From the Rector
Communion and the Common Cup
At the monthly meeting of clergy and senior wardens with our bishops this week, Bishop Sutton spoke about communion practices as we emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic. Throughout the pandemic our practices around communion shifted dramatically, from not having it at all, to communion only in one kind (wafers), and even on occasion using communion kits with a sip of wine and tiny cracker. Finally, last summer we reintroduced the common cup for those who wish to partake.
As you can imagine, different churches around the diocese are still practicing a variety of ways of sharing communion, having gone through stages similar to our own, and Bishop Sutton took this opportunity to pull us all back toward normative communion practices.
In particular, he set out guidance for the sharing of the common cup. Per his direction we will not practice intinction – the dipping of the wafer into the wine. There are different reasons for this, with the main one being hygiene: too often when reaching into the chalice people’s fingers end up in the wine, which I think we can all agree is not great. Accordingly, for those who choose to receive wine we ask that you drink from the cup.
If you are concerned about disease transmission from sharing the common cup, there have been a few studies done showing no discernable increase from this practice. In a 2020 resource from the NIH’s National Library of Medicine titled COVID-19 and Holy Communion, the authors reviewed pertinent research connected to this concern and wrote, “In summary, the common communion cup may theoretically serve as a vehicle of transmitting infection, but the potential risk of transmission is very small,” which is a long-winded way of saying it’s pretty safe.
All this being said, receiving the wine is still a matter of personal choice and receiving communion in one kind is understood to be fully efficacious. If you don’t want to drink from the cup you are still invited to stand in front of the chalice bearer with your arms crossed over your chest as they say the words of administration.
If you have questions or thoughts about the practice of communion I’ve love to hear from you, give me a call or drop me an email.
Yours in God’s peace,
Kristin+
Outreach
GRATEFUL!!
Many families in our community will be oh so grateful to our very generous parishioners on Christmas morning! For most of these recipients through the Carroll County Department of Social Services, Mt. Airy NET and Pleasant View Nursing Home, our gifts will be the only ones they receive during this holiday season.
The Outreach Committee would like to sincerely thank each of you for providing more gifts than ever during this unusual year of requests for 153 gifts. We feel sure your thoughtfulness and generosity will be appreciated and remembered for many years to come!
Daughters of the King
Daughters of the King
St. James’ Chapter
An Order for laywomen of the Episcopal Church
We are now in the season of Advent with Christmas rapidly approaching. Many of us will be enjoying gatherings and celebrations over the next few weeks with family and friends. It is our prayer that we will all take time to “be still” as we make our homes a place of blessings for everyone.
there is no shelter like a peaceful home.
We continue to pray for our parish family regularly. You may contact any one of the Daughters to request a prayer concern.
Karen Dulany, Joan Fader, Margaret Neff
Peg Pelch, Joanna Sutphin
Scouts
Troop 829B and 829G had a busy Fall season. In September, we continued our commitment to service with the Patriot Day Flag Ceremony at Pine Grove Cemetary, and the Duck Races. We also helped set-up and tear-down for the St. James Basket Raffle at the Town’s Oktoberfest. November we were invited to help fill the bags used at the Antietam Illumination that is held the first Saturday in December every year at the Antietam National Battlefield. Each bag lit represents one soldier who died at the Battle of Antietam. This year was our first year as a unit to be able to help with this grand event. The National Park Service was so impressed with our dedication and commitment that they sent us an email praising our scouts for their work. While we were hoping to head back to Antietam on December 3rd to place the bags on the field and light them for all to see, the weather had other plans.
Service was not the only thing we did this fall. In October, we camped in the field behind the Sykesville Volunteer Fire Department for Webelos Woods, where we taught scout skills to Webelos (4th grade) and Arrow of Light (5th grade) Scouts. In addition to Webelos Woods, we held our annual Thanksgiving in the Woods campout at Alderwood. This campout is always a fun one. This year, the owners of the property (who happen to be in our unit as well) added to their Halloween event with ax throwing, and paintball stations the scouts were able to participate in. Our last campout of the calendar year was set to be the Antietam Illumination, however due to weather, the Illumination was cancelled. But, we made the best of the situation and camped at our campsite at the Walkersville Watershed.
While we do a lot of service and campouts, we also have a lot of fun. In December we’ll celebrate the holidays with our annual holiday party. Our location is still to be determined, but we’re sure the scouts will find a activity like they have in past years.
Sunday Worship Information
Join us on December 11th for The Third Sunday of Advent. We will celebrate Holy Eucharist in the sanctuary at 8:30 am and 10:30, or watch the 10:30 service livestream on Facebook.
A printable bulletin can be found here.
Lectionary Readings
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.
Announcements
AND THE WINNER IS….
Congratulations to DON WINDSOR who was the big WINNER of the $100 gift card for Trout’s Lighthouse Seafood!
The Basket Raffle Committee would like to thank all of those who participated in our “Oops! Raffle” over the past few weeks helping to increase our 2022 Basket Raffle fundraising grand total to $8,100.00.
ANGEL GIFTS DUE SUNDAY!!!
The Outreach Committee would like to thank each of you who so kindly shopped for our “Angels” this year. Please bring your gifts with their Angel tag attached to church THIS SUNDAY, DECEMBER 4th, by 11:30 a.m. so that our “elves” may sort and deliver your generous gifts.
No Stress, No Rehearsal, Come As You Are Christmas Pageant
After the innovative drive-thru pageants of last two years because of the pandemic, we’re excited to bring the Christmas Pageant (slightly reimagined) back to our 4:30 pm Christmas Eve worship service!
The goal is no stress, no rehearsals, simple and EVERYONE is welcome to enjoy however is best for you and your family. We have a script with narration so no one needs to memorize lines. The pageant is especially for children but if you’re an adult who’s always wanted to be an angel or shepherd, you’re welcome to join. If you’re the parent of a child who might be more comfortable with your help, you’re welcome to join.
Costumes (optional!) will be available prior to the service, beginning at 4:00 pm, and during the pageant too. We are so excited to experience this at the worship service together again.
If you have any questions or want to lend a hand, contact Sarah Brown or Ashley Conlon.
Next Week’s Commemorations:
Prayer Rotation
Please join the Daughters of the King in praying for each parishioner in rotation during 2022 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:
Erin Schwartzbeck
Randall and Sally Severy (Paul, Sam)
Andrew and Adrienne Smith (Marion)
A member of the Daughters of the King will be contacting you this week for special prayer requests.
