God Willing
The Right Reverend Henry I. Louttit, Jr.
Ninth Bishop of Georgia
Will ordain
The Rev. William Northington McQueen, III
To the Sacred Order of Priests
In Christ's One Holy Catholic
And Apostolic Church
Wednesday, the twelfth of December 
In the Year of our Lord
Two thousand seven
Seven o'clock in the evening
All Saints' Church
Your presence and prayers are requested
Reception Following
                                
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Please note the schedule for the weekday Advent services in the Chapel on the back page of this newsletter.

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CONTEMPLATING "THE SEASON"

One of our theology professors never tired of telling us that God was not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be adored - confirming so much of what I had always thought about God, especially at Christmastide from the time I was a child.  That is, God's mystique has never served to detract my interest from Him, but always served to draw me closer into that endlessly fascinating entity we know as "the Godhead".

The priest who nurtured my vocation had a similarly wise theology professor.  When asked one day:  "What is the very least one must believe in order to be considered a Christian?"  His response:  "To have the idea that something 'out there' beyond you exists, upon which your own existence depends (God the Father); which makes itself known to you (God the Son), in a manner to which you might respond (God the Holy Ghost)."  It was a perfect definition of Christianity's seminal doctrine, the Holy Trinity.

Christmas is that time year when the Ineffable makes Itself known to mankind.  That's a rather daunting idea, especially if we take to heart this definition of God:  "that which nothing greater than can be conceived".  As such, even though we give thanks for the birth of the Lord Jesus, Christmas is supremely the feast of God the Father.  We celebrate His decision to be born as one of us, and to live and die as one of us, in order to bring us to Himself.

There is a wonderful  verse from the Book of Wisdom.  It's part of the Apocrypha, which in older Bibles is a section located (as well as written) between the Old and New Testaments.  These seventeen books comprised part of the Greek translation of the Old Testament.  They were read all over the Greek world, and in Jerusalem and Egypt as well.  Until the time of the Reformation they were considered universally a part of the Holy Scriptures which we know as the Bible. 

This seminal verse has been interpreted by the Church for centuries as a description of the Incarnation:  God becoming Man:  "For while all things were in quiet silence, and that night was in the midst of her swift course, Thine Almighty Word leaped down from Heaven."  That was penned several decades before the Incarnation.  St. John of course tightened things up: "The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us."

One wonders if in our generation, we make the mistake of concentrating too much on the first part of that phrase:  the lovely quiet stillness and silence of the night which was quietly accomplishing its course.  We think of the lovely scene of a child being born, and behave commensurately by exchanging presents - lately, with many of them having been bought far too early in December - or even November.

I'm not sure we think enough of how God's Almighty Word leapt down from Heaven, literally out of the Cosmos to attack earth from Heaven and armed to do battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil.  If we think about what God was trying to do in the Incarnation, that is, begin the destruction of sin and death, then this warriorly imagery is very appropriate, something which our culture largely ignores during "the Season", which really does not begin until 12:01 AM December 25 and does not end until midnight twelve days later.

Another aspect of this great mystery manifests itself in the writing of the great poet Virgil, thirty five years before the Incarnation:  a famous few lines from his Eclogues, which Dante placed practically dead center in his Divine Comedy.  Consider this fascinating fragment:

"The last great Age, foretold by sacred Rhymes renews its finished course,
A Golden Progeny from Heaven descends.
The Son shall lead the life of Gods and be by Gods and heroes seen.
The jarring nations He in peace shall bind
And with paternal virtues rule mankind."

As Christmas approaches, it's difficult for me not to think of Virgil's prophecy, as well as the verse from Wisdom.  They remain indelibly etched upon my mind, along with that wondrous moment when mankind orbited the moon for the first time (Apollo 8, on Christmas Eve, 1968 no less) -- with the crew reading the Creation story from Genesis as we watched comfortably at home after Midnight Mass on Earth those first close-up shots of the moon...  Virgil, Wisdom, and the Apollo 8 event serve to hold before us the truth that Christmas truly is something far greater than what our earthbound imaginations too often seem to be tied.  Hopefully something of this picture is what we would want our children to remember about the Season, so that they might pass it on to their posterity as well.

Quite simply, all of us could do a better job of recapturing the mysterium tremens of God becoming a human being - leaping to earth from His royal heavenly throne:  His Word, His Christ, Himself - through woman, born in human nature.  Born in time, born in us, and we in Him.  FAB

ADVENT AND THE COMMUNION OF SAINTS:   WE’RE ALL IN THIS TOGETHER
(Reprinted from December, 1995)

Most people know rather well the horror movie "Frankenstein" directed by James Whale starring Boris Karloff, and the classic scene where the monster is brought to life.  The dark castle-like stone edifice with the staircase curving up to the top floor laboratory; all of Dr. Frankenstein's strange instruments; the light; the sparks; the noise; the mechanical gurney which raises the lifeless body to the heavens, to be jump-started by the wind and storm -- it's a scene which has been copied endlessly, and perhaps matched but never bettered, and most likely will remain the standard against which all successors will be measured.

