December 2017 ST. PAUL’S EPISTLE 250 Hwy 2 NE • P.O. Box 1225 • Corinth, MS 38835 • 662-286-2922 In this Issue Church Family Life, p. 2 Happy Birthday/ Anniversary! p. 2 Kroger Rewards dividend, p. 2 All are invited to Lessons & Carols and treats, p. 2 Vestry nominations, p.2 December Calendar p. 3 Family Stories group returns in January, p. 3 Welcoming Advent at St. Paul’s, p. 3 Treasurer’s Report, p. 4 Memorials, p. 4 The Advent of Christ It is Advent—the short season of four Sundays before Christmas. How’s your to-do list looking? (Ok—sorry I asked!) December demands a lot of us... Several things will help us get our bearings as the world around us runs its frantic pace: during these weeks, our Sunday scripture readings and worship orient us to watch and wait for the coming (or advent) of Christ among us. In a world that longs for deliverance, the Church looks to the coming of Jesus—in the Nativity, at Christmas; in small and not-small ways in our daily life; and in power and glory, at the last day. While the world froths with hus- tle and bustle, spending and stress, the Church keeps a different rhythm, waiting in hope. Perhaps our question is how is my to-be list? Am I giving myself permission to be present? Do I feel stuck on a wheel of preparation, or disappointment, or fear about the world? None of those other things hold their meaning if we’re busily avoiding time with the God who loves us and makes us whole. I may need to let go of some things—expectations (whether my own or those of others), commitments—to clear open some space for the things I want to attend to. How can I watch, wait, and be awake to the coming of Christ? Our Sunday worship changes a bit to help us place greater emphasis on mystery and anticipation. The altar hangings are deep-dark violet, a traditionally somber and penitent color. Perhaps we are reminded, too, of the royalty of the true King whose advent we await. At the start of worship, you’ll hear the Collect for Purity: we ask for help in preparing to rec- ognize and be present to God, who is present to us, and we’ll rest longer in the pauses throughout our liturgy so that silence holds what it needs to hold. We sing differently, too; our psalms are sung to an old plainsong setting. In place of the Gloria, we affirm the holiness of God in the threefold Trisagion as our song of praise at the start of the service. And Advent hymns!—some love them, others are glad to see them go. I welcome the chance to sing those searching tunes, with their poetry of anticipation. Many of the scriptural readings (whether from the prophets or the gospels) and prayers that we hear this season give voice to our longing for deliverance from the forces of sin and death that bind us. The world does not yet look entirely like the Kingdom of Heaven, I think it’s safe to say. Each week we light a candle on the Advent wreath, and the accumulat- ing light can represent our growing hope, and the gathering light of Christ taking hold despite the discouraging signs of sorrow in the world around us. As Vicki Black writes, at Christmas “we celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world—but it comes to a world that is often broken and dark.” (Welcome to the Church Year, 2004). O come, o come, Emmanuel. We long for the light of your love to shine that all may see. Yours in Christ, Ann+ Advent & Christmas at St. Paul’s Sundays in Advent, Dec. 3, 10. 17. 24, 9:30pm Wednesday Healing Services, Dec. 6, 13, 20, 12:00pm Lessons And Carols, Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6:00pm Greening of the Church, Sunday, Dec. 23 at 1:00pm Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24 at 4:00pm Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25 at 10:30am
Transcript
December 2017
ST. PAUL’S EPISTLE 250 Hwy 2 NE • P.O. Box 1225 • Corinth, MS 38835 • 662-286-2922
In this Issue Church Family Life, p. 2 Happy Birthday/Anniversary! p. 2
Kroger Rewards dividend, p. 2 All are invited to Lessons & Carols and treats, p. 2 Vestry nominations, p.2 December Calendar p. 3 Family Stories group returns in January, p. 3 Welcoming Advent at St. Paul’s, p. 3 Treasurer’s Report, p. 4 Memorials, p. 4
The Advent of Christ
