ANNOUNCEMENTS
FOR
Third Sunday of Advent
Sunday, December 16, 2018
Welcome to our visitors. We invite you to join us for coffee and fellowship in the foyer following the 8 am service and in the parish hall following the 10 am service.
8:00 am: Holy Eucharist, Chapel: The Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher
10:00 am: Choral Holy Eucharist, Chapel: The Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher
10:00 am: Sunday School in rooms 1, 4 and 5
11:30 am: Christmas Pageant practice, Chapel
Name Tags: Everyone feels welcome when they can greet you by name. If you have a nametag, please wear it. If you need one, please leave a message for the church office (stambrose@mindspring.com or 574-1369). You may also leave a note on the administrative assistant’s desk; it faces you as you enter the church office.
Prayer Requests: Please write your prayer requests in the red Intercessions and Thanksgivings Binder in the Foyer. If you have an on-going prayer request, please leave a message for the church office (stambrose@mindspring.com or 574-1369). You may also leave a note on the administrative assistant’s desk; it faces you as you enter the church office. Thank you.
Prayer Chapel: Our small side prayer chapel is for everyone’s use, but we ask that adults accompany children. Please light only one candle at a time, do not blow out other people’s candles, and kneel–don’t stand–on the kneeler (Prie-Dieu). This will keep the chapel a sacred place for all.
8:00 am: Holy Eucharist, Chapel: The Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher
10:00 am: Choral Holy Eucharist, Chapel: The Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher
10:00 am: Sunday School in rooms 1, 4 and 5
11:30 am: Christmas Pageant practice, Chapel
Name Tags: Everyone feels welcome when they can greet you by name. If you have a nametag, please wear it. If you need one, please leave a message for the church office (stambrose@mindspring.com or 574-1369). You may also leave a note on the administrative assistant’s desk; it faces you as you enter the church office.
Prayer Requests: Please write your prayer requests in the red Intercessions and Thanksgivings Binder in the Foyer. If you have an on-going prayer request, please leave a message for the church office (stambrose@mindspring.com or 574-1369). You may also leave a note on the administrative assistant’s desk; it faces you as you enter the church office. Thank you.
Prayer Chapel: Our small side prayer chapel is for everyone’s use, but we ask that adults accompany children. Please light only one candle at a time, do not blow out other people’s candles, and kneel–don’t stand–on the kneeler (Prie-Dieu). This will keep the chapel a sacred place for all.
TODAY
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: December 16, 11:30 am, Chapel
THIS WEEK
Bible Study: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 12:45 pm, Parish Hall
Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, December 18, 7 pm, Parish Hall
Choir Practice: Thursday, December 20, 7:30 pm, Chapel
Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, December 18, 7 pm, Parish Hall
Choir Practice: Thursday, December 20, 7:30 pm, Chapel
ST. AMBROSE ANNOUNCEMENTS
Thank you for turning in your 2019 Pledges
Thanks to everyone who turned in their pledge forms. To date we are a little behind. We have 61 pledges for a total of $123,932. Our 2018 Pledge total is $151,900, so we are falling short of this year and we need your pledges to maintain our ministry. If you plan to turn in a pledge, please do so before the Vestry meeting on December 18. The Rector and Vestry will need to have the remaining pledges turned in as soon as possible to help them prepare for the 2019 Budget.
Movie Project - A Thank you!
Thank you to all who contributed to the movie project to raise funds for hungry people in the third world. Two hundred fifteen ($215) was raised which made it possible for St. Ambrose to donate one goat and one flock of chickens to a needy family in the third world.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals
Christmas pageant rehearsals will be held for one hour following Sunday School and the 10 am Holy Eucharist (around 11:30 am) during the remaining Sundays of Advent including December 16 and 23. The re-telling of the Christmas story will be offered to the congregation on Monday, December 24 at 4 p.m. December 23 will be the final dress rehearsal, and all participants who can be present are strongly encouraged to come. The drama will include children as silent participants, speakers, musicians and singers. Please join us to help tell this amazing story.
