December 2015 Village Episcopalian

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A Monthly Newsletter
December 2015
Lu Otto photo
Epis
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Holy Trinity Episcopal Church
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas 71909
lian
phone: 501-922-0299
e-mail: [email protected]
www.holytrinityhsv.org
The Advent Blues
Change is coming. As we enter the season of Advent, we will see a wonderful new set of hangings
for the church Altar: Advent blue. Why blue? I’ll get to that in a moment.
First, it is important to note that seasonal colors adopted by Anglicans were drawn from the western
Christian (Roman Catholic) use of color. Before the Reformation (1500’s) in England, a number and
variety of colors were used in worship spaces. Following the Reformation, churches abandoned
color schemes and opted for a more plain appearance (some might say, bland). For Episcopalians
and Anglicans on the whole, the use of seasonal colors was revived by the Oxford movement of the
19th century. At first they met real opposition, but today they have once again become mainstream.
Is there a “correct” color for Advent? No. The Book of Common Prayer has rubrics which offer instruction and direction for the services it contains, but says absolutely nothing about colors for the
seasons of the year.
So, why blue? In most places, purple has traditionally been used for both Advent and Lent. And traditionally, Advent has been seen as a “mini-Lent.” However, more recently, our perspective has
shifted to see Advent as a special season of anticipation, preparation, and hope. Besides purple,
blue is also a “royal” color, and offers the opportunity to distinguish the season and its themes from
Lent. The king is coming. As an aside, blue is also the color of Mary mother of Jesus, and this fits
well into acknowledging her importance and role. She is “theotokos” (I’ll let you look that one up).
Thus, blue works well both aesthetically and for the themes of the season.
In the end, like the tradition of the Advent wreath, there is variety and choice. Some Advent wreaths
have four candles, and some have five (the one in the middle is the Christ candle). Some use all
purple (or blue) candles, and some use three purple and one rose (pink) candle. In addition to the
change of season with new Altar hangings and vestments, we will be changing to the traditional language of the Holy Eucharist, Rite One. See you in Advent.
Peace,
Fr. Neil +
The Village Episcopalian
December, 2015
Page 2
OPPORTUNITIES
DECEMBER EVENTS
Dec 2
Dec 3
Dec 4
Dec 5
5:00
11:00
6:00
8:30
10:00
8:30
Care Group 5 @ Lois Potvin’s home
ECW Advent Luncheon @ Diamante
Inquirer’s Class
Holy Eucharist & Prayer Breakfast
DOK @ Schlichting home
CHURCHWIDE CLEAN-UP
4:30
9:00
10:00
7:30
11:00
3:00
6:00
4:30
6:00
Golf Scramble @ Ponce
- Dinner at Isabella
Circle of Care
Christian Formation
Chorale Concert @ Woodlands *
Holy Eucharist @ Good Sam
Vestry
Care Group 10 @ Schlichting home
Care Group 8 @ Markell home
Inquirer’s Class
Dec 6
Dec 8
Dec 9
Dec 10
Dec 12-13
Dec 14
1:00
Dec 16
Dec 17 8:30 am
6:00
Dec 18 8:30 am
Dec 19 8:30 am
Dec 23 11:00 am
Dec 24 4:00 pm
Dec 25 10:00 am
SHARING & CARING WEEKEND
VE Deadline
St. Francis Knitters
Christmas Basket Children’s Gifts Due
Holy Eucharist & Ultreya Breakfast
Inquirer’s Class
Prepare Christmas Baskets
Deliver Christmas Baskets
Holy Eucharist @ Good Sam
Christmas Eve Service
Christmas Day Service (no music)
OFFICE CLOSED
* While our choir is definitely improving at church, ‘you ain’t
heard nothin’ til you hear the sounds produced by our choir
director and trained musicians. The Village Chorale concert on
December 8th at the Woodlands will make your Christmas
Spirit and your pride soar. Tickets are available thru Ellen or
Greg Nagode, Bill Kuno, or Pat Hill.
LOOKING FOR A MINISTRY ?
If you are looking for a wonderful ministry to be a part of, consider joining the Altar Guild. Our Guild teams are in need of
individuals who would enjoy being a part of the group that prepares and tends the altar at which we worship.
Being a part of the Altar Guild is a very special and fruitful calling. It is also a wonderful way to become friends with others
who are sharing their talents in a ministry of love, undertaken in
the name of Christ.
For more information contact Juddie Wachtel
Christmas baskets: a Holy Trinity tradition
“Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat,
Please put a penny in the old man’s hat . . . “
Well, actually it will be a ham and it won’t
go in an old man’s hat, but in each Christmas
basket, along with all the trimmings, to help
make Christmas dinner special for our less fortunate friends in Jessieville, Fountain Lake and
Mountain Pine. Volunteers will make deliveries
on Sat., Dec. 19, starting at 8:30 am.
There are several ways you can help with this
ministry:
1) You can volunteer to be part of the
delivery team. It doesn’t take very
long to deliver to three families, and
it’s very rewarding. Delivery volunteers can pick up their baskets at the
church beginning at 8:30 to be delivered before noon. Call us at 9224800 or email to
[email protected].
