Weekly Newsletter December 6, 2023

St. Michael’s Weekly News – December 6, 2023

Dear People of St. Michaels,    

           As we begin this shortened Advent Season in 2023, we might notice how we prepare our hearts and minds to receive Jesus on December 24th and 25th, and who helps us do that. One of the persons highlighted in our Gospel readings over the next two weeks is John the Baptist.

          When we focus on preparing for Christs coming in the past, we have to include John the Baptist, for that was his very reason for existence. According to the timeline in Luke’s Gospel, John was a cousin of Jesus and about six months older than Jesus. His birth was also miraculous, like Jesus’ and we heard about that at our first Ecumenical Advent Service last Wednesday at St. Michaels. Zechariah, an elderly priest was within the Temple when an angel came to tell him that he and his wife, Elizabeth, WOULD have a son, whom he would name John; not a traditional name within their family. He did not believe the angel and so, for the duration of the pregnancy he was mute, except when it came to the moment to name his newborn son. He agreed with his wife’s choice of names, ‘John’, and that was the moment he could speak and confirm this choice.

          John grew up to be a powerful speaker and, in our eyes, a bit of a wild man: living in the desert, eating dessert food and clearly identifying with the former prophet, Elijah. He called people out to his remote location and there he also called them to repent and turn their lives around; to live Godly lives. As a sign of that change, he baptized them in the river Jordan, as a sign of this repentance and washing away their sins. His ministry literally prepared the Jewish nation for the coming of another prophet, Jesus of Nazareth. We prepare our hearts by reading about John’s actions in words in this season of Advent, and in that way, also prepare ourselves for Christ’s coming. Without this time of preparation in Advent, we would probably skip over John’s message except for a time early in the year; in January; early in the season of Epiphany.

          After Jesus comes, as child, then as a young man, we wonder what was next. We have a big gap, not in scripture, from about 12 to 30 years, when we do not have a written history of what happened in Jesus’ life; but we do know this. He, like so many others, came to John, in the desert; heard John preach and stepped forward to be baptized! Yet even John knew this was unnecessary: Jesus was without blemish and did not need this. But he did it for us!

          Jesus followed in the way of John the Baptist because he wanted all of us, who would follow him, to also repent and be baptized, like he was. Following the model set up by John the Baptist became the way for us all to enter into the kingdom of heaven; to become children of God, like Jesus, and to claim our inheritance like Jesus. We also learn through scripture that some of the early disciples that follow Jesus, first went out to hear John and were baptized by him as well. John truly prepared for Jesus’s coming!

          So in this time of Advent, make way for the words, the life, the ministry of John the Baptist!

In Christ,   

Pastor Randy Knutson

This weekend, Robin and I are involved with a concert of the Mendocino Community Choir, this Friday, December 8th at 7 p.m and Saturday, December 9th at 2 pm. I will be singing and Robin is there accompanist. In addition, the six member woman’s singing group, In the Mix, that Robin sings in is also part of this concert. It is at the Mendocino Presbyterian Church and there is a free will offering.

Don’t forget the OTHER Ecumenical Advent Services in December; always at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays; today in Mendocino at St. Anthony’s Catholic Church. Join with other believers in hearing God’s Word and preparing for Christ’s coming!

As war wages on, please note the prayer offered by our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for the Middle East:

Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and forever. Amen.

Prayers for the World, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815.

Christmas Altar Poinsettia Orders are OPEN until December 14th:

Green order forms are on the table in Larsen Hall – You may wish to honor or memorialize loved ones with these beautiful Altar decorations at Christmas. Suggested amount is $15 per Poinsettia. Please return orders to the office or place in offering plate by Thursday, December 14th – thank you! You can also request poinsettias by calling the office at 707-964-1900 or emailing us at stmike@mcn.org

Message from your Treasurer.

As our year winds down, please check that you have contributed at least the amount that you pledged for 2023.  We count on your contributions to keep everything running smoothly and I know how easy it is to lose track.  If you have any questions about your pledge, feel free to call Heather Anderson, your Pledge Secretary @ 707 225 2596 or myself @ 707 357 1277.

Thanks, Sarah

December Birthdays: Christopher Duncan, Dave Turner, Sean Dabel, Heather Anderson, Bridget Dabel, Ken Theilen, Macie Liljeberg, Carol Romeri, Sheri Wollman, Richard Crawford, Jaret Navarro, Aaron Peterson, Jr., Toby Brazill, Martha Poe, The Rev. Tansy Chapman, Justin Hatfield

Online Worship Information

(The Advent Service tonight will also be on these links below at 6:30 pm)

This Sunday we will offer in-person worship and at the same time offer the online broadcast of our service at 10:45 am in the ways posted below:

Our Sunday Service will be on St. Michael’s Facebook Page:

https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg

https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg/videos

It will also stay there on the Facebook Pages and you can watch it later.

You can also watch it on this YouTube Channel later that day as well.

This is a NEW St. Michaels YouTube Channel and also on our website!

https://www.youtube.com/@st.michaelsepiscopalfortbragg

Website: When you can, check our new website: https://www.stmichaelfb.com/