St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound

Episcopal Church

December 2019 Soundings

People have been escalating the idea that there is

a war against Christmas. It’s earliest salvoes in my childhood were that the use of Xmas was somehow irreligious. In actuality this is a remnant of Medieval scribal practice. The X is the Greek letter Chi, the first letter in Χρίστος, the Greek for

Christ; a profoundly religious abbreviation.

More properly, there is a war on Advent. Our ‘Little Lent,’ a season of preparation for the coming of Christ has long swamped by the tidal wave which now begins around Halloween. The season of Christmas, twelve days which begin with the Christ-mass on December 24/25, is also lost in the exhaustion following our buildup to the mid-winter holiday.

Christmas is not embodied in saying “Merry Christmas” rather than “Happy Holidays.” Advent and Christmas are about something which appears to be small in a world of big things, the birth, in poverty, of a child, soon to become a refugee; the good news of this event proclaimed to a group of folks who today we would find standing around the Wal-Mart parking lot waiting for day labor. It is a profoundly counter cultural story.

There is nothing wrong with the mixture of pagan and cultural observances, I celebrated this mixture in a recent Soundings article. But, we need to have more than one Christmas, one to allow us to let the pagan consumer living deep within us a chance to get out and run around. And then another, once s/he is exhausted, in a time of calm after the storm, where we can welcome the Christ child.

Let’s not waste time and emotions over an imagined war on Christmas. Christmas does not belong to the wider culture, it is the Church’s holiday, our holiday. In Christian charity for the role it fills, let us paraphrase Ebenezer Scrooge, and let the world “keep Christmas in (its) own way, and let (us) keep it in ours."

The Rectors Reckonings

FROM OUR CURATE

While in Italy it seemed like, at each museum we visited, we saw painting after painting of the Virgin Mary with baby Jesus (except the museum of science in Florence—my favorite, because we got o see Galileo’s telescopes!). In these scenes, Mary is seated in a domestic setting with Jesus, often a young John the Baptist, and regularly an angel as well. The scene is sweet and warm and joyful. I imagine we often think of Mary this way.

The Mary that we encounter Scripture is never seated. While I don’t doubt she had sweet, intimate moments with her young son, the Mary we meet in Scripture journeys. First, she adventure alone to her cousin Elizabeth. Later, she’ll travel by donkey. In perhaps the least sweet, domestic space, she births Jesus in a loud, crowded, probably cold barn. She then flees to Egypt and back, she goes to Jerusalem when Jesus is twelve, she goes again when he is crucified.

This Mary is courageous and strong and fiercely faithful. This Mary is bold. Yes, she is full of grace, but she doesn’t seem to be meek nor mild. She is determined, not submissive. She joins in God’s mission as she answers God’s call to be the mother of God-with-Us.

I wonder why we would domesticate that rather than celebrate it? This season, don’t simplify or domesticate the fierceness of the faithful, the strength of the witnesses, the

courage with which you say to God, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.” We are all called to be mothers and midwives, bringing the life of Christ to those around us.

CURATE CONTINUES

December 1 - Feast of St. Nicholas at the 9 & 11:15am services Advent Wreaths at 10:00am - Parish Hall

Dec. 7 & 14 - Pageant Rehearsals from 9:00 - 11:00pm

December 8 - EYC Christmas Party at 5:00pm - Parish Hall

December 15 - The last day to turn in poinsettia envelopes

Christmas Pageant at 5:00pm

Churchwide Christmas Party at 5:30pm Pizza, beverages and sandwich makings will be provided for all to enjoy! Each family/individual is asked to bring an appetizer or cookies to share.

December 21 -The Longest Night Service at 6:30pm.

