzy Baggett’s magnificent paintings that invite our meditation to the Stations of the Nativity. There is a difference between today’s popular music that you hear on the radio and a Beethoven Symphony or a Bach piece for the organ. The difference in between mundane things and what we consider to be fine art is more than just the quality of the items or compositions under consideration. Ordinary things are like newspaper headlines: they glare at us demanding some sort of consideration, but are soon forgotten and discarded. Fine things that we have come to call “art” go much deeper. Art, whether visual, aural, or in some other form is what we might call “the good stuff.” Art invites meditation and delivers spiritual information that is beyond the ordinary. All well and good, but what must we do? In order to appreciate and enjoy art, you must learn about it. The first time you look at one of Suzy’s paintings, you may only think about the story behind the painting. But when you look further, you will discover many more and deeper things there: things beyond words, things even beyond thoughts. This requires knowing a little about “how it works” and being willing, if necessary, to study the form of the art to understand what the experts in that particular field call “good” or “great.” Not too long ago, a former Senior Warden of our church came to me asking for guidance in expanding his understanding of music. I have passed along some information and encouraged him, and he is broadening his appreciation of music as he learns a bit more about the art of music.

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Now, consider that the art class room at the elementary school right across the street from the church is empty, unfurnished, unused. If our society is not to degenerate into a comic strip level of appreciation, we must learn. Those of us who are old enough to study for ourselves must do so. Our children must be exposed to fine art, fine music, fine literature, etc. This means that parents, Christian Formation teachers, and other sincere adults must see to it that every child has the opportunity to know why art is art and not just a picture or tune. Since it is increasingly obvious that the schools are not going to promote the arts, we must do that. If you don’t know anything about or “don’t have any interest” (!) in the arts, I challenge you to learn. As you approach visual art or music, you will most likely find some particular genera that you want to know more about. As you spend time with art, you will expand your horizons in ways you have yet to imagine. Seeing to it that your children take music lessons, go to an occasional concert, and are exposed to good visual art will insure that they grow up with knowledge of what is good beyond the ordinary. By doing this for them you will enrich their lives beyond mere education. Yes, we have to do it if it’s going to get done. I challenge all of us during Advent to expand our horizons and the horizons of those for whom we care.

Christmas Poinsettias can be purchased for $10 Now through December 21

Used to decorate the church for Christmas in memory of family members and friends or

in thanksgiving for people or events in our lives

Sign-up and payment can be made in the Narthex or feel free to contact

the office at sfaec@comcast.net or 238-7708.

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Hello all,

Advent Season is upon us! As I’m sure some of you may have

already heard, we are doing the Jesse Tree for our Advent Study this

year. With the help of the youth and our wonderful seminarian, RJ,

we have come up with a daily devotion to go along with the Jesse

Tree symbols and themes. I hope you all take some time this Advent

to reflect on these passages and try to find a way to share the JOY of

the birth of Christ. You will find the list of devotions on p.12 of this

newsletter.

A few upcoming events:

1. Winterfest, "A gathering of 9th-12th graders for celebration,

exploration, growth, fun & worship in the Episcopal tradition." This

event is held at the DuBose Conference Center Dec. 28th @ 4pm -

Jan. 1 @ 10am. Registration is due Dec. 9th with a $50 deposit.

Please contact me ASAP if you are interested.

2. Sr. High Sabbath is a relaxation weekend at our own camp and

retreat center, Grace Point in Kingston, TN. The dates are Jan. 23-25

and the registration is due Jan. 5th. I love this retreat, and I will most

likely be staffing. I went every year when I was in high school, and it's

a great way to kick back and relax! Contact me with any questions

about this event.

3. I wanted to extend an invitation to the youth to attend the St.

Nicholas Day Celebration on Thursday, December 18, 5:30 to 7:00

p.m. St. Francis is partnering with 5 other churches to serve 150

children and their parents by providing gifts and helping with the

celebration. It would be a great opportunity for the youth to help out

those less fortunate than we are.

E Y C

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4. On DECEMBER 13TH we will be having a youth excursion

to the local ice skating rink in downtown Chattanooga. We will

be meeting at St. Francis at noon and departing for downtown

Chattanooga no later than 12:15. *If something comes up

please contact Caitlin Peabody at (865) 386-1628 and we will

try to work something out.* I hope that all the youth will

consider going, because I know it will be a blast! Our wonderful

Rector, Lou Parsons will also be joining us. Feel free to contact

me with any questions!

I hope that all the youth will consider attending one of the

upcoming Diocesan Events, because I would love for our youth

to be involved at the Diocesan level.

Peace and Blessings this Advent Season,

Caitlin

Greening of the Nave

December 23, 2014 at 6:00 p.m.

Please join us as we decorate the church for Christmas.

Many hands are needed.