It is Advent—the short season of four Sundays before Christmas. How’s your to-do list looking? (Ok—sorry I asked!) December demands a lot of us... Several things will help us get our bearings as the world around us runs its frantic pace: during these weeks, our Sunday scripture readings and worship orient us to watch and wait for the coming (or advent) of Christ among us. In a world that longs for deliverance, the Church looks to the coming of Jesus—in the Nativity, at Christmas; in small and not-small ways in our daily life; and in power and glory, at the last day. While the world froths with hus-tle and bustle, spending and stress, the Church keeps a different rhythm, waiting in hope. Perhaps our question is how is my to-be list? Am I giving myself permission to be present? Do I feel stuck on a wheel of preparation, or disappointment, or fear about the world? None of those other things hold their meaning if we’re busily avoiding time with the God who loves us and makes us whole. I may need to let go of some things—expectations (whether my own or those of others), commitments—to clear open some space for the things I want to attend to. How can I watch, wait, and be awake to the coming of Christ? Our Sunday worship changes a bit to help us place greater emphasis on mystery and anticipation. The altar hangings are deep-dark violet, a traditionally somber and penitent color. Perhaps we are reminded, too, of the royalty of the true King whose advent we await. At the start of worship, you’ll hear the Collect for Purity: we ask for help in preparing to rec-ognize and be present to God, who is present to us, and we’ll rest longer in the pauses throughout our liturgy so that silence holds what it needs to hold. We sing differently, too; our psalms are sung to an old plainsong setting. In place of the Gloria, we affirm the holiness of God in the threefold Trisagion as our song of praise at the start of the service. And Advent hymns!—some love them, others are glad to see them go. I welcome the chance to sing those searching tunes, with their poetry of anticipation. Many of the scriptural readings (whether from the prophets or the gospels) and prayers that we hear this season give voice to our longing for deliverance from the forces of sin and death that bind us. The world does not yet look entirely like the Kingdom of Heaven, I think it’s safe to say. Each week we light a candle on the Advent wreath, and the accumulat-ing light can represent our growing hope, and the gathering light of Christ taking hold despite the discouraging signs of sorrow in the world around us. As Vicki Black writes, at Christmas “we celebrate the light of Christ coming into the world—but it comes to a world that is often broken and dark.” (Welcome to the Church Year, 2004). O come, o come, Emmanuel. We long for the light of your love to shine that all may see. Yours in Christ,
Lessons And Carols, Thursday, Dec. 14 at 6:00pm Greening of the Church, Sunday, Dec. 23 at 1:00pm
Christmas Eve, Sunday, Dec. 24 at 4:00pm
Christmas Day, Monday, Dec. 25 at 10:30am
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It’s time for vestry nominations
The nominating committee for St. Paul’s January 2018 parish elections is searching for candidates for three 3-year terms on the Vestry. We will also elect a warden for a 2-year term, one year as junior warden and a second year as senior warden. Members meet monthly with the rector and wardens to discuss and plan both the spiritual and financial direction of St. Paul’s. If you’ve considered being part of the vestry team, ask a current member for more information, and let nominating committee members Tana Daniel or Ryland Bruhwiler know you’re interested. Thank you to Debbie Elam, Tana Daniel and Gail Vaughn, who are finishing terms on the Vestry this year.
Kroger Rewards pays dividend
The 14 households who linked St. Paul’s to their Kroger Rewards cards and shopped at Kroger during August, September and October earned $64.92 for our church during that time. Thank you to all who have linked their cards
this year for the extra funds St. Paul’s has received from the Rewards Program. We’ll be reminding those already enrolled to renew their card link in January. If you need help signing up, please ask for assistance in the church office.
Communion Bread Bakers
Thank you to Hallie-Kate Dierks and Debbie Elam who baked our bread for all the December services. Sherry Smith will be baking for January.
Church Family Life News and notes about our parish family
Darlene Grisewood is making progress in her recovery from a fall and break, and has a new cast on her lower leg and foot. We lost two dear church members this last month. Lorrene Hardy (mother of Sherry Smith) died peacefully in early November, and a service will be held in January at her home church in Pennsylvania. Your visits and cards are welcomed. Dorothy Hopkins died on Nov. 17 after a brief stay at Whitfield Nursing Home. A service was held at St. Paul's on Nov. 19. Debby Orr lost her mother Edna Orr, a longtime member of First United Methodist Church. Her service was held at St. Paul's, with a graveside service led by ministers from both churches.
