Friday: Juan de la Cruz (John of the Cross), Mystic, 1591 - Commemoration of the Crucifixion: day of discipline and self-denial. A note on our Friday Devotion practice in the Episcopal Church may be found here.
Saturday:
- Pre Christmas Confessions, noon - 2 PM One of the best ways to prepare inwardly to celebrate any of the Great Feasts, sacramental confession reaffirms our baptismal life in Christ. See notes below for more information.
8:00 AM: Holy Eucharist (said) 9:00 AM: Church School & Adult Study [Led by Fr. Brandon--see below] 9:50 AM: Godly Play 10:00 AM: Holy Eucharist (sung) Nursery care is available from 10 AM through the end of the liturgy. Coffee hour following the 10 AM Eucharist.
Join us in the evening at 6 PM for a Festival of Lessons and Carols.
+ Christmas Services
A Festival of Lessons & Carols Sunday December 16th, 6 PM Reception Following
Child care available
Carols & Midnight Mass Monday December 24th, 10:30 PM
Christmas Day Eucharist Tuesday December 25th, 11 AM
Notices
Our service of Lesson and Carols will be held this coming Sunday, Dec. 16th at 6 PM. We always have a festive reception afterwards to thank our choir and ushers in the Christmas season at St. Timothy's. We are looking for bakers to bring their favorite treats for the reception. Next Sunday there will be platters on the narthex table for you to take home and pile with goodies, and bring back in time for the service that evening. Thank you!
Pre-Christmas Confessions will be heard this coming Saturday, Dec. 15, from noon - 2 PM in the chapel. The Reconciliation of a Penitent (BCP p. 447) is part of the Church's healing ministry through the absolution of sin and a return to wholeness in Christ. If there is something burdening your conscience you are encouraged to come to receive this form of spiritual medicine. If you have never made a confession before, the confessor will help you to understand this simple but powerful sacramental rite.
Help deck the halls at the Greening of the Church, 6:30 PM on Wednesday, December 19th. Pub night follows for more fellowship!
The Angel Tree project of Prison Fellowship provides gifts for the children of prisoners. Take an Angel, sign for it, and buy gifts for the child named. Wrap them and bring them back with the Angel attached by Dec. 21st. There are few better ways to honor the Christ Child than participate in this work of mercy.
We raised $1,865 in donations to be sent to Chico, California for wildfire relief. Thank you to Liz McClure for researching this appeal.
The Advent Adult Study unit will be led by Fr. Brandon, with reflections on his sabbatical with photos and discussion.
Catechumenate classes continue on Wednesdays at 7 PM. If you are interested in Baptism, Confirmation, or Reaffirmation of your baptismal vows; or would enjoy a small-group experience of faith-sharing and growth, come and join us!
About this Season
+ Advent is a season of hopeful preparation for BOTH of Christ's comings: The first coming (celebrated each year at Christmas) and the second coming, at the end of the ages. + The liturgical color for the season of Advent (a rich blue) is expressive of a joyful yet reserved expectation. + The Advent wreath, with each candle signifying a Sunday in the season, is burned at Church during all services. Parishioners are encouraged to mark the season at home by having their own Advent wreath, accompanied by simple evening devotions (copies are available on the Advent table in the narthex). +Make it a rule to slow down and observe this season in peace, so that you may come to Christmas ready to receive Christ our Lord anew. Be counter-cultural: actually enjoy the run-up to Christmas! This is one of Advent's gifts--use it.
Standing Notices
Being prayed for at St. Timothy’s:
+ The Sunday bulletin carries those intercessions of a more urgent nature. Contact the parish office if you have a name to added to this list.
+ An intercessory team of parishioners offers prayer daily on requests through the week. E-mail marymraney@gmail.com or phone Mary Rainey or Marsha Witt to add a name to this list. All prayer requests to this group are treated with discretion.
New to St. Timothy’s? Recently change your contact information? Please make sure the parish office has your contact information so that you may receive the monthly parish newsletter (The Tidings), e-mails, and a phone call in case of sudden and important parish news.
Record of Baptism & Basic Data: If you are worshipping with us regularly and receiving the Holy Sacrament, you are asked to provide a record of baptism (baptism with water in the name of the Trinity is a prerequisite for receiving communion in the Episcopal Church). You will be entered as a baptized member of the parish; full adult membership in the Church is through Confirmation. Basic census data (date/place of birth, &c.) is collected as part of this process.
If you are already an Episcopalian, you may ask your previous parish to transfer you to St. Timothy’s. Questions? Please contact the parish’s Registrar, Sue Bergquist. We are very ready to help.
Please notify the Parish Office if there has been a hospitalization so we can arrange a visit. Area hospitals do not automatically contact the parish with this information; the parish can only respond if we know you have a need!
The Parish Office is generally open Tuesday-Friday, 9-Noon, 1-3 PM.
+At the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, St. Timothy our Patron, and all the Holy Saints of God, may you be strengthened for service, showing forth the glory of God in all you do, think, and say. Amen.
The Mission of St. Timothy's Episcopal Church: We gather to experience the Holy Trinity through Scripture, worship, study, and fellowship. Receiving and reflecting God’s love and grace, we are sent out to love and serve our neighbor, see the Christ in others, and share the Gospel by the example of our everyday lives.
