The Second Sunday of Advent December 10, 2023

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Collect for Advent 2 (1979 Book of Common Prayer)



The Readings (Advent 2)

Bruton follows the First Track in the Lectionary Page. Bruton Lay Readers are sent the readings directly from the Communications Director.

Holy Eucharist, Rite I @ 8:00 a.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite II @ 9:15 a.m.

This service is live-streamed also to our YouTube Channel.

The bulletin is available here.

Join us for Coffee Connections this Sunday morning between the 9:15 and 11:15am services either in the courtyard (weather permitting) or the Custis House for coffee, water, refreshments and fellowship.

Children's Church @ 9:15am (St. Mary's Chapel)

Holy Eucharist, Rite II @ 11:15am

Canterbury Advent Lessons & Carols @ 5:30pm

Wednesday Morning Eucharists: The churchyard is open to visitors from 9:30-11am, followed by Holy Eucharist, with healing prayers, at 11am in the church.

Offerings for Children & Youth

• Nursery for newborns through age four is available this Sunday in the Parish House during the 9:15 & 11:15am services (through 12:15pm).
• Children's Church will be held this Sunday at 9:15am in St. Mary's Chapel in the Parish House. Parents are invited to bring their children around 9am, then head to the church for worship. Our children will join the congregation during the Peace, so be sure to save them a seat!
• Sunday School will be held at 10:30am upstairs in the Parish House.
• Children’s Choir will be held this Sunday from 11-11:30am upstairs in the Parish House.
• Youth Mission Trip to Asheville, NC from July 14-19. If your youth wants to participate, click the registration form!

Music Ministry Offerings

Candlelight Concerts are held in the church at 8pm. No tickets are required; a freewill offering will be gratefully received. Parking is permitted on the Duke of Gloucester in front of the church during any concert or recital. Click here for the available schedule(s).

Candlelight Concerts in the church @ 8pm

• Thursday, December 7 - Holiday Clarinet Ensemble Concert - Richmond Clarinet Choir - Anne Coldiron, Director
• Saturday, December 8 - New Dominion Choraliers Community Choir from Prince William County, Virginia - Katherine Nelson-Tracey, Director
• Tuesday, December 12 - Holiday Choral Concert: Magnificat by Taylor Scott Davis - A Light in the Stable by Alan Bullard - Bruton Parish Choirs & Orchestra, Rebecca Davy, Director 

Historical Organ Recitals in W&M's Wren Chapel @ 10am

• Friday, December 8 – Norman Elton
• Saturday, December 9 – Rebecca Davy
• Monday, December 11 – Thomas Marshall
• Thursday, December 14 – Norman Elton
• Friday, December 15 – Rebecca Davy
• Saturday, December 16 – Thomas Marshall
• Monday, December 18 – Rebecca Davy with Sophie Lowe, Violin & Ryan Lowe, Cello

Annual Giving 2024: Proclaim & Share

Thank you to all who have submitted pledges by mail, plate and online. It is encouraging to see the support for both the Annual Fund and Landmark Fund. Pledges may be fulfilled on the schedule of your choice. Read this  summary to learn more about the two priorities, and please return your pledge card or click below. Thank you!

Support Canterbury Grand Illumination Concessions

On Saturday, December 9, come purchase some ham biscuits, cookies, pretzels, and drinks during the second of this year’s Grand Illumination weekends. The fundraiser will be collecting money for Canterbury’s Mission and Pilgrimage fund. Look for Canterburians at tables in front of the Gift Shop from 2-6pm.  

Waiting with Mary: Music, Prayer and Reflections for Advent

All are welcome to join us in the church on Sunday, December 10, at 4pm. During what is often a busy season, the Women of Bruton invite everyone to spend a Sabbath hour listening to Advent-themed readings and harp music. Led by the Rev’d Lauren McDonald and accompanied by Courtney Birkett, this program will provide a time of prayer and reflection as we wait with Mary for the coming of the Christ child. 

Advent & Christmas Concert

Bruton Choirs will perform their annual Advent and Christmas concert with a chamber orchestra on Tuesday, December 12, at 8pm. A newly-composed Magnificat by Taylor Scott Davis and Alan Bullard’s A Light in the Stable will be the featured music. A Light in the Stable includes readings and congregational participation on some well-known carols. Doors open at 7:30pm.

Bruton Parish Gift Shop

Do you know how the candy cane originated? Germans decorated their Christmas trees with sticks of sugar candy. In 1670 a choirmaster was directing a creche. In order to keep the children quiet, he passed out candy canes in the shape of a shepherds crook or, if you turned it the other way, a letter "J" for Jesus. In the 1920's the candy cane got its stripes with the red color added. It is said that the white signifies purity and the red the blood that Christ shed for each of us. The shop is brimming with red and green: trees, wreaths, Christmas poppers, ornaments, and Christmas candies. Santa Lucia's feast day is December 13th. Stop in to see our Lucia and learn her story. Remember that your purchases benefit people in need in our community. We offer a 10% discount for Bruton parishioners.

Williamsburg House of Mercy (HOM)

Each year, HOM hosts a Christmas Market filled with gift items. “Santas” (parents) then "shop" for their families. if you would like to donate a gift. Christmas Market Volunteers are needed on Wednesday, December 14, to staff the Christmas Market. Shifts will be from 8:30am–12:30 pm and 12:30–4pm. Sign up at bit.ly/BPCHOM2023.

