St Mary Anne Admin, Author at St Mary Anne's Church

2020 Parishioner Advent Reflections Day 3

December 1, 2020 by St Mary Anne Admin

As a child, I had the advantage of growing up in a church community with long-standing Christmas traditions. Long before the Halloween decorations came down and the last piece of Thanksgiving pies were joyfully eaten, plans were underway for decorating the Sanctuary, gathering Christmas Carolers to visit homes, making costumes for the Christmas pageant and deciding who would have the best roles (a sheep or an angel)! All this excitement made up the Advent Season and successfully competed with any of the Santa Claus helper sightings at the local mall.

One special year it was decided the Children’s Choir could sit and sing with the Adult Choir at the Christmas Eve Service. I was chosen to sing the first verse of “Oh Holy Night.”

The church was decorated with fresh greens and roping. Candles glowed in the windows making beautiful shadows on the baby Jesus tucked in the crib. Narcissus, with their petite white flowers and delicate scent, and bright poinsettias surrounded the altar. I could hear the shuffle of parishioners getting comfortable in their seats. My parents’ and grandparents’ faces were anxious and proud hoping I would not forget the words. I had been practicing every day for weeks but, as often happens, that morning I woke with a scratchy throat. Finally just as the lights dimmed, leaving only a gentle light shining on the baby Jesus, the organist began playing the introduction to “Oh Holy Night”. It was magical! As members of the Children’s Choir in Angel costumes surrounded the baby Jesus, my voice began the beautiful lyrics as only a child’s voice can … “Oh Holy night! The Stars are brightly shining, it is the night of our dear Savior’s birth”.

I hope this Advent season you are filled with child-like anticipation of God’s renewed promise of that Most Holy Night.

Mary G. Park Neureither

2020 Parishioner Advent Reflections Day 2

November 30, 2020 by St Mary Anne Admin

Each October and November, I get in the mood to do “fall cleaning”. As a kid, I helped my mom wash walls and windows, and ready our home for harsh Connecticut winters. We packed away summer bedspreads and curtains and replaced them with heavier bedding and window coverings. After a few days of housework, we stood back to admire our spruced-up home with the familiar warm comforts of the previous winter.

Many years later, I continue some of the same habits and find contentment in “being prepared” for the next season. I suspect our Altar Guild members find a similar comfort when they prepare and switch our seasonal church hangings to decorate the altar. The weather outside our church windows does not influence the hangings—rather the church liturgical cycle divides the year into a series of seasons. Each one has its own mood, theological emphases, prayers and scripture readings, and seasonal colors.

We are now in Advent—a four-week church season in which to prepare for the “coming” of Christ with devotion and joyful expectation. The Altar Guild switched the hangings from green to blue. The Flower Committee decorated the Advent Wreath; and for the next four weeks, we light its candles to special prayers. All these church traditions remind us of the One who taught hope, peace, faith and love.

Each year, I prepare for the “coming” of Christ with comforting cultural traditions at home. I deck the halls with boughs of holly, bake, shop and wrap, and find some temporary joy in the process. I admit, though, any lasting joyful expectation of hope and peace derives from a different type of preparation—a year-round effort to understand the scriptural reassurances that Christ will come again in Glory.

Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Luke 21:27

Karen Schaeffer

2020 Parishioner Advent Reflection Day #1

November 30, 2020 by St Mary Anne Admin

COME LORD JESUS by Bob Doyle
(A SHORT HISTORY OF ADVENT)

It is ironic that the early Church struggled with establishing the season of Advent. Once the Church settled on a calendar, Lent was kind of a no-brainer. The Crucifixion and Resurrection tell a story that makes perfect sense for a period of penance and redemptive acts in, what Christians believe to be, the given path to salvation. Forty days shows up everywhere in the Old Testament so Lent was inevitable in preparation for Easter. But what about Christmas?

The Incarnation had its own message that needed time to be understood and accepted. The early Church Fathers understood this but first they had to clarify what exactly that message was. Again fixing on one calendar played a role. In the 4th and 5th centuries 40 days were set aside in the Church calendar to prepare for the Epiphany. This had become the time for new initiates to prepare for baptism. It wasn’t until the 6th century that the Roman Church established Advent not as a preparation for Christ’s birth but rather as a time to prepare for his second coming or the End of Days. It wasn’t until the Middle Ages that the Church began using the Advent Season to celebrate Christ’s birth. But this newer sense of the Lord’s Advent did not supplant preparation for the Second Coming.

