St. Benedict’s Weekly Prayers: Week of December 7, 2025

Second Sunday of Advent
 

The Collect:

Merciful God, who sent your messengers, the prophets, to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

-The Book of Common Prayer

Ambrose of Milan, Bishop and Theologian, 397

References below names "LFF" are celebrations from "Lesser Feasts and Fasts", 2021.  Holy Days are from the Book of Common Prayer Holy Day celebrations.  You can find "Lesser Feasts and Fasts" online at https://extranet.generalconvention.org/staff/files/download/21034

Daily Prayers for those in need or trouble:

Prayers for the Parish
Kathleen, Mary, David, Isabel, Gary, Judy, Patricia, Matthew, Chris, Pam, Ray, Kay, Andy, Rebekah, Aaron, Daphne, Jane,  Kissa,  Gen, Paul, Carolyn, Gloria, Fran and Stephen.

 Prayers for friends of St. Benedict
Nancy Jo, Adam, Tina, Amanda, Jess, Tim, Gary, Shane, Marianne, Ron, Kelly and Oran.
__________________________________________
In the case of a pastoral care emergency please call the Rector directly
360-485-7281

Monday - December 8 - For Parish Members

Roger
Janet

Nicholas Ferrar, Deacon, 1637

Tuesday - December 9 - For Parish Members

Tom
Mark
Sylvia

Wednesday - December 10 - For Parish Members

Daniel
Bob
Peggy

Thursday - December =11 - For Parish

Kathy
Paul
Linda

Friday - December 2 - For Parish Members

Pam
Ray
Matthew
Chris

 Francis de Sales, Bishop, and Jane de Chantal, Vowed Religious, 1622 and 1641 

           Saturday - December 13 - For Parish Members

Spencer
David

 Lucy of Syracuse, Martyr, 304

Sunday - December 14, 2025
Third Sunday of Advent

Worship Services - 8 am and 10:30 am  

For the members of our parish family that
passed away  this year:

Ildiko Baldwin
Reverend Robert Williams
Reverend Eldwin Lovelady
Robert Wilson
Patricia Basta
Sally Christopher
John Webster
Elisabeth Evarts
Jay McCracken

Give to the departed eternal rest;
Let light perpetual shine upon them.

Our Lady of Guadalupe

O God of love, you blessed your people at El Tepeyac with the presence of La Virgen de Guadalupe: grant that her example of love to the poor and forsaken may stir our faith to recognize all people as members of one family. Teach us to follow in the way you have prepared for us, that we may honor one another in word and action, sharing with her your commonwealth of peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.

A Prayer for this Parish

Almighty and everliving God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for the St. Benedict parish family.  Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and restore the penitent.  Grant us all things necessary for our common life, and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. 
 ~Amen.

Send Prayer requests to the parish office via email at office@stbenedictlacey.org or phone 360.456.2240

PLEDGE ELECTRONICALLY

ADVENT LESSONS AND CAROLS: Sunday, December 14, 5:30 pm

Lessons & Carols services in the Anglican tradition began in 1878 and was formalized as a Christmas service in 1880 by the Bishop of Truro, later Archbishop of Canterbury, Edward Benson. An Advent version of the service – normally carried out as a procession with lessons and carols – developed slightly later at King’s College and is now celebrated around the world, normally as an evening service.  We will celebrate here at St. Benedict on December 14th at 5:30 pm.

During the service, scriptural readings are interspersed with choral presentations and hymn, all of which recall mankind’s longing for liberation from sin and death, and our hope and expectation for the both the first and second coming of Christ the Lord.  There will be a sign up sheet in the narthex for those wishing to participate as lectors.

Advent at St. Benedict

Meals for Many

I was hungry and you fed me (Matthew 25:35)

Meals 4 Many asking for volunteers. We cook on the third Monday of the month and delivery on the third Tuesday. See Caroline Madden, Spencer Daniels or the Rector to sign up.  Your help is urgently needed!

Christmas Flowers

Our altar is so beautiful at Christmas with all the Poinsettias.  If you would like to give a donation for our Christmas flowers, there are envelopes on the table in the Narthex.  Please make checks out to St. Benedict with Altar Guild in the memo line. Cash is also welcome. Let us know if your flowers are in memory of someone.  We will pray for them throughout Advent and together during the Christmas Eve Services.

Volunteer Painters Needed

We are looking for a team of painters to upgrade our Prayer Chapel.  See Nancy Zabel or the Rector if you are able to volunteer.

Farewell & Thank You to Terryl Graham

The difficult decision was made to reduce staff positions in the coming budget year, which included the closure of the Office Administrator position. Our wonderful Office Administrator, Terryl Graham, who has joyfully greeted parishioners and guests since December 2022, served her last day on November 12.

We are deeply grateful for Terryl’s warmth, professionalism, and dedication to our community, and we wish her every blessing in her next chapter.

