12
St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church Sudbury, Massachusetts December 2014 A s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities to spend time tending to your soul and your relationship with God. Advent Quiet Day On Saturday, December 13 th , we’ll be hosting an Advent Quiet Day, a kind of mini-retreat, at the church. We’ll have gathering time with coffee and refreshments at 9:30am, and the program will run from 10:00am to 12:30pm. The materials we’ll be using were developed for adults by catechists in the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program, materials, which they describe as a “contemplative prayer journey through the miraculous birth of Christ.” Participants will be invited to spend time at various prayer stations. The stations are centered around a verse of Scripture, either a prophecy about Christ from the Old Testament, or part of the story of his birth. Each station provides an opportunity for reflection with meditation questions, art materials, and more. We invite you to dress comfortably and bring your journals. Please sign up by emailing Jack at [email protected]. If you are able to make a nominal donation to help cover the costs of materials, we would greatly appreciate it. We hope that this Quiet Day will help us make room for Christ to be born in our hearts and in our lives. Longest Night Service The holiday season brings with it a constant refrain of family, togetherness, celebration, giving, and happiness, which reminds many people of what they have lost, or have never had. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member; it may be a time that has always been difficult. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending. We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern, and we need to know that we are not alone. So this year, we will be holding a Longest Night Service on Monday, December 22 nd at 7pm. It will be a place to bring our struggles and sadness, and to remember that Jesus comes to shine a light into our darkness. Opportunities for Time with God During Advent Christmas Worship Schedule Christmas Eve 3:00 PM Holy Eucharist II and Pageant 10:00 PM Christmas Music 10:30 PM Holy Eucharist II Christmas Day 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist II First Sunday of Christmas For more on St. E’s Christmas Pageant and sign-up details, please turn to page 8

Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

  • Upload
    others

  • View
    0

  • Download
    0

Embed Size (px)

Citation preview

Page 1: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

St. Elizabeth’s Episcopal Church Sudbury, Massachusetts December 2014

A s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these

opportunities to spend time tending to your soul and your relationship with God.

Advent Quiet Day

On Saturday, December 13th, we’ll be hosting an Advent Quiet Day, a kind of mini-retreat, at the

church. We’ll have gathering time with coffee and refreshments at 9:30am, and the program will run

from 10:00am to 12:30pm. The materials we’ll be using were developed for adults by catechists in the

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Program, materials, which they describe as a “contemplative prayer

journey through the miraculous birth of Christ.” Participants will be invited to spend time at various

prayer stations. The stations are centered around a verse of Scripture, either a prophecy about Christ

from the Old Testament, or part of the story of his birth. Each station provides an opportunity for

reflection with meditation questions, art materials, and more. We invite you to dress comfortably and

bring your journals. Please sign up by emailing Jack at [email protected]. If you are able to make a nominal donation to

help cover the costs of materials, we would greatly appreciate it. We hope that this Quiet Day will help us make room for Christ to

be born in our hearts and in our lives.

Longest Night Service

The holiday season brings with it a constant refrain of family, togetherness, celebration, giving, and happiness, which reminds many

people of what they have lost, or have never had. It may be the first Christmas without a loved family member; it may be a time that

has always been difficult. The anguish of broken relationships, the insecurity of unemployment, the weariness of ill health, the pain

of isolation - all these can make us feel very alone in the midst of the celebrating and spending.

We need the space and time to acknowledge our sadness and concern, and we need to know that we are not alone. So this year, we

will be holding a Longest Night Service on Monday, December 22nd at 7pm. It will be a place to bring our struggles and sadness, and

to remember that Jesus comes to shine a light into our darkness.

Opportunities for Time with God During Advent

Christmas Worship Schedule

Christmas Eve

3:00 PM Holy Eucharist II and Pageant

10:00 PM Christmas Music

10:30 PM Holy Eucharist II

Christmas Day

10:00 AM Holy Eucharist II

First Sunday of Christmas

For more on St. E’s Christmas

Pageant and sign-up details,

please turn to page 8

Page 2: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

The Mantle December 2014

2

From Our Rector by The Rev. Barbara Williamson

Dear Friends,

W ith the first Sunday of Advent, we begin a new liturgical year. For

the Advent season again we will use the Advent Worship Booklet

developed a few years ago by the Rev. Christine Visminas from a variety of

authorized sources. The entire worship service (save the Collect of the Day,

the Readings, the Service Music and Hymns) will be contained in a reusable

publication that will remain in the pews from week to week leading up to

Christmas.

