Wednesday, December 1, 2010

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

The Song of Mary:Magnificat (first few verses)
Luke 1:46-55 (pp.91 and 92 BCP)

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior;
for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant.
From this day all generations will call me blessed:the Almighty has done great things for me,and holy is his Name.










Sunday, December 26, 2010: First Sunday After Christmas
There was not a Holy Eucharist Celebration

Saturday, December 24, 2010: Christmas Eve
Holy Eucharist Celebration

Sunday, December 19, 2010: Fourth Sunday of Advent
First Reading: Isaiah (7:10-16)
Psalm 80: 1-7; 16-18, page 702, 703 BCP
Epistle: Paul's Letter (Romans 1:1-7)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (1:18-25)
suggested Readings for the Week
Monday Titus 1:1-16; Tuesday Titus 2:1-10; Wednesday Titus 2:11-3:8a; Thursday Galatians 3:1-14; Friday
Galatians 3:15-22; Saturday
Galatians 3:23-4:7.

Sunday, December 12, 2010: Third Sunday of Advent
First Reading: Isaiah (35:1-10)
Psalm 146:4-9, page 803 BCP
Epistle: Jame's Letter (5:7-10)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord according to Matthew (11:2-11)
Suggested Readings for the Week
Monday Revelations 3:7-13; Tuesday Revelation 3:14-22; Wednesday Revelation 4:1-8; Thursday Revelation 4:9-5:5; Friday Revelation 5:6-14; Saturday Revelation 6:1-17.

Sunday, December 5, 2010: Second Sunday of Advent
First Reading: Isaiah (1:1-10)
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19, page 685 BCP
Epistle: Paul's Letter (Romans 15:4-13)
The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew (3:1-12)
Suggested Readings for the Week
Monday Revelation 1:1-8; Tuesday
Revelation 1:9-16; Wednesday
Revelation 1:17-2:7); Thursday
Revelation 2:8-17; Friday
Revelation 2:18-29; Saturday
Revelation 3:1-6.
SAINT MONICA'S NEWS










Hours for Services During the Christmas Season
1. Christmas Eve, December 24th 11:30 p.m.
2. Sunday, December 26th 9:30 a.m. (There will only be one service)
6. Thursday, January 6, 2011 Epiphany 6:30 p.m.

Annual Bus Ride
Saint Monica's Annual Bus Ride will be Monday December 20, 2010. We will visit a few Hartford schools to share Christmas cheer. Each member is asked to fill a christmas basket/box with food items worth about $60. We are planning to visit four schools and share our baskets with forty families.

The basket (laundry basket) should include:
1) A gift certificate for Stop n' Shop for meat.
2) Potatoes or rice or macaroni and cheese.
3) Vegetables (canned, fresh or frozen).
4) Fruit juice (100% juice only).
5) 2 dozen rolls.
6) Dessert.

The basket may also include foods that children eat during the vacation. For example:
Cereal, peanut butter, jelly, cocoa, soup, bread, crackers, fruit juice (100% juice only), fresh or canned fruits and vegetables.

Annual Reports
All Organizations of Saint Monica's Church must submit an annual report to the Church Office no later than January 15, 2011. You may contact the Church Office for the format of the report and what the report should include. Please feel free to contact either the Parish Clerk or the Church Office if you have questions.

Bishop Ian Douglas
Bishop Ian Douglas will visit Saint Monica's on Sunday, January 16, 2011 during the 10:30 a.m. service. He will meet with the vestry after the service.

Saint Monican Newsletter
The Saint Monican Newsletter welcomes your stories and reflections as it attempts to build a culture of sharing our faith and memories with one another. Please encourage your children to send their stories as well. See Joyce Asiedu for more information.

Gospel Choir
Saint Monica's Gospel Choir will hold its annual elections on Sunday January 16, 2011, immediately following the 10:30 a.m. service. The following are the officers of the Gospel Choir: 1) President; 2) Vice President; 3) Secretary; 4) Financial Secretary; and 5) Chaplain. All active members of the Choir are eligible to be nominated. The names of nominees should be sent to Terry Brown. There is a call for sopranos and altos. The Gospel Choir welcomes any member of Saint Monica's who is willing to share in the ministry of spreading the Gospel through song.

Usher Guild
The Usher Guild is currently seeking individuals who are willing to give their time in serving as ushers in 2011 for either the 8:00 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. service. Ushers serve three Sundays per month for four months. Anyone interested in this ministry is asked to see either Marie Brown-Harvey or Everton Stewart.

Thanksgiving Out Reach
A special thank you from Susan Davis and Pat Nelson to all the volunteers who helped to make the 2010 Thanksgiving Out Reach so successful: Food Pantry staff, Saturday Feeding staff, individuals who cooked the turkeys, those who delivered the meals to the sick/shut-in and the shelters, those who donated food and the Young People's Fellowship. You exemplify the meaning of teamwork that transcends generations.

