LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, November 25, 2012: Last Sunday After Pentecost
Fr. Davidson was away; the Rev. Judith Alexis was the celebrant.

First Lesson: 2 Samuel (23:1-7)
Psalm 132:1-13, Page 785, BCP
Second Lesson: Revelations (1:4b-8)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To John (18:33-37)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Luke 18:15-30; Tuesday Luke 18:31-43; Wednesday Luke 19:1-10; Thursday Luke 19:11-27; Friday 1 Corinthians 4:1-16; Saturday Luke 19:41-48. 

Sunday, November 18, 2012: Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost
First Lesson: 1 Samuel (1:4-20)
Psalm 16, Pages 599-600, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Hebrews 10:11-14, 19-25)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Mark (13:1-8)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Luke 16:19-31; Tuesday Luke 17:1-10; Wednesday Luke 17:17-19; Thursday John 6:26-35; Friday Luke 18:1-8; Saturday: Luke 18:9-14.

Sunday, November 11, 2012: Twenty Fourth Sunday After Pentecost
First Lesson: Ruth (3:1-5; 4:13-17) 
Psalm 127, Page 782, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Hebrews 9:24-28)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Mark (12:38-44)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Luke 14:12-24; Luke 14:25-35; Wednesday Luke 15:1-10; Thursday Luke 15:1-2, 11-32; Friday Luke 16:1-9; Saturday Luke 16:10-17.

Sunday, November 4, 2012: Twenty Third Sunday After Pentecost
First Lesson: Wisdom of Solomon (3:1-9)
Psalm 24, Page 613, BCP
Second Lesson: Revelations (21:1-6a)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to John (11:32-44)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday Luke 12:49-59; Tuesday Luke 13:1-9; Wednesday Luke 13:10-17; Thursday Luke 13:18-30; Friday Luke 13:31-35; Saturday Luke 14:1-11.

NEWS AND EVENTS

From The Desk Of The Rector

All Saints Day, the day on which Christians celebrate all the saints, known and unknown, is a surprisingly old feast. It arose out of the Christian tradition of celebrating the martyrdom of saints on the anniversary of their martyrdom. When martyrdoms increased during the persecutions of the late Roman Empire, local dioceses instituted a common feast day in order to ensure that all martyrs, known and unknown were properly honored. By the late fourth century, this common feast was celebrated in Antioch, and Saint Ephrem the Syrian mentioned it in a sermon in 373. In the early centuries, this feast was celebrated in the Easter season, and the Eastern Churches, both Catholic and Orthodox, still celebrate it then.

The current date of November 1 was instituted by Pope Gregory III (731-741), when he consecrated a chapel to all the martyrs in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and ordered it to be celebrated on November 1. The vigil or eve of the feast, October 31, is commonly known as All Hallows Eve, or Halloween.

Directions To St. Monica's

For driving directions to St. Monica's, 3575 Main Street, Hartford CLICK HERE

The Rev. Judith Alexis
The Rev. Judith Alexis is the priest in charge of the Haitian Episcopal community in Connecticut; she worships at St. John's Church in Stamford. The Rev. Alexis was ordained a deacon on July 274, 2006 in the diocese of South East Florida and a priest on April 13, 2007.

Upcoming Events Clergy Retreat: November 6-8 

Thanksgiving Pie Sale: 

Diversity Sundays:

1. Brazil November 11th

2. Barbados November 25th

Young People's Fellowship will hold its annual Thanksgiving pie sale. Orders will be taken up through Sunday, November 11, 2012.

Calendars for 2013

Religious calendars for 2013 are now available at a cost of $10 each. Please see Euna Farrell or Arlette Hurdle.

Food Pantry

Please continue to donate to the Ruth Small Food Pantry. Suggested items are canned or instant potatoes, canned meats (tuna, salmon, chicken(, canned sweet potatoes, soup, peanut butter,jelly and individual fruit cups. Thank you for your continued support.

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 schedule.

