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TidingsSt. Thomas’ Episcopal Church315 Lindsey StreetReidsville, NC 27320336-349-3511TheFestival ofLessons & CarolsSunday December 811:00 AMwww.StThomasReidsville.orgDecember 2013

Special Christmas ServicesTuesday December 2410:30 pm Special Music11:00 pm Holy EucharistWednesday December 2510:00 am Holy Eucharist2www.StThomasReidsville.org

The Shepherd’s ResponseLuke 2: 8-20About a week ago I got fed up; fed upwith what I was listening to on the carradio. Most of you know that I’msomething of a political junkie, and thisfacet of my personality comes acrosswhen choosing what to tune into on theradio while driving. Frankly, given howdistracted (and worked-up) I get fromthese talk-shows, it’s a miracle I haven’tdriven off the road years ago.“When the angels had left them andgone into heaven, the shepherds said toone another,”Well, as I said, about a week ago I gotfed up with all that. I turned the dial.Instantly, strains of Christmas carolswere pumping through all ten speakersin my car. Being in a bad mood already,I was not pleased by this occurrence ofyuletide messaging. All the usualobjections flashed through my brain:“What? Christmas already?”; “Wow!Madison Ave. just can’t wait, canit?”;“Why does THIS have to happenevery year to my favorite musicstation?”Shepherd #2. The RationalistResponse:“We have simply witnessed a uniqueastronomical phenomenon; theconjunction of spheroids in theionosphere accompanied by an amazingdisplay of sonic waves.”Strangely, though, I didn’t turn away.The music, and its message of hope andcheer, was conquering my grumpiness. Iwas actually starting to feel good insidemy head. My inner Grinch vanished,and all that was left for several minuteswas a three-sizes-larger heart full ofwarmth and contentment.Then it hit me: how you and I arriveat Christmas this year will dependentirely on how we respond to itsmessage. Consider, for a moment, howthe Shepherds responded to the messageof that first Christmas. They didn’t haveto respond as they did.Shepherd #1. The Purely EmotionalResponse:“Oh, wasn’t it wonderful! Whata sight! The singing was beautiful! Thelights were super! Oh, I’ll rememberthis as long as I live!”Shepherd #3. The PsychologicalResponse:“This can all be explained by thehigh state of nervous tension created byliving in a time of political insecurity,personal disappointment, unfulfilledambitions, and unfounded hopes of a“white knight” deliverer.”Shepherd #4. The PragmaticResponse:“So we saw some bright stars andheard some singing. We still have sheepto take care of. The night’s only halfover and so is our shift. If there’s a babyin Bethlehem he’ll still be there in themorning.”Shepherd #5. The IndifferentResponse:“(Yawn). What’s all the fuss about?How do you expect me to sleep with allContinued on page 5www.StThomasReidsville.org3

Episcopal Day SchoolMerry Christmas from the studentsand teachers at EDS! We hope you havea joyous Christmas season!We’ve had a lot of fun duringN o v e m b e r . We c e l e b r a t e dThanksgiving by learning why wecelebrate and by having our own feaston our last day before Thanksgivingbreak. The children and parents broughtin their favorite food to share witheveryone. Our visit from the firedepartment was postponed but we lookforward to having the fire truck visit usin December.available in the church office or fromany teacher at the end of January. Weare expecting limited openings so pleasedon’t delay if you are interested.As you are doing your Christmasbaking, please don’t forget to cut outyour General Mills BoxTops forEducation labels. We average about 100 each year from this fund-raiser.Thank you!We wish you all a wonderful, safeand warm Christmas as we celebrate thebirth of Jesus.Registration for fall 2014 will beginin late January. If you need aninformation packet, they will beAnnual Soup Kitchen BrunchAnnual Soup Kitchen BrunchDecember 7, 201310:00 AMTickets are 20.00Questions? Call:Stephanie Trent – 342-4151Susan Turner – 349-7972Dot Shelton – 342-24334www.StThomasReidsville.org

