---

THIS SUNDAY
Fourth Sunday of Advent

10AM Holy Eucharist, Rite II and Pageant!
Join us in person or watch the broadcast on our YouTube channel
Service material can be found on our website

Scripture readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent
Isaiah 7:10-16
Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18
Romans 1:1-7
Matthew 1:18-25

Sunday, December 18, 2022 – 3rd Sunday of Advent

• 10:00 AM – Pageant Sunday, Holy Eucharist Rite II with Prayers of Spiritual Communion – in person & livestream – The Rev. James Stambaugh, Celebrant & Preacher
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Monday, December 19, 2022

• 9:15 AM – Morning Prayer in the Church
• 7:00 PM – Vestry Meeting via Zoom – see Jean G. for link
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Tuesday, December 20, 2022

• 9:15 AM – Morning Prayer in the Church
• 7:30 PM – AA Meeting – Memorial Room
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Wednesday, December 21, 2022 – Feast of St Thomas, Apostle

• 9:15 AM – Morning Prayer in the Church
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Thursday, December 22, 2022

• 9:15 AM – Morning Prayer in the Church
• 11:00 AM – Bible Study via Zoom. We are studying the Gospel of John. New folks are always welcome. No previous experience required. Click here to join
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Friday, December 23, 2022

• 9:30 AM – Greening of the church – Sanctuary
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Saturday, December 24, 2022 – Christmas Eve

• 4:30 PM – Family Christmas Eve Service – in person – The Rev. James Stambaugh, Celebrant & Preacher
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join
• 10:00 PM – Choral Festival Eucharist – in person & livestream – The Rev. James Stambaugh, Celebrant & Preacher

Sunday, December 25, 2022 – Christmas Day

• 10:00 AM – Christ Mass, Holy Eucharist Rite II with Prayers of Spiritual Communion – in person & livestream – The Rev. James Stambaugh, Celebrant & Preacher
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Special Request: Aid for Refugees

We have been asked to join with Gladwyne Presbyterian Church and other faith communities in the area to provide much needed clothing to refugees who are being bussed to Philadelphia from Texas.

We will be providing:

SWEATPANTS and SOCKS – ALL SIZES, FOR MEN AND WOMEN

You can help by:

• purchasing items and dropping them off on the Outreach shelves in the narthex closet
• purchasing items and shipping them directly to the church – please remember to mark your packages “Attention: Outreach”
• making a donation to Outreach – marking “Refugees” in the memo line

We will be collecting items for at least the next month, and will continue as long as busloads of folks in need are arriving. Items will be delivered to Gladwyne Presbyterian on a weekly basis to insure getting the sweatpants and socks to those in need as quickly as possible. Questions? Contact Katie

DARBY MISSION

December Food Giveaway:

The next Darby Food Giveaway is scheduled for Wednesday, December 21. Rev. Doris has asked us to provide the following items to the best of our ability:

• Canned Cranberry Sauce
• Canned String Beans
• Canned Yams

Please bring your items to church by Tuesday, December 20, so that they can be delivered on time to the Mission for distribution. The mission has been providing food for an average of 150 people per month.

Drop off locations:

• Designated shelves in the closet off of the narthex
• CAN-estoga wagon in the hallway outside the office

We’re off to a good start – this is the situation as of Friday of this week: 34 cans of green beans; 36 cans of cranberry sauce; 18 cans of yams.

Project Share

Soup Week – December 19-23

Our dinner deliveries to Project Share continue to be well received. Thank you to all who contribute to this vital ministry. The December 6 meal is now completely covered!

The week before Christmas – December 19-23 – has been declared Soup Week! Hot and hearty homemade soup will be provided each day of the week by our friend Andrea St Amour. Some of you might know her as the mom of Eli of Eli’s Honey Bees. We will also be providing: Crusty bread, hot chocolate packets, tea bags and Apostle’s Cup Coffee. THANK YOU to all of you who signed up to cover these items.

PLEASE NOTE

At this time we are ONLY accepting book donations for children, level 5th grade and below. We will accept any children’s books no matter the genre, in addition to our request for holiday themed, above. At this time we have more general audience books than we can handle. We will let you know if/when the situation changes. Thank you!

Reach out to Cassie about Outreach:
Email: grammysqrd@gmail.com; or call/text: 610-608-5440

Need help donating your items?

