From the Priest-in-Charge:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. . . . And the Word became flesh and lived among us.

John's version of the Christmas story is in the form of a poem. It contains one of the most important messages of Christmas: The light shines in the darkness and the darkness does not overcome it. The Christmas story begins in darkness. The shepherds are enveloped in the dark of night. Joseph and Mary are enveloped in the darkness and humility of the stable. And then light comes in the midst of these dire circumstances. Christ is born. A light which cannot be overcome appears in the midst of this humble darkness. The shepherds are enveloped in light from the angels. Later, the magi follow light shining in darkness to find Jesus. The tradition of Christmas lights on houses and trees comes from this motif. In this time of increasing darkness, it is important to remember that we belong to a God of light. We are loved and inspired by a God of light. And no matter how dark our world seems, no matter how dark our world at times may be, the darkness never overcomes the light. Light will always outshine the darkness.

This is an important time for us, as a church, to be a bearer of this light. As our own country falls into deeper division, we need to hold fast to the hope that is in us. This is a challenging time. But it isn't the first time humans have struggled with forces of evil. Last century saw death from war and disease on a staggering scale. The heroes of that time, heroes like those who sheltered Jews from Hitler, were those who did not give in to their fear of a very real danger. This is now our time to display heroic faith – to be light that shines in the darkness – as we let compassion and love be our guide.

God's will be done. The light will not be overcome by our present darkness. That light comes to us in Jesus and in the way God's love is incarnate in our friends and neighbors. We get to be that light for others. As followers of Jesus, we are the light that shines in darkness – light that cannot be overcome.

I hope you have a blessed Christmas.

Brian

Our website: http://christepiscopalchurch.episcopalky.org

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Clarion editor: Beverly Bow

The Rev. Brian Baker, Priest-in-Charge

Sharing God’s Love With All People

christchurch.bev@gmail.com http://christepiscopalchurch.episcopalky.org (270) 765-5606 christchurch.bev@gmail.com

December 1 1st Sunday Potluck

December 8 9:00 Hansens

11:30 Connie Goodman

December 15 9:00 need volunteer

11:30 Tuula Poikonen

December 22 9:00 need volunteer

11:30 Beth Kagey

December 31 11:30 Daughters of the King

Coffee Hour Hosts: please volunteer early enough to be

included in the Clarion schedule!

3rd Gary Steffen

7th Brian & Bethany Nadeau

9th Frank Maguire

14th Gene Smith

18th Tuula Poikonen

19th Stephanie & Sarah Taylor-Cross

23rd Cindy Riney

Gary Steffen/Group Effort

No altar flowers until poinsettias

Christmas Eve. Orders due December 1!

Beth Kagey & Greg West

1st The Rev. Brian Baker – Holy Eucharist I, II (8, 10:30)

8th Beverly Bow, Greg West – Morning Prayer I, II (8, 10:30)

11th The Rev. Linda Hughes – Wed. Eucharist/Healing (12:15)

15th Gary Steffen, Donna Fountain – Morning Prayer I, II (8, 10:30)

22nd The Rev. Brian Baker – Holy Eucharist I, II (8, 10:30)

24th The Rev. Brian Baker – Candlelight Holy Eucharist (7:00 p.m.)

29th Pastor Bob Hetzel – Lessons & Carols w/ HE II (10:30)

We will be decorating the church for Christmas on Sunday, December 22, after the second service. All hands on deck! We will need everyone’s help.

We will also need help on January 5, the Sunday before Epiphany, when we un-decorate by taking down the nativity scenes. However, we hope to have a few poinsettias still around to use as altar flowers through January 12.

And with Advent, Liturgical Year A is upon us, with Gospel readings mostly from Matthew. Advent is a time of

preparation as we look toward the arrival of God’s son, Jesus. To symbolize the coming of the King, the liturgical color is purple or royal blue.

If you are interested in online Advent lessons and activities, you may find them at these Episcopal and Lutheran sites:

https://episcopalchurch.org/advent-and-christmas-resources

https://elca.org/Resources/Bible-Studies

Please remember in prayer all those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit, especially

Tim, Kay, Doreen, Barbara, Rachel, Barbara E., Clara, Ernie, Dennis, Barbara F., Gene, Peter, Bill, Reva, John, Henry, Amanda, and Maximus.