Study groups schedule
The Monday study group will take a break until the New Year. They meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, January 14 and 28 from 7 pm. They are currently reading the book “God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” by Mirabai Starr. The location of the study group for January is yet to be determined.
The Tuesday Bible Study group meets on December 18 from 12:45 pm to 2 pm in the foyer. They are reading the Gospel according to John and are at John 4:4, the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well .
The study groups are open to any interested person.
Thanks to everyone who turned in their pledge forms. To date we are a little behind. We have 61 pledges for a total of $123,932. Our 2018 Pledge total is $151,900, so we are falling short of this year and we need your pledges to maintain our ministry. If you plan to turn in a pledge, please do so before the Vestry meeting on December 18. The Rector and Vestry will need to have the remaining pledges turned in as soon as possible to help them prepare for the 2019 Budget.
Movie Project - A Thank you!
Thank you to all who contributed to the movie project to raise funds for hungry people in the third world. Two hundred fifteen ($215) was raised which made it possible for St. Ambrose to donate one goat and one flock of chickens to a needy family in the third world.
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals
Christmas pageant rehearsals will be held for one hour following Sunday School and the 10 am Holy Eucharist (around 11:30 am) during the remaining Sundays of Advent including December 16 and 23. The re-telling of the Christmas story will be offered to the congregation on Monday, December 24 at 4 p.m. December 23 will be the final dress rehearsal, and all participants who can be present are strongly encouraged to come. The drama will include children as silent participants, speakers, musicians and singers. Please join us to help tell this amazing story.
Study groups schedule
The Monday study group will take a break until the New Year. They meet on the second and fourth Mondays of the month, January 14 and 28 from 7 pm. They are currently reading the book “God of Love: A Guide to the Heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam,” by Mirabai Starr. The location of the study group for January is yet to be determined.
The Tuesday Bible Study group meets on December 18 from 12:45 pm to 2 pm in the foyer. They are reading the Gospel according to John and are at John 4:4, the story of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well .
The study groups are open to any interested person.
The St. Ambrose – Sea Breeze Giving Tree
December 2 – Dec. 19
December 2 – Dec. 19
St. Ambrose and Sea Breeze Preschool are partnering with Star-Vista’s programs to provide holiday gifts to children in need in San Mateo County. We had supported the programs of this agency in the past and have returned to support them again this year. We hope you will open your hearts again this year to help make their holidays a very special one.
Select a gift tag
From the Christmas tree in Parish Hall
Shop
All gifts (books, toys, clothing…) should be new and unwrapped – firmly attach the gift tag to the outside, making sure it is visible
Return your gift tag
With the unwrapped gift under the tree
by Wednesday, December 19
The presents will be distributed through the Star-Vista programs.
For more information about Star Vista, visit
http://www.star-vista.org/whatwedo_services/children.html
Select a gift tag
From the Christmas tree in Parish Hall
Shop
All gifts (books, toys, clothing…) should be new and unwrapped – firmly attach the gift tag to the outside, making sure it is visible
Return your gift tag
With the unwrapped gift under the tree
by Wednesday, December 19
The presents will be distributed through the Star-Vista programs.
For more information about Star Vista, visit
http://www.star-vista.org/whatwedo_services/children.html
Fellowship Dinners
Watch for sign-up forms in January. Participants will meet monthly in a home starting February through May.
Kickoff Potluck on Saturday, January 26, 2019, where groups will be announced.
For more information call or email Nellie Wong (650-372-0728, wwong@nd.edu) or April Cherrington (650-574-7449, aprilcherr@aol.com)
Signing Up for the Carbon Tracker
David McIntyre will be doing some presentations at St. Ambrose on how to sign up for the Carbon Tracker, but if you want to get started on your own, it’s pretty easy.
