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, November 30th 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.

This year the Sunday School is participating in a Giving Tree Activity. The children are urged to bring new hats, gloves or mittens for school-age children to Sunday School each Sunday. Call Karen Ward, 693-3049 if you need more information.

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 giving money to NGA, Inc. Toys for Kids. Contact Anne Dyal, 693-3196 if you wish to write a check to NGA, Inc. Toys for Kids.

FROM THE RECTOR

Dear Parishioners,

The wreaths on the doors of Ware Church have purple bows as reminders that it's Advent - the period of making ready for the coming of our Lord at Christmas and his second coming at the close of the age. This short four-Sunday season is a time of expectation and preparation as gifts, cards, and food are being planned, given and enjoyed.

Each liturgical season has a gift as witnessed by the birth, the resurrection, and the coming of the Holy Spirit. The gift of Advent is the opportunity of new beginnings and forgiveness of our sins. Part of the collect for the Last Sunday after Pentecost reads: "Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule." These words capture the gift of Advent- that we "may be freed and brought together."

Christmas is about the gift of Jesus our Savior coming to forgive, restore and give everlasting life. It is the joy of his being with us as we live in new this freedom of gathering together to celebrate.

May you and yours have a most blessed Christmas and a glorious new year.

Faithfully yours,
Peter Worthington

MUSIC NOTES

Junior Choir

The Junior Choir will be singing a special Advent anthem on Sunday, December 14th at the 10:30 a.m. service. The Junior Choir will be having their special "WareMart" store on Wednesday, December 17th during choir practice time. The Junior Choir will provide special music at the 5:00 p.m. Lessons and Carols Christmas Eve service.

Senior Choir and Handbell Choir

Both choirs have been working diligently preparing Advent and Christmas Eve music. To celebrate the season both choirs will be entertained at a "4th Day of Christmas Party" on Sunday, December 28th at 7:00 p.m. at the home of Dee and Chuck Johnston in West Point.

VESTRY MEETING

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

FOUR NEW VESTRY MEMBERS ELECTED BY CONGREGATION

The Annual Congregational Meeting held on Sunday, November 16th elected Lee Brown, Kate Cole, Tom Hay and Nancy Wilson to serve on the Vestry for three years. Many thanks to the outgoing Vestry members Peter Hanson, Mike Jenkins, Bobby Ray and Kirby Smith for three years of great service and for overseeing this election process.

EPISCOPAL YOUTH

The Ware Episcopal Youth Committee, for 7th through 12th grades, meets Sunday, December 14th at 9:30 a.m. Youth, do not forget about "Mommy and Daddy Elf Day" on Sunday, December 7th. (See article elsewhere in this newsletter.) For additional information, call Judy Doyel-Fulk, 693-6135. or e-mail her (bjfulk@inna.net).

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 and their focus weeks are:

Nov. 30
All kinds of Canned Meats
Canned Soups
Paper Products
Bars of Soap
Peanut Butter/Jelly

Dec. 7
Dry Cereals
Mac & Cheese (boxed)
Dried Beans
Dried Noodles
Jiffy Cornbread Mix

Dec. 14
Canned Milk
Canned Coffee
Tea
Sugar
Toothbrushes/Toothpaste
Personal Hygiene Items

Monetary donations are also welcome.

All above items are welcome at the church during the week (even after the focus week), but please, no canned corn and no canned green beans. Bring the wrapped gifts and Christmas basket items to the Parish House by December 14th.

DECEMBER BIRTHDAYS

PARISH CALENDAR

November 30th
Advent Sunday
Breakfast, 9 a.m.

December 2nd
Vestry Meeting, 7:30 p.m.

December 7th
Mommy and Daddy Elf Day, Noon - 5:30 p.m.

December 8th
January Grapevine Deadline

December 14th
Christmas Giving Tree and Christmas Basket Deadline

December 15th
ECW @ Nancy James, 10 a.m.

December 17th
Poinsettia Order Deadline

December 21st
Greening of the Church, 10:30 a.m.

