Advent 4 – Sunday, December 18 |
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“Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus”
As Advent turns us toward the Nativity, our scriptures, prayers, and hymns try to put into words the growing feelings of this time. We prepare, we wait. The Winter Solstice approaches, Long Nights settle in. The sacred, mystical time draws near.
We give voice to our deepest longings:
“Come, thou long expected Jesus.
Born thy people to deliver, born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever, now thy gracious kingdom bring.” Hymn #66
Come, thou long expected Jesus. Satisfy our longing to be near you, satisfy our longing to be part of something far greater than we can imagine. Whether we are in this place together for a day, a season, awhile, a lifetime – gather us up as your people, we plead, and love us into being your faithful disciples here, now.
Come, thou long expected Jesus. We are nurtured and nourished by your presence among us, in us, working through us. We long to be present to you, to find you in the bread we break, the tables at which we feast. We expect to see you. We know you are with us as we serve, as we tend to one another, as we wait, as we are. Come, inhabit our prayers, our thoughts, our actions, our lives.
Come, thou long expected Jesus. Come and make your home in us anew. Come to reign, with your transforming love for all.
Come, thou long expected Jesus.
Twila+
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Sunday: Holy Eucharist at 8 and 10:15 a.m.
• Between worship services: 9 a.m. “Caring Cafe,” in the Walker Room – see details below
• After the 10:15 worship service: coffee and conversation in the Narthex
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For this 4th Sunday of Advent, harpist Beth Anne Breneman will be with us for the 10:15 a.m. worship service. (An incentive to arrive early – she will offer the prelude!) A native of Western New York, Beth Anne is a graduate of the Eastman School of Music and her professional roles have included the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and performances at Carnegie Hall.
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The Long Night
5 p.m. Saturday, December 17, Artist’s Talk at 4:30 p.m.
Come for a gentle, candlelit hour of peace: music, readings, prayer, silence, as the winter solstice, the longest night nears. This worship service is especially suitable for people who have difficulty at this time of year, as well as a gentle, prayerful entrance to Christmas for all. Music will be provided by Tim Smith. Stations for devotion will be set up around the church, to engage as desired, and anointing will be available.
We are also hosting a special exhibit in the Holy Spirit Chapel on this evening, by mixed-media artist Rachel Pinti, “Communicating Mystical Experience Through Art,” with a talk by the artist in the Oratory Chapel at 4:30 p.m. The exhibit will be open immediately following The Long Night worship service. Read her paper here to learn more.
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Christmas Eve Lessons and Music
10 a.m. Saturday, December 24
A familiar liturgy, at a new time! We heard the desires for an early/daytime worship service, with traditional scripture readings, prayer, and organ music, in the beauty of the Cathedral. This worship opportunity is family-friendly and offers an experience of Christmas liturgy without a late night. Space will be reserved on Pearl Street for drop-off near the ramp/accessible entrance on the lower level, for those who may need extra assistance.
For those who prefer an early evening worship service on Christmas Eve:
While the Cathedral will not have an early evening worship service, several of our Buffalo-area Episcopal churches are holding 5 p.m. worship, including Good Shepherd (with choir) and St. Philip’s. Also, an 8:30 p.m. service is planned at St. John’s-Grace.
Christmas Eve “Midnight Mass”
10:40/11 p.m. Saturday, December 24
An extended, organ prelude will begin at 10:40 p.m. and worship at 11 p.m. (concluding soon after midnight). Celebrate the mystery of this night with Holy Eucharist at the Cathedral – prayer, music, communion, incense, and candlelight.
Christmas Day Holy Eucharist
8 and 10:15 a.m. Sunday, December 25
Sunday morning worship includes a simple communion service in the Richmond Chapel at 8 a.m. and a traditional service with music in the main church at 10:15 a.m.
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Deck the Stalls, Part 2
We need your help again! On Saturday, December 17, we will meet in the Cathedral at 9 a.m. to finish the rest of the Christmas decorating. This will include putting up 9' and 12' trees, setting up the creche, and decorating the candles that will be placed in the nave and the Richmond chapel. If you can come, please do. All are welcome. If you have teenager who needs volunteer hours for community service, we will be glad to sign off on it. We had a wonderful young man from Canisius HS join us last time and we are expecting him to come back with another young man from City Honors HS. Come one, come all, it will be a lot of fun!
