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The week of Dec. 21-27, 2015
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Christmas blessings
The Christmas lessons
Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7; Psalm 96 Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-20
Christmas Day
Isaiah 62:6-12; Psalm 98; Hebrews 1:1-4; John 1:1-14
First Sunday after Christmas
Our Christmas lessons on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and Sunday, Dec. 27, the First Sunday after Christmas are familiar and yet, when examined together, demonstrating nuance and insight otherwise hard to reach. A good example is the Hebrew Bible reading for the First Sunday after Christmas, Dec. 27.
Isaiah presents an understanding of God's goodness, eventually realized in the Messiah, Jesus, which goes beyond human need, and instead provides sumptuously for God's people: "I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my whole being shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels."
This prophesy by Isaiah goes well beyond human comprehension, beyond the sense of need that people felt. The idea that God would be so generous boggles the mind.
That's a lot to lay on a newborn. Yet we know Jesus came to share with us and to demonstrate the generosity of God, to the point of giving himself.
This perspective was reflected in a Christmas reflection submitted by a parishioner:
Dear God,
Thank you for sending Jesus on a rescue mission to save us and for your promise that He will come again. During this Christmas season please give us a deeper revelation of all that we have in Him so that we may live expectantly, courageously, and victoriously for the sake of the Gospel. Amen
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Christmas food baskets galore!
Hike in the number of Christmas baskets
matched by equal increase in demand
This year instead of throwing a Food Pantry family Christmas party and packing
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| | Our "ham room," formerly known as the parlor |
presents for children in our Christmas basket, St. Paul's decided to distribute only food in order to give Christmas dinner makings to more of our food pantry clientele. In the past we have been able to distribute 25-30 baskets.
By distributing food only and by organizing a small army of volunteers, our Outreach Committee was able to prepare and distribute 120 baskets.
We accepted requests from Food Pantry clientele for a month in order to provide each household the opportunity to sign up. The 120 official and timely requests were for 73 ham dinner baskets and 47 turkey dinner baskets.
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Volunteers in our "turkey room" with packed Christmas food baskets.
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On Saturday, Dec. 19, volunteers handed out 39 turkey dinners and 58 ham dinners. Clients on the waiting list were called to pickup baskets that had not been claimed and six of them came in before 6 pm Saturday and took home Christmas dinner makings.
The 23 households that did not pick up their baskets will be called to make arrangements to pick up their Christmas dinner makings. If they don't, the food will be donated to the Lunch Box at the Family Partnership.
The Commemoration of St. Thomas
This newsletter is being e-published on Dec. 21, the official day of remembrance for St. Thomas.
I think that St. Thomas gets a bad rap. As with many people, I grew up hearing about Doubting Thomas. When we are questioning things, we are often told not to be a Doubting Thomas. We are reminded of the value of those who believe without seeing, and again poor Thomas is the example of what is not the "ideal".
I see him differently. Thomas was not with the other Apostles when Jesus first appeared. Thomas wanted to be certain of what he was experiencing. Thomas was the first Christian scientist. (Scientists ask a lot of questions so that they can prove things.) He had the courage to ask for that proof. Remember, he was not with the others, and he did a difficult thing by asking for proof.
It would have been very easy to sit there, nod his head, but he did not want to do that. Is this so bad? No, not really. As Episcopalians we are asked to take an active role in developing our faith. When we think about that, the way we learn is partly by asking questions. Maybe Thomas was there to encourage us to not be afraid to ask questions! --Warden Pete Bedrossian
Holiday Greetings for all
MerryChristmas! Joyeux Nöel! Buon Natale!
Feliz Navidad! God Jul!! GlaedeligJul!
Mele Kalikimaka! Fröliches Weihnachten!!
Feliz Natal! Nollaig Shona Dhuit!
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This week at St. Paul's:
From our bulletin calendar
Monday Dec. 21 Christmas food basket distribution continues
Wednesday Dec. 23 12:15 pm Healing Service
5:30 pm Advent Supper series
Thursday Dec. 24 4:30 Christmas music concert
5 pm Christmas mass with choir and strings
Friday Dec. 25 10 am Christmas mass with hymns
Sunday Dec. 27 8 am Rite I celebration of the Holy Communion
10 am Rite II celebration of the Holy Communion
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