Dear Friends in Christ,
Last week I visited one of our homebound parishioners who has Alzheimer's. We always have a lovely time together. Sometimes she recalls decades-old memories as clear as a bell. Sometimes she speaks of experiences that are obviously fictitious. Often, she weaves the same question – "How are things at the church?" – into the conversation multiple times.
On this visit, we got to talking about Incarnation, as we normally do. Then she said something I'll always remember. "I love that church. It makes you feel safe." I know she spoke the truth in that moment. It was a sentiment she'd expressed to me years earlier when the Alzheimer's had started to set in, and she knew it. That was a daunting and scary time for her. How amazing that the church gave her a sense of safety back then. How amazing that the church still gives her a sense of safety now.
Incarnation makes me feel safe too, and I imagine a number of you can say the same. It's an extension of feeling safe in the arms of God, and therefore safe in the arms of the body of Christ, which is the church. This has been especially true over the past twenty months, or since the onset of the pandemic, when the need for safety became a theme worldwide and an undercurrent of daily existence.
To feel safe is to feel at ease, relaxed, in touch with your true self and open to new possibilities. November 28, the first Sunday of Advent, marks the start of a new church year and a time for hope, joy, love and peace. These four fruits of the Spirit are represented by the four candles on the Advent wreath, with the white candle of Christ in the center of them all.
God is our center, our safety, from which we can become the people God created us to be – unique incarnations of the divine, embodying all fruits of the Spirit, full of love and without fear. As we look ahead to the holidays with a sense of renewed hope for an ever-brightening future, may the opportunities for spiritual reflection, transcendent worship, and the festivities of the season make you secure in God's love, peace, and good will for all people.
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Our common life begins in worship. See this flyer for service times and read on to learn about the spectacular music we have in store, especially for Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 12, at 5:00 p.m.
FROM THE DIRECTOR OF MUSIC:
One of the readings for the first Sunday of Advent is the "Little Apocalypse" from Luke 21. It’s a stern, astringent reminder that Advent brings both a warning and a promise. The choir will sing Kevin Siegfried's arrangement of a Shaker hymn whose music and text well illustrate these two Advent moods.
At the service of Lessons and Carols, we'll again have the welcome sight and sound of choir and string orchestra making music together in the Chancel. There will be carols from England, Germany, Catalonia, and Appalachia; a spiritual; and an Alfred Burt carol that has not yet been heard here. The strings will offer music of Corelli and Handel, in addition to enriching the hymns, a beauty we had to dispense with last year. The Christmas season will feature soloists from choir members Jamilyn Manning-White, Martha Sullivan, Janara Kellerman, Alex Guerrero, Paul Augustine, and Mark Rehnstrom.
With support from the Vestry, Thomas Reefer and Andre de Goncalves have, in the last twenty months, gone from strength to strength in regard to the audio, visual, and lighting aspects of our services. I am grateful to Adrian, the Vestry, and the congregation for supporting so generously Incarnation's music program in this, and in every way.
– David Ralph
ZOOM OFFERINGS IN ADVENT
Half Truths Wrap-Up
This fall, several parishioners have participated in a small group study of Adam Hamilton's Half Truths: God Helps Those Who Help Themselves and Other Things the Bible Doesn't Say. Our Half Truths Small Groups have been going strong under the guidance of the Rev. Dr. Nate Lee and with great thanks to our lay facilitators.
For those interested in Nate's views on Hamilton's book and his own theology around the concept of half-truths, plan to join us on Zoom on Tuesday, November 30, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. Zoom information will be shared in the Friday e-minder. Please note this offering is open to all. You do not need to read the book or be part of a Half Truths Small Group to attend.
20s/30s Group – How to Tell Time Theologically
How we think about time, whether we always realize it or not, shapes how we live our lives in this world. Because of this, much of Christian worship and practice offers a different way of "keeping time," and so, a renewed way of being in this world. On Wednesday, December 1, from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m., Nate will lead the 20s/30s Group in a Zoom discussion about telling time theologically.
All young adults in their twenties or thirties are welcome to attend. Zoom details will be shared with those on our 20s/30s Group email distribution list. Contact Nate to learn more or add your name to the list.
Advent Reflection Series – The Magnificat
Join the Rev. Deacon Denise LaVetty for a three-week series of reflection focused around the Magnificat. We will reflect on the pregnancy, the waiting, and the hope, joy, and anticipation which must have filled Mary’s heart, as the human embodiment of the very Word of God grew within her, and we will examine its meaning in our own lives. This series will be held via Zoom on the following Monday evenings from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m.: December 6, 13, and 20. Contact Deacon Denise to register for the series and receive Zoom access information.
CHRISTMAS PARTY
Incarnation's Reopening Committee has consistently prioritized the safety of all, especially our most vulnerable members, while making sure everyone is welcome in worship and other aspects of our common life. This includes those who are vaccinated and those who are not. In order to maintain these priorities, the Committee has come up with a unique plan for this year's Christmas Party that follows our 5:00 p.m. service of Lessons and Carols on Sunday, December 12.
This year, the party will take place in the church. We'll open the back and side doors for fresh air and ask everyone to remain masked. While we will not serve food, there will be wine and other festive drinks (alcoholic and non) to bring the Christmas cheer. David Ralph will play the piano while Choir members lead us in singing Christmas carols. And we will have various items for purchase – including Anglican prayer beads, Incarnation t-shirts, and Laurie Mygatt's signature jars of honey, maple syrup and pickles. Party goers can also participate in Operation Santa and the Incarnation Coat Tree (mission and service opportunities described below).
Socializing in our most sacred space should be a real treat. If you would like to help with the party, please email me. And while we can host the Christmas Party in the church, the same cannot be said for the Christmas Fair and Cafe. We will need to forgo these offerings out of safety concerns and hope to bring them back next year.
