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Balmoral Presbyterian Church
Where the Spirit Takes Flight
BPC NEWS BRIEF
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
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mailing address: Balmoral Presbyterian Church, P.O. Box 17309, Memphis, TN 38187
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NEWS THIS WEEK
- WORSHIP this week November 8
- FAREWELL DRIVE-BY for the KAISERS
- SERVICE PROJECT to REPLACE IN-PERSON INTER-FAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE
- PLAYING IT SAFE for THANKSGIVING
- ADVENT in a PANDEMIC WORLD
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New Suggestions for A Good Read
- Around Memphis
- Case #'s On a Rollercoaster
- UPCOMING EVENTS in NOVEMBER
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REMINDERS:
- Pastor on Call through Nov 8
- Building Closed after Election thru Nov 8 for Cleaning
- Presbyterian Women Bible Study November 4
- BOOK CLUB November 10
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WEEKLY INFORMATION
- Birthdays
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A Good Read - UPDATED
- Calendar of Events
- OUTREACH OPPORTUNITIES
- CONTACT INFORMATION
- BPC Photos
- Worship last Sunday
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A Walk in Payne’s Prairie Preserve in Gainesville
LINKS to DOCUMENTS:
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ONLINE on YouTube at 11:00 am
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The BUILDING is CLOSED
thru at least NOVEMBER 30, 2020
BUT
BALMORAL is OPEN !
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Our Session is committed to providing worship during the pandemic that reaches everyone. Those of you who do not have computer access or SmartPhone access, Idlewild will continue to broadcast all of the worship services on the radio 96.1 FM.
Stay at home! Stay Safe!
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Worship and Sunday Studies
Balmoral Presbyterian Church
Sunday, November 8, 2020
SUNDAY STUDIES 9:45 - 10:45am on Zoom
- How Good People Fight Bias
- Bible Study of Romans
WORSHIP at 11:00 AM on YouTube
SCRIPTURE: Joshua 24:1-3a, 14-25 & Matthew 25: 1-13
SERMON: "In the Meantime" with Rev. Anne Hagler
You will receive an email Friday with details, links to the 2 Sunday Studies classes on Zoom, a link to the YouTube site for Worship, and a link to download the Sunday Worship Guide. You will also receive a reminder & links to the classes & worship service on Sunday morning!
The Idlewild service will also still be available at 11:00 am on the radio at 96.1 FM or you can go online to the Idlewild Livestream broadcast at
Previous Worship Services at Balmoral are still available on the
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KEEP YOUR PRAYER LIST
ALL WEEK!
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As we worship virtually and provide the worship bulletin to people who are not members of our congregation, we want to insure that our prayer requests are kept private and within a circle of trust that understands and respects the confidentiality of the names listed.
Please plan to make the weekly Prayer Concern email your daily prompt for prayer and reaching out to support and encourage the people who have requested our support in prayer.
Thank you for taking time to pray daily for needs that are expressed and needs that go unexpressed. Your prayers are powerful and they are a blessing!
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Rev. Carla Meisterman
will be out of the office
through
Sunday, November 8, 2020
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Rev. Anne Hagler will be the pastor on call.
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Wishing
Do & Bob Kaiser
a Wonderful New Journey!
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Come and join us for a drive-by farewell to Do and Bob Kaiser who are moving to South Carolina. We will meet in the church parking lot at 1:45pm Saturday, November 14, 2020 and caravan to 6490 Sulgrave.
Bob and Do will either be sitting in their driveway or standing in their front door. We will drive-by and then turn around and drive-by again.
Help us acknowledge the Kaiser's over 45 years of service to Balmoral!
If you're planning to attend, text Becky DeLoach
at 489-3369 or Fran Addicott at 487-0214.
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Memphis InterReligious Thanksgiving
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Due to the Pandemic, our annual in-person Thanksgiving service with Temple Israel, Holy Spirit, Masjid As-Salam, Balmoral & other churches won't be possible.