If you need assistance getting your donations to the church, please contact Katie in the church office to arrange transport: holyapostlespa@gmail.com or 610-642-6617

Share your welcoming spirit…

…with new visitors and returning members this Christmas. Please sign up to be a Greeter for one or more of these special services:

Dec. 18th
Christmas Pageant Sunday 10 AM
Dec. 24th
Christmas Eve Family Service 4:30 PM
Dec. 24th
Christmas Eve Festival Eucharist 10 PM
Dec. 25th
Christ Mass (HE Rite 2) 10 AM

For more information contact Linda Day

+ CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

As is our tradition we will be decking the church with Christmas poinsettias, offering these Christmas flowers for the glory of God and in memory of those we love. If you would like to participate in this custom, please provide us with the names of the deceased loved ones you would like to remember along with a donation. The suggested donation is $10.00 per name, but please do give only as you are able and so moved.

You may email the names of your loved ones to us and use our online “give” button on website in order to donate. On the online form you can select “Flower Memorials” in the To: drop down list.

You may also mail the names and/or a check to the church office.

Deadline: This Monday, December 19

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 23 @ 9:30AM
JOIN US AS WE DECORATE THE CHURCH FOR OUR
CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES

+ JANUARY NEWSLETTER SUBMISSIONS
Have something you’d like to contribute to the the January newsletter – an article, poem, announcement, etc.? Please send your submission to the office no later than Tuesday, December 27 for inclusion in the next edition of The Apostle.

+ JANUARY NEWSLETTER MAILING
If you would like to help prepare the January newsletter mailing, please meet in the Memorial Room on Friday, December 30 at 10:30am for folding, stuffing, stamping and laughter.

+ REUSABLE BAGS NEEDED
If you have more reusable bags than you could possibly reuse, we’d love to take them off your hands! There is a constant need for them with a number of different Outreach projects. Drop off any you have to spare with Katie or Cassie, or put them on the Outreach shelves in the narthex closet.

+ SOUP MAKERS NEEDDED!
We are in need of 3-4 volunteers to make soup for the Annual Meeting luncheon. If you are interested in sharing your culinary talents, please contact Suzanne Lees: suzannelees@yahoo.com or 610-220-7120.

+ STEWARDSHIP SEASON 2022 – LIVES OF THANKSGIVING
It is never too late to make a pledge! If you have not yet made a pledge to Holy Apostles for 2023, please do so at your earliest convenience. The more we know in advance of your commitment to our ministries, the easier it is for our Finance team to put together the 2023 budget. Father James’ Stewardship Letter for 2022

You can make your pledge using a pledge card from your newsletter envelope or from the narthex table, or by using this link to Realm: https://onrealm.org/holyapostlespa/AddPledge/pledge2023.

+ WINTER BOOK STUDY

Mark your calendar for our winter book study of A Post-COVID Catechesis by Victor Lee Austin. We will be meeting in the Memorial Room on Sunday, January 22 and Sunday, February 5 to delve into this book. It’s just 67 pages long, but full of insights. Pick up a copy from your favorite bookseller, or get one from Katie in the office.

+ ANNUAL MEETING & LUNCHEON – JANUARY 29 @ 11:30AM
Please mark your calendar now so you don’t miss this important event in our church year. A delicious luncheon will be served and we will be reviewing 2022, making plans for 2023 and voting on the 2023 operational budget and new vestry members. Child care will be available on site in the Godly Playroom.

+ HAPPY ANNIVERSARY, APOSTLE’S CUP!
We have reached the 1-year anniversary of our partnership with House Cup Coffee and our in-house Apostle’s Cup coffee! You can purchase bags of regular-ground; regular-whole bean; and/or decaf-ground varieties. Each bag is $15, with $4 from each purchase going directly to the ministries of the Darby Mission. We have plenty of coffee available for purchase on Sundays, or any time the office is open (see Office Hours schedule below). You can also purchase Apostle’s Cup coffee direct from House Cup Coffee and have it shipped to your door!

+ MAY WE PRAY FOR YOU?

I call upon you, for you will answer me, O God;
incline your ear to me; hear my words.
Psalm 17:6

The Parish Prayer list is included in the monthly newsletter that is sent through the mail. Additional copies are also available on the table in the narthex and on our website. To add your prayer needs to the list, you can contact Fr. James, Nancy Haas, or use the form on our website.

• Janice Davis, who works with Rev. Doris and is in charge of overseeing all of the Darby rec center activities, needs your prayers for her mother who broke both of her legs early this week. Please pray for healing and relief from pain.

