THE EPISTLE OF ST. THOMAS 2017 Newsletter.pdf · December 2017 Newsletter 6 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 4...
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December 2017 Newsletter 1 THE EPISTLE OF ST. THOMAS St. Thomas Episcopal Church Diocese of East Carolina The Rev. Jeff Douglas The Rt. Rev. Robert Skirving An Advent Journey The season is upon us much too soon. There is too much to do: too many purchases to make, too many packages to wrap, too many cards to write, too many letters to send and too short a time in which to accomplish everything. There are parties to arrange and to attend and deciding whose home will host the gift exchange and Christmas dinner. There may be travel arrangements with several destinations to coordinate with families that make up our larger family clans. The pace off the holiday season speeds our already hectic lives into a whirlwind which boggles the mind and exhausts the body until we rise Christmas morning to celebrate our survival of yet another holiday rush as much as anything else. As we stare at the mounds of wrapping paper torn from gifts [unless of course you are the type that compulsively folds and saves wrapping paper for another time], we may find a moment of stillness amidst the excess of our holiday celebration to reflect on, not just the gifts or the meal but the true gift we have been given. What is it that draws us toward one during the holiday season? Our need for connection, relationship – to feel a part of something larger than ourselves as individuals is surely part of what makes the holiday season special. We want to be with our family and we pray that it will be a happy, harmonious time when old rivalries, grudges and spats can be put aside so that we can enjoy one another and celebrate our relationships. We want to celebrate our friends, new and old, and exchange (if not actual gifts) the gifts of good company, storytelling, joking and laughing together. We want to celebrate being alive together. And we want to look back and remember… the good times we shared, the loved ones we lost and the ones we have gained also. We look back on the obstacles and opportunities that life presented us with during the past year. We reflect on the choices made or not, the paths we took and those we avoided and those we were forced to take in the circumstances that directed our lives: the weakening parent, the dying friend or our own health crisis. We want to look back and give ourselves the gift of perspective that only time can really give. We want to look back and give ourselves hope for the future. We pray that the future will be a time of old grudges let go, our wounds soothed if not completely healed. We take this time in the dark to look forward toward a brighter day, a new day, a new beginning. The temptation of course is to paper over our differences and pretend to let go of the bumps and scrapes and slights that often occur in human relationships, even the best of them. It is the temptation to put on the holiday smile and not deal with the reality of our situation. It is the temptation to let sentimentality and our need to “feel good” that overwhelms our real needs: to be reconciled by asking for forgiveness and allowing others the grace, the space for us to forgive them. When sentimentality displaces intentionality the gift becomes an illusion and we, once again, will find ourselves searching for the peace, the sense of belonging, of being “home” once again. December 2017
Transcript of THE EPISTLE OF ST. THOMAS 2017 Newsletter.pdf · December 2017 Newsletter 6 DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS 4...
December 2017 Newsletter 1
THE EPISTLE OF ST. THOMAS
St. Thomas Episcopal Church Diocese of East Carolina The Rev. Jeff Douglas The Rt. Rev. Robert Skirving
An Advent Journey
The season is upon us much too soon. There is too much to do: too many
purchases to make, too many packages to wrap, too many cards to write, too many
letters to send and too short a time in which to accomplish everything. There are
parties to arrange and to attend and deciding whose home will host the gift
exchange and Christmas dinner. There may be travel arrangements with several
destinations to coordinate with families that make up our larger family clans. The
pace off the holiday season speeds our already hectic lives into a whirlwind which
boggles the mind and exhausts the body until we rise Christmas morning to celebrate our survival of yet
another holiday rush as much as anything else. As we stare at the mounds of wrapping paper torn from gifts
[unless of course you are the type that compulsively folds and saves wrapping paper for another time], we may
find a moment of stillness amidst the excess of our holiday celebration to reflect on, not just the gifts or the
meal but the true gift we have been given.
