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Christmas Eve
Services
Monday, December 24
Christmas Eve at Saint George's is a wonderful celebration! We have two services - 4 PM for families and children and, later, a Choral Festival service at 10 PM. We get many visitors at these services and put our best effort forward to welcome them and share with them the joy of the season.
Please share the invitation to St. George's with neighbors and friends who might be looking for a place to worship that day and, perhaps, for a spiritual home beyond the holidays
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Healing Eucharists
Wednesdays 7:30 p.m.
All are invited to attend our regular Wednesday healing service at 7:30 p.m. A Holy Eucharist with healing prayers incorporated into the liturgy, it's quiet, beautiful and perfect for prayer support. |
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Submissions
Dragon Tales will be published bimonthly beginning with our next issue. Articles submission deadline for the January/February 2013 issue of Dragon Tales is Monday, December 17. Submission is easy using our online form.
Your Feature-Length Articles Wanted!
With the new website, it is now very easy to publish feature-length articles. Parishioners are invited to submit for consideration articles about church- or spirituality-related topics, such as the reflection (below) by Cheryl Notari. This is a great way to tell the world about St. George's and the people in its community! |
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Greetings!
Good riddance, Sandy and hurricane season. It's time to celebrate the seasons of Advent and Christmas! Like any family, we have our traditions--our Advent wreath-making workshop, a reading of A Christmas Carol, Lessons and Carols, the greening of the church and our beloved Christmas pageant. The wondrous voices of the Rutgers Chorus will ring throughout our sanctuary again.
Dragon Tales will switch to a bimonthly schedule beginning with our January/February 2013 issue and we have an early deadline this month so all can enjoy the holidays. We wish each of you a blessed Advent and joyous Christmas. See you in church, and beyond!
Dragon Tales Team |
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 Rector's Message
 | | The Rev. Bernie Poppe, Rector |
Since the last writing of Dragon Tales, Hurricane Sandy came with devastating might, leaving casualties and destruction in its wake. There was loss of electricity, loss of homes and property and loss of life. This part of the country has rarely, if ever, seen such severe weather. The disruption to our lives in Maplewood doesn't compare to the destruction seen in other parts of the state or region, but it was still serious for us. Yet we also saw some amazing outcomes as a result. At times of crisis, people come together and help each other. The sharing of limited resources, food, showers, homes, electricity from generators, and much more is only a small part of the way people took care of each other during this time.
Among the wonders were not only the cooperation between local neighbors in our varied communities, but the utility trucks from other states across the country coming to help. We're accustomed to an outpouring of aid to devastated places in other parts of the country and to raising money or volunteer groups to assist them. We are not accustomed to being the ones helped. Yet, what a powerful experience it was of love and compassion from brothers and sisters across the country.
In the aftermath of the clean-up, a friend of mine from Morris County grieved the loss of beloved trees in her yard. The changing landscape of her property became a symbol of the changing landscape of our lives. Things change and even deep rooted notions, realities or expectations can be toppled in an instant. Although some things are lost forever, new things can be planted to take their place. Even when much loss has been sustained, there is always much to be thankful for.
In the village, people gathered in shops and restaurants with a neighborhood atmosphere we're usually too busy to enjoy. The combined service between St. George's, Morrow Methodist and Prospect Presbyterian was spirit filled and beautiful. We've talked for years of doing some combined events, and it came to fruition among communities helping each other by sharing worship space. One person said they saw God in the faces of the people that day in a new way. I think we all may have felt God's love and grace in the kindness, sharing, and gracious and generous way we lived together. For a moment in time life was slower and quieter.
We're entering the season of Advent. It is a season of the church year that is also intended to be quieter and slower. It's a time to look at our lives in a different way and be thankful for that which makes us strong and in touch with God's love, as well as ways we might like to improve. Advent is a time to prepare for the birth of Christ in new ways. In one sense the spirit of Christmas has already begun through the peace and goodwill among friends, neighbors and those who reached out in kindness during our time of crisis.
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 World Aids Day
On Sunday, December 2, St. George's will be observing World AIDS Day. Parishioner Bill Jaglowski will be preaching at both the 8 AM and 10:30 AM services. Our parish observance will offer the congregation an opportunity to view our AIDS quilt, created to memorialize friends and loved ones. This day is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. The Millennium Development Goal of "Getting to Zero" will be discussed, and what we as a parish community can do to help foster this goal.
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Annual Reading of
A Christmas Carol
 Yes - it is time for our annual reading of A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens. We will meet at Jane and David Cates's house on Sunday, December 2, at 6:30 PM and read until we are finished (usually around 9:30 PM). The story is divided into sections with each person getting an assignment (if you want to just listen, that's okay, too.) There will be ample food and drink (but not a dinner) with plum pudding and a smoking bishop toast to the occasion at the end (no Beckwiths harmed). Please RSVP to let me know that you are coming and if you want to read so I can get the sections assigned (janegc@comcast.net). Fezziwigily yours, Jane |
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Youth Pizza Night
 On Friday, December 7, 6 PM, St. George's will host a Youth Night featuring pizza and desserts, games, and planning of future youth events and trips. All youth in middle school and high school are invited. Youth Night will be held from 6 to 8:30 PM on the second floor of the Resource Center. |
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Music Notes
 | | John Ayer,Organist & Choirmaster |
My dear friends:
Greetings! As you are all probably aware, Advent is very near, which means that Christmas is not too far behind. And, as always, the choirs are busily preparing their music for the various celebrations that take place as we approach these two very festive seasons of the church year. The following are two special musical events to which you are encouraged to attend.
