Sunday, January 1, 2012

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS












Sunday, January 29, 2012: Fourth Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: Deuteronomy (18:15-20)
Psalm 111, Page 754, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Corinthians 8:1-13)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Mark (1:21-28)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday John 6:27-40; Tuesday John 41:51; Wednesday John 6:52-59; Thursday John 8:31-36; Friday John 7:1-13;; Saturday John 7:14-36.

Sunday, January 22, 2012: Third Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: Jonah (3:1-5, 10)
Psalm 62:6-14, Page 669, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Corinthian 7:29-31)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Mark (1:14-20)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday John 4:43-54; Tuesday John 5:1-18; Wednesday Philippians 3:4b-11; Thursday John 5:30-47; Friday John 6:1-15; Saturday John 6:16-27.

Sunday, January 15, 2012: Second Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: 1 Samuel [3:1-10, (11-20)]
Psalm 139:1-5, 12-17, Page 794, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Corinthians 6:12-20)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (1:43-51)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday John 2:23-3:15; Tuesday John 3:16-21; Wednesday Acts 10:34-44; Thursday John 4:1-15; Friday John 4:16-26; Saturday John 4:27-42.

Sunday, January 8, 2012: First Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: Genesis (1:1-5)
Psalm 29, Page 620, BCP
Second Lesson: Acts of the Apostles (19:1-7)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Mark (1:4-11)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Genesis 2:4-9; Tuesday Genesis 3:1-24; Wednesday Genesis 4:1-16; Thursday Genesis 4:17-26; Friday Genesis 6:1-8; Saturday Genesis 6:9-22.

Sunday, January 1, 2012: New Years Day
Genesis (2:4b-9, 15-25)
Hymn #82 Of the Father's Love Begotten

Genesis (3:1-23)
Hymn #85 O Savior Of Our Fallen Race

Isaiah (7:10-15)
Hymn #115 What Child Is This

Luke (1:26-58)
Hymn #105 God Rest You Merry, Gentlemen

Luke (1:57-80)
Hymn #96 Angels We Have Heard On High

Luke (2:1-20)
Hymn #94 While Shepherds Watch Their Flock By Night

Luke (2:21-35)
Hymn #83 O Come All Ye Faithful

Hebrews (1:1-12)
Hymn #87 Hark! The Herald Angels sing

John (1:1-18)
Offertory Hymn #539 god Of Mercy, god Of Grace



NEWS AND EVENTS









The Rector's Desk
There is much that we can be thankful for as we begin this New Year. We burnt the mortgage after the New Year's Eve service which means that we do not owe anyone. We thank God for all of you who continue to support your Church financially and with your time and talents. Very soon we will receive our kneelers and pulpit which will add to the "Anglicanness" of our worship space. Of course we will have to do some rearranging to accommodate the pulpit.

We continue to ask for volunteers for Sunday School and our Choirs. We are suggesting that you offer to teach Sunday School for a few sundays of the church's year rather than every Sunday.

The life of our Church is strengthened with the involvement of all of us and the cooperation of all of us. We continue to have an open policy and we hope you will share with us information that will build up the body of Christ here at St. Monica's.

Our Annual Meeting is on Sunday, February 12, 2012 after the 9:30 a.m. service. We hope to present to you a workable balanced budget which will reflect our proactive understanding of what is happening around us and with us as a parish. If you have not pledged, we hope will and we pray that you will be able to honor those pledges.

Food Pantry
We always need non-perishable food to provide healthy meals for the families who come to our food Pantry. Please bring food or money to the altar every Sunday for the pantry.
Weekly suggestions: Sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce, canned green vegetables, evaporated milk, instant mashed potatoes, boxed dressing, canned and/or packaged gravies.

Rescheduling Meetings
Fr. Davidson needs our cooperation if we wish to reschedule a meeting on Monday or Wednesday between 5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Fr. Davidson schedules interviews and pastoral counseling either before or after Prayer Meetings on Monday. He may also schedule interviews and pastoral counseling on Wednesday. He schedules events when there is no Bible Study. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything scheduled.

Activity Calendar
Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Wednesdays-Bible Study at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Weekly): 1) Wednesdays and Fridays-Food Pantry opens 10:00 a.m. to noon.
2) Every other Thursday-Pro's and Con's Task Force at 6:30 p.m.

