THE CLOAK
St. Martin's Weekly E-Newsletter
January 2, 2020
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To seek God, and be Christ’s body in the world
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The Second Sunday after Christmas
REFLECT: “In today's Gospel episode [Matthew 2:13-23], the Holy Family is in big trouble. Mary, Joseph and the Child Jesus are homeless. They are refugees. Fearful that it could be the last day for the child, they are naturally, on the run. Matthew tells us that an angel of the Lord had appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Get up. Take the Child and His mother with you and escape into Egypt ... because Herod intends to search for the Child and do away with Him" (Mt. 2:13). Loyal to both God and family, Joseph gets up, follows the angel's instructions, journeys to that distant land and keeps the Child Jesus out of harm's way."
"Today’s gospel will not let us deny Herod’s existence. That doesn’t, however, mean that all is lost. It means that the world of Herod is the world into which Jesus is born. The world of Herod is the world in which Jesus puts our lives back together. The world of Herod is the world in which Jesus reveals God is with us and for us...Just like Joseph we stand in the middle between Jesus and Herod, between life and death, between the life-giver and the life-taker."
"Life after Christmas is almost never easy; not for us now, not for that family driving home, and it certainly wasn’t easy for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. As we continue to step forward into this uncertain time let us not hold fast to the decorations, and the pomp and circumstance, and the presents, and the meals, and all the other elements that make Christmas what it appears to be, but instead let us hold fast to the hymns we sang together as a church, let us hold fast to the fact that Christ is the light of the world that shines in the darkness, let us hold fast to the faith that we have in Jesus Christ as the Lord of all."
PRAY: "God of glory, your splendor shines from a manger in Bethlehem, where the Light of the world is humbly born into the darkness of human night. Open our eyes to Christ's presence in the shadows of our world, so that we, like him, may become beacons of your justice, and defenders of all for whom there is no room. Amen."
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This Week's Schedule
Saturday, January 4
2:00pm Barbara Peck Funeral
Sunday, January 5
The Rev. David Laquintano, Celebrant
8:00am Holy Eucharist
8:30am Parish Breakfast
9:00am Choir Rehearsal
9:30am Sunday School for all ages
10:00am Holy Eucharist
Wednesday, January 8
12:15pm Holy Eucharist
7:00pm AA Meeting
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Food and Fellowship!
Save up your appetite for the first
Parish Breakfast
of the new decade! Food will be served this Sunday, January 5th, starting at 8:30 a.m. in Bolingbroke. Enjoy some great food and fun fellowship!
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Coat Drive
Last call! This Sunday, January 5th, will be the last day for the
winter gear clothing drive.
Be sure to drop off clean and new/gently used winter coats, hats and gloves in the first floor foyer for transport to CCI. The HIAS organization will appreciate your donations!
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Eat, Pray, and Play!
This week is the first week of the month and we will begin Sunday School down at Bolingbroke at about 9:30 AM after children have finished eating breakfast. It is the Sunday just before Epiphany so our Bible study will involve camels, Magi, and gifts for baby Jesus. Nursery care will be available first down at Bolingbroke, then up in the Small Sunday School Room beginning at 10 AM. Contact
Ms. Deb if you have any questions or would like to join us.
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Success...Thank You!
Thank you to children, youth, and families for their participation in the Christmas pageant. Special thanks to the staff and other adults who assisted in pageant logistics, too. This is a special way that our younger members share the joy of Christ's birth each year with the entire congregation!
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Ready for Pick-up
Please remember to pick up your 2020 offering envelopes in The Gurley Room. If envelopes were inadvertently not assigned to you, please contact the office at 610-688-4830, or
[email protected]. Thank you!
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Upcoming Sessions
We resume the Bible Study at 7:15 PM at St. Martin's on January 8. Books and refreshments will be provided. As always, no previous discussion is needed. So plan to attend, and bring a guest! Peace to all of our Bible Study participants as we begin a new year. Please contact
Deb Parker if you have any questions.
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Jeremiah 31:7-14
Psalm 84
Ephesians 1:3-6,15-19a
Matthew 2:13-15,19-23
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