What is it that draws us toward one during the holiday season? Our need for connection, relationship – to feel a
part of something larger than ourselves as individuals is surely part of what makes the holiday season special.
We want to be with our family and we pray that it will be a happy, harmonious time when old rivalries,
grudges and spats can be put aside so that we can enjoy one another and celebrate our relationships. We want
to celebrate our friends, new and old, and exchange (if not actual gifts) the gifts of good company, storytelling,
joking and laughing together. We want to celebrate being alive together.
And we want to look back and remember… the good times we shared, the loved ones we lost and the ones we
have gained also. We look back on the obstacles and opportunities that life presented us with during the past
year. We reflect on the choices made or not, the paths we took and those we avoided and those we were forced
to take in the circumstances that directed our lives: the weakening parent, the dying friend or our own health
crisis. We want to look back and give ourselves the gift of perspective that only time can really give. We want
to look back and give ourselves hope for the future. We pray that the future will be a time of old grudges let go,
our wounds soothed if not completely healed. We take this time in the dark to look forward toward a brighter
day, a new day, a new beginning.
The temptation of course is to paper over our differences and pretend to let go of the bumps and scrapes and
slights that often occur in human relationships, even the best of them. It is the temptation to put on the holiday
smile and not deal with the reality of our situation. It is the temptation to let sentimentality and our need to
“feel good” that overwhelms our real needs: to be reconciled by asking for forgiveness and allowing others the
grace, the space for us to forgive them. When sentimentality displaces intentionality the gift becomes an
illusion and we, once again, will find ourselves searching for the peace, the sense of belonging, of being
“home” once again.
December 2017
December 2017 Newsletter 2
This Advent and Christmas I invite you to travel down a different path, to choose a different way, the way of
Jesus. It is the intentional path of reconciliation: learning to love and forgive yourself and the people in your
life. I invite you to let go of the hurts and pains of the past that are the first steps toward peace and fulfillment.
I invite you into an intentional life of giving and thanksgiving that is the key to true joy.
As we travel hither and yon this season, from shop to shop, party to party, family gathering to family gathering,
I invite you to take an intentional journey to seek the Christ this season. See him not only in a child’s eyes wide
with the wonder of Christmas morn. See him in the face of relative you don’t want to see and open your heart
to their pain. See him in the face of the neighbor you won’t speak to and start a conversation. Be generous not
only in the gifts you give but give more than expected to those who do not expect anything. Be gracious and
forgiving when it is not easy and the light of Christ will be in your eyes come Christmas morn. A GPS may get
you to the shops, the parties and gatherings, but only Christ, who is the Way, can truly get you home for
Christmas.
Happy Advent & Merry Christmas,
Jeff+
December 2017 Newsletter 3
St. Thomas Episcopal Church
Vestry Meeting Nov. 21, 2017
Minutes
The Rector opened the meeting with prayer. Present: The Rev. Jeff Douglas (Rector), Ernie Carter (Treasurer),
Claudia Griffin (Sr. Warden), Dr. Charles Sawyer, Buddy Jones, Martie Tayloe and David Simons.
The minutes of the previous meeting were amended to reflect that the chimney cap is to be placed on the parish
hall chimney. The minutes were then approved as amended.
The Treasurer reported a $1400 bank error in our favor that was welcomed by all. Monthly receipts exceeded
expenses and there were no unusual items to be reported.
The Lobster Feast has made nearly $8,400 so far with money continuing to trickle in. All expenses have been
paid so any more money will increase our profit from the event. A motion was made by David Simons and
seconded by Martie Tayloe that the funds from the lobster feast will be distributed as follows: 1/2 to the
Ahoskie Food Pantry, 1/6 to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, 1/6 to the Ahoskie Library, and 1/6 to Episcopal
Relief and Development for hurricane relief.
The parish secretary will be asked to send an email to the parish urging parishioners to get their pledge forms
turned in by Dec. 10th
.
Morning Prayer will be read at both services on Sun. Dec. 31st. The Rector will be on vacation.
