ST.

ANDREWS ON-THE-SOUND

Monthly Newsletter December 2011

THE RECTORS RAMBLINGS

In spite of what everyone else thinks, the New Year began on Sunday, November 27. No ball descended in Times Square. The only bottles of champagne that were opened were for other reasons. No one made any resolutions. Once again, the start of the church year passed with little fanfare other than the lighting of a single purple candle. This is not surprising. Churches began their Program Year back in September, and we are now in the midst of the holiday rush. For most folks, getting everything ready for Christmas takes all their attention. It is an interesting concept that the church year starts, not at the beginning of something, but as preparation for something else. With its themes of John the Baptist, the kingly reign of Christ and the Last Judgment, Advent begins the church year talking about the end of things, while preparing us for the beginning of the life of Christ. This tradition began before Advent was the last rush to the Christmas holiday, but instead was a time when the gathering darkness of winter reminded everyone of the death of the old year. In those days, the birth of Christ in the midst of winter was a hopeful sign of light. This is a particularly Episcopal way of looking at things. The theologian Paul Tillich once called the incarnation the Anglican heresy, by which he meant that Anglicans emphasized the saving action of God in the incarnation more than in any other aspect of the life of Christ. I think this is why our attendance swells so much on Christmas Eve. Its not just C & E (Christmas and Easter) Episcopalians, but folks who are called in from other traditions because they recognize that there is something we do with Christmas which is unique. We not only light candles in the midst of winters darkness, we see what God is doing in that moment as the key to our reconciliation with God and with one another.

Gods love for us is expressed, not just in the events of Good Friday and Easter, but also in coming among us as one of us. God not only loves us, but likes us enough to share in all that we are. It may be hard to note in the midst of the rush and bustle, but the New Year, the celebration of new life and new hope in God has begun. Happy New Year!

FISH SUNDAYS FAMILIES IN SERVICE TO HIM

Come celebrate the Christmas Season with your friends and family at the Second Annual Gingerbread House Decorating event! This year we will be decorating the house's on the Sunday December 4th at 10:00 am. We will have the houses assembled and we are asking each family to bring a bag of candy to share! We are looking for volunteers for assembly: Thursday December 1st at 10:00 am at the church and help the morning of with set up and clean up! If you are able to help please email: Laura Wells @ laura.wella@standrewsonthesound.org or Lynn Hildreth @ lynnhildreth@bellsouth.net This was a fantastic event last year! We look forward to seeing all of you young and old!

MARKS MUSINGS
By the time you all are reading this article I will be walking on the ground that St. Paul frequented in what is known as modern day Turkey. Modern day Turkey is called the Second Holy Land because of its numerous important sites of early Christianity. Numerous councils took place in this land and the seven churches in Revelation can be found there. The place I look forward to visiting the most is Ephesus. Ephesus is the city that housed the Church of Mary (Theotokos). Ephesus is thought to have been the place where Mother Mary lived until her dormition (death). St. Paul was thought to have lived there for two years and supposedly wrote his first letter to the Corinthians in Ephesus. His letter to the Ephesians was supposedly written in Rome. A number of councils took place in Ephesus as well where they debated theology and the heresies that arose in the early church. This pilgrimage to the Second Holy land carries a lot of meaning to me, as every pilgrimage should. It is a chance to learn more about the beginnings of the Church. It is a chance to worship on the same ground of those who shaped the Christian faith. It is a chance to explore my faith in Christ. As I pilgrimage through this Second Holy Land, I invite you all to journey with me. Maybe you cannot get a week away for yourself right now, but there are ways to be a pilgrim in your own home. Pick up a book about the Christian faith that you would not normally read. Change your routine of prayer. Maybe add Compline to your routine during Advent, which is found in the book of common prayer page 127.

Compline is one of the oldest forms of worship. It is a service that is said at the completion of your day. It means to complete and it is my favorite service. Whatever you do be intentional about making God a priority in this time of preparation for the coming of Christ. If you would like, you may follow me on the St. Andrew's Facebook page. I will also be leading a class about my pilgrimage in the new year. Blessings, Mark Powell

CHURCH GREENERY We will be greening the Church for Christmas on Thursday, December 22nd at 10 a.m. Please let Linda Brown (brownbahama@gmail.com) know if you can come and participate in this fun event.

