Kalendar for the Week of December 27th

Sunday, December 27th
THE FIRST SUNDAY AFTER CHRISTMAS DAY

7:30 am, Morning Prayer
8:00 am, Low Mass
10:00 am, Sung Mass
5:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Monday, December 28th
Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist (transferred)
Parish Office closed

12:15 pm, Low Mass
7:00 pm, NA meeting

Tuesday, December 29th
The Holy Innocents (transferred)

6:30 am, Morning Prayer
7:00 am, Low Mass
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Wednesday, December 30th
Christmas Weekday

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
10:00 am, Low Mass
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Thursday, December 31st
Christmas Weekday

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
9:00 am, Low Mass

Parish Office closes at 1 pm.

7:00 pm, NA meeting

Friday, January 1st
The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Parish Office closed

10:00 am, Low Mass

Saturday, January 2nd
Christmas Weekday

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
9:00 am, Low Mass

Eve of the Second Sunday after Christmas Day
5:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Next Sunday's Readings:
Jeremiah 31:7-14; Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a; Luke 2:41-52; Psalm 84:1-8

Announcements for the Week of December 27th

Sandro Botticelli. Madonna and Child with Eight Angels. Ca 1478. Staatliche Museen, Berlin.

Childcare is provided during Sunday Masses.

Christian Education is in recess this week and next for the Christmas holiday.

Thank you! I am sincerely grateful to all who gave so much of their time and talent to make our celebration of Christmas Eve and Christmas Day possible—Altar Guild, Choir, Readers, Ushers, Acolytes, and Flower Guild. Thanks especially to Linda Adair who put in so much good work at this busy time. Saint Stephen's is indeed blessed to have so many dedicated individuals.—Fr Yost

New Parish Office hours beginning January 4th will be 9 am–3 pm, Monday–Thursday. The Parish Office will be closed on Fridays. This change comes at the request of Linda Adair, who would like to take semi-retirement, and was approved by the Rector & Vestry at their December meeting.

Vestry nomination forms are available in the Parish Hall. The form includes information regarding qualifications for service on the Vestry. Please note that because a public records background check is now required by the Diocese before anyone may be permitted to hold a position of Parish leadership, nominations at the Parish Annual Meeting cannot be made from the floor. Nominations should be submitted to the Parish Office or to the Senior Warden by January 10, 2010.

The Parish Office will close at 1 pm on New Year's Eve, Thursday, December 31, and remain closed for New Year's Day, Friday, January 1. Morning Prayer at 8:30 am and Low Mass at 9:00 am will be the only services on Thursday. Low Mass for Feast of the Holy Name will be celebrated on Friday in the church at 10 am. This will be the only service on Friday.

Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols and Christmas Revels, Sunday, January 3rd, at 5 pm. Continue the celebration of Christmas with readings and songs of the season followed by an evening of feasting, fellowship, and fun. Bring your family, friends, and neighbors!

The Epiphany on January 6th is one the seven Principal Feasts observed by the Church, a day when the faithful are expected to worship at Mass. Low Mass will be celebrated at 10 am; Procession & Sung Mass at 7 pm. Both Masses will be in the church.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Friday, January 1st
Holy Name, Low Mass, 10 am

Sunday, January 3rd
Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, 5 pm, followed by Christmas Revels

Wednesday, January 6th
The Epiphany, Low Mass, 10 am; Procession & Sung Mass with the Proclamation of the Date of Easter, 7 pm

Christmas at Saint Stephen's

Sandro Botticelli. The Mystical Nativity. Ca 1500. The National Gallery, London.

Christmas Eve, December 24th
5 pm, Family Mass & Blessing of the Crèche
10:30 pm, Carols in the Church
11 pm, Procession to the Crèche & Midnight Mass

Christmas Day, December 25th
7:30 am, Morning Prayer
8 am, Low Mass of the Dawn
10 am, Sung Mass of the Day

Saturday, December 26th
Saint Stephen, Deacon & Martyr—The Feast of Title
10 am, Sung Mass, followed by a Festive Brunch

Friday, January 1st
The Holy Name of our Lord Jesus Christ
10 am, Low Mass

Sunday, January 3rd
The Second Sunday after Christmas Day
5 pm, Festival of Nine Lessons & Carols, followed by Christmas Revels

