Issuu

Advent Christmas New Year

Contents Page 6

The Rector Writes Rev. Jonathan V. Adams

Advent: Part One - Hope Rev. Jim Hammond

Hope & Peace through the music of the season Dan Miller

Advent: Part Two - Faith Rev. Jim Hammond

Advent: Part Three - Joy Rev. Jim Hammond

Advent: Part Four - Love Rev. Jim Hammond

Beyond Fear Rev. Canon Susanna Gunner, Guest Writer

Your Church & Year End Giving

Editorial Welcome to Genesis! It’s a very special edition for this very special season! In this “Genesis: What’s On” you’ll find details of all our Advent & Christmas services, events and activities through to the New Year. We are so excited to be welcoming you to Trinity as we once again welcome in the Christ child: Jesus, the new born king! After the disruption, fear and pain of these past eighteen months it’s a real joy to be able to offer a full Advent & Christmas program again here at Trinity. However, we remain cautious and diligent about the health and safety of everyone attending events here, so please remember that face coverings are required to be worn at all times by everyone inside the church building. (Don’t worry, we have lots available if you forget yours!). Read on to see more of our schedule and enjoy the seasonal articles too. Rev. Jonathan reminds us of the miracle that is Advent & Christmas; Dan Miller, Organist & Director of Music Ministries, delights in the musical richness of the season; Rev. Jim Hammond introduces the themes and traditions of each of the four Sunday’s during Advent; and Rev. Canon Susanna Gunner, our guest writer, takes up the theme of “Beyond Fear”- after the Covid 19 pandemic how do we now hear the words of the angels “Do not fear”? I do hope you enjoy this very special edition of Genesis and on behalf of the leadership, Vestry & staff team here at Trinity I wish you all a holy advent and a blessed Christmas.

Richard Richard D. Jones Director of Operations & Communications Trinity Episcopal Church, Upperville 4

The Rector writes... The season of Advent is one of my favorites in the church calendar because it’s so full of hope. As a child I would eagerly count down the days of Advent, knowing that at the end was Christmas! It is the greatest day the world has ever known, and yet it’s a time of waiting and preparing. In this season we prepare for our great hope of rescue and deliverance from something we have no power over… ourselves. Many of you know that I’m president of the Mockingbird Ministries board of directors. Several years ago my partners at Mockingbird wrote The Mockingbird Devotional: Good News for Today (and Every Day), which is the first of two wonderful yearly devotional books. One of my favorite entries was written by David Zahl on the following Advent scripture from Matthew 1:21: “She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” I share it with you now: The poet W.H. Auden once wrote, “Nothing that is possible can save us/ We who must die demand a miracle”. This is a bold statement, and one whose truth might not be self-evident in everyday life. Many of the problems we face on a daily level can be fixed, or at least, addressed: If our car breaks down, we can take it to the garage. If we get a headache, we can take some aspirin. If we say something mean, we can apologize, and so on. Auden’s meaning becomes clearer when we consider problems of a less everyday nature. The kind that keep us up at night. I was speaking with a friend recently who had just separated from his wife. 6

He told me, “I’ve done everything I can think of. Even couples’ counseling hasn’t helped. She just doesn’t want me. It’s going to take a miracle to save our marriage.” He had pursued all the right options, and nothing had worked. The problem was simply beyond him. So it is with us. Our condition is not fixable. That is, we can empirically say that the solution to human nature has not been found in the realm of “what’s possible”. Instead, we need a miracle to save us – from ourselves, from our sin, and ultimately, from death. It should come as no surprise that the birth of the one “who will save his people from their sins” was full of the Impossible. Mary’s pregnancy is merely the first part. Equally miraculous is the fact that Joseph actually believes what the angel tells him here. And he not only believes, he obeys. These are miracles! To explain them away or downplay their importance is to deny the extent of the Good News. Is there a situation in your life where nothing short of a miracle will help? An impossible problem or person that just won’t go away? This passage gives us permission to acknowledge that some problems are indeed too big for us. You are not imagining things – “we who must die demand a miracle”. Yet the “glad tidings” of Christmas are that Jesus is the miracle we have been waiting for, the one who saves us. The impossible problems of this life have found their impossible answer in him. Repeat the sounding joy. With peace and joy at Advent and Christmas, +Jonathan 7

