The Alpha Course begins in January.

 

Alpha is a ten-week course that explores the basics of Christianity.

 

If you've been around the Church for a while, Alpha will serve as a great refresher.

 

 

If you have questions of your own, bring them!

 

For a detailed schedule, click here.

 

We'll need to order the correct number of workbooks... as well as give the caterer an idea of how many people need to be fed!  

 

Mission Statement:
To welcome all people into an ever-deepening personal relationship with Jesus Christ.
 
Our Vision:
To be a vibrant community of Christian faith and worship, to educate and serve, and to offer fellowship and support to all who seek Jesus Christ as Lord.
 
Our Core Values:
We believe in God as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

We profess that Jesus Christ is our Savior and Lord.

We preach and teach that the Holy Scriptures are the authoritative Word of God.

We encourage and nurture disciples of Jesus Christ through abiding in his Word.

 
We believe the Holy Sacraments, daily prayer, and the healing power of Christ are fundamental and necessary.

We offer comprehensive pastoral care.

    

We offer Christian education for children, families, and people of all ages.

We provide music and liturgy that praise God and exalt the Spirit.

We welcome all people into our vibrant fellowship.

We strive to be living examples of Christian love, truth, honesty, integrity, and excellence in all we do.

 

We share the gospel of Jesus Christ through service to the community of Santa Fe and beyond.

 

Dear Friends,
 
As our custom has been for at least these last two years, we recognize the liturgical season with a change in the Sunday liturgy.  The Season of Advent is a season of preparation: We prepare for the coming of God in flesh, Emmanuel; and we prepare for the second and ultimate coming of our Lord which he will judge the "quick and the dead." In many places the liturgical color has been purple or violet, indicating penitence, though in traditional "Sarum use," the liturgy at Salisbury Cathedral (England) and the Cathedral from which Cranmer drew so heavily in shaping the first Book of Common Prayer, the color blue has been used because of the emphasis on the Blessed Virgin Mary.  That Anglican tradition of using blue has been increasing in popularity amongst the Church of England and Episcopalians. (The Roman Catholics still use purple.) Advent is not a "little Lent," as some of us were taught long ago, but rather a distinctive season with a distinctive message. Though both are rather solemn seasons, one difference between Advent and Lent is that throughout Advent we retain the "alleluias." At the Church of the Holy Faith, we will use our blue set of solemn vestments throughout the season.
 
In Advent we will also use a different setting for the "ordinary music," the music we sing each Sunday.  We will drop the Gloria and use, instead, the Kyrie ("Lord have mercy").  The Kyrie, Sanctus ("Holy, holy, holy"), and Agnus Dei ("O Lamb of God") will be from the Schubert Mass. (Since Easter we have been using Healy Willan's mass music.  Willan was an Anglican whose music has been a standard in the Episcopal Hymnal since 1940.)
 
We will also change the "Prayers of the People" at the eleven o'clock service to the first form of the prayers. At the two early morning services we will continue with the Prayer for the Whole State. One other change is that we will stand during the Prayer for the Whole State and Prayers of the People.  I believe that Cranmer meant for us to stand for those prayers or he would not have included in the invitation to "make [our] humble confession to Almighty God, devoutly kneeling."  Either people have been standing through the Prayer for the Whole State, or they have not been kneeling devoutly! I prefer to think it was the former. Since we would like to use the full invitation to the confession in this season, we will ask that the people stand.
 
One last change will be that during the Advent season: we will use greens in place of flowers beside the altar, with the exception of the Third Sunday in Advent, Gaudete or Rose Sunday.
 
We have many wonderful traditions during the Advent Season, among them Advent Lessons and Carols and Las Posadas. We will be serving at the Interfaith Homeless Shelter the first week of Advent.  If you cannot volunteer to help, please pray for all the homeless people of Santa Fe as well as those of us who serve them. Don't forget the St. Nicolas Bazaar on December 5, the Christmas Eve Pageant, and the special Christmas services.  Finally, please watch the calendar for the dates and times for all of our special traditions. Most of all, may God bless you richly in this time of waiting,
 
Kenneth J.G. Semon
 

 

BITS AND PIECES

 

Albertson's Community cards - Temporary cards are here! Help raise funds for youth programs at Holy Faith by using a "Community Card" when you shop at Albertsons. Simply scan it at the register and Holy Faith will receive 1% of the total of all purchases up to $50,000; 5% on everything over $50,000 per quarter. The pink temporary cards will be on the piano in Palen Hall - please pick one up the next time you're at Church! We'll let you know when the permanent cards arrive.

 

Parish Directory - We anticipate that we will receive our 2010 Parish Directories by the end of December - possibly by Christmas. Thanks to everyone who participated!

 

Royal School of Church Music - Enrollment is open for the Royal School of Church Music. Please call the RSCM Director, Monika Cosson-Sheppard, at 982-4447 ext. 112, to learn more about this exciting program for children's musical training and choir.

