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VOL. 46 ISSUE 7
Advent 2016
Christmas is the time to celebrate the birth of hope
and possibility. Jesus opened the eyes of the blind to
see the spirit of the laws that assured the relationship
between God and God’s people. At that time, laws
were being interpreted in such a way that they were
holding God’s people captive, instead of setting them
free. Can you accept the living Spirit in your relationship
with God, letting go of worldly “musts” and “shoulds”
and instead live in the knowing that God loves you.
Accept forgiveness for past wrongs and let them go. Let
the feeling of joy embrace you when you love yourself
and others.
Epiphany is the time to
celebrate the “so what?”
The birth of Jesus matters
because the wise men
recognized Jesus as the gift
the whole world was waiting
to receive, not only the
Hebrew people. When we
accept the gift of Jesus, then we can become the gift for
others too. Epiphany is when we let the light absorb the
darkness and learn how to be the light. It is when we
acknowledge that Jesus is not only among us, but is also
in us. Like the wise men, we can respond to this gift by
giving back, to God, to ourselves and to our neighbors,
every day, not just during “the holidays” by simply being
our true selves.
Fai thful ly,
Rev. Mary
We are entering into the wonderful season of “what
could be;” the season of Advent. Christmas follows, the
season of “what is.” And then comes Epiphany, the
season of “so what?” In the secular world we generically
call this time “the holidays.” It begins with Thanksgiving
and ends abruptly on January
2nd, when the decorations are
put away and we get back to
the business of our everyday
lives. I encourage you instead
to separate these three
seasons.
Advent is the time to stay present and wonder what
could be. Amidst all the errands and long to do lists,
make time to pay attention to what God may be making
possible for you. What “could be” if you pay attention
to the yearning in your heart? I don’t think we ever stop
becoming who we are meant to be. There are long
forgotten gifts within each of us. There are
unrecognized gifts that are waiting to be discovered.
Taking the time to find these gifts will be time well
spent. Offering yourself as a gift is the best present you
can give. Excavating these gifts leads us to a better and
truer understanding of ourselves is wisdom. When
Jesus came and walked among us, the most precious gift
he shared was wisdom. Instead of spending time
shopping and money buying things for others, think
about how things might be different if you gave yourself
in the unique way God made you?
“
2 A D V E N T 2016
Advent Week One
Fellowship in Community
There is a hopeful welcome in this holy
message of our future days. Here at St.
Michael’s, we have been working on plans for future
improvements to our buildings and grounds so that all
are welcomed in beauty, comfort and safety.
The St. Michael’s Campus Space Renovation Program is
picking up speed. The Campus Space Committee had
purposely slowed down project development in order to
listen to the concerns of the community. Some in the
Parish were uncertain about the architect’s proposal to
move the altar to the center of the church. Some
people said that they could not determine whether they
would be in support of the moving the altar because it
was difficult to envision how our worship experience
would look and feel. To address those concerns, we
asked the architect to prepare visual simulation
drawings to show how the church would appear after
the renovation. We convened a second meeting of the
Advisory Group to review the simulations and to discuss
this aspect of the renovation plan.
The Advisory Group was well attended and there was a
vigorous discussion about the proposal to move the
altar. While not everyone expressed support for
moving the altar, the overall sentiment was strongly in
support of the move. A review of the comments from
the workshop tables showed that more than 80 percent
of the comments about the altar move were positive.
The night is far spent;
the day draws near.
- Romans 13:12
© 2003 Liturgy Training Publications art by Julie Lonneman
t h e M es s e n g e r
The Campus Space Committee met November 20 and
discussed the altar move in detail, reviewing the pros
and cons. The Committee voted unanimously to
recommend to the Vestry that moving the altar be part
of the design. The Vestry met on November 21 and
spent considerable time discussing the altar move
proposal. The support among the Vestry for the altar
move was also unanimous.
