The Weekly Draft

St. Thomas' Episcopal Church

December 1, 2022

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The Second Sunday of Advent Bulletin December 4, 2022

Music for this Sunday 12-4-2022 

               Prelude         “O come, O come, Emmanuel”- arr. Susan Geschke

Bells of St. Thomas'

Introit, "Matin Responsory" - Richard Shephard

        Entrance Hymn, “Prepare the Way, O Zion” –

65 , BEREDEN VÄG FÖR HERRAN

Kyrie– Traditional French Carol – arr., Rick Smith

Psalm 72 , Michael Praetorius arr. Rick smith

Gospel Acclamation, “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen” – arr., Rick Smith

Offertory Anthem, “Lift Up Your Heads, O Ye Gates” – William Mathias

Presentation Hymn, Traditional French Carol – arr., Rick Smith

Sanctus – “Puer Nobis” – arr., Rick Smith

Fracture Anthem – "Lamp of God" - S161

Communion Hymn, "Creator of the Stars at Night" -

6, CONDITOR ALME SIDERUM

       Processional Hymn, “On Jordan's Bank the Baptist's Cry” –

76, WINCHESTER NEW

Postlude "Aria in F Major" -George Frederic Handel



Upcoming Christmas Programs

I would like to invite everyone to the Chorus Angelorum holiday concert, Sunday evening at 6:00pm. In addition to carols and anthems old and new, the program will feature the popular “A Ceremony of Carols” for choir and harp. We are delighted to welcome John McColley from University of Tampa as our harpist. A short write up about his life and career follows:

John McColley’s playing has been described as “exciting and engaging,” and “eye opening to the sounds a player can extract from the harp”. Born and raised in the Bay Area, John is the adjunct professor of Harp at the University of Tampa and the Director of the Hillsborough County Public School Harp Program. He is so grateful to be performing and bringing music he loves back to his amazing hometown. In addition to his teaching, John is a freelance musician throughout Florida; he can be heard playing this season with the Barefoot Trio, St. Petersburg Opera, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, The Key Chorale, Chorus Angelorum, the Florida Windband, and many other top tier ensembles in the state. In the past John has played with Charlotte Symphony Orchestra, Firelands Symphony Orchestra, Cleveland Philharmonic, Boulder Chamber Orchestra, and the Lakeland Symphony to name a few. John holds a Masters of Music from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Bachelors of Music from the Baldwin Wallace Conservatory of Music where he studied with Janet Harriman and Jody Guinn, respectively. John is incredibly thankful for his community college beginnings at St. Petersburg College with harpist Anna Kate Mackle. As a life enthusiast John also enjoys painting with oils, drinking craft beer, cooking with his wonderful wife Paige, walking his dog Wolfgang, and spreading love and happiness through his music.

Chorus Angelorum is an auditioned community a cappella group that rehearses here at St Thomas. While originally focusing on Renaissance literature, the group has expanded its repertoire. This holiday concert include music from the early Renaissance to the end of the 20^th century.

The concert is free, less than an hour in length, and is followed by a reception in the Curry Garden.

“Windows of Christmas”, Reflections in Carols, Theater, Art, and Music

St. Thomas’ has had an awakening to the spirituality the creative arts can illicit. We are becoming know for our adventuresome use of the visual arts in our sanctuary. With that in mind, I thought the time was right to venture into a creative musical experience during the Advent/Christmas holidays. This year, in place of our traditional Lessons and Carols Festival service, we’ll have an unusual opportunity to revisit the Christmas story. This will take place on Wednesday, December 14th at 7:00 pm.

“Windows of Christmas” is a concert experience using music, theater, and dance to retell the Incarnation story from unique perspectives. The piece uses the medieval stain glass windows of a great cathedral as it’s backdrop. Out of these windows emerge characters to share their part of the story. Narrated by a monk of the cathedral, we meet the Angel Gabriel, the Shepherd, and the Inn Keeper’s Wife. Mary also makes an appearance, dancing at the birth of her child to Celtic dance tunes. In the music are imbedded both familiar and unfamiliar carols: “Lo How a Rose E’er Booming”, “Gaudete”, “Angels We Have Heard on High”, Shepherds’ carol”, “Coventry Carol”, “In the Bleak Midwinter” and “In Dulci Jubilo”. The script is by P. Michael Davis, (yes, the same Mike Davis in our choir). The music is composed and arranged by Rick L. Smith, (yes, that’s me). The orchestra includes string quintet, flute, oboe, bassoon, percussion, and organ. The first production was in 2002, here in St Petersburg. The second production was in 2007 in the San Francisco Bay Area. St Thomas will host the third production. It’s an expensive undertaking. Many of you have been Music Angels and helped with other events. You can help produce “Windows of Christmas” with a donation to music ministry at St Thomas.

Blessings,

Rick

The Longest Night Service

Youth Programs

St. Thomas’ Church offers traditional formation (Baptism, First Communion, Confirmation, lectionary-based classes for Grades 1-6), guild apprenticeship (this year, focusing on altar server training), and fun activities during the school year. The nursery is staffed at both Sunday services. 

Sunday, Dec. 4 - no children's lesson this coming Sunday.

The story this year is "Listen to the Silent Night" written by Dandi Daley Mackall, and illustrated by  

Lou Fancher and Steve Johnson.

Text or call Mtr. Anne at 954-253-4414 for more information.

St Thomas Mission Trip to La Clinca Nueva, San Francisco de Orica, Honduras, May 13-20

Our St. Thomas community has made several trips to this medical clinic. Many of us help support the clinic through the Foundation for International Missions, based here in St. Pete. We have been in constant communication with our doctor in Honduras, Dr. Davila, all during the pandemic, but of course, have been unable to send mission teams. Dr. Davila has finally cleared us and invited us to visit the clinic again. We are in the process of gathering a team for the trip. Scheduled for May13-20, 2023, our group will hold four “health fairs” in surround villages to accomplish the following:

·        Screen for various illnesses and provide on sight care for    immediate medical issues

·        Connect people in need with Dr. Davila and La Clinica Nueva, the only health care for miles around.

·        Provide women to women health care, promoting better feminine health.

·        Host “fun days” for local children, teaching basic health care, dental care, and providing games, activities, and Bible stories for all ages.

Yes, we are looking for medical skills, but we also need non-medical personnel as well. Training for the trip will begin in February with a visit from Dr. Davila and monthly planning and preparation meetings. Short term mission trips can be and often are life-changing events. Is God calling you to serve? Contact trip leaders, Rick Smith, Grace Smith, and Russ Martin for more information.

St. Thomas Honduran Mission Trip Schedule

·        Sunday, January 22, 5:00pm – Informational & Organizational Gathering

·        Sunday, February 5, 5:00pm – Planning Session 1

·        Wednesday, February 8, 7:00pm – Dr. Davila (Clinica Nueva) speaks at “Supper, Song, & Prayer”

·        Sunday, March 5, 5:00pm – Planning Session 2

·        Sunday, April 23, 5:00pm – Planning Session 3

·        Wednesday, May 10, 7:00pm – Packing Night

·        Friday, May 12 – Leaders depart (Rick, Grace, & Russ)

·        Saturday, May 13 – Group departs

·        Saturday, May 20 – Group Returns

Stewardship - Building Together for God 

For your calendar

Early January, 2023 - Children of all ages are invited to learn to be altar servers. Canterbury Chaplain David Gould will be recruiting and training new altar servers (acolytes, crucifers, torch bearers). David will set up a meeting at the start of 2023.

Adult Formation

Outreach

Pastoral Care