Resolutions

I don’t make new year’s resolutions.  Most such resolutions are made perfunctorily, maybe with all good intention, but most often without the will to follow through; kind of like Oscar Wilde’s reflection: Resolutions are simply checks that men draw on a bank where they have no account.  But if something is truly important enough, it will be done regardless of whether a resolution is made.

 
In Matthew's birth narrative, Joseph's betrothed was found to be with child before marital relations and so he "resolved" to dismiss her quietly so as not to disgrace her.  This wasn't a new year's resolution, but an important decision that he would have followed up on if not for God's intervention to reassure him.  Joseph then “resolved” to follow, not his initial decision, but the revealed will of God.
 
For us, it means being resolute in our Baptismal mission to proclaim by word and example the good news of God in Christ; not just seeing words on paper that help us find the way, but integrating those words into our very being so that we make a way for God's good news to be proclaimed by our words and the example we set by how we live our lives. It means being devoted to sharing the transforming power of God's love in our lives, our communities, and our world (which, by the way, is explicitly the vision God has given St. Andrew’s).
 
It doesn't take a new year's resolution to do these things - the kind of resolution that tends to be perfunctory and quickly pass from memory or will.  Rather, like Joseph, reaching deep within, simply saying, "This is what I have resolved to do," and then doing it.  The vision God has given us in this new year is that important.
 
Marc Vance, Associate Rector

Celebrating the Incarnation

Dear friends,

A few nights ago I had the privilege of attending the Holiday Pops concert at the Ferguson Center.  The program included an audience singalong, which was well-received.  A thousand people lifted our voices in song.  Afterward the conductor thanked us and pointed out that singing together is a way of building community, of creating and sharing beauty.
 
This broken world in which we live desperately needs community and beauty, peace and reconciliation.  That is of course why God sent Jesus to us: to be with us in our messy midst and ultimately to save us.  The Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (John 1:14).
 
If I were God and planned to send my beloved son into this sinful world, I would have sent him as an invincible grownup, shielded behind impenetrable armor—not as a fragile infant born on the road to poor parents in occupied territory.  I would have chosen safety over community, protection over vulnerability.  But that’s not how God works.  Community and reconciliation are so important to God that he came to us as one of us.  That’s Incarnation.
 
I look forward to celebrating the Incarnation with you; and I very much hope that you will take part in one or more of our upcoming Christmas services:

Christmas Eve Family Service, December 24 at 4:30 PM with Children’s Pageant, Children’s Homily, and Candle-lighting. Plan to come at 3:45 for Cookies 'n Goodies (see below)
Christmas Eve Festive Eucharist, December 24 at 8:30 PM with Special Music and Candle-Lighting. Plan to come at 8:10 for special music and carol singing.
Christmas Day Eucharist, December 25 at 10:30 AM
Service of Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 31st at 10:30 AM
 
As is customary here at St. Andrew’s, there will be a special Christmas offering again this year.  You may make your gift online here, or use the Christmas offering envelope you will find in your Christmas Eve/Day service bulletin.
 
Friends, as we rejoice in the precious gift of Incarnation this Christmas season, may we too dare to choose reconciliation and community, seeking ways to create and share beauty—for the sake of the world, and for Jesus’ sake.
 
Blessings and love.  -Anne

Everyone who plans to attend the 4:30 PM Christmas Eve service is invited to come at 3:45 PM for Cookies n’ Goodies in the Parish Hall. Please bring your favorite Christmas cookies to share. This will be a time for fellowship, snacking, children’s activities, and for the children to pick a pageant costume if they haven’t already done so.

23-3-2!! And thank you!

Even though I will have been on staff for 23 years, 3 months, and 2 weeks as of December 31 (I’ve been a member of St. Andrew’s for 36 years!), there are still folks who don’t know why I was hired to begin with:  Sunday bulletins and newsletters!  In these 1,210 weeks, here are some facts about what I have done.

×        38.4 miles round trip per week, which averages out to about 46,464 miles.

×        at least 2,400 bulletins – Sundays, special services, funerals, etc.

×        at least 1,100 newsletters – monthly in the beginning and then weekly

×        approximately 3,120 copies of the Sunday readings and prayers of the people sent to lay readers prior to the service

×        assembling and mailing approximately 5,730 pledge campaign packets to send to parishioners

×        somewhere between 800 and 900 staff meetings

×        at least 232,300 steps up and 232,300 steps down for an average of 5 to 6 trips to my office a day (sometimes it might have been more when I would get downstairs and forget why I had made the trip!)

×        2,400 Christmas and Easter memorial flowers letters for the Altar Guild

×        138 Wednesday 7:30 AM Lenten services

×        approximately 8,580 communion kits for Sundays, plus additional ones for special services and funerals and those handed out during covid

So what else have I done?

×        worked with the acolytes and lay readers

×        prepared the Annual Congregational Meeting booklet, which is now our Guide to Ministries

×        as chair of the Memorial Garden Team, developed the first Funeral Customary and planned and implemented the Memorial Garden; ordered and installed the leaves on the Tree of Remembrance

×        sent the memorial gift acknowledgements to the families of the deceased

×        prepared song sheets for the day school, Kairos Prison Ministry, and choir sing alongs

×        helped organize Turkey Sandwich Day (in the 30 plus years we did the sandwiches, we prepared well over 30,000 sandwiches!) and snack bags since covid

×        served as Parish Register – maintaining the “People” part of the ACS, the software system we use for church records and financial data

×        prepared membership data for the annual Parochial report

×        served as a member of our annual pledge campaign teams

×        served as “sacristan” – coordinating the 8:00 and 10:30 services, funerals, and other services

×        served as wedding consultant

×        for the weekly Wednesday services, updated the service booklet, prepared a yearly lectionary guide for the readings for these services, and prepared and printed the reading for each Wednesday

×        asked parishioners (when I didn’t forget) to bring up the communion elements at the 10:30 services

×        and other “duties” as needed or requested!

A very heart-felt special thank you to all of you for allowing me these 23 years, 3 months, and 2 weeks, especially the clergy and even more especially the three women (Barbara Stafford, Rachel Roby, and Ann Turner) who had to “deal” with me on a daily basis for 23-4-2!!

Bill Wilds