Update as of 12/7
Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope you enjoyed Sunday’s Lessons and Carols as much as I did (although sopranos always have that perspective). Your comments at Coffee Hour led me to think so, as in,
‘that was the most uplifting service I’ve been to in a very long time’. There is more Advent preparation and celebration coming. Plans are underway for the Christmas Pageant
up at Beacon Woods Stables on Sunday, December 18 at 3:00 in collaboration with St. Luke’s and the Lutheran Church of St. Mark’s. Please be in touch with Erin Perrelli and
Mary Pramberger to see how you can join the cast. There is caroling and hot cocoa at St. Mark’s on Griswold St. afterwards. I know I’ll be looking forward to warming up at
their fire pits after our visit to the “stable."
On Saturday, I attended a “conversation” with our bishops for wardens and clergy from the northeast and north central regions at St. Andrew’s in Rocky Hill. It was such a treat.
We discussed our churches’ challenges and hopes and gave encouraging ideas to each other from our own experiences. It turns out we all have the same challenges and hopes!
I continue to appreciate Bishop Jeff. His reflections, explanations, and hopes are so down to earth and inspiring; he’s a pleasure to listen to or read. On Saturday, I was seated
with Deacon Jesse, our most recent deacon. She has been assigned to St. Peter’s in South Windsor and sends her greetings and love to St. James’.
You may have seen on the Monday evening NBC news a piece about how volunteering has a positive influence on our emotional well-being. The article featured "Cafe 55"
at Hands on Hartford (Manna Food Bank) of which St. James’ has a long-time association in the Parkville section of Hartford. It is this group that our 4 families take turns
picking up and delivering left over bread and pastry from Panera each Sunday/Monday(“Bread Ministry”) and to which the food collected by the main doors to the church is
delivered by Valerie Huestis. Our Faith in Action/Outreach Committee met on Monday evening and focused our discussion and mission on searching out other volunteering
opportunities in which we could be involved. Of course, Carol’s Closet is our most significant ministry, but let’s consider where else we could reach out and help. And, don’t
forget to support our town social services this season.
This Sunday is called “Rose Sunday." Crystal Del Valle and little Alena will be lighting the pink candle in our Advent Wreath. Crystal is new to St. James this summer and
you may remember that Alena was baptized at the end of June. Alena is growing up fast and many of us are enjoying this jubilant one year old as she masters walking during
Coffee Hour. Again, we welcome Crystal to our St. James’ community!
Blessings,
Debbie O’Donnell
Senior Warden
Dear Siblings in Christ,
This Sunday is sometimes called “Stirrup Sunday” because the Collect for the Day begins with the words, “Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us . . .”
Our Hebrew Bible passage is again from 1st Isaiah, Chapter 35, describing a fruitful and abundant future following the exile:
“The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. . .”
The Gospel passage from Matthew has an impatient John the Baptist inquiring of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or we to wait for another?” And Jesus response is to
show him the “proof in the pudding”: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dear hear, the dead are
raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”
As we approach the Third Sunday of this Advent season, what evidence do you see of Jesus’ presence in the world? What elements of our hoped-for future remain elusive?
How can you, as a follower Jesus, hasten their realization?
Have a blessed week. I hope to see you on Sunday.
Your brother in Christ. Don+
Music Notes
Sunday’s anthem is a setting of Comfort, comfort now my people by the American composer Richard Proulx (1937-2010). Proulx served as consultant to The Hymnal 1982
(our blue hymnal) and we often use his setting of the Sanctus (S125) for festive occasions. Guest organist is Daniel Kendzior who at one time served as organist at St. James’.
Many thanks to all those who helped make Advent Lessons & Carols a special service last week: the choir who worked so hard for two months to learn the music, guest singers,
instrumentalists, Altar Guild (setting up quietly during our rehearsal), readers (especially our youth reader and her flawless pronunciation of enmity), Dawn in the office, Valerie
who managed publicity, John for livestreaming, Barbara and Janet for stepping up to coordinate fellowship, and celebrant Don (who recorded an invitational video in front of our
Mary stained glass window).
Local events:
Messiah Friday 7:30 pm Lutheran Church of St Mark, Glastonbury @concora.org
CHRISTMAS LESSONS & CAROLS Sunday 4 & 7 pm Trinity College Chapel
CHRISTMAS LESSONS & CAROLS Sunday 3 St John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford
Upcoming:
Christmas Memorial Flowers –memorial envelopes are in the Atrium, or call the Church office. Please do so by December 18, 2022.
Christmas Cookie Swap - Come join us for a Christmas cookie swap THIS Sunday December 11th after church in the parish hall. All are welcome, men, women, elf, reindeer come join us for fun, fellowship and cookies. There will be plenty of cookies to sample whether you swap or not. If you want to swap cookies, bring an empty tin and 4 dozen cookies - 3 dozen to swap and 1 dozen for samples. Otherwise join us for fellowship and cookie samples. Coffee, Tea and Juice provided.
