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Sunday Afternoon Reflections
The Rev. Patricia Conley |
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| Greetings! Sunday December 14th |
What a fabulous morning at St. Ann's. The annual no-rehearsal Christmas Pageant, narrated by Sheba the Stable Fly -- supported by a huge cast of children, young people, adults, and a dog named Lilly. You had to be there!
At least 76 people were present (I'm not sure we counted all the little ones) . . . but, in case you missed, I'll explain in more detail below. If you were at the service this morning, why not click on the link right HERE and share your comments about this year's pageant. I'll send the photos of the Christmas Pageant to you as soon as I receive them.
Until then, I hope to see you next Sunday. |
| The Annual CHRISTMAS PAGEANT Sunday |
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Sheba the Stable Fly was once again our pageant narrator. In addition there were many marvelous characters -- here's the cast for 2008:
- Brynn Palmer - the infant John the Baptist.
- John the Baptist's mother was played by Brynn's grandmother, Marge.
- The Innkeeper was played by Gunnar Gitlin.
- Innkeeper's dog - Lilly (Basset Hound) Gitlin.
- Mary, mother of Jesus: Julia Blaho.
- The baby Jesus: Trigg Palmer, and he was simply perfect!
- Maddie & Allie Wienke were in the play as well . . . Maddie was dressed as an angel and Allie was an angel dressed as her own beautiful self. They were most perfect!
- Jacob Wienke was a tiny little donkey, who looked very much like Eeyore. (Eeyore enjoyed exploring the whole stage all through the pageant.)
- Mike Zaino and Quinn Killinger were great shepherds, who could look afraid "on cue."
- Skylaar Killinger was a perfect little lamb, who fell quickly and totally in love with Elmo.
- Joseph, father of Jesus, was played by Steve Flemming (who with his wife Angela are soon to become adoptive parents in real life.)
- The team of angels was aptly portrayed by our three angels: Jenna Castillo, Hannah Gitlin, and Alyssa Zaino.
- The three "wise people" were played by Becky Stretch, Ruth Cotton, and Shelby Peteler.
- And, finally, the two-humped camel was played by two rookies: Dinah Hoppe and Roma Simons.
Thank you to this great cast of our 2008 Christmas Pageant. Thanks, too, to Jeff Scott for reading the official Christmas Story during the pageant.
As the pageant finale Terree Emrich lead the entire cast in singing "Away in a Manger," accompanied by Anna Zaino playing the clarinet and Anna Blaho playing the oboe. The two Anna's played another special duet as our anthem just before Communion.
Oh, yes, let's not forget Jordan Castillo, who did a terrific job for his first time as an Acolyte. Thanks Jordan, you did great! And, thanks to Jerry Kraemer for being the tutoring, shepherding adult acolyte serving with Jordan. Randy Wakitsch was the Worship Assistant and crucifer.
Our usher this morning was Don Blaho. And, our two chalice bearers were Howard McCarthy and Mary Keyse. Mary Keyse was very busy this morning, as she performed her Altar Guild service, sang in the choir, and was the hostess of the wonderful and lively coffee hour. (Thanks to Nadine, Holly, and the other volunteers I saw helping Mary clean up after the coffee hour.) |
Announcing our Annual Meeting -
January 18th -- Do you have photos? |
| As many of you will remember, your rector has prepared a video review of the year for our Annual Meeting for the past two years. I look forward to preparing a new video report for 2008.
Our St. Ann's Annual Meeting and Brunch will be held on January 18th, following the 9:30am service. Anyone who has photos of video footage of St. Ann's people and/or activities in 2008 is invited to submit copies to me for use in preparing this annual video report.
You may send your images either by e-mail or give them to me via a CD. You may even loan printed photos to me and I'll scan them and return the originals to you.
Please, submit photos and videos to me by January 3rd. Thanks so very much.
And, thank you again to Bruce and Natalie Armstrong for their continued shared role as "parish photographer."
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| Promising news of "Isaac Flemming" |
| I received the following message from Steve and Angela Flemming a few weeks ago. They have given permission for me to share the news with our St. Ann's family. Let us continue to hold little Isaac and his new family in our prayers. -- Rev. Pat
11/25/08 Hello!!
For those of you receiving this who haven't heard yet, Steve and I received "The Call" yesterday from our adoption agency...and received the Referral of a baby boy from Korea!! We had just found out that we moved up to the number One position on the waiting list Monday morning...and a little over an hour later, we received "The Call"!!!
A referral is basically the current medical info & status, medical & family background, photos etc. Here is one of the photos we received today, when we met with our adoption social worker:
The baby's Korean name is Ma, Jae-Yeong. (Last Name/Family name first, then his first and middle name). His American name will be Isaac Jae-Yeong Fleming.