For more information, please contact

Lenora Lee at 423-637-9126

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November 30 Genesis 1:1 - 2:4 Creation

December 1 Genesis 2:7-24; 3:1-24 The Garden, The Fall

December 2 Genesis 6:5-22 The Flood

December 3 Genesis 12:1-3 Abraham

December 4 Genesis 22:1-14 Isaac

December 5 Genesis 25:1-34 Jacob

December 6 Genesis 37:23-28 Joseph

December 7 Genesis 41 & 45 Pharaoh

December 8 Exodus 2:1-10; 14:1-31 Moses

December 9 Exodus 19:1-20:20 God

December 10 Ruth 4:1-17 Ruth

December 11 1 Samuel 3:1-18 Samuel

December 12 1 Samuel 16:1-13 David

December 13 1 Samuel 17:12-51 Jesse

December 14 1 Kings 3:5-28 Solomon

December 15 1 Kings 18:19-39 Elijah

December 16 Daniel 6:2-29 Daniel

December 17 Isaiah 9:1-7, 11:1-5 Isaiah

December 18 Luke 1:5-25 Zechariah

December 19 Luke 1:26-55 Mary & Joseph

December 20 Mark 1:1-8 John the Baptist

December 21 Luke 2:1-5 Journey to Bethlehem

December 22 Luke 2:6-15 Birth of Jesus

December 23 Matthew 2:1-12 Magi Visit the Messiah

December 24 John 1:1-18 The Brightest Star

Jesse Tree – Daily Advent Devotions

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Please join us as we celebrate

The Nativity of our Lord

Christmas Eve Services

5:00 p.m. & 10:00 p.m.

Violinists Joel Wilkinson and J. P. Brien-Slack will be

joining St. Francis musicians Bill Barger and Chuck Nix

to present special music at both Christmas Eve services.

Christmas Day Service at 10:00 a.m.

The church office will be closed December 25 & 26 in

observance of the Christmas holiday and again on

January 1 & 2 for the New Year’s holiday.

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St. Francis of Assisi Episcopal Church Women and

Daughters of the King host Annual Pre-Advent Dinner

"Episcopal Appalachian Ministries began

over 45 years ago with a different purpose

and a different name, but its efforts were

always directed toward the people of the

205,000 square foot region known as

Appalachia," The Rev. Gordon Brewer

said at the ECW / Daughters of the King

Pre-Advent Dinner on November 6. “The

founders focused on advocacy and raising

awareness,” he said. “There was a shift to

a missional focus under the second

director (Sandra Ellege).”

"The idea today is to do hands-on

ministry,” Brewer said, "to focus on forging relationships with

people trapped in a region of poverty.” It is now a network of

Episcopal ministries and is funded by its supporting dioceses. “We

want to help people find ideas and ways to provide ministries on a

grassroots level.”

EAM was founded in the 1960s after the General Convention

charged bishops of the region to address “issues connected to the

rampant poverty and social justice issues identified in

Appalachia.” It was called Appalachian People’s Service

Organization and was headed by The Rev. Baldwin “B” Lloyd.

Appalachia covers the spine of the Appalachian Mountains from

southern New York to Mississippi and includes all of West

Virginia and parts of 12 other states. All of its 80 counties are

economically distressed, and poverty rates average 18% compared

to 13% in the rest of the nation. “Eastern Kentucky is like going

into a Third World country,” Brewer said. “The poorest counties

are in coal mine communities.” Brewer gave the history of the

region and explained how the decline of the coal industry had

adversely affected the area.

The Rev. L. Gordon Brewer, Jr., Exec. Coordinator for Episcopal

Appalachian Ministries

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In the 1980s, Ellege assumed leadership of APSO, and the

name was changed to EAM. She began the organization’s

missional focus by establishing Grace House, a work camp in

Wise County, West Virginia. The program continues today,

and three-week summer work camps are held at various sites.

"Summer learning camps are also held to help children who

are struggling academically. Among those was a reading

camp started by an Appalachian Ministry Resource team in

Knoxville," Brewer said. After the 2009 General Convention

a small grants program was started. Grants ranging from

$500 to $3,000 are made to diocesan, parish or community-

based organizations in member dioceses. The funds are used

for “seed money to empower grassroots ministries.” EAM also

holds a Mountain Grace Conference each September that

focuses on ministries. “The last one focused on

communication,” Brewer said.

John Rouser asked Brewer how a parish can help EAM. “I

advise a parish to take on a local ministry,” Brewer said. For

example, three churches in Kingsport designated a day at a

laundromat, called Laundry Love, and provided free soap and

other items to people coming to do laundry. A parish can also

make a contribution for the work of the reading camps,

Contact Episcopal Appalachian Ministries at 423-408-2771 or episcopalappministries@gmail.com.

