Reflections of Father David
Far too often, Epiphany is a forgotten day. People begin preparing for Christmas no later than Thanksgiving and certainly are done with it by New Year’s Day. Very few people truly understand, much less celebrate, the Twelve Days of Christmas, which end with the Epiphany.
This year The Feast of the Epiphany occurs on a Friday, January 6, the twelfth night after Christmas. There will be a service at St. David’s that morning at 9 am honoring the arrival of Wise Men at the birthplace of Jesus.
On Sunday, January 8, 2012 we will hear how the Wise Men presented gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh before returning to their own countries to tell everyone what they had seen and heard concerning this child. After the service we will turn off the star over the altar and put the sanctuary back to its normal order.
Why do we celebrate the Feast of the Epiphany? Does it truly have any relevance in the world today? The answer is “Yes, it most certainly does!” When Jesus was born it was a very small, intimate event with Mary, Joseph, perhaps a young serving maid from the inn or even the inn-keeper’s wife who may have taken a moment from her busy duties to check on the young woman. When God made the event known to the shepherds, and in time, to the Wise Men, Herod found out about this extraordinary birth and all Jerusalem was troubled with him. What happens next is why we have the Feast of the Epiphany. The Wise Men left by another way and returning home, spread the Good News of the birth of the Messiah.
The Wise Men and the shepherds became the first evangelists. They told everyone of this wondrous birth. They couldn’t wait to share the news.
We follow in the footsteps of Wise Men and shepherds, serving maids and curious villagers. We are called to tell the world about the wonderful birth and what it means to the world. We have become very cautious in talking about our religion and our spirituality. We are so afraid of offending others that we stuff the wonderful life-changing news down deep inside.
The world needs the Good News of Jesus among us now more than ever. The trail has been blazed and made clear before us. We are called to go forth and make known the news we have heard and seen. This Epiphany, show forth the Good News of the birth of Christ in what you say, how you act, what you truly believe. Others will see the light of the Star of Bethlehem in you and want to follow you on your journey.
May God richly bless and keep you this Epiphany, and always.
With deepest affection,
Fr. David
Outreach News
Hat & Mitten Tree
The “Hat and Mitten Tree” is up and ready for donations. The tree is located in the Great Hall.
Donations of hats, mittens, gloves, scarves, socks, fleece throws, any kind of warm
winter clothing, will be accepted. All donations will be taken to the Lansing Rescue Mission.
Please help those less fortunate this winter and make it a warm one for them. Many thanks in
advance from your Outreach Committee.
Toiletry and Personal Items Needed
The Outreach Committee is in need of donations of any kind of “personal needs” items. This would include soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shampoos, combs, brushes, etc. could also use the small sample sized items that are supplied with hotel/motel rooms. All items must be new and unused.
Please put all donations in the blue tote supplied for this in the mailroom. The Committee includes these items in personal needs bags for the families we supply food baskets to at holiday times. Thank you.
Rescue Mission Barrel – “Help Pack the Pantry”
The Lansing Rescue Mission is once again holding their holiday barrel drive to help “pack the pantry”. The Mission will provide an estimated 112,000 meals this year to men, women, and children in Michigan’s capital area. They also have a pantry to distribute boxes of food to low income individuals and families; and this service is only available as long as they have enough food supplies. Currently, there is a great need for food. We can help pack the Mission pantry with non-perishable food items to supply these meals and food boxes during the holidays and into the following year. Any non-perishable food items are welcome. However, the Rescue Mission is in particular need of fruits and vegetables, tomato sauce or diced tomatoes, elbow macaroni, wide noodles, and rice. Please help to fill the barrel and help those less fortunate this holiday season.
