Parish UPDATE; Sunday, December 20

Beloved of God and of this parish:

Greetings. Here's what's making news THIS WEEKEND  AT ST. MARY:  

• SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19:
• Mass at 9 am
• Decoration of Community Christmas tree in the plaza - all day Saturday, December 19
• Parish Work Day begins at 12 pm. We will set up the arch in the sanctuary, the Christmas tree(s) and generally  get the church ready for this great Feast of the Solemnity of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ. 
• Pizza will be served.  Bring along your friends. 
• Thanks very much for helping out 
• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 20:  THE FOURTH SUNDAY OF ADVENT
• We welcome The Rt. Rev. Edward Mackenzie, (Rtd). Anglican Diocese of Cape Town, South Africa, our Guest Celebrant and Preacher through the Feast of the Epiphany. 
• Community Christmas Carol sing-along from 4 - 5 pm in our plaza.
• A good time to spend with your friends and family. Children welcomed
• Hot apple cider, cookies, as well as JOY, HOPE and LOVE will be generously served.Okay to bring festive munchables.
• "O come, all ye faithful.."
• AVAILABLE NOW: our parish's 2016 Churchman's Ordo Kalendar. . Few copies remain. Get your copies NOW. Cost - $3. Makes for a great Christmas present. 
•  Invite your friends and buddies to church this Sunday and every Sunday.

2.  BIBLE STUDY: (English edition) Every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7: 30 pm. 

• We meet in the Sacristy.

• We are just about finishing the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 

• No experience necessary. 

• Bring your Bible and your friends 
• Spanish Edition: We meet on Tuesday from about 7 pm either in the Chapel at St. Mary or in a parishioner's home. Please, call Fr. Juan (213-434-0476) for more details. 

3. UPCOMING SERIES ON FAITH FORMATION: Sundays from 11:30 to 12 pm

  Kathleen Norris's "Embracing A Life of Meaning". A five-session Study. 

• Session 5 (December 20):   We Matter: What does it mean to remain in God's image and to counter our selfishness by embracing the world and its needs.
• Sunday, December 27: The first part of the "A Thrill of Hope" video series.

4.  2016 PLEDGE CARD

• Thanks for for your faithfulness and generous pledge towards the ministries of this parish in year 2016
• Please, put your Pledge Card in a sealed envelope and put it in the offering plate or just put the signed Pledge Card in the offering plate at Mass on Sunday.

5.  UPCOMING EVENTS:   

  CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:

• Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24: 
• Carol singing beginning at 11:30 pm
• Mass of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ at Midnight
• Christmas Day. Friday, December 25
• Mass at 10 am
• First Sunday after Christmas, Sunday, December 27
• English Service (Mass): 10 am
• Spanish Service (Misa): 1 pm
• No evening service on New Year's Eve. Church will be opened until Midnight for private prayer and meditation.
• Look out for the CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE on the "Welcome" tables in the church.

6.  THANK YOU

• for making the mission and ministries of our parish possible.
• for helping us raise the needed money to install the new ceiling fans.
• Benefactors: You can also make DONATIONS (Paypal) at our website or include our parish in your WILL.

7.  OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE, PRAY FOR

• full recovery post-surgery, for Mr. Kenneth Spurling, father of Megan Marsh.  Pray for Megan, Michael and Annabelle and the Spurling family at this time. Thank you.
• political will in implementing a global action on Environmental Stewardship
• compassionate care for all who sleep on our sidewalks and streets this Christmas
• all who are currently discerning vocations to ministries in the church especially the Sacred Order of Priesthood, Youth Ministry and,  Eremitic Monasticism
• continued healing for Gerda, Anthony Joseph, Patrice Gonzales, Nora, Ben, Roberta, Mary Jane. 
• all pilgrims to the Holy Land this Christmas. 
• Natasha, Vincent, Larry Jr, Jeffrey, Simone, Obed, Audrey, Michelle, Yasmine, Jason,  Annabelle, Biko Lisustha, Amani Lisustha  

8.    FOR NEWS ABOUT

• the Diocese of Los Angeles, please click on www.ladiocese.org
• the Episcopal Church, please, click on www.episcopalchurch.org
• the Expo Line construction, please, click on www.buildexpo.org
• the Palms Neighborhood Council, click on www.palmsla.org

9.    Like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter @stmaryinpalms

Fr. Vincent

www.stmarypalms.org

Parish UPDATE: Sunday, December 13

Here's what's making news THIS WEEKEND  AT ST. MARY:  