The lights and tinsel of the holidays can’t always cut through the dark and gray of the season. Not everyone is up and cheery for the holidays. Dealing with the death of a loved one, facing life after divorce, coping with the loss of a job or relationship or dream, living with cancer or some other dis-ease that puts a question mark over the future, carrying the burden of financial instability and a number of other human situations make the parties and joviality of this time of year painful for many people in our community. If you are looking for a sacred space in which to acknowledge grief and heartache amidst the Christmas hope join us for a service of The Longest Night.

December 24 - Christmas Eve Services 3:00, 5:00, 7:00, & 11:00pm 7:00 and 11:00 are Candlelight Services

Childcare will be provided starting at 2:45pm to allow parents time to drop off before the 3:00pm service begins. The nursery will remain open through 5:00pm service and will close at 6:30pm. Please feel free to bring your children into the nursery during the service if necessary.

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

Advent Activities

Christmas Eve Service Schedules

3:00 PM 5:00 PM

Lay Readers

Melinda Rider Cathy Miller Jim Doxey Alicia Rudd

Bob Remillard Val Davidson Mary Ann Ryder Retha Deaton

Acolytes Jake Morris Luke Morris Pittman McEwen Lilly McLamb

Mairead Benson Ryleigh Patterson Sterling Dalgleish

Ushers Jim Grice, Mark Matheny, Katherine and Scott Dodd

Bob Thomson and Jerry Kinlaw

Greeters Donna Grice

7:00 PM 11:00 PM

Lay Readers

Cameron Rieman Chrissy Farrell Lily Salisbury

Elizabeth Woodside Laura Rezac Pat Patrick

Acolytes Ellie Farrell Trinity Chapman Noah Farrell

Ushers Jim Doxey and Tina Poisson

Bill Heckman and George Myers

Greeters Pat Patrick

Altar Guild - All Teams - White for Christmas Eve

BELL CHOIR NEWS

How big is a BIG Bell Choir? 25 people? 50? 100? No…you’re

thinking too small! Think larger…like 325? Yep, that’s right! Are you surprised? We were, that is the members of St. Andrew’s On- the-Sound Bell Choir who attended the recent Raleigh Ringers Capitol Area Handbell Festival on November 8th. We joined 34 other bell choirs from churches around our state and beyond to make a choir of 325! Gathering in the Kerr Scott building at the State Fairgrounds we spent the day ringing our hearts out! Led by a well-known clinician Fred Gramann we rehearsed 6 anthems, heard an incredible and inspiring concert by the Raleigh Ringer and then, at the conclusion of the conference, all 325 of us gave a concert. The conference was a great way to learn, be inspired and get excited about handbells!

From the Music Room

Mark Hellmann, Nancy McDowell, Mary Zeigler, Anne Eitelman, Pat Patrick, Jeannie Hellmann, Amy Russell,

and Clinician Fred Gramann

ALUMNI CHOIR NEWS St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound’s first (and hopefully annual) Alumni Choir met on Sunday, November 17th to practice and sing a wonderful anthem at the 11:15 service. Although the numbers were small – three alumni – the combined Compagina

and Alumni choirs impacted the worship service in a big way. Many thanks to Alison and Kent Atkins and Rachel Cobb for joining us. Not only was their presence in the choir deeply appreciated by the congregation, but they represented many who have served in the music ministries throughout the years. Our Alumni Choir gave the opportunity to remember that these faithful servants have provide a wonderful musical legacy for all of us!

CHILDREN’S CHOIR NEW

Time Change The time of our Children’s Choir Rehearsal has been changed from 6:15pm to 3:00pm on Thursday afternoons to simplify (hopefully) family schedules. If you haven’t been able to bring your children to our rehearsal yet, perhaps you can now!

What’s a rehearsal like? We always start out with some snacks and prayer time after which we work on learning our Bible verse. Much of our time is spend on building musical skills: ▪ we play a musical ECHO check-in game to build listening

More from the Music Room

More from the Music Room skills. I sing a question to each child who then sings back their answer on the same pitch. (Examples: “How are you?” “What’s your favorite junk food?” and “What was good today?)