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Christmas Altar Poinsettias – Reserve by this Sunday
You may choose to honor a loved one or give thanks to God with a donation for poinsettias to adorn the altar at Christmas services. To be included in the Christmas Eve bulletins, donations must be received by this Sunday, December 18 . Forms are available at church or you may download one here, then place in the alms basin or deliver to the church office, 4 Cathedral Park. Checks should be made payable to St. Paul’s Cathedral, noting “poinsettias” on the memo line.
It has been our practice for the last several years to give away the altar poinsettias after the Christmas morning service. This year we would ask that if you know someone who is shut in, either a member of the parish or anyone else you reserve a plant(s) to take to that person or persons. If you speak to either Kim O'Connell or Michael Bonilla, they will set plants aside before the rest are given away to people attending the 10:15 Christmas morning service. Rather than leave the plants on the altar, we think it would be great to spread some holiday cheer to people who are homebound or in nursing care. (The only reserved plants that will be “off limits” for distribution are the large baskets on either side of the high altar and the altar in the Richmond Chapel.) Please help spread some Christmas joy to those who cannot be with us in community.
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Caring Cafe
9 a.m. Sundays in the Walker Room (downstairs, main church)
Come for coffee, community, and conversations on matters of faith – expressions of caring for one another.
• This Sunday – Advent series concludes: “Practicing Simplicity With All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind.”
• No forum Christmas Day and New Year’s Day, then we’ll resume Sunday, January 8, with a discussion on our baptismal vows, kicked off by Dean Twila: “Believing, Belonging, and Behaving.”
• Epiphany Season: Becoming Disciples – On January 15, we’ll launch a new, six-week series on “The Essentials of the Christian Life,” with discussion around a book by the Archbishop of Canterbury (2002-2012) Rowan Williams. We’ll have copies to distribute on January 8 or, if you prefer an e-reader format, a Kindle version is available for $2.75.
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The Week of December 18 at St. Paul’s
• Tuesday – 11:30 a.m. Garden of Love, Flickinger Ministry Center
5:30 p.m. Vestry, on Zoom
• Thursday – 12:05 p.m. Holy Eucharist, Oratory Chapel
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From the SJAT Notebook – Gift Ideas!
The Social Justice Action Team of St. Paul’s shares information on issues and ways to get involved in our local community.
This week’s post offers encouragement for last-minute gift-giving, such as Gifts for Life through Episcopal Relief and Development. Gifts options include support for clean water, literacy, bee hives, and a variety of other initiatives. The Gifts for Life program is based on the three key priorities of community development proven to be most effective in the faith-based work of Episcopal Relief and Development: women, children and climate. Locally, give through support for local organizations, such as WEDI, or consider supporting Black-owned businesses in the Buffalo community.
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Continued Commitments
• To make a financial commitment for 2023, pledge cards are still available at the back of the church or requested through the church office.
• You may place offerings (and pledge cards) in one of the alms basins in the church or give electronically.
• To give electronically, see the “DONATE” button at the top of the Cathedral website or go to the giving site here. From this link, you may make one-time offerings or set up regular giving (weekly, monthly, etc.). If you need assistance, please contact Teresa in the church office.
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Prayer and Pastoral Care
• If you have requests to add to the weekly Prayers of the People or a name to add for the prayers of clergy and the Pastoral Care Team, please email prayerrequests.
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If you are with a group meeting on Zoom,
use the following link, unless specified otherwise:
Meeting ID: 716 855 0900 Password: 4cathedral
By Phone: 929-205-6099 Access code: 716 855 0900 Password: 535 007 8352
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Diocesan Partnership and Church News
• See the most recent Diocesan Partnership newsletter here. • For more news about the Dioceses of WNY and NWPA and to sign up for emailed newsletters, go here. |
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St. Paul's Cathedral | 716-855-0900 | 139 Pearl Street, Buffalo, NY 14202
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