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December 4, 2007
COVER
STORY
Four
Candles
by The Rev. Alvin C. Johnson, Jr.
 Four
candles; four words; four actions. Our word for this week, the
week of candle one, is help…help. Perhaps you noticed around
Thanksgiving time the articles in our local newspapers speaking
about the rise in hunger in the United States. You know that I,
for one, find this an unacceptable condition for a country with
the affluence of ours. Until the changes take place in our country
such that policies no longer encourage hunger, we are called as
a Christian community to reach out to those who are hungry and
give them food…just like the food we enjoy ourselves.
In order to
make a small dent in this overwhelming reality, I invite you to
participate in the Rector's Challenge: 2008 by 2008. Local food
pantries are in dire need; resources are low. From WINGS to Barrington
Food Pantry to St. Cyprian's to Cathedral Shelter, we need food.
Here is the challenge: St. Michael's can donate 2008 canned/dry
goods by 2008. That's about five or six canned goods or prepared
food boxes per family. Such an offering is doable by every one
of us. Bring your canned goods by every day of the week. There
are shelves put up in the narthex or front entry way for the goods.
Ruth Silver will gather them, count them and distribute them.
We'll keep you posted on our progress towards this readily reachable
goal.
All of this
is in support of our word for this first week of Advent…Help.
Look around you; where can you help, who can you help? Don't know?
Look again. Maybe you have a friend in need, a family member in
crisis, a neighbor who needs an errand or someone who could use
a loving visit from another human being. Do what you can to help
this week. I will do what I can to help this week. Next week's
word is hope. In the meantime, bring those canned goods and love
life forward.
Love and blessings,
Alvin+
WORSHIP
Advent
Adventure
by The Rev. Martha Gillette
By definition
(at least according to the Oxford Unabridged Dictionary), an adventure
is a novel or unexpected event; an exciting or remarkable incident.
This Advent, as we prepare for the great adventure of the Incarnation,
we will encounter several small adventures along the way. These
"novel or unexpected" events are offered as gifts; tools,
as it were, to help us construct a sense of joyful anticipation,
to help us experience the Christian hope afresh, and to help us
embrace the transformative power of our liturgies. Here is a brief
description of a few of the things you may anticipate in some
our Advent and Christmastide services — Be sure to watch
upcoming issues of The Sword for more details.
You may notice:
Your fellow parishioners lighting the candles in the Advent wreath;
Blue Chalices and Patens; Clergy vested in Tippets and Hoods at
the Lessons and Carols service; Stationary Incense used on the
altar; new Eucharistic Prayer language; a dramatic reading of
the Gospel on Christmas Eve, interwoven with congregational singing,
a transition from the children's dramatized presentation of the
Gospel; a variety of supplemental music at the Christmas Eve services;
and more. So watch, and wait, and — enjoy!
Deacon
Martha Gillette's Ordination to the Priesthood
Deacon Martha
Gillette will be ordained as a priest in the Cathedral of Saint
James in Chicago, at 11:00 a.m., on Saturday, December 15, 2007.
Everyone is welcome to attend. Martha also invites you to an open
house reception at her home from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. at
154 Timber Ridge Lane, in the Lake Barrington Shores community
north of Barrington on Route 59. She will be celebrating the Eucharist
at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. on Sunday, December 16, 2007 at Church
of the Holy Apostles in Wauconda.
Advent
Lessons & Carols
Join St. Michael's
for a Service of Advent Lessons & Carols on Sunday, December
9 at 5:00 p.m. Be sure to invite your friends and family to this
wonderful service full of anticipation! Help is also needed for
a festive reception following the service. And if you have any
battery-operated candles that can be used for the evening, they
would be appreciated. Contact Dolores Duncan at 847-428-5019 or
email doloresmduncan@yahoo.com
to help with the reception or to donate candles.
A second opportunity
for Advent Lessons & Carols will take place on Wednesday evening,
December 12, at 7:00 p.m. at Church of the Holy Apostles in Wauconda.
St.
Cyprian Food Pantry Children's Gifts
On Saturday,
December 8, St. Michael's will be sorting and loading the children's
gifts at 9:30 a.m. in the Community Room. If anyone would like
to help, please call Ruth Silver at 847-381-1871. Large shopping
bags (both paper and plastic) would be appreciated for packing
gifts.
The
Little Red Wagon
As we begin
the feasting of the holiday season, let us not forget those whose
circumstances prevent them from having such festivities. The Little
Red Wagon sits in the narthex/main entrance to remind us of their
needs. Please continue to donate to the wagon throughout this
season of giving.
December food
donations will go to the Barrington Township Food Pantry and in
January, the Cuba Township Food Pantry will receive the collection.
