The beacon is a monthly publication of church-related topics and news. If you have newsworthy or spiritual material you wish to contribute please contact the editor, The Beacon, December 2011
Father Jesse's Message
ADVENT REFLECTIONS
It’s hard to believe that we’re already to the season of Advent. I love Advent, that season of anxiously awaiting the coming of the Savior. It’s my favorite church season actually.
I love everything Advent: the sense of expectation that permeates the season, the classics like O Come, O Come, Emmanuel and Lo, He Comes with Clouds Descending, and the lighting of advent candles. I like the sense of excitement that builds in the church as we get closer and closer to Christmas Eve.
Of course, the liturgy becomes a little lower key during Advent. We use dark colored vestments. The service music is a little less grand, and we’ll be singing Lord Have Mercy at the beginning of the liturgy rather than the Glory to God. All those liturgical aspects are meant to help us stop and reflect on how we can prepare the way of the Lord.
During this Advent season and at Christmas, I will be giving thanks for the gift of God’s presence here. I am grateful that God has called us together and that the Savior is present among us. Already I think Christian joy abounds whenever we gather, and I’m excited about the gifts God has given the parish and about the things God has in store for us.
As we look towards Christmas and the New Year ahead, I hope you will join me in reflecting on God’s presence among us and on the ways that we can invite others to join us being in the Lord’s presence. The good things going on here at St. Stephen’s are simply too amazing not to share with others.
May God’s blessing be with you and your families at this time.
Fr. Jesse+
Installation of St Stephen’s Episcopal Church’s New Priest, Reverend Jesse Abell
On Sunday, November 6th, 2011, St. Stephen's Episcopal Church of 3 John Street, Westborough installed their new priest, The Reverend Jesse Abell in a special service entitled “The Renewal of Ministry with the Welcoming of a New Rector”.
As part of this special service a Letter of Institution from the Bishop was read affirming the Bishop’s approval of the installation. Various members of the congregation presented Fr. Jesse with the Symbols of Ministry - a bible, a prayer book, a stole, anointing oil for healing, and the bread and wine. The baptismal vows of all the participants of the service were renewed as part of the service.
The Celebrant of the service was Archdeacon Bill Coyne, representing Bishop Scruton who was unable to attend due to a death in his family. The sermon was given by The Reverend Steven Giovangelo, a mentor and close friend of Fr. Jesse from the Diocese of Indianapolis, where Fr. Jesse previously served. The Reverend Dr. W. Bergmann of Good Shepherd, Clinton, was the Master of Ceremonies. The Reverend Deacon Robert Williams, Vicar of St. John’s, Millville, a former parishioner and currently sponsored by St. Stephen’s, helped in the service.
Father Jesse was chosen by St. Stephen’s to be their permanent priest following a year long search after their previous priest, The Reverend Bill Martin, retired.From the Editor's Desk
Well, here it is, Advent again, the beginning of a new church year. The Christmas craziness has begun. Christmas stuff in the stores; Christmas music on the radio; the myriad of Christmas specials on TV. And it started before Thanksgiving. Good grief! (sorry Charlie Brown)
At the Philcox household we held on to Thanksgiving right up to and a little past the day.
I guess you could say that Thanksgiving started for Sharyn and me even before Thanksgiving. We took a trip to Camden, ME, to visit my sister Audrey who is an MS patient in a nursing home in that town. Sharyn and I really like Camden. We’ve spent some good times there including a windjammer cruise from there several years ago.
It had been almost a year since we had seen my sister, but we had a good visit. Audrey was still on an emotional high from a recent visit with her two daughters and three grandsons. They had spent some time playing games and a lot of laughter. It was wonderful to see my sister in such good spirits.
And the three of us also had a nice visit. We spent much of Saturday morning with Audrey and then had lunch in the nursing home. Sharyn and I left for a while so that Audrey could have a rest. We went back later that afternoon and visited for a while longer.
I’m always amazed at my sister who manages to maintain a zest for living even under adverse conditions. She is confined to a wheel chair and has limited use of her body, although she does have limited use of her right hand. She gets around in an electric wheel chair and has become quite adept at maneuvering around the home. And she revealed that she is writing a book which is about half done.
On Thanksgiving Day, Sharyn and I spent the day with Sharyn’s sister Susan and her husband. It was a quiet day, just the four of us. Susan’s family was not with us this day, and while we missed the bustle of other adults and grandchildren, it was comforting to be just the four of us. I think we all discovered that we had a great deal to be thankful for.
