Weekly Newsletter December 20, 2023
St. Michael’s Weekly News – December 20, 2023
Dear People of St. Michaels,
Well, we are nearly there. Our Advent time of preparation has the rest of these week days but only Sunday morning’s service and then we will be celebrating Christmas with full splendor and vigor. We will have our Sunday morning Liturgy on December 24 dedicated to the final Sunday of Advent, which this year includes the Gospel from Luke that we call the Annunciation. That is, the visit of the angel Gabriel to Mary (recorded in Luke’s Gospel) to let her know that she is to bear a son who comes to her by the power of the Holy Spirit. This child “…will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High.” This miracle, this birth was to come to Mary if she consents to it and she does.
She later goes to visit her relative, Elizabeth, who is also miraculously with child; who will later be known as John the Baptist, one who himself will prepare for the coming of Jesus. It is there, with her greeting of Elizabeth that Mary springs forth with the beautiful Magnificat in Luke 1: 46-55:
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
for he has looked with favor on the lowly state of his servant.
Surely from now on all generations will call me blessed,
for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name;
indeed, his mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has brought down the powerful from their thrones
and lifted up the lowly;
he has filled the hungry with good things
and sent the rich away empty.
He has come to the aid of his child Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”
In this way, Mary and God set in motion the birth of Jesus that we soon will celebrate and Mary brings forth this canticle that not only outlines her willingness to bear the son of God, but also recognizes God’s work to lift up the lowly and work in this world to correct what is wrong and that needs God’s intervention. All this will also be revealed in Jesus teachings when he begins his ministry. This, too, is all part of the preparation of this joyful birth.
Join us either Sunday morning, to hear of this Annunciation or on Sunday night, at 10:00 pm. to celebrate the birth to its fullest on this Christmas Eve. If that hour is too late, don’t forget our Shared Ministry Partner, has a Christmas Eve Service also on December 24th at 7:00 pm.
Joy and Peace to us all at this Christmas Celebration.
In Christ,
Pastor Randy Knutson
Our December 2023 worship schedule:
Sunday, December 24 (Fourth Sunday of Advent) - 10:45 am Eucharist
Sunday, December 24 (Christmas Eve) - 10:00 pm Eucharist
Sunday, December 31 (1st Sunday of Christmas) - 10:45 am Eucharist
January 2024
Saturday, January 6 (Epiphany) - 6:30 pm Shared Holy Communion Service
Sunday, January 7 (Baptism of our Lord) - 10:45 am Eucharist
Don’t forget the final Ecumenical Advent Service in December; always at 6:30 pm on Wednesdays; today in Fort Bragg at Grace Community Church on Oak St. This will be your last time this season to join with other believers in hearing God’s Word and preparing for Christ’s coming!
Many thanks to those who helped with Jim Britt’s memorial Service last Saturday: Marcia Waters, Rick Bondor and Georgia Frey. The family was very grateful for St. Michaels care with this service and the reception afterwards.
As war wages on, please note the prayer offered by our Presiding Bishop Michael Curry for the Middle East:
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn
but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the
strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that
all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of
Peace, as children of one Father; to whom be dominion and
glory, now and forever. Amen.
Prayers for the World, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815.
Message from your Treasurer.
As of this week, we are just under $5,000 short on our pledges. Please check to see if you are behind. We count on receiving each and every one of your pledges so would appreciate any ‘catch-up’ amounts this month. If you have any questions about your pledge, feel free to call Heather Anderson, your Pledge Secretary @ 707 225 2596 or myself @ 707 357 1277.
Thanks, Sarah
Morning Prayer: There will be no morning prayer on Wednesday, December 27th at St. Michael’s.
December Birthdays: Christopher Duncan, Dave Turner, Sean Dabel, Heather Anderson, Bridget Dabel, Ken Theilen, Macie Liljeberg, Carol Romeri, Sheri Wollman, Richard Crawford, Jaret Navarro, Aaron Peterson, Jr., Toby Brazill, Martha Poe, The Rev. Tansy Chapman, Justin Hatfield
Online Worship Information
This Sunday we will offer in-person worship and at the same time offer the online broadcast of our service at 10:45 am in the ways posted below:
Our Sunday Service will be on St. Michael’s Facebook Page:
https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg
https://www.facebook.com/StMikesFtBragg/videos
It will also stay there on the Facebook Pages and you can watch it later.
You can also watch it on this YouTube Channel later that day as well.
This is a NEW St. Michaels YouTube Channel and also on our website!
https://www.youtube.com/@st.michaelsepiscopalfortbragg
Website: When you can, check our new website: https://www.stmichaelfb.com/