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Greetings St Michael's!
This year we are working with Lake Silver Elementary to bring Christmas cheer to those in College Park and environs that may be facing a difficult holiday season!
Our students include homeless, doubled up, or children living in extended stay hotels from Lake Silver Elementary.
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If you are interested in adopting a sibling group they are indicated by 102A, 102B, 102C and so on.
Unwrapped gifts should be dropped off at the St. Michael's Office by December 11th to allow PTA volunteers to wrap and distribute the gits before the Christmas Holiday. This will also give us time to shop for anyone if need be.
Please include the Student # with your items when you drop them off. If you are able to include wrapping paper or gift bags, it would be appreciated!
If you would like to participate, but don't have time to shop, you can donate gift cards or a check to the front office and make sure they are marked "Angel Tree." We will take care of the rest!
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JOIN US FOR NOONDAY PRAYER AND COMPLINE
EVERY WEDNESDAY @ 12PM & 8PM
Wednesdays at 12 PM and 8 PM we'll gather via ZOOM from our homes, workplaces, and wherever we may find ourselves for Noonday Prayer and Compline.
This is an opportunity to connect with one another and spend a few minutes midweek in prayer.
You can easily follow along in your Prayer Book or online at https://www.bcponline.org/ with the Book of Common Prayer online listed under DAILY OFFICES. Instructions for connecting to ZOOM will follow.
TO JOIN IN-- REGISTER BELOW!
- ZOOM: NOONDAY PRAYER 12 PM
REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/2VstwFg
REGISTER HERE: https://bit.ly/3rVEYFa
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First I would like to recommend "Honest Advent" by Scott Erickson. In it, we consider the question "Is the Christmas story just something that happened a long time ago...or is it a story that is still happening today?" It seeks to illuminate the astonishing, hope-filled truth that the God who showed up in the hardest parts of our humanity is still showing up today in those same places.
The book is 25 short chapters but can be read in chunks as you have time, not necessarily daily.
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My second recommendation is The Anticipated Christ, A Journey Through Advent and Christmas by Brian Zahnd.
Zahnd presents us with a standard daily devotional with suggested verses a short reflection and a prayer. What is unique about his book is that it not only covers the four weeks of Advent, but continues through to the feast of Epiphany. I liked that, as often the day after Christmas is when I can finally take a little extra time to reflect on the miracle of Christs birth.
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Third is a wonderful little book called "Low" by John Pavlovitz. At 5x7 inches and only 63 pages (including the scriptures), It is perfect to throw in a purse or backpack to read daily when you have a little time to yourself.
We often feel pressured to have it all together and to hide our struggles, to pretend we're merry when we're frustrated and stressed and exhausted. These daily devotions speak to the breadth of our journeys: the joy and the grieving, the belief and the doubt, the good tidings and the bad days.
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Low includes 29 reflections on life, faith, belief, doubt, peace, justice - and how to come to this season just as we are. | |
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For your convenience, I have linked each book's picture to it's Amazon page, there you can learn a little more about the author as well as order the book.
I sincerely hope that these tools give you a new way to approach this season and draw you closer to God in this season!
As always, I would love to discuss any takeaways, revelations or any interesting thoughts that came to you during this journey.
Wishing you a blessed Advent!
Mike
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Join us for Sunday School!
If you have any questions about our Sunday School program
please click here to email Tiffany.
Nursery
Birth through three years old
Downstairs in Rowe Hall
Teachers: Djanira Cole, Elle Dowdy and Eleana Andreeva
Camp R.O.C.K.
Ages 3 and potty trained through 2nd grade
Upstairs in Rowe Hall
Teacher is Cindy Sills
Club 412
3rd - 5th grade
Fordham Hall
Teachers: Sara Robertson, Briget Pope, Alice Davidson and Jordan Evans
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We received this update from Basia this week and were so happy to welcome her father to church on Sunday and thank him for all the hard work and 8 months he spent away from his family ministering to these folks with nowhere else to go.
Hi Father Rick and Mike,
As always, thank you for the huge amount of support St. Michael’s has provided to my family’s mission of supporting Ukrainian refugees.
After 9 months of being in Poland, my dad is finally returning to the US for the first time since the end of February! He will be going back again in the Spring to check on the house and Ukrainian refugee family we are hosting (probably in March 2023).
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In the meantime, his close friends (one of whom is in the picture attached and is a physician) will be helping the Ukrainian family while they stay in our Bialystok home.
Currently there are four Ukrainians living there: Oksana, Grisha, Mark (4 years old), and Margo (4 years old), and their pets.
Attached is a picture of my dad this week saying (temporary) goodbyes to the Ukrainian refugee children with whom he has become good friends over the many months.
We will continue housing them as long as they need it.
Thank you again,
Basia
Alex and Basia, St. Michael’s parishioners, are continuing to collect funds for covering energy costs in their house in Poland that is continuing to host a Ukrainian refugee family (including four-year old twins, Mark and Margo) and their pets. If you feel called to contribute to this effort, please donate at the St. Michael’s website and put “Ukraine” in the memo line:
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Alternatively, feel free to write a check to St. Michael’s and put “Ukraine” in the memo line. If you would like to learn more about the support being providing to the Ukrainian family, please email Basia at [email protected]. Thank you for your help! | |
Subscribe to St Michael’s Podcast!
