The Courier
December 2002
Volume 55, Issue 12
A Month of Mary
During the season of Advent (which begins on December 1) Deacon Mary and I will be conducting a short preaching series on Mary, the mother of Jesus. The season of Advent is like a pregnancy. Preparation is foremost. Every Advent of every year spends at least a little time on Mary, but this year we will try to look a little more closely at who she was and imagine how she must have felt, knowing the importance of the task before her.
Western Christianity has developed an entire myth around Mary, well beyond what the gospel text tells. Doctrines such as the Immaculate Conception, the Assumption of Mary, and Co-redemptorist, have been articulated by faithful communities over the years to express truths about God as they understood the divine. The preaching series will not attempt to explain or reconcile these many doctrines; rather, it will stick to the text. We will sit with her and walk with her during her nine-month pregnancy so that her preparation for the infant Jesus also becomes ours.
The four themes, which relate to the four Sundays in Advent,
will be: (1) the annunciation to Mary by
the angel Gabriel; (2) visitation of the Virgin to Juan Diego; (3) the
visitation of Mary to
The nine months before a child is born are months of both excitement and anxiety. How exciting to anticipate a whole new person, a whole new life! But what a worry it is to wonder about the baby’s health, and the safety of mother and child during delivery and all the complications that might arise. But day in and day out, what both mother, father and other children do is “get ready”. The mother is careful about her diet. The father is helpful with practical matters like the painting and cleaning of the nursery and arranging the necessary furniture. Other children, depending upon their ages, may be more or less involved in the household duties. But in virtually every case, by the end of the mine months everyone is ready for the baby. Our Advent preparations will parallel those of a household awaiting the arrival of a baby.
Our household awaits the arrival of the Christ child, born anew each and every Christmas. The world awaits the coming of the Christ to bring light and hope.
Michael
A NOTE FROM GOD
|
December 1 |
Psalm 80 |
Isaiah 64:1-9a |
1 Corinthians 1:1-19 |
Mark 13:(24-32) 33-37 |
|
December 8 |
Psalm 85 |
Isaiah 40:1-11 |
2 Peter 3:8-15a, 18 |
Mark 1:1-8 |
|
December 15 |
Psalm 126 |
Isaiah 65:17-25 |
1 Thessalonians 5:(12-15), 16-28 |
John 1:6-8,19-28 |
|
December 22 |
Psalm 132:8-15 |
2 Samuel 7:4,8-16 |
Romans 16:25-27 |
Luke 1:26-38 |
|
December 29 |
Psalm 127 |
Isaiah 61:10-62:3 |
Galatians 3:23-25; 4:4-7 |
John 1:1-18 |
SCHEDULE FOR THE
CATECHESIS OF THE GOOD SHEPHERD
We will meet on
Sunday mornings at
|
December
1 |
The
Prophecy of the Light |
|
December 8 |
The
Incarnation |
|
December
15 |
The
Visitation of Mary to |
|
December
22 |
Birth of
Jesus and the Adoration of the Shepherds |
|
December
29 |
No Catechesis (Christmas Week) |
|
|
The
Adoration of the Three Kings |
|
January
12 |
The
Presentation of Jesus in the |
We will give you a schedule for the rest of the year in January. Topics we will work on include Baptism, the liturgical calendar, more work with the Altar, and the parables.
KICKOFF DINNER
SMASHING SUCCESS
The Kickoff Dinner for the Christ Church Capital Campaign turned out to be one of the most pleasant social events of the parish in recent memory. The Dutchess Golf and Country Club was decorated in anticipation of the winter holiday. The mood was festive, the conversation lively, and the food was delicious for the ninety people who participated. The planning committee for the dinner, which included Ruth Fairbanks, Lillian Easton, and Peggy Kraft, were thanked by a warm and heartfelt round of applause.
As lovely as the dinner was for all, the evening was highlighted when Campaign Co-Chairs Jennifer Hammond-Kind and Barry Menuez announced the results of the Advanced Gift Campaign at $243,000. The Congregational Gift phase will continue through Sunday, December 15.
HOSPICE OF
Hospice is seeking volunteers who can give three hours a
week of their time to provide companionship, emotional support, and practical
assistance to terminally-ill patients and their families. Volunteers visit patients at home, in area
hospitals, or nursing homes. A comprehensive 24-hour training course to prepare volunteers for
this rewarding work will be held on January 16, 18, 30 and
Volunteers are also needed at the Hyde Park Hospice to help with mailings, filing, and special projects. No special training required for office volunteers. For more information or to apply, please call Michael Messner, Director of Volunteer Services, at 473-2273, ext. 1124.
DEACON’S BENCH
Merry Christmas!!
What do you mean it’s not Christmas yet?
The stores have been decorated for months! Ever feel, like me, that
you’re out of step with what the commercial end of our society calls important
– gift giving? Well, we may not affect
marketing in a major way, but we can help one another affect our joyous spirit
of giving. There are many ways to do
this: alternative gift programs like the
Heifer Project, or gifts from Third World crafts programs, or donating to the
Episcopal Relief and Development Fund, or an opportunity that Community
Ministry is offering to you in conjunction with the Prison Ministry we support,
in which Martha Gutowski is involved, at the Beacon
Correctional Facility for Women. As many
of you are aware, Martha is part of a group, Kairos, which goes into Beacon
Correctional to offer Spiritual and Christian development opportunities for
prisoners. There are approximately 250
women in the Beacon facility, many with children, and several of us began to
wonder how dreadful it must feel as the holidays
approach, to know that you are not in a position to get a gift or even a card
for those you love, especially your child.
As that thought burned away at our hearts, we came up with the idea to
offer an opportunity to the Christ Church family and our greater family in the
community to support gifts and cards for the women at Beacon Correctional to
give to their children. This is not an
original idea; I stole it from a deacon friend who is one of the chaplains at
Riker’s
Yours in Christ,
Deacon Mary
FROM THE BATON OF
LAURA RUSSELL, MUSIC DIRECTOR
Music during Advent:
The newly-formed Handbell Choir
will play during the
Advent I: “E’en so, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come!” by Manz
Advent II: “Mary Looks Upon Her Child” by Clemens
Advent III: “Ave
Maria” by
Advent IV: selections from “Wachet auf” advent cantata by Bach
Upcoming musical
events at
Cappella Festiva Holiday
Concert:
New Year’s Day “Gift to the City” Concert:
John Sullivan, Organ Recital:
Choir Concert of African American music:
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS
Enclosed in “The Courier” this month is the Christmas Flower Envelope. Please be sure to give your memorial envelope to Jean Winne on Sunday, or bring it to Michele at the Parish Office, as soon as possible so that your loved one is included on the Christmas Memorial List. Thanks.
Jean Winne
PLEDGE THE MODERN WAY
As you prepare your household budget for 2003, you may wish
to consider the convenience of electronic funds transfer for your contribution
to
Bob Sherer
GUADALUPE CELEBRATION
Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe –
December 8 at
NEWSLETTER DEADLINE
The DEADLINE for the October “Courier” is Sunday, December 15. Please bring items to the parish office, or you may e-mail articles to me at christchurch@mindspring.com.
Thank you!
Michele Haynes