November 26, 2023

Christ the King

10am Service

The Rev. Mary Claugus Presiding & Preaching

Pastor Katie Holeman Deacon

& The Rev. Rodney Davis Assisting

5pm Contemplative Prayer Eucharist with Zoom

Celebrating Thanksgiving

The Rev. Mary Claugus

Sunday, November 19, 2023

Happy Thanksgiving!

Sometimes my heart is so full that I really don't know how to fully express the gratitude that is filling it up. It is a combination of gratitude and love and it seems to overflow in me. It happens when I am able to receive the gift that is right in front of me. I experienced this gratitude on the days my children were born, on my two ordination days and when other major events happened in my life. Gratitude and love overwhelm me when I mess up and I am forgiven.

Yet it is when my gratitude is for the small stuff that literally brings me to tears. Sometimes it is a kind smile when I am overwhelmed or someone opening a door when I have my hands full. This feeling comes when it is a stranger who notices me. And when I think about it, I think the love part of these situations is deep down inside me, a love for humanity wells up and I feel like a worthy part of God's creation. And in that strangers expression of kindness, I receive love and my response is a gratitude to be part of humanity, God's loving presence in every human being.

I am often overwhelmed with gratitude and love for this congregation and especially for the people who make up our congregation. I hope you all have a lovely thanksgiving.

Blessings, Rev. Mary

The Church office will be closed Thursday and Friday, November 23 & 24 in observance of Thanksgiving. We all wish you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

Calling all children and adult actors! This Christmas Eve we will be putting on A Very Mixed-Up Christmas Pageant during the 5pm Family worship.

Rehearsals will be December 3, 10, and 17 after the 10am worship. All are invited to join us for this very fun and lighthearted Christmas experience. If you have any questions, please contact Pastor Katie. [email protected]

Blue Christmas Service

December 3 | 5pm Contemplative Eucharist

A gathering for those who are suffering from grief during a season where we are expected to be filled with joy and peace. Please come and offer your grief and despair to God, honoring the feelings you have while reaching for hope.

Living Compass Advent: Practicing Wonder

The Living Compass Advent booklets are available at the church on Sundays, in the office and online at https://www.livingcompass.org/advent. A weekly discussion group facilitated by Lisa and Jim Sargent will be offered on Sunday evenings from 6:30-7:30 on Zoom. We will meet on December 3, 10 and 17. Please contact Lisa by e-mail at [email protected] to sign up. 

A Radiant Birth: Advent Reflections

This Advent season Marilyn McEntyre will be leading reflections on a new collection of Advent daily readings by contemporary Christian writers, A Radiant Birth. 

Participants are encouraged to follow the daily readings during the week and come to the Sunday gatherings after coffee hour for one hour of reflection. We will begin meeting December 3rd. Discounted copies of the book will be available at coffee hour and from Christian Book Distributors.

Men's Group Work Party

Church Christmas Lights, Saturday, December 2nd

We will be having a Men's Group Work party on Saturday, December 2nd at 9:30am to hang the Christmas lights, wreath and garlands outside and inside the sanctuary. Please contact John Quené if you are interested and able to join the Men's Group as they prepare St. Michael's for the Advent and Christmas Season.

California International Marathon - Expect Delays

Sunday, December 3rd

The California International Marathon will run on Sunday, December 3rd, 2023, causing some intersections near the church to be closed. The race starts at 7am near Folsom Dam and travels Oak Avenue, Fair Oaks Blvd, and J Street to the Capitol. Intersections will be closed only while the race comes through, but be prepared, if necessary, to leave home early and avoid the racecourse on your way to church. For more information check out the website here and the pdfs below.

Gifts from the Heart

Drop Off Days

Thank you so much to all who chose to participate in the GFTH program this year!! You are a blessing to those less fortunate. Drop off dates and times are Dec. 2, 1-4pm and Dec. 3, 9am-2pm. If an alternate drop of time is needed, please talk to Laura Quene 916-507-9542 or Holly Yue 916-769-1091.

Free Calendars to Donate?

