Saint Monica's Episcopal Church
Messenger
December 2015
From the Rector’s desk
by Rev. Anthony MacWhinnie, II
“It smells so good in here!” Elizabeth exclaimed, as our batch of beef jerky got up to speed in the dehydrator. We’re getting ready for a family vacation up to North Georgia, so Trey and I got into the kitchen and got working on making one of the tastiest and most nutritious treats you can have while you’re hiking: jerky. We’re also fans of turkey jerky, so the second batch was all turkey, all the time. Making all this together is such fun for the family! It bonds us. It saves a few dollars. It gives us a Father Anthony and Ruby on Vacation product that’s better than anything Photo by Elizabeth MacWhinnie you can get in the store and on top of that it’s better for you without all those unnecessary prePeace, servatives and chemicals added. Anthony+ But there is something else that it does for us that is noteworthy. It gives us a foretaste of what’s to come, both literally and figuratively. We’re not on vacation yet, but we ARE in a way. We’re preparing for it. We’re getting ready. We’re anticipating the future by doing this work now. We’re hopefully anticipating, just like what Advent is supposed to be about. And you know what? It’s joyful! It’s wonderful working and preparing and anticipating a future in which this sometimes hard work will pay off in an enjoyable, literal mountain top experience. It makes the “now” better as well as making the “then” better. So, knowing this, and knowing that Advent, a season unto itself, is all about hopeful anticipation, how are you going to prepare for the coming of Christ at Christmas during Advent? This little jerky experience has really taught me a lesson that going alone is not always the best way to go. It’s better for all involved when we work together for
the common cause. It brings us together. It bonds us. It’s easier on each of us because many hands make light work. And in the end we have a shared experience of both the journey and the destination that can only be achieved through mutual striving. On Wednesday nights at 6:00PM in Advent, we’ll be having what I am calling “ADVENTure.” We’ll come together to eat and to learn and to work together to prepare ourselves for the coming of Christ. Invite your friends and come join us! Sign up in the Narthex. Maybe we’ll make jerky…
WEDNESDAYS IN ADVENT “Adventure”
Our Staff & Vestry
6:00pm on Wednesdays in Advent
Rev, Anthony MacWhinnie, II, Rector Vestry: Chuck Barnett - Senior Warden Dan Ferguson- Junior Warden/Co-Treasurer Linda Aligood —Treasurer Susan Early, Frank Murphy, Ann Philen & John Velaski Viv Welch—Clerk of the Vestry Brenda Ferguson—Church Secretary Twinette McDonald - Music Director Sally Putters - Parish Nurse
Join us for dinner, discussion and hands on participation in Advent. We’ll be discussing topics that revolve around the Advent concept of “Hopeful Anticipation”. Each week we’ll delve into the biblical occurrences of ideas such as “hope,” “anticipation,” “preparation,” and “waiting.” We will also craft parts of the Sunday Eucharistic service that week. Join us in this ADVENTure!
St, Monica’s Advent Schedule Sundays 9:00 Sunday School 10:00 Worship Wednesdays 6:00 pm ADVENTure Christmas Eve 7:00 pm Family Service 11:00 pm Midnight Mass Come join us!