Senior Luncheon
The Senior Luncheon was held on Saturday, December 11, 2010 in the Parish Hall. It began at noon and was a sit down affair. Members of Saint Monica's Church who are 65 years of age or older were invited. Contacts for the affair were Cynthia Timoll and Joyce Taylor.

Birthdays and Anniversaries in December
Happy Birthday to Marion Hanson and Stephanie Lightfoot 3rd; Cameron Jones 5th; Beresford Mapp 6th; Jason Hall and Jefferson McAlpine 7th; Brain Brito 8th; Conor Elliott, Michael Holder and Joseph Noel 9th; Gordon Holder 11th; Joyce Samuels and France Sharp 12th; Gabrille Irving 13th; Michelle Davis 15th; Ivy Anderson and Gwendolyn Bailey 16th; Ena Smith 17th; Winnie Anderson and Kathleen Shaw 19th; Pamela Brown, Julia Rankin and Shenna Petrolito 20th; Marcia Esson and Joyce Taylor 21st; Jane C
ollins and Erica Feurtado 22nd; Withworth Lewis and Cherell Russell 23rd; Christopher Toppin and Kurtis Webb 24th;
Leover Neals and Norest Walter 25th.
Happy Anniversary to Mr. & Mrs. Calvin Anderson 15th; Mr. & Mrs. Allan James 15th; Mr. & Mrs. Peter Marseles 21st.

Condolences
We extend our sincere Chris
tian sympathy to the Oliphant family as they mourn the death of Gladys Brown. May she rest in peace.


ITEMS OF INTEREST













Advent
The word Advent comes from the Latin Adventus, which means "Coming." It is the first season of the Church year. Advent begins four Sundays before Christmas and ends on Christmas day. The color of Advent is traditionally purple, marking the preparational aspects of the season. In Advent we prepare for our Lord's coming in three ways: at Christmas; for his coming into our hearts; and for his coming again at the end of time.

Advent Wreath
A wreath with four or five candles, used in most Episcopal churches and in some homes during the season of Advent. Four candles are placed in a circle, and a fifth may be placed in the center. One candle is lit on the first Sunday in Advent, two on the second Sunday, three on the third and four on the fourth Sunday in Advent. On Christmas day, the fifth candle is lighted.
Source: The Church of the Holy Cross, Sullivan's Island, Daniel Island and I'On Community near Charleston S.C.

Healthy Living
Heart Attack On a Platter
Over the past decade or two we've learned a lot more about the physiological events that take place after eating a meal packed with carbohydrates, fat, and salt. After a large meal (a Thanksgiving feast can easily exceed 4,0000 calories), cardiac output of blood is increased and diverted to the intestinal circulation to aid digestion, which can take as long as 6 hour, leaving other organs, including the heart and brain, relatively deprived. An increase in insulin, triggered by the carbohydrate content of the meal, can compound the situation by preventing normal relaxation of the coronary arteries. The high fat content of a typical holiday feast can precipitate a gallbladder attack in people who have gallstones. The high salt content might trigger acute heart failure in someone with a history of that condition.
Some Suggestions
1) Don't arrive famished. Have a snack an hour or two before.
2) Stay away from the finger food at the d'oeuvres table.
3) Eat the salad first.
4) Use a salad plate instead of a dinner plate.
5) Taste everything to your liking but take small portions, and resist seconds.
6) Eat slowly, and participate in conversation.
7) Skip the dessert, or at least go easy on it. Fruit is preferable.
8) Limit alcohol intake to one glass of wine, and drink at least one full glass of water.

Source: Marvin M. Lipman, MD "Heart Attack on a Platter." Consumer Reports On Health (November 2010): page 11.

Clergy
The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members
Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden), Terry Brown (Treasurer), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), Nora Brown, Arlette Hurdle, shannon Holder, Joyce Asiedu, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele, Clarence Tuning, Lloyd Wimbish, Herbert Bowen ( Hon)

Music
Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir
Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus
Canon Cyril Burke

Email
monicahartford@gmail.com
THE BOOK CORNER

Skipping Christmas
by John Grisham

We've all been fed up with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season at one time or another. This book shows that feeling this way isn't necessarily a bad feeling but it's not what the holidays are all about. The leading character is Luther Krank, a man totally mad that he is going through another boring, debt-filled Christmas. He thinks if he ignores the holiday completely and goes on a cruise that it will pass unnoticed. He learns through trials and tribulations that money and crowds and last minute shopping are not at all what Christmas is about. Rather, friendship and family make our lives worthwhile!! A treasure of a book that I'd highly recommend to all and I will probably find myself reading every year at this time!
Review by Jeffrey S Schmidt