December 24th
Lessons and Carols, 5 p.m.
Festive Holy Eucharist, 10 p.m.

December 25th
Holy Eucharist, 10 a.m.

December 28th
Senior Choir & Handbell Party at the Johnstons, 7 p.m.

GRAPEVINE DEADLINE

Monday, December 8th. Volunteer to collate by calling the church office.

WARE CHRISTMAS ORNAMENT

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

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.

OFFICE CLOSED

The office will be closed Wednesday, December 24th through Thursday, January 1st.

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 friends and parishioners of Ware. The next meeting is Wednesday, December 10th and begins at 10 a.m. After Holy Eucharist (which is open to everyone in the church), the prayer group meets in the library for prayer.

If you have a prayer request or need, please [call Jane Van Leeuwen, 693-3500, Bruce Forsberg, 776-7734 or Anne Clark, 693-4026. If you would like to be a part of this group, please call the office.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN

The Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will have a Chinese Auction at Sandhill, the home of Woody and Nancy James on Monday, December 15th at 10 a.m. Please bring a small wrapped gift for the auction. Proceeds will go to the Salvation Army Christmas Fund.

To reach Sandhill, go north on Highway 3 almost to the Piankatank River. You can see the bridge before you make a right turn on Green Point Lane (Rt. 701). Turn left on Lookout Lane and follow it to the end.

JANUARY 2004 BREAKFAST

Join us Sunday, January11th at 9 a.m. in the Parish Hall for the Parish Breakfast. This Sunday also marks the beginning of the winter term of Ware's Christian education program.

MOMMY AND DADDY ELF DAY

Here's something new at Ware this year. On Sunday, December 7th, noon - 5:30 p.m., the Ware Youth Group will be hosting a "Mommy and Daddy Elf Day". This will be an opportunity for parents to have some holiday shopping time sans children. The Youth group will provide lunch and an afternoon of games and activities (nap time available). The sign-up deadline is Wednesday, December 3rd. For more information or to sign up, call Kim Roj at 694-0373 or Judy Doyel Fulk at 693-6135.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

There is no Sunday School on Sunday, December 28th or January 4th. Spend the extra time at home and come to either morning service with your family.

COFFEE HOUR

Please help! There is a sign-up sheet on the church porch for winter refreshments hosts and hostesses. Sign up early so that you may choose the Sunday that best suits your schedule.

GREENING OF THE CHURCH

Following the 10:30 service on the Fourth Sunday of Advent (December 21st) the garlands of cedar, boxwood, holly and other natural seasonal greens will be hung around the reredos and the gallery wall. Lots of help is needed. Afterwards we gather in the Parish Hall for refreshments.

CHRISTMAS EVE AND CHRISTMAS DAY SERVICES

The celebration of Christmas at Ware Church begins at 5 o'clock with the service of Lessons and Carols with Ware's Junior Choir providing the music. At 10 o'clock there is the festive celebration of the Holy Eucharist. On Christmas Day there is a quiet celebration of the Holy Eucharist in the Church at 10 a.m. Please join us for one or more of these services and invite family and friends to attend with you!

MEMORIAL NAMES REMEMBERED DURING WORSHIP

During weekly services memorial prayers are offered on the Sunday on or before the yearly anniversary for the faithful departed. To include your loved ones in this annual tribute, please fill out the form and return it to the church office. Here is a special way to remember in prayer those who mean so much to us. Please be sure to include the memorial date!

CHRISTMAS POINSETTIAS

At Christmas, Ware Church is decorated with poinsettias and greens in the windows and around the Altar to celebrate the birth of our Lord. These plants and the garlands are placed in the Church by Christmas Eve and remain into the Epiphany season. Each memorial is $8. To give a memorial for loved ones, please contact the church office by December 17th with your check of $8 per memorial name. Please print the names as you wish them to appear in the Christmas bulletins.

Checks should be payable to Ware Episcopal Church, designated Poinsettias and mailed with your request to Ware Episcopal Church, P. O. Box 616, Gloucester, Virginia 23061-0616.