There are a few additional changes we would like to try. I have found over the last five to seven years that it is increasingly difficult

to recruit parishioners to join the ranks of Eucharistic Ministers (EMs). EMs historically at St. E’s are the people who vest in white

albs, process and recess with the choir and clergy, read the first lesson, lead the psalm, lead the prayers of the people, assist at the

altar, and handle the chalices at the rail.

There are barriers to serving as Eucharistic Ministers, making recruiting for these

positions difficult. Some people don’t want to “dress up”, i.e., vest in an alb for the

service. Some teach or aid in the Church School program and are not available during the

first half of the service. Some don’t want to handle a chalice because they need to be in

the pew with their young children. Or some sing in the choir and are not available during

the second half of the service.

Beginning with Advent 1, I propose to break down the various roles for the laity in the

Sunday morning 10 AM service to make participation more accessible to a wider range of

parishioners. So, for instance, the person who reads the first lesson and leads the psalm

would not necessarily have to handle a chalice. The person who leads the prayers of the

people would not necessarily have to handle a chalice. It would not be necessary for any

of the lay participants (except the Crucifer) to vest or process. Parishioners could come

up from the congregation to perform their roles just as the bread bearer, the third station

chalice bearer, and the healing minister do now. This means that a Church School teacher

could handle a chalice if he or she wanted to. This means that the person who reads the

lesson and leads the psalm would not have to handle a chalice if she or he didn’t want to.

The parishioners who currently serve as EMs are still welcome to vest, process, and do what they have always done. Or they can sit

in the pew and come up to do what they have always done. Or they can sit in the pew and come up just to read a lesson or just to

handle a chalice or just to lead the prayers of the people. There are lots of options, including continuing to serve exactly as before.

This proposal has two aims: (1) to make serving more accessible to a broader range of parishioners, not to take away from anyone

currently serving the ministry they cherish and the way they do it; and (2) to beef up the ranks of volunteers so that the small

number of EMs we currently have are not overburdened by serving every Sunday.

The other change is the way the readers end the lesson. Historically, the reader has said, “The Word of the Lord,” and the people

respond, “Thanks be to God.” The people’s response will stay the same, but the readers will end the lesson by saying, “Hear what

the Spirit is saying to God’s people.” This “new” way of ending the lesson is actually not new at all. It has been used at the national

church and diocesan levels for over a decade. I have simply been slow to implement the change, not because I am resistant, rather

because I have never gotten around to it.

I welcome your feedback. Please speak to me if you have questions or concerns about these proposed changes. Alternatively you

can be in contact with Jack, the Wardens, or any Vestry member. Liturgy is, after all, the work of the people, and we want the needs

and desires of the people addressed.

Wishing you all blessings in Christ,

Barbara

This proposal has two aims: (1) to

make serving more accessible to a

broader range of parishioners, not

to take away from anyone

currently serving the ministry

they cherish and the way they do

it; and (2) to beef up the ranks of

volunteers so that the small

number of EMs we currently

have are not overburdened by

serving every Sunday.

Page 3: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

December 2014 The Mantle

3

Wardens’ Words by Walter Morgan, Co-Warden

“A Lot To Give”

This is not about money.

I recently read Piper Kerman’s bestseller, Orange Is The New Black. It is about a privileged,

somewhat spoiled, recent Smith College graduate from Massachusetts who, through youthful

indiscretion and risk taking, became an inadvertent participant in the international drug trade. The drug

ring got busted, and she was identified some time later, after she had moved on and straightened herself

out. Eventually, after a protracted investigation and trial, she was sentenced to serve time in federal

prison about 10 years after the crime. Holy smokes!

Young, pretty, privileged, upper class Episcopalian young woman: meet your roomies for the next 15

months! Coming to grips with her fears, insecurities, and daily trials as she conforms to prison life and

learns to navigate among her fellow inmates and the system makes for an interesting biopic: life on the

inside through a perspective that we can relate to. Stripped bare of protection, vulnerable, scared,

humiliated, feeling worthless, but never feeling sorry for herself, she eventually discovers some amazing

truths about herself, God, and human nature. These moments occupy a small space in the book, but are

significant and imbue the character and her writing as she tells her tale.

