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 November 28, 2021
Sunday, Nov 28 FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT
8:00 am – Contemplative Eucharist service (also on Zoom)
9:20 am – Bible Study
10:30 am – Eucharist service – (also live-streamed on FB)
Monday, Nov 29 – RECTOR’S SABBATH
Tuesday, Nov 30
9:45 am – Prayers for the Morning ( Zoom)
10:15 am – Spiritual Conversation: “Mission: JOY” video ( Zoom)
5:30 pm – Vespers service, in person at the church ( also on Zoom)
Wednesday, Dec 2
5:30 pm – Choir Rehearsal
Saturday, Dec 4
10:00 am – Diocesan Advent Retreat (ECR Zoom)
12 noon – People’s Kitchen at 40 Prado
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)
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. To start off this Session, St. Benedict’s Episcopal Church and @interfaithpowerandlight invites you to join us for a free viewing of the film Mission: JOY. We will be screening it on two dates – Tuesday, Nov 30th at 10:15am & December 2nd at 630pm and then discussing it afterward. All viewers are required to register individually through the link on our website. (After you register please send us an email at office@stbenslososos.org so that we can send you the Zoom link) Deeply moving and laugh-out-loud funny, Mission: JOY is a documentary with unprecedented access to the unlikely friendship of two international icons who transcend religion: His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Tutu. In their final joint mission, these self-described mischievous brothers give a master class in how to create joy in a world that was never easy for them. They offer neuroscience-backed wisdom to help each of us live with more joy, despite circumstances. 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, starting December 2 and finishing on Epiphany – January 6. There will not be a group meeting on December 30. 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. You can get the book for just $6 at https://www.cokesbury.com/All-Earth-Is-Waiting and we will have a few available in church. You are welcome to participate without reading the book, or to read the book without participating in the group! Following on from COP26, together 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. Topics are: The Source of Hope; Clear the Way; Discovering Joy; The Peace of the World; and The Reconciliation of Heaven and Earth. Sessions will last no more than 90 minutes and will be on-line. If you have a strong preference to meet in-person please let Caro+ know as it can become a hybrid event (In-person and on-line).
DIOCESAN ADVENT RETREAT – You are invited to join friends from around the Diocese of El Camino Real for a one-day Advent retreat on Saturday, December 4 at 10 a.m. in Salinas. We will gather for Morning Prayer at 10 a.m., and then have Bible study and reflection in small groups, plus quiet time for personal reflection and journaling. We will finish by 2 p.m. Please join us either in person at Saint Paul’s/San Pablo in Salinas, or online (a Zoom link will be sent to you after registration). If you are coming in person, we are asking for a $20 contribution to cover the cost of lunch (scholarships are available). If you have any questions, please contact Canon Martha Korienek at canonmartha@realepiscopal.org.
To attend the Retreat please pre-register at https://forms.gle/i3U9T9wrJ4wyRKBX6
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. Donors may take home poinsettias after Christmas Season. If you are sending your contribution by mail, please send the dedication wording to stefshuman@sbcglobal.net
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 Maureen Titus 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–
Nov 29 – John Hammerlund
Dec 3 – Steve Cake
10:30 Ministers of the Service Nov 28
Celebrant: The Rev. Dr. Caroline Hall
Eucharistic Minister: Diana Hammerlund
Lector: Sandy Fisher
Piano: David Alm
Ushers: Brian Spolarich & Alan Kiste
Altar Guild: Lorienne Schwenk
Flowers: Brian Spolarich
Intercessor: Jill Denton
Tellers: Steve Cake & Diana Hammerlund
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
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.
EPISCOPAL LITURGICAL CALENDARS – for 2022 are now available at the usher’s station. These indicate the observances and commemorations throughout the church year along with the appropriate liturgical colors and lectionary readings. There is no charge.
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 Jill Denton at (805) 704-1364 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