WEEKLY MESSAGE – December 22, 2023 – Saint David's in the Pines

WEEKLY MESSAGE – December 22nd – Fr. Cederberg

How strange it is that God would become human flesh. Skin and bones. Eyebrows and toenails. What has someone infinite like God got to do with such things? Good question. Philosophers through the ages have been offended by the idea. Yet, it all comes down to one thing: Love. We have a God who does not want to remain aloof from us, shaking his head at a distance. We have a God who wants to become like us; to enter into our world of both beauty and heartache. Perhaps we don’t need to spend so much time trying to understand God. Perhaps it’s enough to know that he understands us. A comforting thought. Merry Christmas!

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Debt Reduction: Total debt $94,000.00. Total collected: $34,630.00.

Christmas Services Schedule

24^th Sunday Christmas Eve 9:00 am, 7:00 pm & 11:00 pm

25^th Monday Christmas Day 10:00 am

Sandwiches for St. George’s: Please bring your sandwiches to St. David’s west side parking lot on Wednesday mornings from 8:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

Hospitality Hour is scheduled today after the service – Hosted by the ECW. Next week will be hosted by Maria Scher.

2024 Offering Envelopes and Calendars. Please pick up your envelope and a calendar in the narthex.

ECW Quiche Luncheon is scheduled on Saturday, January 13 at 12:30 p.m. We will be selling tickets after each service starting on Sundays, December 31 and January 7. Cost is $10 for lunch and $2.00 for wine. Wine basket raffle tickets will be sold at each service.

Bible Study is in recess until Sunday, January 7 at 9:00 a.m.

Women’s Bible Study is in recess until Sunday, January 7 at 11:15 a.m.

Tuesdays: No Holy Eucharist this week.

No Sunday school tjis Sunday.

Sunday’s Worship – We are open for live worship on Sundays at 8 a.m. and 10 a.m. We also “live-stream” our 10 a.m. service.

Video Viewing Options for Sunday’s mass. There are three different ways to view our videos: 1) our church website; 2) our Facebook page; and 3) our YouTube channel. See the links listed below.

Opportunities for Giving – there are several options that safely and efficiently expedite your generous donations: electronic bank transfers or automatic bank transfers via personal accounts or credit/debit cards; personal checks delivered by USPS; and our favorite through joining our giving family online through our website or at https://www.myEoffering.com with our secure vendor Church Envelope Budget Company, who provides you with yearly offering envelopes. Please do NOT leave any envelopes with checks/cash unattended at church mailboxes.

PLEASE PRAY. For the sick: Dennis, Diana, Donna, Dorothy, Dudley, Emily, Heather, Jameson, Jim, Lloyd, Marjorie, Megan, Michael, Pearl, Predrag, Robin, Ronald, Shelley, Shirley, Tanner, Violet. For birthday celebrations: Megan Jacques, Austin Ward, Marianne Davidson. For anniversary celebrations: Francis and Joanna Morlu, Tom and Evelyn Medcalf. For our expectant mother: Shay.

Vestry Members: Howard Barrett – Senior Warden, Shelley Baranowski, Kenneth Barnett, Helena Bresnahan, John Webber – Junior Warden, Jenifer Elmore, Michel Guillaume, Matthew Hogan, Chris LaBorde – Secretary, Linda McKeown, Joyce Parker, Dennis Wright – Treasurer.