▪ we learn about music. Right now, we’re looking at rests and recognizing different kinds of music notes (whole, half, quarter and eighth). We put our learning into action by beating out rhythms with sticks and/or dance to music and practice stopping when we see a music rests. (The children LOVE this game!)

▪ Of course, we sing songs! Our current favorite is “Love you with all my heart.” You will have heard us sing it in church.

▪ We end each rehearsal with a fun game in the Old Parish Hall. Last week we played “Stomp the Balloon!” Games and snacks are our favorites!

When does the Choir Sing? Our normal schedule is to sing on the first Sunday of the month at the Offering at the 9am and at the beginning of the 11:15 service. This permits us to sing for two services without disrupting family schedules too much.

If you are interested in learning more about our Children’s Choir ministry, please email me: mhellmann@saots.org.

CHRISTMAS EVE MUSIC

Preparations for Christmas Eve are in full swing and I’m excited to share who will sing at each of the services. 3:00pm: Family Service Biana Cinotti will sing Ave Maria

5:00pm: Family Service Kellen Hanson will sing O Holy Night

7 & 11pm: Traditional Candlelight Services Ayumn Nakamae will sing several beautiful Christmas selections.

As we enter the season of Advent, may you be filled with a deep expectation and joy for the coming of our Lord!

Mark

More from the Music Room

On November 15-17, seven of our middle and high school youth attended Fall Conference at Trinity Center. This year’s theme was “Love your neighbor, No Exceptions”! Serving on Team were Abby Dell, Kendall Koresko, and Tracy Hanson (adult team). Our participants who attended were Katelyn Apollonio,

Megan Apollonio, Lilly McLamb, Caroline Smith, and Lane Tompkins. Shout out to Elizabeth McLamb and Laura Rezac for driving the participants and being the adult chaperones!

Our EYC annual Christmas party is December 8th from 5-7pm. It is one of our youths favorite events of the year. We will have the tackiest Christmas entire contest, Christmas movie trivia game, white elephant gift exchange, and more. All youth grades 6th to 12th are welcome!

If you know of any middle or high school young people interested in our ever growing ministry, please feel free to give them the following contact information, the more the merrier! Stephanie Rieman, 910-431-7898 or eycstandrewsonthesound@gmail.com

December Calendar: 1st: 8:30am-12:30pm Fundraiser!! Wreath distribution before & after all 3 Services (NO “Regular Programming”)

8th: EYC Christmas Party (games, present exchange, and fun!)

15th: Outreach Project- Toys for Tots Warehouse 1-4pm

22nd & 29th: NO EYC (Christmas Break)

Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Episcopal Youth Community

Let us begin our preparation for the coming of the Christ child. Advent is a waiting time. Waiting and watching for the light to increase. Getting ready for Christ’s birth. Take time to

reflect on the gift of Jesus. Light your Advent candles, add ornaments to the Jesse Tree, spread God’s light and share His gifts.

December 1st: ADVENT WREATH Event at 10:00AM

First Sunday Event for the whole church! Hot chocolate and cookies!

GINGERBREAD COOKIE DECORATING TABLE!

St. Nicholas will be here for the

9:00am and 11:15am services!

An Advent booklet, candles, holders, foam and some greens will be provided. WHAT TO BRING: Candles and candle holders from last year (if you have them) Circular dish, bundt cake pan, angel food cake pan, pie dish, cookie tin Greens from your yard (magnolia leaves, evergreen branches….) Clippers

Children’s Ministry

Children’s Ministry Cont.

So far, we have a wonderful cast for our Christmas Pageant! All speaking parts have been filled but we still need plenty more children to be angels, animals and shepherds! If you would like to be

an angel, animal or shepherd, please let us know and join us on Sundays for pageant practice. We will talk about the Christmas story, sing songs and get ready for this special pageant!

