Dear Friend,

We celebrate four feasts of the church this week: St. Stephen (deacon and martyr), St. John (apostle and evangelist), the Holy Innocents (remembering the death of the innocent children in Bethlehem whom King Herod executed), and the Holy Name (the day when the child was circumcised and given the name Jesus).

While I am away this week, I want to share this reflection by Robert Ellsberg on the Holy Innocents. It is taken from Goodness and Light: Readings for Advent and Christmas.

     "It is the constant fear of every tyrant that somewhere, perhaps in an obscure village, perhaps at that very moment, there is a baby born who will one day signal the end of his power. According to the Gospel of Matthew, this fear was realized for King Herod when wandering wise men from the East came to Jerusalem asking, 'Where is he who has been born king of the Jews?'
     By all accounts, Herod was a man of extreme brutality. He conceived of a simple plan: Rather than sit and wait anxiously for the day of reckoning with this future 'king,' why not simple kill the babe before he could grow and pose a threat? But when the wise men failed to cooperate with his plan, Herod simply ordered his troops to the village of Bethlehem, there to kill every male child under the age of two. The order was given and it was dutifully carried out.
     But the reader knows, as Herod does not, that the massacre is pointless. Joseph, forewarned in a dream, has taken his family into exile in Egypt. The child lives.
This terrible story, omitted from the typical Christmas pageant, is a vivid reminder of the violent world into which Jesus was born. There were certainly those for whom the coming of the Messiah represented anything but good news. Did Jesus at some point learn the story of his birth and of the children who had perished in his place? If so, that chapter in his education is reserved for his "hidden years," beyond the scope of the Gospel narratives. From the early centuries, however, the church has commemorated the feast of these Holy Innocents. Unlike traditional martyrs who would later die bearing witness to Christ, these little ones died unwittingly in the place of Christ. They were killed by the same interests that would later conspire in the death of Jesus and for the same reasons - to stifle from birth any hope that the world might be changed.
     In our own time whole villages have been massacred on the basis of similar reports: 'In such-and-such-a-hamlet the peasants have formed a cooperative....It is said that is such-a-village poor families are gathering at night to read the Bible and other subversive literature....It is well known where this is likely to lead....Advise that appropriate action be taken before the danger spreads.'
     The feast of the Holy Innocents is not simply a memorial to those who died before their time. These infants represent all those cut down to prevent the seed of liberation from taking root and growing. They are those who die in the dream of a different future, hoping but never knowing that their redeemer lives. In remembering the feast of the Holy Innocents the church commemorates these victims of Herod's rage. But it also celebrates his failure.
     His power is doomed. The child lives."

                                                               In Christ,

                                             

Chalking Our Doors for Epiphany
 

 

Raise the Roof Campaign Update
from Isabel Kempton

• January 2, 10:00 am
  • 2nd Sunday after Christmas
  • Holy Eucharist
  • Guest presider and preacher: Fr. Everett Klein
  • Streamed to Facebook
• January 9, 10:00 am
  • Epiphany 1: Baptism of our Lord
  • Morning Prayer

St. Mary's Facebook Page

• January 2, 10:00 am
  • 2nd Sunday after Christmas
  • Morning Prayer
• January 9, 10:00 am
  • Epiphany 1: Baptism of our Lord
  • Holy Eucharist
  • Streamed to Facebook

Click here for this week's service bulletins

Readings for the Second Sunday After Christmas

January 2, 2022

St. Mary's, Cadillac
    

January 3: Tom O. & Mike P.
January 6: Mary P. & Mike P. 
January 10: Peters
January 13: Fosters
January 17: Diane W. & Anita H. 

Update (12/14/21): Singing and the service of food may resume. The daily number of new cases is still being monitored. We will return to increased restrictions if the cases rise into the "severe" range again.

Update (9/16/21): Masks are now required for all indoor gatherings at St. Mary's. All people, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask.

Update (9/5/21): Masks are now required for all indoor gatherings at St. Andrew's. All people, regardless of vaccination status, are required to wear a mask.

The Episcopal Dioceses in Michigan are currently in Phase 3 of the Plan for Re-Entry for Great Lakes Episcopalians. From the Diocesan announcement:

"This Phase of “Deeper Participation” is focused on best practices with only a few hard requirements, encouraging and empowering responsible local decision-making as you determine what level of re-entry is appropriate for your community at this time."

Overview of current Phase 3 requirements:

• Masks are encouraged indoors and not required outdoors. Masks are especially encouraged in the following circumstances: ministry with immunocompromised populations, children’s ministry (while children remain ineligible for vaccination), and when distributing communion.
• There are no capacity restrictions nor distancing requirements. It is advised that precautions be in place to avoid crowding. 
• Communion is permitted in one kind using bread or wafers. 
• Communal spaces must be cleaned on a regular basis. However, it is no longer required that this take place before and after every gathering.
• Food may be prepared and served while making every provision to ensure adequate space to avoid crowding. 
• Vaccinations are required for clergy and licensed lay ministers. The Standing Committees as ecclesiastical authority, in concert with the Diocese of Michigan, will require all active clergy and diocesan-licensed lay ministers to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Advent I, November 28th. Eastern and Western Michigan Michigan clergy and lay people holding diocesan licenses have received a notice containing instructions for submitting this information for inclusion in their personnel files at the diocesan offices. Language reflecting this requirement has been added to each phase of the COVID-19 directives.  
• It is strongly recommended that all local staff and volunteers be required to be vaccinated in order to practice in-person ministry and service. The addition advises instituting local vaccination policies for staff and volunteers who minister with folks face-to-face, such as eucharistic visitors, healing ministers, nurse and health ministries, food service outreach, etc. 

Please read “Phase 3: Deeper Participation” within the Plan for Re-Entry for Great Lakes Episcopalians for additional detail and recommendations. 

                        St. Andrew's Episcopal Church                              St. Mary's Episcopal Church
                               323 South State Street                                           815 Lincoln Street
                                Big Rapids, MI 49307                                            Cadillac, MI 49601