Pray also for those serving in the military, especially Vernon Davis, Daphne Brooks-Davis, Teresa Bedford, Christian

Hansen, Rob Little, Beau Carroll, Alan Mitchell, Alex Treadway, Christopher Ryan, Eddie Ahmadzai, Zachary Shroeder, Gavin Walsh, and Andrea Baker.

Prayer requests can be made by filling out a card found in the pews or

calling the church office.

The Men’s Lunch meets Tuesdays at noon at Golden Corral.

Christ Church’s first turn for Room in the Inn is Wednesday, December 4, 6:30-7:30 p.m.

Christmas Craft Bazaar, Saturday, December 7, 10:00-2:00.

The DOK will meet at 5:30 on Monday, December 9.

Parish Life Committee will meet Thursday, December 12 at 3:00.

Ladies’ Lunch is at McAlister’s on Tuesday, December 17 at 11:30.

Café Book Club will meet on Saturday, December 28, 9:00-11:00.

To date we have received 28 pledges for

2020. There are still a few regular attenders who have not made their financial commitment to the church. Even though the vestry has approved a 2020

budget, it is not too late to submit your pledge for next year. The budget can be updated!

If anyone needs a year-to-date report of your current tithe status so that you can make sure you fulfill your 2019 pledge before the end of the year, let Bev know.

The book club’s new regular meeting time (for now) is the 4th Saturday of the month. December’s book is Mario Puzo’s Omerta.

Advent has arrived! This is the time we

sing some of our favorite hymns. We will

have some changes in our service music

and a couple of new hymns for the

season. We end, of course, with

Christmas. We will celebrate with Lessons and Carols on

December 29. Let me know if you have a hymn that sings

Advent to you so I don't overlook it.

~ Marijane

The Elizabethtown community’s Room in the Inn provides

food and overnight shelter to the

homeless at seven area churches

during the winter months. This will

be the fifth year that Christ Church

has been sharing food and

conversation on Wednesdays at St.

James Catholic. We have expanded

our participation from two turns, to three, and this year to

four (because there is an extra Wednesday in January). If

you would like to help out, there is a sign-up sheet in the

usual place in the Parish Hall, or contact Tuula. We need 4

or 5 people for each Wednesday.

“Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for by doing that

some have entertained angels without knowing it” (Hebrews 13:2).

December 7

10:00-2:00

Parish Hall

Bring your craft items to the church on December 1, or December 3-5 during church office hours (9:00-3:00). Drop off baked goods on Friday, December 6 between 1:00-7:00. Each package must have a complete ingredient list attached (for allergen info). The Bazaar committee will price items.

If you can help out for an hour or so during the Bazaar, you would be very much appreciated. But even if you can’t, stop by and shop a little!

If you need help getting items to the church or have questions, call Sandi.

By Jeanne Kagey

It takes a special person to sign up for a life

time commitment as a pastor’s wife, who

becomes a visible face as his partner in any

activity within the church community

whether or not she chooses to be. Sandi

Hetzel answered the call. She said with a

sly grin that she never learned to play the

piano or organ, so that protected her

somewhat from the assumption that the

church got two for one!

Ohio natives Sandi Fetherolf and Bob Hetzel met freshman

year at Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in the book store

line. She majored in French and Education with a goal of a

teaching degree, and Bob majored in science. Upon

graduation they married and Bob entered Lutheran

seminary at the same school. Sandi taught school

for 3 years, then transferred to Lutheran Social

Services for a year until Bob graduated and answered a

pastoral call to Bucyrus, OH. From there he served churches

in Sunman, IN, Louisville, and Evansville, IN. After years of

living in a parsonage, they bought their first home in Sonora

when Bob retired from the ministry.

Sandi and Bob began their family when Bob finished

seminary: Gwyn arrived first with Abby coming 4 years later.

Sandi became a full-time mother. She loves to read and sew

and as those who have visited their property can attest, they

garden. With the budget constraints of a pastor’s salary,

canning was a necessity as well as camping when traveling.

When you raise kids, you have pets! They have had cats and

are on their 4th dog. The family

raised water shrimp when Bob

brought home a handful of

watercress and found the critters

came with the find. They also raised

mice! Probably the old “thou shall

not kill” command came into play

with some of these choices of pets. Sandi reported that, to her

knowledge, the mice died of natural causes.

How does it happen that this former French teacher, a

descendant of migrants coming in the 1600s from the Alsace

Lorraine district between the French and German borders,

has never been to France? Well isn’t that a bucket list item!

Let’s wish Sandi great success as chairman of the December

Church Bazaar! A big thanks from all of us for stepping up.