Advent and Christmas Newsletter - stjohnslunenburg · Advent and Christmas Newsletter ... Milan -...

ADVENT 2008 “Waiting patiently in expectation is the foundation of spiritual life.” - Simone Weil. These wise words are at the heart of the Advent Season. Waiting is often very difficult and challenging. Few of us really know how to wait well, even though we are waiting all the time. There‟s no guide book or recipe to help us. And who has ever taught us how to wait for God? Sure we wait in church for the service to be over, or we wait reverently in line for our turn at the communion rail, but when have we learned enthusiastic waiting or how to wait in patient expectation? Advent, invites us to learn how to wait in hopeful expectation of God‟s promises. I think we learn about waiting for God by fully living the here and now. In her article “How to Wait,” Melissa Tidwell offers an interesting perspective. “We tend to wait for God the way we wait for fast food in the drive-through line, inching our way ahead distracting ourselves with the radio, the newspaper, the cell phone, until we grasp what we want and roar off, hoping not to be disappointed. When we‟re doing a little better, we might wait the way we wait with our kids (and grand kids) for their turn to be photographed with Santa in the shopping mall. We try to enjoy the wonder of the moment: the excitement of the children, the glimpses of the bearded guy ahead. We might even chat with other people in line, encouraging them or holding their place if they need to run to the bathroom. And then there are those times we wait that are like the nights when our spouse is late for dinner, and irritation turns to panic when we think of wet or snowy road, dangerous drivers, the awful idea of what terrible things can happen. When we can do nothing but wait and pray, when the only prayer we can utter is the word “please,” we review in our hearts every unkind word we exchanged, every moment we would take back if we had the chance.” Friends, Advent can be a little like all these kinds of waiting and more! Each Sunday we hear promises of hope, peace, joy, love and the fulfillment of God‟s promise to come among us in the flesh. A promise fulfilled in the child, Jesus. How do you wait for all this when there is so much to distract us. Is it in a

flurry of Christmas preparations? In awe-filled silence? In worship with your fellow parishioners? In humility? Flat on our faces in repentance or by helping at the food bank, nursing home or visiting a lonely neighbour? All of these practices would be of benefit to us. This Advent, maybe a good place to start is in quiet remembrance, reminding ourselves who we are, where we come from, and where we are headed. God bless you and your family in this time of waiting.

Father. Michael+

Advent & Christmas 2008

November 2008 A link between you and your parish

Advent and Christmas Newsletter

Inside this issue:

Music at St. John’s 2

Trip to

Oberammergau

3

Quotation for

Advent

3

Advent Services 4

Christmas

Services 5

St. Jude’s 6

Book Club 7

Lunenburg Life 8

Mission to

Seafarers 9

Bishop Cutler

Visit 9

Poem 10

Editor’s Note 11

Community News 12

Music at St. John‘s

Next Concert - Sanctuary Trio and Peter Togni Singers

Saturday, December 6 at 7:30 pm

St. Cecilia Concert Society presents Sanctuary Trio and Peter Togni Singers Sanctuary Trio and the Peter Togni Singers bring to Lunenburg their highly popular „100 Candles – a

Contemplative Concert for Christmas.' The beautiful sanctuary of St. John‟s will host this very special evening that highlights Gregorian chant and renaissance choral singing, paired with the 'Sanctuary Trio's' classically based compositions. The Sanctuary Trio is made up of Peter Togni (organ), Christoph Both (cello), and Jeff Reilly, (bass clarinet). The Peter Togni Singers is an 11 voice choir made up of singers in the Halifax area.

Friday, February 13, 2009 at 7:30 PM St. Cecilia Concert Society presents its 3rd concert of the Symphony on the Shore Series with Symphony Nova Scotia The Poetry of Light and Music, Terence Mierau, tenor, Bernhard Gueller, conductor. Starting with Dvorák's melodic Wind Serenade, the orchestra then journeys through Britten's settings of Arthur Rimbaud poems with Maritime tenor Terence Mierau. Maestro Gueller describes these works as "full of fizzing, satirical edge, with melancholic and surreal images." Beethoven's Symphony No. 4 is the polished finale to a beautiful evening.