Christmas Pageant - “Calling all parishioners!
The Christmas Pageant is coming soon and we need your help. Whether you are young, or young at heart, please consider being a part of this wonderful event.
Saturday, December 17 10:00 at Beacon Woods Stables; 99 Beacon Woods Lane, South Glastonbury
Dress rehearsal
Sunday, December 18, 3:00 pageant at Beacon Woods!
Join us at Saint Marks after the pageant for a bonfire, hot chocolate, and carols!
For more information please contact Erin Perrelli - eperrelli519@gmail.com
Ongoing:
Adult Bible Study – For tonight’s session; the study group will be discussing chapters 2 & 3 of The Revelation to John.
The Zoom link is below.
Carol’s Closet – Is in need of full-size tooth paste. Please place them in the Carol’s Closet donation bin near the door of the Atrium.
Church Directory – You can now access the Parish Directory on the St. James’ website. It is password protected. If you are having difficulty signing in, pleas call the Church Office.
Social Media Update -
Are you active on Facebook or Instagram?...St James' IS. Please be sure to Like or Follow St James' pages. And, please share posts. This will help us spread the word about all that our community is doing to spread God's love. Just search St James' Glastonbury to find the pages. Or for Facebook look for StJamesGlastonbury or Instagram look for stjamesepiscopalchurchgl.
No Freeze in Willimantic - is in desperate need of toilet paper, paper towels, bath towels, and inexpensive ear buds. Donations can be dropped off between 1 and 4pm any day. Volunteers are also needed - it's a very rewarding service opportunity. For more information or an alternative drop off time, email windham.nofreeze@gmail.com . And thank you!
Readings:
- Isaiah 35:1-10
- James 5:7-10
- Matthew 11:2-11
- Canticle – Hymn 437 (Blue Hymnal)
LINKS
Sunday Live stream on YouTube – Sundays at 10:00 am
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_CMV_a7oVHxZA1h750d8Q
Adult Bible Study
Time: Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84395139867?pwd=MCs3QTFqanFTeCtVVzhRNjRoUlpEQT09
Thursday Book Group
Time: Alternate Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85329105067?pwd=Si9XRkYrYUx5MXhsYmZvVlBGc3FSUT09
Dawn
Dawn Hardwick
Parish Administrator
St. James' Episcopal Church
2584 Main Street
P.O. Box 206
Glastonbury, CT 06033
Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Telephone: 860-633-8333
parishadmin@stjamesgl.org
www.facebook.com/StJamesGlastonbury
www.stjamesglastonbury.org
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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,
I hope you enjoyed Sunday’s Lessons and Carols as much as I did (although sopranos always have that perspective). Your comments at Coffee Hour led me to think so, as in, ‘that was the most uplifting service I’ve been to in a very long time’. There is more Advent preparation and celebration coming. Plans are underway for the Christmas Pageant up at Beacon Woods Stables on Sunday, December 18 at 3:00 in collaboration with St. Luke’s and the Lutheran Church of St. Mark’s. Please be in touch with Erin Perrelli and Mary Pramberger to see how you can join the cast. There is caroling and hot cocoa at St. Mark’s on Griswold St. afterwards. I know I’ll be looking forward to warming up at their fire pits after our visit to the “stable."
On Saturday, I attended a “conversation” with our bishops for wardens and clergy from the northeast and north central regions at St. Andrew’s in Rocky Hill. It was such a treat. We discussed our churches’ challenges and hopes and gave encouraging ideas to each other from our own experiences. It turns out we all have the same challenges and hopes! I continue to appreciate Bishop Jeff. His reflections, explanations, and hopes are so down to earth and inspiring; he’s a pleasure to listen to or read. On Saturday, I was seated with Deacon Jesse, our most recent deacon. She has been assigned to St. Peter’s in South Windsor and sends her greetings and love to St. James’.
You may have seen on the Monday evening NBC news a piece about how volunteering has a positive influence on our emotional well-being. The article featured "Cafe 55" at Hands on Hartford (Manna Food Bank) of which St. James’ has a long-time association in the Parkville section of Hartford. It is this group that our 4 families take turns picking up and delivering left over bread and pastry from Panera each Sunday/Monday(“Bread Ministry”) and to which the food collected by the main doors to the church is delivered by Valerie Huestis. Our Faith in Action/Outreach Committee met on Monday evening and focused our discussion and mission on searching out other volunteering opportunities in which we could be involved. Of course, Carol’s Closet is our most significant ministry, but let’s consider where else we could reach out and help. And, don’t forget to support our town social services this season.
This Sunday is called “Rose Sunday." Crystal Del Valle and little Alena will be lighting the pink candle in our Advent Wreath. Crystal is new to St. James this summer and you may remember that Alena was baptized at the end of June. Alena is growing up fast and many of us are enjoying this jubilant one year old as she masters walking during Coffee Hour. Again, we welcome Crystal to our St. James’ community!