In the course of reading the novel on which the movie is based, I was particularly interested to note how Mary Shelley, the creature's "original creator" described the process by which it was brought to life:

"It was on a dreary night of November that I beheld the accomplishment of my toils.  With an anxiety that almost amounted to agony, I collected the instruments of life around me, that I might infuse a spark of being into the lifeless thing that lay at my feet.  It was already one in the morning; the rain pattered dismally against the panes and my candle was nearly burnt out, when, by the glimmer of the half-extinguished light, I saw the dull yellow eye of the creature open; it breathed hard, and a convulsive motion agitated its limb."

What fascinates is how the movie producer and director ever got from Mary Shelley's beautiful and elegant but minimally descriptive lines, to the grandiose vision of the movie scene we know so well.  Never in a million years would I be capable of envisioning such an overwhelming scene from so simple a paragraph.  It helped me appreciate the gift some men and women have, and I thought of Mr. Kennedy's statement:  "Some men see things as they are and say 'Why?'  I dream things that never were and say, 'Why not?'"  I'm jealous of those capable of dreaming things that never were.

Why quote "Frankenstein" on the eve of Advent Sunday?  Despite all assurance to the contrary, people continue to wonder whether the gospel is truly for real, and such doubts might increase for some with the passing of each successive Advent.  That is, the perennial fluctuations naturally embedded in any private spiritual life might give rise to the notion that God's forgiveness isn't real, or that prophecies of Jesus' Second Coming might be contrived.

Such times ought to make us thankful that we are part of the Communion of Saints, for when any one of us falls prey to doubt and despair, he has the entire faith of the rest of the Church on which to lean.  At any one moment, my faith may not be all that it might be, but there are plenty of others whose knowledge, prayer life, and lifestyle might converge to give them a much better and surer spiritual eyesight.  I think it very probable that James Whale (who directed the movie "Frankenstein") had an even greater vision of how such a thing could come to pass than Mary Shelley herself.

The birth of Jesus, His death, and Resurrection were certainly more astounding than anything envisioned by any of the Old Testament prophets.  As such, is it not possible that the consummation of God's Kingdom would be even more remarkable than we’ve heard and imagined?  In the meantime, the Communion of Saints reminds us that times can and do arise when doubts will cause us to lean on the greater faith and sight of others.  If we cannot summon such faith on our own because we're unable to see or understand the goodness of God, there are always plenty of others among the quick and the dead who do have that vision, -- the power to see beyond the confines of this world -- and we must at least attempt to take their word that the vision is for real -- even if for the moment we cannot take God's.  As we say Good Bye to the old year, welcoming the New Year this Sunday (Advent Sunday) we do well to remember regarding this business of the Christian faith:  "We're all in this together!"  FAB

EPISCOPAL YOUTH AND CHILDREN'S SERVICES

This is one of the best programs the diocese has going.  Most of the congregation have received envelopes in which to make your donations.  This fund assists children of the diocese with tuition and emergency medical bills.  You may either mail your check in the envelope provided, or place it in the offering plate marked EYCS.  FAB

ATTENTION VESTRYMEN

The Vestry will have its regular monthly meeting in the Parish Hall Library at 8:00 A.M. on December 16.  Vestrymen elect are also asked to attend on this date.

ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

At our meeting on November 18, the congregation elected to the Vestry for three year terms Raleigh Rollins, Brad Jackson and Chip Bragg.  We appreciate their willingness to serve the parish in this capacity.

EVERY MEMBER CANVASS

Please turn in your pledge cards to the office by December 15 so the Vestry can prepare its 2007 budget. 

Mr. David Grooms

POINSETTIAS

Those of you who would like to give (memorial or thanksgiving) poinsettias or wreaths, please call the church office no later than Thursday, December 13.  The cost for each plant is $13.00, $75 for each wreath and $200 for a Christmas tree.
 

ALL SAINTS' ANGEL TREES

Advent season is upon us, so we urge those who have not purchased an angel ornament to do so and bring it to the church office so it can be hung on the trees.

Please place a card on each ornament stating who gave it and the person's name in whose memory or in thanksgiving for whom it is given.  We will keep those in a special memorial book to be placed in the vestibule each year.