The Campus Space Committee has formed a
subcommittee to make decisions about design details
(finishes, flooring, etc.). We are meeting with the
architect and contractor to work on refining the cost
estimates. Currently, we expect final Finance
Committee approval of the financing plan in early
January and final Vestry approval in mid-January. After
completing construction drawings and obtaining permits
and construction bids this spring, we hope to begin
construction in early June, as soon as school is out.
In addition, laboratory tests have shown that the floor
tile glue, floor tiles, and ceiling surfacing (“popcorn”) all
contain asbestos. As asbestos is a material that can
cause cancer, it is very important that we remove these
materials from our church and it is part of the
renovation plan that we do so.
The Committee is also working with Rev. Mary and the
St. Michael’s Staff to develop plans for temporary
relocation, during construction, of Sunday services and
other activities that take place in the church. It is
currently planned that summer services will be held in
Johnstone Hall. This will be an opportunity for all of us
to get “out of our comfort zone” over the summer and
then return to a beautiful, renovated St. Michael’s
Church in the fall. Construction is expected to last about
four months, so we should be back in the renovated
church some time in October or November.
The renovation is a very important and exciting opportunity to make St. Michael’s new again. The church interior has not seen a major renovation since it was first constructed 53 years ago, in 1963. Please join me in lending your whole-hearted support for this landmark program for our Parish.
S T . M I C H A E L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H 3
A D V E N T 2016
during the first week of Advent Parish Events
Are you supporting a ministry at St.
Michael’s? Have you ever considered being an
acolyte? The word acolyte is derived from the Greek
word akolouthos, meaning companion, attendant, or
helper. Acolytes have a rich history both in the Old
Testament of the Bible and in the ancient Church. In the
ancient Church, there were four Minor Orders (the
highest being acolyte, then exorcist, lector and
porter). The acolyte is a service of honor to God and to
the worshiping community. In the early times, the
purpose of the order was to prepare young men to
become priests. Not until the 1980s were girls and
women allowed to serve.
Although ministries and
doctrines have changed over
time, the core duties of an
acolyte have remained much
the same for hundreds of
years. Acolyte duties then
and now included lighting
and extinguishing candles, carrying candles in
procession, taking charge of the alms basin (offering
bowl), helping the priest prepare for the Eucharist, and
generally fetching and carrying. At St. Michael’s we
are seeking Church members both adults and
children alike (grades six through twelve) that
are interested in being more involved in their
faith and being a part of our overall ministry
and service to our congregation. If you are
interested in learning more about this ministry please
call Pam Busby 916-440-6248 (evenings) or speak with
Reverend Mary, Deacon Cindy and our Seminarian Dave
during the Coffee Hour.
In Johnstone Hall on Friday, Dec. 2 at 7:30 PM will be
the annual Celtic Christmas Celebration, a night of high-
energy holiday magic featuring Molly's Revenge, a
renowned Celtic band joined by a lovely team of step-
dancers and the vocals of Christa Burch. The show has
been reviewed as "a seriously joyous, masterly musical
experience" and again figures to be a sell-out.
Tickets may be purchased after
church services or online
www.mollysrevenge.com.
MERCY AND SOCIAL JUSTICE GRANT CYCLE OPEN!
Here at St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, all proceeds
from fundraising efforts go to community outreach. Our
2016 Indoor Yard Sale and Octoberfest were very
successful, thanks to the efforts of many dedicated
people! Therefore, you are now invited to nominate an
outreach program to receive a grant. Priority given to
programs that address basic survival needs of food,
shelter, clothing and life skills and in which St. Michael’s
parishioners are involved. All applications must be
received in the church office by Dec 15th, 2016.
Grants awarded in early January 2017. For more
information contact:
Deacon Cindy [email protected]
Sue Gaston [email protected]
Application available on our website under Mercy &
Social Justice and in the church office.
4 A D V E N T 2016
Advent Week Two
Community Support
This peaceful commonwealth of God in the
reading from Isaiah imagines all of humanity
living in harmony. It is a world where we care deeply
for every human being, especially in those in grief or
pain. At St. Michael’s, we care for each other through 4
tiers of pastoral care:
Tier 1- Caring Hearts To those in our community
needing some extra assistance, volunteers provide a
meal, rides to an appointment/other errands or rides to
church /church events.
