|
|
|
December 1 - 31, 2001 St. John’s Episcopal Church 404-761-8402 SPECIAL EVENTS
EACH WEEK WE OFFER
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
NEWCOMERS COMMITTEE NEWS Each and every one of you is a member of the Newcomers Committee because you attend St. John’s. Here are a couple of ideas to make greeting newcomers go more smoothly: When someone you do not recognize enters, introduce yourself by name and say something like: "I don’t believe we’ve met," or "Have we met before?" The question, "Have you been at St. John’s before?" may feel a bit too inquisitive. It is best never to ask, "Are you new?" If you do stumble into those phrases, you can recover. With a long termer a response might be, "Well, I do feel silly not knowing you, but I’m glad we finally met." With a newcomer, "After today you won’t be new to me." Finally, keep your eyes open for anyone who appears uncomfortable with our liturgy. When you see someone who seems lost, go over to them and offer to shepherd them through the service. Even if you’re mistaken, who can be offended by an offer like that? Thanks to every one of you for making St. John’s a friendly, caring place to worship. Jeanne Mull
CONGRATULATIONS to Dr. Jeffrey Johnson, son of Sue and Bill Johnson, who recently received his Ph.D. in Biomechanics. Good work, Dr. Johnson. Also, to Carol & Jim Kadidlo who are now very proud great-grandparents of Rebecca Faith Gardner. Blessings to you all. CHRISTMAS DECORATIONS It’s time to send your contributions for Christmas decorations for the church. Just send your donations to the church and mark your check "In Thanksgiving" or "In Memory of." We need your response by December 16, please. Thanks. ADVENT GATHERING Join us on Sunday, December 9 from 4:00-7:00 p.m. for our annual Advent Gathering. This fun event for all ages features crafts, decorating, storytelling (with an encore performance by Sue Canady), singing, food, good fellowship. We’ll provide the Chili (no need to bring food). Please note that the Advent Gathering will take the place of our regular Second Sunday Brunch, but don’t forget to bring canned food for Family Life. See you there! OPEN HOUSE AT THE PRITCHETTS’ Everyone is invited to an open house at the Pritchetts’ on December 21 from 5-8:00 p.m. If you’d like to bring a dish to share, that would be great. If that’s not convenient, come share your company. You are welcome to bring a friend. DOCC IS COMING! Disciples of Christ in Community (DOCC) is a 22 week course which meets for two hours a week. The rector will present a lesson about the faith, then participants share (in a small group setting) how the lesson relates to their lives. DOCC is a big commitment, but is well worth it. If there is enough interest, we will start in January. Please let the rector know if you are interested or want more information. This could change your life. ADULT EDUCATION On Dec. 9, 16, & 23, the rector will teach "An Overview of Matthew’s Gospel." Join us at 9:15 a.m. in Bott Hall. MARKING THE SEASONS We are marking Advent and Christmas with some changes in the liturgy. On Dec. 2, our Liturgy of the Word will be Advent Lessons and Music. During Advent, we will be singing new service music. The Trisagion (S100), the Sanctus (S124), and the Fraction Anthem (S161) from New Plainsong, a mass setting by David Hurd. Mr. Hurd, a prominent African-American composer, is Professor of Organ and also Chapel Musician at General Theological Seminary in New York City. On Christmas Eve, the Choir will sing his setting of "A Stable Lamp is Lighted" (Hymn 104), which we will also sing on Dec. 30, when our Liturgy of the Word will be Christmas Lessons and Carols (so you’ll get to sing carols to your heart’s content!). Also, this year there will be something special for the children of the parish at the 7:00 Christmas Eve service. Come see what it is! NEW WEB ADDRESS Please note our new web site address above. We now have our own domain name, which allows us to do more with our site, and, more importantly, makes it easier for people to find us. Thanks to Robbin Iddins for her work. 10 RULES FOR MAKING EVERY DAY A GREAT DAY Think that good things will happen. Express gratitude to a loved one. Put your gripes away in a box. Be patient with an annoying person. Do something special for yourself. Reach out to someone who needs comfort. Focus deeply on each moment. Learn from a mistake. Look closely at a flower or tree you haven’t noticed before. Thank God for this day! DIRECTORY CHANGE Ike and Tessie Morah have moved to 155 Pilgrim Way, Fayetteville, GA 30214, 770/716-3206. Tessie is due any day now!
FROM THE RECTOR Be Still Why do we need Advent? It seems so out of step with what most everybody else is doing. The Christmas decorations are up and lit in College Park; the radio plays Christmas music non-stop; Christmas specials are on TV; we’re encouraged (by the government) to spend, spend, spend at malls, malls, malls featuring Santas and Christmas Carols and Christmas decorations and Christmas sales and Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. Everywhere, the culture is saying to us, "Christmas! Christmas! Christmas!" In fact, it’s not just saying it, it’s blaring it, screaming it at us, assaulting all our senses, playing Christmas music on elevators. We know all this is not for a religious observance; it is an economic feast, a gorging businesses hope will tide them over. We know that, but we can’t help it; there is no escape. It is so hard not to get swept up on it until the sound of Christmas becomes maddening; our lives become frantic and frenetic; we become busy, busy, busy to the drumbeat of Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. And this year another beat: War, War, War. Why do we need Advent? Listen to Psalm 46:
Why do we need Advent? I won’t speak for you. I need Advent because in the midst of the frenetic frenzy, the drumbeat of "Christmas, Christmas, Christmas," "Busy, Busy, Busy," "War, War, War," I need to be reminded to be still. To be still, and to know God. To be still, so that I can listen. Only when I listen while I’m still, only when I listen while I know God, only then will I have a chance of hearing, over the incessant beating of drums, of hearing the cry of one little baby, one tiny Prince of Peace. So far off, so long ago, so quiet. Yes, far off. Yes long ago. Yes, quiet. But yes, if you are still, and yes, if you listen, and yes, if you know God, it, yes, is the only sound. Advent. Shhhhh. Be still. Listen.
|
|
Eagle Notes