Wednesday, January 6th
The Epiphany of Our Lord Jesus Christ
10 am, Low Mass
7 pm, Procession & Sung Mass, with the Proclamation of the Date of Easter

Kalendar for the Week of December 20th

Sunday, December 20th
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT

7:30 am, Morning Prayer
8:00 am, Low Mass
9:00 am, Christian Education
10:00 am, Sung Mass
11:00 am, Pot Luck Lunch & Greening of the Church
5:00 pm, Evening Prayer
5:15 pm, Caroling

Monday, December 21st
Saint Thomas the Apostle

12:15 pm, Low Mass
7:00 pm, NA meeting

Tuesday, December 22nd
Advent Weekday

6:30 am, Morning Prayer
7:00 am, Low Mass
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Wednesday, December 23rd
Advent Weekday

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
10:00 am, Low Mass
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer
6:30 pm, Healing Service

Thursday, December 24th
Advent Weekday
Parish Office closed

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
9:00 am, Low Mass

Christmas Eve
5:00 pm, Family Mass
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer
7:00 pm, NA meeting
10:30 pm, Carols in the Church
11:00 pm, Processions to the Crèche & Midnight Mass

Friday, December 25th
THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD—CHRISTMAS DAY
Parish Office closed

7:30 am, Morning Prayer
8:00 am, Low Mass of the Dawn
10:00 am, Sung Mass of the Day

Saturday, December 26th
SAINT STEPHEN, DEACON & MARTYR—
THE FEAST OF TITLE

10:00 am, Sung Mass, followed by a Festive Brunch

Next Sunday's Readings:
Isaiah 61:10-62:3; Galatians 3:23-25;4:4-7; John 1:1-18; Psalm 147:13-21

Announcements for the Week of December 20th

The Visitation. 15th-century manuscript. Musée de Condée, Chantilly, France.

Childcare is provided during Sunday Masses.

Christian Education classes for the youth meet in the education wing, and adults meet with Fr Yost in the library. This Sunday, Fr Yost concludes his Bible study for Advent on the End Times—Will Episcopalians be Left Behind? Please join us!

Christian Education will be in recess the next two Sundays, December 27th and January 4th for the Christmas holiday.

The Advent wreath is given by Judy Devenport to the glory of God and in memory of Claud Devenport.

2010 Ordo Kalendars are here! These attractive calendars provide details of the feasts and fasts to be observed throughout the year along with the liturgical colors and other information. They are available for purchase in the Parish Hall or the Parish Office or $2.00 each.

The Rector's Ministry Fund provides for charitable assistance to members of the parish and others in our community as well as other missionary purposes that fall outside the parish budget. Each third Sunday of the month, the undesignated offerings are deposited in the Ministry fund. Your generosity is most appreciated.

Greening of the Church & Pot Luck Lunch this Sunday, December 20th, 11 am. Come and lend a hand in decorating Saint Stephen's for the celebration of Christmas.

Let's go caroling! Everyone is invited to meet at the Church this Sunday, December 20th, at 5 pm to form a "Caroling Caravan." Warming refreshments will follow in the Parish Hall.

A Public Service of Healing from the Book of Occasional Services takes place this Wednesday, December 23rd, at 6:30 pm. This service, sponsored by the Brotherhood of Saint Stephen's, is held on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

The Parish office will be closed for Christmas and New Year, Thursday, Friday, and Monday, December 24th, 25th, and 28th; and Friday, January 1st. Please see the schedule of Christmas services for mass times.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Sunday, December 20th
Pot Luck & Greening of the Church, 11 am

Wednesday, December 23rd
Healing Service, 6:30 pm

Thursday, December 24th
Christmas Eve, Family Mass, 5 pm; Procession & Midnight Mass, 11 pm

Friday, December 25th
Christmas Day, Low Mass, 8 am; Sung Mass, 10 am

Saturday, December 26th
Saint Stephen's Day, Sung Mass, 10 am, followed by a Festive Brunch

Kalendar for the Week of December 13th

Sunday, December 13th
THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
Gaudete