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Instead, the mosque, churches and synagogue will be doing a food collection at several locations, scheduled tentatively for Saturday, November 21 from 1pm -5pm.
Volunteers to work 1-hour shifts that afternoon will be needed. Signups in the newsletter will be announced later this month.
Mark Your Calendar!
Your donations and/or signups will be coming soon!
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Planning It Safe: Ideas for a Virtual Thanksgiving |
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The CDC has classified big Thanksgiving gatherings as high-risk activities. They warn that coronavirus cases could spike if people travel out of town and celebrate indoors.
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Dr. Anthony Fauci is not planning to have Thanksgiving with his own children, who live in different states, because they'd have to travel by plane and risk exposure to COVID-19. And he's warning others to be very careful about holiday celebrations. |
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Turkey Day will look different for many of us this year, but that doesn’t mean we have to miss out on the idea behind Thanksgiving and “Friendsgiving” celebrations. Here are ways to create meaningful moments with family and friends and still play it safe, from Helen Bond in the Dallas Morning News. |
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Send a touch-of-home package: If your Thanksgiving table is smaller this year, mail care packages to those who won’t be there. Candles, festive napkins, pumpkin spice anything, sweet treats, football gameday snacks, a drawing from a little one — there are endless ways to show those you care about that they are missed.
Connect through cooking: Thanksgiving is about the food — eating it and the memories made through cooking together. Choose a favorite family recipe, create a new recipe tradition and whip it up, or follow along via FaceTime or Skype. Still don’t have your mom’s gravy recipe down or want to learn how to make your friend’s famous apple pie from scratch? Set up an online tutorial in advance.
Toast of gratitude: By now, many of us have made an art out of the virtual cocktail hour. So what better time than Thanksgiving to schedule an online gathering? Share a toast and a moment of gratitude.
Group photo stream: If a live Zoom isn’t your thing, find other ways to share the moment. Upload photos and video of the table décor, meal prep and your turkey reveal. Apple iPhone users can set up a shared album, or try Flickr, Amazon Photos, Google Photos or other photo-sharing sites.
Vary the virtual fun: While you can dine virtually (make sure everyone knows how to use the video chat platform of choice before you sit down), consider upping your game (and avoid the tendency to talk over each other) with planned activities. Keep things moving with a scavenger hunt, an old-fashioned pie-eating contest, a TikTok dance-off or a favorite family game — using a real board game or an online app. Watch the television-only Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade early, or stream a movie together later. The idea is to use technology to create connections to those we are thankful for — no matter the distance.
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ADVENT BEGINS
Sunday, November 29, 2020
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Seeking Simple Advent Joy
During the Pandemic
by Mike Ferguson | Presbyterian News Service | 2020
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Churches small and large and everything in between can celebrate Advent, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day even during a pandemic, so long as they’re willing to innovate — and perhaps simplify.
The Rev. Karen Ware Jackson, co-senior pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Greenville, North Carolina and webinar coordinator for Practical Resources for Churches, said during a Friday webinar she titled “Small Church Christmas Eve” that she like many others “will be sad not to see candles filling the precious space of the sanctuary” this Christmas Eve.
“It’s hard to think of a Christmas without singing,” Jackson said. “It’s heartbreaking.”
Jackson shared an Advent prayer for the current situation written by a Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Kelly Fitzgerald, which says in part: “God-with-us, we have a long list of things we want to see on Christmas Eve. Experiences we want to have, feelings we want to feel, friends and family we want to hug, songs we want to sing, and even cookies we want to eat. We hold all that before you today … But still, Christmas will come. You still show up in our world and fill us with awe and wonder. You will once again renew our hearts and minds to fully hope, to express unconditional love, to share contagious joy, and find peace — peace that passes all understanding.
“We release to you the ghosts of Christmas past and ask for the Spirit to fill us with energy and imagination for the Christmas that is to come. In your holy name, Amen.”
