Download the Advent and Christmas Schedule
November 21, 2022
Grace to you, and peace, from Him Who was, Who is, and Who is to come, even Christ the Lord! Amen.
It’s hard to believe, but Advent is here – and I know many of you are already into full “Christmas prep and stress” mode. Yet, as I write this, it’s not even Thanksgiving. Where did the year go?
One of the things I’m grateful for as we head into this “new” Church Year is that much of our “normal” life as a congregation is finally coming back. You’ll see in the schedule that the gatherings, meals, and fellowship that marked the Advent-Christmas season for us pre-Covid are now largely back. Let us embrace these gifts – with thanks to all the folks working to share them with us.
So, again I invite you into the shelter of the season that offers you hope and consolation over against all the shrill voices of the culture at large.
So, here’s the plan for the season… We will offer our traditional mid-week prayer services, centered on the theme: “Restoration!” Each of the mid-week services will focus on the Old Testament reading for the week (all from Isaiah this year) and how they shed light on the restoration God promises us in Christ. As always, the rest of our regularly scheduled services will continue as well. Also notice that we’ll have a special service of “Lessons and Carols” on December 18th at the 9:00 am service, featuring our musicians and folks from the Sunday School.
With the conclusion of Advent, we will enter the Christmas season proper – celebrating Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, New Year’s Day (The Name of Jesus), and the Epiphany of our Lord.
And…. the Women’s Christmas Party, mid-week lunches, and congregational caroling are all back! God is good.
So, I urge you – come and participate in these special seasons of worship as is appropriate for you and your household, and let us all prepare to adore Him, let us learn to wait and live with His promises, and let us rejoice in His birth and celebrate what that means for us and the world - for in Christ, every promise of God is “yes and amen!” May God richly bless you through Christ, “Immanuel,” the Babe of Bethlehem.
Yours in His Name,
Rev. Barry A. Long, Pastor
Advent: “O Come, O Come, Immanuel......”
Sunday, November 27 - 1st Sunday of Advent
Spoken Matins, 9:00 a.m.
Spoken Divine Worship, 11:45 a.m.
Wednesday, November 30 - 1st Wednesday of Advent
Mid-day Prayer, 11:15 a.m.
Sandwich and Salad lunch to follow
Vespers, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 1 – 1st Thursday of Advent
Spoken Divine Worship, 6:00pm
Sunday, December 4 – 2nd Sunday of Advent
Sung Divine Worship, 9:00 a.m.
Spoken Divine Worship, 11:45 a.m.
Decorating of the Church: 12:45 p.m. to ?
Wednesday, December 7 - 2nd Wednesday of Advent
Mid-day Prayer, 11:15 a.m.
Soup and Salad lunch to follow
Vespers, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 8 – 2nd Thursday of Advent
Spoken Divine Worship, 6:00pm
Sunday, December 11 - 3rd Sunday of Advent
Matins, 9:00 a.m.
Spoken Divine Worship, 11:45 a.m.
Voters’ Meeting, 10:30 a.m. (in-person or via Zoom)
Cookie Decorating & Caroling, 1:00 p.m.
Monday, December 12
Women’s Christmas Party Returns!
6:00 p.m.
Wednesday, December 14 - 3rd Wednesday of Advent
Mid-day Prayer, 11:15 a.m.
Soup and Sandwich lunch to follow
Vespers, 6:30 p.m.
Thursday, December 15 – 3rd Thursday of Advent
Spoken Divine Worship, 6:00pm
Sunday, December 18 - 4th Sunday of Advent
Service of Lessons and Carols, 9:00 a.m.
Spoken Divine Worship, 11:45 a.m.
Christmas: “Glory to God in the Highest, and on earth, peace.....”
Saturday, December 24 - Christmas Eve
Spoken Communion Service at 4:00 p.m.
Family Candlelight Service with Holy Communion, at 7:00 p.m.
Pre-service music will begin at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, December 25 - Christmas Day
Chorale Divine Service, 9:00 a.m.
Saturday, December 31 – New Year’s Eve
Spoken Divine Worship, 6:30 p.m.
Sunday, January 1 – Name of Jesus
Sung Divine Worship, 9:00 a.m.
Friday, January 6: The Epiphany of our Lord
Spoken Divine Worship, 11:15 a.m. & 6:00 p.m.
May God richly bless our keeping of the season by making us to grow ever more sure in the knowledge of our Savior, and ever more open to sharing His works of grace!
