LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS 

 











Sunday, December 28, 2014: First Sunday After Christmas: Christmas 
Festival Of Lessons And Music
The celebrant was The Rev. Judith Alexis
Reading: Genesis 2:4b-9, 15-25
Reading: Genesis 3:1-23
Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
Reading: Luke: 1:26-58
Reading: Luke: 1:59-80
Reading: Luke 2:1-20 
Reading: Luke 2:21-35 
Reading: Hebrews: 1:1-12
Reading: John 1:1-18 
Sunday, December 21, 2014: Fourth Sunday After Advent
The celebrant was Rt. Rev. Clarence Coleridge
First Lesson: Samuel (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16)
Psalm 89:1-4, 19-26, Page 713, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Romans 16:25-27)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (1:26-38)   
Sunday, December 14, 2014: Third Sunday After Advent
The celebrant was The Rev. Canon Annika Warren
First Lesson: Isaiah: (61:1-4, 8-11)
Psalm 126, Page 782, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Thessalonians 5:16-24)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To John (1:6-8, 19-28)    
Sunday, December 7, 2014: Second Sunday After Advent
The celebrant was The Rev. Joseph Leslie Pace
First Lesson: Isaiah (40:1-11)
Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13 Page 708-709, BCP
Second Lesson: Peter's Epistle (2 Peter 3:8-15a)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to Mark (1:1-8)

NEWS AND EVENTS

St. Monica's Website

To visit St. Monica's website CLICK HERE.

Directions To St. Monica's

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

The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell: Priest -In-Charge
The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell has been appointed Priest-In-Charge at St. Monica's, effective January 11, 2015. We extend to her our heartfelt welcome and we wish her the very best.
Birthdays And Anniversaries In December

Happy Birthday to: Jason Hall and Jefferson McAlpine 7th; Brian Brito 8th; Connor Elliott, Juliette Mikell, Joseph Noel and Jevon Wilson 9th;  Gordon Holder 11th; Frances Sharp 12th; Gabrielle Irving 13th; Michelle Davis 15th;Ivy Anderson and Gwen Bailey 16th; Ena Smith 17th; Winnie Anderson 19th; Pamela Brown and Julia Rankins 20th; Marcia Esson and Joyce Taylor 21st; Jane Collins and Ericka Feurtado 22nd; Whitworth Lewis and Cherell Russell 23rd; Christopher Toppin and Kurtis Webb 24th; Leover Neals and Norest Walters 25th; Maureen Evens, Asante Asiedu and Verna Ferguson 26th; Courtney Samuda 28th; Nora Brown 31st.

Happy Anniversary to: Calvin and Maureen Anderson and Allan and Olive James 15th; Peter and Gloria Marsele 21st.
In Memory Of: Arlene Simmon, Scott Smith and Maxine Freemen 7th; Marion Hairston and Morris Holder 8th; William Wood 9th; Michael Reid and Noel Cornwall 10th; George Sargeant 12th; Oliver Stoney and Selvyn Clayton 13th; Leonard Nelson 16th; Deborah Wells and Ernest Anderson 17th; Gwendolyn  Brown 18th; Frederick Brescoe 21st; Gwen Stewart 22nd; George White 24th; Leonard Anderson 25th; Roger Douglas, Sr., Kathleen King and Daniel Wilson 27th; David Lane 29th.

Ebola Outbreak

This is the biggest and most complex Ebola outbreak in history. To assist Liberians in their fight against the Ebola virus, please deliver your donations to St. Monica's Episcopal Church, 3575 Main Street, Hartford, Connecticut. CDC and WHO approved Preventive Products needed include: soap, alcohol-based hand rubs containing at least 60 percent alcohol, health care worker protective clothing such as gloves, masks, gown and eye shields.

Christmas Cheer Community Bus Ride

The 2014 Christmas Cheer Bus ride delivering food baskets to Hartford schools for local families will be held Monday, December 22, 2014 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Baskets must be dropped off at the church by Sunday, December 21st.

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Winston Barnaby, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), April Carter, Evelyn Green, David Hickmon, A. Bates Lyons, Joseph Noel, Evelyn Stewart, Terrie Thomas.

Music

Rochelle Holder - Youth Choir

Nathaniel Baker - Music Director/Organist

Rector Emeritus

Canon Cyril Burke

Email

monicahartford@gmail.com

ITEM OF INTEREST

LEM Corner by Jeremy Ifill
The Advent wreath is a circular garland of evergreen branches representing eternity. On that wreath, five candles are typically arranged. During the season of Advent on candle on the wreath is lit each Sunday as part of the Advent services. Each candle represents an aspect of the spiritual preparation for the coming of the Lord, Jesus Christ. 

Set on the branches of the wreath, are four candles: three purple candles and one pink candle. In the center of the wreath sits a white candle. As a whole, these candles represent 
the coming of the light of Christ into the world. 

The First Sunday of Advent a purple candle is lit. This candle is typically called the "Prophecy Candle" in remembrance of the prophets, primarily Isaiah, who foretold the birth of Christ. This candle represents hope or expectation  in anticipation of the coming of the Messiah.

The Second Sunday of Advent a purple candle is lit. This candle typically represents the Love (the Love of God for us, mankind). Some traditions call this the 'Bethlehem Candle', symbolizing Christ's manger.

The Third Sunday of Advent a pink/rose candle is lit. This candle is customarily called the "Shepherds Candle" and it represents joy (Joy to the world, the Lord is coming). 

The Fourth Sunday of Advent last purple candle is lit. This candle represents Peace (Peace on the Earth). 

On Christmas Eve or Christmas Day the white candle is lit. This candle is the Christ candle and it reminds Christians that Jesus is the light of the world.

THE BOOK CORNER

A Tree Grows In Brooklyn
by Betty Smith

Francie Nolan is a character who will long be remembered by anyone who reads "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn." Bright but lonely, poor but resourceful, Francie Nolan is captured from ages 11 to 16 with poignancy and love. Francie is her daddy's "prima donna" and she treasures his love while fighting to win her mother's. Although she never achieves the place in her mother's heart that her brother holds, her strength and sheer perseverance guide her through difficult times. Like the sturdy tree that grows outside her window and survives all catastrophes, Francie Nolan survives poverty, lack of formal education, sexual assault, extreme loneliness, and lost love.

The reader first meets Francie at age 11 when, as an inquisitive young girl, her favorite time of the day is on Saturday when she can go to the library then rush home with her treasure and read the afternoon away on the fire escape of her Brooklyn tenement. As a young girl, she feels "rich" when she receives bits of chalk and stubby pencils her mother and father bring home from their janitorial job at a local school. She finds simple pleasures in her life, like being allowed to sleep in he front room on Saturday night and watch the busy street below. You will ache to go back in time and be Francie's best friend as she battles loneliness and rejection by her peers but learns to live a solitary life. But, like the tree, she is ready to burst into bloom and when she does it is beautiful to read about.

This book is a wonderful description of life in turn-of-century Brooklyn and a strong statement on the hope offered to immigrants who come to the United States. The story emphasizes quite clearly the value of reading and a good education, but most importantly the strength of family and the dreams that sustain people. As Francie learns "There had to be dark and muddy waters so that the sun could have something to background its flashing glory." Young teens and mature women alike will relish Francie's story and hold its message in their hearts forever.
Review by Antoinette Kline