For those churches worshiping on Christmas Eve in-person but perhaps outdoors, luminaria placed along the sidewalk leading to worship “can help guide the spirit of the Christ child to be residing with us,” Jackson said. One church she knows plans to anchor its luminaria with canned food to be later donated to people in need.
“You can write words of hope, peace, love and joy, and prayers for people who can’t be with you” on each luminaria, she said.
She said she’ll work to keep the church’s Christmas Eve service to 30 minutes. “There’s a lot going on” that evening among most church members, she said. “We’re trying to drill down to the most simple and most powerful.”
Another idea is for families to take a “Silent Night” star walk on Christmas Eve, an idea from another Presbyterian pastor, the Rev. Traci Smith, in her book, “Faithful Families for Advent and Christmas: 100 Ways to Make the Season Sacred.”
“Just take a walk and look up at the stars,” Jackson suggested. “Think about the magic, mystery and beauty of the time.” After arriving back home, family members can discuss what they saw during the walk that reminded them of the beauty and majesty of God. “What a beautiful thing to remember,” she said, “as you go to bed on Christmas Eve.”
One Advent activity Jackson plans is something she’s calling “Christmas Car-ols.” All you need, she said, is an automobile tuned to an all-Christmas-music station, or maybe a favorite CD. After driving up to the home of church members or friends, “car-olers” will roll down their windows, invite the church folks to step outside for a few moments, and then bless them with a carol or two. “You don’t have to sing,” she said, “to have music.”
“In the midst of merry and bright and cheer, of fun carols and cookies and parties, there is a real sense of loss for some people,” she said. “The idea (of a Longest Night or Blue Christmas service) is to hold that Christ, the light of the world, comes to us all. Hold that sacred space that you don’t have to be happy all the time this year.”
A Blue Christmas service “can be a powerful touchstone for a lot of folks,” she said. “In the pain, there’s also hope.”
“Even in the midst of a world that has become so familiar with waiting, change and transformation,” Jackson said, “we are experiencing so much that in previous Advents we had only talked about. Now we are living into it, which is different and glorious.
“I wish you an Advent season full of hope,” Jackson said to close the hour-long webinar, “and days full of peace and purpose.”
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A Good Read...
Looking for something new to read while we are staying home? Here's are some books recommended by BPCers!
NON-FICTION
The Splendid and The Vile by Erik Larson; a good read about Churchill during World War II. He was a splendid leader during the Blitz and the hard times of WWII.
Dispatches from Pluto by Richard Grant; adventure writer Richard Grant takes on “the most American place on Earth”—the enigmatic, beautiful, often derided Mississippi Delta.
FICTION
The Book of Two Ways by Jodi Picoult, a fun and interesting read, one that will lead readers to both learn a lot and also ask themselves key questions about how to create happy lives for themselves during the short time we have on earth.
Thanks to Beverly Hooker for this week's suggestions.
PREVIOUS RECOMMENDATIONS:
- Anna Pigeon's mystery series by Nevada Barr (Fiction)
- The Guardians by John Grisham (Fiction)
- Deborah Crombie's mystery series with Duncan Kincaid and Gemma James. Book I: A Share in Death. (Fiction)
- Tomi Adeyemi's Children of Blood and Bone. (Fiction)
- Jeanine Cummins' American Dirt. (Fiction)
- Before We Were Yours by Lisa Wingate (Fiction)
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Set My Heart to Five by Simon Stephenson (Fiction)
- Countdown 1945 by Chris Wallace. (Non-fiction)
- Before and After by Judy Christie & Lisa Wingate. (Non-Fiction)
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Educated by Tara Westover. (Non-fiction)
- Boom by Tom Brokaw. (Non-fiction)
- A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. (Non-fiction)
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The Day the World Came to Town: 9/11 Gander, Newfoundland by Jim DeFede (Non-fiction)
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The Tender Bar by J.R. Moehringer (Non-fiction)
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Always a Guest: Speaking of Faith Far from Home by Barbara Brown Taylor (Non-fiction)
Have you found a good book recently? Send it to us so we can share!