Tickets for both concerts are: $20 (students $10 at the door) available at Fulton‟s Pharmacy; [email protected] or 634-9994


Barbara Butler Organist & Director of

Music

During the Advent season you are warmly welcomed to join us in the sanctuary of the

church for half an hour of

„Music and Meditation‟ each Wednesday at

noon, December 3, 10 and 17.

Music and Meditation for Advent‗

Wednesday‟s, Decem-ber 3rd – 17th at noon

Barbara Butler and guests

December 3 - Mark Himmelman, Organ

December 10 - TBA

December 17- Pamela Rogers, Organ; Wayne

Rogers Organ

The Day The World Changed?

“Rosa Parks sat down, so that Martin Luther King could walk, so that Jesse Jackson could stand, so that Barak Obama could run, so that our children can fly “

Text message going around in Accra, Africa

http://musicatstjohns.blogspot.com/2008/09/sanctuary-trio-and-peter-togni-singers.html

mailto:[email protected]

http://musicatstjohns.blogspot.com/2008/09/music-and-meditation-for-advent.html
















http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_dnAmBqmZhdw/SNfCYoMYJ9I/AAAAAAAAAJw/LMZ7TqLUBJE/s1600-h/trio-sm+mod.jpg

A link between you and your parish

Crossroads of History and Splendour

July 6 - 21, 2010 - 16 days with Father Michael and Holly Mitchell

Come along on a fascinating tour through Itlay, highlighted

by a visit to Oberammergau - a picturesque village in Bavaria

where a profound show of faith is performed every ten years.

This incredibly moving performance has become so popular

that tickets are sold out months in advance. Join us for an

every ten-year opportunity to travel to Europe and witness

this spectacle along with a variety of other memorable cultural

experiences.

ITALY Tour Highlights: Gondola ride in Venice, Dinner

and wine tasting at a Tuscan Wine Estate, Special dinner in

Rome. World Heritage Sites include: Milan - Church of

Santa Maria delle Grazie, Verona, Venice - St. Mark’s Square and Canals, Pisa with the leaning

Tower, San Gimignano, beautiful Siena - Historic Florence - Piazza del Duomo , Assisi - the Ba-

silica of San Francesco and Other Franciscan Sites, tour of Ancient Rome, Villa Adriana, Tivoli,

Vatican City and St. Peter’s Basilica and much more.

Book early for substantial savings. Contact Michael or Holly Mitchell (634-8477)

or [email protected] for a brochure and more information.

For a link to the itinerary, go to:

http://www.rostad.com/dest/itin_details_disp.asp?tourcode=Mitchell1007

Quotation for Advent

"The essence of prayer is not our searching for God, because that can easily become too active, but it is rather our waiting, our letting go, our bearing with our own inadequacy. Waiting for someone is a very authentic way of honouring that Person, more au-thentic perhaps than any words we might speak or gifts we might offer. In waiting we may experience our own powerlessness. Waiting does not come easily. However we cannot force God. God will come, there is no doubt about that, but in God's own time. Therefore, wait for me there! This waiting is not empty, dead time. We wait because there is already a relationship. We wait for Someone. From, The God who Won’t Let Go by Peter G. Van Breemen.


http://www.rostad.com/dest/itin_details_disp.asp?tourcode=Mitchell1007

Every Wednesday at 10:00am Holy Eucharist (BCP)

Every Wednesday in Advent at Noon

(December 3, 10 & 17) Musical Meditations with Barbara Butler and guests

Advent 1: Wait upon the Lord with Hope — November 30th 8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) 10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BAS) & Sunday School

SATURDAY DECEMBER 6TH Saturday, Dec 6 at 7:30 pm

Concert of 100 Candles – Sanctuary Trio & Peter Togni Singers

Advent 2: Wait upon the Lord with Peace — December 7th 8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) 10:30am - Holy Eucharist & Sunday School

White Gift Sunday and visit of Father Christmas, St. Nicholas Advent 3: Wait upon the Lord with Joy — December 14th

