December 2, 2021

Dear Friends in Christ:

As happens every year, there's a lot going on this December. I hope you can take a few moments to get the various events and worship opportunities on your calendar.

On to the updates . . .

WORSHIP

This week's bulletin insert is HERE.

Sunday 12/5, Advent II

8:00am Holy Eucharist, Rite I. In person only. Face coverings are recommended, though not required at this service.

10:00 am Rite II Holy Eucharist. In person and streamed at our website and on our Facebook page.

COVID protocols requiring face coverings are still in place during the service. We ask that you please comply with this requirement for the sake of families with children, who are not yet fully vaccinated. Masks are available inside the parking lot doors.

This week's bulletin is HERE, and the hymns are HERE.

Wednesday 12/8

12:10pm Our mid-week in-person service of Holy Eucharist. In person only.

Face coverings are recommended, though not required at this service.

CAN YOU SPARE 30 MINUTES?

Ann Higgins has reserved a date for us to ring the bell for the Salvation Army in order to support the good work they do in our community.

For Monday, December 6th, from 4-8pm, you can sign up for half-hour slots ringing the bell at Giant Eagle, in the plaza near Target on Lincoln Way. (It's indoors!)

The money collected does amazing things for our neighbors in need, plus they'll have a sign to let folks know you're from St. Timothy's.

We have five slots left, just a half hour each. That's less time than it takes to speak to a human being when calling an office number. I hope you'll sign up on Sunday.

GREENING OF THE CHURCH PART 2

Starting at 9am, Saturday December 4th, we will do our best to get the parish hall and lounge trees in place, and possibly the large creche. Please stop by if you're able to lend a hand.

Thanks to all who came last Saturday to set stuff up and throughout the week to add lights.

PRAYERS REQUESTED

Please continue to pray for all those affected by COVID-19, and please keep these friends and parishioners in your prayers:

✥Bob Meyer ✥Judy Wigginton  ✥Chris Lane ✥Priya Kurian ✥Mike Ziegelhofer

✥Chuck Tilley ✥Michael Flamm  ✥Liz Frank ✥Bobbie Muhlbach ✥John Muhlbach  

✥Isaac Leggett ✥Mike Requa  ✥Toni Contini ✥Brian Dorosch ✥Beth Conley ✥Nancy Brooks

✥Bob Daane ✥Chuck Coleman ✥Patty Ann ✥Cary Koontz ✥Noble Carpenter

✥Roger Walters ✥Tim & Sharon Gerber ✥Colleen Major ✥Gail Moss ✥Linda June

✥Stephen Huba ✥Roy Schoenfeld ✥Donna Wheeler-Badgley ✥Fred Gibbs ✥Sheila Gwatkin

✥Christine Hoffman ✥Regina Hoffman ✥Carolyn Flamm ✥Ingrid ✥Betsy Lloyd ✥Dr. Ed Hill

I want to let you know that Dr. Hill fell last Saturday and broke some ribs. He is not doing well at this point, and I know he would be deeply touched by any cards you might want to send. If you need his address, please call the church office.

ADVENT RECITALS

We are pleased to be hosting another Advent Recital series here at St. Timothy's on Wednesday mornings, prior to our 12:10 service. The remaining schedule is as follows:

December 8 - Jay Spencer

December 15 - David Sparkes

December 22 - Loren Veigel

The recitals will begin at 11:30am, and folks are invited to stay for Holy Communion if they so choose. We are requesting a donation of canned or dry goods for our food pantry.

You can watch yesterday's recital with Mark Thewes at this link.

BIRTHDAYS and ANNIVERSARIES

Celebrating birthdays this week are Nancy Jobe (12/5), Debbie Coltrin (12/6), Tyler Strawder (12/6), Paul Doxsee (12/7) and Sarah Douglas (12/11).

No anniversaries of which I am aware.

Be sure to send good wishes and thoughts to all who celebrate this week!

'TIS THE SEASON . . .

for a million things to happen all at once. In the hope of keeping you up to speed, here's what's coming up in the next month:

Mon. Dec. 6 Salvation Army Bell Ringing, 4pm-8pm

Wed. Dec. 8 Advent Recital, Jay Spencer, 11:30am

Tues. Dec. 14 Monthly Tuesday Taize’, 7pm

Wed. Dec. 15 Advent Recital, David Sparkes, 11:30am

Tues. Dec. 21 Movie Night, Palace Theater, 6pm-9pm

Wed. Dec. 22 Advent Recital, Loren Veigel, 11:30am

Fri. Dec. 24 Christmas Eve family service, 6:30pm

                  Christmas Eve Candlelight service, 10pm

Sat. Dec. 25 Christmas Day Holy Eucharist, 10am

Thurs. Jan. 6 Epiphany Lessons and Carols, 7pm

CANTON PALACE THEATER MOVIE NIGHT

As you'll see in that list, on Tuesday, December 21st, our favorite CSI Organist has reserved the entire balcony of the Palace Theater for St. Timothy's congregation. They'll be screening everyone's favorite Christmas movie, "It's a Wonderful Life." There will be a cash bar and we're allowed to bring our own food. Doors for us open at 6:00pm and the movie starts at 7:30pm.

Please note: there is no elevator to the balcony, so climbing stairs is required.

As a reminder of how great a movie this is, here's a puzzle to occupy a few minutes of your time.

As we look to the future, our current plan is to make masks optional starting with our Christmas Eve services. As I say, it's our current plan. Stark County has an average of 60 new COVID infections per 100,000 people each day, and we don't yet know what the omicron variant means in terms of lethality and vaccine protection. However, Vestry and I will continue to watch the metrics and make changes as necessary. In the meantime, please keep yourself and your loved ones as safe as possible while still enjoying all the fun and fanfare that December offers us each year.

Faithfully,

Fr. George