ON-GOING ACTIVITIES AT ST. BEN’S
ABUNDANCE SHOP– Thrift shop at 2025 9th St. (If you would like to volunteer, please contact them at (805) 528-1370)
COMMUNITY DINNER – Providing and serving food at SBCC, on 1st Thursday of odd-numbered months, in conjunction with Los Osos Cares.
EARTHCARE – Zoom 3rd Wednesdays 3pm. Discussion/action group seeking spiritual and practical solutions to environmental concerns. MEN’S GROUP – Morning social gathering, 3rd Saturdays – 9am at Celia’s Garden Cafe.
HEALING SERVICE – FACEBOOK – A time for prayers for healing at the 10:30 service on 5th Sundays.
HOLLISTER INSTITUTE – Opportunities for stimulating discussion and thoughtful exploration on Tuesdays at 10:15am on Zoom. “The Book of Joy” by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama starts Nov 30.
LAUNDRY LOVE – Helping low-income families with funds, soap, and friendly assistance at Osos Clean Laundry. 4-6pm on last Wednesdays
PEOPLE’S KITCHEN – Providing and serving lunch at 40 Prado, 1st Saturday of even-numbered months
VESPERS AND CONVERSATION – Zoom – 5:30 pm Tuesdays
VESTRY / PARISH COUNCIL – ZOOM – 3rd Sundays at 12:30pm.
- The Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall, Rector
- Stef Shuman, Sr. Warden
- Jane Wu, Jr. Warden
- Lisa Gonzalez, Treasurer,
- Lorienne Schwenk, Clerk
- Esta Kandarian,
- Alan Kiste,
- Benjamin Nucum
- Helen Schnieders
- Barbara Schippers
- Maureen Titus
Bidding Book Prayers – If you’d like to request prayers for someone and have their names read out during the online worship services on Sunday, please submit their names to stefshuman@sbcglobal.net during the week (by Friday).
We are grateful for God’s financial providence and blessing. Thank you for making your offerings by mail to our PO Box, or on-line.
Week of December 5th, 2021
Sunday, Dec 5
8:00 am – Contemplative worship service (only on Zoom)
9:20 am – Bible Study
10:30 am – Eucharist service – (also live-streamed on FB)
Monday, Dec 6 RECTOR’S SABBATH
Tuesday, Dec 7
9:45 am – Prayers for the Morning (Zoom)
10:15 am – Spiritual Conversation: “The Book of Joy” (Zoom)
5:30 pm – Vespers service, in person at the church ( also on Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec 8
5:30 pm – Choir Rehearsal
Thursday, Dec 9
3:00 pm – Advent Study: All the Earth is Waiting (In-person and on Zoom)
Sunday, Dec 12
8:00 am – Contemplative Eucharist service (also on Zoom)
9:20 am – Bible Study
10:30 am – Eucharist service – (also live-streamed on FB)
12:30 pm – Parish Council Meeting
–10:30 Ministers of the Service Dec 5 –
Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall
Eucharistic Minister: Alan Kiste
Lector: Sandy Fisher
Piano: David Alm
Flute: Anne Kanter
Cantors: Brian Spolarich & Anne Kanter
Ushers: Brian Spolarich & Connie Weldon
Flowers: Brian Spolarich
Altar Guild: Stef Shuman
Prayer Team: Helen Schnieders
Tellers: Alice Welchert & Diana Hammerlund
ANNOUNCEMENTS
NEW TUESDAY SPIRITUAL CONVERSATION
Starting on November 30, our spiritual conversation will be based on The Book of Joy by Archbishop Desmond Tutu and the Dalai Lama. This conversation is open to anyone and everyone whether or not you read the book. On-line via Zoom on Tuesdays at 10:15 starting November 30. A service of Prayers for the Morning is also available on Tuesdays, starting at 9:45.
Book available from: https://www.amazon.com/Book-Joy-Lasting-Happiness-Changing/dp/0399185046/ref=sr_1_1?keywords=the+book+of+joy&qid=16362
ADVENT STUDY GROUP Advent is a special time of preparation; preparing our inner selves for the coming of the Christ. To help us do that, we will have an online Advent study group on Thursdays at 3pm. The meetings will include time for prayer and silence as well as conversation based on All Earth is Waiting – Good News for God’s Creation at Advent by Katie Z. Dawson. We will explore the familiar Advent themes of hope, preparation, joy, and peace with the heavens and earth in mind and consider how all creation longs for the coming of Christ, taking seriously the notion that the good news of Christ is good news for all the world. Sessions will last no more than 90 minutes and will be in-person at the church and also available on Zoom Dec 2 through Jan 6 (skipping Dec 30). A few books are available at the church or from https://www.cokesbury.com/All-Earth-Is-Waiting.
POINSETTIAS – If you would like to honor a loved one by contributing for Christmas poinsettias, please use the envelopes at the usher’s station to indicate the exact wording of your dedication (as in memory, thanksgiving, or honor.) Please print clearly. Suggested contribution is $10 each. Place envelope in offering plate.
CALLED TO LEADERSHIP? Is God calling you to take a more active role in the leadership of the church? Every January we hold our Annual Parish Meeting when we review the year together, agree a budget for the coming year, and elect new members of the Parish Council and delegates to Deanery and Diocesan Convention. Most Parish Council members and all delegates must have been confirmed or received into the Episcopal Church (or pledge to do so on the Bishop’s next visit). If you think that you would like to serve in one of these positions please speak with Jane Wu or Barbara Schippers.
RDF – On the last Sunday of each month, the loose cash in the plate offering is designated to the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, to help those in the parish or the wider community in need of emergency assistance. Or you may write checks to St Ben’s with “RDF” in the memo line. Thank you for your generosity!
