MASS SCHEDULE FOR THE WEEK OF THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT (December 2, 2012)
3, Monday – Feria
4, Tuesday – Feria
5, Wednesday – Feria
6, Thursday – St. Nicholas
7, Friday – St. Ambrose
+ There are still several tags available on the “Advent Bush” (aka Angel Tree). If you have not already taken a tag, please consider doing so. This is a wonderful way to provide a child, young mother or family in need with the love of Christ during the upcoming Christmas season.
For those who did take a tag, thank you! Please bring your gift with the tag to the church no later than Sunday, December 16. If you took (or take) a Salvation Army tag, please do not wrap your gift. You may supply paper/ribbon, but just put it with the gift. Or, simply bring the gift in a gift bag. If you have any questions, please contact Priscilla King, kingplk@gmail.com or 456-6458.
+ Over the centuries The Christian Year has had several “beginnings” as it developed in the Western Church. The original one, still maintained in the Eastern Churches, was Easter Day. In antique Rome the old custom of beginning the civil year in March was combined with the Church’s practice of initiating observances preparatory to Easter thus establishing a sort of New Year’s feast. The proper for Septuagesima (BCP p. 118) is a surviving remnant of that practice. But when the Feast of Christmas Day was instituted in the 4th century it became for Rome the beginning of the Church Year. About the same time the season of Advent was being established in the Gallican Church of France and Spain as preparation for Epiphany. The Roman Church adopted Advent in the 6th century as a liturgical preparation for Christmas with special attention given to the Second Advent of our Lord. Adventus is the Latin translation of the Greek word Parousia from the New Testament, which is commonly used to refer to the Second Advent of Jesus Christ. But it was not until the 8th century that Advent was commonly considered the beginning of the Christian Year. Advent is not a penitential season, but it presents the Church with a variegated devotional season. We delight in the redemption of the world through the Incarnation of our Lord; yet we are sobered before the Judgment that is to come at our Lord’s Second Advent.
+ St. Nicholas was born in 270 in modern day Turkey. He was the Orthodox Bishop of Myra, which is today Lycia, Turkey. His reputation for giving gifts secretly, such as putting coins in shoes left out for him made him the model for our modern day Santa Clause. He is revered in Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism and in the Anglican Communion. Because of his many miracles and his gift for intercession he was also known as Nicholas the Wonderworker.
+ St. Ambrose was born into a wealthy Roman Christian family around 337 in Trier in modern day Germany. Ambrose followed his in his father’s footsteps with a career in government. He studied Literature, Law and Rhetoric in Rome. He was made a governor with his headquarters in Milan under Emperor Valentinian I. While in Milan an outbreak of Arianism disrupted the peace of the Church and the community. When the bishop of Milan died Ambrose went to the Church where the new bishop was to be elected in order to prevent a riot. As he addressed the people, he was interrupted by people calling for his election to the office of bishop. He quickly refused but then the whole crowd called for his election. He fled to a friend’s house, but in a matter of days his friend gave him up and Ambrose was consecrated bishop of Milan within a week on December 7. He is best known for his relationship to Monica, St. Augustine’s mother and Augustine himself. He was a defender of the Orthodox faith against the Arians of his day.
+ All Saints’ Men’s Group will meet December 4, 7:00 a.m. in the undercroft.
+ Don’t forget the Monday Morning Bible Study that meets in the Undercroft at 10:30 a.m. Priscilla King is leading a study of the Epistle to the Hebrews.
+ Wednesday Agape & Christian Education is Wednesday, December 5. Ken Myers will be lecturing on Church Music and the Church Year at the Wednesday agape..
+Also remember to RSVP Fr. Dan Malcolm who, along with his team is preparing dinner! The agape dinner begins at 5:45 p.m. Child and adult education classes begin at 6:30 p.m. and are over at 7:15 p.m. allsaintscville@gmail.com
+ All Saints parishioner may obtain a Mass card from the Church office. A Mass card is a greeting card given to someone to inform him or her that a deceased loved one or friend was remembered and prayed for at a weekly Mass. It is a specifically Christian way to express one’s love. Call Julie McDermott at the Church office (434-979-2842) and she will help you fill out the form. The celebrant will sign the card and we will mail it from the Church to the family of the loved one.
+ Daily Mass is celebrated at 12:15 p.m. You and your family members are all remembered by name at the Altar of God every week. Please take an All Saints parish prayer list home with you & remember your fellow parishioners in your prayers!