You've probably heard about the stained glass windows of our church being photographed, and various presentations of the photographs made available to anyone who is interested.  

Bill & Elsa d'Ellis will be in the Parish Hall from 8 AM to 12:30 PM on Sundays, November 30 and December 14 to take orders for Christmas.

Posters and metal prints can be seen on the walls along the hall in the administration building.  There is a poster of  each window, and one which includes all ten windows.  Four dye-infused metal prints are shown to give examples of what is possible in this special media, which gives the prints brilliant luminescence and vibrancy of colors with almost a 3D effect.  These are just examples, as the window photographs are available in virtually any size. 

The window photos are also available to be purchased in two different sizes of albums (which include all of the windows, plus details taken from the windows), in note cards and in various sizes of matted and/or framed prints.  Kathryn Ravenwood in the church office has samples and a price sheet for anyone who would like to place an order as a gift for Christmas, or for themselves.  You are welcome to call Kathryn at 345-8147 (Ext. 111), or Bill or Elsa d'Ellis at 899-1598, or email them at [email protected].  

One of the most treasured celebrations of old New Mexico is the annual celebration of Las Posadas-the reenactment of Mary's and Joseph's journey from inn to inn as they searched for a place to spend the night and give birth to their child. This year, Live at Five, is holding a Posadas Celebration.

We'll gather on Dec. 21, in the Parish Hall at 5:00 p.m., say a prayer, hear the story, and pick up a light to light us on our way from door to door around St. Michael's. We'll sing-in Spanish and English-as we act out that journey of so long ago. Ending in the church, we'll gather around the table for prayers and for Holy Communion. We'll close the evening with a fiesta-pinata for the kids and kids at heart and food for all. Bring your voices and a dish to share at the potluck.

The Angel Tree in the Narthex is an opportunity for us to provide for the maintenance and upkeep of our physical plant.

• Take a bulb from the tree
• Write the amount of your donation on the bulb
• Hang an angel on the tree with your personal thoughts on it
• Take a small angel for your home Christmas tree

This year we are raising funds for a new heating boiler, phone server, computer, water fountain and repairs to the floor in the pre-school and cracks in the Nave ceiling. You donations will help us take care of these needs while they are still manageable and before the expenses become even greater.

Please stop by the tree after Sunday services throughout Advent and Christmastide. Volunteers will be there to help with your donation.

About "The Cross in the Closet": Timothy Kurek, raised within the confines of a strict, conservative Christian denomination in the Bible Belt, was taught the gospel of separation from a young age. But it wasn't long before Timothy's path and the outside world converged when a friend came out as a lesbian, and revealed she had been excommunicated by her family.  Distraught and overcome with questions and doubts about his religious upbringing, Timothy decided the only way to empathize and understand her pain was to walk in the shoes of very people he had been taught to shun. He decided to come out as a gay man to everyone in his life, and to see for himself how the label of gay would impact his life.

St. Michal and All-Angels will be holding an Icon and Pysanky Studio Open House on Saturday, Dec. 13, from 10 am - 2:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall.

 In this culture we are very prone to treating our body as a thing rather than as a life-long companion who has a lot to teach us about life.  This day will help you meditatively establish a person-to-person relationship with your own body as a way of personally experiencing your body's wisdom.  This work can be especially meaningful for those who are sick or are going through a major transition in their life, and for those who want to experience the importance and inner wisdom of their body. No previous experience of meditative writing is needed.  The retreat takes place at the Norbertine Hermitage Retreat, 5825 Coors Blvd. SW, Abq.  Lunch is included in the $55.00 offering for the retreat.  To register, call 505-873-4399 or email [email protected] by Wednesday, Dec. 3.