PRACTICE SCHEDULE Sun., Dec. 1st: No Practice - First Sunday Advent Program

Sun., Dec. 7th: 10:00am - Pageant Practice - (please meet in the Godly Play Room in the Parish Hall)

Sat., Dec. 14th: 9-11:00am - All parts welcome to attend (This is a mandatory rehearsal for ALL speaking parts)

Sun., Dec. 15th: 10:00am - (Everyone can pick out their costumes with their parents. Put a name tag on costume and leave it here.

10:30am - (Advent Lesson in the Godly Play room for all classes)

4:30pm - (Arrive, put on costumes, sit with your group (Angels, shepherds….)

The Parish Christmas Party will immediately follow the pageant. Please bring a side or a dessert to share! December 22rd: No Sunday school

December 24th: Christmas Eve (Nursery available from 2:30- 6:15pm. Join us in celebrating the birth of Christ!)

Children’s Ministry Cont.

FAMILY INFORMATION

FORM

Life is constantly changing along with our personal information and we are asking everyone to help keep us in the loop! If any of your information has change, please call and/or email Barbara at the church at 910-256-3034 parishsec@saots.org, or fill out a form located on “The Table”.

PLEASE help us keep our

church records current!

From the Office….

St. Andrew’s Preschool News

“God our Father, we thank you for our many blessings. Amen” (one of our preschool prayers)

In the month of November, we ask the children to decorate a turkey feather to be used for our preschool Thanksgiving window benefitting Good Shepherd Center. On that feather we ask them to fill in the following blank, “I am thankful for ___________.” Their answers are precious. Our students are thankful for birthday parties, macaroni, ponies, Buzz Lightyear and T-Rex, but they are also thankful for their families, teachers, food, and God. Take a walk to the back of the church and read over their thankful feathers. And while you are there, pray over their names; pray that they will always know the love of God.

Now it’s was my turn to fill in the blank. I am thankful for…..wonderful teachers, the sweetest students ever and their amazing families, and YOU, this dedicated church community which supports the preschool ministry so wholeheartedly. Our preschool’s blessings are many.

THANK YOU! Tracy Hanson, Director

Flowers On-the-Sound

Christmas Floral Dedications

If you would like to contribute to the

Christmas flowers, the minimum offering is $15 per dedication and must be made no later than Sunday, December 15th, in order

for your gift to be listed in the Christmas bulletin. Please make checks payable to St. Andrew’s On-the-Sound and write Christmas Flowers in the memo line. Envelopes are available in the pews and in the church office. Thank you for your continued support!

GREENERY/FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS

This is a great way to honor and/or remember that

special someone or event. The process is easy. Choose your date and sign-up in the notebook on “The Table” in the church; call Barbara in the church office at 910-256-3034 or email parishsec@saots.org.

Available Dates for Greenery: December 8th, 15th & 22rd (Cost: $48.15 per arrangement)

Available dates for Flowers: January 5th, 12th, 19th and 26th (Cost: $70.00 per arrangement)

2020 Flower Calendar Notebook is Now Available on “The Table” Honor and/or remember that special someone or event. The process is easy. Choose your date and sign– up in the notebook on in the church; email parishsec@saots.org or call Barbara in the church

office at 910-256-3034. It’s that easy, you will be billed at a later date.

If you can’t make it to church, but would like to

hear the sermon, they’re now being recorded and are available on the church website!

http://standrewsonthesound.com/worship-3/ (scroll to the bottom)

Weekly readings are always available at http://lectionarypage.net/

SERMONS ONLINE!

Candle Dedications

The Sanctuary Candles are given to the glory of God and in memory of my family who are no longer with me,

J.T and my mom, by Doane Bridges.

The Altar Candles are given to the glory of God and in memory of Linda Foley,

by Fran and Paul Shore.

CANDLE SIGN-UP SHEETS FOR 2020 IS ON THE TABLE!

This is a very nice way to dedicate a candle to a loved one or in memory of someone. A donation of $25.00 will be billed to you at a later date. If you have any questions,

please call Donna Hancock at (910) 256-8754.

