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Weekly Newsletter

Friday, November 22

• L'Esprit Baroque Concert at 7pm in the Chapel (see below)

Saturday, November 23

• Celebration of Wisdom Luncheon at 11:30am in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Sunday, November 24

• Christ the King Sunday
• Godly Play at 10:30am in Room 9
• Rector's Forum between services in the Chapel
• Filling Kindness Bags after the 10:30am service in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Monday, November 25

• Vestry Meeting at 6pm in Sacquety Hall

Tuesday, November 26

• Rector's Bible Study at 11:00am in Sacquety Hall

Wednesday, November 27

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the Chapel

Thursday, November 28

• Happy Thanksgiving! Church Office and Preschool closed

Friday, November 29

• Church Office and Preschool closed

Sunday, December 1

• Godly Play at 8:30am in Room 9
• Youth Group Meeting at 4:30pm in the Youth Center

Monday, December 2

• Advent Book Study at 6:30pm in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Tuesday, December 3

• Grief Group at 9:30am in the Church Office
• Rector's Bible Study at 11:00am in Sacquety Hall
• Men's Group Meeting at 7:30pm in the Church Office

Wednesday, December 4

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the Chapel

Thursday, December 5

• History Committee Meeting at 10am in the Office

Saturday, December 7

• Huntington Beach Concert Band Christmas Concert at 6:30pm in the Sanctuary

Sunday, December 8

• Godly Play at 10:30 in Room 9
• Episcopal Pride Alliance Potluck Luncheon at 12:15pm in the Youth Center
• "Three Journeys: Where We've Been" Concert by the Orange County Women's Chorus at 3pm in the Sanctuary (see below)

Monday, December 9

• Advent Book Study at 6:30pm in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Tuesday, December 10

• Rector's Bible Study at 11:00am in Sacquety Hall

Wednesday, December 11

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the Chapel

Saturday, December 14

• Winter Concert by the Men in Blaque at 7pm in the Sanctuary

Sunday, December 15

• Small Change Sunday to support our Laundry Love Ministry
• Godly Play at 8:30am in Room 9
• Healing Ministry Meeting at 11:50am in the Office
• "Jingle All the Way" Christmas Concert by the Huntington Landmark Chorale at 3pm in the Sanctuary (see below)
• Youth Group Meeting at 4:30pm in the Youth Center

Monday, December 16

• Advent Book Study at 6pm in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Tuesday, December 17

• Grief Group at 9:30am in the Church Office
• Rector's Bible Study at 11:00am in Sacquety Hall
• School Board Meeting at 5pm in the Preschool Office
• Christmas Service of Lament (Blue Christmas) with music by Jamond McCoy at 6pm in the Chapel (see below)
• Men's Group Meeting at 7:30pm in the Church Office

Wednesday, December 18

• Weekly Holy Eucharist at 7:15am in the Chapel
• Laundry Love at 5:30pm at Huntington Coin Laundry

Sunday, December 22

• Godly Play at 10:30am in Room 9
• Advent Lessons and Carols at 5pm in the Sanctuary

Monday, December 23

• Advent Book Study at 6:30pm in Sacquety Hall (see below)

Tuesday, December 24 (see below)

• Christmas Pageant & Eucharist 4:00pm in the Sanctuary
• Midnight Choral Christmas beginning with a Concert of Carols at 10:30pm in the Sanctuary

Wednesday, December 25

• Merry Christmas! The Church Office and Preschool will be closed

Sunday, December 29

• Godly Play offered at both 8:30am and 10:30am in Room 9

Tuesday, December 31

• Wisdom Game Day at 11:30am in Sacquety Hall

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Christ the King Services

Believe it or not, this Sunday marks the end of church year. To celebrate, the church designates this Sunday as Christ the King Sunday. In our Scriptures, we have this poetic and beautiful notion that the Risen Christ rules and reigns, and that someday Christ will return again in heavenly glory. However we understand Christ’s return, the theme is clear: not even the death of Jesus could stop God’s work in the world. Someday, whether metaphorically or literally, everything on earth will be reset to the way the human community should have been in the beginning. That is, relationships with God and with other people will be fully restored, fully remade, and fully whole. Christ the King Sunday reminds us of God’s Sovereign work in our world. 

I hope that you will join us this Sunday as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday at both services.

