If you haven't been to church lately, or even if you have, please come and worship with us at our 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM or 11:15 AM Sunday service.

Advent I

Grace and Peace Be unto you:  In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Amen
 
In Sunday's collect, we pray to God to give us grace to put on the armour of light.  What is this armour?  It is the light to protect us because that is what armours do.  It shields us from harm such as the fiery darts of evil & sin.  In essence we are to be the light that came for us as “the light of men to shine upon the darkness.” 

Today Paul tells us to owe no man anything except to love one another both from the 10 commandments and the Summary of the Law concerning our brothers & sisters.  Here, Paul considers the love a debt that needs to be paid.  Paul gives us 5 of the 10 commandments to keep for our brothers:  thou shalt not commit adultery, thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, thou shalt not bear false witness, and thou shalt not covet.  And he says thou shall love thy neighbor as thy self.  His emphasis is on the brethren rather than God himself but that is the real test isn’t it?  If you don’t love your brothers then you don’t love God because love is the fulfilling of the law. 

Then he says it is high time to awake - for salvation is near and the day is at hand to cast of the works of darkness and put on the armour of light as in today’s collect.  Paul uses many active verbs to make his point:  owe no man, awake out of sleep, cast off works of darkness, put on the armour of light, and walk honestly.  These are not esoteric words but common words that man can understand & do.  Thus, we are to put on the Lord Jesus Christ and cast off the flesh & the lusts thereof in the beginning of the Advent season.

Today’s Matthew’s Gospel Summary: 

  1. One, Jesus Christ our Lord is humble riding on a donkey but he is royal from the House of David as Prophet, Priest, and King.
  2. Two, when he comes we ought to show reverence to the King with our selves & lives.
  3. Three, with his coming, we shout with joy:hosanna to the son of David:Blessed is he that cometh in the name of the Lord; Hosanna in the highest.
  4. Four, when he does come we should recognize who he is because the Jews were blinded with their jealousy, power, and money.
  5. Five, do not make God’s house a den of thieves with money-changing & business.Sounds familiar?Those who use God’s House & name for profit to buy the riches of this earth. We see them on screen all the time.
  6. Last, we await his 3rd coming & put on the armour of light because he will come next time as Lion of Judah per Revelation 5:5.

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Amen.

-- Fr. Anton
 
Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

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Christmas Flowers: For those who wish to contribute toward flowers and poinsettias for our Christmas display (In Memory of OR In Thanksgiving For), contribution forms are available on the narthex table. Please submit your form(s) and check by Sunday, December 17, in the offering plate or to the church office.


Upcoming Services & Events

Sunday Services, 7:45 AM, 9:00 AM, & 11:15 AM (for online participation for the services go to: https://www.facebook.com/saintsofscotland/ )

Sunday School at 10:30 AM

Wednesday at Noon – Holy Communion and anointing for healing (for online participation, check info under Sunday Services)

Saturday December 16, Neighborhood Caroling, for details contact Clint Taylor (clintonwtaylor@gmail.com)

Monday December 18, 7:30 PM, Vestry Meeting


Each month parishioners provide food for the Christ House food bank and things needed for babies and infants to the local crisis pregnancy center. Donations have really dropped off. St. Andrew & St. Margaret parish has a long history of helping others in the community.  Please take a look at the lists below and, if you can, please provide some of the needed items.  You can also help by donating money  through the secure donation button in this e-letter by selecting Charity & Mercy in the drop down menu on the donation page. Your help is needed. Thank you.  
 
Updated List of Needs for MaRIH Center (crisis pregnancy center)
MaRIH Center with its all volunteer staff provides help to mothers-to-be and mothers in need.  If you can provide some of the items that are needed, please do so. (You can leave the donations where the food for the food bank is collected on the pew in the undercorft.)

Especially Needed 

* are a critical need.

Diapers (sizes newborn, 1, 2, 3, 4*, 5*, & 6*)
Lovies
Baby wipes*
Diaper rash ointment
Fall/Winter Clothing:0-3 mo*, 3-6 mo*, 12-18 mo*, 2T*
Baby shampoo
Baby blankets*
Bibs
Formula: Simulac Advance Formula*
Formula: other but not recalled
Wash clothes
Hooded towels
Grocery gift cards*

Food Donations 
Please help this month with a food donation if you are able. Christ House is very thankful for the food we provide to them each month. Please also buy low sugar cereals (and not the kid's types that have lots of sugar).  Current needs include the following:
• canned meats (chicken, corned beef, spam)
• peanut butter
• jelly
• tuna
• canned vegetables (corn, green beans - (regular and low sodium)
• individual fruit cups (low sugar)
• canned fruit (low sugar)
• cereal (low sugar)
• pasta (regular and gluten-free)
• instant potatoes
• Macaroni & cheese kits
• Coffee, cooking oil, flour, sugar 
The Collect, The Epistle, & The Gospel for Advent II
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St. Andrew & St. Margaret of Scotland
1607 Dewitt Avenue
Alexandria, VA 22301-1625