The Shepherd’s Response (continued)Continued from page 3this racket going on!”Shepherd #6. The Faith Response:“Let us go now to Bethlehem and seethis thing that has taken place, which theLord has made known to us.”Question #1: Which shepherd’sresponse comes the closest to ourresponse?Question #2: Which shepherd foundthe Savior in Bethlehem?The Lord bless you as you preparefor the Advent / Christmas / Epiphanyseason ahead of us. May your worshipbe filled with celebration, your homesglow with the light and warmth of loveand friendship, and your hearts andspirits be lifted into joyous song andrevelry at the Good News of everythingthat our Lord's birth means for us all.GOD BLESS US, (and ours, andtheirs, and whomever else's) EVERYONE!Peace,Fr. RickCare PackagesWe wish to support our collegestudents with care packages again thisyear. Please bring food/snack items thatwould be appropriate to mail in shoeboxes so we can surprise them aroundfinal exam time! Bring those items inand put them in a box designated forsuch which will be at the back of thechurch when you arrive. The last day tobring items will be Monday November24. Also, if you wish for a care packageto be mailed to someone in college,please give name and complete addressto Lou in the Church office prior to thedeadline.Christmas ServicesContinued onTuesday December24page 410:30 pm Special Music11:00 pm Holy EucharistWednesday December 2510:00 am Holy Eucharistwww.StThomasReidsville.org5

Prayer ListsPRAYER LIST FOR CONTINUINGNEED & DAILY PRAYERSCharles RobersonNaomi GullicksonDavid BuckmasterAmanda GEzra RobersonVicky SlaughterJaney VernonEric PhillippePerry GannJacey ParksLindaWinterKen SchneiderJamesPeggy PearceDud & Pat AppleDaniel BaileyBetty F. SigmonMary GullicksonFred Jr and SrBilly AgeaMichelle & Darrel RobersonStephanie RobersonBarbara & Ron DavenportKay,Dallas,Lynn DonuvantOtis HutchersonRev. John BurtonHal GreesonVivian StikeleatherMary Sigmon6WORSHIP PRAYER LISTPlum TrentMavis SimonAlex BeatonDaniel ChaneyPhillip SimonRodney CookWanda FieldsSandy RobinsonKris RogersDottie WorthCatherine ConteMarian SafrietAnne MontaigneJohn & ElizabethLaura StoneMelonie BehanDavid DeberryElaine CookJerry WelchBob LoveMargo JollyMILITARY PRAYER LISTRandy WilliamsonEthan RodgersHeather Meier-GallanaJericho GallanaAmanda AltmanMichael McCloskeyBen ShepherdWesley Smith IVSpencer & Monet WilsonRalph Lee ClaytonPatti BetheaLathrop Smith IVKaty CouronChristina BozzaccoCharles SpencerBo BetheaAdam WilsonTommy MancinoEdward AllenChris MilesJim DoneckerLance Hashwww.StThomasReidsville.org

Thoughts on StewardshipSeveral years ago I remember abillboard-like sign behind the formerWilkerson Funeral Home on MainStreet. You could see it as you came upHarrison Street toward Main and it said,“For what does it profit a man if he gainsthe whole world and loses his soul in theprocess.” I am not a person who isdrawn to religious signage, but thisparticular message was a spiritualcompass for me every time I observed it.Lately, I have thought about this versefrom Matthew’s gospel and how it is sorelevant to certain events we all canrelate to.Recently we had an election inReidsville and a candidate chose to runby rather unscrupulous means, claimingto live at a certain address that was notactually his residence. In sports we hearabout professional athletes that useperformance enhancing drugs. Most ofthese athletes have been caught inrepeated lies while trying to defendthemselves and in the end they findthemselves the outcasts of a game wherethey were so revered (take LanceArmstrong or Alex Rodriguez forexample). Any unprincipled efforts ofpeople attempting to advance their owncareers in business, in politics, or infinance never ends well when thedeception is discovered by the generalpublic. We can see for ourselves how anordeal like “Madoff’s Ponzi Scheme”turned out – lives wrecked, prisonterms, fortunes lost, among othertragedies.I can still recall a portion of a sermongiven some forty years ago by ourformer priest, Bill Tyte. That Sunday hegave us this sage advice. He said uponmaking a decision: if someone that yourespect commits a certain act, wouldyou approve of it? Or, if you performthat action, would you be okay with anyand everybody knowing about it?” Toput it another way, would it read well onthe front page of the newspaper? Goodwords and good advice to live our livesby.Tom BalsleyFill the TubPlease help us reachout to others in ourcommunity bydonating nonperishable items forthe ReidsvilleOutreach Center.Items needed for December are:sweet peas,carrots,mixed vegetables,pork & beans,corn, any fruit or vegetablesThe blue tub is located in the narthexof the church. Thank you for your helpwith this vital ministry!www.StThomasReidsville.org7