Activity Calendar

Weekly: 1) Mondays-Prayer meeting at 6:30 p.m. 2)Wednesday-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 Says (Monthly): 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 November

Happy Birthday to: Myrtle Senior and Darryl Burke 1st; Cyril Burke and Pat Nelson 3rd;   
Evelyn Green 4th; Carmen Brown 5th; Scott thornton 9th; Marcus Clark 11th; Rory Elliott and Lucy Fuentes 13th; Hylton Cooke-Hylton 15th; George Jordon 19th; Bates Lyons 20th; Carol Anderson 24th; Blondell Thornton 25th; Andre Branch 26th; Austin Tagbo 27th; Verona Francis 29th and Kenneth Lambert 29th.

In Memory for November

In Memory of: Gwendolyn Elison, Mary Jackson and Carlton Airey 1st; Ambrose Watkins 2nd; Gertrude Smith 6th; Michael Mitchell, Jr. 6th; Fitz T. Hickson 7th; Macheek Jennings 8th; Milton rice 9th; Dorothy Wiggins 11th; Frank Davis 12th; Solon Taylor and Frank Davis 12th; Adolphus Griffin and Rosalee Bracey 15th; Dorothy Cunningham 17th; Edith Duval 19th; Walter Mitchell 21st; Zulietta Burke, Elizabeth Taylor, Sydney Lopez and Elizabeth Davis 22nd; Robert Camby 24th; Mary Winfield 25th and London Duval 25th; Ivan Hoe Stewart and Pedro Hester 26th; Louis Camby 27th; John West and Gladys Brown 29th.

ITEMS OF INTEREST

I Wonder

This is an occasional column that answers interesting questions.

We in the Episcopal Church know what Pentecost means to Christians but what is the Jewish Pentecost?

Shavu'ot, the Festival Of Weeks, is the second of the three major festivals with both historical and agricultural significance (the other two are Passover and Sukkot). Agriculturally, it commemorates the time when the first fruits were harvested and brought to the Temple, and is known as Hag ha-Bikkurim (the Festival of the First Fruits). Historically, it celebrates the giving of the Torah at Mount Sinai, and is also know as Hag Matan Torateinu (The Festival of the Giving of Our Torah).

The period from Passover to Shavu'ot is a time of great anticipation. We count each of the days from the second day of Passover to the day before Shavu'ot, 49 days or 7 full weeks, hence the name of the festival. The counting reminds us of the important connection between Passover and Shavu'ot: Passover freed us physically from bondage, but the giving of the Torah on Shavu'ot redeemed us spiritually from our bondage to idolatry and immorality. Shavu'ot is also known as Pentecost, because it falls on the 50th day; however, Shavu'ot has no particular similarity to the Christian holiday of Pentecost, which occurs 50 days after their Spring holiday.

The source of this information will be found at the website Judaism 101. To go to the site CLICK HERE

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

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

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

THE BOOK CORNER

Why Is There A Menorah On The Altar? Jewish Roots Of Christian Worship
Be Meredith Gould

My general opinion about all things religious and especially denominational is, "Can't we all just get along?" Finally, a book that proves we can and should because historically our roots are the same.

The first half of the book delves into scripture capturing insights that will benefit the new believer and devoted alike. Clear instructions on how to read and interpret scripture lay the groundwork for a wealth of passages that will keep you thinking long after the final page. Woven throughout is God's presence in the lives of His People from long ago that continues on in the lives of those who believe.

The other half of the book zeros in on the sacraments of baptism, communion and confirmation. The reason I'm doing something is important and this book answered a ton of questions for me. I highlighted, took notes, and had a few "aha!"moments. Sitting in church just last night I found myself thinking, "So, that's why the do that!"

There are enough humorous and personal examples by the author to keep the reader entertained and interested in some heavy reading material. It's perfectly balanced. 

This is an important book. You will benefit from the quality research and deep insights no matter what church you call home.
Review by Brenda A. Keller