And now we are in Advent. Amidst all the frenetic activity of sales, TV specials and so on, the season is really about anticipating the birth of our lord Jesus Christ. While much of the world looks at January 1 as the beginning of a new calendar year, we Christians get to celebrate a new year now and with the most glorious event of all.
Many years ago, I learned a song called “Happy Birthday, Baby Jesus.” It’s a happy, joyous song full of happy, joyful lyrics. I ran across the song recently while looking for music to perform at various occasions this year. Just looking at the words brought a smile to my face. I can almost remember how the song goes, but the memory suffices for now.
I hope Advent this year will be a time of joy and peace. Do take the time to rejoice in what this season really means.
Merry Christmas!
frpPrayerful Notes
I have always been a "morning person." It is my favorite time of the day. An early riser, by 5:30 I am usually comfortably settled in my "prayer chair," savoring the warmth of my first cup of coffee. I love to sit in the darkness, with just the soft glow of my vigil candle, as I wait for the Lord to turn up the "dimmer switch" and the light of a new day. For me, it is a holy time in a sacred space. I love the quiet and just sitting with the Lord, before the rest of the world wakes up. This is how my morning devotional time begins.
With the recent time change, the sun rises earlier now. While others were so pleased with the brightness of the morning, I felt just the opposite. That first Sunday morning, as the sunlight began streaming in, for me, it felt like an unwelcome intruder entering my sacred space.
The next morning however, as the sunlight streamed in, after a short time, I looked up and there on the wall in front of me was the reflection of a large cross. I have 3 small windows in my front door and somehow at this time of the year, this configuration is reflected on the wall as a cross. I first noticed it a few years ago.
As the seasons change and the sun's position changes in the sky, it disappears and I forget about it, until it begins to appear the next year. The reflection only lasts about 10 minutes but then a new reflection slowly appears. It is the reflection of a tiny rainbow sticker on my window. Slowly I see the colors coming until I see the full view of a rainbow. Years ago, when I first noticed these two reflections, I was going through a difficult time in my life and seeing the cross followed by the rainbow seemed to be a silent message to me, that joy always follows sorrow, or as the Psalmist so aptly put it : "Weeping may endure for a night but joy cometh in the morning." Ps. 30: 5
The Christmas season is upon us once again. Indeed, the commercial aspect of the season began even before Halloween, in many of the stores. Christmas is the most joyous day of the year, as we celebrate the birth of our Savior. For many however, it can be a difficult and painful time, especially for those who have lost loved ones or have family members off fighting overseas. With the high unemployment rate, others are struggling to hold onto their homes and put food on their tables.
Once again Christmas comes, in the midst of our struggling economy and the personal struggles of our daily lives. Jesus came to earth to live as we live, not as a privileged king but as a vulnerable little baby, who grew up and became a servant to all. He came to teach us to love.
While the nightly news can still be pretty disheartening, we also see messages of hope and joy: the Salvation Army bell ringer, standing in the cold to raise funds for the needy and all the stories of people reaching out in love to help their neighbors.
For me, one of the greatest joys of this season in traveling to our local nursing homes to sing Christmas Carols to the residents. I see Cam with her flute, Fred with his guitar and all of us laughing as we squeeze into the elevators, our arms heavy laden with Poinsettias and tins of cookies to give out. I see the children who often come with their parents and the smiles of our seniors watching them. I see a clear reflection of Christ's love as we are all one in His spirit.
Merry Christmas everyone!
Blessings Always,
Phyl Endicott
Announcements
The next Vestry Meeting will be held on Monday, December 19th at 7:00pm. All vestry meetings are open to the entire parish. Parishioners wishing to include items on the agenda are asked to contact one of the wardens or the rector no later than two (2) weeks before the meeting. Vestry meeting agendas and minutes will be regularly posted on the bulletin board between Fay Hall and the narthex.
NEW PARISH OFFICE HOURS Monday through Thursday * Please note that the parish email address
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PLEASE RETURN YOUR PLEDGE CARDS, if you have not already done so, as soon as possible. It is important to have all the pledge cards in, so the vestry can finalize the 2012 budget before its December meeting. (Be sure to fill out the reverse of the card with your name and contact information. If you forgot to fill out the reverse side and have submitted a pledge card, please see Tim Moss.)