 

United Thank Offering - Your small change can make a big difference in someone's life! Please pick up a "little blue box" or envelope from the back of the Church. Holy Faith's UTO Sunday is December 13. Collections will be taken during the services. Thank you!

 

Vestry Nominations - Nominations are open for Holy Faith's Vestry. We'll elect 3 new members in January. Please contact the parish office if you would like to run, or to nominate someone.  The deadline for nominations is December 15.

 

 

Dear brothers and sisters in Christ,
 
This is Thomas Baby here , absolutely fine now. Our heartfelt thanks to each of you and your families for your great support and prayers. Almighty has again gave me the strength to stand in His name again. All my blood counts has been normal now. Bittu's exams were going on that is why she could not reply to you.
 
Another issue I would like to bring before you is that , we need to vacate  this  house where we are staying right now. Here the rent is also very high By the end of this month or by the beginning of next month. Kindly keep this matter in yours prayers so that we get a suitable place.
 

Please pray for: Rowan, Archbishop of Canterbury, Katharine, Presiding Bishop, Kenneth, Rector, Curtis, Associate Rector, Duncan and Ivan priests; Chris, Jim, Katherine and Deby pursuing holy orders; our missionary; our Vestry; for our relationship with St. Francis Cathedral Basilica & First Presbyterian Church; and in ourDiocese, Church of the Epiphany, Socorro, Woodrow Peabody, Vicar.

Healing and Comfort: ALICE Adams, RON Adinolfi, LESLIE Allin, FLORENCE Ault, GUY Bayne, KAY Bell, GEORGE Blinn, JIM Clapp, JO ANN Clapp, SUE Coleman, NANCY Cope, MARYANNE Crenshaw, HALEY Curtin, HUGH Curtin, BETTY Davis, JOHN Davis, LORA DeVary, MARJORY Dobyns, OREN Ellis, ED Forgotson, CLARKE Fountain, DOUG Fraser, KATHY Fraser, JERE Green, MARTHA Greenway, SHIRLEY Gutermuth, SUZANNE Hanratty, AUDREY Henrickson, CINDI Jones, SUZIE Landrum, JOY Lanum, SUSAN Leslie, BETTY Lilienthal, SHAD Longenette, JOANN Morrissey, MARJORIE Muth, JOHN Potter, STEVE Ray, PETE Rhymes, BARBARA Simms, PATTY Stone, DUDDY Wilder, and JOE Wright.

Our Family and Friends: MATTHEW Blazer, LESLIE Bryant, DANIEL Bufkin, VAL Burg, BRADLEY Carlton, JASON Collins, AGNES Cooke,  PEGGY Crawford, JACK Crenshaw, MARY Dickerson, MARCY Dolan, TUDOR Garland, MARY Gerard, CLAUDIA Grayson, MARY Hasted, DAVID Haughaboo, JACKIE Hoag, JANIE Hord, TRAVIS Jacob, LUKE Jadwin and Family, ELENI Jakub, JONAS Kaare, GAYE Jacob, SYLVIA Johnson, ABBAS Kazmi, UMBREEN Kazmi, GENE Kennison, MARY King, WEBSTER Kitchell, SALLY Knott, WILL Knox, SUE Kutz, WILLIAM Larkin Jr., BOB Lee, BETTY Lindley, CORA Littleton, MEREDITH Lusby, TERRI May, STEPHANIE Lowry, ELLEN MacDonald, ANTONIA Maes, DENINE Mares, CHARLOTTE Mason, JOAN Mason, TERRI May, SCOTT Maynard, BAILEY McCollum, JOHN McLean, KENNY McMillan, JOHN Miller, JIM Morton, BONNIE Morse, MARGARET Neilly, BETH Noland, JIM Norris, NATHAN Post, DAVID Ray, MEREDITH Ray, TED Reed, DYLAN Rodriguez, DONNA Roripaugh, JEAN Rose, GAIL Ryba, LYNN Ryba, FRANK Salazar, ANNA LENA Spect, JOHN  Schroeder, JUNE Silcock, MARY Simmons, KATE Slatton, NICHOLAS Slatton, STEWART Slatton, JEFF Teutsch, the TRUJILLO FAMILY, SANDY Wade, JILL Wade, SUNDAY Walters, NICHOLAS Webb, JODY Wheeless, KAYLA Yancey, LYLE Zimmerman, GREG Zweizcker, BOB, BRIAN & JOKER, CONNIE, ELISABETH & BABY, FREDA & TOM, JAY, MAC & LENA, MARGE, RICHARD, SUE, VICKY, and VIVIAN  (Names will be placed on the Family & Friends list for 60 days). 

Our friends and family in the military: HUGH Bailey, CARSON Butz, 2nd LT. NICHOLAS Gilwitch, LTC.  PETER Hansen, JOSH Holden, MASON LeMieux, MATTHEW Lowry, Capt. (USN) OSCAR Lujan, Sgt. JOSHUA Magdelenski, Sgt. BILL McSweeney USMC, LTC. CHARLES Stewart Slatton II, L.Cpl. Aaron Smith, USMC, Maj. RYAN Thiessen, WAYNE Whipple, and BG Greg Zanetti.