Advent Book Study

This year, our book study is on Monday nights in Sacquety Hall at 6:30pm, beginning on December 2nd. During the four Mondays in December, we will explore Amy-Jill Levin’s book, The Light of the World: A Beginner’s Guide to Advent. Each week, we will enjoy delicious Christmas treats! More information about the books, which can be purchased starting this Sunday at the SCRIP table for $15, can be found below. I hope that you can join us!

Christmas Eve Services

After consulting with Special Services Committee, the Vestry, and the Liturgy Committee, it has been decided that our Christmas Eve services will be a bit different this year. We will be offering two services. The first one is our Children’s Pageant and Eucharist, which will begin at 4pm on Christmas Eve, with the talented Jamond McCoy and guest musicians providing the music for this service. More information about how your children or grandchildren can be in the pageant will be provided in the following weeks.   

The second service is at 10:30pm, which begins with choral and orchestral music. Then, at 11:00pm, the Christmas Eve Midnight Eucharistic service begins. Both of these services are beautiful and moving as we celebrate the birth of Jesus.  I encourage you to invite your family and friends as we mark one of the most holy days of the year together in worship.

Rector's Forum - This Sunday

In a separate email that you received, I announced that we'd be having a special Rector's Forum this Sunday to have a conversation about the next nine months. This forum will be taking place in the Chapel between services.

Kindness Bags - NEW Time, this Sunday 

This Sunday, we will be putting together our 500th Kindness Bag! Since returning from the pandemic, our Children, Youth, and Family Commission has been collecting and assembling helpful self-care items for those in need. You can help put together these Kindness Bags this Sunday at approximately 11:30am in Sacquety Hall after the 10:30 service. Come and join us!

Many blessings to you,

Fr. Nathan Biornstad+

Welcoming Jonathan Quinn

Jonathan Quinn (they/them) has attended All Saints Pasadena since 2021, where they served on vestry and chaired the LGBTQ+ ministry. They will be attending and serving at St. Wilfrid’s for nine months as they pursue ordination in the Episcopal Church. Jonathan works as a substitute teacher in the public school system, as well as a tutor in high school math and science, despite their academic background being in Bible, theology, and philosophy. Jonathan’s hobbies include reading, karaoke, and writing and performing stand-up comedy. Jonathan and their husband, August, live in Corona and have three children and two cats. 

Saturday, November 23 at 11:30am

Greetings Wisdomites, our movie day was a great success. We had pizzas with jalapeños, ham & olives with pineapple or mushrooms, chicken garlic and regular sausage and pepperoni. Yum!!! And to top it off, the movie was "Mama Mia," a fun and uplifting movie.

Our next meeting will be this Saturday, November 23. It will be our annual Turkey Dinner with all the trimmings. If you have a favorite dish or dessert you would like to share, please bring it along. Be sure to list the item that you are bringing on the sign-up sheet. Also, we are having Kathy McGuire come after lunch with her "Poems for the Holidays." At her last visit, we had such a great time learning how to write poems that we invited her again.

Remember to sign up and pay your $10 so we can buy the food. Think about bringing a friend to share in this dinner and creative exercise. Can't beat the fun. Looking forward to seeing all of you.

*********

Make your holiday cards and celebrations special by adding the gift of your poems. In this workshop, you will write two poems to share with your family and friends in time for the holidays. You will also leave with “recipes” for creating new poems. Join the fun!

Kindness Bag Milestone!

Come join us in Sacquety Hall this Sunday after the 10:30am service to fill our Kindness Bags. The Children, Youth, and Families Commission wants to thank the parish for all of the items brought in and for being so giving in sharing with our neighbors in need. Sunday marks 500 Kindness Bags we have made as a congregation in the past three years! What a special way to celebrate Christ the King Day!

Advent Book Study

Monday Evenings in December at 6:30pm

Beginning on December 2rd

in Sacquety Hall

Prepare for Christmas with a fresh look at the stories leading up to Jesus’ birth. Our Advent book study will use Light of the World: A Beginner's Guide to Advent by Amy-Jill Levine, who brings the narrative to life with historical insights and new perspectives on familiar figures like Mary, Joseph, and the Magi. Join us as we journey through these ancient texts and discover what they have to say to us today. Books are on sale for $15 at the SCRIP table on Sunday or in the church office during the week.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the delegates who presented at our Convention Recap and Breakfast last Sunday. Your insights and reflections helped bring the experience of the Diaconate Convention to life for our community. We also thank Sharan Mercer for sponsoring a delicious breakfast to show appreciation for your support of her and her family.