She is in with women who are mostly from desperate backgrounds, with little or no education, who literally

have nothing, little future and who live with, or manifest, constant danger. Many of whom were selfish,

unrepentant, and mean; all from hard, thankless existences. Yet, in spite of their circumstances, several

women she meets responded to their lives and circumstances in a different way.

These women lived lives of extraordinary kindness and calmness in the midst of this adversity. How could this be? A couple of

women that she became close to confided that they had a quiet yet unshakeable belief in God’s love: that God was with them at

every moment. They weren’t “holy rollers”, nor schooled in biblical verse, not necessarily Christian, and certainly not proselytizing.

Our character, being cynical, jaundiced, lapsed, shunned “religion” in general and it’s various vocal adherents. However, these

women were different. Quiet, strong, they lived this faith in prison “on the street” so to speak. They did not talk repentance or

forgiveness, only love.

In the midst of tragic lives, they were focused on what they had to give, not what they wanted. As Kerman says “was it such a bad

thing if faith helped someone understand what others needed from them, rather than thinking about themselves?” Simple acts,

simply being kind, simply being helpful – it made a world of difference for the author in prison. And it set a deep example. For the

first time she understood how faith could help people see beyond themselves “not into the abyss, but into the street, into the mix, to

offer what was best about themselves to others”.

Inspired by these examples of prison women who really “had nothing”, she began to understand and be amazed at their conviction

that they had so much to give. She discovered in herself that it was more about what she had to give to others, and, indeed, she had

a lot to give. The flip side of giving to others is self-centeredness, and she began to understand her own crime, and those of others as

acts of selfishness.

The acts of love that brought her to a new and more meaningful life, a new understanding of God and faith, consisted of small

kindnesses and kind words. Not sought, but freely given, in a quiet way. They made all the difference.

Walter

Page 4: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

The Mantle December 2014

4

W e opened our November meeting with a devotional led

by Barbara. She reflected on how recently she had been

feeling an overwhelming sense of thankfulness to God. We were

invited to share a period of silence to reflect on what we are all

thankful for in our own lives. We all shared the small and large

things in our lives that we are all thankful for.

We moved into a discussion about the development of a Human

Resources process for all staff at St. Elizabeth's. Currently there

is no HR procedure and Barbara has not received a formal

review in over 10 years. Beth Grous is working closely with the

wardens to develop this process in order to enable the church to

provide constructive feedback to all on staff. In addition, within

the next year, the church plans to embark on a Mutual Ministry

Review where parishioners explore what they are looking for

from the rector and the rector examines her needs from the

parish.

Jeremy updated us on the Vestry nominating committee. They

have had one person agree to join for the 2015 Vestry, one

person respectfully declined and one is prayerfully considering.

Also they are still in the process of discerning Diocesan

Convention representatives and Deanery representatives.

We moved into the reports section of our meeting where Barbara

gave us a stewardship update. She is pleased to report that

pledges are coming in at an “unprecedented clip” and we are

well on track to meet our pledge goals for 2015. She also

discussed some strategies she has in mind for making serving

in various worship service roles more accessible to parishioners.

The vestry was also given a tutorial in proper microphone usage.

We would be happy to share our new found skills to anyone

who makes an announcement at the end of the 10 AM service!

Jack provided us with exciting input from the Outreach meeting

on 11/16. It was extremely well attended and had great energy.

She also pointed out that the Newcomer's brunch was well

attended by new families and current parish leadership.

We stretched our legs with a hymn and snack break. When we

returned, Cheryl updated us on financials. We are still behind

budget on pledges year to date and are hopeful we catch up by

the end of the year. In addition, with added un-budgeted

expenses and a delay in renting out the rectory due to necessary

updates, we are running at a significant deficit. We also were

given a comprehensive and informative “tutorial” presentation

on how clergy compensation is calculated in anticipation of our

budgeting discussion on the agenda for our December meeting.

The “total clergy compensation” is based on a series of formulas

set by the diocese at the Diocesan Convention. We also voted to

approve the September and October financial statements as

presented.

We deferred our Design Review Committee discussion to a later

date as Michael could not join us this month.

Steve Kenney wanted to let us know that at next month’s

Finance Committee meeting a representative from the Diocesan

Investment Trust will be visiting to provide guidance in

investing our endowment.