Rev. Jim Hammond introduces us to each of the four Sunday’s of Advent and explores their significance and traditions. Part One - Advent Sunday Jesus is coming! There are four Sundays in the liturgical season of Advent, a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. The word, "Advent," comes to us from a Latin verb, "advenio," a compound verb formed from the preposition "ad" (translated "to, or toward") and the verb, "venio," (translated, "to come"). The past participle of "advenio" is "adventus," which is best translated as "coming." Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus. In recent years, the principal methods of marking and celebrating the season of Advent are to employ one or both of two symbols -- the Advent wreath, and the Advent calendar. Advent calendars, which often are used in homes and have a special appeal to children, vary but typically feature twenty five "windows", one to open each day beginning on December first, and moving to Christmas. Since Christmas always falls on the 25th of December, while the Sundays of Advent have differing days and dates each year, Advent calendars do not match the liturgical calendar, but they still helping in remembering that Advent is a very special time. 8

Typically, churches feature an Advent wreath comprised of five candles, three purple and one rose located in a circle around a centered white candle. Each Sunday of Advent a new candle is lighted (the rose candle always on the Third Sunday of Advent), with the centered white candle lighted on Christmas. There are multiple ways to think about each of the four Sundays in Advent, none of which is thoroughly established in Christian teaching or in Episcopal tradition. This year we will concentrate on the themes of 1) hope, 2) faith, 3) joy, and 4) love. At the outset of Advent, the First Sunday, we celebrate our hope in Christ. In the USA, Thanksgiving ends and thoughts naturally turn towards Christmas. Christmas, the celebration of the birth of Jesus, holds forth hope, hope for a new world where an end is made to hate and a beginning comes to neighborly love of one another. After all, it is Jesus who proclaims that we are to love one another as he loves us. The story of the nativity, with shepherds, angels and a manger, is magical and mystical all at the same time. Mary is surprised by the angel's announcement, but responds with unfettered obedience -"My soul magnifies the Lord," she proclaims, "and my spirit rejoices." Yes, from the beginning, from the First Sunday of Advent, there is hope!

Rev. Jim Hammond

November 28

Dan Miller, Organist & Director of Music Ministries, encourages us to partake in the musical riches of Advent and Christmas at Trinity. Few things stir our hearts during the holiday season more than music. From Services of Lessons and Carols, choral concerts, and performances of Handel’s “Messiah”, music directors all over the world program a blend of familiar and new music to celebrate the birth of Christ. Our churches are decorated with greens, and Advent wreaths are lit each week in anticipation of Christ’s coming. Rich organ music fills our halls with music composed through the ages by church musicians who are devoted to their craft.

In the Episcopal Church, however, the music we hear in December is not Christmas carols but Advent hymns during the four weeks before Christmas. Having grown up Methodist, this was all new to me when I first attended an Episcopal Church and heard not the carols of Christmas but the meaningful hymns of Advent. Chosen to match the lectionary, we sing hymns of expectation such as “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel”, “On Jordan’s bank the Baptist’s cry”, “Lo, he comes with clouds descending”, and a number of other rich texts of the Advent season. As we get closer to the Nativity, we sing The Song of Mary, the Magnificat, and “The Angel Gabriel” on Advent 4 to mark the Annunciation. Much of the music is more contemplative in nature, drawing us from the noise and strife of the world and the commercial aspects of Christmas into the mystery of the Incarnation. Finally, on Christmas Eve, the familiar carols ring out from our hearts and voices. 11

The tradition of a Service of Lessons and Carols is straight from the Anglican tradition. E. W. Benson, who later became Archbishop of Canterbury, created the first service of alternating readings from Scripture and Truro Cathedral, Cornwall, United Kingdom, location of the carols for use in his cathedral first service of Lessons & Carols. in Truro, England. King’s College, Cambridge, began holding its annual Festival of Lessons and Carols in 1918 and the practice has been adopted by many other churches since. This service always begins with the carol “Once in Royal David’s City” sung by a solo chorister, chosen on the spot without any warning. A newly commissioned carol by a modern composer is always included also. This year, the Master Singers of Northern Virginia will revive their tradition of a Service of Lessons Carols from King’s and Carols here at Trinity, for which I will serve as organist. We will also host a concert by the Blue Ridge Singers, a choir from the Northern Shenandoah Valley, who will present a concert of new and old arrangements of familiar holiday tunes. Of course, our own Trinity Choir will prepare music to enhance our worship services over this period. Whatever the repertoire, music can provide a powerful force to draw people to the church. I encourage you to partake in the musical richness of Advent and Christmas at Trinity, and find hope and peace in the glorious music offered to the Glory of God.