Christmas
Flower Offerings
If you would
like to remember a loved one or offer thanks with altar flowers
for Christmas, please pick up a flower donation envelope in the
narthex/front entrance. Envelopes may be placed in the collection
plate or dropped off in the parish office.
St.
Michael's 2008 Stewardship Campaign
St. Michael's
2008 Stewardship Campaign is nearing its close. Pledges will be
blessed on Sunday, December 9. If you haven't yet returned your
pledge, there are several ways to do so. You can use the pledge
card that was sent to each household, download the pledgecard
from St. Michael's website, email stewardship@stmichaelsbarrington.org,
or pledge online by
visiting www.stmichaelsbarrington.org. Offering your pledge of
support by December 9 is of importance as it will will allow the
vestry to take your contribution into consideration during the
finalization of the 2008 budget.
First/Solemn
Communion
St. Michael's
Children's Ministries is offering First Communion or Solemn Communion
preparation classes. It has been the custom to invite our third
graders into this work, but if you have a younger or older child
for whom you think this opportunity is appropriate, please contact
Nerissa Brueckbauer at 847-381-2323, ext. 33 or nbrueckbauer@stmichaelsbarrington.org.
The class will be commissioned at the 10:30 a.m. Epiphany service
on January 6, 2008. Weekly meditation meetings will be held from
the week of January 13, 2008 through the final Communion retreat,
February 21-23, 2008. The First or Solemn Communion service will
take place on February 23 at noon.
Little
Angels Preschool Auction Items Needed
St. Michael's
Little Angels Preschool, is currently preparing for its annual
fundraiser to be held on February 2, 2008. This event is a "Valentine
Family Dinner Dance" with a silent auction and raffle. This
fundraiser serves as a main source of revenue for the preschool.
Auction items are needed for this event and some of the amazing
donations that have been received in the past included: travel
opportunities/destinations, sports tickets, theater tickets, etc.
If you are interested in donating please contact Melissa Paris
at 847-304-4471.
Barrington
Giving Days
Each December
the Barrington Area 220 School District invites disadvantaged
families residing in the School District to the Barrington Giving
Day. Families receive food, warm coats and gifts. Members of Barrington
churches, schools, businesses and civic organizations have always
been generous in their support of this day. Last year 616 families
were helped.
Please consider
donating gently used or new winter coats, used toys and books
(in Spanish and English) for children and teens. Hats, scarves,
mittens, gloves and related items are greatly appreciated. A box
for donations will be located outside the Community Room through
Wednesday, December 13. Items will then be sorted for the Saturday
Giving Day.
Financial
gifts are also accepted and are used to purchase food, and grocery
food certificates, children's coats, blankets, and essentials.
Checks may be made payable to: Barrington Giving Day, c/o John
Paul Hills, Barrington Bank & Trust, 201 S. Hough St., Barrington,
IL 60010
Volunteers
for the Giving Day are always needed, and their time and effort
is greatly appreciated. Please contact Pat Karon at 847-382-2670
or pmkaron@sbcglobal.net
or Jeanette Muench at 815-444-1622 j.a.muench@sbcglobal.net.
Ladies'
Christmas Dinner
The ECW will
be hosting its annual Ladies' Christmas Dinner on Wednesday, December
12, at Chessie's Restaurant. The festive evening, which will start
at 6:30 p.m., will include holiday fellowship, dinner, and entertainment.
Please mark this date on your calendar and watch for your invitation
in the mail!
And
All The Angels Christmas Sale Continues
Visit And
All The Angels gift shop on St. Michael's lower level for
a great selection of Christmas gifts. The holiday sale will continue
through Christmas. During December, the store will also be open
until 4:00 p.m. on Saturdays.
In
the Parish Family
Those for
whom prayers have been requested
This week
prayers are asked for: Jim, military troops in danger, Bp. Persell,
Craig, Joel, John, Gray, John, Priscilla, Laurie, Artie, Erin,
Ben, Onan & Amena, Teresa, Amy, Kevin, Mary, the Conway family,
Richard, Jen, Sarah
Anniversaries
This Week
Birthdays
- 12.8 Tommy
Lekai, Trevor Osmond, John Rogers, Sumit Mullick
- 12.9 Sara
Parker
- 12.10 Jerry
Conners, Mary VanderMeer
- 12.11 Danny
Burton, Vickie Johnson, Conor Ryan
- 12.12 John
Kazmier, Ben Michaels
- 12.13 Randy
Lewis, Jerry Seyffert, Colleen Maire
- 12.14 Charlie
Baartz
Anniversaries
- 12.10 Michelle
& Kevin Lock
Deaths
- 12.14 Jacqueline
Marie Martin
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