St. Ambrose Choirs
The Adult Choir rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:30 PM. All interested singers (and would-be singers) are encouraged to attend. You are welcome to visit rehearsal to determine if you would like to join us on a regular basis. The Adult Choir sings for the 10:00 AM worship service
The Children's Choir will resume it rehearsals immediately following the 10 AM worship service. All children are encouraged to participate.
Please see Maureen Fromme if you have any questions, or email her at mhfromme@yahoo.com
Christmas Worship Schedule
Monday, December 24th, 4 pm, Christmas Eve Family Holy Eucharist with pageant, Chapel, Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher
Monday, December 24th, 10 pm, Christmas Choral Musical Offering, Chapel
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
Youth Winter Movie Night
The Youth Group will have a movie night on Sunday, January 6th from 6 to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Mark your calendars.
Altar Guild members are needed
We need at least one more volunteer to serve in preparing the altar and cleaning up after the 10 am service. Altar Guild members serve once a month. If you are interested please speak with the Rector about how you may serve.
Forward Day by Day
New books for November, December 2018 and January 2019 are now available for pickup in the foyer.
Watch for sign-up forms in January. Participants will meet monthly in a home starting February through May.
Kickoff Potluck on Saturday, January 26, 2019, where groups will be announced.
For more information call or email Nellie Wong (650-372-0728, wwong@nd.edu) or April Cherrington (650-574-7449, aprilcherr@aol.com)
Signing Up for the Carbon Tracker
David McIntyre will be doing some presentations at St. Ambrose on how to sign up for the Carbon Tracker, but if you want to get started on your own, it’s pretty easy.
- Go to: https://www.sustainislandhome.org/, which is the portal for the Diocese of California (the generic portal for non-church members would be: https://sanmateo.goco2free.org/).
- Click GET STARTED; create a household name, enter your e-mail, name, prove that you’re not a robot, and CREATE NEW ACCOUNT.
- As you move through the process, you’ll want to select your Parish (St. Ambrose) and City (Where you live.) The Parish pools all the members of the congregation together. The City gives you information for people in your geographic residence.
- After you’re in, you’ll answer some basic questions about your household and energy usage. The website can estimate your usage, but some things that you might want to gather before you start would be your usage over the past year of: water, electricity, natural gas, car mileage, and air miles.
- From there, the website gives you a report, and then information about how to make informed decisions going forward. This doesn’t need to be confusing and is something that we can easily do from a laptop during coffee hour at St. Ambrose.
St. Ambrose Choirs
The Adult Choir rehearsals are on Thursdays at 7:30 PM. All interested singers (and would-be singers) are encouraged to attend. You are welcome to visit rehearsal to determine if you would like to join us on a regular basis. The Adult Choir sings for the 10:00 AM worship service
The Children's Choir will resume it rehearsals immediately following the 10 AM worship service. All children are encouraged to participate.
Please see Maureen Fromme if you have any questions, or email her at mhfromme@yahoo.com
Christmas Worship Schedule
Monday, December 24th, 4 pm, Christmas Eve Family Holy Eucharist with pageant, Chapel, Rev. David Ota, Celebrant and Preacher
Monday, December 24th, 10 pm, Christmas Choral Musical Offering, Chapel
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
Youth Winter Movie Night
The Youth Group will have a movie night on Sunday, January 6th from 6 to 8:30 pm in the Parish Hall. Mark your calendars.
Altar Guild members are needed
We need at least one more volunteer to serve in preparing the altar and cleaning up after the 10 am service. Altar Guild members serve once a month. If you are interested please speak with the Rector about how you may serve.
Forward Day by Day
New books for November, December 2018 and January 2019 are now available for pickup in the foyer.
Coffee Sign-Up Online
Coffee Sign-ups for 10:00 am can now be made online via Sign-Up Genius or by using the posted sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall. To sign up online go to www.signupgenius.com and enter stambrose@mindspring.com in the search bar.