Decorate a window for Thanksgiving... The folks from Eugene Ashley Center of Good Shepherd Ministries were absolutely THRILLED with the generous gift of food from our Thanksgiving window project! Their pantry was almost empty and our gifts will greatly help them get through the winter months. They especially appreciated the gifts of COFFEE as we are currently the only folks giving them coffee, as Rolling Thunder (a previous good coffee donor) is no longer active.

Thanks to ALL who participated and donated to this worthwhile cause!

PLEASE STOP BY THE OLD PARISH HALL AND PICK UP THE DECORATIONS YOU USED

FOR YOUR WINDOW

OUTREACH CONT.

OUTREACH

The 3rd Wednesday of Each Month

Our next opportunity for preparing the evening

meal at Good Shepherd Center is Wednesday, December 18th. If you would like to participate in

preparing the meal, we'll meet at 4:00pm in the GSC kitchen. If you want to help serve, please meet by 5:30pm. As always, we welcome donations of cash money or donations of ingredients to help defray the meal's cost. To learn more about this ministry, please call Ann Cameron Shuman at 910-256-9659.

KNIT WITS Wednesdays at 11am - Parish Hall

In the first room on the right in the new

Parish Hall we have a floor to ceiling cabinet packed with our wool, knitting books, needles, etc. If you haven’t knitted in a few years, or you’d like to learn, we’d be happy to get you started. If you would like to have a prayer shawl to give to a friend or loved one, please contact Billie Royce at 910-256-8278.

Our Episcopal Sponsored Boutique Thrift Shop (4213 Princess Place Drive)

The Bargain Box is a resale store

established to serve the community by offering low cost quality merchandise, providing jobs and training for area residents, utilizing responsible recycling of used goods and providing financial support to nonprofit community organizations trough direct funding and grants.

20% coupons are on “The Table. Think Inside the Box… DONATE - SHOP - SERVE!

Fellowship NO FOURTH FRIDAY

FELLOWSHIP GATHERING

FFFG takes a break in

November and December, but will start back in January! Please call Donna Grice at 910-256-3616 for more info or if you would like to host in the coming year.

SOUL NOURISHMENT YOGA/MEDITATION GROUP

Take a break from the busy-ness Yoga and

noise of the world and refresh your mind every Thursday evening with Richard at 7pm in the Parish Hall.

#AdventWord During Advent, we anticipate the coming of Christ, an event that

awakens our deepest desires and longings. The Society of St. John the Evangelist invites us to respond to a daily meditation with images and prayers that speak to our hearts and be part of a global Advent Calendar that brings us together in communion. You can view contributions and sign up for the SSJE daily email at http://adventword.org You can also join this Advent practice, by joining St. Andrew’s on a Praying in Color journey towards Christmas together. Pick up your tree and spend a little time each day coloring, doodling and praying your way towards Immanuel, God with us, reflecting on that day’s #adventword.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS December 1 Katherine Fowler, Lev Kunin, Ann Cameron Shuman December 2 Emily Summerlin, Courtney Heckman, Natasha Nunes December 4 Kathryn Murnock, Joel Bourne, Miriam Cohen December 5 Karen McPadden, December 6 Cooper Bosch, Bobby Kmetz December 7 Kevin Davidson December 9 Bob Thomas, Jack Pfisterer, Michael Willard December 10 Shirley Fox December 11 William Donahoe December 12 Keith Redington, Katie Ferree December 13 John Pinter December 14 Danny Wallace, Noah Farrell December 15 Taylor King, Carol Nasca, Allen Patrick, Tracey Thomas, John Quick December 16 Drew King December 17 Hoop Morgan, David Passmore December 18 Anna Hildreth December 19 Margo Colocchio, Anna Dufour December 20 Karl Geisler, Aaron Kunin December 21 Bailey Holman December 22 James Pruitt, Ann Wood, Lila Wood December 23 Luke Morris, Michael Larson December 24 Bill Heckman December 25 Rebecca Ficklen December 26 Valeria Davidson, Monique Ribando December 27 June Guggenheimer, Jeanne Murphy,