Kathy Singleton 901.734-7193
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Presbyterian Women
Invite You to
Join Us for Bible Study on Zoom
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Wednesday, November 4, 10:30 am |
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Read Lesson 2 for the November meeting.
Bring your own snacks to your computer and join us!
New participants are welcome! If did not attend last week and would like to join us, contact Anne Hagler at (901) 628-2104 or email her at anneh6616@gmail.
Assistance on joining a Zoom meeting is still available - see the article at the top of this newsletter and open the document for TIPS in JOINING a ZOOM meeting. If you have trouble logging in to the Zoom meeting,
call or text Kathy Singleton at (901) 734-7193.
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TUESDAY, November 10, 1:00pm on Zoom |
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The Elephant in the Room
by Tommy Tomlinson
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In The Elephant in the Room, Tomlinson chronicles his lifelong battle with weight. He hits the road to meet other members of the plus-sized tribe in an attempt to understand how, as a nation, we got to this point.
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Book Club meets monthly from 1pm to 3pm
on the 2nd Tuesday of the month.
ALL ARE WELCOME!
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IN THE NEWS AROUND MEMPHIS
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Surge, Weekend #'s Drop, then Another Spike
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Cases on a Rollercoaster
New virus case numbers rose by 399 over the last 24 hours, putting the total of all positive cases in Shelby County since March at 38,352. That figure topped 35,000 only two weeks ago.
The county’s weekly positivity rate has increased each week over the last month. Most recent data available from the Shelby County Health Department shows a weekly positivity rate of 8.6%. Active clusters of outbreak are being monitored for patterns.
County health experts are planning to see how Halloween and other upcoming holidays contribute to the fall surge of COVID-19 cases.
Dr. Steve Threlkeld, an infectious disease specialist at Baptist Memorial Hospital-Memphis, said hospitalizations aren’t the highest of the pandemic, but they are also seeing an increase.
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The church building will be closed to The SEED Program and all worship recording through Sunday, Nov. 8, 2020 for this week for a thorough cleaning & sanitizing throughout the church building following the Election and in preparation for the return of the SEED program on Monday, November 9. |
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For the safety of the cleaning crew,
Balmoral will be OPEN ONLY to
cleaning crews through SUNDAY, Nov. 8
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Becky DeLoach (2), Elaine Brown (4), Linda Warren (5),
Dave Ellis (11), Brucene Harrison (12), Mary Denike (12),
Sharon Blackwelder (14), Ellie Gurlen (16), Kristen Gurlen (17),
Amy Berthouex (19), Amelia Lucas (21)
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NEWSLETTER ARTICLES PLANNED for NOVEMBER
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MORE INFO on INTERFAITH THANKSGIVING SERVICE PROJECT
ADVENT PLANS at BPC
SHARING FAVORITE CHRISTMAS RECIPES
IDEAS for CREATING an
AT-HOME ADVENT WREATH
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THE CHURCH WILL BE CLOSED UNTIL AT LEAST
November 30, due to the COVID-19 Emergency &
Safer-At-Home Executive Order.
The Session will meet again in November to update plans for Advent.
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ONLINE
EVENTS
Every Monday
2:00pm Writer's Group via Zoom
1st Wednesday of the Month
Bible Study with Presbyterian Women 10:30 am
1st & 3rd Thursday of the Month
Ellis Small Group 10:15 am
2nd & 4th Wednesday
6:00 pm Small Group via Zoom
2nd Thursday Evening of the Month
7:00 pm Trouble I've Seen Small Group
Now through Sunday, November 8, 2020
Rev. Carla Meisterman Out of Office
Rev. Anne Hagler is on call
Monday, November 2 through Sunday, November 8, 2020
Building CLOSED for everyone except Election Personnel and Voters,
followed by building remediation cleansing.