For those who were unable to attend, we are pleased to share links to the keynotes and addresses from the convention including the Keynote Address by The Rev. Dr. Carter Heyward (one of the Philadelphia 11), a Sermon by The Rev. Norma Guerra, and the Bishop's Address by The Rt. Rev. John H. Taylor. We hope these messages inspire and enrich your faith journey as they did for all convention attendees.

Our preschool’s candy fundraiser is in full swing! Order by December 2nd to support our little learners. Stop by the SCRIP table on Sunday to fill out an order form in person, or order online by clicking the link below. Orders placed in person will be delivered the week of December 9th, and online orders ship right away. Thanks for your sweet support!

The Orange County Women’s Chorus will perform the first concert of its 27th season, Three Journeys: Where We’ve Been, on December 8 at 3pm at St. Wilfrid of York Episcopal Church, in Huntington Beach.

OCWC invites audiences to share in the souvenirs they’ve brought back from their three international tours. Hear music for the season for voices and instruments from England and Wales, Canada, and Croatia—plus a special bonus finale from the ensemble’s 2022 Carnegie Hall debut.

OCWC Artistic Director Eliza Rubenstein says, “Our singing has taken us to some mind-blowingly beautiful and interesting places around the world, and since our audience and our donors helped make that happen, we wanted to bring them some souvenirs! This season’s holiday concert features works from the nations we’ve visited, and includes some music you’re not going to hear performed by anybody else within the borders of the United States. We hope you’ll come with us on this journey—it’s the fun without the jet lag!”

This program marks the conducting debut of Kirsten Leon, the OCWC’s 2024-2025 intern, as she leads the group in concert for the first time. Leon, a soprano with the chorus, earned her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from California State University, Fullerton (’23). Reflecting on this debut, she says, “It feels incredibly different to be on the other side of the podium, but I have already learned so much. It has proven to have its challenges but I am eager to showcase the singers and all their talent in our concerts this season.” She continues to bring her love for music and the arts into her role as a Guest Talent Coordinator with Disney Imagination Campus.

St. Wilfrid's Parishioners may receive $5 off their ticket by using code STW online.

Dec. 1 Advent service will mark cathedral centennial; all invited to celebrate ‘many faces of St. John’s’

By EN Staff

St. John’s Cathedral invites all in the diocese to an Advent lessons and carols service set for 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 1, to mark the 100th anniversary of the opening of the landmark church sanctuary at 514 W. Adams Blvd., Los Angeles.

Bishop John Harvey Taylor will join the Very Rev. Anne Sawyer, interim dean and priest-in-charge, in officiating at the service with the choir of St. John’s led by Christopher Gravis, canon for music ministry and cathedral arts.

“St. John’s opens our doors wide to welcome congregations, diocesan program groups, and visitors to gather in this sacred space,” Sawyer said. “We seek to deepen our relationships with people throughout the diocese.”

The Dec. 1 service “will launch a multi-year celebration of the many faces of St. John’s in the last 100 years,” said Rick Nordin, who joins fellow vestry member Arcadio Morales and the Rev. Margaret Hudley McCauley in co-chairing the centennial committee. “This includes building new housing on church property plus restoration and repairs to the historic cathedral.”

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Episcopalians join international Transgender Day of Remembrance, as hatred and violence against LBGTQ+ persons continue to rise

Episcopal churches nationwide recognized Nov. 20 as Transgender Day of Remembrance with special worship services and prayer vigils to memorialize those who’ve been targeted and murdered for being transgender and to raise awareness of violence against trans people.

Between Oct. 1, 2023, and Sept. 30, 2024, 350 known transgender people worldwide – including 41 in the United States – were murdered, though the number may be much higher, according to data compiled by the Trans Murder Monitoring project, an initiative of Transgender Europe, a Berlin, Germany-based nongovernmental organization. Most victims were Black or brown.

Aaron Scott, The Episcopal Church’s gender justice officer and a trans man, told Episcopal News Service that Transgender Day of Remembrance bears extra meaning this year as it’s taking place two weeks after former President Donald Trump’s election to a second term. Trump’s campaign intensified its use of racist, anti-immigrant and anti-LGBTQ+ rhetoric in the lead-up to Election Day.

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