What’s a Podcast you ask? Podcasts are a way to listen to audio shows (in St. Michael’s case, sermons) via a website or Podcast app on your phone. Need some inspiration during the day? Missed a Sunday? Want to hear a message again? Want to share a sermon with someone else? Head to your favorite Podcast app; such as Apple Podcasts, Amazon, Castbox, Podcast Addict, Spotify, Stitcher, etc. and search for “St Michael’s Orlando”.
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We’ve got two years of sermons, starting with Palm Sunday 2020. Each week a new episode is uploaded, normally by Tuesday. If you subscribe within your Podcast app, new episodes can be downloaded automatically, ensuring that you can listen whenever you like.
We are actively looking to add subscribers, so please listen, subscribe, share and let the A/V Ministry team know what you think at [email protected].
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HOLY COMMUNION AT HOME
We have "pre-consecrated" bread and wine available for those who will continue to join us in worship through YouTube available for pick-up at the church office.
WHEN TO PICK- UP COMMUNION:
- THURSDAYS and FRIDAYS
- 9 AM to 5 PM
- CHURCH OFFICE
* Please note: Gluten-free elements for those with allergies and/or intolerances are available by request. Please email [email protected] by end of day Wednesday to ensure the elements will be available for pick-up Thursday and Friday.
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“God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown him as you have helped his people and continue to help them.”
- Hebrews 6:10
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Serving is a great way to not just get plugged into your church but is also a great way to show the love of Jesus Christ to His people.
As St. Michael’s Church work on plans to start the reopening process, we will have plenty of opportunities for you to serve very soon.
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Sign Up or receive additional information on areas to serving in at St. Michael's Church, please click on the below link. | |
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ST. MICHAEL'S PRAYER LIST
Those who have commended themselves to our prayers
Andrew, Brittney, Carl M., Carlos, Cynthia, Danielle, Danyell, Desmond, Doug, Erika, Frank N., Gabriel, Henry, Jason, Jaylin, Jean, Jeanine, John, Kathy G., Gary, Lynn, Marion, Marlaina, Mitch M. and Family, Naomi, Nick, Paul, Randy G., Randy H. Jr., Robin, Tramell, Wayne
Long-Term Prayer List
Angie, Bill C, Gylla, Kristina, Kyle, Leslie F., Lydia, Mac, Martin, Pam B., Paris, Paul, Rachael W., Robert, Sarah, Sony, Steve, Steven F., Tim, Tom, Tracy
Those serving in the armed forces and in harm’s way
Bradley H., Chad S., Jonah H., Will M., Kenneth K., Ben V, Nick R., Carolyn H.
December Birthdays:
2: Grey Chapin, Tate Piercy, Picton Warlow IV 3: Nate Bedell, Erin Stearns 4: Katie Airth Terry, Bailey Hester 5: Allyson Jennings, Ford Leger 6: Ann Belote, Shelby Carpenter Yergey, Walter Vick 8: Ashley Bennett 10: Anika Ulrich 11: Berkeley Barksdale, Marisa Bosko, Steven Cox, Dan Garrett 12: Roger Chapin, Steve Piantieri, Palmer Yergey Jr 13: Deanna Fitzgerald, Holly Hatcher, Gylla Macgregor, Edwyn Sloan 14: Mary Parker, Bill Tschetter Sr 15: Bob Lacey 17: Daniel Elozeir 18: Leslie Berridy 19: Tom Bates 20: Jeff Bankowitz, Tyler Hays 21: Gabriel Barbour, Will Cornett 22: Alex Baker, Georgie Barnhart, Tip Bartels, Nia James 24: Louis Gafford, Nico Kairies 25: Bo Clayton Jr, Maria Fallas, Fran Stone, Patty Tew 26: Paul Fallas, Merry Jaeger, Len Williams Jr 27: Thomas Williams 28: Page Presnell 29: Happy Gafford, David Pace, Polly Roper, Diane Souder, Emilie Vick 30: Jan Everitt, Mike Farina, Elizabeth Hackler 31: Toby Arnheim Jr
December Anniversaries:
7: Rick & Anne Hovarter 17: Jackson & Margaret Brownlee 18: Charlie & Glenda Hood, Gary & Cheryl Mendoza 20: Mike & Dawn Farina 22: Jon & Rachel Eichelberger 27: Steven & Trudi Bissinger, Bill & Amy Daniel, Christopher & Jessica Smith 28: Tom & Kathy Cardwell, Mark & Djanira Cole, Pat & Kirsten Telan 29:Greg & Ramelle Macgregor, Jerry & Ann Williams 30:Todd & Jennifer Riggs 31: Jim & Dori Madison
Reminder:
To place someone on the prayer list, please contact the
Administrative Team at [email protected]
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or subscribe to your favorite podcast app.
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St. Michael's Episcopal Church | Website
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