Sunday School Holiday Breaks

As we enter the holiday season we wanted the children and their families to be aware of the days we will not be having Sunday school. We hope you enjoy the holiday weekends as a family.

The dates are:

Sunday, November 30th (Thanksgiving)

Sunday, December 28th (Christmas)

Calendars for the Mission to Seafarers

Ralph Provencal is collecting 2026 calendars for the Mission to Seafarers in Seattle.  They are provided to seafarers as a means of keeping track of the calendar days, events, and to brighten up the  on-board quarters.  All types are useful except extra large wall or desktop calendars, and loose-leaf.
 
There is a collection box on the counter in the entry hallway, near the parish hall doors.  Ralph will be collecting through January 17, 2024 and can use as many as we collect.  Ask you neighbors, friends, and any businesses.  He is committed to getting the calendars to the Seafarers mission in Seattle by Jan 19, 2026.

New St. Benedict T-Shirts

As our congregation continues to promote  Evangelism, we have decided to update our St. Benedict T-shirts.  Beginning Sunday, sign-up sheets will be available . Your Senior Warden, Bob Zych, will be modeling at both services.  We are asking  folks who purchase a shirt to consider "paying it forward" by  purchasing another shirt that we will share with someone who either can't afford to buy one or is a newcomer.  

 The Shirts are a soft style 90/10 cotton polyester made by Gildan.  Gildan partners with Better Cotton to improve cotton farming globally. 

 Currently we are offering Men and Women size t-shirts, long sleep shirts and sweatshirts (hooded and pocket).

T-Shirt $15

Long Sleeve T-shirt $15

Sweatshirt $35

 See you Sunday.

Building and Grounds News

From the Building & Grounds Steward: Norm Gregory

Do you see any major building repairs or projects you would like to see on our wish list?  I am currently working on a project priority list for 2026 - 2027 that will be submitted to the vestry as they work on next year's budget. Let me know your ideas.

• Does the parish hall (and other areas) seem brighter to you?  Thanks to a grant from Puget Sound Energy all of our fluorescent light bulbs were changed out this week for LED bulbs that use 50% of the electricity and produce more light! (The grant covered ALL materials and labor - we only had to pay $450 for a man-lift due to our high ceilings.)

• CARPENTER NEEDED: We have found some unused 1X12 pine shelves that we would like to have repurposed  into more durable shelves for the nursery.  If you have the skill to do this project we can supply the lumber, screws and paint and you are welcome to work on them in your home shop!  Please let me know if this sounds like a ministry that is calling you.

New Archbishop of Canterbury selected

Sarah Mullally has been named as the new Archbishop of Canterbury. She's the first woman ever chosen to lead the world's 85 million Anglicans. Her appointment was announced Friday by the Church of England and the U.K. government. She was elected by the College of Canons of Canterbury Cathedral, and approved by King Charles III.

In a statement, Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church in the U.S. Sean Rowe congratulated Mullally and welcomed the news of her appointment. "Bishop Sarah is known in the Church of England as a wise and steady leader, a faithful advocate for the leadership of women in the church, and a bishop who will be committed to safeguarding vulnerable people and victims of abuse," Rowe said.

Our new sign has been installed and blessed!

Go home to your own people,” He said, “and tell them how much the Lord has done for you, and what mercy He has shown you.”

A man who suffered met Jesus on the other side of the Sea.  We do not know how the man knew who Jesus was or even how to find him.  What we do know is what we have heard.  The man was healed through grace and mercy.

We are also being healed through grace and mercy.  This we know and celebrate.  We have been blessed with the inspiration, work, and funding that have allowed us to express our gratitude for the mercy we have been shown, so we built a sign.

We hope that this sign will point the way to Jesus and a life of grace and mercy.

Battery Recycling

A Battery Recycling receptacle may be found on the hallway table by the Leadership Photo wall each Sunday.

You are encouraged to bring not only your used batteries but those of your neighbors and friends.

Each recycled battery will either be safely disposed of or recycled depending on the type of battery. Recycled batteries that have metals like cesium or lithium not only contribute to saving landfills from the acid they contain, but also provide precious metals to American industries that currently depend on foreign imports.

This is just one more example of St. Benedict taking steps to protect all things that are precious and not discard our Parish home.

Wheat & Wine: Adult Education Returns

And so, Father, we who have been redeemed by him, and
made a new people by water and the Spirit, now bring before
you these gifts. Sanctify them by your Holy Spirit to be the
Body and Blood of Jesus Christ our Lord. (BCP p 371)

We have been worshiping this holy Creation Season with Rite II, Form C, and have joined Episcopal communities worldwide in gratitude for the Lord’s abundance.  We also reflect on our neglect and waste of God’s grace.
Please join us for a series of discussions during adult education between the two services beginning September 21.

This will be an opportunity to consider the deep meaning of the Eucharist that is easily overlooked and lost.  I hope to see you there.