Wednesday, November 4, 2020
10:30 am Bible Study with Presbyterian Women
Sunday, November 8, 2020
9:45 - 10:45 AM Fall Sunday Studies on Zoom
11:00 AM Worship Service via YouTube
with Rev. Anne Hagler
Tuesday, November 10, 2020
BOOK CLUB meets via Zoom
Sunday, November 15, 2020
9:45 - 10:45 AM Fall Sunday Studies on Zoom
11:00 AM Worship Service via YouTube
Saturday, November 21, 2020
InterReligious Thanksgiving Service Project
Food donations 1pm-5pm, locations TBA
Sunday, November 22, 2020
9:45 - 10:45 AM Fall Sunday Studies on Zoom
11:00 AM Worship Service via YouTube
Thursday, November 26, 2020
Happy Thanksgiving!
Sunday, November 29, 2020
First Sunday of Advent
9:45 - 10:45 AM Advent Sunday Studies Begin on Zoom
11:00 AM Worship Service via YouTube
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Pastoral Care will be supplied by Rev. Carla Meisterman
and by Rev. Anne Hagler as a backup.
Rev. Carla Meisterman 901.235.1014
The current Session members have been re-aligned to be your primary contact for ongoing communication. Here's the new contact list:
Don Lamb ............... (901) 754-5530 ............................ [email protected]
...........................cell: (901) 486-6117
John Van Nortwick (901) 605-2907 ............ jvnortwick@cornerstone-
systems.com
(NOTE: Many of these Session members are working during the day, so you may want to text them or email them.)
Keep in mind that ANY Balmoral member who is healthy will most likely be happy to help you in case of need as well!
To contact other members, the most-current contact information is available by requesting a copy of the BPC PHONE DIRECTORY from Kathy Singleton by email [email protected] or by phone or text to (901) 734-7193.
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BPC PHOTOS
..
BPC Worship
Sunday, November 1, 2020
All Saints Day
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PRELUDE
"Moment by Moment"
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Rachel Randall, flute; Kenna Chelsoi, violin; Leiza Collins, piano
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Hymn 760 "Bring Many Names"
CHOIR: Linda Warren, Clinton Bailey, John Gilmer, and shown Becky Deloach (with our newest choir member, grandson Hudson DeLoach!)
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Honoring Saints from the Past |
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Musical Offering “Were I the Perfect Child of God”
Rachel Randall, Kenna Chelsoi, Linda Warren, and John Gilmer
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Communion
Rev. Anne Hagler
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Communion Music
"You Satisfy the Hungry Heart"
Linda Warren, recorder; John Gilmer, cello; Leiza Collins, piano
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We have been keeping reference articles in the Newsletter each week throughout the summer. It's time to take them out, BUT some of these may still be helpful, so we will store them and give you links to them, but eliminate them from the body of the newsletter itself. |
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To access a document, simply click on the link name. The document will then open in your browser as a PDF file!
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- Newsletter Articles & Photos should be emailed to Kathy Singleton at [email protected] no later than Monday at noon for the week you want the article in the news.
- Bulletin Information should be emailed to Rev. Carla Meisterman, with a copy to Kathy Singleton, no later than Monday noon the week before the Sunday you want the information to appear.
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Prayer Concerns should continue to be submitted via email to Rev. Carla Meisterman ([email protected]) or on a Prayer Request form in the Friendship Pads and placed in the offering.
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NOVEMBER 2020
online church calendar
The calendar will take a few seconds to load and, once it opens, you will see the month that we are currently in. To see the next month's calendar, click on the arrow pointing down - it is just to the right of the name of the month. Once you click on that arrow, an icon will appear with all the months of the year listed. Click on the month that you want to see. To see a specific date, click on the number of the day you would like to see. The entire 2020 calendar is available to you.
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