FIRST EPISCOPAL VISIT OF SUFFRAGAN BISHOP RON CUTLER 8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) 10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BAS) with Sunday School

Advent 4: Wait upon the Lord with Love — December 21st

8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) 10:30am - Advent Lessons and Carols

Dedication of the Vinegar Bible Case and Installation of Bible

A link between you and your parish

ADVENT SERVICES & EVENTS

―Wait upon the Lord‖


December 24th - Christmas Eve (Wednesday) 4:00pm - Christmas Family Eucharist (BAS) with

Children‟s Pageant 10:00pm - Christmas Eve Candlelight Sung Eucharist

(BAS) with Choir, Brass Ensemble, Handbells and Organ December 25th - Christmas Day (Thursday)

10:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) - with music

December 28th - First Sunday after Christmas

8:30am - Holy Eucharist (BCP) SPECIAL COMBINED SERVICEE AT ZION LUTHERAN CHURCH - PLEASE NOTE TIME 11:00AM

CHRISTMAS SERVICES

―Emmanuel, God-with-us!‖

Sunday School Christmas Pageant

“Operation Baby King”

at the

Christmas Eve Service 4:00pm

Wednesday December 24

DAILY REFLECTIONS FOR ADVENT

Take home a copy of the prayer booklet, Daily Readings for Advent. It contains wonderful meditations to lead you deeper into the Spirit of the Season. Suggested donation of $2.00.


Helping Rekindle a Northern Light

St. Jude‘s Cathedral, Iqaluit

An Update On The Rebuilding Of The Cathedral

Last December (2007) St. John‟s held fundraising events to raise money for the rebuilding of St. Jude‟s Cathedral in the Arctic.

To date the Diocese of the Arctic has raised about a third of the money needed (see the Fundraising Update and the bar chart below) FUNDRAISING UPDATE Revenue (Sept 17/08) 1,582,593.00 Investments 697,078.00 Anglican Foundation Loan 250,000.00 Total to date 2,529,671.00 Expenses (Sept 17/08) 2,448,590.00 Iqaluit Local Fundraising 200,000.00

Work has started on the rebuilding and the foundations were poured in August 2008. Fundraising continues across the country with events held in Ottawa in October and Yellowknife in November. Anyone wishing to follow the reconstruction of the Cathedral can use the website http://arctic.anglican.org/

Workers inspecting the new foundations laid in August 2008


Special Advent and Christmas

Envelopes enclosed

Please give

generously to the work of the

Church

Calling All Readers – A New Book Club

Do you like to curl up with a book during the cold winter evenings? Would you be interested in a book club at St. John‟s? We hope to start a book club in January. The first book for dis-cussion is a novel, about God called The Shack by WM. Paul Young. In the novel, Mackenzie Allen Philips' youngest daughter, Missy, is murdered near an aban-doned shack deep in the Oregon wilderness. Four years later, still in mourning, Mack re-ceives an invitation apparently from God, to go back to that shack. Against his better judg-ment he accepts the invitation and returns to his darkest nightmare. What he finds there is the chance to confront God with the question asked since Job‟s time, "Where are you in a world filled with suffering?" At the book club we‟ll examine what the author says about God and how this compares to the Bible, particularly the book of Job. Editorial reviews on the book range from calling it a New Age heresy to a modern John Bunyan‟s Pilgrim‟s Progress. Some of the questions to think about as you read the novel are: 1. Mack Phillips, the protagonist of the story, seeks the answer to the question of why God

permits the innocent to suffer. Did the author answer that question? Why or why not? 2. How does the God of the Book of Job compare to the God of the novel The Shack? 3. In what ways does the theology of the book agree with traditional theology? 4. In what ways does it differ? 5. Would you recommend this book to others? The Shack is available at the Lunenburg library but there may be a waiting list. It can be or-dered through Amazon.com or any local bookstore. The author‟s website is http://theshackbook.com/ If you are interested in a book club, please contact Janice Kenefick at 764-2145 or email at [email protected] (Cynffig being the Celtic spelling of our surname) suggesting the best time and day in January. We‟ll see what works best for the most and meet at St. John‟s Parish Hall, since it is central and everyone knows where it is!