HOW DO YOU WANT TO GET YOUR NEWSLETTER?: We are re-evaluating how best to get The Beacon out to readers. Please let the parish office know if you would prefer to receive your edition by email or by regular postal mail.
TAVOLINO FUNDRAISER UPDATE: St. Stephen’s participates Tavolino's program: Once we collect $1,000 in receipts, we receive Tavolino gift certificates for use in fundraisers. We are half way to another $1000 in receipts. Please drop off your Tavolino receipts in the box in Fay Hall so we get credit. Watch for the future sale of the Tavolino’s $25 gift certificates in Fay Hall, they will make good Christmas gifts.
T-SHIRT COLLECTION: We are collecting undershirts for the men helped by the Our Father’s Table program. We welcome contributions of Large-size white undershirts in the basket by the serving tables in Fay Hall. See Bev Boyer for questions.
A WORD FROM OUR NOMINATING COMMITTEE
The Vestry has established a nominating committee for the 2012 Annual Meeting. The committee members are Don Shapleigh, Jeff Bartee, Bob Jarvis, Dave Small, and Heather Plasterer. This group is seeking nominations for the following posts in 2012:
Senior Warden
Jr. Warden/Newcomer Coordinator
Treasurer
Clerk
Vestry Member for Stewardship
Vestry Member for Property
Vestry Member At-Large
Vestry Member for Christian Education
UTO Chairperson
3 Deanery Delegates
3 Diocesan Convention Delegates
EMC Chairperson
If you are interested in any of these positions, or know of someone who might be, please contact a member of the nominating committee or Fr. Jesse.
WOMEN OF FAITH BIBLE STUDY
Our Bible Study was delayed in getting started this fall, due to the remodeling project in my bathroom; however, it is just about complete now and I am looking forward to welcoming you all back into my home at 15 Oak St., Westborough.
While our group has been meeting for a number of years, we always look forward to welcoming new members. None of us are Biblical scholars. We are, each of us, on our own spiritual journey. We share a special bond in our faith and come together to glean new insights from each other.
We are a relatively small group, which varies in number with each meeting, depending on our various schedules. Our meetings last approx. 2 hours and coffee or tea and a snack are served, prior to the meeting.
We have used a variety of resources for our study material but everyone seems to enjoy the "Upper Room" study guide, as it has questions that relate to how we experience our faith in our personal lives. If you are not a subscriber to the "Upper Room" but would like to join us, I would be happy to make a copy of the reading and questions for you, prior to the meeting. We make an effort to do the homework, which is pretty minimal, in advance so that we are better prepared to share when we meet. Since the subject matter is different at each meeting, it is not a problem if you miss a meeting.
We normally meet twice a month on a Wednesday morning from 9:00 - 11:00; however, during Dec. and Jan., due to the holidays, we meet only once each month.
The dates for our upcoming meetings are as follows:
Wed. Dec. 7th
Wed. Jan. 11th
Hope you will bring your Bible and join us. For more information call Phyl Endicott at 508-366-9227
Mission Matters
There are many instances in scripture that speak to giving; doing for others and people less fortunate than we. We are so fortunate at Saint Stephen's to have many opportunities to serve those in need, and none of them too difficult.
We have already participated in socks for Veteran’s, Inc. On October 31st, we served at Our Father’s Table in Marlborough.
Presently, the Giving Tree is set up in Fay Hall; also on-going is the collection of T-shirts for homeless shelters. On December 14th we will have for our annual celebration with the boys from DYS in Westborough and on December 18th we will go caroling to Westborough nursing homes and to homebound parishioners.
All parishioners are invited to participate in any and all of these activities.
In Memoriam
I would feel remiss if I did not recognize the recent passing of parishioner Bob Lewis. I got to know Bob through his participation in Saint Stephen's Men’s Group. We developed a friendship over the years, and eventually started going for lunch once a month. I’d pick Bob up at the Willows and we’d go to Ruby Tuesday’s for a quick lunch. We talked about all kinds of things, but always got around to how God was working in our lives. At his memorial service I learned about all the things he had done for Saint Stephen's and for his fellow resident at the Willows. Bob was a true Christian, always thinking of ways he could serve others. He touched my life; I will miss him. Rest in peace, my friend.
frp
We also express condolences to parishioner Jeff Bartee on the recent loss of his uncle Ray Padgett Bartee. Our sympathy to Jeff and his family. May they find comfort and solace at this time.