Barbara provided special recognition of the work of Sam Owen,

a non-parishioner candidate for Eagle Scout who worked

tirelessly and methodically to replace the steps from the chapel.

His work is top notch. We are very blessed to have him take on

this project. Barbara plans to invite him to the 12/7 service for

recognition for his hard work and dedication to the project.

We adjourned, a little late, with a prayer.

Kiersten

Vestry Notes by Kiersten Varner, Vestry Member

Thank you to all who helped make the services and the time for adults in the atrium (Children Visit the Church—Adults Visit an Atrium) such a success on November 9th!

Help Needed: Parents, please remember to sign up to help in the Level 1 or Level 2 atrium. There should be a sign up sheet outside each atrium that shows which Sundays helpers are still needed. Thank you.

Transitional Atrium: Susan Dewey, Sarah Duffy, Eric Becker

Level I: Ruth Griesel, Suzie Kornblum

Level II: Kihm Sanders, Emmy Cole, Mara Huston, Derek Zurn

Level III: Kris Wile, Lisa Kenney, Angela Crocker

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Atrium News compiled by Susan Berry

user
Sticky Note
Page 5: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

December 2014 The Mantle

5

With the support of the Rite 13ers, The Giving Tree

will be set up in the main hallway on December 6th, in

time for the Dickens Dinner. As in the past many years,

we'll provide gifts for two Sudbury families, and hats,

mittens, Dunkin’ Donut cards and socks for the

homeless through Ecclesia Ministries. There will be gift

tag ornaments hanging on the tree which will identify

the requested gift(s). Please help yourselves to a tag or

two. The gifts should be returned unwrapped along

with their associated gift ornaments no later than the

16th of December. This year, Rite 13ers will also be

selling books at coffee hour for our first grade class at

the Blackstone School in Boston. The Outreach

committee will make sure that all the gifts get to the

proper place. Look for more information to come!

Thanks in advance for your generosity in supporting

this wonderful Outreach Project.

Lucie St. George 978-443-2998

Kristin Fisher 978-443-8077

Safe Church Policy

at St. Elizabeth’s Church

All volunteers working with infants, children,

adolescents, young adults and at risk parishioners are

required to complete either an online or group Safe

Church training certified by the Diocese of

Massachusetts. Online training is available, at no cost, to

all volunteers at St. Elizabeth’s. You must also have had

a CORI check done within the past 3 years. Please

contact Peg in the office at [email protected] to

get certified.

November seems to have rushed by

with lots of music making,

fellowship and listening. In

particular; Bonnie Brown (Violin),

Ken Brown (Guitar) and Larry Wolfe (Bass) gave us a fantastic

Coffee House evening on November 16th with approximately

80 people in attendance. The music was an amazing, toe-

tapping delight! And, the Adult Choir did a yeoman's job of

setting up and providing sweets, savouries, hot mulled cider,

coffee and tea. An evening we hope to repeat with our Artist

in Residence: Bonnie Brown.

That same week the choir served at the Miracle Kitchen in

Framingham. A full week for the Adult Choir.

Now, as we enter the season of Advent the choir is preparing

anthems such as: "Watchman Tell Us of the Night" by Alan

Hovhaness (Jonathan Wood, bass solo), "This is the Record of

John" by Orlando Gibbons (Kenter Davies, tenor solo) a prelude

and Postlude provided by Andrew (flute) and Clarissa ('cello)

Briasco Stewart and "Mary's Magnificat" by Andrew Carter

(Nancy Morgan, soprano solo). Both choirs are rehearsing

music for Christmas Eve with instrumental solos by young

members at the Pageant Service and our brass and violin

accompaniments at the 10 pm Carol Sing as well as throughout

the service. The Adult Choir will sing "Lullay My Liking" by

Holst and the "Gloria" from Daniel Pinkhams' Christmas

Cantata.

It is not too late to join with either choir to prepare for the

Christmas music. Just speak with Mary Sue to sign up for this

magical season of music-making.

HELP NEEDED: Our loyal and hardworking youth choir

administrators will be away during the month of January. So .

. . we need someone(s) to volunteer to help us out for that

period. Any parent or church school teacher could do this,

prepare binders and herd the kids when they come up after

church school and assist with choir vestments. Let Mary Sue

know if you might be able to help us in the short term. Thanks.

