Our Standing Announcements:
1st Sunday - Potluck Lunch following Mass
2nd Tuesday - Episcopal Church Women
3rd Monday - Vestry Meeting - 5:30 pm

Sun. January 6th The Manifestation of Christ to the Gentiles
9:30 am Older Children’s and Adult Sunday School; Choir Practice
10:30 am Holy Eucharist & Younger Children’s Sunday School
First Sunday Lunch following Service

Mon. Office closed

Wed 5:30 pm Holy Eucharist and Healing Service - supper and study to follow

Sunday: First Sunday after the Epiphany

9:30 am Older Children’s and Adult Sunday School; Choir Practice
10:30 am Holy Eucharist & Younger Children’s Sunday School
Coffee Hour following Service

January 29th Smorgasborg

February 3rd Annual Parish Meeting following Morning Worship

Our Standing Announcements:
1st Sunday - Potluck Lunch following Mass
2nd Tuesday - Episcopal Church Women
3rd Monday - Vestry Meeting - 5:30 pm


Mon. & Tue Office closed

Wed 5:30 pm Holy Eucharist and Healing Service - supper and study to follow

Sunday: The Epiphany

9:30 am Older Children’s and Adult Sunday School; Choir Practice
10:30 am Holy Eucharist & Younger Children’s Sunday School
First Sunday Lunch following Service

January 27th Annual Parish Meeting

Parable of the Birds

Louis Cassels was religion editor for United Press
International.His "Parable of the Birds" has been
reprinted and rebroadcast on radio many times in
the years since it first appeared in the
Christmas editions of newspapers across the
country in 1959. The first time I heard it was many
years ago on Paul Harvey. I share it with all of
you with a prayer that it might lead us all closer
to the Light, Christ Jesus our Lord.


The Parable of the Birds

Once upon a time, there was a man who looked upon
Christmas as a lot of humbug. He wasn't a Scrooge.
He was a very kind and decent person, generous to
his family, upright in all his dealings with other men.

But he didn't believe all that stuff about God
becoming man, which churches proclaim at Christmas.
Why would God want to do anything like that?

So when his family left to attend midnight services
on Christmas Eve,he stayed home.

Shortly after the family drove away snow began to fall.
He went to the window and watched the flurries getting
heavier and heavier. Sometime later, as he was reading
his newspaper by the fire, he was startled by a thudding
sound that was quickly followed by another. Then another.

When he went to investigate, he found a flock of birds
huddled miserably in the snow. They had been caught
in the storm, and in a desperate search
for shelter had tried to fly through the window.

"I can't let these poor creatures lie there and
freeze," he thought. "But how can I help them?"

Then he remembered the barn. It would provide
a warm shelter. He quickly put on his coat and
boots and tramped throught the deepening snow to
the barn. He opened the doors wide and turned
on the light.

But the birds didn't come in.

"Food will bring them in," he thought. So he
hurried back to the house for bread crumbs,
which he sprinkled on the snow to make a
trail into the barn.

To his dismay, the birds ignored the bread crumbs
and continued to flop around helplessly in the snow.
He tried shooing them into the barn by walking around
and waving his arms. They scattered in
every direction – except into the warm, lighted barn.

"They find me a strange and terrifying creature," he
said to himself, "and I can't seem to think of any way
to let them know they can trust me."

"If only I could be a bird myself for a few minutes,
perhaps I could lead them to safety."

Just at that moment the church bells began to ring.
He stood silently for awhile, listening to the bells
pealing the glad tidings of Christmas.

Then he sank to his knees in the snow.  
"Now I understand,
"he whispered. "Now I see why You had to do it."

Grace and Peace:

Once again, the joyful celebration of the birth of Christ our Lord is upon us. As we entered the Season of Advent, we were called to pause from the often rushed preparations for Christmas and reflect on where we were at in our Christian journey - maybe even discovering that we had temporarily slid off the path.

Yet, it seems that the Holy Spirit has a way of finding us and nudging us until we pay attention and return to the journey. But we are not alone in this and it is important for us to take a look around and seek out those who are in need of a kind word, a visit, or some other gesture of kindness at this time of year.

Remember God says: “Do not fear, for I am with you. Do not be afraid for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.”
Isa. 41:10

Our Christmas Eve service begins with Carols at 10:15 pm with the Holy Eucharist beginning at 10:30 pm. It will be our opportunity to pause in this often rushed time of the year to focus on the Reason for the Season.

The following Sunday, December 30th, worship will be at our regular time, 10:30 am. It will give us another opportunity to hear beloved Christmas Scriptures and sing favorite Carols being the Sunday within the Octave of Christmas.

May the grace and peace of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit bring us all joy as we await the coming of Christ! Merry Christmas to all.

Yours in Christ
The Rev. Donald R. Perschall
Rector