He was born on 6-15-2008. He weighed 5.5 lbs. He is now about 5 months old and weighs 12 lbs, and is 23" long. He is a bit small for his age, but they say he is a pretty healthy, happy baby boy. They say developmentally he is on target for his age.
We think he's just adorable...(but we're biased...already!)
It will probably be anywhere from 3-5 months and LOTS of paperwork before we complete this journey and get Isaac home....but we just had to share with you all, as we are delirious with joy....We're so excited to think we'll be starting our family soon!
Thank you all for your love, support and prayers during this long process. It means so much to us!!
We'll definitely keep you posted!!
Sincerely,
Angela & Steve Fleming | |
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| Your announcement here -- |
| I invite anyone who would like news dissiminated throughout the parish to send your news item to me, and I'll just include it in these hope-to-be-fairly-regular Sunday Afternoon Reflections of the Rector.
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| Birthdays, Anniversaries, and Other Celebrations! |
| Please, if your birthday or anniversary or other special celebration is not listed below (and you would like it to be listed) -- just drop me an e-mail and I'll update our records.
Birthdays in December:
1 Carol Lahti
2 Ed Hall
2 Chita Yao
3 Nancy Wright
5 Philip McCullough
7 Jack Porter
9 Ricca Zaino
10 Lynn Long
12 David Stretch
17 Mike Emrich
19 Howard McCarthy
20 Mel Long
20 Kirk Halma
20 Holly Williams
December Anniversaries
16 Rob & Joan Purdy |
| No Room at the Inn . . . |
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For the season of Advent, you are again invited to participate in "No Room at the Inn," -- a display of Nativity scenes in our parish hall. Anyone who wishes may bring a creche(s) to place on display for the season. |
| The Angel Tree . . . |
Our annual Angel Tree project is nearing it's successful end. If you would like to bring additional gifts for the elderly residents of an assisted care facility, please bring them by next Sunday (Dec. 21st). Today was our cut-off date for items for children, but we are receiving items for the elderly through next Sunday. Thank you to everyone who has participated. Contact Susie Scott for more information: (224) 569-3203 or Susie Scott. |
| Don't forget the Amazon.com link on St. Ann's webiste. |
I recently received this note from Howard McCarthy -- a good reminder for all of us. . .
"I just went through our St. Ann's link to Amazon to order some Christmas gifts. . . . it might be beneficial to remind everyone that the link exists and that by using it we get a small "donation" from Amazon. Another "funraiser" that people may have forgotten about. - Howard"
Thanks for the reminder, Howard. |
| The Next BOOK GROUP . . . |
The Book Group will next meet on January 11, 2009, at Mary Jane and Robin Andrews. We will be reading The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows.
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| Advent, Christmas and Beyond . . . |
December 21 - Sunday - Advent IV 8:00am and 9:30am Eucharist
December 21 - Sunday - 10:45am Building Committee, Coffee Sales
December 21 - Sunday - 10:45am Altar Guild to set up for Christmas Eve & Christmas
December 24 - Wednesday - Candlelight Christmas Eve Services 4:30pm and 10:30pm
(Christmas Carol sing begins at 10:00pm)
December 25 - Thursday - 10:00am Christmas Day Eucharist
December 28 - Sunday - 8:00am Morning Prayer with Communion
9:30am Holy Eucharist
January 4, 2009 Sunday - 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist; Sunday School 10:45
January 9 - Friday - FAMILY FUN NIGHT -- Midwinter playtime. 6:00pm
January 11 - Sunday - 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist; Sunday School 10:45
January 18 - Sunday - 9:30am Eucharist (no 8:00); No Sunday School.
9:30am Special Youth-let Children's service in Choir Room.
ANNUAL MEETING follows 9:30am service.
January 23-24 Friday Night and Saturday Morning. Adult Spiritual Life
with the Rev. Brian Hastings. 7:30-9:00pm Friday. 8:30am-Noon Saturday.
January 25 - Sunday - 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist; Sunday School 10:45.
February 1 - Sunday 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist
Acolytes Meet, Downstairs Sunday School Class Meets
ADULT FORUM -- Another look at our Book of Common Prayer.
February 8 - Sunday. 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist; Sunday School at 10:45.
February 15 - Sunday. 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist; Sunday School at 10:45.
Building Committee, Green Group, and Coffee Sales
February 22 - Sunday. 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist. Sunday School 10:45.
United Thank Offering boxes distributed.
February 29 - Sunday. 8:00am & 9:30am Eucharist. Sunday School 10:45. |
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Please, feel free to contact me at my direct cell phone number: 815-355-6840 -- or via the Rector's e-mail, anytime. And, invite someone new to church this week! See you in church.
Sincerely,
The Rev. Patricia A. Conley
St. Ann's Episcopal Church
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