AN ADVENT COLLECT:

Grant, O Almighty God, that as thy blessed son Jesus Christ at His first Advent didst come to seek and to save that which was lost, so at His second and glorious appearing, He may find in us the fruits of the Redemption which He wrought; Who now liveth and reigneth with Thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end.  Amen.

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY DINNER

Over the years many families have helped prepare and deliver this meal to the residents of Providence Plaza. We now also prepare meals for Halcyon House and the The Rescue Mission.  In 2006 we were able to feed 140 people. Should there be others who might go hungry on this special day please contact Nikki in the office. If you would be willing to give a tiny portion of your day either on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning please contact Nikki for the schedule. Warren Bicknell will lead this year's carving team and the Robert Jackson family will be leading the Christmas Day final preparations and delivery. We will sadly be away this year with our family, but can say from our hearts that this gift to others is always the best Christmas present we annually receive ourselves.

Rozzie and Eddie Davis
Elaine Kavouklis
 
OFFICE CLOSING

The parish office will be closed December 25 and 26 in observance of Christmas; also December 31 and January 1 in observance of New Years.

ECW NEWS

The ECW will meet on December 5 at 5:00 p.m. to stuff the Christmas bags for Safe Haven.  If you have not adopted a family call Debbie Beeson at 226-0306.  Refreshments will be provided, but please feel free to bring your favorite holiday snack if you wish.

The ECW Book Club will resume meeting in January with a discussion of Into the  Night by John Krakauer.

Lee Mitchell
Lee Chubb

MEN’S GROUP TO BEGIN IN 2008

Beginning in January, I would like to invite the men of the church to join me for light breakfast, fellowship, and study.  The topics for the group will be determined at our first meeting together.  We will gather in the Parish Hall for a quick bite to eat, and then move into our lesson for the week.  This group will begin on Tuesday, January 15, at 7:00 a.m., and we will meet for no more than an hour.  I look forward to seeing many of you there on the 15th.

WNM, III

MID-WEEK BIBLE STUDY

Beginning Wednesday morning, January 9, from 9:00 - 10:00, our Christian Education offerings are being expanded!  Please join the Curate for a "Walk through the Bible" using Peter Kreeft's book, You Can Understand the Bible.  I hope that many of the Sunday school teachers and choir members will be able to attend this class.  I would also like to offer this class at an additional time slot during the week since I recognize there will be conflicts with work schedules.  Please see me personally if you would like to see an alternate time offered. 

WNM, III
 
KNIT TOGETHER

We are at the beginning of a new church year with the arrival of the Advent Season, but I want to take a moment and reflect one more time upon our Patronal Feast Day, with particular emphasis upon the appointed collect.  The collect itself is an original composition by Archbishop Cranmer for the 1549 Book of Common Prayer, and considered one of the strongest expressions of the doctrine of the Church.  It speaks of both the visible and invisible nature of Christ's Church, as well as, the exposition of St. Paul that stresses the fact that the Church is 'the Body of Christ.'   Hear again the words of the Collect appointed for All Saints' Day.

O Almighty God, who has knit together thine elect in one communion and fellowship, in the mystical body of thy Son Christ our Lord; Grant us grace so to follow thy blessed Saints in all virtuous and godly living, that we may come to those unspeakable joys which thou hast prepared for those who unfeignedly love thee; through the same thy Son Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

This collect appointed for All Saints' Day uses wonderful imagery to link the Saints here on Earth with those Saints who have gone before.  One word caught my eye as quite interesting and it is the verb "knit."  How appropriate that All Saints' Parish has a Wednesday afternoon knitting group that makes blankets (along with many other beautiful creations!) for the newborn babies of the parish with its presentation shortly after birth.  The blanket is woven with hands of love, and is showered in prayer during its creation.  The newborn child is covered with the corporate love of the parish, and is knit to a larger whole.  The collect speaks to this same virtue.  We are knit together into one communion and fellowship, a group that is so much larger than any one individual.  When we are baptized, we are washed with the waters of spiritual regeneration and are knit together into the Body of Christ - The Church.  We are now forever linked with the Christians who have gone before, and those who will carry this message into the future.

If any have ever turned over an intricately woven rug and looked at the underside, one will notice that the bottom is not a reverse of the top.  Rather, it looks sloppy, unfinished, and bears very little resemblance to the beauty found on the reverse side.  However, the random array of threads of various colors all knotted and seemingly out of place, paints a different picture when we turn the rug over.  Some threads are long, some very short.  No one thread stands out in importance over another.  Each is necessary to create the work of art that shines in the end, and is viewed in its proper fashion.  The Master Weaver is still at work creating a glorious tapestry.  The unspeakable joy comes when the rug is turned over for all to see.  The ugliness of the bottom is replaced with the beauty of the top.   WNM

EYC NEWS

The EYC meets every Sunday beginning with the 6:00 p.m. service followed by supper and a program.

