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Christmas Worship Schedule
Monday, December 24th, 4 pm, Christmas Eve Family Holy Eucharist with pageant, Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher Monday, December 24th, 10 pm, Christmas Choral Musical Offering Monday, December 24th, 10:30 pm, Candlelight Choral Holy Eucharist, Celebrant, Rev. Karen Swanson; Preacher, Rev. David Ota Tuesday, December 25th, 10 am, Christmas Day Holy Eucharist with Christmas Hymns, Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher |
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December 14, 2018
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church,
Aloha! I wish you all a joyous and love-filled Christmas and New Year. As I reflect on the year that is 2018 I have come to realize more fully that life can be unpredictable and change is ever present. We have been reminded with the reality of gun violence in our society especially due to the shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneham High School in Florida, the conflict among us regarding whether to welcome asylum seekers from Central America or not, and the natural disasters of the California fires and flooding in parts of the world. At a congregational level, the year began with the passing away of Kay Huffman and later in the year of Tony Caponera. During the middle of year, long-time member Ercira Puig moved away to live with her nephew and his family. Finally, the Rev. Jay Watan accepted in September a call to serve as the Associate Rector of St. Matthew’s, San Mateo.
Throughout the year we had baptisms of Eva Kwong, Randy and Sydney Jew and Hudson Frisch. The youth went on a Mission Trip to Smith River. With the help of Seminarian Daniel Tate, we grew our own wheat. We conducted a Capital Campaign for Clergy Housing and installed 16 more solar panels. In response to the climate changing, we have begun to explore how we can produce less carbon in our daily lives. We welcomed Fe Balamiento back as our new Youth Minister.
What I have come to realize is that we must treasure the time we have together, but to hold it loosely. Our life as a congregation is a gift of faith, hope, love and community which we celebrate in our common worship and our fellowship and service together.
As the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth told by the Gospel according to Luke reminds us, the social-political powers may cause humanity to move, but God still works despite whatever happens. In our lives, violence, political disagreement about who we are as a nation and natural disaster will affect and move us, but God’s love can still be born anew in us, just as the baby Jesus was born to a poor couple, Mary and Joseph, in Bethlehem.
I invite you to join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ this Christmas as a sign that in our day we continue to look for how God will act in our lives. I invite you to ask a friend or family member to join us in worship, and to become like the shepherds who ran from the fields to find the Prince of Peace lying in a manger, only to be filled with wonder about what this child would do as God’s Son. I invite you to be the bearers of God’s good news that Jesus the Christ is born in your hearts and in all who believe.
Above all, I wish you a most holy and joyous Christmas and New Year.
Yours,
David Ota, Rector
Dear Members and Friends of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church,
Aloha! I wish you all a joyous and love-filled Christmas and New Year. As I reflect on the year that is 2018 I have come to realize more fully that life can be unpredictable and change is ever present. We have been reminded with the reality of gun violence in our society especially due to the shooting at Marjory Douglas Stoneham High School in Florida, the conflict among us regarding whether to welcome asylum seekers from Central America or not, and the natural disasters of the California fires and flooding in parts of the world. At a congregational level, the year began with the passing away of Kay Huffman and later in the year of Tony Caponera. During the middle of year, long-time member Ercira Puig moved away to live with her nephew and his family. Finally, the Rev. Jay Watan accepted in September a call to serve as the Associate Rector of St. Matthew’s, San Mateo.
Throughout the year we had baptisms of Eva Kwong, Randy and Sydney Jew and Hudson Frisch. The youth went on a Mission Trip to Smith River. With the help of Seminarian Daniel Tate, we grew our own wheat. We conducted a Capital Campaign for Clergy Housing and installed 16 more solar panels. In response to the climate changing, we have begun to explore how we can produce less carbon in our daily lives. We welcomed Fe Balamiento back as our new Youth Minister.
What I have come to realize is that we must treasure the time we have together, but to hold it loosely. Our life as a congregation is a gift of faith, hope, love and community which we celebrate in our common worship and our fellowship and service together.
As the Christmas story of Jesus’ birth told by the Gospel according to Luke reminds us, the social-political powers may cause humanity to move, but God still works despite whatever happens. In our lives, violence, political disagreement about who we are as a nation and natural disaster will affect and move us, but God’s love can still be born anew in us, just as the baby Jesus was born to a poor couple, Mary and Joseph, in Bethlehem.
I invite you to join us to celebrate the birth of Jesus the Christ this Christmas as a sign that in our day we continue to look for how God will act in our lives. I invite you to ask a friend or family member to join us in worship, and to become like the shepherds who ran from the fields to find the Prince of Peace lying in a manger, only to be filled with wonder about what this child would do as God’s Son. I invite you to be the bearers of God’s good news that Jesus the Christ is born in your hearts and in all who believe.
Above all, I wish you a most holy and joyous Christmas and New Year.
Yours,
David Ota, Rector
SUNDAY SERVICES
8 AM Holy Communion with Hymns
10 AM Holy Communion with Choir (nursery care is provided)
Year Round Sunday School (for ages 3 and up)
8 AM Holy Communion with Hymns
10 AM Holy Communion with Choir (nursery care is provided)
Year Round Sunday School (for ages 3 and up)
The mission of St. Ambrose Episcopal Church of Foster City is to proclaim the good news of God in Jesus Christ as we care for each other and our larger community. In the Episcopal tradition, we extend an open and inclusive invitation to all people. We care for others and the stranger, we welcome children into our family, and we serve those in need.
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"Life is short and we do not have much time to gladden the hearts of those who walk the way with us. So be swift to love and make haste to be kind. The Blessing of God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit be among you always. Amen"