Shine bright!

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works 

and give glory to your Father in heaven.”

Matthew 5:16

Our parish light is shining so brightly that we going to need to give The Rev. Anne Kirchmier a pair of sunglasses when she arrives for her first day at St. Andrew’s.  Everyone, congregation, staff, and our school, has been working very hard to have everything ready and in the best possible shape when she begins her leadership of our church.  There is a feeling of excitement and joyful anticipation right now.  Sometimes I wonder if I’m in a Disney movie and I’ll come in to work one morning to find squirrels, mice, and birds singing and cleaning. 

It’s not just the physical environment that is shining; it is also every aspect of parish life.  Anne is going to find St. Andrew’s at its very best and ready for her leadership.  She will be able to spend her first few months getting to know us rather than dealing with big problems.  If you want to capture some of your light, you can contribute stories about your experience at St. Andrew’s to a notebook that Jen is compiling for Anne. 

She will find a faithful parish of energetic Christians, a loving community living out the Gospel.  We will let our light shine before her so that she will see our good works.  And, we will all give glory to our Father in heaven.

Elizabeth Koerner

Interim Minister of Youth & Children

Letter of Thanks for our Turkey Sandwich Day project

Dear Parishioners of St. Andrew's,

This year we were fortunate to provide Christmas gifts, toiletry bags, new book bags with school supplies, and new coats, hats and mittens for over 400 men, women and children. The guest then went to Youth Challenge and were given homemade lunches at the reception. Even Santa came to bring a special cheer for so many children who cannot afford to visit him at the mall. All of this was possible in part due to your generous contribution. Your generosity was a special blessing for so man people.

We cannot thank you all enough for your hard work to prepare the bag lunches for our guests. They loved them!! Your contribution helped make this special event happen.

We hope to see you again next year and may this New Year be filled with many blessings of peace, hope and love.

In gratitude,
Ellen Williams
Downtown Christmas Coordinator
St. Vincent DePaul Church

Downtown Christmas at St. Vincent DePaul

Welcome celebration for our new rector

Sunday, February 5

The day we have all been waiting for is almost here! Our new rector, the Rev. Anne Kirchmier, will be here for her first Sunday with us on February 5. We hope everyone will join us at a welcome reception for Anne and her husband, John Herbst, immediately following the 10:30 service. Be sure to wear your nametag!

Photo: Anne and John in Lisbon

St. Andrew's welcomes and honors First Responders on Jan. 29

Join us on Sunday, January 29, as we honor the First Responders in our community - 10:30 a.m. Service of Recognition and Thanks and 1:30 Brunswick stew lunch. 

Do you know someone who is a First Responder - fire, police, EMS, Child Protective Services? Invite them! The Hospitality Team, led by Jackie Wash, has already been hard at work organizing the set-up and preparation of the luncheon.  There is no charge for the luncheon, but contributions (from parishioners, not guests) will be accepted.

Prayer for First Responders

Blessed are you, Lord, God of mercy, who through your son gave us a marvelous example of charity and the great commandment of love for one another. Send down your blessings on these your servants, who so generously devote themselves to helping others. Grant them courage when they are afraid, wisdom when they must make quick decisions, strength when they are weary, and compassion in all their work. When the alarm sounds and they are called to aid both friend and stranger, let them faithfully serve you in their neighbor. Amen.

- adapted from the Book of Blessings #587, by Diana Macalintal

 

GREATER LOVE HAS NO ONE THAN THIS: 

TO LAY HIS LIFE DOWN FOR HIS FRIENDS

JOHN 15:13

What's your version?

On New Year's Day I heard a sermon in Austin where the preacher asked a question I've been pondering ever since, "What version of the best life do you embrace?" There are a lot of voices and images that compete for our attention. We have lots of new beginnings these days. What does the richest and most worthwhile life look like to us?

Brad Norris
Minister of Music

The Rev. Carol Chamberlain celebrates 40th ordination anniversary

The Rev. Carol Chamberlain will celebrate the 40^th anniversary of her Ordination to the Priesthood This Sunday.

The Rev. Carol Chamberlain will be preaching and celebrating this Sunday, January 15, the day that marks the anniversary of her ordination to the priesthood 40 years ago.  Join us after the 10:30 service for a special coffee bar in Carol's honor. 

In 1977, Carol was ordained in the first month of the first year in which women were ordained in the Episcopal Church with General Convention approval.  By year's end, 100 women had been ordained to the priesthood.  Congratulations to our pioneering Priest Associate!

Photo: The Rev. Carol Chamberlain on the day of her ordination, Jan. 15, 1977.

How the Light Comes

By Jan L. Richardson

I cannot tell you how the light comes.

What I know is that it is more ancient than imagining.

That it travels across an astounding expanse to reach us.

That it loves searching out what is hidden what is lost
what is forgotten or in peril or in pain.

That it has a fondness for the body
for finding its way toward flesh
for tracing the edges of form
for shining forth through the eye, the hand, the heart.

I cannot tell you how the light comes,
but that it does.
That it will.
That it works its way into the deepest dark that enfolds you,
though it may seem long ages in coming
or arrive in a shape you did not foresee.

And so
may we this day turn ourselves toward it.
May we lift our faces to let it find us.
May we bend our bodies to follow the arc it makes.
May we open and open more and open still

to the blessed light that comes.

Thank you!

To all of our volunteers who bought blouses and shirts for the elderly at the PACE Center, many, many thanks.  It was huge success. 

To all of our many cheery volunteers who helped with checking in, feeding, and checking out at PORT December 15 and 16 at the Greek Orthodox Church, a hearty and grateful thanks to you all (and especially to those who had the graveyard shift!).  We had 64 hungry and tired people who left Friday morning with full stomachs and smiles. 

To all who donated to the Fishermen’s Warm Fuzzy program to help parents in need at Riverside Regional Medical Center.

To all who donated money or bought items for Turkey Sandwich Day.  We broke a new record – we were done by 10:20 a.m.  Those who received our bag lunches were most grateful.

To those who supported the day school’s two fund raisers: gift wrap and poinsettias.

To those who donated to the Wreath Project and who helped load, unload, prepare the wreaths and bows, and lay them at Hampton National Cemetery. 

To those who attended the Outside Wind Quintet for donating $1,037 for the PORT Homeless Shelter, and to the performers who donated their talent.

To Bob Lord for getting three computers reconnected to various printers.

To the children for a wonderful Christmas pageant on Christmas Eve.

To the Altar Guild, Acolytes, Lay Readers, Ushers, sound techs, clergy and staff for wonderful Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day services.