Special Days (Monthly): 1) First Thursday-Stewardship Committee at 6:30 p.m.; 2) Second Thursday-Vestry Meeting 6:30 p.m.; 3) Third Tuesday-Women of Valier; 4) Third and fourth Saturday opens at 12:00 noon to 1:00 p.m.; 5) First Saturday-Episcopal Church Women (ECW) at 12:00 noon

Birthdays and Anniversaries in January
Happy Birthday to: Jessica Hurdle 1st; Christine Hurdle 5th; Cynthia Timoll 7th; Doreen Radway 9th; Jennie Dixon, Tyreik Noel and Hubbard Warren 12th; Winston Anderson, Elroy toppin and James Allen 20th; Nellie Jordan and Joanne Silva 22nd; Lorraine Gomes 24th; Floyd Wyche and Mary Pinnock 28th; Janice Binion and Lauren Toppin 30th; Barbara Neals 31st.

Happy Anniversary to: Mr. and Mrs. Ferguson 16th; Mr. and Mrs. Floyd Wyche 30th.

In Memory For January
Edward Basden and Auvita McKenzie 1st; Iris Fuller and Delores Johnson 2nd; George Cambridge and Enid Emanuel 5th; Elise Coley and Basil Wollaston 8th; Carlton Hickson 9th; Gladys Thompson 10th; Ruth Colvin and James King 11th; Benjamin Banks 13th; Glendon Elliot and Emmett Green 15th; Christiana Rose 17th; Donald Phillips and Leon Russell 18th; Silas Hill 20th; Norman Leyhon 21st; Joseph Pannell 23rd; Lillian Brewster and William Seymour 24th; Richard Bailey 25th; Raymond Countryman 26th; Lloyd Henry, Bessie Johnson, Florence McWillie and Harold Taylor 27th; William Smith 30th; Frank Davis, Jr. 31st.




ITEMS OF INTEREST













Remembering the Birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King
On Sunday, January 15, 2012 we remembered the birthday of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We call to mind the great achievement that were made by him and the Civil Right Movement that affect our lives today. Here was someone who said "Yes to Jesus and allowed Him to do the rest." It was the principle of non-violence and his strong love of Jesus and the ways of Jesus that kept Dr. King focused on his ministry to "let justice roll down like waters and righteousness like an ever flowing stream."

Maureen Evans and Exercise
Do you want to exercise but think it is boring and you do not know how to start? Now is the time! Maureen Evans will work with a group of interested people in the parish hall on days and times that are convenient to all. A small fee of $5.00 per person will help cover the costs. Please contact Maureen for more information. Let us please God during 2012 by learning how respect our bodies, make healthier choices and have fun while doing it.

Watch Night Service
Many of you who live or grew up in Black communities in the United States have probably heard of "Watch Night Services," the gathering of the faithful in churches on New Year's Eve. But are you aware of its history? The service usually begins anywhere from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. and ends at midnight with the entrance of the New Year.

The Watch Night Services in Black communities that we celebrate today can be traced back to gatherings across the South on December 31, 1962, known at that time as, "Freedom Eve." On that night, Blacks came together in churches and private homes all across the nation, anxiously awaiting news that the Emancipation Proclamation had actually become law. At the stoke of midnight on December 31, 1962, the new year was ushered in.. and at 12:01 a.m. on January 1, 1863 all slaves in the Confederate states were declared legally free.

The above are excerpts of an email Terry Thomas forwarded to Fr. Davidson. Fr. Davidson forwarded the email to members of the congregation.

Clergy
The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members
Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden, Nora Brown, Terry Brown (Treasurer), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary),Evelyn Green, Shannon Holder, Bates Lyons, Joe Noel, Peter Marsele Terrie Thomas, 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

Life Is So Good
By George Dawson and Richard Glaubman

I originally bought 2 copies and am now ordering 9 more copies. There is so much wisdom in this book. It is a primer of life. It goes beyond "Tuesday With Morrie". George Dawson is so positive and upbeat. I agree with the the previous reviewer that this should be mandatory reading in schools, but I would lower the grades to junior high school and maybe even 5th and 6th graders. George gives us a black man's perspective of life in the South in the first half of the 1900's. He also gives us an excellent work ethic and model for living. White and Black children alike would benefit from the historical perspective. We all can benefit from his little philosophical statements here and there. I had lots of smiles while reading this, plus many tears. I remember the south (I'm white) when bathrooms, drinking fountains and restaurants were segregated. I was a child in California, to whom this was foreign. George brings these memories back, but in a
non-judgmental way. He experienced the introduction of cars and airplanes, as well as the tragedy at Columbine High School. Throughout, he has respect for others and a tolerance for differing perspectives. Buy this book. Read it, and then pass it on. Share it with your children. Discuss the contents. George Dawson has truly given us all a remarkable gift.
Review by Karen (Walnut Creek, California)