 

 

                      7:30 / 8:30 / 11:00
November 1       24 / 105 / 133

November 8       25 / 101/ 121

November 15     16 / 91/ 126                           
November 22     22 / 101 / 96 

November 29     17 / 88 / 116 

Thanksgiving Day  74
 

NOVEMBER FINANCIAL REPORT
 
Unrestricted contributions totaled:                       $  62,658.04
Total expenses:                                                   (91449.78)
 
Deficit for November                                           $ (28,791.74)
 
The ending balance of the Church of the Holy Faith Endowment (October 31):
$2,242,718.71.
 
2010 Pledges - To date we have received $433,800 in pledges for 2010 - our goal is $583,882, which was last year's pledge total. If you haven't given your pledge yet, please do so. We base our expenses for next year on pledges received now, so please send yours in as soon as possible.

The telephones are a'ringing here in the office today. Tomorrow is December 1st and people are calling to request assistance with utilities or rent. November calls were high again-over 200 individual requests for assistance with housing, utility and medical bills.  We note a slight increase in calls from people who do not have an income and thus do not qualify for assistance from FAW.  We do attempt to help them identify possible sources of assistance, although the amounts available are minimal in such circumstances. 
 
Through the generosity of volunteers and donors Faith at Work prepared a Thanksgiving Dinner for Street Outreach the Tuesday prior to Thanksgiving. A number of you contributed to the abundant food we prepared for fifty homeless teens. You may have seen the article and photos in Journal North describing our outreach work. Stalwart volunteers of FAW, Ernie and Vonda Schnitger, Evie Longenette, and Betty Lou Dent. prepared the dinner along with Diana and myself in the Holy Faith kitchen.  For all of this support we are so appreciative, as were the teens! 
 
The Interfaith Community Shelter has opened in the former Pete's Pets building on Cerrillos.  FAW is fiscal sponsor of the Shelter and is one of two designated drop-off points for Shelter donations of clothing, paper goods and other items.  The second collection point is TaHa Mosque for clothing only. The Community Closet distributes clothing twice a week at the Shelter.  We accept all donations between 9:00 A.M. and 3:00 P.M. TWTh.  For other times, please call in advance.
 
Our attention now focuses on ensuring that at least a few families and individuals in need are not forgotten over the holidays.  We share the Joy, Hope, and Love of the season as we assist these families.  We invite you to consider the opportunities below to participate in holiday giving:
 
Adopt a Family --Christmas dinner food baskets and gifts for families and/or individuals.  Throughout the year we note clients who are quite stretched in their needs.  FAW also receives requests from client families and agencies, including the Teen Parent Center at Santa Fe High School.  You can donate a food basket, children's gifts, or money to purchase food and/or gifts.  Adult gifts are also an option and often included in the gift baskets.  Names, ages and wish lists will be provided.  Our deadline for receiving wrapped gifts is December 21st and unwrapped gifts December 17th.
 
Sock and Mitten Trees-Gloves, mittens, hats, scarves and socks are collected to distribute to Santa Fe homeless adults, children and youth.  There are already trees at Holy Faith and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Fe. Gift items can be delivered to our office.  Small gift items are also collected for homeless teens. Contact us for suggestions.  
 
How can you help?  Adopt a family, contribute to the Mitten Trees, volunteer to sort and organize donations, join Santa's FAW Workshop for 2-3 hours to wrap gifts and prepare food boxes.  We promise you Holiday Joy as you share with these families and individuals this Holiday season.  Call us at 471-6323 or write us at Angela@faithatworksf.org.  Sign up soon because it takes some time to organize donors and families to coordinate your shopping. 
 
Client needs, in addition to financial assistance, include the following:
 
Clothing-all sizes coats, sweaters, long-sleeved tees to layer, sweats, tennis or hiking shoes, and sox.  Also clean underwear for boys and girls. 

 

Food-snack bars, meals in a can, cereals, canned milk, syrup, canned fruits and vegetables, and fruit juices.
Linens-blankets especially queen size, hand towels, mattress pads, and throw rugs.

 

Furniture--mattresses and springs, couches and side chairs, tables and chairs, end tables, small dressers.
Toiletries in travel sizes, including lip balm, foot powder, deodorant and hair brushes.
 
May the Blessings of this Holiday Season be with each of you and your family.  May you find Joy, Hope and Love in this Season of Lights and Wonder.  Thank you for your continued support of our mission at Faith at Work.
 
Blessings,
Angela Merkert, Executive Director
Diana Grabowsky, Caseworker
 
 
Please Note  -- It's easy to give joy and warmth  this Christmas! If you'd like to adopt a family just visit with parishioner Kay Swindell in Palen Hall between services on December 6, 14, and 20. Sign up sheets will be available. Gifts need to be turned in by December 21, so please sign up soon!
 
The "Sock and Mitten Trees" are also up in Palen Hall - All donations will go to the appropriate agency: Faith at Work for children's items; the IC Shelter's Community Closet for the adult's.