From the Rector

A Time to Mobilize Heart and Home: Thanksgiving Day Worship and Turkey Dinner!

There is simply no better way to mobilize heart and home than to break bread together on Thanksgiving Day. Join us at 10:30 on Thursday, November 27th. During this festival Eucharist, our own Peggy Reeves will give her testimony of gratitude for faith and the healing mission trip to the Ukraine. Immediately following, we will break bread together in the Kinloch Room over Turkey Dinner!
Now, as we look beyond the Four Corners of Law here at St. Michael’s, we realize that for many, there seems to be little reason for giving thanks. The economic prospects are tough, a global recession threatens, whole industries are in jeopardy, and even General Motors is facing bankruptcy. Banks are being bailed out, foreclosures are at an all time high and for half the voters, their candidate lost in the presidential election. Anxiety about the future is high.

It is extremely valuable to be reminded of the origins of Thanksgiving Day. President George Washington proclaimed the first Thanksgiving Day in 1789. Remember, 1789 was not a boom time in the USA. The economy was severely affected by the war, thousands had been killed and countless families were displaced from their homes. There was much bad feeling between Loyalists and Patriots. Those who backed the losing side were licking their wounds and trying to save their property. Yet, in the midst of such bad times, a day was to be set aside to acknowledge with grateful hearts the many signal favors of Almighty God. We can hardly do less.

Psalm 100 commands “all the earth” to “shout for joy to the LORD.” We are to “worship the LORD with gladness and come before him with joyful songs.” It is salutary to know that the whole earth worships the LORD whether the economy is bad, our finances are lousy, or elections do not go our way. The universe is made to praise God. Every morning, despite the economic or political environment, as the sun rises in the east, the whole creation bursts forth in songs of praise whether we feel like it or not. The ocean surf roars with joy, the wind whistles for joy. We are thankful that we know that God is our Redeemer as well as our Creator. He suffers and dies for us so that we might be forgiven, restored to God’s favor, made whole. This is cause for thanksgiving.

So, join us on Thanksgiving Day and proclaim the joy of the Lord into the joys and sorrows of our lives!


The ADVENT of Jesus Christ: What is Advent?
In just over two weeks, the season of Advent will be upon us! Advent is that 4 week season of the church year preceding Christmas. It’s also the day the ecclesiastical season of the year begins. Throughout this 4 week period that begins on Sunday, November 30, all of the daily and Sunday readings will center on preparing for the birth of Jesus Christ.

Here at St. Michael’s, we will live into this season of the year as we Mobilize Heart and Home to experience the richness of Advent. Here is a thumbnail sketch (more details to come in a special Advent brochure that will be out next week).
• Sunday Preaching Series…Mobilizing Heart and Home Through Advent (Invite Your Friends!)
~ Sunday, November 30
- Why Did Jesus Have to Be Birthed?
~ Sunday December 7
- What has the birth of Christ accomplished for the world?
~ Sunday, December 14
- Why the World Rejects the claims of the Birth of Christ
~ Sunday, December 21
- The Amazing Secret of the Birth of Jesus Christ
~ Christmas Eve, December 24
- Why and How can the Christ Child be Birthed in our Hearts?
• Tuesday Morning Worship and Breakfast (December 2, 9,16, and 23)
~ Each Tuesday morning, worship will begin at 7:00 am with breakfast and plenty of time left over to get your children to school by 7:45 am!
~ Each Tuesday, we will feature a different character involved in the birth of Jesus Christ.
• Advent Wreath Workshop: Sunday, November 30 (9:20 am)
~ Come and prepare for Advent with the working of hands in wreath making -- great for the whole family!
• Advent-Christmas Caroling: Wednesday, December 9 (5:30 pm)
~ Join us for hot dogs and caroling around the neighborhood of St. Michael’s Church as we reach out in love through song!
• Advent Open House at the Rectory:
Sunday December 14
~ As we mobilize heart and home, come to the Rector’s home and join us for coffee hour and all kinds of treats!
• Sunday School Series (9:20 am)
~ Peet and Repeat: (The Rev. Peet Dickinson and the Rev. Dr. Peter Moore) continue their series on the obstacles to mobilizing for Jesus Christ.
• Shut-in Visitation
~ Every Sunday through Advent, the clergy team will spread out over Charleston to visit each and every shut-in, bringing the love of Christ into hearts and homes!

The Malachi Challenge, Mobilizing and Gratitude: 173 Cards Turned in So Far
Thank you to so many of you who have responded by turning in your tithing promise cards! Many of you within that number are actively taking the Malachi Challenge! The Malachi Challenge is God saying to Malachi, go ahead, test me on this, give 10% to the store house and see if I will not bless you beyond your imagination!

173 of you is a great start, and we are so grateful! There are many more of you whom we hope will also take that Malachi challenge and return your cards this week. Remember we tithe out of the conviction that what we have is not ours, but is given to us, and as a sign of our love and gratitude, we give 10% back to the one who gave it. I would love to see that 173 number double! ~The Rector


NEWS FROM THE ANGLICAN COMMUNION

www.dioceseofsc.org
www.anglican-mainstream.net
www.anglicancommunionnetwork.org
www.americananglican.org
www.titusonenine.classicalanglican.net



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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