Each family signs up once or twice per year. You can host it alone, or team up with another family. Directions for set-up and clean-up are available in the kitchen. It’s easy and we all enjoy this time of fellowship. Trades or changes can be made, so don’t hesitate to pick a Sunday. This sign up includes set-up and clean-up, please. If you have any questions, please contact Don Peter at (650) 685-0648.
2019 Worship Leader’s Preference Signup for 10:00 am. Services
We are introducing the Worship Leader’s Preference Signup for January 2019. Log onto Sign-up Genius to choose the day or days you prefer to be a Worship Leader. Pick the days you are available! We will incorporate your preference with the manual monthly assignment sheet.
The website is www.signupgenius.com
Enter: stambrose@mindspring.com in the search bar
Select the Worship Leader’s Priority Signup.
If you have any questions, please email stambrose@mindspring.com or call 650-574-1369.
Coffee Sign-ups for 10:00 am can now be made online via Sign-Up Genius or by using the posted sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall. To sign up online go to www.signupgenius.com and enter stambrose@mindspring.com in the search bar.
Each family signs up once or twice per year. You can host it alone, or team up with another family. Directions for set-up and clean-up are available in the kitchen. It’s easy and we all enjoy this time of fellowship. Trades or changes can be made, so don’t hesitate to pick a Sunday. This sign up includes set-up and clean-up, please. If you have any questions, please contact Don Peter at (650) 685-0648.
2019 Worship Leader’s Preference Signup for 10:00 am. Services
We are introducing the Worship Leader’s Preference Signup for January 2019. Log onto Sign-up Genius to choose the day or days you prefer to be a Worship Leader. Pick the days you are available! We will incorporate your preference with the manual monthly assignment sheet.
The website is www.signupgenius.com
Enter: stambrose@mindspring.com in the search bar
Select the Worship Leader’s Priority Signup.
If you have any questions, please email stambrose@mindspring.com or call 650-574-1369.
Volunteers to give Eugene Hetzer a ride on Sundays
Long-time member Eugene Hetzer can use some transportation help on Sundays to worship at 10 am. The bus service is not very good on Sundays. Jim Neubert, who recently moved to Redwood City, had been giving him a ride, but can’t do so on a regular basis. If you are willing to give Eugene a ride occasionally, please sign up on the Volunteers to Give Eugene Hetzer a Ride sign-up sheet in the parish hall, or contact our Administrative Assistant, Margie Lee at stambrose@mindspring.com or at 650-574-1369 between 9 am and 1 pm.
Altar Guild Flower Fund:
The St. Ambrose Altar Guild prepares the altar and sanctuary for each service. As part of these responsibilities, the guild provides the beautiful flower arrangements for the sanctuary. These flowers are funded by individual donations. The cost of the altar flowers is $65 per week, but any amount is welcome. You may contribute toward flowers in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days, or in the memory of loved ones. To make a donation please complete the blue form in the flower pot on the credenza in the foyer, and place this blue form along with your donation in one of the white envelopes also found there. Checks are to be made out to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. Please put “Altar Flowers” in the memo line. To complete your donation, put the white envelope in the offertory plate or on the desk of the administrative assistant, which is the desk facing you when you enter the church office. Thank you! Your donation is much appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to Charlene Adolph (650-504-5525).
Sign up for E-script:
Good news: SaveMart, Lucky, and Food Maxx have recently partnered with E-script. If you haven’t already signed up for E-script, please sign up under Group name: St Ambrose and Group ID #139618933. All your support helps.
Long-time member Eugene Hetzer can use some transportation help on Sundays to worship at 10 am. The bus service is not very good on Sundays. Jim Neubert, who recently moved to Redwood City, had been giving him a ride, but can’t do so on a regular basis. If you are willing to give Eugene a ride occasionally, please sign up on the Volunteers to Give Eugene Hetzer a Ride sign-up sheet in the parish hall, or contact our Administrative Assistant, Margie Lee at stambrose@mindspring.com or at 650-574-1369 between 9 am and 1 pm.