Prayer – it’s not just words, it’s a lifestyle

---

---

+ COFFEE HOUR SIGNUPS
Please consider whether you can host a Sunday coffee hour! Hosting entails bringing a treat to share or using boxed cookies which will be in the cabinet, setting up the usual condiments and supplies for coffee and tea on a table in the Parish Hall, and cleaning up at the end of Coffee Hour. we have a plan for having the Apostles’ Cup coffee made before the service. Signup sheets are on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall.Questions? Contact Judy Jervis: TuesBowler@outlook.com or 610-348-5529

+ VOLUNTEER SIGNUP
Visit our SignUpGenius page to volunteer for:

• Chalice Bearer/Acolyte – contact Fr. James if you would like to join this team
• Donut/Coffee Courier – sign up to bring the donuts and coffee to the 9AM service
• Greeters – make folks feel welcome as they arrive for services
• Livestream Team – help make services available to those who can’t come to church, training available
• Outreach Events – Dates and slots have been added for Project Share meals through December.
• Readers/Intercessors – lend your voice to our weekly services. Openings now available for December and January. Please help if you can!

To sign up for 10AM coffee hour host – please see the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall or speak to Judy Jervis!

+ EUCHARISTIC VISITS
During this time, the rector and trained Eucharistic ministers may visit others to bring them the Eucharist. Meeting in outdoor spaces of homes will be preferred. Contact Fr. James if you would like to schedule a visit.

+ GIVING
You can always mail pledge contributions to the church. The mail is checked regularly. You can also securely give online. Go to holyapostlespa.org and click on the “Give” button on the top right hand corner of the webpage.

+ CHURCH OFFICE HOURS
Office hours for the week of December 18:
Monday – 12/19 – 10:00am – 12:00pm
Tuesday – 12/20 – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Friday – 12/23 – 9:00am – 12:00pm

To contact the office:
610-642-6671
HolyApostlesPA@gmail.com
Email monitored regularly

+ CHRISTMAS WITH BETHLEHEM
Join Bishop Gutiérrez for the 16th annual Service of Christmas Lessons and Carols simulcast live between the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral in the United States and the Christmas Lutheran Church in Bethlehem, Palestine, on Saturday, Dec. 17th at 10 am EST and 5 pm Bethlehem time. Hear familiar carols and readings in Arabic and English, and a word of hope preached this year by the Most Rev. Hosam Naoum, Archbishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Jerusalem.

The Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral is located at 23 S. 38th Street in Philadelphia. (Parking is available in the lot near the church, please enter at 39th Street at Market.)

For questions, please contact the Rev. Canon Matthew Dayton-Welch, Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania Canon for the Holy Land, at rector@stalbansnewtownsquare.org.

For those that can’t make it in person, please join us online.

+ LESSONS & CAROLS BY GASLIGHT
Built in 1862-63, St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in Roxborough is one of very few buildings in the City of Philadelphia with functioning Victorian gaslights, and every year, the church sanctuary is beautifully “greened”—that is, decorated with traditional pine garlands. Join St. Timothy’s and the LGBTQIA+ Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania for a festive Lessons & Carols service to celebrate the 12th Day of Christmas and The Epiphany.

St. Timothy’s would like to invite those wishing to join the choir for the event to contact Luke Staisiunas at sttimsmusician@gmail.com. The service will be hymn heavy, and they would love to have you help lead the singing.

Prior to the service, center yourself in the spirit of the season with prayerful and meditative Celtic harp music. The Lessons & Carols service emphasizing congregational singing begins at 6:30 p.m. We will then gather in St. Timothy’s churchyard for wine, hors d’oeuvres, and desserts. In keeping with the Epiphany theme of bringing gifts to the newborn Christ, conversation during the reception will focus on the gifts we as Episcopalians bring to the causes of inclusivity and justice, in our church and beyond.

• 6:00 – 6:30 – Prelude: Celtic harp meditations
• 6:30 – 7:30 – Lessons & Carols Service
• 7:30 – 8:00 – Wine & hors d’oeuvres reception

Open to all. LGBTQIA+ Episcopalians and those LGBTQIA+ people interested in learning more about the Episcopal Church are encouraged to attend. This event is free, and registration is not required. However, to help facilitate event preparations, please RSVP to lgbtqia@diopa.org if you can. This service is sponsored by St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church in collaboration with the LGBTQIA+ Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

+ STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL DIOCESAN NEWS
Click here to receive the weekly newsletter from the diocese in your inbox.

The following folks have birthday in December:

03 – Pat Mattoon
07 – Victoria Henderson
Beth Johnson
12 – Connie Cunningham
16 – Bob Mattoon
21 – Tom Costello
23 – Peter Patton
24 – Kieran Avis
26 – Beth Gallis

If your birthday, or the birthday of another parishioner is missing, please notify the Parish Office at holyapostlespa@gmail.com