Presiding Bishop Curry’s Christmas Message 2020
Joy to the world! The Lord is come: let earth receive her King; let every heart prepare him room, and heaven and nature sing.
Perhaps like me, you’ve sung this hymn for years – in church, at home with your family, gathered with friends and neighbors. Perhaps you’ve sung it to yourself – in your car, on a walk, or quietly in the dark of night.
Joy to the world!
While we may not feel joyful this year – as the pandemic of disease continues to bring sickness and death, when fear and mistrust – a darkness – threatens to overcome the light – we, as followers of Jesus Christ must bear joy to this aching world. We must shine light into the darkness. Joy to the world!
Like much in our lives, proclaiming joy is difficult work – also good and essential work – especially now. Though we mourn that which is lost in our lives, our families, and our communities – Joy to the world!
While we strive to pull up the twisted and thorny vines of hatred and bigotry and anger – Joy to the world!
Through streaming tears and gritted teeth – Joy to the world! – because God is breaking into our lives and into this world anew.
While this is a strange year, the ministry He gives us remains the same. We will prepare him room in our hearts by taking on the ministry Jesus demands of us: feed those who are hungry; welcome the stranger; clothe those who are naked; heal those who are sick; visit the prisoner. Love God. Love your neighbor. Sing joy into this old world. Prepare him room.
St. Luke writes of the first Christmas, “[Mary] gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” There, in the simplest bed, in the cool of the night, in a trough, in bands of cloth, lies the One for whom no room was made. And yet strangely, there lies the One whom not even the universe can contain.
Joy to the world! The Lord is come. In your hearts, in your homes, in your lives, prepare him room.
God love you; God bless you; and may God hold us all in those almighty hands of love.
The Most Rev. Michael B. Curry
Presiding Bishop and Primate
Vestry
I hope you had a chance to come to our Drive-Thru Pageant the other night – what fun it was! We welcomed approximately 59 cars and 170 people in just 2 hours. A huge thank you to Joan Fader and Yvette Allen for their creativity and determination to have a pageant despite the pandemic. Without all their hard work, this would not have been possible. Thanks to all the youth and the slightly older youth who participated! This pageant reminded me what is so special about St. James – the people. It was so joyful to see everyone’s faces as they drove through to see the pageant and pick up their Communion bags. A wonderful video can be seen on our FB page if you didn’t have a chance to come up.
As our year and Stewardship Drive winds down, the Vestry would like to thank the 42 families who have made a pledge to St. James. We will be voting on our budget at our January mtg and these pledges help determine budgetary decisions. If you have not received a pledge form, you may contact me at pellicierjeannie15@gmail.com and I can email you a form. The Finance Committee would like to remind us that the last deposit of 2020 will be processed on December 27, 2020. Any payments to be included in the 2020 tax year should be at the church office by noon on the 27th. Thank you.
I hope everyone has a safe and happy holiday!
Jeannie Pellicier
Senior Warden
Candlelight & Carols Holy Eucharist
We hope you will join us for our streaming Christmas Eve Candlelight & Carols Holy Eucharist this evening.
The Christmas Eve Candlelight and Carols service will stream on both Facebook and YouTube beginning at 5:00 pm on December 24, but can be enjoyed at your convenience later in the evening if you’d prefer.
Sunday Worship Information
The Episcopal Diocese of Maryland has suspended all indoor worship due to increasing COVID-19 numbers until further notice. We will continue our online service via Zoom and Facebook at 10:30 am.
ONLINE WORSHIP
Join us on the First Sunday after Christmas Day for the Liturgy of the Word at 10:30 am followed by Zoom Coffee Hour, or watch the service livestreamed on Facebook.
We will “open the doors” beginning at 10:15 am for folks to greet each other and say good morning. Kristin+ will give instructions at 10:25 am and we will begin recording and livestreaming the service promptly at 10:30 am. Don’t worry if you’re late – you can still attend via Zoom if you “get to church” at 10:40!
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 820 8668 4148
Passcode: 242425
One tap mobile +13017158592,,82086684148#
Facebook Livestream
We plan to begin streaming to Facebook at 10:30 am. If you arrive at Facebook and you don’t see the video, please refresh your screen. There is a delay.
The middle-high Sunday School class will not hold classes on December 27 or January 3. Our next class gathering is scheduled for January 10 in the sanctuary – unless COVID guidelines change. We will keep you informed.
Sunday School for Preschool through 5th grade, 9:30 to 10:00 am on Zoom. We will not be meeting on December 27 or January 3.
FAITH FORMATION RESOURCES for the FIRST SUNDAY after CHRISTMAS
Thrift Shop
Good news from the Thrift shop! We have hired a new employee who will start work the first week in January to start a great new year. More to come on her in future communications. The manager position has not been posted yet, but we hope to have it complete in January.
Christmas sales are going very well. Nativity scenes have been flying off the shelves! As soon as we unpack one it is sold.
Our volunteers have been of tremendous help during the time we have been without two employees. Everything the shop has accomplished has been due to their help and the leadership of Deb Schaeffer. We had to close for two days this month because of inclement weather and will be closed for Christmas and New Year’s as well. All the big sales we have advertised should offset this shop closure.
If you need Christmas decorations for your home, be sure to stop by the shop. Sales, sales and more sales will be available for the shoppers delight!
Have a blessed Christmas and a Happy New Year!
WEEKLY ANNOUNCEMENTS
Winter Heating Help
A reminder that we have a winter utilities fund available for members of St. James’. Please reach out to Rev. Kristin for more information if we can help you in the coming months.
Lectionary Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent:
Next Week’s Commemorations:
| 1 | The Holy Name of Our Lord Jesus Christ |
| 2 | Vedanayagam Samuel Azariah, First Indian Anglican Bishop, Dornakal, 1945 |
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2020 by taking this notice home and by posting it where it will remind you pray to on a daily basis for the needs and blessings of:
Steve and Rainey Stafford (Quinlan, Henry, William)
Donald and Carey Staley
Steve Stowell
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.