Weekly Newsletter November 29, 2023

St. Michael’s Weekly News – November 29, 2023

Dear People of St. Michaels,    

           Well, I’m finally on time with a message about today and this week!

          Tonight WILL BE our turn to host the first of four Ecumenical Advent Services that will be happening, starting in late November and then in December on Wednesday nights at 6:30 p.m. We will host tonight, November 29, with worship in our sanctuary focusing our attention on the spirit of Christ’s Advent over four weeks, preparing us for Christmas celebrations later in December.

          We will begin the service with the Advent Litany, a recent tradition of sorts for our parish. The service will continue with Scripture reading and sermon by Pastor Greg Escher from Grace Community Church. Also at this service on November 29th, members of the Mendocino Music Festival Chorale, which Jim Blanton, Robin and I are part of, will offer the anthem “Lo, How a Rose E’er Blooming” which will be part of our own concert on December 3rd in Mendocino in the afternoon. We will end this service with the singing of “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel” with organ and handbells.

          Six different churches plan and host these Advent Services, so I hope you can come to this very first one of the season, held at St. Michaels. We will also host (with Trinity Lutheran’s help), a time of fellowship in our own Larsen Hall after the short 50 minute service; so we will need some of your input there as well.

          Each of these Advent services this year is focused on the announcements of the angels to key persons in the events leading up to Christ’s birth. We will hear the reading tonight from Luke’s Gospel of the visitation to Zechariah announcing the birth of John the Baptist. John the Baptist has a key place in our readings in Advent every year and the words that Zechariah, his father, offers when John is finally born, when he can speak again, hold a prominent place in our service of Morning Prayer: Canticle 16 - the Song of Zechariah.

          It has been a joy to worship together with people from other churches in these services, held on Wednesdays in Advent and later, next year, in Lent. This is something that truly brings in the seasons of Advent and Christmas for us all and prepares our hearts and minds for the coming of Christ. 

In Christ,   

Pastor Randy Knutson

Thank you to all who responded to our Stewardship Campaign for 2024 and turned in pledges for next year. We blessed all the ones that came in last Sunday on November 26th. If anyone wants still to turn in a pledge, cards are available in the church, in the pews and on the Ministry Table in Larsen Hall.

They could be added to the offering plate any week.

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.

Sack Lunch Ministry Fundraiser

We have received a generous donation of crocheted goods from our beloved member, Stella Martin. All sales will go to fund the Sack Lunch Ministry program. They are all incredibly beautiful!

We will be selling these items after church and wherever we are able to display them:

12 Christmas trees (about 16” tall), with ornaments of different themes - $20 each

24 ear/head warmer bands - $12 each or 2 for $20

4 shawls - $25-$30 depending on the size

8 afghans - $45-$50 depending on the size

The items will next be displayed:

After the Ecumenical Advent Service at St. Michael’s (Nov. 29 @ 6:30)

You may contact Kathe Charters (707) 357-7759 (text or phone – if phone please leave message) if you would like a private showing. They will also be shown at Trinity Lutheran.

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

Roof campaign: St Michael’s received an additional $10,100 in contributions to our capital campaign. We are incredibly grateful. We have now received $64,311.

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

Online Worship Information

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/