On Sunday, December 9 at 4:30 PM, there will be a concert of Holiday Music, sung by the Rutgers Chorale under the direction of John Floreen. John and his talented ensemble of singers performed a similar concert at St. George's a couple of years ago to great reviews. So we thought it would be appropriate to invite them back again this holiday season. General admission tickets (as well as discounted tickets for students and seniors) are available for purchase right now. Please call the church office to reserve your tickets, or you may purchase them directly from John Ayer and members of the St. George's Adult Choir will have tickets for sale after Sunday services on December 2 and 9. All ticket proceeds go to the music department in support of the choir program.
On Sunday, December 16 at the 10:30 AM service, the choir will present its annual Advent Service of Lessons and Carols. This very popular service has now become a fixed tradition in our parish, and features traditional and modern carols, including some of your favorite hymns of the season. Our own "resident classical guitarist" Leighann Narum Miller and her colleague, flutist Sara Berger, will also be featured in duet. They will be playing an extended prelude, so make sure to come early. I hope all of our St. George's folk will take advantage of this wonderful event. What a great way to celebrate the coming of our Lord. And don't forget to bring all of your friends, too!!!
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Publicize your St. George's Event
The Communications Committee would like to help generate advance publicity for your St. George's event. In order for us to best help you, you need to contact the Communications Committee well in advance of the event -- ideally, when you begin planning it. That way we can offer ideas on how to tie in with other events, consult on templates and colors to use for fliers, and provide a timeline for what needs to happen before publicity goes out.
We can assist you with writing press releases and contacting local media, and also provide access to a large library of photos and graphics to help illustrate your publicity materials. We also may think of some publicity ideas that had not occurred to you.
To alert the Communications Committee about an upcoming event, please email us at send-news@stgeorges-maplewood.org.
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During the week of December 9-15, we will join with the members of Wyoming Presbyterian of Millburn in hosting up to four homeless Interfaith Hospitality Network parents and their children, here at Saint George's Church.
Volunteers are needed to serve as meal preparers, greeter/servers, evening host and overnight host. Two volunteers are needed for each nightly task. Please check the IHN chart in the parish hall during coffee hour or contact Martha Gardner for additional information.
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Joy of Giving
The Outreach Committee invites you to share the joys of the season by giving to others. Here are some opportunities to make a difference in the lives of those less fortunate.
- Food for Local Food Pantries. Please continue to bring in food and place it in the barrels in the narthex and by the parish hall door. We are continuing to bring the food to the food pantries at St. Joseph's (Maplewood), Our Lady of Sorrows (South Orange) and Holy Trinity Episcopal Church (West Orange). If we learn of specific requests - especially as the holidays approach - we will send them out to the parish list serve and put them in the bulletin.
- Gift Cards for Interfaith Hospitality Network clients (IHN). St. George's, one of the founding members of the Essex County IHN (and host of families the week of December 9), has participated in this holiday program for several years. Gift cards in $10 or $25 denominations for stores such as Shoprite, Pathmark, Target and Walmart are welcome. The annual IHN holiday party is December 7 so we will collect the cards no later than Sunday, December 2 for distribution at the party. I am also happy to pick them up from your home the week of December 2 if that's easier for you - just contact me at mgardner25@comcast.net.
- Christmas Eve donations for North Porch. Please see the article below for our annual Christmas Eve collection for North Porch.
- If you know of organizations you would like St. George's members and/or its outreach committee to support during this holiday season, please let us know. Our final Outreach Committee meeting of the year will be on Monday, December 10 and we will be making financial allocations at that time. Thank you!
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Sunday School Update
Announcement: After the devastation that Hurricane Sandy left in its wake, the Sunday School banded together and made a
collection for our fellow parish All Saints, Hoboken. Among other things, All Saints hosts The Jubilee Center servicing local
Hoboken youth in afterschool programs, etc. They also served as a distribution center for items collected for those in need. We are still collecting items though the month, please contact me or Jane Bleasdale.
Moving forward, the Sunday School will now be preparing for the season of Advent. Jesse Tree ornaments will be constructed as well as rehearsals for the Christmas Eve Pageant. We look forward to joyous holiday season!
Amy Cox-Martins
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Christmas Eve Donations for North Porch
It's the tradition at St. George's for children to bring gifts to place at the manger on Christmas Eve for one of our Outreach Partners called North Porch. This Diocesan Ministry offers food, diapers and other necessities to needy mothers and caregivers of infants and small children. This year,the primary need is for baby formula - Enfamil brand, baby cereal and baby food stages 1 and 2. Bring your gifts, wrapped in white tissue paper, to the Children's Service on December 24th or leave them in the boxes marked North Porch during the Advent Season. For more information, contact Lindsay McHugh at mchugh.lindsay@gmail.com.
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Dragon Tales Goes Bimonthly!
E-mailboxes everywhere, rejoice! In consideration of the many communications tools at our disposal, the Communications Committee has decided to modify Dragon Tales publication schedule to every other month, beginning with the January/February 2013 issue. This means that articles for events in both January and February will need to be submitted by Monday, December 17. Deadline reminders will be sent soon. We look forward to your feedback on this change, which we hope will make the scheduling (of St. George's events, at least) easier!
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Holiday Artisans Bazaar Update
 Many thanks to every one of our parishioners who helped to make our first show a resounding success. Small wonder there was an unusually high proportion of parishioners winning our hourly raffle! We received positive feedback from our vendors and shoppers alike, who loved the variety of our gifts, and the opportunity to meet the craftspersons. We're on the lookout for crafters and parishioners who want to work on next year's event. If you'd like to contribute, please email Kathy Carliner. |
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Thank you for taking time to enjoy Dragon Tales!
Sincerely,
Dragon Tales Team
St. George's Episcopal Church |
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