Do you have an excess of free 2024 calendars that are sent with promotional mailings? If you are looking for ways to donate these we are collecting them in the office to include in the GFTH gifts as well as have them available for Winter Shelter attendees.

Outreach opportunities can be found on our website calendar linked below!

Weekly Services

10am Sunday Morning Worship Eucharist & Choir also Livestreamed

Nursery opens at 9:30am

5pm Sunday Evening Contemplative Eucharist with Zoom

9am Morning Prayer – Zoom, Monday through Thursday nm

11:45am Thursday Noon Day Prayer – Zoom

8:30am Friday Morning Contemplative Eucharist

Spiritual Communion this week - November 24

Kate Muris will be leading Spiritual Communion in place of the usual Friday Morning Eucharist. We will begin at 8:30am as usual.

Christmas Music & Flowers

Given in Thanksgiving & in Memory

You can remember loved ones and celebrate important moments in your life with the gift of flowers and music to the church for Christmas.

Please fill out our online form or you can email the office for what you are grateful for and/or for whom. Please add "Christmas Flowers & Music" to the memo line of checks and mail or drop them off to the office. You can also pay online using the drop down menu by selecting Flowers & Music in Thanksgiving and Remembering.

Choral Masterworks

by John Cozza, Music Director

Bach--Cantata, BWV 140 "Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme" ("Awake, Calls to Us the Voice") 

As our church year draws to a close with Christ the King Sunday this week, here is a cantata that Bach composed for the last Sunday of his Leipzig church year in 1731.

Wachet auf, ruft uns die Stimme, BWV 140, also known as Sleepers Awake, is a church cantata by Johann Sebastian Bach, regarded as one of his most mature and popular sacred cantatas. He composed the chorale cantata in Leipzig for the 27th Sunday after Trinity and first performed it on 25 November 1731.

For more information, here is the complete Wikipedia article:

Here is a video of the Netherlands Bach Society (with a helpful English-subtitled translation):

St. Michael's Men’s Breakfast

Men's breakfast is on the first Saturday of every month at FlapJacks Diner. The group meets at 8am at the restaurant. FlapJacks Diner is on El Camino Ave. Please reply to Jim Dodds so he will have an idea of the numbers. If you have any additional questions, please contact the office.

Centering Prayer

All are welcome to come and pray! Centering prayer meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesdays of the month via Zoom. Newcomers are welcome to come at 6:45pm for a Centering Prayer Newcomer Orientation. Centering Prayer begins at 7pm. We will offer a 20 minute centering prayer sit, followed by a variety of contemplative practices. They may include: Lectio Divina, experiential spirituality and occasionally a guest speaker. For more information, please contact the office 916.488.3550 or Chuck Schaller 916.390.3465.

Prayers for Pregnant Women & Their Babies

We have an ongoing relationship with the Episcopal Sisters at the Order of Julian of Norwich monastery who pray daily for pregnant women and their babies. If you have name(s) of loved one(s) who are expecting that you would like to have included in the sisters' prayers, please email Fr. Rod at [email protected].

Giving Thanks with Flowers!

You can still remember your loved ones and celebrate important moments in your life with the gift of flowers to the church.  

If you would like to give in this way, please let the office know

and what you would like to give thanks for in the bulletin. You can send a check (or drop it off) to the office or pay on-line.  

Name Tags Available

We have name tags available at Sunday morning check in's. Please be sure to grab and wear your name tag before the service. If you are in need of a name tag please let the office know.

St. Michael's Hours

Office Hours: Monday through Friday 9am - 1pm

Sanctuary and Courtyard are open during office hours. Please let the office know you will be coming. Call 916.488.3550 or email.

Pastoral Hours

Rev. Mary will be available on request. Please call the office to schedule.

916.488.3550.



Pastor Katie will be available on request. Please email [email protected] to schedule.



Giving 

Thank you all for generously supporting St. Michael's and our ministries. We are accepting pledge payments through the mail. We are also accepting online giving. You may have to set up an account to do so. If you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact Kate Muris.