Music Happenings
The month of January we will have special music featuring different combinations of the choirs.The upcoming music calendar:
January 1, Duet: “Were You There” sung by Jennifer Cronkite and Nancy Pike
January 5, No handbell or adult choir practice
January 7, 9am-10:30 am Handbell maintenance workshop with – Kim Finison
January 8 Handbell duet: “Open My Eyes” played by Michelle – Ridley and Carol Abbot
Duet: “In the Bleak Mid-Winter” sung by Neal Cronkite and Rich Magee
January 12 Handbell Practice 6 pm: Adult choir 7 pm-8:15 pm
Music committee meeting immediately after choirs
January 15 Children’s choir practice after worship
January 19, 26 Choirs meet
January 22 Women’s quintet singing “Mary Did You Know”
January 29 Duet:Vivaldi’s Laudamus Te from “Gloria” sung by Jennifer Cronkite and Nancy Pike
The bell choir wishes to thank Steve Leiby for purchasing lights for each music stand.They are very helpful.I wish to thank all the choirs for a beautiful Lessons and Carols on December 18, and for all the wonderful music on Christmas Eve at the two services.
We are few, but we are mighty.Any one wishing to join either handbells, or adult choir, contact Kathy Huebner, 614-9302.
God bless you.
KathyHuebner,Music Director
ECW News
Crafting Days
The crafting days will resume again in January, with the first one being scheduled on the 14th. Andi will be preparing lunch again-soup and dessert-to raise funds for our local outreach project. Be sure to RSVP for the luncheon, you don’t have to come to craft that day, you are welcome to join us for lunch!
Here is the schedule for the upcoming craft days, which begin at 9am. They will all be held in the Great Hall except for the April one, which will be in the Youth Room.
January 14 February 11 March 24 April 21 (Youth Room) May 19
GARAGE SALE!!!
Yes, it will happen this year. It is scheduled for April 27 and 28. You can start to bring your items in on Sunday evening, sorting will begin on Wednesday; Thursday will be the congregation sale in the evening.
Remember, we don’t want anything that isn’t usable, or that is soiled, or broken! If we have to throw it out, we don’t want it!
PLEASE PLAN TO HELP! THE MORE HELP WE HAVE, THE EASIER IT WILL BE FOR THOSE OF US WHO ARE SORTING.
Meetings
We need to have meetings! We can make them simply business, and have them in the double classroom immediately after the service, or we can have them on a weeknight, serve refreshments and some social time along with the meetings. Ladies, I would like to have input from a few of you, we are all part of this group. Give us some ideas to make this a viable group! For more information contact Andi Flitton
Rembrandt and the face of Jesus
We are planning a day-trip to the Detroit Institute of Arts on Saturday, January 14, 2012, to view the exhibit “Rembrandt and the Face of Jesus”. This exhibit brings together for the first time many of Dutch master Rembrandt van Rijn’s finest paintings, prints and drawings that portray Jesus and events described in the Bible. The exhibition of 64 works includes approximately 52 intimate paintings, prints and drawings by Rembrandt and his students that illustrate how Rembrandt broke from traditional 17th-century representations of Jesus.
The exhibit runs November 20, 2011, through February 12, 2012. Individual adult and youth (under 15 years) are $16 and $8, respectively; however, adult tickets will be $12 if we have a group of 15 or more. We plan to carpool or rent a van if there is sufficient interest. Additional information regarding the exhibition is available by going to the DIA website (www.dia.org).
For more information please see Maria Leiby or Gail Donovan.
First Christmas form letter
Dear Friends
We’re sorry to resort to this form letter, especially since we are sending it after the holidays, but this has been a busy year; it is amazing how parenthood takes away free time.
That’s right, parenthood. Joe and I are the proud parents of a beautiful baby boy, a gift from God.
Literally.
Now I know that you’re good at mathematics, and I know you don’t remember a wedding invitation, just that we were engaged, but it is not what you think. It is a little hard to explain, however.
You also will notice that the postmark is not Nazareth, but Egypt. No, we did not move, at least not permanently. No, Joe did not get transferred, just transplanted.
You remember that census thing? Joe and I had to go to Bethlehem – Joe is a Davidson, after all – and wouldn’t you know it, my time came while we were there.
Everything was full up. Bethlehem was a madhouse. Holiday Inn was packed for the holidays. Red Roof not only had no frills but no vacancies, and Motel Six turned the light off for us.