2) You can help pay for the ham and
other goodies. Your generosity ensures
we can continue to provide a bountiful
dinner during this time of rising costs.
Write your check to Holy Trinity and
mark it “Holiday Baskets.”
3) You can purchase a gift for one (or
more) of the basket recipients’ children. A
signup sheet is on the bulletin board in
the hall by the kitchen with the first name
and age of the child, and in some cases,
gift suggestions and sizes. For older children gift certificates are suggested. The
gifts should be wrapped and clearly
marked with the child’s name and delivered to the church by Dec. 17 so we can
include them in the baskets.
Many thanks for the wonderful response to Holy
Trinity’s Thanksgiving basket ministry.
Yours in Christ,
Charles and Sue Hood
The Village Episcopalian
Page 3
December 2015
ECW
ECW ADVENT LUNCHEON
DIAMANTE COUNTRY CLUB
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 3rd 11:00 am ~ 2:00 pm
CASH BAR with HOLIDAY DRINK SPECIALS
SOCIAL TIME FOLLOWED by LUNCH @ 11:45
MENU:
Once again I extend my most sincere thanks for
the cards and flowers— phone calls—wonderful
culinary deliveries and mostly the prayers that
seem to be continually needed. There is no end to
my gratitude. However !! Next time I pull my
act, ignore me. You’ve done enough for a lifetime and I’m liable to start thinking all this attention is fun. I love you all—I love Holy T.
Pat Hill
$19.00 Parmesan Encrusted Chicken Breast
With Béchamel Sauce
$22.50 Bacon Wrapped Twin Port Medallions
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Green Beans with Roasted Red Peppers
Parslied New Potatoes
House Salad with Wine/Cheese and Tomato Vinaigrette
Dinner Roll
Coffee & Tea ~ Light Dessert
Prices are Inclusive of Tax & Gratuity
All Reservations Must Be Prepaid to the ECW
By Monday November 23rd
All Holy Trinity Women & Their
Spouse/Significant Other are Invited
A Special Invite is Extended to Our
Single Gentlemen
There is only one Nancy
Waldo and the Altar Guild
celebrated her long time
service during a recent
Sunday Social Hour.
Health problems have
forced Nancy to slow down
much to her dismay. So
many contributions over so
many years, she has more
than earned her rest.
Thank you, our friend. We
look forward to many more
years of enjoying your
company.
SPECIAL THANKS to those of you that contributed to
the Church Periodical Club (CPC) during the weekend of October 17th and 18th. So far this year,
$240.93 has been sent to the Arkansas Episcopal
CPC State Representative.
The miles of pennies blue bucket has been emptied.
$58.00 worth of pennies have been wrapped and a
check sent to the National Representative toward the
purchase of childrens’ church related books.
Thank you very much for all your pennies. You all are
very generous.
Nancy Holst, CPC chairperson
The Village Episcopalian
Page 4
December 2015
HAVE YOU MET THE FOOD BANK VOLUNTEERS ?
Every week these Holy Trinity people drive in to Hot
Springs where they head to the Food Bank warehouse
to unload pallets of food to be used to feed the hungry .Those pallets are heavy but the volunteers’ hearts
are light when they’ve completed their task.
.
The Monday group (left) consists of Don Lancaster; Clif
Haygood; Charles Hood; Wayne Dyer. Nancy and Dick
Jorgensen.
On Thursdays the men in the group pictured below take
their turn. (L to R ) Jerry Hill, Jim Cunniff, Jerry
Sheuerman, Tom Wachtel, Charles Hood, Bruce Limozaine, Dave Kinser and Dan Tucker.
Fides + Spes + Amor
FROM YOUR SENIOR WARDEN:
Dear Holy Trinity Family,
Thank you for supporting your Vestry in 2015
and for your hard work on HTEC committees.
We had many successes and more are coming !
Merry Christmas !
Ron
SPEAKING OF VOLUNTEERS (we are, aren’t we?)
Check the Sunday Social Hour sign up sheet. You’ll
see the names of our giving angels over and over
again. We are so blessed to have them and they
would feel equally blessed to have you join them..
December 2015
The Village Episcopalian
PAGE 5
THE TIMES & HOLY TRINITY
HAPPY TIMES SAD TIMES SOLEMN AND PENSIVE TIMES PRAYERFUL TIMES PARTY TIMES GRATEFUL TIMES BUSY TIMES
YES!
REALLY!
SANTA
FELL INTO
THE
DUMPSTER !
HE WASN’T
HURT !
SHAUN AND
KARAN
SAVED HIM !
ECW RUMMAGE SALE SUCCESS!!!
In spite of the rainy weather, the sale held on Oct. 23rd & 24th definitely exceeded the goal
of the ECW organizer, Juddie Wachtel. Between the general sale, the bake shop, & the boutique, almost $4,000. was raised.
Many members of Holy Trinity put in hours of work organizing, setting up, pricing, & assisting
customers with their purchases. (Many of us also shopped before, during, & after the event!)
