From Deacon Ron Reno:
Thank you Father! We were blessed with the full Eucharist by Father Andrews. Father and his wife Anneliese make this journey from Fort Collins, Colorado. They are part of our church family and we must remember to thank God whenever they can come. Traveling mercies and good weather make this journey possible. The opening hymn “Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus” by Stuttgart was wonderful and the organ postlude “Meditation on Stuttgart” by Broughton was well done! It is such a blessing to have the choir we have, and the great joy they bring this Chapel. Father also used anointing oil on our newest member Robert Sutherlin. Robert has been coming for the last three weeks and decided to swim the Tiber to join us. May God bless Robert.
Advent began last Sunday and there are four Sundays in Advent prior to Christmas. For us this is the Advent season. Advent has two themes for
our preparation for His first coming. We also have an ancient expectancy and ardent desire of the Messiah’s second coming. For us the Christmas season begins the night before Christmas (Christmas Eve) and continues and includes the Sunday after Epiphany.
A thoughtful explanation of the season was given by Pope Pius XII. “With the coming of the birthday of the Redeemer, the Church would bring us to the cave of Bethlehem and there teach that we must be born again and undergo a complete transformation; That will only happen when we are intimately and vitally united to the Word of God made man and participate in His divine nature, to which we have been elevated.”
“Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel.” KJV Isaiah 7:14
Have a thoughtful Advent season along with this anticipation of Christ’s birth. Saint John’s bulletin and freshman artwork are included, Blessings, Deacon
