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Advent 2021 |
Advent Calendar 2021
Special Worship Services
Commitment Sunday, November 28 at both services
Advent-themed Healing Eucharists, December 3, 10, and 17 at 12:00
Ecumenical Blue Christmas Service, December 19 at 1:00
Christmas Eve Service, with choir, December 24 at noon
Family Eucharist with pageant and choir, December 24 at 5:00
Streamed Christmas Day Service, December 25 at 9:00
Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 26 at 10:00 (Holy Eucharist at 8:00)
For Children
Making Advent Wreathes, November 28 in Sunday School
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals, December 5, 12, 19 in Sunday School
Breakfast with Santa, December 11 from 9:00-11:00
Pageant Run-Through, December 19 after the 10:00 service
Fun for All Ages
Christmas Supper, Friday, December 10 at 6:00
Tree Lighting and Outdoor Caroling, December 10 at 7:00
Greening the Church, Sunday, December 19 at 11:15
Christmas Outreach
Veterans’ Lunch, Tuesday December 7 at 12:00
Christmas Church without walls, Sunday, December 12 at 12:00
We continue our food drive for the Parish Cupboard.
“Gifts for Life”—As a gift alternative, consider donating to an organization like Episcopal Relief and Development
NO Agawam Christmas Project at request of the Town Nurse
Advent Formation
Bible Studies on Mondays at 7:00 (men) and Fridays at 1:00
Contemplative Prayer, Fridays at 2:30
Advent Program on Zoom, “O Come Emmanuel”
Tuesdays at 4:15 in December
Our Advent series is inspired by the hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (hymn number 56), which we sing each week during Advent. In our first two sessions (November 30 and December 7), we’ll discuss some of the Old Testament titles for Christ used in the hymn (e.g. Emmanuel!). In our third session (December 14), we’ll look at titles of Christ in the New Testament. In our final session (12/21), we’ll come up with titles for Christ based on our own experiences. All are welcome!
Advent at Home
The Daily Office: Join us on Facebook TWTh at 8:00 AM for Morning Prayer and F at 8:00 PM for Evening Prayers with Saint Mark’s. Alternatively, say Morning Prayer on your own using a form we developed from the Prayerbook (available in the narthex and on request)
Advent Wreath: This is an easy and rewarding devotion for use at home, often at suppertime. You can find LOTS of suggestions online. You can also use a form we developed, available in the narthex and on request.
A Jesse Tree: This is an ancient idea that is increasingly used as a fun way to observe Advent. The idea is to add a decoration symbolizing a biblical character to the “tree” each day (or each week). A helpful website giving a little background and suggestions for biblical characters is:
https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/jessetrees.shtml#:~:text=But%20now%20Jesse%20Trees%20are,is%20hung%20on%20the%20tree.
Advent Calendar: We use a homemade calendar from my childhood along with cheap ones we buy filled with chocolate. If you want to make your own, one helpful website is:
https://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/holidays-celebrations/g22715715/diy-advent-calendar-ideas/
Advent Devotionals are all a little different, but typically have a common format: a short passage of Scripture, a meditation, and a brief prayer. We have lots at the Church.
Greening your Home: We “green” (i.e. decorate) the Church on the Sunday before Christmas Eve in order to mark the transition from Advent to Christmas. Consider doing something similar at home. Hold a few special Christmas ornaments, particularly Christian ones, until sometime after Sunday, December 19. Then put them out while listening to Christmas music.
Commitment Sunday, November 28 at both services
Advent-themed Healing Eucharists, December 3, 10, and 17 at 12:00
Ecumenical Blue Christmas Service, December 19 at 1:00
Christmas Eve Service, with choir, December 24 at noon
Family Eucharist with pageant and choir, December 24 at 5:00
Streamed Christmas Day Service, December 25 at 9:00
Lessons and Carols, Sunday, December 26 at 10:00 (Holy Eucharist at 8:00)
For Children
Making Advent Wreathes, November 28 in Sunday School
Christmas Pageant Rehearsals, December 5, 12, 19 in Sunday School
Breakfast with Santa, December 11 from 9:00-11:00
Pageant Run-Through, December 19 after the 10:00 service
Fun for All Ages
Christmas Supper, Friday, December 10 at 6:00
Tree Lighting and Outdoor Caroling, December 10 at 7:00
Greening the Church, Sunday, December 19 at 11:15
Christmas Outreach
Veterans’ Lunch, Tuesday December 7 at 12:00
Christmas Church without walls, Sunday, December 12 at 12:00
We continue our food drive for the Parish Cupboard.
“Gifts for Life”—As a gift alternative, consider donating to an organization like Episcopal Relief and Development
NO Agawam Christmas Project at request of the Town Nurse
Advent Formation
Bible Studies on Mondays at 7:00 (men) and Fridays at 1:00
Contemplative Prayer, Fridays at 2:30
Advent Program on Zoom, “O Come Emmanuel”
Tuesdays at 4:15 in December
Our Advent series is inspired by the hymn “O Come, O Come Emmanuel” (hymn number 56), which we sing each week during Advent. In our first two sessions (November 30 and December 7), we’ll discuss some of the Old Testament titles for Christ used in the hymn (e.g. Emmanuel!). In our third session (December 14), we’ll look at titles of Christ in the New Testament. In our final session (12/21), we’ll come up with titles for Christ based on our own experiences. All are welcome!
Advent at Home
The Daily Office: Join us on Facebook TWTh at 8:00 AM for Morning Prayer and F at 8:00 PM for Evening Prayers with Saint Mark’s. Alternatively, say Morning Prayer on your own using a form we developed from the Prayerbook (available in the narthex and on request)
Advent Wreath: This is an easy and rewarding devotion for use at home, often at suppertime. You can find LOTS of suggestions online. You can also use a form we developed, available in the narthex and on request.
A Jesse Tree: This is an ancient idea that is increasingly used as a fun way to observe Advent. The idea is to add a decoration symbolizing a biblical character to the “tree” each day (or each week). A helpful website giving a little background and suggestions for biblical characters is:
https://www.whychristmas.com/customs/jessetrees.shtml#:~:text=But%20now%20Jesse%20Trees%20are,is%20hung%20on%20the%20tree.
Advent Calendar: We use a homemade calendar from my childhood along with cheap ones we buy filled with chocolate. If you want to make your own, one helpful website is:
https://www.housebeautiful.com/entertaining/holidays-celebrations/g22715715/diy-advent-calendar-ideas/
Advent Devotionals are all a little different, but typically have a common format: a short passage of Scripture, a meditation, and a brief prayer. We have lots at the Church.
Greening your Home: We “green” (i.e. decorate) the Church on the Sunday before Christmas Eve in order to mark the transition from Advent to Christmas. Consider doing something similar at home. Hold a few special Christmas ornaments, particularly Christian ones, until sometime after Sunday, December 19. Then put them out while listening to Christmas music.