http://theshackbook.com/

http://theshackbook.com/



Retirement In Lunenburg Suits Evelyn Gent

Monday, Wednesday and Friday are exercise days for Doreen and I. The classes are held in the St. John's Church Hall, across from the church. The church takes up a city block (well, OUR city, anyhow) and has a little park in the front, with walks out to three of the streets which flank the grounds. It was Friday, and we were parked on one of these streets. As you would expect, the class exploded out the front door of the hall, chattering about plans for the weekend etc. We seemed to be the only ones moving around, but as if the curtain rose on a stage play, we were suddenly in the centre of all kinds of activity. The sun came out from behind a few clouds, and we could see that there was scaffolding up on one wing of the church, activity on the roof, people with cameras recording this, plus a couple sitting on one of the benches watching. At this same moment, the horse and carriage that takes the tourists on the historical rounds came up over one of the ever-present hills, full of chattering sightseers. The man that guides the walking tours, in a very colourful kilt, with a large number of people already asking questions seemed to appear out of nowhere. The couple got up from the park bench, approached the fitness group and asked where they could get groceries in town. This started another friendly discussion, with people trying to describe how to get to the two in town. This isn't easy, as, though the town is laid out on a grid, sometimes the ups and downs of the hills make it better to go a less direct route if you are not a strong walker. There was a lot of happy chatter connected with all this. We had a few chores to do, and everywhere we went it was like the beginning of a new act in the play. Friendly, happy and chattering people were everywhere along our route. It remained sunny and warm, and everyone was obviously enjoying just being there. Not having lived in a small town for a long time, all this was quite wonderful for me. These are people who are obviously glad to be alive and to be where they are, with the sea a vital part of all the activities. They take you at face value, and expect you to feel at home and one of them. We stayed "on the stage" for a while, then happily went home for lunch and to revel in our gardens. It is tomato season, and we picked a laundry hamper full of that lovely vegetable, and had lunch on the deck overlooking the inlet. Both Doreen and I, without discussing it, had felt the magic of that lovely morning. Of course, reality always comes along - today we are hunkering down awaiting a tropical storm. Probably what we had really been enjoying was that "calm before the storm". The next chapter of this saga could be much less calm and peaceful.

Editor; Evelyn Gent moved here from Ontario in May 2007 with her daughter & son-in-law Doreen & Grant Dixon, to be near her other daughter Marni. She shares a home with Doreen & Grant who retired in 2007 and made it possible. She will be 85 next January, sings in St. John’s choir and can't think of a better place to spend her "declining" years. The above article was extracted from an email she sent to her granddaughter back in September.


Mission to Seafarers Christmas Shoe Box Campaign

We are starting to gear-up for the Christmas Gift Boxes that are given to the Seafarers as their ships arrive in port. Last year we had given out close to 2000 Gifts. The following is a list of items included in the Gift Boxes: - Hat - Scarf - Mitts/Gloves - Socks Personal Care Items, such as: - Soap - Deodorant - Shampoo - Shaving Cream - Disposable Razors - Tooth Brush - Tooth Paste - Hard Candy (no chocolate or cookies) - a small memento (optional)

- Greeting Card (optional) - Note Paper- Envelopes- Pen- Post Cards

For the safety and security of the Mission to Seafarers and to protect prospective seafarers all Alcohol and Sharp Knives (Jack Knives, etc.) are prohibited by law. Please do not wrap the Shoe Boxes. If you wish, the Christmas Wrap for the box can be folded and placed in-side the box. Once they are received by the Mission, each shoe box is then inspected and wrapped according to the Canadian Customs Procedures and Regulations. You can drop off your boxes at 844 Marginal Road, across from Pier 24, behind the Westin Hotel off Barrington Street. Our hours of operation is 9am-10pm Monday-Friday, 10am-10pm Saturday and Sunday, providing ships are in port. For any further information or questions, please do not hesitate to call 902-422-7790.