Altar Guild Flower Fund:
The St. Ambrose Altar Guild prepares the altar and sanctuary for each service. As part of these responsibilities, the guild provides the beautiful flower arrangements for the sanctuary. These flowers are funded by individual donations. The cost of the altar flowers is $65 per week, but any amount is welcome. You may contribute toward flowers in celebration of birthdays, anniversaries, and other special days, or in the memory of loved ones. To make a donation please complete the blue form in the flower pot on the credenza in the foyer, and place this blue form along with your donation in one of the white envelopes also found there. Checks are to be made out to St. Ambrose Episcopal Church. Please put “Altar Flowers” in the memo line. To complete your donation, put the white envelope in the offertory plate or on the desk of the administrative assistant, which is the desk facing you when you enter the church office. Thank you! Your donation is much appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please speak to Charlene Adolph (650-504-5525).
Sign up for E-script:
Good news: SaveMart, Lucky, and Food Maxx have recently partnered with E-script. If you haven’t already signed up for E-script, please sign up under Group name: St Ambrose and Group ID #139618933. All your support helps.
Mark Your Calendars:
- Giving Tree: December 2-19, Parish Hall
- Christmas Pageant Rehearsals: December 16, and 23, 11:30 am, Chapel
- Bible Study: Tuesday, December 18, 2018 12:45 pm, Parish Hall
- Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, December 18, 7 pm, Parish Hall
- Christmas Eve: Monday, December 24, 4 pm, Christmas Pageant and Family Holy Eucharist, 10 pm, Christmas Choral Concert, 10:30 pm, Candlelight Choral Holy Eucharist
- Christmas Day: Tuesday, December 25, 10 am, Holy Eucharist with Christmas hymns
- Rector on Vacation: Wednesday, December 26 to Tuesday, January 1
- 1st Sunday of Christmas: December 30, 8 am and 10 am, Holy Eucharist with Christmas hymns, the Rev. Karen Swanson, Celebrant and Preacher
- Youth Winter Movie Night: Sunday, January 6, 6 to 8:30 pm, Parish Hall
- Monday Bible Study: Monday, January 8, 2019, Shelley Keefe’s home, 887 Erickson Lane.
- Buildings and Grounds Committee Meeting: Tuesday, January 15, 6 pm, Parish Hall
- School Board Meeting: Tuesday, January 15, 7 pm, Parish Hall
- Vestry Meeting: Tuesday, January 22, 7 pm, Parish Hall
- Annual Meeting of St. Ambrose: Sunday, January 27, 2019, 11:30 am, Chapel
- 2019 Annual Stewardship Dinner: Saturday, November 16, 2019, 6 pm, Foster City Recreation Center’s Lagoon and Blue Bird Rooms
LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR
Second Harvest Food Barrel: Thanks to all who donate. We have a new barrel to fill! Please bring cans of food when you come to worship and place it in the Second Harvest Food Barrel in the foyer. Monetary contributions to Second Harvest may be made to St. Ambrose, designated “Second Harvest,” or sent directly to The Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties, Attention: Donation Dept., P.O. Box 213, San Mateo, CA 94401-0213.
DIOCESAN ANNOUNCEMENTS
Three things from the Bishop's Office:
What is a fun way your church welcomes visitors during Advent and Christmas?
- Bishop Marc and Sheila had a successful and deeply meaningful trip to Poland as part of the Episcopal Church's delegation to the UN Climate Summit (COP24). Please visit facebook.com/diocalifornia to see videos and photos.
- Our neighbor, the Diocese of Northern California expresses its gratitude for your prayers and support in the wake of last month's devastating wildfires. Below is the text of Bishop Barry's letter to our diocese:
What is a fun way your church welcomes visitors during Advent and Christmas?
- Send a quick sentence or two to newsletter@diocal.org and we will share our favorites with the diocese!
Caption: Emily Hopkins of St. Paul’s, Walnut Creek is an activist focused on a solution to the climate crisis. Read her write up Energy Innovation Act of 2018 Reflects General Convention Resolution here.