• SUNDAY, DECEMBER 13:  THE THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT - GAUDETE SUNDAY
• Liturgical color for the day is Rose
• Question: What Is Gaudete Sunday?
  Certain Sundays throughout the liturgical year have taken their names from the first word in Latin of the Introit, the entrance antiphon at Mass. Gaudete Sunday is one of these.
  Answer: Gaudete Sunday is the Third Sunday of Advent. (See the Liturgical Calendar for Advent to find the date of Gaudete Sunday this year.) The Introit for Gaudete Sunday, in both the Traditional Latin Mass and the Novus Ordo, is taken from Philippians 4:4,5: "Gaudete in Domino semper" ("Rejoice in the Lord always").
  In Advent, the priest normally wears purple vestments. But on Gaudete Sunday, having passed the midpoint of Advent, the Church lightens the mood a little, and the priest may wear rose vestments. The change in color provides us with encouragement to continue our spiritual preparation—especially prayer and fasting—for Christmas.
  For this same reason, the third candle of the Advent wreath, first lit on Gaudete Sunday, is traditionally rose-colored. Gaudete Sunday has a counterpart in Lent: Laetare Sunday
• AVAILABLE NOW: our parish's 2016 Churchman's Ordo Kalendar. . Few copies remain. Get your copies NOW. Cost - $3. Makes for a great Christmas present. 
•  Invite your friends and buddies to church this Sunday and every Sunday.

2.  BIBLE STUDY: (English edition) Every Tuesday from 6:30 to 7: 30 pm. 

• We meet in the Sacristy.

• We are studying the Book of the Acts of the Apostles 

• No experience necessary. 

• Bring your Bible and your friends 
• Spanish Edition: We meet on Tuesday from about 7 pm either in the Chapel at St. Mary or in a parishioner's home. Please, call Fr. Juan (213-434-0476) for more details. 

3. UPCOMING SERIES ON FAITH FORMATION: Sundays from 11:30 to 12 pm

  Kathleen Norris's "Embracing A Life of Meaning". A five-session Study. 

        Session 4 (December 13):    Place Matters: In what ways is faith set within the physical space of home, church, land, and people?

        Session 5 (December 20):   We Matter: What does it mean to remain in God's image and to counter our selfishness by embracing the world and its needs.

4.  2016 PLEDGE CARD

• Thanks for for your faithfulness and generous pledge towards the ministries of this parish in year 2016
• All PLEDGE CARDS are due Sunday, December 13, Third Sunday of ADVENT. This will help the Budget Committee finish its work before Christmas.  
• Please, put your Pledge Card in a sealed envelope and put it in the offering plate or just put he signed Pledge Card in the offering plate at Mass on Sunday.
• Early returns are always welcomed. 

5.  UPCOMING EVENTS:   

A.  COMMUNITY CHRISTMAS CELEBRATIONS

• Decoration of Community Christmas tree in the plaza - all day Saturday, December 19
• Community Christmas Carol sing-along: Sunday, December 20 from 4 to 5 pm
• Carols from the English and Spanish communities will be sung
• Hot apple cider, cookies as well as JOY, HOPE and LOVE will be generously served
• A good time to spend with your family and neighbors. 
• Children welcomed.

B.  CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:

• Christmas Eve: Thursday, December 24: 
• Carol singing beginning at 11:30 pm
• Mass of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ at Midnight
• Christmas Day. Friday, December 25
• Mass at 10 am
• First Sunday after Christmas, Sunday, December 27
• English Service (Mass): 10 am
• Spanish Service (Misa): 1 pm
• No evening service on New Year's Eve. Church will be opened until Midnight for private prayer and meditation.
• Look out for the CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE on the "Welcome" tables in the church.

6.  THANK YOU

• for making the mission and ministries of our parish possible.
• for helping us raise the needed money to install the new ceiling fans.
• Benefactors: You can also make DONATIONS (Paypal) at our website or include our parish in your WILL.

7.  OF YOUR CHARITY, PLEASE, PRAY FOR

• full recovery post-surgery, for Mr. Kenneth Spurling, father of Megan Marsh.  Pray for Megan, Michael and Annabelle and the Spurling family at this time. Thank you.
• political will in implementing a global action on Environmental Stewardship
• all who are currently discerning vocations to ministries in the church especially the Sacred Order of Priesthood, Youth Ministry and,  Eremitic Monasticism
• continued healing for Gerda, Anthony Joseph, Patrice Gonzales, Nora, Ben, Roberta, Mary Jane. 
• the healing of our nation and all whose lives have been impacted by the recent mass shootings in San Bernadino 
• Natasha, Vincent, Larry Jr, Jeffrey, Simone, Obed, Audrey, Michelle, Yasmine, Jason,  Annabelle, Biko Lisustha, Amani Lisustha  

8.    FOR NEWS ABOUT

• the Diocese of Los Angeles, please click on www.ladiocese.org
• the Episcopal Church, please, click on www.episcopalchurch.org
• the Expo Line construction, please, click on www.buildexpo.org
• the Palms Neighborhood Council, click on www.palmsla.org

9.    Like us on Facebook follow us on Twitter @stmaryinpalms

Fr. Vincent

www.stmarypalms.org