Acts of the Apostles – 12/25/2022

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THIS WEEK

CHRISTMAS EVE

4:30PM Family Service – Holy Eucharist, Rite II

10PM Choral Service – Holy Eucharist, Rite II
Join us in person or watch the broadcast on our YouTube channel
Service material can be found on our website

Scripture readings for Christmas Eve
Isaiah 9:2-7
Titus 2:11-14
Psalm 96
Luke 2:1-20

CHRISTMAS DAY

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

Scripture readings for the Christmas Day
Isaiah 52:7-10
Hebrews 1:1-12
Psalm 98
John 1:1-14

Saturday, December 24, 2022 – Christmas Eve

• 4:30 PM – Family Christmas Eve Service – in person & livestream – 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

Monday, December 26, 2022 – Feast of St Stephen, Deacon & Martyr

• Office Closed
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Tuesday, December 27, 2022 – Feast of St John, Apostle & Evangelist

• Newsletter submission deadline
• 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 28, 2022 – Feast of the Holy Innocents

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

Thursday, December 29, 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 30, 2022

• 10:30 AM – Newsletter mailing prep – Memorial Room
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Saturday, December 31, 2022

• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Sunday, January 1, 2023 – Feast of the Holy Name

• 9:00 AM – Family Eucharist Service – The Rev. James Stambaugh, Celebrant & Preacher
• 10:00 AM – Lessons & Carols – in person & livestream – The Rev. James Stambaugh, Officiant
• 7:30 PM – Compline via Zoom Click here to join

Special Request: Aid for Asylum Seeking Refugees

As you may have heard on the news, bus loads of immigrants seeking asylum continue to be sent to the Philadelphia area from Texas. These are people who have completed the proper paperwork to seek asylum in this country. We have been asked to join with other faith communities in the area to provided needed items for their comfort during this time of transition.

On Tuesday of this week, Katie met Pastor Todd Stavrakos of Gladwyne Presbyterian and gave him the items we had collected to date:

5 mens sweatpants XXL * 5 mens sweatpants L * 5 women’s sweatpants 2XL * 5 fleece blankets * 1 roll up blanket (this is the only not-new item, but it is only gently used) * 1 men’s thermal underwear – top and bottom L * 1 men’s crew-neck thermal undershirt L * 7 pairs men’s briefs * small bars of soap * various foam shaving cream – 6 or 7 cans * 39 individual toothpaste * 5 reg size toothpaste * 2 large mouthwash * 6 individual mouthwash * 1 box of 40-45 hand warmers * 9 washcloths

Pastor Todd told me that they were expecting 2 more buses the next day (Wednesday). On the last bus, all the people were in shorts and flip flops – hardly appropriate for the weather we’re having – and no blankets or jackets and such were provided for the travelers.

In any case, Todd and his group are in the process of going through donations to see what is now most needed and will keep us updated. He anticipates more call for sweats, long johns, and sneakers, possibly coats.

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 and it will be used to purchase specifically requested items for this project.

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 or picked up by Gladwyne Presbyterian on a weekly basis to insure getting the donated items to those in need as quickly as possible. Questions? Contact Katie

DARBY MISSION

December Food Giveaway:

THANK YOU for your continued generosity! On Wednesday, December 21, your Outreach team delivered:

• 71 cans of Cranberry Sauce
• 76 cans of String Beans
• 32 cans of Yams

The Mission served 165 people this month. They could have fed more people, but ran out of food and gift cards. Your contributions are greatly appreciated!

Project Share

Soup Week – December 19-23

SOUP WEEK has been an amazing experience!

Soup-tacular if you will!
Daily specials of Chicken & Rice, Organic Veggie, Chili w/corn bread, Beef & Barley, Onion & Potatoes with Turkey Kielbasa, and Chicken & Orzo have been big hits with our friends at Project Share. Thank you to all who contributed to this venture, and special thanks to:

Marc Dent and House Cup Coffee for their contribution

and to Andrea St Amour for her soup making skills and providing from her farm share for others to make soup as well!

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!

Catch up with Cassie
Reach her via email: grammysqrd@gmail.com; or phone/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

+ 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.

+ LOOKING FOR YOUR GIVING ENVELOPES?
Production is a bit behind for our supplier this year. We are still hoping for a mid- to late-January deliver at this time. We will get them out to you as soon as possible. While you’re waiting, feel free to use a plain envelope and just mark it with your name and “Pledge Giving” and we’ll be sure it gets credited correctly.

+ 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.

+ 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.

+ 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?

Hear my prayer, O Lord;
give ear to my supplications in your faithfulness;
answer me in your righteousness.
Psalm 143:1

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.

• Please continue to pray for Clive Ensher and his family. His sister, Phyllis, died on Sunday following a heart attack.

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

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+ 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 25:
Monday – 12/26 – office closed
Tuesday – 12/27 – 10:00am – 3:00pm
Friday – 12/30 – 9:00am – 12:00pm

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

+ 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