Emily McDonald

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On a weekly basis I travel through some of the most blighted areas of urban Chattanooga: Bushtown, Alton Park, North Chattanooga, Orchard Knob. Part of my job at Habitat for Humanity of Greater Chattanooga Area is to find suitable property to build a home and place a family. I drive past many dwellings that I cannot remotely imagine a human being living in, much less trying to raise a family. Yet that is the cold reality for many people, mostly single mothers, trying to make the worst of circumstances better. Sure, perhaps mistakes have been made, but the consequences fall heavily on the shoulders of these women and their children. Christmas approaches and to many children a wish list is just that, a wish. But Southside Abby, a downtown ministry supported in part by the Episcopal Diocese of East Tennessee, has found a way to instill hope and bring holiday light. Teachers and staff at Battle Academy, Calvin Donaldson Elementary, and the Bethlehem Center have identified some of the most needy children and obtained their wish lists. These children and their families have been invited to the St. Nicholas Day Celebration held on Thursday, December 18th from 5:30 to 7 pm at Battle Academy, located at the corner of W. Main Street and Market. Families will be served refreshments and take part in several activities. The most popular is an area set up for the kids to “shop” for their parents, have their present wrapped, and take home their gift to give on Christmas morning. Parents receive a food box including Christmas dinner, a bag of personal care items, and the presents that were purchased for their child.

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St. Francis is partnering with 5 other churches to do all of this for 150 children and their parents. What will it take? We have committed to: 1) Provide 5 gifts for each of the 30 children whose names are on a tree on our missions table; 2) Help wrap gifts the Saturday before the Celebration; 3) Contribute small, new items for children to select from for the mother or grandmother raising them; 4) Provide healthy snacks, help set-up, serve, and clean up from the party. Details, dates, times and sign-up sheets are located at our missions table. Please help us fulfill our commitment and play a big part in this holiday outreach project.

December:

Praying for Project Canterbury

Liturgy begins and ends with the work of the Altar Guild. To care for the sacred vessels, the bread and the wine, the fair linens and hangings and the candles used for worship in the Sanctuary is far more than a task, it is a true ministry. We are told that all things must be done "properly and in good order." It is the

work of the Altar Guild that makes it possible to do so. The contribution of each Altar Guild member is important; together these contributions are a devotion to the greater glory of God. As we conclude another year, I would like to thank the members of the Altar Guild here at St. Francis of Assisi for their hard work and dedication. Peace, Lenora Lee

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ROTA FOR DECEMBER 2014

If you are unable to serve, please arrange for a substitute and notify the office.

Ministry Dec. 7 Dec. 14 Dec. 21 Dec. 28 Lessons & Carols

8:00 Opener

Ed McCoy

Charles Park

John Rouser

Ed McCoy

Altar Guild

Becky McCoy &

Elaine

Cantelou

Lenora Lee &

Jeannie

Greenwell

Debbie

Satterfield &

Shelia Crane

Becky McCoy &

Elaine

Cantelou

Verger

John Rouser

Carol Woody

Dexter Cantelou

Doug Hamm

Greeters

David & Joan

Rose

Dexter & Elaine

Cantelou

Andy & Stacy

Hall

Dentzel & Kathy

Landstreet

Ushers

Doug & Ellen

Hamm

Andy & Stacy

Hall

John Croteau &

Mary Burgette

David & Joan

Rose

Crucifer

Peter Ceren

Brennan Bagli

Abby Worlen

Joe Greenwell

1st Lesson

Carol Woody

Greg Love

Lenora Lee

We will be

posting a sign-up

sheet for Readers

2nd Lesson

Hannah Bagli

Joan Rose

Mary Burgette

We will be

posting a sign-up

sheet for Readers

Prayers of the

People

Dexter Cantelou

Mary Burgette

Joe Greenwell

Worship Leader:

John Rouser

Server

John Rouser

R.J. Powell

John Rouser

Lessons & Carols

Liturgy

Vestry

Counters

Curtis Baggett &

Stacy Hall

Curtis Baggett

& Stacy Hall

Curtis Baggett

& Stacy Hall

Curtis Baggett

& Stacy Hall

Eucharistic

Ministers

Dentzel & Kathy

Landstreet

Doug & Ellen

Hamm

Greg Love &

Lenora Lee

Lessons & Carols

Liturgy

Refreshments

David & Joan

Rose

Johanna Snyder

TBD

TBD

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December:

2-John Rouser 5-Dot Patten

13-Mary Ceren 14-Lynn & Bo Armstrong’s Anniversary

18-Charlie Curle 19-Suzanne McKenzie

20-Carol Woody 21-Tye Daugherty

22-Sue Scruggs 23-Tom Drake 25-Lee Murray

26-Mary Burgette 27-Jeremy Bramblett

Mary & Al Ceren’s Anniversary 29-Kat Cantelou

30-Sharleen Rhinock 31-Stacy & Andy Hall’s Anniversary

January:

1-Gary Morton 2 – Jack Grande

3-Chris Armstrong 8 – Marcia Birdsall

10-Doug Hamm 11-David Rose

14-Bill & Pat Allen’s Anniversary 16-Curtis Baggett

18-Tim Parkes 24-Ed & Becky McCoy’s Anniversary

27 – Joe Greenwell

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DEADLINE for the next Hoot is January 5, 2015.

Please email articles to sfaec@comcast.net.

“Lord, calm our anxious hearts. Help us to be still in body, mind, and spirit this Advent Season, that

we might hear with peaceful hearts what you say to us. In the name of Your Son, our Lord, Jesus

Christ. Amen.”