The monies raised by the Rummage Sale will go towards the Kitchen Renovation Fund & has
made sure the second of phase of the project will be completed. The third phase will be partially funded by the upcoming ECW Silent Auction to be held in March.
Karan Schlichting
Care group 10 is proof positive
that laughter is the best medicine! As they gathered at the
home of Betty and Clif Haygood
just prior to Halloween, they admired costumes, feasted, filled
the room with chatter and news
of other members of the group,
prayed for those in need and
made arrangements to help
those in the care group with illnesses. Yes, care groups are a
very special part of Holy Trinity.
Pictured L to R :
Shaun Limozaine, Karan
Schlichting, Betty Haygood
(hostess) , Carol Dyer, LaVonne
Speak, and Linda Shay.
PAGE 6
The Village Episcopalian
December, 2015
NOW HERE’S AN
OPPORTUNITY YOU
NEED TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF !
DINNERS FOR 8 !! OR HOW TO REALLY BECOME FRIENDS WITH YOUR CHURCH FAMILY :
If you would enjoy participating in a dinner
group with communicants from our Holy Trinity
Church family, please consider joining the
“Dinners for 6 or 8 “ in the upcoming New Year.
The Hostess contacts the group of four or six
people assigned to them and usually gives a
choice of dates preferred from which one date
will be chosen. The first schedule will include
the months of Jan., Feb., or March. The Host
provides the beverages plus the entrée while
the participants select accompanying dishes
such as appetizers, salad, vegetable or dessert
that they will bring.
If your dining space is more comfortable with a
total of six rather than eight, please let me
know. We welcome and encourage singles to
participate. Your partner for the evening does
not have to be a church member.
THE JOURNEY
On a calm Christmas eve old Santa Claus set out
To deliver love and happiness to the children about.
As he journeyed the world, from pillar to post
He took stock of his blessings - things he treasured the most.
Mrs. Santa, so dear, and devoted to his mission The elves in his workshop who toil with precision.
His beautiful team of contented reindeer Pulling his weighted sleigh, year after year.
With a prayer of thanksgiving, Santa looked up and saw
An illumination that caused his attention to draw
To a star shining brightly, penetrating the night,
As he traveled across the sky, enjoying his flight.
Now his mind went back thru the tunnel of time
And the stirrings he felt were beyond the sublime.
He turned his team of reindeer, to the East they went,
Flying over Bethlehem as if heaven sent.
Perhaps some members would like to do a
brunch or luncheon rather than a dinner if that
works for the group assigned.
He saw kings and wise-men, arriving with presents
And camels and lambs following shepherds and peasants.
All coming together surrounding a stable,
Protecting two strangers as much as they were able.
The hostess should inform me of the selected
date. There are only four events scheduled during a calendar year which gives the hostess
three months to arrange a date. The church office sends e-mails to all participants at the beginning of each session and those without computers will also have print outs available in the
narthex. Don’t miss out on this fun time to socialize with your church friends and make some
new friends.
Soon, thru the darkness , came a new baby’s cry
All the way to Santa, aloft in the sky.
Below in a manger, asleep in the stall:
Our Lord, Baby Jesus -- the greatest blessing of all.
If you are not a regular member and wish to be
added to this event, please contact me before
the last week of Dec.
Thanks.
Jo Ann Thompson
915-0304
[email protected]
“On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and Vixen,
On Comet and Cupid and Donner and Blitzen,
Let’s continue on with our job of the season And always remember: HIS birth is the reason ! “
The Village Episcopalian
December, 2015
Page 7
A December “Happy Birthday” to :
Jane Henderson (12/1)
Chuck Miller (12/1)
Catherine Landers (12/3)
Mary Grady (12/5)
Lynn Petti (12/5)
Bonny Smith (12/8)
Dave Kinser (12/8)
Rebecca Mason (12/16)
Bill Thompson (12/17)
Spencer Nagode (12/17)
Sally Johnson (12/19)
Don Scott (12/20)
Hilde Cutter (12/21)
Kathy Watts (12/22)
Marilyn Markell (12/23)
Betsy Videan (12/24)
George Hollingsworth (12/24)
JoAnn Thompson (12/25)
Jo-Ann Mikell (12/27)
Diane Radcliff (12/27)
Irene Keith (12/28)
Linda Piette (12/29)
And Happy Anniversary :
Wayne & Carol Dyer (12/4)
Beach & Carroll McLean Baker (12/7)
Roger & Pat Case (12/15)
Roger & Sharon Kunz (12/16)
Bob & Catherine Landers (12/17)
Craig & Carol Henderson (12/18)
John & Susan Schmidt (12/20)
Denny & Nancy Holst (12/26)
Rick & Marilyn Markell (12/28)
Phil & Fiona Visser (12/31)
Please send info. to be included in the newsletter by
mid - month to : [email protected]
Choir rehearsals are underway !
Meet us in the choir room each
Thursday at 3:00 p.m. It’s fun !
God Bless Us Everyone