We ended up going to, of all places, a cave. While it wasn’t a picnic, it was a miracle. As we wrapped him up, Joe and I just marveled at this new little life.
We named him Jesus. Actually, an angel named him. I told you it was a busy year.
Anyway, we had just the best Christmas together – that’s what we’re calling it, Christmas. We even had a surprise visit from some shepherds; I won’t tell you how they knew, because I know this already is quite a stretch for you.
So why are we in Egypt? Well, at one point, some astrology professors from Eastern University suddenly showed up at our door, to worship Jesus as the new king, according to some star they saw.
And while it was nice of them to give us gifts, they also gave us away – to that wicked King Herod, who tried to kill Jesus. That is why we took a flight into Egypt.
So please forgive us if we are a little out of touch with things for now. We hope everything will get back to normal soon, so we can move back to Nazareth. Meanwhile, keep us in your prayers, don’t tell Herod where we are, and have a Merry Christmas.
Love
Mary, Joe and baby Jesus
Odds & Ends
St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital Recycled Card Program
You can mail your donations to:
St. Jude’s Ranch for Children
Recycled Card Program
100 St. Jude’s Street
Boulder City, NV 89005
Phone orders:
877-977-SJRC (7572)
Recycled Card Program History
Over thirty years ago, wishing to show our donors appreciation for making St. Jude’s Ranch for Children possible, the idea was conceived for turning the previous year’s Christmas cards into “new” cards for the coming season. The recipients were so delighted with their unique “thank you,” they requested the children sell them the special cards. And so, the St. Jude’s Ranch Recycled Card Program was born.
Since then, the program expanded to include all occasion greeting cards…just about anything that starts with a used greeting card. People from all over the world have sent us their used cards!
Operated by Kids’ Corp., a program for the children at St. Jude’s Ranch to learn entrepreneurship skills, the children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive “green” holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of “going green”.
The ongoing support for the Recycled Card Program has been overwhelming! The Program grew and soon we were receiving over one million cards. We have since redesigned the process to more efficiently manage the increased production from the increased volume and we welcome your submissions!
NOTE: We currently have an increased need for both Birthday and Thank You card submissions.
WE NOW ACCEPT USED, ALL-OCCASION CARDS YEAR ROUND!!
Coupon Exchange Box
There is once again a Coupon Exchange Box in the mailroom.
Please take one, leave one, and discard the expired ones.
Knitting/Crocheting Group
The Outreach Committee is looking for knitters, crocheters, or those that would like to learn. We will be making scarves, hats, etc., to be donated to local missions and shelters. If you are interested in participating, please contact Susan Froeligh.
Monthly event calendar
A new monthly events calendar has been been put in place on the front page of the St. David’s web site. This calendar is updated each week along with the scrolling weekly meeting list. Look for more web site changes to take place during the month of January.
Prayer Chain
The prayer chain is a quiet but important ministry. We are in the process of reorganizing a bit and would like to find some new members. Our purpose is to pray daily for others, particularly members of the parish. Requests are confidential unless they have been shared in some way with the congregation–for example in one of Fr. David’s emails.
You do not have to have a lot of special training for the prayer chain ministry. Members are ordinary people with ordinary lives who have our own routines for prayer. Many prayers are in the prayer book that you can use, and we will help you get started. We are moving to a simpler listing system; it will be easy to keep track of who you need to pray for.
If you think you might be interested in joining the prayer chain, let me know and we can talk about it.
Many thanks,
Maria Leiby
The Restoration of the Shrine of St. David
Included in this months newsletter is a wonderful article written by The Reverend Harri Williams (Secretary of the Friends of St. David’s Cathedral) where he speaks of the ongoing restoration of the Shrine of St. David’s. Because of it’s length it has been placed on a page of it’s own within the St. David’s website. You may access this article from the read link below.
Vestry Nomination (Annual meeting)
We usually hold a pot luck after the second service then have our meeting. We will have elections and discuss the financial status, etc. Please have any reports to be included into the Annual Report in to Edie by Jan. 3rd.
Do you have a nomination for the vestry? Please let Fr. David know asap or use the web site form provided below