Tier 2- Pastoral Partners Volunteers offer
intentional hospitality and support through
regular check-ins with members who may be feeling
isolated due to illness or other life circumstances.
Tier 3- Pastoral Ministers and Bereavement
Ministry Volunteers offer ongoing spiritually-based
pastoral care after clergy have attended to initial crisis.
We use Community of Hope Curriculum for training.
Tier 4- Clergy Pastoral Care & Support
Groups Clergy care is available both on an individual
basis and through leadership in a group setting. Deacon
Cindy leads a bereavement group, GriefShare, that
meets two times a month.
Then the wolf shal l be
a guest of the lamb,
with a l i t t le chi ld to
guide them.
- Isaiah 11:6 © 2003 Liturgy Training Publications art by Julie Lonneman
t h e M es s e n g e r
MORE ABOUT GRIEFSHARE:
When a loved one dies, we are often shocked by the
intensity and number of feelings that grief can bring.
Emotional pain, exhaustion, anger, and overwhelming
sadness are just some of the feelings we experience
when we are grieving. One of the first things we talk
about in our GriefShare group is that everyone grieves
differently and there is no one right way to grieve or a
correct timeline. As a group we come together to share
our journeys and learn from the program. Members
support one another through the common experience
of living with grief.
“GriefShare is very beneficial for people no matter
where you are in your grief journey. The death I grieve
was not recent but I have come to realize that though I
thought I could handle it on my own at the time, I did
not really work through everything I needed to. Our
GriefShare program is very caring, intimate and open to
all.” (from a St Michael’s GriefShare participant)
GriefShare is a 13 session faith based grief program that
includes time for check in, video and discussion. We
meet on the 2nd and 4th Sundays of each month from
3pm-4:45pm in the conference room. The last session
of the current cycle was Sunday November 27th .
GriefShare will be resuming on Sunday January 22nd .
Interested in finding out more about GriefShare, or are
you a person who prefers individual meetings or
referrals to grief resources?
To learn more about the ways in which St. Michael’s
creates a supportive community in times of need,
please visit our website or contact Deacon Cindy,
For His Sake, I am but one, but I am one. I cannot do everything, but I can do something. What I can do, I ought to do . What I ought to do , by the grace of God I wi l l do . Lord, what wil l you have me do?
S T . M I C H A E L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H 5
A D V E N T 2016
Saturday Dec. 10 8AM
Rey Azteca 6400 Fair Oaks Blvd.
Carmichael, CA 95608
during the second week of Advent Parish Events
WONDERING IF YOU ARE CALLED?
No special spiritual attributes are needed to become a
Daughter of the King – only a sincere desire to draw
nearer to God, and to help others do the same. We are
women living a Rule of Prayer and Service to our
neighbors. Parishioners can look to us for love and help
in time of need or loneliness. We seek to walk with God
as our guide and try to draw those with whom we come
in contact into the church. We are women who work to
spread Christ’s Kingdom here on earth. We can never
forget that prayer is the foundation from which our
service grows. - DOK National, www.doknational.org)
For more information, please contact Sue Corbin, [email protected]
Our next meeting:
Monday December 10
Luncheon 10AM Friendship Center
FAITH GROWS IN SMALL GROUPS
The many small groups that meet throughout St.
Michael’s parish build lasting relationships where we
can ask questions and find answers about our Christian
faith. Hearing about the faith journeys of others can
have a profound impact on our daily lives.
Studying holy scripture provides a strong foundation in
our relationship with God. Meeting each week on
Thursday mornings, Rev. Mary’s bible study is open to
all. This diverse group reads, reflects and learns about
the bible, one book at a time. The group is just finishing
up Luke during the season of Advent and will starting
another book at the beginning of the Christmas and
Epiphany seasons in January. Everyone is welcome to
participate on a drop-in basis.