Mary Sue

[email protected]

From the Organ Bench

by Mary Sue Willie,

Music Director

Page 6: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

30

1st

Advent

8:0

0 A

M H

oly

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

9:4

5 A

M N

o C

hurc

h S

chool (C

OG

S, Rite 1

3,

J2A, &

YAC)

10

:00

AM

Holy

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

(Baptism

)

11

:15

AM

Youth

Choir R

ehears

al (d

irect

ly

aft

er

the 1

0 A

M s

erv

ice)

1

12

:00

PM

- 2

:00

PM

Sudbury

Cle

rgy A

ssn.

Lunch

(PH

)

7:3

0 P

M B

uild

ings

and

Gro

unds

Meeting (

MPR)

2

10

:00

AM

Bib

le S

tudy (

MPR)

11

:00

AM

Sta

ff M

eeting

(Barb

ara

's O

ffic

e)

12

:30

PM

- 3

:00

PM

Musi

c

Pla

nnin

g M

eeting (

MPR)

7:0

0 P

M -

9:3

0 P

M S

tephen

Min

istr

y T

rain

ing (

MPR)

3

7:3

0 A

M W

ard

ens

Meeting

(MPR)

7:3

0 P

M E

venin

g B

ible

Stu

dy

(MPR)

4

10

:00

AM

Tai Chi (P

H)

3:0

0 P

M H

ealin

g &

Pra

yer

Gro

up M

eeting

(J2A r

oom

)

7:0

0 P

M C

hoir R

ehears

-

al (M

PR)

5

6

6:3

0 P

M -

9:3

0 P

M D

ick-

ens

Din

ner

7

Giv

ing T

ree g

oes

up

8:0

0 A

M H

oly

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

8:4

5 A

M C

OG

S M

onth

ly M

eeting (

MPR)

9:4

5 A

M C

hurc

h S

chool (C

OG

S, Rite 1

3, J2

A,

& Y

AC)

10

:00

AM

Holy

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

11

:15

AM

Youth

Choir R

ehears

al (d

irect

ly

aft

er

the 1

0 A

M s

erv

ice)

8

7:0

0 P

M F

inance

Com

mit-

tee M

eeting (

PH

)

9

10

:00

AM

Bib

le S

tudy (

MPR)

11

:00

AM

Sta

ff M

eeting

(Barb

ara

's O

ffic

e)

6:0

0 P

M M

iracl

e K

itch

en

(Fra

min

gham

)

7:0

0 P

M -

9:3

0 P

M S

tephen

Min

istr

y T

rain

ing (

MPR)

10

7:3

0 A

M W

ard

ens

Meeting

(MPR)

11

Jack

& B

arb

ara

out

of

the o

ffic

e a

t Fre

sh S

tart

10

:00

AM

Tai Chi (P

H)

3:0

0 P

M H

ealin

g &

Pra

yer

Gro

up M

eeting

(J2A r

oom

)

7:0

0 P

M C

hoir R

ehears

-

al (M

PR)

12

1

3

9:3

0 A

M -

12

:30

PM

Advent

Quie

t

Day

14

Giv

ing T

ree g

ifts

are

retu

rned

Pageant

Rehears

al- a

fter

youth

choir p

ract

ice

(Churc

h)

8:0

0 A

M H

oly

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

9:4

5 A

M C

hurc

h S

chool (C

OG

S, Rite 1

3, J2

A,

& Y

AC)

10

:00

AM

Holy

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

11

:15

AM

Youth

Choir R

ehears

al (d

irect

ly

aft

er

the 1

0 A

M s

erv

ice)

15

6:5

0 P

M V

est

ry M

eeting

(MPR)

16

10

:00

AM

Bib

le S

tudy (

MPR)

11

:00

AM

Sta

ff M

eeting -

to

be r

esc

hedule

d

7:0

0 P

M -

9:3

0 P

M S

tephen

Min

istr

y T

rain

ing (

MPR)

17

January

Mantle a

rtic

les

are

due

7:3

0 A

M W

ard

ens

Meeting

(MPR)

7:3

0 P

M E

venin

g B

ible

Stu

dy

(MPR)

18

10

:00

AM

Tai Chi (P

H)

3:0

0 P

M H

ealin

g &

Pra

yer

Gro

up M

eeting

(J2A r

oom

)