We are proud of the way our congregation has adjusted to, and accepted with grace, our policies related to Covid safety. Thank you for your continued commitment to our life together.
CHRISTMAS PAGEANT
We are thrilled to bring back the Children's Christmas Pageant this year! Children of all ages are invited to participate in a short and simple pageant, held in place of the sermon, during the 11:00 a.m. service on Sunday, December 19.
There will be one rehearsal from 10:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, December 18, in the church, followed by hot chocolate and donuts on 35th Street near the church garden. Children can also make Christmas cards for Operation Santa and the Incarnation Coat Tree – a great hands-on mission opportunity for kids.
Please contact me if your child would like to participate so that we can have enough costumes and parts for all.
CHRISTMAS FLOWERS, MUSIC, AND OFFERINGS FOR PARISHIONERS IN NEED
Many people like to make donations for Christmas flowers or music as a way to honor loved ones. Please mail your donations to the church office by Sunday, December 19, along with any names you would like to be listed in the Christmas Eve leaflet. The funds for the flowers and the supplemental choral and instrumental music are provided by this appeal.
Another holiday custom at Incarnation is the Christmas Fund. The Fund helps people within the Incarnation parish family who have financial needs; grants from the Fund are made in confidence. You can use the this form to make gifts to Christmas flowers, Christmas music, and the Christmas Fund. You can also request offering envelopes for 2022.
GOOD CAUSES AT CHRISTMAS
Operation Santa
Operation Santa, our annual Christmas service project, begins Sunday, November 21. Parishioners are invited to select a letter written to “Santa” by a child in need and purchase gifts for that child. This year we are providing presents for 50 children living in a nearby domestic violence shelter. You can select a letter in person at Coffee Hour or at the Parish Christmas Party. You are also welcome to visit the Operation Santa page on our website to select a letter online.
Please note, we ask that participants spend approximately $50 per child – and all presents must be gift wrapped and delivered to the Parish House (by hand or mail/courier) by Sunday, December 19.
Moravian Open Door
The Moravian Open Door Committee has come up with a fun way to keep others warm this winter. From Committee Chair, Lenore Ritter: "Some of the residents of Moravian Open Door are in need of winter coats. Soon you will find an Incarnation Coat Tree decorated with hangers in the narthex of the church. Each hanger represents a warm winter coat. You are invited to purchase a hanger for $60 or make a donation of any amount towards a coat. Donations should be mailed or given to the Rev. Adrian Dannhauser with the notation, 'coat drive.' We hope to make sure that all our friends at MOD can face this winter safe and warm."
Please remember that we are also accepting donations of men's winter clothing – new or gently used sweaters, shirts, slacks, etc. A donation bin is in the church Sunday mornings, or you can drop off your clothing donation at the Parish House.
Hour Children
Volunteer opportunities with Hour Children abound. From Hour Children Committee Co-Chair Barbara Clark: "This past summer, Incarnation initiated an outreach ministry with Hour Children, an organization that helps incarcerated and formerly incarcerated women and their children successfully rejoin their communities. Thanks to all who donated to our backpack drive and our ongoing drive for canned fruits and vegetables. Now we would like to invite your engagement with Hour Children in other ways as well.
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Become a tutor: Tutors are needed for children of all ages and in all subjects, and the tutoring can be done either remotely or in person.
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Teach English as a second language: ESL teachers are urgently needed.
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Mentor a program participant: This approximately four-hour-per-month commitment can also be fulfilled either in person or remotely.
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Support the Working Women program: For now, this involves coming to the Long Island City headquarters one day a week for a few hours to spend time with a participant.
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Volunteer at the food pantry: This year-round on-site program distributes food both to residents of Hour Children housing and the surrounding neighborhood.
When Incarnation’s Hour Children Committee began this outreach, we envisioned it as something that everyone in the parish could participate in – a way all of us can continue doing God’s work in the city we love. The staff at Hour Children have been incredibly enthusiastic about Incarnation’s support and partnership so far, and they welcome volunteers in any capacity, not just those listed above. So if you have ideas, or if you want to join our committee, or if you want more information and details about tutoring, mentoring, or the food pantry, please contact Adrian and she will put you in touch with me."
A FINAL WORD ABOUT WORSHIP
For a church named after the Feast of the Incarnation, Christmas Eve and Day hold an exceptionally special place in our hearts. The murals by John La Farge on either side of the reredos above the high altar depict the nativity, reminding us always of the joy of Christmas brought by the birth of the Christ child.
This year, we're making slight adjustments to our Christmas Eve services in the hopes of accommodating everyone in town for the holiday. Our first service of the evening will be a Holy Eucharist at 6:00 p.m. with two soloists from the Incarnation Choir and traditional Christmas hymns sung by all.
Our later service is Incarnation's version of "Midnight Mass" – a beautiful and transcendent celebration of Holy Eucharist with strings, organ and the Incarnation Choir. A musical prelude is offered at 10:30 p.m., and the service begins at 11:00 p.m. I will preach the same sermon at both Christmas Eve services.
Nate will preach on Christmas morning at our Christmas Day service of Holy Eucharist at 11:00 a.m. We also will have a "visit to the crèche" and children's homily for the children present.
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I hope you will join us – in person and online – for all the ways we are observing Advent and Christmas at the Church of the Incarnation. As we make room in our hearts and in our lives for Christ to enter anew, may you have a felt sense of Emmanuel (God with us) and an open spirit ready for wonder and awe. On behalf of the Wardens, Vestry and Staff, I wish you a blessed Advent and truly joyful Christmas.
Yours in Christ,
Adrian+
The Rev. Adrian Dannhauser, Priest in Charge