St. Michael’s calendar, always accessible on our
website, is full of ways you can be involved. Please
contact Rev. Mary, Deacon Cindy or Dave Rickert if
you’d like to find a group that is just right for you.
Coffee Hour during Christmas & Epiphany
We are fortunate to have so many generous people at
St. Michael’s who give of their time and talents by
providing hospitality and food after Sunday morning
services. Besides an opportunity for our members to
gather, Coffee Hour provides a critical way we
welcome new people. Christians gathering around
food grows our community; Jesus is always settling
down to a meal in the Gospels!
This important ministry could use some more
volunteers. Please consider signing up for a Sunday to
bring something to share or help out in the kitchen with
preparation or clean-up. Thank you!
To find out how you can help, please contact:
Susan Johnson [email protected]
Kate Muris [email protected]
6 A D V E N T 2016
A New Church Year
Community Moving Forward
HAPPY NEW (CHURCH) YEAR!
The first Sunday in Advent, November 27, marks the
beginning of the Church year. Besides the change of
color on the altar and clothing of those serving, this new
Church year marks a different cycle of scripture
readings, Year A. These readings are used by a large
majority of Protestant Churches in Canada and the
United States. Many Sunday readings match those of
the Roman Catholic Church, but in a number of
instances, the two differ, primarily on specific Roman
Catholic feast days.
A lectionary is a table of those readings from Scripture
appointed to be read at public worship. The Lectionary
(1969, revised 1981) developed by the Roman Catholic
Church after Vatican II provided for a three-year cycle of
Sunday readings. This Roman lectionary provided the
basis for the lectionary in 1979 edition of The Book of
Common Prayer, as well as for lectionaries developed
by many other denominations.
The Common Lectionary, published in 1983, was an
ecumenical project of several American and Canadian
denominations, developed out of a concern for the
unity of the church and a desire for a common
experience of Scripture. It was intended as a
harmonization of the many different denominational
approaches to the three-year lectionary.
The Revised Common Lectionary, published in 1992 and
officially adopted by The Episcopal Church in 2006,
takes into account constructive criticism of the Common
Lectionary based on the evaluation of its trial use, and
like the current prayer-book lectionary, is a three-year
cycle of Sunday Eucharistic readings in which Matthew,
Mark, and Luke are read in successive years with
some material from John read in each year.
- from episcopalchurch.org
We are one body
in Chris t .
- 1 Corinthians 10:17
© 2003 Liturgy Training Publications art by Julie Lonneman
t h e M es s e n g e r
S T . M I C H A E L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H 7
A D V E N T 2016
Seasons of Christmas & Epiphany Parish Events B U I L D F O R U N I T Y
Interfaith Building Project
SATURDAY January 7 7:30AM - 1:30PM
SATURDAY February 11 7:30AM - 1:30PM
VOLUNTEER FOR BUILD FOR UNITY!
WHAT? “Build for Unity” is an interfaith building
project of Habitat for Humanity of Greater Sacramento. The goals are to bring people together of different backgrounds and faiths, to put aside differences and to build homes and unity in our community.
Who? Sacramento’s Muslim and various interfaith
communities have come together to fund two Habitat homes. The homes are being built next door to each other in North Sacramento as a permanent representation of unity within our community.
St Michael’s Mercy & Social Justice Committee has donated $1,000 of our outreach funds from the Indoor Yard Sale to support this project. As sponsors, our congregation will have the opportunity to help with the building of the two houses.
When? Signup boards coming December 4th.
Ten builders and one hospitality person are needed
for each day. Volunteers age 16 years and up are welcome. (Under 18years must be with legal guardian).
No experience necessary, onsite training provided.
Come, have fun and help build a better world!
Contact Deacon Cindy
S AV E T H E DAT E
February 25, 2017
Now that OKTOBERFEST* is done we are busy planning
our next event!
St. Michael’s CRAB FEED will held February 25, 2017 and
we are planning a feast, so ask your family and friends.
Reserve a table or two. All you can eat: crab, pasta,
salad and bread. We’ll also be featuring very special
desserts.