7:0

0 P

M C

hoir R

ehears

-

al (M

PR)

19

2

0

21

Pageant

Rehears

al- a

fter

youth

choir p

ract

ice

(Churc

h)

8:0

0 A

M H

oly

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

9:4

5 A

M C

hurc

h S

chool (C

OG

S, Rite 1

3, J2

A,

& Y

AC)

10

:00

AM

Holy

Euch

arist

II

- Churc

h

11

:15

AM

Youth

Choir R

ehears

al (d

irect

ly

aft

er

the 1

0 A

M s

erv

ice)

22

7:0

0 P

M T

he L

ongest

Nig

ht

Serv

ice -

Holy

Eu-

charist

II

- Churc

h

23

10

:00

AM

Bib

le S

tudy (

MPR)

11

:00

AM

Sta

ff M

eeting

(Barb

ara

's O

ffic

e)

24

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

7:3

0 A

M W

ard

ens

Meeting

(MPR)

3:0

0 P

M H

oly

Euch

arist

II-

Churc

h-C

hrist

mas

Pageant

10

:00

PM

Christ

mas

Musi

c

(Churc

h)

10

:30

PM

Christ

mas

Eve H

oly

Euch

arist

II

-Churc

h

25

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

10

:00

AM

Christ

mas

Day H

oly

Euch

arist

II

-

Churc

h

26

Sch

ool Vaca

tion

Week

27

Sch

ool Vaca

tion

Week

28

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

9:4

5 A

M N

o C

hurc

h S

chool (C

OG

S, Rite 1

3,

J2A, &

YAC)

10

:00

AM

Holy

Euch

arist

II

- Less

ons

& C

ar-

ols

- C

hurc

h

11

:15

AM

Youth

Choir R

ehears

al (d

irect

ly

aft

er

the 1

0 A

M s

erv

ice)

29

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

30

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

10

:00

AM

Bib

le S

tudy (

MPR)

11

:00

AM

Sta

ff M

eeting

(Barb

ara

's O

ffic

e)

31

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

7:3

0 A

M W

ard

ens

Meeting

(MPR)

1

Off

ice C

lose

d-N

ew

Years

Day

Sch

ool Vaca

tion W

eek

2

Sch

ool Vaca

tion

Week

3

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

Saturday

DEC

EMB

ER 2

01

4

Page 7: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

Mira

cle

Kitc

hen

Coo

rdin

ator

:

Ste

vie

Spi

na

Kitc

hen

Ang

el:

Lou

ise

Ben

del

Dec

embe

r 7

2nd

Sun

day

in A

dven

t

Dec

embe

r 14

3rd

Sun

day

in A

dven

t

Dec

embe

r 21

4thS

unda

y

in A

dven

t

Dec

embe

r 24

Chr

istm

as

Pag

eant

Dec

embe

r

24

Chr

istm

as

Eve

Dec

embe

r

25

Chr

istm

as

Day

Dec

embe

r

28

Les

sons

&

Car

ols

Pre

ache

r T

he R

ev. Jacq

ue

line

Cla

rk

The R

ev.

Barb

ara

W

illia

mson

The R

ev.

Jacquelin

e C

lark

N

o p

reacher

T

he R

ev.

Barb

ara

W

illia

mson

No p

reacher

Euc

h. M

in.

8 A

M J

im P

ete

rs

10 A

M K

iers

ten

Varn

er

Bets

y W

alli

ngfo

rd

8 A

M J

ohn

Bra

ckett

10 A

M S

teve

Davie

s

Jim

Pete

rs

8 A

M J

im N

ew

ton

10 A

M I

an

Spri

ngste

el

Jake F

isher

3:0

0 P

M B

ets

y

Walli

ngfo

rd

TB

A

10:0

0 P

M S

tuart

H

am

ilton

S

ara

Kim

ble

10:0

0 A

M H

arr

y

Ain

sw

ort

h

10:0

0 A

M S

tuart

Ham

ilton

Bre

adbe

arer

&

Thi

rd S

tatio

n

Janic

e D

arias/

The R

ev.

Barb

ara

W

illia

mson

Larr

y S

tew

art

Dan K

na

ul/

The R

ev.

Jacquelin

e C

lark

T

BA

Larr

y S

tew

art

/ T

he R

ev.