Dan Miller 12

Rev. Jim Hammond introduces us to each of the four Sunday’s of Advent and explores their significance and traditions. The Second Sunday of Advent Jesus is coming! There are four Sundays in the liturgical season of Advent, a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. There are multiple ways to think about each of the four Sundays in Advent, none of which is thoroughly established in Christian teaching or in Episcopal tradition. This year we will concentrate on the themes of 1) hope, 2) faith, 3) joy, and 4) love. The Second Sunday of Advent highlights faith. The aphorism is attributed to St. Augustine, whether correctly or incorrectly is hard to say: "Faith is to believe what you do not see." Some would prefer, "faith is believing what you cannot see." In the 29th verse of the 20th Chapter of the Gospel of St. John, it is reported that Jesus said to Thomas, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe." Mary's faith in accepting the message of the angel is an example of faith. Are we able to accept the requests of God for our lives with faith such as Mary's, or are we more like Thomas?

Rev. Jim Hammond 13

December 5

Rev. Jim Hammond introduces us to each of the four Sunday’s of Advent and explores their significance and traditions. The Third Sunday of Advent Jesus is coming! There are four Sundays in the liturgical season of Advent, a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. There are multiple ways to think about each of the four Sundays in Advent, none of which is thoroughly established in Christian teaching or in Episcopal tradition. This year we will concentrate on the themes of 1) hope, 2) faith, 3) joy, and 4) love. The verse from the fourth chapter of Philippians set aside for the beginning of worship on the Third Sunday of Advent in Latin reads, "Gaudete in Domino semper: iterum dico, gaudete," which translates into English as, "Rejoice in the Lord always: again I say rejoice." Many composers have set this verse to music, notably among them being Henry Purcell and John Redford (by attribution). It is worth the time to find their settings on a web site such as YouTube and listen to their compositions on the Third Sunday of Advent, when the rose colored candle in the Advent wreath is lit. The rose candle is one sign of the relaxation of the spiritual discipline of preparation during Advent which leads worshipers to "rejoice in the Lord always, again and again, to rejoice that the birth of the Lord is near."

Rev. Jim Hammond 16

December 12

For all the news of services, events and activities at Trinity sign up for our weekly e-news here www.trinityupperville.org/email-list

Rev. Jim Hammond introduces us to each of the four Sunday’s of Advent and explores their significance and traditions. The Fourth Sunday of Advent Jesus is coming! There are four Sundays in the liturgical season of Advent, a time of preparation for the birth of Jesus. There are multiple ways to think about each of the four Sundays in Advent, none of which is thoroughly established in Christian teaching or in Episcopal tradition. This year we will concentrate on the themes of 1) hope, 2) faith, 3) joy, and 4) love. Yes, we are called by Jesus, himself, to love one another as he loves us. Thus, as the Fourth Sunday of Advent arrives, the last Sunday of this season of preparation for the birth of Jesus, we set as a goal simply to love -- to love God, to love our neighbor, and yes, to love ourselves. The reading from the Gospels for the Fourth Sunday of Advent is Mary's song of response to Gabriel's message, noted briefly above. She proclaims not only her obedience to God, but her love for God as she sings of God's majesty: "He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the Annunciation, Titian, 1522 proud in the thoughts of their hearts. ... for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant." As we gather for worship on Christmas each year, there seems to be a very special spirit which permeates the church, and indeed, all of life. That special spirit is not found just in the marvelous Christmas Carols and the many gifts, but in the love of God which we share with one another often in heartfelt and unique ways, a love which is nurtured and celebrated on the Fourth Sunday of Advent.