Blessings, Debbie O’Donnell Senior Warden
Dear Siblings in Christ,
This Sunday is sometimes called “Stirrup Sunday” because the Collect for the Day begins with the words, “Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us . . .” Our Hebrew Bible passage is again from 1st Isaiah, Chapter 35, describing a fruitful and abundant future following the exile:
“The eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf unstopped; then the lame shall leap like a deer, and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy. . .”
The Gospel passage from Matthew has an impatient John the Baptist inquiring of Jesus, “Are you the one who is to come, or we to wait for another?” And Jesus response is to show him the “proof in the pudding”: “Go and tell John what you hear and see: The blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the dear hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.”
As we approach the Third Sunday of this Advent season, what evidence do you see of Jesus’ presence in the world? What elements of our hoped-for future remain elusive? How can you, as a follower Jesus, hasten their realization?
Have a blessed week. I hope to see you on Sunday.
Your brother in Christ. Don+
Music Notes Sunday’s anthem is a setting of Comfort, comfort now my people by the American composer Richard Proulx (1937-2010). Proulx served as consultant to The Hymnal 1982 (our blue hymnal) and we often use his setting of the Sanctus (S125) for festive occasions. Guest organist is Daniel Kendzior who at one time served as organist at St. James’. Many thanks to all those who helped make Advent Lessons & Carols a special service last week: the choir who worked so hard for two months to learn the music, guest singers, instrumentalists, Altar Guild (setting up quietly during our rehearsal), readers (especially our youth reader and her flawless pronunciation of enmity), Dawn in the office, Valerie who managed publicity, John for livestreaming, Barbara and Janet for stepping up to coordinate fellowship, and celebrant Don (who recorded an invitational video in front of our Mary stained glass window).
Local events: Messiah Friday 7:30 pm Lutheran Church of St Mark, Glastonbury @concora.org CHRISTMAS LESSONS & CAROLS Sunday 4 & 7 pm Trinity College Chapel CHRISTMAS LESSONS & CAROLS Sunday 3 St John’s Episcopal Church, West Hartford
Upcoming:
Christmas Memorial Flowers –memorial envelopes are in the Atrium, or call the Church office. Please do so by December 18, 2022. Christmas Cookie Swap - Come join us for a Christmas cookie swap THIS Sunday December 11th after church in the parish hall. All are welcome, men, women, elf, reindeer come join us for fun, fellowship and cookies. There will be plenty of cookies to sample whether you swap or not. If you want to swap cookies, bring an empty tin and 4 dozen cookies - 3 dozen to swap and 1 dozen for samples. Otherwise join us for fellowship and cookie samples. Coffee, Tea and Juice provided. Christmas Pageant - “Calling all parishioners! The Christmas Pageant is coming soon and we need your help. Whether you are young, or young at heart, please consider being a part of this wonderful event. Saturday, December 17 10:00 at Beacon Woods Stables; 99 Beacon Woods Lane, South Glastonbury Dress rehearsal
Sunday, December 18, 3:00 pageant at Beacon Woods! Join us at Saint Marks after the pageant for a bonfire, hot chocolate, and carols!
For more information please contact Erin Perrelli - eperrelli519@gmail.com
Ongoing:
Adult Bible Study – For tonight’s session; the study group will be discussing chapters 2 & 3 of The Revelation to John.
The Zoom link is below.
Carol’s Closet – Is in need of full-size tooth paste. Please place them in the Carol’s Closet donation bin near the door of the Atrium.
Church Directory – You can now access the Parish Directory on the St. James’ website. It is password protected. If you are having difficulty signing in, pleas call the Church Office.
Social Media Update - Are you active on Facebook or Instagram?...St James' IS. Please be sure to Like or Follow St James' pages. And, please share posts. This will help us spread the word about all that our community is doing to spread God's love. Just search St James' Glastonbury to find the pages. Or for Facebook look for StJamesGlastonbury or Instagram look for stjamesepiscopalchurchgl.
No Freeze in Willimantic - is in desperate need of toilet paper, paper towels, bath towels, and inexpensive ear buds. Donations can be dropped off between 1 and 4pm any day. Volunteers are also needed - it's a very rewarding service opportunity. For more information or an alternative drop off time, email windham.nofreeze@gmail.com . And thank you!
Readings:
LINKS
Sunday Live stream on YouTube – Sundays at 10:00 am https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCa_CMV_a7oVHxZA1h750d8Q
Adult Bible Study Time: Wednesdays at 7:00 p.m. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84395139867?pwd=MCs3QTFqanFTeCtVVzhRNjRoUlpEQT09
Thursday Book Group
Time: Alternate Thursdays at 10:00 a.m.
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85329105067?pwd=Si9XRkYrYUx5MXhsYmZvVlBGc3FSUT09
Dawn Office hours: Monday through Thursday, 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Telephone: 860-633-8333
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