Dear Friends in Christ,
The Advent season begins in earnest this coming Sunday, the start of the Church year. At 8 am we will pray the Great Litany. At 10 am we will have a Family Service. Children and parents should gather in the Narthex at 9:50 to carry in the different objects that will help us dress the altar. We'll also have the joy of celebrating with Tim and Barbara Erday as they renew their marriage vows on the day after their fiftieth anniversary!
Please look below for the announcements and the Advent Reflection, especially:
ADVENT
This Sunday - Make an Advent Table Wreath for your Home, at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall during coffee hour. This is a way that you can keep Advent simply and prayerfully at home, lighting another candle each week as we wait and watch for Christ. We provide greens, forms, candles & ribbons. We’ll also have a card with prayers for lighting the wreath. Cost is $7.
Advent Daily Prayer in Virtual Community will be offered again this year. How does this work?
1. Choose when you want to pray – mornings, evenings, or both. You can use one of the forms of the Daily Office (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc.) in the Prayer Book, or Forward Day by Day, or the Advent meditation booklets, or an on-line source (like the Brotherhood of St. Gregory app or Forward Movement).
2. When Mother Vicki begins her prayer time in the morning and evening, she will send out a brief email to the group who is participating, saying “Let us bless the Lord.” When you finish your prayers (at whatever time), respond back to the whole group: “Thanks be to God.”
3. Pick up an Advent Daily Office brochure in the Narthex – which has all the seasonal Scripture readings and Psalms in it, and send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com with “Advent Prayer” in the subject line to participate. We will start on Dec. 3.
This is a way to stay connected to your fellow parishioners and stay grounded in God during this holy, but too-busy, season.
Adopt-a-Family – this is our annual program to provide gifts to struggling families, as identified by Union County Social Services. We have been asked to provide gift cards to popular stores for teens and tweens. There is a board in the Narthex with envelopes containing the names of the stores requested. Please take one and return the cards wrapped and labeled by 12/17. Thank you for helping to make Christmas merrier for these young people. Questions? Speak to Jackie Sullivan.
Advent Calendars, Meditations, and Coloring Books for Advent are available on the table in the Narthex:
Advent Workshop: Anglican Prayer Beads, Wed., Dec. 13, 7:30 pm. Prayer Beads are a way of praying by hand – both beautiful and meditative. Sisters Linda Clare and Victoria Michelle from the Community of St. John Baptist will teach us how to make them and pray with them. Each kit costs $5. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of creativity, fellowship and reflection.
WORSHIP
Flower Envelopes & Music Envelopes for Christmas flowers and decorations, or to contribute to Christmas Eve music when we have guest singers and instrumentalists, will be in the pews and on the table in the Narthex on Sunday. Please make sure you include the name(s) of those you would like remembered or for whom you are giving thanks with your gift. We need that information by 12/18. The envelopes can be put in the offering plate, or dropped off at the Parish Office.
Celtic Worship, Sunday, December 10, 5 pm. Celtic Worship is a Christian service is based on Celtic liturgy. It includes traditional Irish melodies, sung by a soloist, and with music played on traditional Celtic instruments by Jim Hicks & friends. All are welcome for this peaceful, reflective service. Invite your family, friends and neighbors. This service is being held in conjunction with the parishes of St. Bernard's in Bernardsville, and St. Mark's in Mendham. Celtic Worship will be held at the other parishes in the first part of 2018.
Pageant of the Nativity - Sunday, 12/17 at 10 am. All Sunday School children of any age are invited to play a part: angels, shepherds, readers, Mary, Joseph, Magi/Kings, birds and animals. There is one rehearsal, Saturday, Dec. 16 at 9 am. Please send an e-mail to Mother Vicki to let her know your children will participate: allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Community Peace Light Ceremony, Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4:30 pm.
The Peace Light from Bethlehem is an international movement that passes light lit by candle or oil lamp from the eternal flame that burns in the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Our Peace Light Ceremony is an opportunity to share a commitment to being peace-makers in ourselves, families, community, and the world, in the way of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
The Peace Light is intended to be carried into homes and places of worship, and kept burning through Christmas Day as an expression of peace. We received it on Thursday 11/30 and it is alight in the fireplace in the Rath House. You can see the video our receiving the Peace Light on our parish Facebook page.
Our ceremony will include the story of the Peace Light, songs, readings, and prayers. If you want to take the Peace Light home with you please bring a lantern or candle holder, and a safe way to transport the flame. For more information, go to the home page on our website. Tell a friend and plan to come.
