T H E B E N E D I C T I O N


Newsletter of St. Benedict’s Anglican Catholic Church 

O  WORSHIP  THE  LORD  IN  THE  BEAUTY  OF  HOLINESS

Our parish (founded in 1979) has maintained the Liturgy of the traditional Book of Common Prayer. Our preaching and teaching draw on the Holy Scriptures in light of the Tradition of the Church from the earliest days.

Advent and Christmas 2019
From the Rector’s Desk

Advent is the first season on the Church calendar. I ask each of you to resist the pressures of the world. The world says that the time between Thanksgiving Day and the Feast of St. Stephen is Christmas, and then it is all over (because the next big money maker is Valentine’s Day – a day in which that saint and martyr himself is forgotten, of course). But, the Church says that when Christmas Day comes then it will be Christmas for twelve days, and until then it is Advent.

Advent is older than Christmas, as feasts and fasts go. The real emphasis is not to prepare for Christmas, but to prepare for the second Coming of Jesus Christ. And, so, in this penitential season, we recognize those four inescapable last things (for each and every individual): Death, Judgment, Heaven and Hell. Contemplating eternity and facing Christ Himself is a very different emphasis from shopping, the pressure of arranging parties, etc.
         
There is nothing wrong with those things we do, like buying presents for loved ones. There is, however, something downright exhausting and unhealthy about how our culture goes about it. So, in this penitential season we have extra pressures distracting us from prayer and serious contemplation. It is that pressure I urge you to resist for your own peace. It is time to reflect on eternity that awaits you. It is time now to know you are fully reconciled to God and ready to see Christ Himself without fear or dread. It is time to repent and believe, and so anticipate His coming again with joy and hope.
         
When Christmas comes, we will remember that the babe in the manger is no one less than God the Son, the Word made flesh here to pitch His earthly tabernacle among us, and so reveal the glory of the Father. The night of His birth is also the night that echoes the night in which He was betrayed. The shadow of the cross falls across the joy of the manger; for He comes to die for your sins and mine in the greatest act of love in all history, before triumphing over death for us in His glorious resurrection.     
When Epiphany comes we will rejoice in the fact that God’s salvation has been revealed to all nations on the face of the whole earth. All the prophets foretold that the glory of the Lord shall cover the whole earth.    
That is a lot more exciting than reindeers with red noses, and a lot more meaningful than shopping until one drops from exhaustion. A holiday is a holy day. Let’s all keep it in perspective.

And, have a blessed and merry Christmas.

Fr. Hart

Baptisms
Since the last newsletter I have baptized the following people here at St. Benedict’s:
Jill Michelle Sides            (Sept. 8)
Sedem Fifi Kploanyi         (Oct. 29)
Worlasse Kofi Kploanyi    (Oct. 29)

Confirmations
On Oct. 29, Archbishop Haverland Confirmed Paige Elizabeth Smith and Annetta Glynn Burgess.

Organ Recital and Evensong
Our organist Mr.  James Lazenby will present what has become a tradition in our parish: The Advent Organ Recital. It will begin at 4:00 PM on the Second Sunday in Advent (December 8).  It will be followed by a traditional Anglican Evensong, a chanted or sung Evening Prayer. It is a very popular Anglican form of Service, and offers a rich experience.

Christmas Offering
Enclosed please see the envelope for your Christmas Offering. This is included every year in our budget.

Annual Meeting
Please take note: Every member of the congregation is hereby informed that the Annual Meeting for 2020, at which decisions are made by the voting members of the parish (those of you who come regularly, are over eighteen, have been Confirmed, and will have pledged to contribute financially to the parish) will be on Sunday January 26, following a potluck luncheon immediately following the 10:00 AM service of Holy Communion.

Food Basket
Please remember items for the Food Basket. It goes to help people in need of food.

Schedule for Christmas Services
Christmas Eve
11:00 PM Holy Communion (Traditional Midnight Mass)
Christmas Day
Holy Communion 10:00 AM

Feast of the Epiphany Monday January 6
Holy Communion 7:00 PM


Regular weekly schedule
Sundays
8:30 AM Morning Prayer
9:30 AM Sunday School for children
10:00 AM Holy Communion 11:40 Bible Study
Wednesdays
Holy communion 12:00 noon
Evening Prayer 6:30 PM
Saturdays
3:00PM Holy Communion at the Stratford Senior Care Facility

St. Benedict’s Anglican Church is a parish of the Diocese of the South, Anglican Catholic Church, Original Province.

Most Rev. Dr. Mark D. Haverland, Archbishop Ordinary

Rev. Robert Hart, Rector
Mr. Michael Murray, Senior Warden
Dr. Gordon Inbeanu, Junior Warden
Mr. James Lazenby, Minister of Music

St. Benedict’s website: www.saintbenedicts.net.

Phone# 919-933-0956


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