FESTIVITIES FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY IN ADVENT

Advent Sunday is a special time for the Christian community! Gatherings of families and friends mark the season and this year our country continues to have a renewed sense of commitment to our worship, community and national life. Join us on Advent Sunday, December 1st for special services of the Holy Eucharist at 8:30 and 10:30 in the morning.

To get the day started do come to Breakfast beginning at 9 a.m. in the Parish Hall. There's always lots of fruit, coffee, juice and great breakfast foods. Afterwards make your own Family Advent Wreath. Please bring lots of seasonal greens - holly, box, cedar, etc and color from your yard. You will also need a small pair of shears and some garden gloves. There are plenty of candles and wreath forms for everyone.

Every year the Sunday School participates in the Advent Friends gift exchange. Just call Louisa Jones to let her know you want to participate. Louisa will have the list of secret Advent Friends. Your name will be added to the list and you will also receive the name of a secret Advent Friend. Each Sunday in Advent you are to bring a gift for your secret Advent Friend, put it on the exchange table and also look for a gift with your name on it. On Sunday, December 22nd, you will learn the name of the secret Advent Friend who has been leaving gifts for you.

This Advent do a good deed by ringing a bell for the Salvation Army. Just call Bobby Ray, 725-9108 to sign up for a two-hour slot at one of the Gloucester kettles. Other good deeds would be donating items for the Christmas baskets, buying gifts for the Christmas Giving Tree, or buying your Christmas tree from NGA, Inc. at the Blue Fin Restaurant.

FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Parishioners,

And the Angel said to the shepherds, "Be not afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of a great joy which will come to all people; for to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord." With these words many a loving congregation has watched shepherds move to Bethlehem to see this splendid event. These pageants are a joyful event for everyone.

In the coming weeks with all the pageants, living crèches and Christmas plays, the words "Be not afraid" will be heard by the world. The daily news is filled with market fluctuations, uncertainty, the possibility of war and continued concern about terrorism. It is in this context that the Angel speaks - fear not. God has heard our worries, concerns and prayers and is sending the Savior into our world to be our friend, brother and Savior. We are not alone for God is with us.

As we enter the seasons of Advent and Christmas, please don't forget the Angel's words. They are more than part of a pageant; they are words of Good News for all of us!

May the Lord bless you and yours in these days of the birth of our Lord.

Faithfully yours,

Peter Worthington

EPISCOPAL YOUTH

The Ware Episcopal Youth Committee, open to all members, 7th - 12th grades, meets Sunday, December 8th at 9:30 a.m.

The Youth are selling wreaths for the holidays. Place your order by seeing one of the youth members or by calling Susan Jenkins, 694-0640. The 16-inch Balsam fir is $10 and the 22-inch Balsam fir is $15. The Youth will be available to wrap your purchases on Sundays, December 1st and December 22nd during Coffee Hour.

The Ware Youth will be participating in a county-wide gift wrapping by Church Youth Groups which will take place at Wal-Mart during the holiday season. Ware Youth will be wrapping gifts on Saturday, December 7th, 11 a.m. - 3 p.m. and on Sunday, December 8th, 1 - 3 p.m. All proceeds will go to the Gloucester Habitat for Humanity. Donations will be accepted for both the wrapping of the gifts and for the cost of wrapping paper. Wal-Mart is graciously allowing people to bring in gifts that have been purchased elsewhere just to have them wrapped by the youth. Come and support this wonderful project that is being sponsored by the youth of our community.

On December 1st, the Ware EYC will be going ice skating at the Iceplex in York County.

For additional information, call Susan Jenkins, 694-0640 or e-mail her (susu@hudbon.com).

MUSIC NOTES

Handbells

Ware Church Ringers and the Newington Baptist Celebration Ringers will present a joint Christmas Concert on Sunday, December 8th at 7 p.m. at Newington Baptist Church. The program consists of arrangements of familiar Christmas music. Both choirs have been working on this concert for months, including an all-day workshop and additional evening practices. It is an event that will surely put you in a festive holiday spirit.

Junior Choir

The Junior Choir will have a special treat at their rehearsal on Wednesday, December 18th when the doors to the infamous Ware-Mart open at 5:30 p.m. The children will be able to spend their hard-earned Ware Dollars on all sorts of fun prizes and candy.

Epiphany Pageant

This year an Epiphany Pageant, "The Light of the World" by Mark Patterson, will be performed on Sunday, January 5th during the 10:30 service. This pageant combines original songs and familiar carols from around the world to tell the Christmas story. The narration begins with the story of creation, turns to the prophetic words of Isaiah, and then recounts the events of Jesus' birth. At the close of the musical, there is an invitation to the congregation to "take the light" out into the world. In order to make this pageant a truly parish-wide event, it is necessary for many persons to become involved. Please volunteer your time and services as there is a need for singers, bell ringers, actors, narrators, costume designers, set designers and builders, and general helpers. There is a sign-up poster upstairs in the Parish House and at the entry into the Church. This event is a fabulous way for you and your family to cap off the Christmas Season and to carry the true Christmas message into the New Year.