We are looking for volunteers to serve on our
committee. This is a wonderful way to get to know
people in the parish and have a lot of fun working with a
fantastic group of people! If you are interested please
call Marcie Larkey 488-6960 or Gail McMichael 359-
3506 to volunteer.
*Oktoberfest was a sellout crowd. We had a wonderful
evening filled with love and friendship, great food,
music AND we raised over $20,000 that will be given to
community organization that focus on basic needs. You
can’t get better than that! Watch future Messengers to
find out where our money goes!
Make a Big Difference @ Starr King
School supplies are needed throughout the year at our
neighborhood school. Some of the things you would
normally throw away have recycling value. Less waste
goes to the landfill and our young neighbors benefit!
These donations purchase school supplies:
Old batteries
Cell phones
Ink cartridges
Box Tops/ Labels for Education
Please place in cabinet drawers in Narthex.
Remember, a little done by a lot of us can make a huge
difference to many young lives at Starr King K-8. Thank
you so much!
8 A D V E N T 2016
Advent Week Three d
sCommunity in Outreach See how the farmer
awaits the precious
yie ld of the soi l .
- James 5:7
© 2003 Liturgy Training Publications art by Julie Lonneman
t h e M es s e n g e r
Why To extend St. Michael’s hospitality to our
neighborhood kids walking home from school. Our
young neighbors are hungry, thirsty and looking for a
safe place on the way home. We hear about their day at
school and what is going on in their lives.
What Mercy & Social Justice provides funds for snacks.
Water is distributed out of a large orange cooler using
plastic tumblers from kitchen. Used tumblers are placed
in a plastic tub and washed in kitchen. Fruit (grapes,
strawberries, bananas) and a roll-up on a tortilla are also
provided. To prevent littering, only food is distributed,
no napkins, utensils, etc.
Where In front of the parish hall, by the tile bench on a
6 foot plastic table.
When Wednesdays: Arrive about 2PM, set up by 2:15.
Clean-Up by 3:00PM
Who You - our generous volunteers! Please consider
signing up for a date. 2 volunteers needed each week to
prepare snacks and visit with the kids.
Contact Dave Rickert
Outreach at St. Michael’s comes in many forms.
Through financial support and hands-on volunteering,
our members’ impact starts in our local neighborhood
and extends out in to the world. For our local school,
Starr King K-8, we gather backpacks in the fall, provide
funds for school supplies throughout the year and also
serve refreshments each week. At St. Matthew’s,
our next dinner will be on December 5th. This is
our special holiday dinner where we distribute dozens
of “Angel Bags” filled with personal hygiene items. St.
Michael’s volunteers provided the sewing of each bag to
each item inside. Besides dinner, the St. Michael’s Choir
will provide music and there will also be crafts for the
kids. Santa, along with his helpers, will also be there. We
welcome your help at this special event.
St. Michael’s is a place where you can make a positive
change in your local neighborhood, your city and the
world. Thank you for your help!
9 A D V E N T 2016
S T . M I C H A E L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H
Retired Old Men Eating Out
Thursday December 15
12pm lunch
Serritella’s 6346 Fair Oaks Boulevard
during the third week of Advent Parish Events
ALL SAINTS
Blue Christmas Service
SUNDAY DECEMBER 18 4PM
All Saints Episcopal Church
2076 Sutterville Rd.
Sacramento, CA 95822
All are welcome
This service is a time to bring our whole lives into the
presence of God, particularly those parts that make us
“blue.” Whether it is the loss of a loved one, a change
in health or any difficult life situation, God longs to be
with us and to let us know love and comfort. We will
gather, hear and reflect on God’s word and share the
Eucharist. We have the opportunity to allow God to
comfort us and those around us. We will meet at St
Michael’s at 3:15pm and carpool to All Saints,
returning for Lessons and Carols at St Michael’s.
RSVP Deacon Cindy
GOD’S HELPING HANDS LAUNDRY
Saturday December 17
Every Third Saturday of the Month
Launderland Fulton Ave
We provide washing and drying of 2 loads of laundry
per guest. We serve up to 20 guests per Saturday.