Caroling & Festival of Lessons & CarolsChristmas Caroling on Saturday,December 14th: The Choir invites youto go Christmas caroling for our ShutIns. We will meet at the church at 1 pmand caravan to sites together. If youhave a shut-in family member or closefriend whom youwould liketreated tocaroling, pleasecontact D’aunMiles 349-5090or email atdaunmiles@gmai l . c o m .Deadline forsubmittednames isSun., 12/1.8The Festival of Lessons & Carols isa wonderful service. It is an auralexperience of storytelling and music.The lessons are not printed so that theear receives what the heart will hold. Itis a way to immerse yourself in theAdvent/Christmas sounds so that youmay emerge “in the mood” for theseason.Plan to come and bring your friends!www.StThomasReidsville.orgD’aun Miles

“Tidings”While-U-WaitAttendanceDATESERVICE ATTENDANCEMany thanks to thefollowing businessesthat have agreed tomake our newsletteravailable in theirwaiting rooms:8:30 a.m.11:00 a.m.1655Dynamic FitnessNovember 1025th Sunday after Pentecost 10:00 a.m.Annual Meeting62Chris TrentFreeway AutomotiveNovember 1726th Sunday after Pentecost8:30 a.m.11:00 a.m.1840November 24Last Sunday after Pentecost8:30 a.m.11:00 a.m.845November 324th Sunday after Pentecost156 N. Scales St.Dean BrownShear PerformanceIf you would like toparticipate, pleasecontact the church office349-3511or our newsletter email:news@stthomasreidsville.orgA Stephen Minister canbe there for someonewho's in the midst of alife challenge sothey don't have to walkOctober 2013 Year To Datethrough the valleyalone. 14,725.00 142,191.00Total RevenueWhen you’re ready toTotal Operations Expenses 16,588.00 139,618.00talk, a StephenMinister is ready to 2,573.00- 1,863.00Differencelisten.Pledge Report16www.StThomasReidsville.org9

Who’s WhoCHURCH STAFF:LAY WORKERS: Rector Youth LeaderThe Very Rev. Dr. Richard “Rick” MilesTommy Thorn 616-0800349-3511, Ext. rg Altar GuildSuzanne Howard 349-7046Organist Layreader & Chalice Bearer CoordinatorKristen FarmerTom Ham 932-2212349-3511, Ext. 104tjhamiii@att.net Usher & Greeters CoordinatorSteve Worth 349-7538Choral Director LibrarianD'aun MilesSusan Bullock es@gmail.com Sunday School SuperintendentJim McCloskey 349-3354Office Manager & Rector’s Secretaryjim mccloskey@me.comLou Ann Boaz ECW349-3511, Ext. 101Jeanne Horsley riad.rr.comJanet DeBerryNursery Coordinatordonathan1008@aol.com 375-7073Anne Rogers 342-0284 Men’s Club TreasurerSextonsKen Avery 419-0538Carol Pruitt 349-3511 Pledge TreasurerDiane Allen 349-3511Joanne Piazza 349-8633 WebmasterEpiscopal Day School AdministratorJohn Bullock 616-1029Jennifer Kimbro (2010-2011)john@mygraphicdetails.comVestryParker GrahamSenior Warden349-1882pgraham1@triad.rr.comJanet DeBerry375-7073donathan1008@aol.comChris Hicks634-0314christopher.m.hicks@gmail.comJim McCloskeyJunior Warden349-3354jim mccloskey@me.comLaura Felts349-4554minnielaura@att.netElisabeth Pugh656-4664framepros@aol.comSarah Cobb932-0726sarahlee51@bellsouth.netDon Gwarek349-5074dgwarek@triad.rr.comTodd eidsville.org