LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, December 29, 2013: First Sunday After Christmas
SERVICES CANCELLED BECAUSE LACK OF HEAT. 
FOLLOWING WAS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY:
First Lesson: Isaiah (61:10-62:3)
Psalm 147, Page 804, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Galatians 3:23-25 and 4:4-7)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To John(1:1-18)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday: Col. 1:9-20; Tuesday John 1-13; Wednesday: 3 John 1-15; Thursday James 4:13-17; 5:7-11; Friday: Rev. 21:1-6; Saturday: Rev. 19:11-16. 
Sunday, December 22, 2013: Fourth Sunday Of Advent
First Lesson: Isaiah (7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18, Page 702-3, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (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 Gal. 3:1-14; Friday: Gal 3:15-22; Saturday: Gal 3:23-4:7.

Sunday, December 15, 2013: Third Sunday Of Advent
SERVICES CANCELLED BECAUSE OF SNOW. FOLLOWING 
WAS SCHEDULED FOR TODAY:
First Lesson: Isaiah (35:1-10)
Psalm 146:4-9, Page 685, BCP
Second Lesson: James (5:7-10)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Matthew (11:2-11)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday: Rev. 3:7-13; Tuesday: Rev. 3:14-22; Wednesday Rev. 4:1-8; Thursday Rev. 4:9-5:5; Friday Rev. 5:6-14; Saturday: Rev. 6:-17. 
Sunday, December 8, 2013: Second  Sunday Of Advent

First Lesson: Isaiah (11:1-10) 

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19,  Page 685, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Romans 15:4-13)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Matthew (3:1-12)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday: Rev. 1:1-8 ; Tuesday: Rev. 1:9-16; Wednesday: Rev. 1:17-2:7; Thursday: Rev. 2:8-77; Friday: Rev. 2:18-29; Saturday: Rev.  3:1-6.

Sunday, December 1, 2013: First Sunday Of Advent 

First Lesson: Isaiah (2:1-5)

Psalm 122, Page 779, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Romans 13:11-20)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Matthew (24:36-44)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday: 2 Peter 1:1-11; Tuesday 2 Peter 1:12-21; Wednesday 2 Peter 3:1-10; Thursday 2 Peter 3:11-18; Friday Jude 1-16; Saturday Jude 17-25.

NEWS AND EVENTS

From The Desk Of The Rector

"The family that prays together stays together." During Advent we will begin to have weekly prayers that are said by families in our church. Each week both at 8:00 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. service we will invite a family to take home an envelope, which will include all the names of our families. the expectation is that we will pray every day for each other. the envelope must be returned to church the following Sunday and another family will volunteer to take it and do likewise. We hope you will want to be part of our praying for each other.

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

Food Pantry

Everyone please bring a nonperishable food item to continue our weekly support helping those in need.

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.

Birthday In December

Happy Birthday to: Marion Hanson and Stephanie Lightfoot 3rd; Cameron Jones 5th; Jason Hall and Jefferson McAlpine 7th; Brian Britto 8th; Conor Elliott, Juliette Mikell, Joseph Noel and Jevon Wilson 9th; Gordon Holder 11th; Frances Sharp 12th; Gabrille Irving 13th; Michelle Davis 15th; Ivy Anderson and Gwendolyn Bailey 16th; Ena Smith 17th; Winnie Anderson 19th; Pamela Brown and Julia Rakins 20th; Marcia Esson and Joyce Taylor 21st; Jane Collins and Erica Feurtado 23rd; Withworth Lewis and Cherell Russell 24th; Christopher Toppin and Kurtis Webb 25th; Leover Neals and Norest Walter 26th; Maureen Evan, Asante Asiedu and Verma Ferguson 28th; Courtney Samuda 29th; Nora Brown 31st.

Anniversaries In December
Happy Anniversary to: Calvin and Maureen Anderson 15th (their 51st anniversary); Allan and Olive James 15th; Peter and Gloria Marseles 21st.
In Memory For December

In Memory of: Victoria Hicks 3rd; Brian Trapp 5th; Arlene Simmon, Scott Smith, and Maxine Freeman 7th; Marion Hairston and Morris Holder 8th; William Wood 9th; Noel Cornwall and Michael Reid 10th; George Sergeant 12th; Oliver Stoney and Selvyn Clayton 13th; Leonard Nelson 16th; Deborah Wells and Ernest Anderson 17th; Gwendolyn Brown 18th; Frederick Brescoe 21st; Gwende Stewart 22nd;  George White 24th; Leonard Anderson 25th; Roger Douglas, Sr., Kathleen King and Daniel Wilson 27th.

