Collect for the week of Advent 4
Purify our conscience, Almighty God, by your
daily visitation, that your Son Jesus Christ, at his coming, may find
in us a mansion prepared for himself; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Readings for December 27th / The First Sunday after Christmas
Isaiah 61:10-62:3
Psalm 147:13-21 Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7
John 1:1-18
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Moving Days
Moving Day #1 - Monday - 12/21 - meet at 9am at RTS for moving most of our wares to Canterbury.
Moving Day #2 Monday, 12/28 Meet at RTS at 9am.
************************************
Christmas Pageant Dress Rehearsal
December 23/4pm-7pm at RTS
Pageant team and players to be at RTS on December 24th (Christmas Eve) at 4:00pm. For more info Contact Heather Starr
//////////////////////////
CHRISTMAS SERVICES
Christmas Eve / Dec. 24th
5pm Pageant & Eucharist at
Reformed Theological
Seminary
8pm Feast of the Incarnation
Holy Eucharist Rite II
(with incense) at the Chapel at Canterbury Retreat and Conference Center Check the Canterbury Page on our Website for parking and directions - CLICK HERE
10am Christmas Day Eucharist December 25th at Reformed Theological Seminary
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Our last Sunday Service
at RTS will be on December 27th. No classes / Holy Eucharist Rite II at 10:30am
**************************************
January 3rd
First Sunday at Canterbury
Join us at 10:15am in the main building at Canterbury for a specialLitany of Moving into the Chapel (service will begin at 10:30am in the chapel)
(no classes this day)
==========================
Coming in January -
Dave Ramsey's
FINANCIAL PEACE UNIVERSITY
Contact Sue Grosso
(more details soon)
=====================
Give to THE CANTERBURY FUND... To help with moving expenses and set-up Incarnation at Canterbury. Please make checks payable to Church of the Incarnation, mark them Canterbury Fund. You can drop them in Sunday's offering or mail them to
Church of the Incarnation
P.O. BOX 623302
Oviedo, FL 32762-3302
|
 |
|
|
|
Dear Friends,
It is hard for me to find the words to express the joy I have at Christmas. The amazing moment of the Incarnation of Jesus into this world to save and redeem fills me with awe and causes me to have a silly grin. So much so that when given the opportunity to start the mission congregation in Oviedo I felt strongly that the Lord would name this congregation Church of the Incarnation. I petitioned the Bishop regarding this and he agreed.
As I think back on our journey over nearly four years I am amazed. We have grown into a vital and thriving congregation. We are seeing the mission and ministry bear fruit for the Kingdom of God.
It make me think about why our name is Incarnation and not something else. I remember an email I sent to the Bishop it listed three reasons for the new mission to be called Church of the Incarnation:
1. There was not a Church of the Incarnation in the Diocese
(I think a good idea not to duplicate church names unless there is good reason - less confusion and more distinction)
2. As a youth minister for 20+years the concept of Incarnational Ministry - Christ working in us and through us in a relational fashion has been a primary model for youth ministry. At the heart of being incarnational is simply loving people like Jesus loved people; loving people enough to go to them.
3. The fifth verse of O Little Town of Bethlehem was ringing in my ears in August of 2005. (a little weird to be thinking of a Christmas carol in August)
O holy Child of Bethlehem, descend to us, we pray;
cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.
We hear the Christmas angels, the great glad tidings tell;
O come to us, abide with us, our Lord Emmanuel!
Redemption, hope, joy and new life in Christ. What could be better!
In August of 2005 as I was hearing this call Church of the Incarnation was at most a "wisp" of a dream. As we approach the celebration of our feast day in 2009, I do so with gratitude for this calling and how it is now showing itself with the Canterbury Partnership. The journey has been full and life-giving and we have just begun. Let me say it plainly, I am about to bust with JOY and do not think I can take any more of God's grace and favor in my life, though I will try :-) - I cannot help but think of the passage... "...no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him" (1Corinthians 2:9) His gift to us is beyond our senses, comprehension and imagination - I am finding this to be true in many areas of my life and especially at Incarnation.
In all these things God has prepared for us, may we yearn for and be faithful to His calling...
in the mission, JD+Fr. Jon / Vicar A Few Things...For some Random Humor check out Tim Hawkins
Christmas in the City was phenomenal! Hundreds were served with love and compassion. It was a Kingdom of God moment in Oviedo. The Children's Choir did a spectacular job in opening the event with wonderful music. It was a great day. Pictures to come soon. With year end comes the
closing of our financial books and to receive tax credit for your
contribution all gifts must be postmarked or received by December
31st. With the move and expansion of our ministry there are many needs
and I would ask you to consider gifts to the church as you are able, to
our operations and to the Canterbury Fund (see left column). Alex Ghiglieri / Eagle Scout.
I was pleased to participate in Alex's Court of Honor where after years of hard work and dedication Alex was rewarded with the rank of Eagle Scout. This is quite an accomplishment and we offer our Congratulations!  |
|
|
|
|
|
|
