Dear Friends,
This past Sunday, I concluded the Rector’s Forum with a quote from an Advent reflection by the Rev. Barbara Deane Price, published in Women’s Uncommon Prayers. Here’s a portion of what she wrote.
“Yes, the people of God wait. … But we, O most fortunate ones, wait for joy; wait for the wolf to accompany the lamb; wait, hearts filled with laughter; wait to bear witness to the light. And we do not wait in vain. By the very power of our expectation, by our very faith, our willingness to welcome, we assist in the annual birth of love, of hope, of innocence.”
This speaks to me of the heart of Advent, waiting for joy to come, the joy we receive from God through Christ. But then on Tuesday, I signed the parish burial register following a funeral that was held last week. “We’ve done a lot of funerals this year,” I said to Meegan, a member of the staff, as I noted that the deceased’s name and my signature filled the last empty line on the page.
This Advent not all hearts are “filled with laughter.” Not everyone can “bear witness to the light.” Every family member who survived those listed in the burial register for 2022 is living through their first holiday season without their loved one. That does not mean they won’t feel joy during this season. But it will be a joy wrapped in grief, a grief not limited to those who have lost a loved one this year. After all, grief isn’t confined to one season.
“It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” Andy Williams sings in the holiday classic. True for many who will enjoy parties, family gatherings, choral concerts and finding the perfect gift for a beloved friend.
But for some, this is not a wonderful time. It’s a hard time, a sad time. The empty chair at the holiday table. The Christmas tradition that only made sense when shared with the person who is no longer here. The other side of the bed cold for the lack of your beloved.
The wait for joy can be a very long wait. Too long a wait if the experience of joy is limited to the present moment. But what if the seed for joy is found not in the present but instead in our memory? In Surprised by Joy, C.S. Lewis writes, “All Joy reminds. It is never a possession, always a desire for something longer ago or further away or still ‘about to be.’”
Joy reminds. Not necessarily of better days, though this may be the case. Joy reminds us that, whatever we’re feeling today, in the past we have been loved and blessed by another. We have laughed and celebrated. We have experienced gladness and delight. These memories of past joy can, perhaps, spark joy in the present and give us hope for renewed joy in the future.
“This Advent,” the Rev. Price writes, “let us wait well, in faith, in hope, and in sympathy with one another—for together, we wait for joy!”
Your Friend in Christ,
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UPCOMING EVENTS/ANNOUNCEMENTS |
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ADULT FAITH FORUM
Sunday, December 11, 10:15-11a, Parish Hall
Join Hannah Kempf Hensel for Lessons Learned from the Earth Sciences and Traditional Ecological Knowledge. Hannah is an Earth scientist* who studies how animals respond to environmental stress on various timescales. Her work is highly interdisciplinary, drawing from coastal sciences, paleontology, genetics and Indigenous traditional ecological knowledge. She will share her research on how California coastal ecosystems respond to climate change, adaptation strategies and her work in geoscience policy.
*Hannah is a Ph.D. Candidate in Earth and Planetary Sciences at the University of California, Davis and works at the Bodega Marine Laboratory in Bodega Bay, CA. She earned her Bachelors and Master's degrees in Geology from Miami University in Ohio, and grew up going to St. Paul's in Indianapolis. Click here to read more about Hannah's research.
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CHORAL MATTINS
Sunday, December 11, 11:15 a.m., Sanctuary
Join St. Paul's Choir for the morning version of Choral Evensong. Featuring music by William Inglott, George Guest, Richard Webster, and Jacob Handl.