7:30 am, Morning Prayer
8:00 am, Low Mass
9:00 am, Christian Education
10:00 am, Sung Mass
5:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Monday, December 14th
John of the Cross, Priest, 1591

12:15 pm, Low Mass
7:00 pm, NA meeting

Tuesday, December 15th
Advent Weekday

6:30 am, Morning Prayer
7:00 am, Low Mass
12:15 pm, SOS
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer
6:30 pm, Vestry

Wednesday, December 16th
Ember Day

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
10:00 am, Low Mass
10:45 am, Rector's Bible Study
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer
6:30 pm, Ladies' Night Out

Thursday, December 17th
O Sapientia

6:30 am, Men's Study Group
8:30 am, Morning Prayer
5:30 pm, Rosary
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer
6:30 pm, Low Mass
7:00 pm, NA meeting

Friday, December 18th
Ember Day
Abstinence

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
12:15 pm, Low Mass
6:00 pm, Evening Prayer

Saturday, December 19th
Ember Day

8:30 am, Morning Prayer
9:00 am, Low Mass

Eve of the Fourth Sunday of Advent
5:00 pm, Evening Prayer
5:15-5:45 pm, Confessions

Next Sunday's Readings:
Micah 5:2–4; Hebrews 10:5–10; Luke 1:39–49 (50–56); Psalm 80:1–7

Announcements for the Week of December 13th

François Maître. John the Baptist preaching, with God the Father & the Christ Child. Miniature from Augustine's The City of God. Museum Meermanno Westreenianum, The Hague.

Childcare is provided during Sunday Masses.

Christian Education classes for the youth meet in the education wing and adults meet with Fr Yost in the library. This Sunday, Fr Yost continues a Bible study for Advent on the End Times—Will Episcopalians be Left Behind? Please join us!

The Advent wreath is given by Judy Devenport to the glory of God and in memory of Claud Devenport.

The Flowers at the Altar are given by Chuck & Faye Precopia to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for Chuck's birthday.

The Flowers at the Shrine of the Blessed Virgin Mary are given by Fr Martin & Katherine Yost to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for the birthday of Anna and Sarah.

Coffee Hour is hosted this week by Ed & Pam Colvin.

O Sapientia on the Kalendar for December 17th indicates the beginning of the traditional "Great O Antiphons" that are sung (or said) with the Magnificat at Evening Prayer on the seven days before Christmas. Each antiphon begins with the letter "O" and a name or attribute of God from the Hebrew Scriptures: O Sapientia, "O Wisdom"; O Adonai, "O Lord"; O Radix Jesse, "O Root of Jesse"; O Clavis David, "O Key of David"; O Oriens, "O Rising Sun"; O Rex gentium, "O King of nations"; and O Emmanuel. These antiphons form the verses of Hymn 56, "O come, O come, Emmanuel."

2010 Ordo Kalendars are here! These attractive calendars provide details of the feasts and fasts to be observed throughout the year along with the liturgical colors and other information. They are available for purchase in the Parish Hall or the Parish Office for $2.00 each.

To help keep Advent at home, an order for the blessing of an Advent wreath and weekly devotions is available in the tract rack in the Parish Hall. Also available are a number of tracts relating to Advent and Christmas from Forward Movement Publications.

Ladies' Night Out, Wednesday, December 17th, 6:30 pm at the home of Judy Devenport. Please bring a wrapped Christmas gift costing no more than $15 for exchange. Contact the Parish Office for more information.

Greening of the Church & Pot Luck Lunch next Sunday, December 20th, 11 am. Come and lend a hand in decorating Saint Stephen's for the celebration of Christmas.

Let's go caroling! Everyone is invited to meet at the Church next Sunday, December 20th, at 5 pm to form a "Caroling Caravan" with warming refreshments to follow in the Parish Hall.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Tuesday, December 15th
SOS, 12:15 pm, Parish Hall
Vestry, 6:30 pm, Parish Hall

Wednesday, December 16th
Rector's Bible Study, 10:45 am, Library
Ladies' Night Out, 6:30 pm, Home of Judy Devenport

Thursday, December 17th
Men's Bible Study, 6:30 am, Lupe's, 129 W. Wall Street

Sunday, December 20th
Greening of the Church & Pot Luck Lunch, 11 am
Caroling, 5 pm