Holy Comforter E-Messenger for Sunday,
November 24, 2024
New This Week
Upcoming Events
Articles of Interest
Worship
Ministry Offerings
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Thanksgiving Service - November 24
On Sunday night, at 5:00 p.m., join us at St. Mark's on Arthur Ashe Boulevard for a joint Thanksgiving service.
ONE Sunday - November 24
This Sunday, Nov. 24, we are having ONE Sunday at 10am, when we support the United Nations Sustainability Goals. Loose plate and checks written to HoCo with ONE in the memo will go to support Doctors Without Borders, https://www.doctorswithoutborders.org/ .
James River Singers - December 6
Community Meals - December 3
Caroling With A Purpose - December 14
Christmas Caroling and Gift Basket Delivery will take place on SATURDAY, December 14th from 1:00-4:00. The purpose is to carol for people who are usually unable to get to HOCO for whatever reason, like health issues. We will gather in the Parish Hall, divide up, go to our destinations to sing and provide a gift basket. We hope YOU will join us, even if you can't carry a tune in a bucket, to share good cheer to people we do not often see, but who are a part of HOCO. Once everyone has returned, we'll enjoy refreshments.
Please sign up through Sign-up Genius to join in. Here's what we need:
1. 7 Drivers to take carolers in their vehicles
2. Carolers (as many as want to go - we just need an idea of how many)
3. Five people to provide snacks, such as cookies, popcorn, and hot beverages - like hot chocolate or apple cider
4. Three people to clean up afterwards
We had such a good time last year! Hoping to see all of you there this year!
Julie Edwards
Pastoral Care
Advent Retreat - December 14
Connection Time - An Important Part Of Growing Our Community
Spending time together after church helps us know each other better, and meet newcomers, and help them to feel welcomed and included. We plan to have Connection Time every Sunday with or without food. To make it less complicated and easier to help, we have updated the Sign-up Genius with these options and are asking that one person take one task on a Sunday:
- Drinks: making coffee, putting out a pitcher of water
- Putting snacks out that will be provided by Parish Life and will be in the kitchen
- Clean-up after Connections
Please consider signing up for one or more options.
If you have any questions, please contact Susan Boze, the vestry person for Parish Life. Thanks for taking part in this important ministry! Signup Genius
Rector's Discretionary Fund
On the 2nd Sunday of each month, the loose plate offering (cash) and checks with "Rector DF" in the memo, go to the discretionary fund, which helps those in need. Because we have not been noting the Sunday for donations, the fund is low. You may write a check at any time for the Rector's Discretionary Fund. Thank you.
Health Brigade
Thanksgiving and Memorial Contributions
Side By Side
Christmas Pageant 2024
Hello HoCo community! As I prepare for our Christmas Pageant this year (at the Christmas Eve service on Dec 24), I'm collecting the names (and emails) of who would like to be involved. The commitment is minimal; 1-2 rehearsals (during children's chapel or right after church) and your child doesn't need to have a speaking part (unless they want to!). If your little one wants to be involved but only if you are there with them, then great! Adults are welcome too! And if you have a bigger kid that would be interested in doing more- please let me know. I will decide what we are doing based on who is interested so please let me know asap (by mid Nov.) It will be very simple and hopefully meaningful and fun! Please email me at lianmarieholmes@gmail.com if you, or your children want to join in!
Thank you!
Lian-Marie Holmes Munro
Our Fall Stewardship/Discipleship Program at HoCo
Image courtesy of parishioner Tracy Councill
We will have our Ingathering of "cards" on the First Sunday of Advent, December 1. If you did not pick up your envelope on Sunday with my letter and the page with the Financial and Time and Talent "cards," you will receive it soon in the mail. My letter and the "cards" can also be found on our website, at https://www.hoco.org/ministries_stewardship.htm . The Stewardship/Discipleship Program can also be found there. Each Sunday for the last month, we have focused on one of our Baptismal Vows; our program concludes on Sunday, November 24, with the 5th Baptismal Vow.
This Week's Birthdays
Happy Birthday to all those who have birthdays this week!
Judy Harris, 23rd
Kim McCarthy, 26th
Dale Davis, 27th
Siyano Prach, 29th
Welcome to the Church of the Holy Comforter (HoCo)! Here is Some General Information
Join us at church on Sundays at 10:00 am for a service of the Holy Eucharist. We often use prayers from Enriching our Worship, which offers expansive images of God. We live stream our Sunday morning service on FaceBook and post it to be seen at your convenience on FaceBook.
Parish office hours are Mondays through Thursdays, 10:00 am to 1:00 pm.
If you have a pastoral emergency, at any time of day, call our Rector, Hilary (her number can be found in the parish directory ). Hilary's email is hbshococlergy@gmail.com. If you would like to schedule an appointment to talk with Hilary, or another member of our parish clergy, please email or call to schedule a time.
If you would like to make a financial offering, you may use online giving or US Mail. Thank you for supporting God's ministry to our local community and beyond through HoCo.
This Week's Worship Bulletin
Wednesday Worship At Church
Centering Prayer, 11:45 am, for 20 minutes, and then a service of the Holy Eucharist at 12:15 pm.
There will be no service on November 27, due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The service will resume on December 4th, when we will celebrate the feast day of St. Andrew.
Metro Richmond at Prayer (Richmond Hill Cycle of Prayer)
We pray for persons in financial need in Metropolitan Richmond: For the inclusion of all (regardless of race, age, or residency) in the economic health of Metropolitan Richmond. For effective, affordable, regional public transportation to support job access.
Informal Artists of HoCo announces UFOs – Un Finished Objects
We'll meet in the Conference room from 10:30 - noon (ish) on Tuesdays to work on our own personal projects. Knitting, sketching, drawing, writing... good conversation and busy hands! All are welcome - bring a friend. Contact Kipley Herr if you have any questions.
Sunday Morning Adult Class
The Sunday morning class (8:45-9:45) is currently working its way through an adaptation of the National Church's curriculum, Love God, Love God's World. You can check out the official site at https://www.episcopalchurch.org/ministries/creation-care/love-god-love-gods-world-curriculum/ . Each session has been streamlined to fit in our hour-long time frame; if enough people concur, we can establish a "circle" to do the full curriculum in the new year. Please come by the parlour on Sunday and check it out. We have already considered our Oneness with Creation (week one) and our temporal and spiritual relationships with water (week two). Week three will explore the historical tension between institutional Christianity and indigenous care for creation. "Each week a preparatory reflection is sent via email prior to the day of. If you would like to be added to the list, please email ntrvrt1958@gmail.com .
Lectionary Group, Summer Schedule
Our Thursday Lectionary Group meets on Zoom at 4:00 p.m. All are welcome to drop in and see what we discuss. It is fun! We look at the Sunday readings coming up and share knowledge, ideas, and how the scripture speaks to us in our lives. Go to our website, hoco.org , and click the banner at the top for the link.
Tuesday Morning Book Group
We meet in the church parlor from 11:00 am to Noon. Currently, we are discussing Life After Doom, Wisdom and Courage for a World Falling Apart by Brian D. McLaren. You are welcome to join our group at anytime.
The Current Messenger