Jacquelin

e C

lark

C

liff

Card

TB

A/

Cle

rgy

TB

A

Lec

tor

John M

cN

eill

E

lizabeth

Webb

W

alter

Morg

an

Eric K

imble

Aco

lyte

(s)

Jake F

isher

TB

A

Ric

k W

ats

on

T

he L

epord

o

Fam

ily

The D

ew

ey

Fam

ily

TB

A

Andre

w B

riasco

-

Ste

wart

Hea

ling

Min

iste

r Jim

Pete

rs

TB

A

Jane G

raham

Mand

y F

lem

ing

Ves

try

Per

son

of

the

Day

Dave M

itche

ll S

tuart

Pe

ase

T

BA

C

raig

Sta

fford

E

rica T

reese

Kie

rste

n V

arn

er

Ush

ers

John R

om

ain

B

on

nie

Po

we

ll

Pat C

off

in

Ra

y C

onsid

ine

B

ob &

Peg

gy

Da

wson

R

ichard

Cass

TB

A

TB

A &

TB

A

Alta

r G

uild

8 A

M

10 A

M

8 A

M

10 A

M

8 A

M

10 A

M

3 P

M

10 P

M

10 A

M

8 A

M

10A

M

Cof

fee

Ser

ver

TB

A

Kristine M

itch

ell

Bets

y W

alli

ngfo

rd

K

ristin F

isher

Page 8: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

The Mantle December 2014

8

Christmas Pageant 2014

On Christmas Eve each year, the children of St. Elizabeth's share the story of the birth of

Jesus during our Annual Christmas Pageant. From wise men to barnyard animals, there is a

part of everyone (pre-school through fifth grade). This year's pageant will place on

Christmas Eve, Wednesday, December 24, 2014 at 3:00PM.

The speaking parts are: The non-speaking parts are:

Narrators (4) Three Kings

Gabriel The Star

Joseph Angels

Mary Shepherds

Inn Keeper(s) Beasts (cows, doves, sheep, donkey)

Rehearsals: There will be 3 rehearsals after the 10:00 service on December 7, December 14 and December 21.

Costumes will be distributed on 12/21.

Christmas Eve: Please arrive in costume no later than 2:15. Please wear neutral colored clothing under costumes and socks or

tights (no shoes, please).

Sign up: Please email Kristen Collins at [email protected] by 11/30 with the following information or fill out the sign up

sheet and drop it off at the office:

Parent name/email

Child's name

Child's age/grade

1st choice role

2nd choice role

We hope your children will be able to join this special Christmas

tradition at St. Elizabeth's Church!

Sincerely,

Kristine Robak and Kristen Collins

Page 9: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

December 2014 The Mantle

9

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO YOU!

Kristine Robak, Thomas Blesso, Hanna Wagner, Erica Treese, Toby McKay,

Derek Zurn, Alec Keilen, Carol Dicker, Mary Cubelli, Walter Morgan, Austin

Rourke, Stacy Rosander, Gayle Namchuk, Nathan Brewton, Brielle Bonin,

Mileyna Acevedo, Meg Knaul, Jacqueline Blesso, Daniel Kilkenny, Richard

Kornblum, Phillip Cass, Dave Wallingford, Julianne Greene, Devin Lembeck,

John Stevens, David Spina, Elizabeth Dewey, Arlene Stevens, Richard Cass,

Josh Liberman, Ian Herel, Harrison Brewton, Brian Davenport, Pat Coffin,

Maggie Watson, Jane Nixon, and Christopher Sheldon. BIRTHDAYS

Volunteer Opportunities @ St. E’s

St. Elizabeth's has a proud history and culture of volunteerism and service. We invite

you to explore one or more of the various volunteer activities available across our

parish. Click here to see how you can help:

http://st-elizabeths.org/volunteer.shtml

Thank you for making a difference!

Looking to share the love to the wider world both near and far?

If so, the outreach committee is gearing up for an

exciting and faith filling 2015. Join us at our next

meeting on January 11 @ 11:30 am in the Multipurpose

room. In the meantime, please reach out to David

Varner ([email protected]) if you have any

questions or ideas about outreach.

Save the date!