You can assist Helping Hands Laundry by:
Volunteering to assist guests
Donations of quarters (Jar located in Narthex)
Liquid detergent
A coffee chain store donates a traveler of coffee with all
the fixings, please join us!
Come join us, contact Mary Groesbeck
[email protected] or 485-5587
N O O N M EA L P R E PA R AT I O N
WEDNESDAY DECEMBER 21 7:15AM
Every month, a group of our
parishioners helps the Loaves
and Fishes kitchen staff
prepare food for the noon
meal for needy, mostly
homeless people. The near-
downtown facility normally feeds about 650 people. The
culinary staff directs us in a variety of tasks such as
cutting vegetables, opening cans or stirring large
containers of warming ingredients. We arrive at 7:15
a.m. on the third Wednesday of each month and find 90
minutes' work extremely satisfactory. Interested? More
volunteers are welcome.
Contact John Jervis, 482-1354
10 A D V E N T 2016
Advent Week Four d
s
The vi rgin shal l be
with chi ld .
- Matthew 1:23
© 2003 Liturgy Training Publications art by Julie Lonneman
t h e M es s e n g e r
This scripture for the fourth week
of Advent tells of expectant and
joyful waiting. At St. Michael’s
Episcopal Church, we express our
joys, sorrows and hopes as a
community in fellowship, mutual
support, outreach and song.
Each member of the St. Michael’s
Choir works to bring their best
voice in praise and thanksgiving to
God . The parishioners who give of
their talents to this ministry also
make a weekly commitment of
time to practice each Thursday evening and again on
Sunday mornings right before the 10AM service. Each
year, we gather on retreat to work on our skills and enjoy
the coastal scenery. Here we are at last month’s retreat:
Community in Song
WORSHIP God by joining the St. Michael’s Choir!
Psalm 139 tells us that we are each marvelously
made - please talk to our Music Director about how
your voice can be a part of this ministry. All
experience levels are welcome.
Contact Connie Weichert
11 A D V E N T 2016
during the fourth week of Advent
S T . M I C H A E L ’ S E P I S C O P A L C H U R C H
during Advent & Christmas
Parish Events
Sunday Dec. 18 5PM
The nine traditional readings begin with Genesis
and end with the Gospel of John, following the
story of the fall of humanity, the promise of a
new covenant and the coming of a Messiah, and
ending with the birth of Jesus Christ. Interspersed
with the readings are traditional Christmas carols,
hymns and choral anthems.
Following the service, please join us for dinner and a Christmas
Carol sing-a- long in the Parish Hall.
L E S S O N S &
C A R O L S
Saturday December 24
5PM Family Service
9PM Carols
10PM Festive Eucharist
Sunday December 25
10AM Holy Eucharist
CHRISTMAS
EVE
C H R I S T M A S
DAY
Mission St. Michael’s Episcopal Church, centered in Jesus Christ, welcomes all who desire to grow in their relationship with God.
Sunday Worship Rite II Eucharist 8am
Rite II Eucharist 10am
Music, Prayers & Eucharist 5pm
Parish Clergy The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner Bishop, Episcopal Diocese of Northern California
The Very Rev. Mary Hudak Rector
The Rev. Rodney Davis Associate
The Rev. Cindy Long Deacon
Vestry Doug Davy Senior Warden Kate Muris Junior Warden Diane Rehrer Clerk Cary Adams Member Bryan Barry Member
Anna Johnson Member Susan Johnson Member Bob McMichael Member Gail McMichael Member Savannah Olivier Member Michael Patrick Member Huey Tidwell Member
Staff & Volunteers Constance Weichert Music Director
Dave Rickert Communications & Family Ministries
John Cozza Organist
Glenn Croy Sexton
Mari Reddell Office Manager/Bookkeeper
Bob McMichael Treasurer
Office Hours Monday - Friday 9am - 4pm
The St. Michael’s Messenger (USPS 011923) is published by
St. Michael’s Episcopal Church at the above address.