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. As a courtesy, please call Fr. Davidson to verify if he has anything schedule.

Clergy

The Rev. Charles Davidson

Vestry Members

Carol Anderson, Cyrus Aimey (Junior Warden), Veronica Airey-Wilson, Joyce Asiedu, Winston Barnaby, Walter Benjamin (Senior Warden), Marie Brown-Harvey (Secretary), Patricia David, 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

ITEMS  OF  INTEREST

Advent

Just as there is no starting point on a wheel, so there is no single, logical place for the year to begin.  For Christians, however. the year begins with the season of Advent, the four weeks in which we prepare for Christmas. Since Christmas celebrates Christ's birth, the preparation for that day does form a logical starting point. Beginnings bring endings to mind as well, and as we prepare to celebrate Christ's first coming, it is natural to think also of his promised last coming at the end of time. Advent, as a result, has a variety of themes. To prepare for any celebration involves a good deal of work. This may be hard work, but we enjoy it because of the celebration we anticipate. Advent is also a penitential season, a time to remember our sins and seek forgiveness.

The most familiar custom of the season is probably the Advent wreath, four candles in a setting of greens. Candles in the Advent wreath may be either blue or purple- or even white or whatever is available. 

Two different traditions are followed in the Episcopal Church concerning the seasonal color of Advent. Some churches adhere to the medieval Roman custom of purple vestments and altar hangings. Purple was a royal color in ancient times, and the use of purple in Advent may be thought of as preparing the throne room for the coming of our king, but is has often been called a penitential color because of its dark and somber tone. Alternatively, many churches follow the ancient English custom of using blue in Advent. Blue symbolizes heaven and is also associated with the Virgin Mary, so Advent may be seen as Mary's season and the season when heaven comes to earth. 

THE BOOK CORNER

The Handmaid and the Carpenter
by Elizabeth Berg

As a child, the Nativity scene always held a fascination with me. I thought that Ms. Berg has taken a story that is dear to many of us, and has given her readers a wonderful insight on the lives of Mary and Joseph. It is beautifully written; with much details given such as the food and clothing of that time period. I love the story of Jesus' birth, But I have always wondered about Mary and Joseph, the people. I really enjoyed Ms Berg's perspective on their lives, and I would recommend this book to readers who would like a human perspective on Mary and Joseph.
                                       Reviewed by N. Bartol

LITURGY OF THE WORD AND WEEKLY READINGS

Sunday, November 24, 2013: Last Sunday After Pentrcost: Christ The King
First Lesson: Jeremiah (23:1-6)
Canticle 16, Page 92, BCP
Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (Colossians 1:11-20)
The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (23:33-43)
Suggested Readings For The Week
Monday:1 Peter 1:1-12; Tuesday 1 Peter 1:13-25; Wednesday 1 Peter 2:1-10; Thursday 1 Peter 2:11-25; Friday 1 Peter 3:13-4:6; Saturday 1 Peter 4:7-19.
Sunday, November 17, 2013: Twenty Sixth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: Isaiah (65:17-25) 

Canticle 9, Page 86, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (2 Thessalonians 3:6-13)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (21:5-19)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday: Revelation 20:7-15 ; Tuesday: Revelation 21:1-8; Wednesday: Revelation 21:9-21; Thursday: Revelation 21:22-22:5; Friday: Revelation 22:6-13 ; Saturday: Revelation  22:14-21.

Sunday, November 10, 2013: Twenty Fifth Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: Haggai (1:15b, 2:9)

Psalm 145:1-5, 18-22, Page 801, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle (2 Thessalonians 2:1-5, 13-17)

The Holy Gospel of Our Lord Jesus Christ According to Luke (20:27-38)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday: Revelation 18:1-8; Tuesday: Revelation 18:9-20 ; Wednesday: Revelation 18:21-24; Thursday: Revelation 19:19:1-10; Friday: Revelation 19:11-16; Saturday Revelation 20:1-6.

Sunday, November 3, 2013: Twenty Fourth  Sunday After Pentecost

First Lesson: Habakkuk (1:1-4; 2:1-4)

Psalm 119:137-144, Page 774, BCP

Second Lesson: Paul's Epistle: (2 Thessalonians 1:1-4, 11-12)

The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord Jesus Christ According To Luke (19:1-10)

Suggested Readings For The Week

Monday: Revelation 10:1-11;  ; Tuesday: Revelation 11:1-19; Wednesday: Revelation  12:1-12; Thursday: Revelation 14:1-13; Friday: Revelation 15:1-8; Saturday: Revelation 17:1-14.