Mark your Calendar for

St. Elizabeth’s Annual Meeting, Sunday, February 8

following the 10 AM Service

Committee Reports are due on January 9

Page 10: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

The Mantle December 2014

10

New Knitting/Crocheting Group

Are you interested in knitting for charity? Would you

like to learn how to knit? We would like to gauge

interest in a knitting/crocheting group to knit or

crochet for charity. We would meet to work on projects

like hats, mittens, scarves, or blankets for Ecclesia

Ministries or hospitals. If you don’t know how to knit,

no worries--we will have an instructor for the first 4 to

6 weeks to offer instruction. Please reply if you are

interested, please let Jack know at jack_clark@st-

elizabeths.org. We would love to have you join us!

SURVEY: Social Media Usage at St. Elizabeth's

The St. Elizabeth's Communications Committee:

- publishes the monthly Mantle newsletter

- coordinates St. E's news with local media outlets

- updates the communications bulletin board in the Parish Hall

- manages the st-elizabeths.org website

The Communications Committee is currently exploring how St. E's can effectively use

social media sites, such as Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Flickr, LinkedIn, Instagram,

etc.

Do you use social media? If so, we invite you to fill out this quick online social media

survey form and let us know which sites you use, and send us your ideas on how we can best to utilize these networks. Survey

Link: http://st-elizabeths.org/socialmediasurvey

The Communications Committee will be meeting in January to discuss social media. We invite anyone interested to attend. For

more information, email Paul Grous at [email protected].

Page 11: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

December 2014 The Mantle

11

Watch the video created to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of

St. Elizabeth’s here: http://st-elizabeths.org/church50.shtml

And the video created to commemorate the 100th Anniversary of

St. E’s Chapel on May 18, 2014 here: http://st-elizabeths.org/

chapel.shtml.

To view photos of the October 5th celebration, go to:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/timweldon/

sets/72157648013977439/

Enjoy!

Free Consultation on

Personal Financial

Concerns

As a pro bono service to his fellow

parishioners, Bob Dawson, a Certified

Financial Planner, will make himself

available at St. E’s in the Multi-Purpose

room from 4 to 5:30 pm Tuesday,,

December 8th and December 30nd.

The consultation is open to anyone who

needs assistance with any financial issue

or challenge. These may include

unemployment, managing debt,

financing college education, retirement

planning, investing, long term care,

social security, budgeting, getting

organized as well as wills and estate

planning. If you would like to meet with

Bob, please contact him first at

[email protected] to schedule a

time.

Page 12: Opportunities for Time with God During Advent 2014 12.pdf · 2014. 11. 25. · s we head into the frenzied whirlwind of Advent, we invite you to join us at church for these opportunities

St. Elizabeth's Episcopal Church invites seekers to share the joys and challenges of a journey of faith. Following the teachings of Jesus Christ and guided by scripture, tradition, and reason, we proclaim by word and action the love of God. We seek to serve and praise Christ in all people by celebrating the greatness of God's creation and all its creatures, helping those in need, and striving for justice and peace in all areas of our common life.

One Morse Rd., Sudbury, MA 01776 978-443-6035

www.st-elizabeths.org

The Rev. Barbara S. Williamson, Rector

[email protected]

The Rev. Jacqueline Clark, Assistant Rector

[email protected]

Mary Sue Willie, Director of Music

[email protected]

Peg Scarlata, Parish Administrator

[email protected]

Walter Morgan & Jeremy Perisho, Co-Wardens

[email protected]

Save the date for …

December 1 Dickens Dinner Signup Deadline

December 6 Dickens Dinner

December 7 Final payment for Winter Weekend is due

December 13 Advent Quiet Day, 9:30 AM—12:30 PM (Parish Hall)

December 17 January Mantle deadline. Submit articles to [email protected] by midnight

December 22 Longest Night Service, 7 PM (Church)

December 24 Holy Eucharist and Christmas Pageant, 3 PM (Church)

December 24 Christmas Music at 10 PM & Holy Eucharist II at 10:30 PM (Church)

December 25 Holy Eucharist II at 10 AM (Church)

December 28 ONE SERVICE ONLY Lessons and Carols & HE II at 10 AM (Church)

January 9 Annual Committee Reports Due

January 11 Outreach Meeting, after the 10 AM Service (Multipurpose Room)

January 23—25 Winter Weekend

February 8 St. E’s Annual Meeting and Brunch (Parish Hall) after the 10 AM Service