Katherine MacKinnon, Luella Haynes December 28 David Brown, Anna Eames, Robert Struble December 29 Sara Pierson, Austin Lathrop, Mort Neblett, Sharya Alsberg December 31 Mark Bloomquist, Hannah Holt, Jennifer Phillips, Joanne Woodcock

December 4 John and Erin Pinter

Ron and Miriam Cohen

December 5 Jon and Emily Barbour

December 12 Jimmy and Robin Miller

December 13 Dave and Patti McRae

December 19 Paul and Lois Dowty

December 20 Steve and Anne Eitelman

December 21 Jack and Nancy Manock

December 22 Chip and Jane Wood, III

December 23 Edward and Lee Graham

December 27 Josh and Ginny Morris

December 31 Scott and Katherine Dodd

NOVEMBER ANNIVERSARIES

December 1 December 8

Vestry Persons of the Month: Jason Ferree and Lily Salisbury

Lay Readers

7:45 a.m. Scott Dodd Elizabeth Woodside

Elizabeth Woodside Alicia Rudd

9:00 a.m. Frances Goodman Natalie Sherwood

Stephanie Kraybill Bob Royce

Pat Patrick Mary Baggett

11:15 a.m. Chrissy Farrell Laura Rezac

Retha Deaton Cathy Fisher

Lily Salisbury

Acolytes

9:00 a.m. Ben Arcuri Abby Dell

Abby Arcuri Lane Tompkins

Katelyn Apollonio Ladd Barnes

Megan Apollonio Ryleigh Patterson

11:15 a.m. Ellie Farrell Mairead Benson

Noah Farrell Ben Arcuri

Mairead Benson Abby Arcuri

Sterling Dalgleish

Greeter

7:45 a.m. Katherine Dodd Donna Grice

9:00 a.m. Pat Patrick Clay Doxey

11:15 a.m. Joan Dolezal

Usher

7:45 a.m. Bob Thomson Jim Grice

9:00 a.m. Mark Arcuri Jim Doxey

Jerry Kinlaw Skip Henson

11:15 a.m. Frank Dolezal

Hubert Bordeaux

Jason Chapman Tina Poisson

Altar Guild Team 4 - Thomson Team 2 - Grice

Linda Brown/Sid Brooks

Ron Foster/David Brown

December 15 December 22 December 29

Laura Rezac Alicia Rudd Scott Dodd

Linda Brown/Sid Brooks Mary Thomson Sally Vasilevich

Jim Doxey Stephanie Kraybill

MaryAnn Ryder Cameron Rieman

Mark Zeigler

Laura Rezac Cathy Miller Alison Atkins

Cathy Fisher Melinda Rider Cathy Miller

Ann Lees

Abby Dell Cameron Rieman Ben Arcuri

Lilly McLamb Jane Wright Abby Arcuri

Currin McLamb Eleanor Wright Katelyn Apollonio

Austin McLamb Ryleigh Patterson Megan Apollonio

Mairead Benson Allie Earnhart Ben Arcuri

Maria Hanna Ridge Earnhart Caroline Smith

Riley Hubard Kathryn Smith

Andrew Hubard

Ophelia Hart Margaret Larson Margaret Larson

Kathy Laing Pat Patrick Clay Doxey

Barry Farrell Joan Dolezal Ann Lees

Ron Foster/David Brown Mike Larson Mike Larson

David Mautz Jerry Kinlaw Jim Doxey

Elizabeth Mautz Skip Henson Mark Arcuri

Tom Jenkins Frank Dolezal Bill Sowers, Jr.

Billie Royce Jason Chapman George Myers

Team 3 - Shore Team 4 - Thomson Team 1 - Royce/

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