New York Post Article about Sister Monica Clare – this newspaper has interviewed our friend from the Community of St. John Baptist, Sr. Monica Clare. Go here to read the story of her coming to faith and leaving her life in Hollywood to become a member of a religious community: https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/i-left-the-hollywood-life-to-become-a-times-square-nun/
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study, Wed., Dec. 6 at 10:15 am in the Rath House. In this session we’ll read and discuss 1 Corinthians, chapter 11. You are most welcome to join us!
The Pilgrim study group meets Monday nights at 7 pm in the Rath House. The topic is for this six-week series is the Eucharist. You are welcome to be part of the group whenever you can.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information from our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/
PARISH CALENDAR
12/4 Evening Prayer Church 6:30 pm
Pilgrim Discussion Group Rath House 7:00 pm
12/6 Bible Study Church 10:00 am
12/7 Communion & Healing Prayer Church 7:00 am
Junior Choir Choir Room 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Advent Reflection 13 (12/1)
Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light,
and usher in the morning.
O shepherds, greet that glorious sight,
our Lord a crib adorning.
This child, this little helpless boy,
shall be our confidence and joy,
the pow'r of Satan breaking,
our peace eternal making.
~ Hymn #91.
The words to this Christmas hymn were written by Johann Rist in 1641 near Hamburg, Germany. The tune is “Ermuntre dich”, written by Johann Schop in the same year to go with this text. The harmonies were added later by J.S. Bach – so, a thoroughly German Christmas hymn! It is sung here by the Westminster College Choir: https://youtu.be/O4cgm6gM_Qs
The dawn often seems to come slowly, until the sunlight breaks through with beauty that can be breath-taking.What awareness of God, or goodness, or blessing do you see or sense dawning?
Advent blessings, Vicki+
The Advent season begins in earnest this coming Sunday, the start of the Church year. At 8 am we will pray the Great Litany. At 10 am we will have a Family Service. Children and parents should gather in the Narthex at 9:50 to carry in the different objects that will help us dress the altar. We'll also have the joy of celebrating with Tim and Barbara Erday as they renew their marriage vows on the day after their fiftieth anniversary!
Please look below for the announcements and the Advent Reflection, especially:
- Adopt-a-Family (Advent)
- Anglican Prayer Beads Workshop (Advent)
- Flower & Music Envelopes (Worship)
- Pageant of the Nativity (Worship)
ADVENT
This Sunday - Make an Advent Table Wreath for your Home, at 11:15 am in the Parish Hall during coffee hour. This is a way that you can keep Advent simply and prayerfully at home, lighting another candle each week as we wait and watch for Christ. We provide greens, forms, candles & ribbons. We’ll also have a card with prayers for lighting the wreath. Cost is $7.
Advent Daily Prayer in Virtual Community will be offered again this year. How does this work?
1. Choose when you want to pray – mornings, evenings, or both. You can use one of the forms of the Daily Office (Morning Prayer, Evening Prayer, etc.) in the Prayer Book, or Forward Day by Day, or the Advent meditation booklets, or an on-line source (like the Brotherhood of St. Gregory app or Forward Movement).
2. When Mother Vicki begins her prayer time in the morning and evening, she will send out a brief email to the group who is participating, saying “Let us bless the Lord.” When you finish your prayers (at whatever time), respond back to the whole group: “Thanks be to God.”
3. Pick up an Advent Daily Office brochure in the Narthex – which has all the seasonal Scripture readings and Psalms in it, and send an e-mail to allstsmill@hotmail.com with “Advent Prayer” in the subject line to participate. We will start on Dec. 3.
This is a way to stay connected to your fellow parishioners and stay grounded in God during this holy, but too-busy, season.
Adopt-a-Family – this is our annual program to provide gifts to struggling families, as identified by Union County Social Services. We have been asked to provide gift cards to popular stores for teens and tweens. There is a board in the Narthex with envelopes containing the names of the stores requested. Please take one and return the cards wrapped and labeled by 12/17. Thank you for helping to make Christmas merrier for these young people. Questions? Speak to Jackie Sullivan.
Advent Calendars, Meditations, and Coloring Books for Advent are available on the table in the Narthex:
- Advent Calendar Poster, Slow Down. Quiet. It’s Advent.
- Advent Meditation Booklets, Joy of Heaven to Earth Come Down
- Antiphon Coloring Books – to go along with the Advent antiphons that we are using in worship this season.
Advent Workshop: Anglican Prayer Beads, Wed., Dec. 13, 7:30 pm. Prayer Beads are a way of praying by hand – both beautiful and meditative. Sisters Linda Clare and Victoria Michelle from the Community of St. John Baptist will teach us how to make them and pray with them. Each kit costs $5. Sign up on the sheet in the Narthex, bring a friend, and enjoy an evening of creativity, fellowship and reflection.
