DECEMBER 4, 2024

Preparing the Way

Annual Gift Fair and Lessons & Carols this Sunday

This Sunday, December 8, offers a variety of ways to celebrate the season of Advent.

The Annual Gift Fair will be open in the Gym following the first service through 12:00 p.m. The youth will participate in the 4th Annual Gingerbread Village-making contest during the formation hour in Wallace Hall. And the day concludes with Lessons & Carols in the sanctuary at 5:00 p.m. Read more below...

Please join us this Sunday for Holy Eucharist at 8:30 or 11:00 a.m. The 8:30 service will be live-streamed and available on demand for later viewing. 

There are no Adult Formation Classes this Sunday. Children's Formation will meet as usual and the Youth will meet in Wallace Hall.

We invite you to visit the Gift Fair in the Gym during the regular formation hour. The gift fair will be open following the first service until 12:00 p.m.

Hands-On Service

If you look outside next to the playground, you'll see that Andrew Gardner completed the construction of a ball pit as his Eagle Scout Project for Troop 93. Congratulations Andrew, and thank you for sharing your gifts with St. B's!

The students of "456" are hosting a Room in the Inn Supply Drive, November 24 - December 15.  They will be collecting and sorting items  to share with our Saturday night RITI guests.  Please put any items into the large purple collection bins in the Parish Hall lobby.  Thank you for working with us for the good of others! 

For our guests:
• hand warmers
• chapstick
• pocket-sized tissues
• gloves (men and women)
• hats (men and women)
• like-new water bottles (metal is best)
• travel-sized hand lotion
• cough drops
• ear plugs

For our program:
• twin flat sheets 
• twin fitted sheets
• standard pillow cases
• fleece blankets
• portable phone charger
• ice scraper for vans

Did you know that St. B’s provides new undershirts, socks, and underpants, to our Room In The Inn guests? Each week guests can choose new undershirts, new underpants (boxers are a favorite), and new socks. Please help us restock the cupboard for the current season.

Our most urgent need is for new undershirts, especially large, extra large, and 2X sizes.

Contributions of new socks and underwear in all sizes from small to XXX large are also welcome. You can leave items in the labeled bin in the parish hall lobby. Questions? Please contact Nancy Hyer.

Our next volunteer date is December 14, 2024 from 9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. Sign up here.  You must also complete the volunteer registration form for the Branch on the Sign-Up Genius page.

We offer regular volunteer opportunities to pack food boxes for distribution at The Branch of Nashville, a faith-based food distribution and language resource center in Antioch. There are also opportunities to welcome, register, and deliver food boxes to guests of The Branch.

Join the Rev. Timothy Jones to reflect on how Advent and Julian of Norwich help us navigate the hard things in life. Tim will offer brief meditations followed by periods of reflection. Coffee will be served at 8:45 a.m. in the parish hall lobby with the first meditation starting at 9 a.m. in the church building. Fr. Timothy is a retreat leader, published author, former Cathedral  Dean, retired Episcopal priest, and St. B's parishioner.

The Annual Gift Fair is Sunday, December 8, beginning after the first service through 12:00 p.m.

This will be a great place to pick up creative and handmade Christmas gifts, as we have 17 creative members of our community participating, with a variety of items for sale – for example:

• homemade artisan baked goods
• hand-knitted blankets
• textiles
• St. B's pre-potted cactus plants
• woodworking
• leather 
• and much more!

An iconic tradition of the Advent season, join the choir and musicians of St. B’s for a service of Advent Lessons & Carols on Sunday, December 8 at 5 p.m. This service, dating back to 19th-century England, tells the redemption story from Eden to the birth of Jesus through scripture, choral music, and the singing of carols. Bring your friends and neighbors to this December highlight! All ages welcome, but childcare is available for children 4 and under with RSVP by Thursday, December 5 to nursery@stbs.net.

Mark your calendars for this holiday favorite! Our annual Family Christmas Concert features a wide variety of talent from our parish community.

Join us for a night of fun and celebration on Sunday, December 15 at 6:30 p.m. Gather outside for cocoa and cookies after the show. Bring your friends and neighbors!

For childcare (4 and under) please RSVP by December 12 to nursery@stbs.net.

Save the date for Tuesday, December 17 for the Women's Christmas Party.

More details to come...

For more events and happenings that are meaningful in the lives of St. B's parishioners, please check out the Community Bulletin Board online.

A Prayer for Guidance

💐 FLOWER DEDICATIONS

There are available upcoming dates to dedicate the altar flowers in honor, remembrance, celebration, or recognition of a loved one or significant event. You can sign up by clicking here or by contacting Charity Voiles.

• PRAYER REQUESTS •

If you have a prayer request or would like to add a name to the prayers, please send an email. 

Receive prayer on Sundays after communion at the prayer desk nearest the pulpit or on Wednesdays after the 12:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist. 

• WEEKLY SERVICES •

Wednesday 
Holy Eucharist with Healing Prayers in the Nave, 12:15 p.m. 

Sunday
Holy Eucharist in the Nave, 8:30 a.m. & 11:00 a.m.

ST. BARTHOLOMEW'S EPISCOPAL CHURCH

4800 Belmont Park Terrace, Nashville TN 37215

stbs.net  •   615.377.4750