Mission to Seafarers Monthly Lunches

Did you know that the MISSION TO SEAFARERS holds a Monthly Luncheon on the last Friday of every month, at the Mission at Pier 24, Halifax?

Time 12:00noon till 1:00pm. Cost $10, Seniors $7.50, this includes main course, dessert, (Tea/Coffee).

If you find yourself in Halifax on that day they would be delighted to see you. You get a meal and they raise funds towards helping seafarers of all nations visiting the port. During inclement weather, please call Mission to Seafarers at (902) 422-7790, in case the luncheon has been postponed

Caring for seafarers

around the world

Sunday, December 14.

"St. John's Parish extends a warm welcome to Bishop Ron Cutler, Suffragan Bishop of NS & PEI, for his first Epis-

copal visit to the parish. Everyone is invited to come out to meet Bishop Ron at our services and to join in a Pot-luck luncheon in the parish hall following the 10:30am service."


A drunk man in an Oldsmobile They said had run the light That caused the six-car pileup On 109 that night. When broken bodies lay about And blood was everywhere, The sirens screamed out eulogies, For death was in the air. A mother, trapped inside her car, Was heard above the noise; Her plaintive plea near split the air: Oh, God, please spare my boys! She fought to loose her pinned hands; She struggled to get free, But mangled metal held her fast In grim captivity. Her frightened eyes then focused On where the back seat once had been, But all she saw was broken glass and Two children's seats crushed in. Her twins were nowhere to be seen; She did not hear them cry, And then she prayed they'd been thrown free, Oh, God, don't let them die! Then firemen came and cut her loose, But when they searched the back, They found therein no little boys, But the seat belts were intact. They thought the woman had gone mad And was traveling alone, But when they turned to question her, They discovered she was gone. Policemen saw her running wild And screaming above the noise In beseeching supplication, Please help me find my boys! They're four years old and wear blue shirts; Their jeans are blue to match. One cop spoke up, They're in my car, And they don't have a scratch. They said their daddy put them there And gave them each a cone, Then told them both to wait for Mom To come and take them home. I've searched the area high and low, But I can't find their dad. He must have fled the scene, I guess, and that is very bad.

The mother hugged the twins and said, While wiping at a tear, He could not flee the scene, you see, For he's been dead a year. The cop just looked confused and asked, Now, how can that be true? The boys said, Mommy, Daddy came And left a kiss for you. He told us not to worry And that you would be all right, And then he put us in this car with The pretty, flashing light. We wanted him to stay with us, Because we miss him so, But Mommy, he just hugged us tight And said he had to go. He said someday we'd understand And told us not to fuss, And he said to tell you, Mommy, He's watching over us. The mother knew without a doubt That what they spoke was true, For she recalled their dad's last words, I will watch over you. The firemen's notes could not explain The twisted, mangled car, And how the three of them escaped Without a single scar. But on the cop's report was scribed, In print so very fine, An angel walked the beat tonight on Highway 109. He who has a thousand friends has not a friend to spare. This morning when the Lord opened a window to Heaven, He saw me, and he asked: 'My child, what is your greatest wish for today?' I responded: 'Lord please, take care of the person who is reading this message, their family and their special friends. They deserve it . Author: Unknown