Both the Lobster Feast and the ECW Luncheon & Bazaar were celebrated for running so smoothly this year.
The bake sale portion of the luncheon has made over $1500 so far.
Lessons and Carols (Dec. 17th
) and Christmas Eve services will both commence at 5PM. The Rector will travel
to St. Mary’s, Gatesville on Christmas Eve to celebrate the Eucharist at 7PM.
Ernie thanked the parish for being so supportive of him and his family during his father’s death and funeral.
Nominations for next year’s class for vestry are still being collected.
Hugh Davis and Sarah Davis were elected as delegates to the 135th
Diocesan Convention to be held in New
Bern, Feb. 8-10, 2018. Dr. John Davis is our alternate.
The annual meeting of the parish was set for Sunday Jan. 14, 2018. The next meeting of the vestry will be held at the home of Claudia Griffin on Dec. 19th at 6PM. The meeting was closed with a recitation of the Lord’s Prayer. Respectfully submitted, The Rev. Jeff Douglas, temporary clerk
December 2017 Newsletter 4
December 2017 Newsletter 5
When making your end of the year
contributions, please consider
donating to the
Rector’s
Discretionary
Fund.
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Sunday, January 14
December 2017 Newsletter 6
DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
4 Martie Tayloe 5 John Davis 6 Sheila Liverman 8 Jack Tayloe 18 Norfleet Hoggard 22 Bill Blanchard 22 Michael Douglas “O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor; we pray, on your servants, Martie, John, Sheila, Jack, Norfleet, Bill, Michael, as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”
DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
7 Fred and Sue Liverman 11 Jack and Lindsay Vaughan 27 Mike and Cheryl Steczak 29 Kenny and Amy Braswell “O God, you have so consecrated the covenant of marriage that in it is represented the spiritual unity between Christ and his Church: Send therefore your blessing upon, Fred and Sue, Jack and Lindsay, Mike and Cheryl, Kenny and Amy, that they may so love, honor, and cherish each other in faithfulness and patience, in wisdom and true godliness, that their home may be a haven of blessing and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
December 2017 Newsletter 7
St. Thomas Episcopal Church – Schedules for December 2017
Acolytes
3
Bill Blanchard and Alexis Urquhart-Harrell
10
Gretchen Simons and Mac Griffin
17
Mary Outland and Christiana Vaughan
24
Charles Sawyer
31
Jerrie Taylor and Cecelia Jones
Altar Flowers
3
Hon. and Mrs. Tom Newbern 10
Mr. and Mrs. David Shields
17
OPEN DATE 24
Flower Guild
31
Flower Guild
Altar Guild
Linda Shotwell, Lois Sawyer & Hugh Davis
Food Pantry (Note-Wednesdays)
6 Dicky Hoggard
13
Jim Shotwell
20 Peggy Vann
27 Bubba Peele
Lay Readers
3 10:30 AM
Holy Eucharist John Davis
6 6:00 PM
Evening Prayer John Davis
10 8:00 AM
Morning Prayer OPEN
10:30 AM
Holy Eucharist Buck Suiter
13 6:00 PM
Evening Prayer Buck Suiter
17 10:30 AM
Holy Eucharist Hugh Davis
20 6:00 PM NO EVENING PRAYER
24 8:00 AM
Morning Prayer
24 10:30 AM
Holy Eucharist Sarah Davis
24 5:00 PM
Holy Eucharist Sarah Davis
27 6:00 PM NO EVENING PRAYER
Ushers
Jim Shotwell and Buddy Jones
Yard Work
3
Ernie Carter and Benjie Brown
10
Tom Newbern and Charles Pierce
17
Tom Newbern and Charles Pierce
24
Charles Sawyer and Beth Douglas
31
Charles Sawyer and Beth Douglas
December 2017 Newsletter 8
St. Thomas Episcopal Church P. O. Box 263 Ahoskie, NC 27910