Caption: Bishop Marc on the We Are Still In panel at the UN Climate Summit in Poland (COP24). This photo was featured in a piece by the Associated Press. Read the article in the San Francisco Chronicle here. Photo: Frank Jordans, AP. The delegation is also featured in this Episcopal News Service article released today.
Holiday hours at diocesan office
The diocesan offices will be closed on December 25 and January 1. Please also note that DioHouse staffing will be light over the holidays, with some staff beginning their time off next week (the week of December 17). Thank you!
Evensong celebrating those married or partnered 50+ yearsGrace Cathedral and the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus cordially invite couples who have been married or partnered for 50 years or more to celebrate their years together. This Choral Evensong will be sung by the Cathedral Camerata. Couples are invited to renew their wedding vows during the service, and the bishop will pronounce God's blessing. A celebratory reception follows the service. Know a couple you want the Cathedral to send a letter invitation to? You may submit couple information by going to gracecathedral.org/50plus. Please submit couple names by January 7, 2019. Couples please RSVP by February 1, 2019.
When: Monday, February 11, 2019, 2 p.m.
Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., San Francisco
Contact: the Rev. Canon Nina Pickerrell, ninap@gracecathedral.org
Link: gracecathedral.org/50plus
The diocesan offices will be closed on December 25 and January 1. Please also note that DioHouse staffing will be light over the holidays, with some staff beginning their time off next week (the week of December 17). Thank you!
Evensong celebrating those married or partnered 50+ yearsGrace Cathedral and the Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus cordially invite couples who have been married or partnered for 50 years or more to celebrate their years together. This Choral Evensong will be sung by the Cathedral Camerata. Couples are invited to renew their wedding vows during the service, and the bishop will pronounce God's blessing. A celebratory reception follows the service. Know a couple you want the Cathedral to send a letter invitation to? You may submit couple information by going to gracecathedral.org/50plus. Please submit couple names by January 7, 2019. Couples please RSVP by February 1, 2019.
When: Monday, February 11, 2019, 2 p.m.
Where: Grace Cathedral, 1100 California St., San Francisco
Contact: the Rev. Canon Nina Pickerrell, ninap@gracecathedral.org
Link: gracecathedral.org/50plus
For DioBytes Archive
Please click on the link above for past issues of the DioBytes for Weekly News from the Episcopal Diocese of California
Please click on the link above for past issues of the DioBytes for Weekly News from the Episcopal Diocese of California
COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENTS
San Mateo-Foster City School District – New Elementary School in Foster City News
San Mateo-Foster City School District Joan Rosas, Ed.D. wrote two update letters on the new Elementary School in Foster City. The link to the letters can be found at http://www.smfcsd.net/en/measure-x/new-foster-city-elementary-school.html.
HIP Housing is a Non-Profit Organization in San Mateo County:
The purpose of this non-profit is to connect people with extra living space in their homes with people who are looking for a room to rent. A flier about HIP Housing is posted in the Parish Hall on the Community News Bulletin Board. To contact HIP Housing call 650-348-6660. To schedule an appointment to discuss home sharing opportunities or other available affordable housing visit www.HIPhousing.org. On this website you will also find information about Rooms For Rent Providers and Rooms for Rent Seekers.
San Mateo-Foster City School District Joan Rosas, Ed.D. wrote two update letters on the new Elementary School in Foster City. The link to the letters can be found at http://www.smfcsd.net/en/measure-x/new-foster-city-elementary-school.html.
HIP Housing is a Non-Profit Organization in San Mateo County:
The purpose of this non-profit is to connect people with extra living space in their homes with people who are looking for a room to rent. A flier about HIP Housing is posted in the Parish Hall on the Community News Bulletin Board. To contact HIP Housing call 650-348-6660. To schedule an appointment to discuss home sharing opportunities or other available affordable housing visit www.HIPhousing.org. On this website you will also find information about Rooms For Rent Providers and Rooms for Rent Seekers.