Schedule for December:

December 2 Advent Sunday New Years Party – Kathleen Kelley and
                         Rachel Grooms
December 9 "The Church Calendar" – Mr. McQueen
December 16 Christmas Party - Braggs
December 23 Help Ram decorate the Church - with important help
                          from all of the Sunday School followed by Christmas                           Caroling  (Meet after Lessons and Carols.)
December 30 No Meeting

ST. CECILIA AND ST. DAVID CHOIRS

Both choirs will sing Advent II, December 9.  St. David Choir only will rehearse the following Wednesdays, December 12 and 19. Since the St. David Choir is singing Evensong on Christmas Eve, these rehearsals are very important. 

December Choir rehearsal schedule:

Wednesday, December 5 - St. Cecilia Choir 4:00 - 4:45 p.m.
Wednesday, December 5 - St. David Choir 5:00 - 6:00 p.m.

Wednesday, December 12 - St. David Choir only    4:00 - 5:15 p.m.

Wednesday, December 19 - St. David Choir only    4:00 - 5:15 p.m.
 with Mrs. Miller and Father Buechner

Monday, December 24 - St. David Choir only
 5:00 p.m. vest, warm up, in choir room
 5:30 Evensong and Christmas Pageant

Choristers in both choirs are welcomed to participate in the Christmas pageant.  Please let Mrs. Buechner know if you are in the pageant, and also if you will be out of town and unable to sing with us. Choirs will resume rehearsals Wednesday, January 9, 2008.

Kathy Buechner

Eternity

   He who bends to himself a joy
   Does the winged life destroy;
   But he who kisses the joy as it flies
   Lives in eternity's sunrise.

                                  -- William Blake

USHERS FOR DECEMBER

December 2, 2007   
John Glenn    
Ben Grace    

December 9, 2007
C.B. Grubbs
Paul Gurley

December 16, 2007
Chip Hancock
John Hand

December 23, 2007   
Lessons and Carols   
Chip Hancock    
John Hand    

December 24, 2007
Christmas Eve Pageant - 5:00 p.m.
Doug Harper
Bob Jackson

December 24, 2007   
11:00 p.m.     
Midnight Mass  
Ben Grace
Amos McMullian

December 25, 2007
Jerry Shields
Marty Wood
   
December 30, 2007
John Kavouklis
Bill Ladson

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Children's Christmas Eve Pageant Rehearsal
Sunday, December 23
Immediately following Lessons and Carols and lunch
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TRANSITIONS:

Happy birthday in December to:

Jonathan Wood   12-15-89
Anna Price Olson  12-28-91
Elizabeth Olson   12-28-91
Maria Olson   12-28-91
Cynthia Funk   12-29-93

Happy birthday in January to:

Henry Todd    1-3-01
Laurel Sanders    1-7-86
Margaret Hancock   1-8-93
William P. Chubb   1-9-89
Christopher Bragg  1-11-91
Harrison Parvey  1-13-97
Charles W. Weissinger  1-14-04
Curry Brinson   1-18-00
Robert Lyons   1-26-87
Evan Carraway   1-30-87
Lewis Richardson Todd  1-31-04

Those Joined Together in Holy Matrimony

Robert Dale Ayers and Diana Kay Gambardella were united in Holy Matrimony on November 24, 2007.

Baptized into Christ's Holy Catholic Church

Robert Andrew Ayers, November 24, 2007

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DECEMBER 2
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion
6:00 p.m. Holy Communion

DECEMBER 3
5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 4
10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 5
5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEM BER 6
12:15 p.m. Morning Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 9
(St. Cecilia and St. David Choirs Sing)
10:30 a.m. Morning Prayer
6:00 p.m. Holy Communion

DECEMBER 10
5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 11
10:00 a.m.  Morning Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 12
5:30 p.m.  Evening Prayer/Holy Communion
7:00 p.m. Ordination of William N. McQueen, III

DECEMBER 13
12:15 p.m. Morning Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 16
10:00 a.m. Holy Communion
6:00 p.m. Evening Prayer

DECEMBER 17
5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 18
10:00 a.m. Morning Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 19
5:30 p.m. Evening Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 20
12:15 p.m. Morning Prayer/Holy Communion

DECEMBER 23
10:30 a.m. Lessons and Carols
6:00p.m. Holy Communion (Chapel)

DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
5:30 p.m.  Evensong and Children's Pageant with Blessing of Crèche
11:00 p.m.  Midnight Mass

DECEMBER 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
10:30 a.m.  Holy Communion

DECEMBER 30
10:30 a.m. Holy Communion
No Evening Prayer