2022 PLEDGE CARDS – Please turn in your pledge card, if you have not already done so. It is important for us to get an estimate of income for 2022 so we can budget for the fullest ministry possible. Extra blank cards are available at the ushers’ station.
CELEBRATIONS THIS WEEK:
— Birthdays —
Dec 5 – Suzan Vaughn
Dec 5 – Jerry Walton
Dec 5 – Barbara Schippers
Dec 6 – Bob Pelfrey
— Wedding Anniversary —
Dec 5 – John & Diana Hammerlund
— Ordination Anniversary —
Dec 5 – Susan Plucker
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE
A Celebration of Carols with the St Benedict Singers
Sunday December 19 at 3pm
Blue Christmas Service
Tuesday December 21 at 5:30pm, instead of Vespers
Christmas Eve Services – Friday December 24
Carols and Communion around the Crèche at 4:30pm
Sung Festival Eucharist – at 8pm, preceded by Carols at 7:45pm
Christmas Day – Saturday December 25
Quiet Communion Service with a cappella carols – 10am
Followed by a light brunch
First Sunday after Christmas – Sunday December 26
Contemplative Communion Service – 8am
Christmas Lessons and Carols Service – 10:30am
COMING IN JANUARY:
Epiphany Star Party – Wednesday January 5 – 6:30pm
Annual Parish Meeting – Sunday January 23 – 12:00pm
VESPERS Consider coming on Tuesdays at 5:30 for some mid-week fellowship. This short service includes time for bible reflection and sharing together. It is a good way to build relationships and deepen community. If you come in person, please consider staying afterwards for a glass of wine or other beverage. You can also participate in Vespers via Zoom. You will be able to see and hear the participants in the church as well as others joining via Zoom and those in the church will be able to see and hear you as well. Everyone is welcome.
FORWARD DAY BY DAY – The Nov/Dec/Jan issue of Forward Day by Day, a booklet of daily meditations, has arrived. You may pick one up from the usher’s table at church, or else email Jay at office@stbenslososos.org and ask him to mail one to you. The meditations are also available on-line at www.prayer.forwardmovement.org
PERSONAL PRAYER – A member of the Healing Prayer Ministry team is available each week after the 10:30 service to pray with you for special concerns. If you’d like this prayer support during the week, contact Helen Schnieders at (818) 324-2646 If no answer, please leave a message and your call will be returned.
BIDDING BOOK PRAYERS – If you’d like to request prayers for someone to have their names read out during the worship services on Sunday, please submit their names to stefshuman@sbcglobal.net during the week.
PRAYER CHAIN – Also, remember that you may send your prayer requests to the prayer chain at: prayers@stbenslososos.org This is a group of individuals dedicated to intercessory prayers, who upon receiving your email will pray for your concerns.
IN-PERSON SERVICE AT ST. BENEDICT’S – To help lessen the chance of spreading Covid – or Flu or colds – please observe the following behaviors when worshipping at St. Ben’s. Thank you.
- Masks are required at all times inside the church, except when putting the communion bread into your mouth, or when reading the lessons or making announcements from the lectern.
- Wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently.
- Maintain safe social distancing – spread out in the pew to maximize space both from side to side and before/behind.
- When coming forward for communion, spread out the circle to keep from standing too closely together.
- During communion the consecrated bread will be dropped into your palm for you to consume. The consecrated wine will be held before you to receive by sight alone.
- No physical contact with people outside of your family unit.
- We will only have coffee hour if someone signs up in the kitchen in advance and agrees to follow the diocesan food service guidelines posted there.
SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE STUDY – Sunday Morning Bible Study is held each week between the two morning services starting at 9:20 in the classroom. Lisa Gonzalez and Lorienne Schwenk will be leading the discussion.
COFFEE HOUR SIGN-UPS – Sign-up on the sheet posted in the kitchen if you would like to host coffee hour on a specific Sunday. If no one signs up there will not be coffee hour on that day.
CHURCH OFFICE HOURS – Jay will be in the church office on:
Tuesdays 3-6pm; Thursdays 10am-1pm; Saturdays 10am-1pm
NAME TAGS – We are asking everyone to wear a name tag. Please check the name tag board by the door for yours. If you don’t have one, or if an old one has become too shabby, please ask Stef to make one for you. (Or just tell the ushers). In the meantime, you can fill out an adhesive tag for the day.
DONATIONS – Collection plates are not passed during the service, but you may put your contributions in the plate by the usher’s station before the service, or contribute on-line at: https://www.StBensLosOsos.org/support-us/ or by mail to our PO Box. Thank you for your offerings! We are grateful for God’s financial providence and blessing.
ST. BENEDICT’S CONNECTIONS – Please do not hesitate to reach out to each other to stay in contact, and feel free to contact Caro+ at 805-704-5826 or caro@stbenslososos.org She loves to hear from you. In an emergency, texts are best.
HOW TO FIND OUR SERVICES
Our 8am and 10:30 am services each Sunday are Eucharist services, held indoors at the church for anyone wishing to attend in person. Masks are required, and we will continue to ask people to maintain social distancing by having no more than three people per pew. Communion will be distributed in bread only. Wine will be received by sight.
The 8:00 am service will also be available on Zoom.
The 10:30 am service will also be live-streamed for those who watch remotely — either on Facebook at www.facebook.com/stbenslososos/ or through our website at http://www.stbenslososos.org/facebook-including-live-stream/
Service leaflets for both services are available under the Worship tab on our website: https://www.stbenslososos.org/category/service-bulletin/
Unless otherwise stated, our meetings happen on Zoom:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/7977776046?pwd=VUFZSXY3UVpNVitJaDl2VmhPS3E2UT09 Passcode is: 93402