Sunday, January 4, 2015


LITURGY OF THE WORD
                                                                                                                                                                 











Sunday, January 25, 2015: Third Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: Jonah (3:1-5, 10)
Psalm 62:6-14, Page 699, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (1 Corinthians 7:29-31)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Mark (1:14-20)
Sermon: The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell

Sunday, January 18, 2015: Second Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: Samuel (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)   
Sermon: the Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell

Sunday, January 11, 2015: First Sunday After Epiphany
First Lesson: Genesis: (1:1-5)
Psalm 29, Page 620, BCP
Second Lesson: Acts (19:1-7)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Mark (1:4-11) 
Sermon: The Rev. Tracy Johnson Russell    

Sunday, January 4, 2015: Second Sunday After Christmas
First Lesson: Jeremiah (31:7-14)
Psalm 84, Page 707, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Ephesians 1:3-6, 15-19a)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Matthew (2:13-15, 19-23)
Sermon: The Rev. Joseph L. Pace












Saturday, January 3, 2015

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
Black History Program and Lunch
The Young People Fellowship will host its annual Black History program and lunch on Sunday, February 1, 2015 following the 10:30 service. The cost is $15.00 per person. Please see members of YPF for tickets.
Congregational Meeting
On Sunday, January 4, 2015, the Vestry hosted a Congregational Meeting in preparation for the arrival of St. Monica's new Priest in Charge, the Rev. Tracey Johnson-Russell. The Rev. Johnson-Russell began Sunday, January 11, 2015. The Vestry shared a number of updates and asked the members to rededicate theirs hearts and minds to the mission/ministry of St. Monica's in the spirit of unity, boldness and love.

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.
St. Monica's Annual Christmas Bus Ride
We would like to express our sincere gratitude to all who contributed to St. Monica's Annual Christmas Bus Ride. Your contributions and participation went beyond measure. We we able to surpass our goal of 50 food baskets which we distributed among families in five Hartford schools. Special thanks to April Carter, Marie Harvey, Terri Thomas, Gerri Williams and Elaine Stewart.
Christmas Cheer Community Bus Ride Thanks
A special thank you for the gift card donation from the Christmas Bus Ride to the Food Pantry. Your gift is greatly appreciated. 

Birthdays And Anniversaries In January
Happy Birthday to: Christine Hurdle 5th; Cynthia Timoll 7th; Doreen Radway 9th; Jennie Dixon and Tyreik Noel 12th;Winston Anderson, Eloy Toppin and Allan James 20th; Geraldine Williams 21st; Nellie Jordan and Joann Silva 22nd; Lorraine Gomes 24th; Floyd Wyche 28th; Lauren Toppin 31st.
Happy Anniversary to: Lewis and Cynthia Timoll 6th; Verna Ferguson 16th; Claudia and Floyd Wyche 30th.
In Memory Of: George Cambridge and Emanuel Enid 5th; William Powell 6th;  Elise Coley and Basil Wollaston 8th; Carlton Hickson 9th; Gladys Thompson 10th; James King and ruth Colvin 11th; Benjamin  Banks 15th; Winston Linton, Elliot Glendon, and Emmett Greene 15th;Christiana Rose 17th; Donald Phillips and Leon Russell 18th; Solon Taylor 19th; Silas Hill 20th; Norman Leyhow 21st; Joseph Pannell 23rd; William Seymour 24; Lillian Brewster and William Seymour 24; Richard Bailey, Sr. and Ivan Brown 25th; Raymond Countryman 26th; Harold Taylor, Bessie Johnson, Lloyd Henry and Florence McWilie; Williams Smith 30th; Frank Davis, Jr.
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

Friday, January 2, 2015

ITEM OF INTEREST









 


A Bible Study Moment 
January 11, 2015 Bible Study Lesson Excerpt "Jesus' Prayer For His Disciples"
Scripture:John 17:1-26
Key Verses: My Prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me.  John  17:20-21.
In verse 20, Jesus makes it clear that this prayer extends beyond His present disciples gather with Him in the Upper Room. This prayer is also for His future disciples. 
In Verse 21, Jesus prays "...that all of them may be one, Father , just as you are in me and I am in you..." There is no division between the Father and the Son. They are united. Jesus has a vision for His future followers (us) to be a part of this unity. 
The Lesson Commentary states "...the church could be united if it recognized its essential oneness in Christ, if it recognized that division in the church was a sinful violation of Christ's intentions, and if it recognized the New Testament as the authoritative guide for all matters of Christian faith and practice."
"Those who love love Christ and His words are (or should be) deeply troubled by this disunity , especially when it resorts to name-calling or elitist dismissal of those with whom we disagree. May wen never be satisfied with a divided church, whether that be disunity within a congregation, or the divisions we see between congregations. May we long for and work toward a united church, unifies under the leadership of Jesus Christ in adherence to His Word."  
 


Thursday, January 1, 2015

THE BOOK CORNER



The Righteous Mind
by Jonathan Haidt

Jonathan Haidt clearly describes what is missing in current human dialogue around the globe.His message applies to all forms of dialogue, not just religion and politics. One key point is that for me to cause change I must appreciate the core values of those who oppose the change and find ways for the proposed change to accommodate their core values. The key point is that most of us spend too much time appealing logically to other people's conscious minds and far too little time appealing to their unconscious minds where emotions drive more than 95% of our decisions. For the sake our civil, democratic societies, every adult on planet Earth should rad this book and take its message to heart.
Review is by R.E. Sheffield