“During this time of year and always, let us bring glad tidings of great joy into our homes and communities, transforming our traditions with prayer, intention, and devotion.”- Richelle Thompson, Editor

An EXCITING new Advent worship opportunity!

This Sunday evening, December 4, 2022, at 5:00 p.m., Marc Cheban, our organist, will lead us through “Amahl and the Night Visitors”: a one act opera. This sounds like a fun and fascinating evening that you won’t want to miss out on. It will run about one hour.

Based on Italian folk tales of the Nativity and Epiphany, Gian Carlo Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors is a retelling of the story of the Magi from the point of view of a young disabled boy named Amahl, who lives in poverty with his widowed mother near Bethlehem.

He sees a bright star in the sky one night and tells his mother to go look, but she brushes him off, buried in concern over their bleak future and lack of means with which to support themselves. That night, three kings come across their meager hut and seek shelter, for they have traveled long and far following the star of which Amahl had spoken. They bring with them treasure and gifts to give to “the Child” who has just been born and who will reign over all. Blinded by the lure of the gold and what it could do for her family. the Mother attempts to steal just a bit of the treasure, but is caught red-handed. What no one expects is a gift far greater than gold–blessed by the Child, Amahl finds himself suddenly cured of his disability. A vivid and accessible tale originally created for television, Amahl and the Night Visitors is a perfect first opera–or hundredth!

Advent begins Sunday, November 27, 2022.

Each Sunday evening in Advent at 5 p.m., there will be an extra special worship service open to ALL!  There are so many ways to prepare our hearts for our Savior’s birth, and these Advent Evening worship services are a tradition many of us look forward to.

• Sunday, November 27, 2022: Advent “stations” with prayers, instrumental music, and a hymn or two.  The unique stations will help us feel a connection to our brothers and sisters in faith around the world and through time. See the Nov. 27. worship booklet.
• Sunday, December 4, 2022: Evensong; a service of scripture, prayer, and music, sung regularly in the Anglican church since the sixteenth century. See more information.
• Sunday, December 11, 2022: Blue Christmas, also called the Longest Night, gives space for those who are feeling sorrowful this season, and their friends who support them, to come and sit with one another, light candles, and listen to music, in a liturgy that speaks of the love of God for the grieving. This service will be available live and on YouTube.
• Sunday, December 18, 2022: “Son et Lumiere” images and colors accompanied by verses and music of Advent. This should be an awesome sensory experience.

These Sunday evening services are just a part of all of the exciting ways that we can fluff the hay in the mangers of our hearts. 

Good morning and happy Monday faith family!  It seems impossible, however Advent begins next Sunday, November 28, 2021.  Each Sunday evening at 5 p.m., there will be an extra special service in-person with precautions and online at YouTube open to ALL. What a wonderful variety of services this year!  There will be so many ways to prepare our hearts for our Savior’s birth. Below is an overview.  Mark your calendars now, but know that more info will be forthcoming.

• November 28, 2021: Advent “stations” with prayers, instrumental music, and a hymn or two.  The unique stations will help us feel a connection to our brothers and sisters in faith around the world and through time. (service booklet)
• December 5, 2021: Evensong; a service of scripture, prayer, and music, sung regularly in the Anglican church since the sixteenth century. (service booklet)
• December 12, 2021: Blue Christmas, also called the Longest Night, gives space for those who are feeling sorrowful this season, and their friends who support them, to come and sit with one another, light candles, and listen to music, in a liturgy that speaks of the love of God for the grieving. (service booklet)
• December 19, 2021: “Son et lumiere” images and colors accompanied by verses and music of Advent- this should be an awesome sensory experience. (service booklet)

These Sunday evening services are just a part of all of the exciting ways that we can fluff the hay in the mangers of our hearts. 

Dear friends,

As Anglicans, we have a deep attachment to the sacraments.  It has been a source of great sadness that so many in our parish community have not been able to receive the Eucharist since the COVID pandemic began.  It has not been possible for all of us to gather in the church, and it was and is impractical (and not advisable for public health reasons) to bring the sacrament to everyone individually at his or her home.  But after conferring with parishioners with liturgical and medical expertise, I am pleased to have another option to offer.

On the four Sundays of Advent 2020 (November 29th, and December 6th, 13th, and 20th), the Eucharist will be available in front of the church portico from 10:00 a.m. (or the end of the 9:00 service) until 11:00 a.m.  The formalities will be simple – we will read the confession, I will offer absolution, and we will read the Lord’s Prayer (from a card to be provided), and then the Host will be offered as we do presently in church – in small plastic cups.  Masks and hand sanitizer will be in use.  The normal assumption will be that those coming to receive the Eucharist will have attended the 9:00 a.m. service virtually, but there won’t be a quiz about the sermon!

More advertising of this offering will be coming to you in all the usual ways.  I look forward to seeing many more of you in person!

Peace and be well
Howie+
The Reverend Dr. Howell C. Sasser, Jr., Rector