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HANDEL'S MESSIAH CONCERT
Sunday, December 11, 4p, Sanctuary
Don't miss St. Paul’s Choir, joined by a festival orchestra, singing excerpts from Part One of Handel’s Messiah, along with J.S. Bach’s exuberant Magnificat in D Major. Admission is $15 (cash or check at the door)/$15.75 (credit sales - may be purchased below). Questions,
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School #43 students and staff in new Spirit Wear |
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Thanksgiving Meals provided to 100 families |
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OUTREACH THANKS ALL FOR THE GENEROUS SUPPORT
We have reached our goal of raising $5,500 to support the Buzz Fund Spirit Wear Campaign for School #43 and our annual Thanksgiving drive provided meals to 100 families in our area! Through the generous donations of members of the St. Paul’s community, students and staff of School #43 were outfitted with spirit wear and 60 Thanksgiving meals were distributed by Damien Center and 40 through a partnership between The Church Within and Southeast Community Services. Thank you to everyone who contributed food, provided financial support and volunteered their time to make all possible. Your donations made a huge difference! Read all details here.
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HELP OUTREACH SUPPORT OTHERS AT CHRISTMAS
Christmas Sponsors through Damien Center:
December 11, 18, before and after the 9 & 11:15 a.m. services, Burrows Commons
Damien Center's Holiday Assistance Program provides annual gifts to clients of local AIDS service organizations through generous community partners. Over 200 applications have been received and there is an urgent need for individual and family sponsors this Christmas. Sponsor funds will purchase three to four gifts for each household member based on wish lists provided by those in need. Please contact John David Patrick for more details. Donations can also be made in person before and after the Messiah concert on Sunday, December 11.
Christmas Families Project:
December 11 & 18, before and after the 9 & 11:15 a.m. services, Burrows Commons
Outreach is sponsoring kindergarten children from School #43, and their siblings, who are in need. Parents of 70 children will be provided with a $100 Target gift voucher to help with Christmas. Please help us reach our goal by donating. Outreach committee members will be in Burrows Commons on the dates above to answer questions and take cash/check donations; donations can also be made in person before and after the Messiah concert on Sunday, December 11. Online donations may be made below.
Alternative Gift Market:
December 11, 18, before and after the 9 & 11:15 a.m. services, Burrows Commons
The Outreach Committee will be matching your purchases from seven organizations this year: Craine House, Mission in Mombasa, Julian Center, The Damien Center, Indiana Youth Group, Dayspring Center and Coburn Place. Purchase a card for $5 and up and your gift will be matched dollar-for-dollar by the Outreach Committee. These cards are a great way to show someone you care this holiday season! Outreach committee members will be in Burrows Commons on the dates above to answer questions and facilitate cash/check purchases. Purchases can also be made in person before and after the Messiah concert on Sunday, December 11. Online donations may be made below.
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ST. PAUL'S APPAREL
Order now and pick up on Sundays or during Church Office hours
T-shirts and 1/4 zip pullovers with our St. Paul's logo are available in several color/size options; items may be picked up at St. Paul's. Visit here to see apparel and order online now, or fill out an order form at St. Paul's on Sunday.
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LGBTQ HOLIDAY GATHERING
Thursday, December 15, 6:30-8:30 p.m., Youth Lounge (Parish Building, first floor)
Please RSVP below by December 11 for the LGBTQ+ celebration and enjoy a time of food, fellowship and reflection. All are invited to bring an appetizer of their choice and an item to exchange (suggested value: less than $20).
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GREENING OF THE CHURCH
Sunday, December 18 at 10:15 a.m.
All are welcome to stay after the 9 a.m. worship service and help us decorate St. Paul's for Christmas! Light refreshments will be provided. Please note that, due to the Greening, there is no 11:15 a.m. service that day. Our first Christmas service, the Christmas Pageant, will be held at 4 p.m.
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CHRISTMAS PAGEANT ROLES
Sunday, December 18, 4p, Sanctuary
Sign up below if your child would like to participate in this year's Christmas Pageant. Children act out the story of Christmas. All ages are welcome and encouraged to be in this service that includes Christmas carols and prayers. Visiting friends and grandchildren are welcome to be a part of the pageant too! Questions, email Laurie Pierce.
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DAYSPRING COLLECTION BOX
Burrows Commons
Dayspring Center provides emergency shelter, clothing and three nourishing meals per day for homeless families with children in central Indiana. Non-perishable food and household items are being collected for Dayspring families. Drop off on any Sunday and a volunteer from St. Paul's will deliver the items when the box is full. Below is a link to Dayspring's wish list:
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