E:Bulletin: Advent IV Dec 19, 2010

Services this Week: Parish of St Peter, Dec 19 – Dec 26, 2010

[Visit Parish website to see letter of concern about Rector - stpeterfredericton.nb.ca]

Dec 19 TODAY Sunday School Christmas Program in Church & Pot luck following 11 a.m.
Dec 22 Pine Grove Nursing Home: Christmas Holy Communion 11 a.m.
Dec 22 midweek at St Peter’s 7 p.m.
Dec 24 Children’s Creche Service (for those 10 yrs and under) 4 p.m.
Dec 24 Family Holy Eucharist Service 7 p.m.
Dec 24 Adult Choral Eucharist (Holy Communion) 10 p.m.
Dec 25 Contemplative Holy Communion on the Feast of the Nativity 11 a.m.
Dec 26 SUNDAY St Stephen’s Day Holy Communion 8 & 11 a.m.
Dec 27 St John’s Day Holy Communion 11 a.m.
Dec 28 Holy Innocents Day Holy Communion 11 a.m.

St Peter’s Sunday School last week voted to contribute $100.00 to support the Fredericton Community Shelter as part of their Christmas Outreach!

We welcome all who are worshipping with us this day. St Peter's is a specifically Prayer Book Parish theologically as well as liturgically. What this means is that traditional liturgy (services) are the worshipping expression of normative Anglican, (i.e., of the Anglican Communion) belief. We hope that you find your time in our midst spiritually refreshing and beneficial.

Word Scramble: - neiygdn - see readings on reverse. Last week’s answer: foreheads Rev 22:4

Vestry News: At Vestry on Sunday Dec 5 Vestry heard a joint presentation on Natural Church Development (NCD) from our representatives; vestryman, Wilfred Alliston and synod delegate Sandra Gereau. NCD is the program chosen by vestry at its May meeting as the most suitable means whereby to conduct a Parish self-assessment. This assessment would identify strengths and weaknesses and suggest methods of improvement. A Pamphlet of information is available (at the rear) for reading before further discussion at our annual meeting in January 2011.On a positive front, treasurer Fran reported all bills paid to the end of November except for our outstanding commitments to the diocese (formerly called assessments and apportionments) which continue to accumulate on a monthly basis. This figure helps pay the salaries of the Bishop and all the diocesan staff for, please remember, the diocese has no significant income source other than what is collected from the parishes! The total owed by St Peter’s to the diocese by year’s end will be $13,860.00. Vestry is determined to pay $10,000.00 of this figure if at all possible in honor of the recently adopted 10-10-10 program of the diocese. Vestry also received an initial report on a proposal to develop parish property behind both the hall and the rectory. The proposal would take several years to execute, would involve luxury housing and necessitate the involvement of a developer. The idea is to enter into a long-term lease, thereby NOT selling the land and the Parish benefiting by securing a long-term income flow from the arrangement. Further discussion and a motion seeking approval in principle will be held at the annual meeting in January. – input is desired from all interested parishioners.

Vestry voted $100.00 to the Community Kitchen and $100.00 to the Homeless Shelter as part of our Christmas Outreach.

Christmas Flowers: please give money and details for bulletin to Maria Matthews 4594552

Snow shovelling volunteers for parish properties required for winter season 2010/2011. A monthly sign-up sheet is at the rear as is a precise explanation of the job!

Sign-up sheets for Altar Guild 2011 and Church Cleaning 2011 are at the rear !
[Instruction sheets as to what your duties would be if you volunteer for either cleaning or Altar Guild are also available for perusal.]

Ho Ho Ho – now is the time to plan – who might you invite to attend Christmas eve worship with you this year? Our 7 p.m. and 10 p.m. attendance numbers have been declining in recent years due to the changing demographics of our parish. The 4 p.m. Creche service is well attended with about 60 people each year but young families are not graduating to the 7 p.m. service as they should, nor are our older members who become shut-ins being replaced at a sufficient rate. There is also the reality that, what used to be our extended family attendance at these two services, is not what it used to be. Rather than despairing, let’s make a conscious effort to stir-up better attendance this coming Christmas eve. Let this be part of our Advent resolve this December!