Parish Office
- Dec 2, 2020
- 4 min read

"The Curate" December 2020

Updated: Dec 7, 2020

Brothers and Sisters in Christ at St. Philip’s,

We now find ourselves in this holy season of Advent, this holy season of waiting expectantly for the coming celebration of our dear Savior’s birth. And, as you might expect in 2020, things will be a little different.

Christmas Eve Mass, December 24th

This year we have created a sign up, to reserve a space for you and your family to worship with us on Christmas Eve. St. Philip’s is currently offering a 6 p.m. Holy Eucharist: Rite II on Christmas Eve, as usual. To access that sign up and reserve your spot today, go to https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10C0D45AEA92DA7F8C43-inperson. Should the need arise, due to demand, another, later Mass will be made available. Please note that since congregational singing is currently not allowed indoors, we will be offering a time 30 minutes prior to the Mass at 5:30 p.m. in which you will be encouraged to gather in the corner parking lot to sing some of the most well known and loved Christmas carols together. We will be masked up as usual while on St. Philip’s campus. Please join us to raise your voices in worship together before we begin Christ’s Mass together at 6 p.m. in our beautiful sanctuary. Of course, our Christmas Eve Mass will be live-streamed on Facebook at fb.com/stphilipspalestine and on YouTube at bit.ly/stphilipsyt, for those wishing to worship us from the safety of their own homes.

Christmas Day, December 25th

On Christmas Day, instead of our usual Holy Eucharist, we will be offering Morning Prayer: Rite II at 10 a.m. live-streamed on Facebook and on our YouTube channel.

The First Sunday after Christmas Day, December 27th

St. Philip’s Episcopal Church will take a break from in-person worship on The First Sunday after Christmas Day, December 27th. On this 3rd day of Christmas, you are invited to join Christ Church Cathedral in Houston, Texas at 11 a.m. for online worship at http://www.christchurchcathedral.org/worship/. Please take this opportunity to worship with our Cathedral, joining with the wider Church for

the continued celebration of our Christ’s birth.

The Second Sunday after Christmas Day, January 3rd

We will continue the season of Christmas as we return to in-person and live-streamed worship for Holy Eucharist: Rite II at 10:30 a.m., taking a break from Christian Formation.

I thank you all for your continued faith and perseverance during these times of uncertainty, in which we do our best to keep one another safe while finding meaningful ways to worship Our Lord Jesus Christ and to enter into this glorious mystery of God coming to us in the flesh—Emmanuel, God with us.

Wishing you all a holy and contemplative Advent,

Fr. Justin Briggle

The next DOK meeting will be held on Sunday, December 6th, after church in the Parish Hall. Social distancing and masks required. Also available via Zoom for those who would rather

meet virtually.

There will be no SMG Meeting in December. The next meeting will tentatively be Monday, January 18th, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.

There will be no ECW meeting in December. The next meeting will tentatively be Tuesday,

January 12th, at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom.

December Birthdays

1 Dawn Briggle

2 Mike Gorby

4 James Culpepper

9 Tomé Nell Gregg

11 Ian Nicholson

14 Bill Fraser

17 Julie Law

19 Jim Boone

21 Billy Minton

24 Kayte Monahan

28 Aiden Nicholson

29 Phillip Morton

30 Mike Tisdale

December Anniversaries

5 Mike & Debbie Tisdale

20 Terry & Jessie Thorn

30 Jesus & Hilda Garcia-Castillo

Ushers - December 2020

Curt Winkler.

Ushers—January 2021

To be announced.

October 2020 Year to Date

Beginning Balance $70, 731.16 $97,586.72

Total Income $8,010.00 $169,583.61

Total Expenses $22,755.16 $211,184.33

Ending Balance $55,986.00 $55,986.00

Now that we are meeting again for in person worship, please consider contributing for Altar Flowers on a Sunday morning in Thanksgiving for an anniversary, birthday, or other blessing or in memory of someone. To give please call Nancy Waggoner at

903-727-2030 or the Church Office at 903-729-4214.

Altar Guild Schedule:

Nov 28 – Dec 4------Team 1 Nancy Waggoner, Sherry Snow, Lucie Broyles

Linens: Joann Evans

Dec 5 – Dec 11------Team 2 Becky Myers, Cathy Summers, Julie Law

Linens: Kirsten Knippers

Dec 12 – Dec 18----Team 3 Alex Nemer, Vicki Mayberry-Winkler

Linens: Vicki Mayberry-Winkler

Dec 19 – Dec 25 ---Team 4 Sara Minton, Kathy Stites, Hilda Garcia-Castillo

Linens: Jeanette George

Dec 26 – Jan 1------Team 1 Nancy Waggoner, Sherry Snow, Lucie Broyles

Linens: Joann Evans

Lay Minister Schedule:

December 2020 Reader/Server

Sunday 12/6 10:30 Phillip Morton

Sunday 12/13 10:30 Sparky Kolstad

Sunday 12/20 10:30 Barbara Kolstad

Sunday 12/27 10:30 Pat Redding

All Saints Day fun.

Preparing Advent Bags.

Our Advent Wreath Build via Zoom.

Our new banner is all done!

Junior Warden Report:

November 2020

1. 11/16/20 Father Justin identified a problem with the West doors to the Narthex as needing repair or replacement. I will research the options. 2. 11/16/20 Placed signs on door from hallway by the children's chapel to the Sexton's hallway to keep closed when building is unoccupied for fire safety and air flow. 3. 11/20/20 Kathy Stites called and said the fire alarm panel was annunciating an alarm indicating a problem with the system. Called Fire Alarm company and was told to silence system. Probably a problem with the pre -alarm panel reset itself next day. 4. 11/24/20 Alarm panel annunciated alarm again. Called Fire Alarm company again and the supervisor stated we needed to contact Century Link to determine which phone line was malfunctioning. The technician identified all phone lines to the building. Identified one line, but was unable to identify the second line. He recommended we upgrade from phone lines to cellular system. This would solve the antiquated phone line system and improve the service. Received a quote from the Alarm company to upgrade. Will discuss with Father Justin when he returns from vacation.