PRACTICE SCHEDULES
Junior Choir, 5:30 - 6:15 p.m.
Ware Ringers, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Wednesdays
No practices December 25th
Senior Choir, 9 a.m.
Sundays
No practice December 29th

VESTRY MEETING

The Ware Vestry will meet in the Parish Library on Monday, December 2nd at 7:30 p.m. Please pick up your vestry packets Sunday, December 1st.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

PARISH CALENDAR

WARE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

The Christmas ornament commemorating the 350th anniversary is on display in the Parish Hall. The ornament, a three-dimensional brass copy of the Church building, sells for $15.00. A stand is included. Buy one for yourself or for each child for his or her the first Christmas tree. Purchase it during Coffee Hour or in the church office during the week.

GRAPEVINE DEADLINE - January

Monday, December 9th
Volunteer to collate by calling the church office.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Book Circle has chosen The Red Tent by Anita Diament as its winter selection. The Red Tent is a best-selling novel based on the Biblical Character, Dinah, the daughter of Jacob. This fictional re-creation of life in the time of Genesis gives wonderful insight into nomadic life.

The book is available at the Gloucester Library or at Twice Told Tales. The circle will meet for lunch at the home of the Mungers at 12 noon on Tuesday, Jan. 28th. Anyone interested is welcome to join us.

PRAYER GROUP MEETS

Each month the Ware Church Prayer Group gathers for fellowship, prayer time and the Holy Eucharist in the Parish House. They pray for parishioners and friends of Ware. The next meeting is Wednesday, December 11th at 10 a.m.

Call in your prayer needs to Jane Van Leeuwen, 693-3500. To join this vital group, call Hally Baker, 693-2613.

CHRISTMAS GIVING TREE ON DISPLAY

Twelve Gloucester families will have a bright Christmas with help from Ware Church. Family names are on the Christmas gift tree in the Parish House along with their Christmas gift wishes.

We are also collecting non-perishable foods and other basic items in Christmas baskets for these families. Suggested items are as follows:

Please, no canned corn and no canned green beans. Bring the wrapped gifts and Christmas basket items to the Parish House by December 15th.

CHRISTMAS TREE SALE

NGA, Inc. (formerly Needlework Guild of America), a 117-year-old non-profit organization, is selling Frazier Fir Christmas Trees this year at the Blue Fin Restaurant in the Court House. This is the 12th year this event has been sponsored. The money raised goes to buy Christmas gifts of clothing, food and toys for needy families in Gloucester County. If you are interested in buying a tree, stop by the Blue Fin or call Anne Dyal, 693-3196. The trees are for sale November 29th through December 20th.

OFFICE CLOSED

The office will be closed on Monday - Friday, December 23rd - 27th in observance of the birth of our Lord and on Wednesday, January 1st for New Year's Day.

JANUARY 2003 PARISH BREAKFAST

FOUR NEW VESTRY MEMBERS ELECTED BY CONGREGATION

The Annual Congregational Meeting held on Sunday, November 17th elected Sara Delo, Phil Morton, Steve Parker and Rip Radlciffe to serve on the Vestry for three years. Many thanks to the outgoing Vestry members IsaBell Horsley, Catesby Jones, George Miller and Harry Morris for three years of great service and for overseeing this election process.

FIRST SUNDAY FOOD OFFERING

On the first Sunday of every month Ware Church receives gifts of food and other personal items to restock the shelves at the Salvation Army Food Closet. Items always in demand include canned meat items, tuna fish, peanut butter and paper products. Gifts for the Pantry can be left in the office or taken directly to the Salvation Army. Thank you for your contributions.

GIVING STATEMENTS

Giving statements will be mailed during the first week of December. Please check your giving against your pledge and your records to see if the statement is correct.

E-MAIL ADDRESSES

The church office is gathering e-mail addresses of the members of the congregation. If you want to share your e-mail address with the office, please call the office and give it to the Parish Administrator. The e-mail address is for church use only.

MEMORIAL POINSETTIAS

Ware Church is decorated each Christmas with poinsettias and greens around the Altar and in the windows to celebrate the birth of our Lord. These plants and the garlands, made of local greens, are placed in the Church at Christmas and remain through the Feast of the Epiphany on January 6th. Each memorial is $8. To give plants in memory of loved ones, please fill out the order blank and return it by December 8th with your check so that the names will be in the Christmas bulletins.

Name

YOUR NAME__________________________________________

Please print the names as you wish them to appear in the Christmas bulletins. Make your check payable to Ware Episcopal Church, designate it Poinsettias and mail your request and check to:

Mrs. Edward H. Ould, III          P. O. Box 6          Ware Neck, VA 23178