Community Updates (12/5/23)
Dear ECAeans,
I have been singing Advent hymns for a few days now. I love singing in the car, and if you ever see me on the road, you will certainly find me at full voice! My ordaining Bishop William Swing was a great mentor to me, and he once told us newbies that we should warm up our voices for Sunday morning by singing through all of the hymns for the morning on the way to church. I still do that to this day!
Here is my favorite Advent hymn. What is yours? Go onto YouTube and find a good rendition of your favorite, and then send that link to Ruthanne and we will publish them next week.
I will sadly NOT be with you for First Friday Potluck and decorating - I will be spending all day Saturday at Grace Cathedral casting my discerning vote for our new Bishop, who will be ordained in May. But you will all be on my heart and mind Friday, and I look forward to seeing you on Sunday, with bells on!
Love, Stacey
Pledges
If you have not yet sent in your pledge for 2024, there is still time! Please send it to the church as soon as you are able. Ruthanne and the Finance Team are in the process of putting together the 2024 budget, and we need to know the pledge amounts in order to be as accurate as possible. We need all of your support – and it is SO appreciated! Thank you for your support of ECA and our ministries.
Rector Search Update
The Vestry met recently and we plan to re-post the position for a Rector in January for 4-6 weeks. The experiences of interviewing and having candidate visits has enabled us to hone our thoughts and vision about the role of our next Rector and what we are searching for. We are a vital, loving community of God's people who are caring for each other and dreaming together. We continue to remind ourselves that God has already selected the person who will walk this path with us and in faith we remember that God will provide the right person at the right time.
I want to announce that Rev Stacey will continue in her role as our Interim Rector through at least January. She is providing a constant guiding presence, leading us in worship and reminding us of God’s love by her faithful words and actions. Thank you Rev. Stacey.
Here is a direct link to our weekly “An Episcopal Sermon” podcast.
Each weekly podcast episode is a live recording of the Gospel reading followed by the sermon based on that reading from our Sunday services. A new episode is posted on our website every Monday (in case you missed it on Sunday). This podcast provides thought provoking messages that can be listened to anywhere at any time.
Enjoy!
Link for this week:
ECA Christmas Party
WHEN: Saturday, December 9th
TIME: 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. (or so)
PLACE: ECA Fellowship Hall
Come in your most festive holiday attire - a Christmas sweater, your formal wear, elf costume or come as Santa!
We will celebrate our Lord's birthday with our annual Christmas party, featuring...ALL OF YOU! It will not be the same without you so please make every effort to attend.
If you have not let Wendy know you are coming
ADVENT SMALL GROUP
YOU are Invited to join Pastor Shelly and others in an Advent Zoom Small Group!
When: Mondays, December 4, 11, and 18 at 6:00 PM Pacific/7:00 PM Mountain
Theme: How Does a Weary World Rejoice?
Resource: Our Advent Devotional books! Pick up one at church!
Christ was born into a weary world filled with ruthless empires and injustices leveled at the people. Loss, poverty, and cruelty were pervasive. Into such a world was born Jesus, and our old stories say that he brought good news and hope to all the people. Join with others as we spend some time in a small group reflection and study during this holy season of Advent. We will acknowledge our weariness and seek moments and places in which joy is to be rediscovered, even in the midst of fear, anger, and grief.
Each week we will experience art, reflections, poetry, and discussion from our Advent Devotional books. Pick up an Advent book at church and we will begin to journey through this holy season together!
The recurring link to find us each Monday, December 4, 11, and 18 on Zoom can be found in the Wednesday message.
Prayer Vine
Kathleen Eagan is the director of the Prayer Vine. If you have any prayer requests that we can be praying for, please contact her at kathleeneagan34@gmail.com. Also if you are interested in becoming a part of the volunteers who are the Prayer Warriors, please let Kathleen know.