The Angel On Highway 109

Editor‟s Notes


Christmas Lights and Festival of Lights

While preparing this newsletter I compared the differences between Advent 2006 and 2008 for Janice and I. In 2006 we were living in Surrey, BC surrounded by people from diverse ethnic backgrounds. On our small street we had people from all over Asia, and Europe as well as Caucasian Canadians. While we Christians celebrate Advent and Christmas, the East Indians start earlier and celebrate “Diwali”. Diwali is a Hindu festival celebrating Lord Rama's return to the kingdom from 14 years of exile after killing the demon, King Ravana. The third day of Diwali is the “Festival of Lights” in which the lights guide the god home. East Indians also put up light displays on their homes (usually Christmas lights) and leave them on until after our Christmas celebrations. Our Jewish friends celebrate “Chanukah”, or the ―Festival of Lights‖, in either November or December depend-ing on the Jewish Calendar. The Festival of Lights, marks the victory of the Maccabees over the Syrians and the rededication of the Temple. During that time, a lamp with only enough oil for one night burned for eight days. We along with our fellow Christians celebrate Christmas, preceded by "Advent." From Adventus, the Latin word that means coming, advent marks the anticipation of Christ‟s arrival. In churches, the season is symbolized with a five candle advent wreath. The white candle, in the center of the wreath, points to Christ as the Light of the World for Christians. However, the source of the Advent Wreath precedes Christianity. It is most likely the fire wheel used by ancient Teutonic tribes to honor the Sun God at the mid-winter solstice. Like us, they lived in hope that light would emerge out of the darkness. At home we put up our ―Christmas Lights‖ display and decorate our houses for Christmas. As the East Indians have adapted Christmas lights for Diwali, we Christians have adapted candles and wreaths from Jewish and pagan rites for our celebrations. What is common to us all, is that we all use light when seeking God, for Christians “Jesus Christ” the Light of the World. Even though it is the darkest time of the year we are all focusing on the Light. Brian Kenefick

A Prayer as you put up Christmas Lights A Christmas Enthusiast Prayer As I untangle strings of Christmas lights, Lord help me to remember that I do this first to honor You. Never let me get so prideful of my display that I fail to see the wonders in the eyes of a child or the joy on the faces of those who are still children at heart. Never let me forget that my total effort is to make Christmas memories, bring cheer and to slow down the pace of a hectic season if only for a moment. And Lord, someday when I meet you face to face, may I hear you say: “When you made My people smile, you made Me smile.” Downloaded from http://www.plymouthlights.com/why.htm

http://www.plymouthlights.com/why.htm

St. John’s Anglican Church 81 Cumberland Street

PO Box 238 Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

Canada B0J 2C0

Phone: 902 634 4994 Fax: 902 634 4231

Email:

[email protected]

Heritage Faith Vision

we‟re on the web www.stjohnslunenburg.org

Ways To Help In Our Community This Christmas

Lunenburg‘s First Community Christmas Dinner The organisers of Lunenburg‟s First Community Christmas Dinner still have a need for

volunteers. There are lots of different skills needed. If you can help please call Peter Zwicker at 521-6876

For some children and families in Nova Scotia, there would be no Christmas without your support. Each month in our province, more than 40,000 men, women and children rely on food banks and other programs to meet their family‟s food needs. Each Christmas, FEED NOVA SCOTIA works with community groups, churches, our Member Agencies and other organizations to coordinate Christmas support for disadvantaged individuals and families, brightening the holidays for those in need.

HOW YOU CAN HELP Christmas Hampers & Food Support Fill the plates of hungry Nova Scotians this holiday season… Your gifts of food, grocery store coupons or financial support help FEED NOVA SCOTIA supply fresh produce, chickens and turkeys for more than 6,500 much-needed Christmas Hampers as well as ensuring ongoing food support to fill the plates of hungry Nova Scotians throughout the coming months. Christmas hampers – stocked with nutritious and delicious festive foods by FEED NOVA SCOTIA – are dis-tributed to families in need by community agencies such as Salvation Army Halifax, Beacon House Interfaith Society, Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank , the Lighthouse Food Bank Society and many others. In addition, FEED NOVA SCOTIA continues to provide ongoing supplies of healthy perishable foods to approximately 150 local food banks and other programs throughout the holiday season. Your support of FEED NOVA SCOTIA supplies food to more than 40,000 people each month, while our hamper program will provide more than 16,000 individuals with spe-cial food for the holidays, brightening the Christmas season for thousands of house-holds. For more information contact us at 457-1900 or e-mail [email protected] Donate by Mail - send cheque or money order to: FEED NOVA SCOTIA , 213 Bedford Highway , Halifax, NS , B3M 2J9 Donate by Visa, MasterCard or American Express by calling (902) 457-1900

Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank

The Lunenburg Interchurch Food Bank is a Member Agency of Feed Nova Scotia yet still needs donations of food or money sent directly to it to support the work in and around Lunenburg. Donations can be made in the tubs at the rear of St. John‟s.


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