INNER CITY MINISTRIES

The Innercity Ministry will collect canned vegetables for the month of December. The larger cans are appreciated, but we will take any and all we are offered. Items like green beans, potatoes, and mixed vegetables are all good. It is nice to be able to offer a warm alternative to salad in the cold months. Virginia Colantuono 910-256-2954 vcolantuono@ec.rr.com

SOUNDERS DECEMBER OUTING

Bring the whole family and join us Sunday evening, December 4, to get into the Christmas Spirit. We will meet downtown at Fat Tonys for an early dinner and then head out to enjoy the WILMINGTON HOLIDAY PARADE. Dinner at 4:15 and parade at 6:15. We will need a head count for dinner so please RSVP no later than December 1st to Beth Green bgreendesign@yahoo.com if you plan to attend.

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS Lets all join in to help decorate the church for Christmas! Your donations will go towards all of the beautiful flowers needed to decorate the church. The flower envelopes will be in the pews beginning December 4 and need to be turned in no later than December 18. The cost of a donation for the Christmas floral decorations is $15.00. Please, carefully write on the donation envelope your dedication and it will be printed in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day service bulletins. Thank you for helping to make St. Andrews especially lovely for Christmas. Any questions contact Kathy Laing 256-2480 or Alice Schauf 686-5837.

EPISCOPAL YOUTH COMMUNITY

Our middle and high school youth have been preparing for the holidays. We started getting into the spirit with selling fresh Christmas wreaths to raise money for our mission work this summer. Thank you to all who supported us and purchased wreaths. They will be available for pick up Sunday, December 4, after all three services. We are also excited to be able to go Christmas Caroling at Davis Nursing Home and Plantation Village on December 11 from 3:00-5:00 p.m. We will be traveling in style. One of Wilmingtons finest trolleys will transport us, and we will be led by a few of our St. Andrews choir members. Once we finish caroling, we will end the year with a Christmas Party at the church. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

MENS BREAKFAST
The next Men's Breakfast will be Saturday, DECEMBER 10, at 8:30 a.m. in the parish hall. Team 2 will be our hosts. All men are welcome, so please join us for a GREAT breakfast and fellowship.

EYC SAVE THE DATE!!!

EYC Spaghetti Dinner and Parish Talent Show Wednesday, January 18, 5:30-7:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall. More Details to Come

CHRISTMAS STOCKINGS Santa is asking for your help in filling 100 stockings for children in our area for Christmas. The Salvation Army suggests small toiletries (like the soaps and lotions from hotels) and toys. If you take items out of the packaging you can fit more into the small 12 inch stocking! The Salvation Army will be giving out candy, so please, do NOT put any into the stockings. There is no sign-up sheet- just take a stocking, fill it with gender and age specific items and return it before December 6th. Thank you in advance for helping to make a childs Christmas just a little bit brighter this year! Any questions, please call Kathy Laing 256-2480.

Sunday

Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday 1 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Al-Anon 6:30 PM Adult Choir

Friday 2 Sabbath day for the Rector & the assistant to the Rector 8:00 PM AA

Saturday 3 9:00 AM Altar Guild Meeting

CWRT MSF EYC ECW DOK CAPERS

Civil War Round Table, open to everyone Mens Spiritual Formation, open to all men Episcopal Youth Community, grades 6-12 Episcopal Church Women, open to all women Daughters of the King, open to all women Open to those who are 50+

4 7:45 AM HE at St. As 9:00 & 11:00 AM HE at St. A.s 10:00 AM Fish Sunday

5 7:00 AM MSF Group 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 8:00 PM AA

6 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Womens Bible Study 9:30 AM DOK Training 10:45 AM Healing Service 6:15 PM Bell Choir 6:30 PM Stephen Ministry

7 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 11:00 AM Knitting in office 4:00 PM Jr. Singers 7:00 PM Healing Prayer Group 8:00 PM AA

8 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Al-Anon 1:00 PM Needle Point 6:30 PM Adult Choir 7:00 PM CWRT

9 10 Sabbath day for the Rector & the assistant to the Rector 8:00 PM AA

11 7:45 AM HE at St. As 9:00 & 11:00 AM HE at St. A.s 10:00 AM Congregation Meeting 12:15 PM Daughters of the King 5:00 PM EYC Rob Bell Study 5:00 PM Capers

12 7:00 AM MSF Group 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 8:00 PM AA

13 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Womens Bible Study 10:45 AM Healing Service 6:15 PM Bell Choir

