The Church Bell
Vol. I, no. 4
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Get "Stirred-Up" this Sunday!
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This Sunday, December 17th, is "
Stir-Up Sunday!"
Stir-Up Sunday is a beautiful tradition we inherit from our mother church – The Church of England. Every year at this time the
Book of Common Prayer
brings us a powerful opening collect that goes as follows:
“
Stir up
thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and ,because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen.”
There’s an old English custom - dating back to the days of Queen Victoria and Prince Albert – to “stir-up” something good to eat on “Stir Up Sunday”. Pudding is the most popular choice among the people of the British Isles.
This Sunday, December 17
th
, why not stir something up and bring it to church for coffee hour?
Between now and then, let the prayer for “Stir Up Sunday” be your prayer for this time Advent and for the coming season of Christmastide!
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Road Trip! Lesson & Carols at St. Paul's
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This Sunday evening, December 17th,
Fr. Wise and Janelee invite everyone to attend the service of Lessons & Carols at St. Paul’s, Murfreesboro.
The service begins at 4:00 p.m., so it would be a good idea to leave Cowan at around 2:15 p.m. to allow plenty of driving time.
The service at St. Paul’s is amazing with an adult choir and children’s choir, a pipe organ and various instruments.
Combined with the 9 lessons, the service is a pleasant and meaningful way to celebrate the coming of the Lord!
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Nick, Jessica, Julia and Hannah will be in Virginia over Christmas
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Sunday, December 17th, will be the last day we will see the Caccese's this year as they will spend the Christmas
Holiday at their home in Southern Virginia.
We wish them a happy and safe trip and look forward to seeing them back in January!
Remember that Nick’s last Advent Sunday school class will be on the 17
th
as well. Join us in the parish hall at the 10 o'clock Sunday school hour for another great study and discussion!
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Christmas poinsettias are a worldwide symbol of Christmas.
The leaves grow in a star shape, representing the Star of Bethlehem. The foliage also turns into beautiful colors due to the reduced amount of sunlight during winter. The colors symbolize the attributes of Jesus: the red represents his precious blood and the white represents his purity.
At St. Agnes’ we enjoy bringing poinsettias to church on Christmas Eve in memory of the faithful departed. If you are planning to bring a poinsettia, please give the name(s) of the departed to Jarod before our Christmas Eve service so that they can be read aloud as part of our offering.
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Other Memorial Gift Ideas
There are other ways to remember the faithful departed. We invite and welcome proceeds to purchase a Hymnal or a Book of Common Prayer in someone’s memory.
We also welcome and invite monetary donations in any amount to go toward new oil-burning candles to replace our wax candles.
To contribute to hymnal, prayers books, or oil candles as Christmas Memorials, please enclose your check or cash in an envelope and write detailed information and instructions on the envelope.
You can place it in the offering plate or hand it to Jarod or Alice.
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Christmas Eve - Sunday the 24th
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REMEMBER: No 11:00 a.m. service on the 24th! Our only service that day will be 4 p.m.
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December 24th Christmas Eve Service - 4:00 p.m.
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The highlight of the season is our candle lit Christmas Eve Service on December 24th, 4:00 p.m. Bring the entire family plus a friend or two and enjoy a most meaningful time of worship. "O Come, Let us Adore Him, Christ the Lord."
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December 24 Fr. Werlein Memorial Christmas Reception
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Following our Christmas Eve service we invite everyone to a pleasant evening of fellowship in the parish hall. We will have lots of good refreshments, hot cider, and gift bags for the kids. See you then!
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The Legendary Father Werlein
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Cowan has a very special Christmas legend: The Rev'd Phillip Prentiss Werlein was a priest, a Rhodes
Scholar, a WWI Army veteran, and a giver of Christmas cheer for the people of Cowan.
Father Werlein came to Sewanee in 1968 after retiring from the Diocese of Louisiana. He took the helm at St. Agnes’ and helped grow the congregation.
One of his many great contributions was the Christmas Eve reception that he organized every year with a Christmas tree, cider, cookies, and a gift for each child in attendance. Some of the children came from households that could not afford Christmas gifts.
He was truly devoted to the people of Cowan. This time of year we make a special effort to honor his legacy.
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Linda, David and Linda Remember:
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Linda Milligan, her brother David Bohannan, and her sister-in-law Linda Bohannan, shared on video some of their Christmas memories of Father Werlein.
This is an honest and candid assessment of a man who was larger-than-life in many ways!
Watch and enjoy!
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December 16 - Jonathan Scott
December 19 - Lee Glenn
December 31 - Frances Weddington
January 4 - Jason Paton
February 4 - Abby Garner
February 11 - Andrew Wilkinson
February 16 - Janelee Wise
February 26 - Karen McCallie
February 26 - Georgia Scott
"O God, our times are in your hand: Look with favor, we pray, on thy servants as they begin another year. Grant that they may grow in wisdom and grace, and strengthen their trust in your goodness all the days of their life; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Diana Meeks, Carter Smith, Lee Glenn, Fran Perry, Joe Ed Williams, Kimberly (Pat's daughter), Brian Masters, The Mantone Family, Fr. Stephen, Gay and Rick Hayslett, Lamar Davis, Kirkland Leonard, Jimmy Moss, Bill Keller, Howard Gene Eslick, Karen Piper, Jenny Ledbetter, Benny and Betty Haney, Linda Milligan, Karen McCallie, and Subamma (our sponsored child).
We pray continually for Christians around the world in grave danger and for those in our armed services.
We pray especially for the victims of recent and ongoing wildfires in California.
***
"O God, the strength of the weak and the comfort of sufferers: Mercifully accept our prayer, and grant to your servants the help of your power, that their sicknesses may be turned into joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen."
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Holy Eucharist ~ 11:00 a.m. ~ Bishop Lambert ~
Third Sunday in Advent - "Stir-Up Sunday"
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No 11:00 service on the 24th
We will gather at 4pm for Christmas Eve mass.
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Sunday, December 24 (eve)
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Holy Eucharist ~ 4:00 p.m. ~ Father Martin Odidi
Christmas Eve: "The Nativity of Our Lord"
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Holy Eucharist ~ 11:00 a.m. ~
Bishop Lambert
First Sunday of Christmastide
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How's that for a Grand Marshall?
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Needless to say, all of us at St. Agnes' were proud to see Gene, Kathleen, and Alice leading the 53rd Annual Cowan Christmas Parade. We were just as proud that Gene had the honor to serve as Grand Marshall.
If you haven't already, take a minute to the article about Gene that appeared on the front page of the Herald-Chronicle:
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Sunday Service
....................................11:00 a.m.
Sunday School .....................................10:00 a.m.
Location/Address: 105 England Street E., PO Box 356, Cowan, TN 37318
Telephone: (931) 636-6313
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The Rt. Rev'd Paul Lambert...............................Pastor and Celebrant
The Rt. Rev'd John C. Bauerschmidt................Bishop
The Venerable Martin Odidi...............................Visiting Priest
Nicholas Caccese..............................................Resident Seminarian
L. Jarod Pearson................................................Lay Reader
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