St. Paul's received greet-ings from the Rev. Jerome Francis, the South African priest many may remem-ber from his 6-week stay here in 2007. Emma Hughes will play in the McNairy Central Bobcat
Band’s Christmas concert on Thursday, Dec. 14 at 7pm. Say hello to Mary How-ard and Stephen King, from All Saints’ in Tupelo. Mary Howard begins field work with us this month as part of her prepara-tion to become an ordained deacon.
Happy Birthday! Stan Taylor, 12/11; Cliff Gephart, 12/19; George Gunn, 12/19; Jan Grady, 12/24; Emma Hughes, 12/29; Gail Vaughn, 12/29.
Is your special day missing? Let the church office know at [email protected] or 286-2922.
December 14
Thursday, 6:00pm
The traditional service of Lessons and Carols is an Ad-vent season favorite at St. Paul’s. This year, the service will be on a Thursday evening and include light refresh-ments in the Fellowship Hall afterwards. First performed at an Anglican cathedral in Cornwall, England, in 1878, the service has nine scripture readings interspersed with sacred music. The service tells the story of a world longing for deliverance, and the coming of our Savior. The story of the fall of humanity begins with scripture from Genesis. Readings from Old Testa-ment prophets proclaim the promise of the Messiah. The final lesson from Luke foretells the birth of Jesus. Each scripture reading is followed by choir hymns, some accompanied by musicians and some with the con-gregation singing along. There are familiar older hymns as well as newer tunes and lovely musical arrangements. Invite your friends to join us for this moving service as we prepare in Advent for the coming of Christ. If you can help provide refreshments, please let Renée Harmon or Debbie Elam know.
3 Bring-a-Friend Sunday; first Sunday in Advent. Join us in the fellowship hall after the service for a spe-cial coffee hour and Advent outreach project. 12 Pastoral Care meeting, 1:30pm 14 Lessons and Carols, 6pm 18 Vestry meeting, 6pm 23 Greening of the Church, 1pm 24 Advent 4, 9:30am 24 Christmas Eve Service, 4pm 25 Christmas Day, 10:30am.
Family Stories will resume in the New Year
Since its first meeting in October of 2016, many memo-ries have been shared at the twice monthly meetings of the Family Stories writers. More importantly, these stories have been saved on paper for current and future genera-tions of the story tellers’ families. The group has laughed heartily and shed a few tears as the memories are read each week. You might be surprised at the things your St. Paul’s friends have experienced. Join the group at 11:00am on the first and third Mon-days of the month when their sessions resume January 15. Bring a memory that you've written about your family or your own growing up, and we’ll take turns reading them. Ryland Bruhwiler, who started the Family Stories group, says, “Just write as naturally as if you're writing a letter to someone you like a lot.”
Welcoming Advent at St. Paul’s Kristoffer lit the first candle as Advent began December 3. We welcomed many friends during our Bring-a-Friend service and at the coffee hour afterwards. Many hands made short work of filling gift bags for our Advent outreach project.
Save the Date: Saturday, Jan. 6
Epiphany Service with children’s play And share a chili supper with friends
and family to warm up the night.
St. Paul's Church P.O. Box 1225 Corinth, MS 38835
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Memorials
In memory of Lorrene Hardy, by Barbara Barrett, Elizabeth Hussey,
Scott and Beth Bauer, Barbara Kachmar, Gail Vaughn, and by Jan and Glennan Grady
In memory of Dorothy Hopkins, by Barbara Barrett, Karen Lee, Gail Vaughn
In memory of Edna Orr, by Marcia Ann & Don Glisson
In memory of Helen Moore, by Dr. and Mrs. Bob Davis
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church Sunday Schedule: 9:30 Holy Eucharist Nursery available 9:15-12:00 The Rector and Vestry: The Rev. Ann Benton Fraser, Rector Susan Adams, Senior Warden David Dierks, Junior Warden Scott Bauer, Clerk Cynthia Harrell, Treasurer Ryland Bruhwiler Tana Daniel Debbie Elam Robin Grisewood Reneé Harmon Ed Lucas Gail Vaughn
Do you receive The Missis-sippi Episcopalian? If you would like a subscription to the Mississippi Episcopalian, the monthly newspaper of the Diocese of MS, please let the church office know.
October Treasurer’s Report
Operating Fund
Capital Expenses Capital Expense Fund 8,665.47 Mortgage Balance 0