WORSHIP
Flower Envelopes & Music Envelopes for Christmas flowers and decorations, or to contribute to Christmas Eve music when we have guest singers and instrumentalists, will be in the pews and on the table in the Narthex on Sunday. Please make sure you include the name(s) of those you would like remembered or for whom you are giving thanks with your gift. We need that information by 12/18. The envelopes can be put in the offering plate, or dropped off at the Parish Office.
Celtic Worship, Sunday, December 10, 5 pm. Celtic Worship is a Christian service is based on Celtic liturgy. It includes traditional Irish melodies, sung by a soloist, and with music played on traditional Celtic instruments by Jim Hicks & friends. All are welcome for this peaceful, reflective service. Invite your family, friends and neighbors. This service is being held in conjunction with the parishes of St. Bernard's in Bernardsville, and St. Mark's in Mendham. Celtic Worship will be held at the other parishes in the first part of 2018.
Pageant of the Nativity - Sunday, 12/17 at 10 am. All Sunday School children of any age are invited to play a part: angels, shepherds, readers, Mary, Joseph, Magi/Kings, birds and animals. There is one rehearsal, Saturday, Dec. 16 at 9 am. Please send an e-mail to Mother Vicki to let her know your children will participate: allsaints_rector@hotmail.com.
AROUND THE NEIGHBORHOOD
Community Peace Light Ceremony, Sunday, Dec. 17 at 4:30 pm.
The Peace Light from Bethlehem is an international movement that passes light lit by candle or oil lamp from the eternal flame that burns in the grotto in Bethlehem where Jesus was born. Our Peace Light Ceremony is an opportunity to share a commitment to being peace-makers in ourselves, families, community, and the world, in the way of Jesus, the Prince of Peace.
The Peace Light is intended to be carried into homes and places of worship, and kept burning through Christmas Day as an expression of peace. We received it on Thursday 11/30 and it is alight in the fireplace in the Rath House. You can see the video our receiving the Peace Light on our parish Facebook page.
Our ceremony will include the story of the Peace Light, songs, readings, and prayers. If you want to take the Peace Light home with you please bring a lantern or candle holder, and a safe way to transport the flame. For more information, go to the home page on our website. Tell a friend and plan to come.
New York Post Article about Sister Monica Clare – this newspaper has interviewed our friend from the Community of St. John Baptist, Sr. Monica Clare. Go here to read the story of her coming to faith and leaving her life in Hollywood to become a member of a religious community: https://nypost.com/2017/11/29/i-left-the-hollywood-life-to-become-a-times-square-nun/
CHRISTIAN FORMATION
Bible Study, Wed., Dec. 6 at 10:15 am in the Rath House. In this session we’ll read and discuss 1 Corinthians, chapter 11. You are most welcome to join us!
The Pilgrim study group meets Monday nights at 7 pm in the Rath House. The topic is for this six-week series is the Eucharist. You are welcome to be part of the group whenever you can.
DIOCESAN NEWS
Diocesan Website – here’s the link for news and information from our Diocese of Newark: http://dioceseofnewark.org/
PARISH CALENDAR
12/4 Evening Prayer Church 6:30 pm
Pilgrim Discussion Group Rath House 7:00 pm
12/6 Bible Study Church 10:00 am
12/7 Communion & Healing Prayer Church 7:00 am
Junior Choir Choir Room 5:15 pm
Adult Choir Choir Room 7:30 pm
For a full schedule of our buildings check the website calendar www.allsaintsmillington.org.
CHRISTIAN PRACTICES
Advent Reflection 13 (12/1)
Break forth, O beauteous heav'nly light,
and usher in the morning.
O shepherds, greet that glorious sight,
our Lord a crib adorning.
This child, this little helpless boy,
shall be our confidence and joy,
the pow'r of Satan breaking,
our peace eternal making.
~ Hymn #91.
The words to this Christmas hymn were written by Johann Rist in 1641 near Hamburg, Germany. The tune is “Ermuntre dich”, written by Johann Schop in the same year to go with this text. The harmonies were added later by J.S. Bach – so, a thoroughly German Christmas hymn! It is sung here by the Westminster College Choir: https://youtu.be/O4cgm6gM_Qs
The dawn often seems to come slowly, until the sunlight breaks through with beauty that can be breath-taking.What awareness of God, or goodness, or blessing do you see or sense dawning?
Advent blessings, Vicki+
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