14 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 10:00 AM Preschool Program 11:00 AM Knitting in office 4:00 PM Jr. Singers 7:00 PM Healing Prayer Group 8:00 PM AA

15 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Al-Anon 6:30 PM Adult Choir

17 16 Sabbath day for the Rector & the assistant to the Rector 8:00 PM AA Christmas Party

18 7:45 AM HE at St. As 9:00 & 11:00 AM HE at St. A.s 10:00 AM Christian Formation 12:30 PM Innercity Ministry Service 3:00 PM EYC Christmas Caroling 5:00 PM Parish Pageant & Party

19 7:00 AM MSF Group 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 8:00 PM AA

20 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Womens Bible Study 10:45 AM Healing Service 6:00 PM Vestry Meeting

21 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 11:00 AM Knitting in office 4:00 PM Jr. Singers 7:00 PM Healing Prayer Group 8:00 PM AA

22 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Al-Anon 10:00 AM Greening of the Church 6:30 PM Adult Choir

24 Christmas 23 Sabbath day for the Eve Rector & the assistant 5:00 PM Service to the Rector 7:00 PM Service 11:00 PM Service 8:00 PM AA

25 Christmas Day Service 10:00 AM HE at St. A.s

26 7:00 AM MSF Group 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 8:00 PM AA

27 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Womens Bible Study 10:45 AM Healing Service

28 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 11:00 AM Knitting in office 7:00 PM Healing Prayer Group 8:00 PM AA

29 8:30 AM Morning Prayer 9:30 AM Al-Anon

30 31 Sabbath day for the Rector & the assistant to the Rector 8:00 PM AA

December 4 Vestry Person of the Month: Susan Herrmann Lay Readers 7:45 a.m. Linda Brown Elizabeth Woodside 9:00 a.m. Natalie Sherwood Stephanie Kraybill Norma Knight 11:00 a.m. Robin Wetherington Nancy Hosea Ann Lees Acolytes Taylor Nunes 9:00 a.m. Alexis Nunes Trey Carraway Chase Carraway 11:00 a.m. James Clinard Megan Earnhart Nansi Holt Allie Earnhart Ushers 7:45 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Greeters 7:45 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 11:00 a.m. Altar Guild Bob Thomson Steve Coons Sam Green Dave Bramley Tom Colantuono Polly Gibson Kathy Laing
Rosemary OHayer

December 11

December 18

Sally Vasilevich Sid Brooks Steve Coons Mary Evans Donny Ross David Cordle George Earnhart Willi Scholz Donny Ross Julia Ross Kelley Kinlaw Grant Williams Lauren Hedrick Grayson Barnes Daniel Gay Chapel Barnes David Brown Mary Schumacher Bobbie Gibson Billy Sowers Leslie Owen Carol Nasca Kathy Cormier Betty Earnhart
Team 1 Royce/Reabold

Mary Thomson Bob Suddith Missy Kennedy Frances Goodman Kellen Hanson Bob Royce Melinda Rider Jeanne Kendig Nathanial Hanson Cameron Reiman Kellen Hanson Connor Heckman Steven Lease Aaron Lease Megan Earnhart Allie Earnhart Roy Jameson Steve Clinard James Clinard Howard McCain Billie Royce Alice Schauf June Clem Martha McCain Team 2 Laing

10:00 AM SERVICES Sunday, December 25 and Sunday, January 1 we will only have a 10:00 a.m. service without Sunday School.

Team 4 Drewry

Time, Talents, and Treasure

"Come and See." The harvest of your time, talents, and treasure will be recognized here each month.

PRESCHOOL NEWS
This has been a fun filled month and our annual Fall Festival was a huge success. The parents did a great job pulling all of this together and providing lots of fun and prizes for the children. We are decorating our window in the church with food for the Good Shepherd House and are practicing for our Christmas program that will be on Wednesday, December 14. Please come join us at 11:00 a.m. Much love, Catharine Hedrick

Introducing our Junior Choristers: Martin - Maine Wrangell, Lindsey Hancock, William Morgan, Cameron Rieman, Jebb Gay, Lauren Hancock and Ben Long. They are pictured here as they rehearse for a 9:00 service. They "make a joyful noise unto the Lord" in their vestments on the second and fourth Sundays from September through April and at 5:00 on Christmas Eve. They sing during the Offertory and Communion. In addition, they attend weekly choir practice on Wednesdays at 4:00 after school. This year the students range from grade one to grade six and they are becoming mindful in their early lives of the practice of giving time and talent to their Church. They give what they have to give to the service of Our Lord. This is their ministry. The beauty of giving is that one receives much in return. They learn about the liturgy, and how to read music, receive rave reviews from the congregation, developed self confidence and are offered the opportunity to become a team member. A host of thanks go out to the current members of the Junior Choristers and to the parents and grandparents who are so supportive. And thanks be to God.

