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From the Rector
Dear St. Patrick's, Grace and Peace and Happy New Year! This past Sunday was the first Sunday of Advent and the first Sunday of the Church year. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Christ celebrated on Christmas Day. Someone asked me on Sunday about the color for Advent. Several years ago, St. Patrick's transitioned to blue from the traditional purple. One can see this change in the Advent Wreath candles and the altar hangings. There is a reason for the change of color (the primary reason was not that it looked good). When seasonal colors were introduced in Christian practice in the 12th century, purple was used for both Advent and Lent because both are seasons of preparation. The two seasons are similar in their tone but they aren't the same. Lent is much more focused on penitence and fasting, while Advent's preparation is filled with patience and hope for Jesus' return. With that in mind, the Church reassessed the color of the season and made blue (lighter in tone than a normal blue) an option for churches that wanted to delineate that hopeful tone. The Advent Wreaths that some of you made on Sunday included purple candles simply because they were more readily available (and therefore less expensive). So whenever you see St. Patrick's decked with the blue of Advent, I hope that it elicits in you a feeling of preparation and hope that so marks this time of year. It is a challenge to live the quietness of the season with the busyness of our culture. Please join St. Patrick's as we try to slow down and prepare in hope (see below for different opportunities) and read or listen to my sermon from Sunday about the spiritual challenge of Advent. Last week, I spent a few days visiting my family in Nebraska. I enjoyed the time to recharge and remember the many blessings that make my life what it is today. On Friday evening, I leave for some time of reflection, pilgrimage, and education in Turkey. I will return on December 9. Faithfully, 
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 Make An Advent Wreath this Sunday, December 4th! Advent has begun! Observe the season and ready your heart and home by making an Advent wreath of evergreens and candles to take home and light at meal times. Cost of materials is $15 and includes everything you will need, including the fresh greens, candles, ribbons, and instructions for using your wreath at home. |
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Music at St. Patrick's
We know it's Advent but it's beginning to sound like Christmas in the music wing!
Our Cantoris Choir is working on music for the annual Christmas Eve Concert and we hope many of you will plan to join us. The concert begins at 9:30 before our Candlelight Christmas Eucharist. This year Louis Orphanos and I will be teaming up to include several "4-Hand" (that's two players at one piano) piano accompaniments and solos. The arrangements are from a relatively new composer, Howard Helvey, and they are great fun to play AND hear!
For the Christmas Pageant music we are once again joined by our nearly resident brass quartet players, led by Fred Irby. Get ready for lots of wonderful carols after you send your little angel or shepherd off to the costume room. The music begins at 4:45, so come early, get your little ones settled, and enjoy!
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Christmas Outreach
This week we filled a car with Christmas Gifts
 St. Patrick's collected presents for Samaritan Ministry of Greater Washington participants!
Thank you to everyone whose generosity will help make Christmas brighter for families in need. These families will choose gifts at a party this Sunday at SMGW that they will be able to surprise their kids with on Christmas morning!
We are not collecting any more gifts here at St. Pat's, but you can still access their wishlist at Amazon.com by searching for "Samaritan Ministry Wish List"
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St. Philip's Food Pantry Christmas Dinners in a Bag!
We are gearing up for the Christmas Dinner in a Bag drive for St. Philip's Food Pantry. This is our annual project to supply them with 125 bags with all the fixings for a festive Christmas dinner including hams, instant potato mix, yams, fruit and Christmas cookies.
Here is the shopping list! Start bringing in these items this week! The kids will decorate bags to pack them in on Sunday.
St. Philip's Christmas Dinner Bag
- 3-lb Ham (these need to be refrigerated-please mark "St. Philip's Christmas Dinner" and place in refrigerator in church kitchen. Canned hams are also acceptable, but hard to find)
- Package of Rice or Instant Potatoes
- Canned Yams
- Canned Green Vegetable
- Biscuit Mix
- Canned Fruit or Fruit Cocktail
- Christmas Cookies
You may also make a contribution of $25.00 or more, if time does not permit shopping. Checks made out to St. Patrick's, marked Outreach/Christmas Dinners.
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Senior Saints Lunch on Tuesday, December 13th at 12:30pm!
Please mark your calendars for the next Senior Saints lunch at 12:30 on Tuesday, December 13th in the Church Library. Please RSVP to your hostess Marilyn Mix at mameremix@aol.com or 202.965.5423. This will be a festive way to jump into the holidays! |
Bishop's Book Club for Advent
Bishop Mariann, our new bishop, recommends Always We Begin Again: The Benedictine Way of Living by John McQuiston II (15th Anniversary Edition Revised) for Advent reflection. St. Patrick's purchased several copies of the book for your convenience. (an $8 donation to cover the cost is requested). You can also order it on Amazon.com: Paperback Edition Kindle Edition
Taking time out of the busyness to read this book is a great way to prepare yourself during the Advent season. (Bishop Mariann's recommendation on her blog) |
 Advent Quiet Day: Waiting with Mary
Thursday, December 15, 2011
10 am - 3pm, St. Patrick's Library
In the Episcopal Church, Mary is often overlooked as we prepare for Christmas. Luke's account of the nativity, however, focuses on Mary. Luke says that the angel Gabriel appears to Mary, saying Greetings favored one! The Lord is with you. During this quiet day, we will reflect on how the Lord is with us today.
As part of our reflection, we will follow an Advent custom observed in Sicily, baking simple pizzas per la Madonna. We'll enjoy our pizzas at lunch (and with luck, each participant will have a spare pizza to take home).