The Greening of the Church

The Greening of the Church will take place on Friday & Saturday, December 15 & 16. Join us to build wreaths on December 15 from 8-12ish at the Parish House in Lewis Hall. No experience required. Please bring your own clippers. On December 16 we will be hanging the newly built wreaths at the church starting at 8am until we are finished. Please contact Sarah Darling at 757-871-7259 with any questions. All are welcome!

Poinsettias for the Christmas Altar

The deadline is Friday, December 15, for receiving the names to be included in the bulletin as a memorial, a thank offering, or in honor of someone special. Please make checks payable to Bruton Parish Church (with Altar Guild in the memo) and mail them to Dianne Spence at 102 Walnut Hills Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185-3427. Please do not send the checks to the church office and be sure to include your telephone number on the correspondence and/or check. Please contact Dianne directly at either dsspence@widomaker.com or 757-870-3154 or if you have any questions.

There is No Rose of Such Virtue

A Recital Honoring the Virgin Mary will be held on Thursday, December 21, at 8pm in the church. Join us for this candlelight concert sung by Sara Taylor, Lauren Clay & Claudia Kessel, Voice; Brian Blair, Voice & Cello; and Dr. JanEl Will, Organ & Harpsichord. Photo credit: Madonna and Child

Giovanni Battista Salvi, 17th c. Italy

Christmas Eve & Day Services

Join us on Sunday, December 24, for the following services celebrating Advent IV and Christmas Eve (cards-of-admission or registration/reservations are NOT required):

8 am - Holy Eucharist, Rite I (Advent IV)

10am - Holy Eucharist, Rite II (Advent IV)

4pm - Children's Christmas Pageant (and live-streamed; nursery available)

6:30pm - Holy Eucharist, Rite II (and live-streamed)

8:30pm - Holy Eucharist, Rite II

10:30pm - Holy Eucharist, Rite II

Two lines will be formed for the evening services: visitors will line up outside the Duke of Gloucester Street Gate, and parish members will line up outside the Palace Green Gate (be sure to wear your Bruton nametag). Members of the church in line will be seated first, and then visitors.

Join us Monday, December 25, for the following service on Christmas Day):

11am - Christmas Day Service of Holy Eucharist

COFM Warm Up Williamsburg

For a donation of $35, you will receive three 12 oz. containers of soup; one each of vegetable, tomato, and chili/stew.  Donate early, as there are only 200 tickets and sell out fast! To pre-order your soups, please go to cofm.info.  Distribution of the soups is scheduled for Saturday, January 27, between 10:30am and 12pm under the portico at Williamsburg Community Chapel (3899 John Tyler Highway). Please contact Victoria WcWhortor for further information.

Help Feed Our Neighbors

Can you donate a boxed holiday pie or groceries/meal components to a family living in a Motel? Sign up at Crock Pot Meals &/or Motel Meals. Can you spare 30 minutes to gather spare food so it can be delivered where it is needed? If so, sign up for Bountiful Blessings!

Audio/Visual Ministry

The A/V Ministry is in need of more teams to run the equipment for Sunday services, weddings, funerals, the First Friday Recovery Service, and for any other events that require live-streaming. It is good to have a two-member team with some experience running A/V equipment, but training will be available for those who will be dedicated to the ministry. Since you will be using church equipment and will have keys to the A/V room, you must be a member of Bruton Parish Church. Please contact Bill Dugge.

Guide Ministry Invitation

The Guide Ministry is an expression of God’s love through hospitality to all who visit the Church. Our mission is to welcome visitors and share with them the rich history of Bruton Parish Church and the adjacent churchyard, its architecture, as well as the religious history and continuing life of our parish. We have some new interested Guides, but we could always use some more help! If you would like to volunteer for a two-hour shift once a week to serve as either a Guide or Guide Ministry Greeter, please email the Guide Masters, Larry & Peg Zensinger, at guides@brutonparish.org or call them at either 703-298-9874 (Larry) or 703-346-2651 (Peg).

Confirmation Classes for Youth

Classes will be held in the Parish House next year from 4-5:00pm beginning Sunday, February 4/11/25 (not the 18th) and then March 3/10/17. Classes will be taught by Meghan Brewer, The Rev. Charlie Bauer, and other adult leaders. The Confirmation Day will be Sunday, April 21, 2024, during the 9:15am service in the church. If your child is interested in being confirmed next spring, contact Meghan Brewer.

About impersonation scams

Be alert for emails or text messages that could come to you from scammers pretending to be a business or person you know. These surge at this time of year. They may pose as a member of the parish or Bruton staff. An email that comes from an email address other than @brutonparish.org is not a legitimate communication from Bruton Parish Church. The rector will never email asking if you will do him a favor or buy gift cards. If you have any doubt about a text or email, please contact the parish office for clarification.

The Parish House is typically open for scheduled meetings or activities between 8am and 4pm, Monday-Friday (unless otherwise noted). To enter or to drop off/pick up an item, please ring the doorbell at the reception entrance door (during office hours only). Phone calls are answered during those same hours.

The peace of the Lord be always with you.

Bruton Parish Church | P.O. Box 3520 | Williamsburg, VA 23187-3520

(757) 229-2891 | Email: BPC@brutonparish.org | Website: www.brutonparish.org