November 27, The First Sunday of Advent
Wednesday, November 23, 2016 at 9:37AM Daily Scripture Readings; bookofcommonprayer.net/daily_office.php
See the different options. There is full morning and evening prayer. There is also the option of the readings only. There is also an app for receiving the daily readings by email, or on a mobile device
Sunday Scripture Readings: bookofcommonprayer.net/lectionary.php
Set it for 1979 Contemporary, and the Bible version used in Church is Revised Standard Version
Thanksgiving 2016
Liturgy for Thanksgiving: Wednesday, November 23, 7:00 p.m.
We will celebrate Thanksgiving on the evening before, Wednesday, November 23 7:00 p.m. with the Holy Eucharist. This liturgy is wonderful as we hear Scripture that touches very deeply our American consciousness, along with hymns that recall us to our heritage as well.
This seems to be a particularly important time to intentionally gather and intentionally give thanks for all the blessings we receive because we live in this country. A glaring omission in the recent election campaign from both candidates were speeches that ended in “God bless America.”
While that phrase can be cynically dismissed, something that politicians are expected to say, still it is a reminder, to paraphrase the Prayer for our Country in The Book of Common Prayer, that the one “Who gave this good land for our heritage, is God.” And because of this, as the prayer continues, “We pray that we may always prove ourselves a people mindful of your favor and glad to do your will.”
Our country is worth our taking time to make an intentional act to express gratitude.
Doing the Eucharist on the Eve of Thanksgiving gives us the opportunity to do this, to express gratitude, for benefit of our deep Christian and American roots. It leaves Thanksgiving Day itself free for celebrating with family and friends knowing the reason why.
So plan to attend the Liturgy on the Eve of Thanksgiving. It will make your Thanksgiving Day celebration all the more meaningful.
Advent Proclamation
2016
Dear sisters and brothers, the glory of the Lord has shone upon us and shall be ever manifest among us until the day of Christ's return.
Through the rhythms of time and the change of seasons let us call to mind and live the mysteries of our salvation.
The center of this Year of Grace is the Paschal Triduum of the Lord - crucified, buried and risen - celebrated between sunset of Maundy Thursday April 13, and sunset of Easter Day April 16.
Every Sunday, Holy Church makes present that great and saving deed by which Christ has forever conquered sin and death.
From the Paschal Triduum there come forth and are reckoned the forty days of Lent, begun on Ash Wednesday the 1st of March and the fifty days of Easter completed on Pentecost the 4th of June.
In the winter the Church gives witness to the glorious Nativity and Epiphany of Christ and exults in the blessed hope of the Lord Jesus' advent at the end of time.
Likewise the pilgrim Church proclaims Christ died, risen, and with us today in the mysteries of the Lord, in the feasts of the holy Mother of God, and of the apostles and saints, and in the commemoration of all the faithful departed.
To Christ who was, who is, and who is to come, Lord of time and history be endless praise, for ever and ever Amen.
Advent Event: A great time.
Those who attended the Advent Event last Sunday had a great time. We had a wonderful potluck lunch, very good conversation, and a lot of Advent Wreaths were made.
Thank you to Rebecca Woods for decorating the tables and leading the wreath making.
Annual Giving for 2017 is underway
Church of the Angels Annual Giving for 2017
Last Sunday after the 10:15 Liturgy, one of our new parishioners commented that our Annual Giving Drive was “very gentle.” This person has wide experience in the Episcopal Church and said that what we do stands in sharp contrast to other parishes he knows. “There was Bills talk,” he said, “And that was about it.”
He’s right, we do the Annual Giving Drive in a very low-key way and through the years, parishioners have generously supported the parish with their tithes and offerings. Year by year when Bill talks to us, he simply states the facts, and invites all to join in and take part.
This year we have added something to make the process of Pledging even more gentle. In addition to our regular mailing with a pledge card and return envelope, we have made it possible to submit your pledge on line. We have a link to our website which you can go to, fill out, and submit your pledge.
To access on line pledging go to : : http://www.coa-pasadena.org/pledge
When you press the “Submit” button your pledge card will automatically go to an email address specifically for the Parish Treasurer.
If you have already submitted your Annual Giving Pledge for 2017, we thank you. If you haven’t yet, please make use of the on line pledge link. The mail in cards are fine too. If you’ve never make an Annual Giving Pledge before, we urge you to consider doing so. In a parish our size, everyone’s contribution is vital.
Altar Flowers for 2017
This Sunday we’ll begin taking sign ups for Altar Flowers for 2017. See the Sign Up Sheet on the table outside Church on Sunday.
Christmas Flowers and Decorations for the Church
We will begin taking sign up for donating toward the decorating of the Church for Christmas. People can sign up to decorate for the various flower arrangements.
Entrance Arrangement: $50.00
Window Arrangements $40.00 each. Need 7
Altar Arrangements $50.00 each Need 2
Greenery around the baptistery: $70.00
Poinsettias $10.00 each.
We’ll have some pictures so everyone can see what they are donating.
Along with the Sign Up there will be a place to write your memorial or offering. All those will be acknowledged in the Christmas bulletins.
Food For Thought
On the Food For Thought Table this Sunday, a wonderful piece of long form journalism. The article is from the recent issue of Harpers and is entitled, A Priest in the Trees. It is the story of an Episcopal priest, who began his life as a forest ecologist, and now has formed a congregation he calls, The Church in the Woods. It’s a story of conversion, in that he once had no use for religion, spiritual depth and contemplative prayer, liturgy, and social concern based not on activism but the deepest resources of the Christian Tradition. The author understands as in “gets it,” in terms of what the faith means. Once again, we have a very secular publication talking about the deep things of faith. Also, we get a glimpse of the Episcopal religious sensibility at its best.
Emmaus Road: Monday November 21, 7:00 p.m.
The Great Courses: Reading Biblical Literature from Genesis to Revelation
Emmaus Road begins a program looking at portions of a new class from The Teaching Company’s Great Courses. Reading Biblical Literature From Genesis to Revelation. The Great Courses are lectures on a wide range of subjects given by outstanding, award winning college professors. The lectures are a half hour in length. We will jump around the course on the Bible and viewing specific topics in order of interest rather than chronology. The lectures for Monday will be: Jewish Identity and Rebuilding after the Exile. No reading is involved, Everyone is welcome to participate and you can come to any or all.