$10 lunch & registration fee.
Reserve a space by e-mailing The Rev. Andrea Martin, andrea@stpatrickschurchdc.org
Childcare provided upon request.
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 Prepare the Way of the Lord:
Christmas Pageant Scheduled for Christmas Eve, 4:45 pm
Calling all sheep, shepherds, angels, kings and queens ...
All children, in Nursery School through 6th grade, are invited to participate in the Pageant. Casting is as follows:
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Age
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Casting
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3 & 4 Year Olds
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Sheep
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Kindergarten - 3rd Grade
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Shepherds OR Angels
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4th & 5th Grade
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Kings & Queens
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6th Grade
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Speaking & Title Roles
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If your child would like to participate in the Christmas Eve pageant, please plan to come to church by 4:15 pm on Christmas Eve (December 24) for costuming and a quick rehearsal.
If you have a 6th grader eligible for a speaking or title role, Associate Rector Andrea Martin will contact you soon with more information. 6th graders with speaking roles are asked to come to a rehearsal on Sunday, December 11th, immediately following the 10 amservice. JB Loveland will reprise her role as Director.
Sunday School News - Before the Christmas Pageant, Sunday School Children begin a 3-week Advent Unit about John the Baptist. The message of John the Baptist was "Prepare the Way of the Lord," inviting us to prepare room in our busy lives for the coming Savior. Sunday School will meet December 4th, 11th, and 18th.
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Sunday Participants on December 4th Advent II
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8am Server:
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Mary Grace Corey
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10am Server:
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Phoebe Schmidt
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Altar Guild:
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Deborah Estes
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Flower Guild:
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Advent
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Crucifer:
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Phoebe Schmidt
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Torches:
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Needed!
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Readers:
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Martin Teel, Joi Grieg
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Intercessor:
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Debbie Fickenscher
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Psalmist:
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Kim Griffith
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Greeters:
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Needed!
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Refreshments:
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Elizabeth & Owen Donley
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Lay Euch. Min.:
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Joi Grieg, Carol Jobusch, Wes Simmons
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Ushers:
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Keith Powell, David Lambert
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Vestry:
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Carlos Zarabozo, Barry Brown
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Grand Oaks:
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John Nicholson, Helen & Paul Schmitz
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Advent Caregivers Support Group
Are you caring for a spouse or parent who is aging or who has a chronic illness? Do you care for a child with ongoing physical, emotional or learning disabilities? If so, you are invited to a caregivers support group that will meet during Advent on Thursdays, December 1, 8, 15 and 23 at noon at Christ Church, Georgetown. This group will be an ongoing interdenominational group that aims to provide prayer, support, discussion and learning for those serving as caregivers. The group will be co-led by Mona Hanford, parishioner at St. Patrick's Episcopal Church and The Reverend Deirdre Eckian of Christ Church, Georgetown. Please bring a brown bag lunch.
If you have any questions, please contact Mona(mhanford@infograte.com) or Deirdre (Deirdre@christchurchgeorgetown.org).
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Labor, Love and Give Public Campaign for 2012 ended on Sunday, November 13th.
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St. Patrick's Day School Admission Office
SPECIAL CONSIDERATION APPLICATIONS FOR ADMISSION DUE FRIDAY, DECEMBER 2 All special consideration applications and supporting materials for Nursery, PK, and Kindergarten admission (for qualified applicants who are siblings of current students and Grade 6 and Grade 8 graduates of St. Patrick's, children of faculty and staff, and children of alumni and of active St. Patrick's parishioners) are due in the Admission Office by Friday, December 2. By this date, we must also receive teacher recommendations (N, PK, and K) and testing (Kindergarten only). Any applications received after this deadline will not be given special consideration. Please note that we do not extend special consideration for applicants to Grade 1 and beyond. Thank you for your cooperation. ~Jen Danish, Xiomara Hall, and Pat Spector, Day School Admission Office |
Camp Wright - Summer Camp for Kids
 Camp Wright - An accredited Episcopal camp on nearby Kent Island in Maryland is ready to enroll campers for the summer of 2012. The drive from St. Patrick's is about an hour (first exit after the Bay Bridge). The Rev. Dr. Kurt Gerhard will again serve as chaplain for Session 2 (week of June 23-29, 2012). Last year, eight St. Patrick's kids joined him. Each session enrolls approximately 140 campers and is staffed by professional administrators and counselors from around the United States and the world. The range of activities is broad including things like archery, games, crafts, and sailing (on the Chesapeake Bay). If you are interested, please register through Camp Wright (Registration Form). If you need more information or financial assistance, please contact Kurt (kurt@stpatrickschurchdc.org). |
Classifieds
HOLIDAY TREE SALE! On December 3 and 4, Bancroft Elementary School will be holding its annual Holiday Tree Sale benefiting the Bancroft PTA. (Bancroft is Lillian Keller's school.) We have a great selection of trees, including Frasier Furs, Balsams, Douglas, White Pine, and Scotch Pine. Trees of every size to fit every budget. We also sell roping and wreaths. The sale starts at 10 on Saturday and Sunday, and goes to 4 pm (or until we sell out on Sunday!). All trees will be located on the school playground (off 18th Street, North of Newton). There will be activities for the kids, including decorating their own pine cone ornament! If you have any questions or want to place a special order, please call or email parishioner Donna Murphy at 202-368-1776 or murphy.keller@verizon.net. We appreciate everyone's support!" |
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Quick Links...
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