So what is the true purpose of Advent? First it is about learning how to wait not only for Christmas Day but for Christ’s second coming. Then it is the mystery of the Incarnation and what this means for humankind’s ultimate salvation. It is about the Redemption that God has gifted us with the arrival of His Son. And finally it is preparation for the Gift of the Incarnation itself.

And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen His glory, the glory of a father’s only son full of Grace and truth. John 1:14

Advent Begins on November 29

November 30, 2020 by St Mary Anne Admin

Dear Parishioners,
As we begin a new church year tomorrow with our Advent season, I am certain our parish is eager to say goodbye to this one. Last December our church year began with much hope and promise as we anticipated and then celebrated Christ’s birth. In January, we felt joy when we remembered Christ’s baptism and then baptized a total of five babies and children in that month and the next.

Our joy began to diminish, though, when this virus threat coincidentally arrived during our 40-day Lenten season. The virus lingered and sadly encroached far beyond that solemn and penitential season and forced us to cancel our in-person Easter celebration and many of our cherished activities and traditions. More important and even worse, there continues an incalculable loss of life, health and livelihood for millions of people worldwide.

We learned this year the virus remains indifferent to all persons, and the calendar. Tomorrow, we can say goodbye to the church year but unfortunately we need to wait a bit longer to bid adieu to this virus. The COVID pandemic continues to challenge us as we work to keep everyone attending in-person worship safe and healthy. There is good news, though, as many viable vaccines may soon be available. So, we are encouraged to start looking forward to healthier and brighter days ahead.

Speaking of “brighter days”, we wait once again for that “light of Christ” to emerge from the darkness at Advent’s conclusion on Christmas Day. Tomorrow begins our time to “prepare” and ready ourselves for the blessed hope and the coming of our savior, Jesus Christ.

To that end, we work to maintain some sense of normalcy, hope, tradition—and connection–through this dark and challenging time. With that intention, I am grateful to Andrea Pugh for suggesting and implementing a Parish Advent Reflection project. For 27 days, beginning tomorrow, you will receive a parishioner’s Advent or Christmas reflection through your email.

I took a sneak peek at them and found them to be thought provoking and charming; they also give glimpses into different parish family traditions, history, and faith journeys. I believe these reflections can help connect—or reconnect you—to each other and encourage you to prepare for “the coming” of our Lord with joy and expectation.

Thank you to Andrea Pugh, Nancy Leizear, Wendy Gilbert and Karen Schaeffer for organizing, editing, and formatting this project. Much appreciation goes to the 27 parishioners who submitted a reflection to share.

At St. Mary Anne’s, we remain focused on our mission, and to “keep the light on”–the light and hope of Christ–for all of you. We hope you enjoy these reflections, and pray they encourage you to keep the light on Christ as you await His Coming in Glory.

Blessings,
Fr. John

For at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light .
Ephesians 5:8

St. Mary Anne’s Music Ministry Raffle for a Handmade Knitted Nativity Set

November 27, 2020 by St Mary Anne Admin

We are raffling off a beautiful handknitted nativity set to benefit our music ministry. Our beloved parishioner, Amanda Summers-Marr, handmade this one of a kind treasure and put much time and effort into this detailed beautiful set. She told us, “After my serious brain surgery in 2017, I have been trying to get back to normal. This year I spent several months learning how to knit again and I am very pleased to let you know that I have mastered it!”

As you can tell from the pictures, she certainly has. The beautiful set can be displayed and enjoyed for many years since “they don’t break if you drop a piece”. It’s a perfect gift for any family, especially those with children or grandchildren.

The wooden Christmas stable, built by parishioner Larry Gibeck, is 28″ x 16″. Amanda’s work features all the figures of the Nativity including, Mary, Joseph, the baby Jesus, the three Wiseman, two shepherds and two sheep. Each knitted adult character is between 8-10″ in height.

Funds raised from the raffle will benefit our St. Mary Anne’s String Studio, so local children can receive scholarships for violin or piano lessons from Joel Alarcon.

Each ticket is $1.00; six tickets for $5.00. You can purchase them online through our website donate button. Once there, click “online giving form” and then “other” and indicate “nativity” in the space provided. Checks can also be mailed to the church office. Amanda will give you your ticket numbers. Please contact her with any questions at amanda_jane1@live.com or call at 302-442-2713.

Please buy your tickets soon! Deadline is Dec. 19 and drawing is Sunday, December 20.

2020 Parishioner Advent Reflections Day 3

2020 Parishioner Advent Reflections Day 2

2020 Parishioner Advent Reflection Day #1

Advent Begins on November 29

St. Mary Anne’s Music Ministry Raffle for a Handmade Knitted Nativity Set

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