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICE SCHEDULES

5:00 PM Lay Readers Val Davidson, Cathy Doug Donald, Alicia Rudd, Miller, Jonathan Earnhart, and Nathanial Hanson Melinda Rider, Bobbie Gibson Courtney & Connor Heckman, Megan Earnhart, Cody Rieman, Nansi Holt, Daniel Gay, and Kelley Kinlaw Sam Green, Leslie Owen, and Bob Thomson Kathy Cormier Team 3Shore Tom Colantuono, George Myers, Jim Otley, and Alice Schauf Barbara Hajek and David Lawrence Alexis & Taylor Nunes, Nathanial & Kellen Hanson, Julia & Donny Ross, Chase & Trey Carraway 7:00 PM 11:00 PM Steve Coons and David Cordle

Acolytes

Sarah & James Clinard, Lauren Hedrick, Steven & Aaron Lease, Grant Williams, and Kyle Davis Dave Bramley, Roy Jameson, and Hubert Bordeaux Bill Salter

Ushers

Greeters Altar Guild

Interest

Pledge Income

Misc. Income

Total Income

Expenses $1,560 $536,924 $562,974 Jerry Kinlaw

Plate (Cash & Checks)

The DOK will be meeting at 12:15 p.m. on December 11.

Surplus (Deficit) $26,050

CAPERS

End of October 2011

Altar Candles are given in memory of Linda Foley, by Paul & Fran Shore.

DECEMBER CANDLE DEDICATIONS

Sanctuary Candles in memory of my family who is no longer with me, by Doris Ayers.

Will be meeting December 11 at 5:00 p.m. Hosted by Pat Leopold.

DAUGHTERS OF THE KING

THE TREASURERS REPORT

$479,266

$75,311 $6,837

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS
December 1 December 2 December 4 December 6 December 7 December 8 December 9 December 11 December 12 December 13 December 15 December 17 December 18 December 19 December 20 December 21 December 22 December 23 December 24 December 26 December 27 December 28 December 29 December 31 Katherine Fowler Emily Summerlin, Courtney Heckman, Natasha Nunes Kathryn Murnock Anna Kathryn Feeley Pat Leopold, Betty Earnhart, Jennifer Poisson, Jack Noonan Leslie Owen, Bob Thomas, Jack Pfisterer David Streb Dayle Vaughn, Michael Johnson Peg Byrd, Hadlee Castleberry, John Pinter Carol Nasca, Nanci Weinstein Samuel Kennedy, Hoop Morgan John Carey, Anna Hildreth Robert Livesay Anne Molloy, Rebecca Weinstein, Karl Geisler Bailey Holman, Chris Pope Andy Shepard Cassidy Stewart, Luke Morris Bill Heckman, Olivia Trio Valeria Davidson, Sue Jones, Mike Arkinson, June Guggenheimer, Louise Brooks David Brown, Vance Noonan Rebecca May, Knox Pierson Kelly Poisson

DECEMBER ANNIVERSARIES
December 4 December 5 December 12 December 15 December 17 December 19 December 21 December 22 December 23 December 27 December 28 John and Erin Pinter Bill and Jerre Garnett, Anthony and Ann Lees, Jimmy and Robin Miller Johannes Kuuskoski and Nancy Soward John and Anna Kathryn Feeley Paul and Lois Dowty, Oscar and Jane Grant Ron and Alice Keiger, Jack and Nancy Manock Sam and Sarah Craver, Dale and Nancy Loughlin Edward and Lee Graham Harold and Kathy Laing, Allen and Perry Van Dyke

St. Andrews on-the-sound 101 Airlie Road, Wilmington, NC 28403 The Rev. Richard G. Elliott, Rector The Rev. Mark Powell, Assistant to the Rector The Rev. John C. Drewry, Deacon Richard Rhoads, Minister of Music Laura Wells, Director of Christian formation Katherine Dodd, Parish Administrator Pollykate Cantey, Parish Secretary Tom Covil, Sexton www.standrewsonthesound.org 910-256-3034