I hope all of you had a restful Thanksgiving with your loved ones! In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):
- Advent Begins this Sunday!
- Advent Worship
- Youth Group Events
- Annual General Meeting
- Christmas Schedule
- Park Place School Funding
- “Holy Land Tour” Info. Session
- Diocesan Retreat in February
Advent Begins this Sunday!
Advent begins on Sunday! Plan to arrive early and attend the Advent-themed Discipleship Hour at 9:00am to learn ways to observe Advent. There will be materials provided for you to take home and use as an individual, or with your family. The combined Sunday School class will also be learning about Advent, and the Nursery will be open for the little ones ages four and under.
In addition to a special Discipleship Hour class, there will be a wreath-making time during Hospitality Hour where you can make your own Advent wreath to take home! Please plan to bring in greenery, and any Advent candles or candle holders you would like to use in your wreath. We have also deemed this Sunday as “Leftover Pie Sunday” since it is right after Thanksgiving. So in addition to your wreath supplies, plan to bring and share your delicious leftovers with everyone. 🙂
Advent Worship
During each Sunday in Advent, it is very important to be seated in the Sanctuary by 10:15am. We will begin the service in the darkness and then have the “Lighting of the Advent Wreath”. The doors to the Sanctuary will be closed at the start of the service and, for the sake of the liturgy, late-comers will be asked to wait in the Fellowship Hall and listen to the service until after the lighting is completed. Please plan to arrive early so that you are seated and prepared for worship by 10:15am.
Youth Group Events
Just a reminder to all those in the Youth ministry: Youth Group will be at the Embry’s house this Sunday night, 6:00pm. If you need the address, please contact Fr. David at revdavidwatts@gmail.com. Also, save the date for the next Youth Social on December 14th! It will be a fun night of ice skating at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex in Chesapeake. All youth in grades 5th-12th and their friends are invited and encouraged to attend!
Annual General Meeting
Everyone is invited to attend our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, December 8th, 12:00pm, over a potluck lunch. This meeting will include an update on local and global missions, as well as the election of three new Leadership Council members: one for a 1-year term, and two for a 3-year term. This is a very important meeting, especially for members and regular attenders. Please plan to attend!
Christmas Schedule
- Christmas Eve Service – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating) and 5:00pm (service begins)
- Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am
- First Sunday of Christmas: Lessons and Carols: Sunday, December 29th, 10:15am (no Discipleship Hour)
Park Place School Funding
For “Giving Tuesday” on December 3rd (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), Park Place School is asking that you consider making a monetary donation to help them sustain the for another year. By making a donation, you would be helping eighty-two wonderful children receive dynamic, inspired instruction from amazingly talented teachers! You can find more information on Park Place School’s “Giving Tuesday” event page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1192591484464030/ or their homepage – there is a post w/ a link to give: https://www.facebook.com/parkplaceschool/
“Holy Land Tour” Info. Session
Fr. Brian and Janis Campbell are organizing a trip to Israel in 2021 to tour the “Holy Land”! If anyone interested in learning more about the trip, there will be an informational meeting on Sunday, December 15th at the Campbell’s house (7324 Elvin Court, Norfolk). The meeting will be right after the worship service, over a light lunch. Please email Janis at janiscampbell58@gmail.com if you plan to attend.
Diocesan Retreat in February
Everyone is invited to attend the Diocese of Christ Our Hope’s upcoming Regional Retreat! Our church is in the Southeast region of the Diocese, which means that the retreat will be on February 13-15. For more information and to register, click here.
“Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
– Collect for The First Sunday in Advent (BCP 2019)