December 2005 | The Net | Saint Andrew's Episcopal Church, Irvine, CA

December 2005 | Vol. XX, No. 10

THE VICAR’S VOICE

We began our Advent season on the last Sunday in November, and now together as a community, we spend our time preparing for the birth of our Lord. In this season of preparation, I invite you to take examine the relationships in your life. Take the time to be with your loved ones, even as you participate in the craziness of Christmas.

Trading transmitters

Cellphone antenna lease sold;
funds from sale to pay off loan

Many people may not realize that under the cross on the roof of Saint Andrew’s there is a cell phone antenna. The antenna was first installed about ten years ago. A few years later, the cellphone company that owned the antenna at the time, PacBell Wireless (later to become Cingular), also replaced the roof on our church. Because we are a mission church, the diocese had to approve the antenna lease.

Annual Meeting set for Jan. 29th

Regular 8 o’clockers can sleep in a little later on Sunday, Jan. 29th—that’s the date of our Annual Meeting. Because of the meeting, we will be having only one service that day, at 9 a.m. This meeting is when we elect new Bishop’s Committee members, and new delegates to our deanery and Diocesan Convention, as well as approve the budget. Don’t forget to bring treats to share during our extended coffee hour on that day, as well.

Alternative Gift Market

We collected $2077.78 at the Dec. 4th event. It was distributed as follows:

Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation, $190.00
Episcopal Relief and Development, $764.90
Habitat for Humanity, $78.55
African Team Ministries, $390.54
Third World Handarts, $653.79

DECEMBER 18 AT 3:30 P.M.

Lessons, carols, and greening (did we mention a potluck, too?)

Join us on Sunday, Dec. 18 at 3:30 p.m. for an evening of singing, food and church decorating.

Calling all angels and shepherds!

It’s Christmas Pageant time again—here’s how you can help.

Dust off your angel wings and shake out your shepherd’s tunic for the St. Andrew’s Annual Christmas Eve Pageant! Preparations are well underway to create a special traditional pageant sharing the great news of the birth of Christ. The pageant will be performed at the 5 p.m. service on Christmas Eve and all youth are welcome to participate in this wonderful event.

Secret Santas

You don’t have to tell anyone. But here’s your chance to help a Children’s Center family this Christmas.

During Advent, we will be collecting gift cards and gifts for specific families of the Children’s Center. You can help by choosing a gift tag from the board in the Narthex. (Directions are on the tag and on the board.) Glenda said that families really appreciate your support. If you have any questions, please contact either Paul Hoag at 949.551.3019 or Sandy Whittaker at 949.552.8639 or sandywhittaker@cox.net. The last day to drop off gifts is Thursday, Dec. 22. Thanks so much for your generosity in helping to make Christmas special for these families!

Will we be seeing you on the B.C.?

NOMINATIONS Each year, 2 to 3 people rotate off the Bishop’s Committee, and we need to elect new people to replace them usually for 3-year terms.

Stewardship is a word that has hopefully been on all our minds a great deal lately. As we prayerfully consider our financial commitment to Saint Andrew’s, I hope that we are also thinking about how we can use out time, talents and gifts to represent Christ here at Saint Andrew’s in Irvine.

Donations for Christmas altar flowers now being accepted

Donation for altar flowers for Christmas are now being accepted. Please fill out an envelope with the poinsettias on the front and drop the envelope in the offertory plate. All donations will be acknowledged in the bulletin but only those received by Dec. 19 will be printed in the Christmas bulletin.

Help Families Forward rebuild their food bank

Our outreach effort for December is to assist Families Forward here in Irvine in building up their food bank, which has been depleted because of donations going to hurricane relief. (As a matter of fact, they have now adopted some Katrina refugees.) Therefore, we are asking for contributions of canned fruit—that’s their number-one need—as well as soup, peanut butter and jelly (or jam), rice and pasta, canned vegetables, and canned beans. Please limit your donations to only the above items. We’ll have a barrel set up in narthex—our goal is to fill more than one barrel.

Sunday Forum Schedule

More details on the 9 a.m. Sunday educational forum.

Boys, how about breakfast with Bishop Bob?

The Men’s Spirituality group is re-forming, jointly with Saint Paul’s in Tustin, and the kickoff event is a breakfast with Bishop Anderson on Jan. 21.

In an attempt to develop a joint Men’s Spirituality Group with members of Saint Andrew’s and Saint Paul’s, Tustin, we are hosting a breakfast on Saturday, Jan. 21, 2006 at Saint Paul’s. Bishop Bob Anderson will be with us to share his vision of the importance of a men’s group, and some thoughts on how to get started. The breakfast will begin at 8 a.m., and we will conclude no later than 10 a.m.

Saint Paul’s is at 1221 Wass St. in Tustin (for directions, see this page and enter your street address), right near Irvine Blvd. and Newport Ave.

If you have any interest in re-forming our Men’s Group, please plan on joining us. More information can be had from either Peter Browning at 949.559.4699, ext. 11, or Gordon Yeaton at 949.683.9328.