Rev. Jim Hammond

December 19

Beyond Fear By guest writer Susanna Gunner, Diocese of Norwich, Church of England “Do not be afraid, Mary.” Luke 1.30 The whole global community has been wrapped in fear for a long time. An insidious and invisible virus has been holding us hostage. And because it is new to the world, it has pressed the button of our deepest dread – that of the unknown. ‘Do not fear!’ ‘Do not be afraid’: the pages of the Bible are punctuated with reassuring regularity by such words from a God who longs to calm us in the face of uncertainty. Within Jesus’ birth narratives alone, that same injunction not to be afraid is given to Zechariah, to Joseph and to the shepherds. And, of course, to Mary. We see an initially fearful response in Rossetti’s painting of her encounter with Gabriel. The cowering girl on the bed is respectful but clearly terrified. She backs away from the Annunciation Dante Gabriel Rossetti angel, eyes lowered, shoulders hunched. Gabriel’s left hand shows us what he’s saying: “Hush, it’s alright – don’t be afraid, Mary.” 20

Our fear, like Mary’s, has threatened to paralyze and diminish us. But pandemic has revealed something stronger than fear, something we’ve seen daily in our own communities and on our screens: Love. And we see it too in Mary. Her initial reaction to the shockingly unexpected and unknown is to shrink back. But Gabriel’s tenderness and the Holy Spirit’s presence (notice the dove above the angel’s soothing hand) warm and open her to new possibilities. Her fear is transformed into something creative “Her fear is and life-giving. We know that after transformed into gentle conversation between them, something creative she will say yes, will hand herself over and life-giving.” to Love.

There is one bud still to break on the lily stem Gabriel offers. For us as for Mary, a yes to God’s request for a home within us will change everything, the smell of fear will be overpowered by the perfume of love, and we and the world around us will begin to bloom.

December 24

Celebrate with family at Trinity

FRIDAY, DECEMBER 24, 5.00PM A NIGHT OF HOPE & JOY

December 24

December 25

December 26

Please note that the rehearsal for the Christmas Pageant takes place on Saturday, December 18, 9:30am. Come along! We have a part for everyone! Shepherds, Kings, Holy Family, Angels, Sheep, Camels, Innkeepers,…

Your Church and Year-End Giving Year End Giving Strategies As the year-end approaches, some of you may be interested in ways you can make tax-advantaged donations to Trinity. Here are some ideas from the Diocese of Virginia and contacts at the end in case you’d like to discuss them. We encourage you to work with a financial planner or lawyer to actually make any transfers using these techniques. IRA Charitable Rollover Congress made permanent the law that allows people age 70½ or older who own an IRA to make cash gifts directly from their IRA to charity. For many people, this is the best tax-wise way to give. An IRA rollover gift will not be included in your taxable income and will qualify for your required minimum distribution. Outright Gift of an Asset If you wish to make a gift to support our cause this year but are concerned about preserving your cash resources, consider a gift of an appreciated asset. A gift of securities, business interests or real estate can provide you with significant income and capital gains tax savings, often exceeding the benefits of a cash gift. Donor Advised Fund (DAF) If you are looking for an end-of-year deduction but want more time to make thoughtful giving decisions, consider a donor advised fund (DAF). Our organization can use your tax 27

deductible gift to establish a DAF in your name. You can make grants from your DAF now and in the future to support our work and other causes you care about. Zero-Tax Gift and Sale If you are planning to sell an asset like securities, real estate or a business, before you sell, consider a “zero-tax” charitable gift and sale. By making a gift of part of the asset before the sale, you can use a tax-saving charitable deduction to significantly lower or eliminate the capital gains tax on the sale. May We Help? If you would like further information on these endof-year planning strategies, please contact us. We can help you create a plan that meets your needs and goals. If you would like more information on these types of gifts please contact Church Treasurer, Gina Hammond. hammond.gina@gmail.com or via the Parish Office on 540-592-3343.

Rev. Jonathan, Vestry & S taff at Trinity Church

wish you every happiness for a blessed New Year

January 2

The Diocese of Virginia The Rt. Rev. Susan E. Goff Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Jennifer Brooke-Davidson The Rt. Rev. Porter Taylor Assistant Bishops Clergy & Staff The Rev. Jonathan V. Adams, Rector Richard D. Jones, Director of Operations & Communications Betsy Crenshaw, Administrative Assistant Dan Miller, Director of Music Ministries & Organist Mary Deppa, Bookkeeper Tommy Breeden, Sexton Angela Lake, Housekeeping Officers & Vestry Barbara Augenblick, Senior Warden Melinda Gable, Junior Warden Gina Hammond, Treasurer Jolly de Give, Registrar Class of 2021 Barbara Augenblick, Louise Crane, Joe Fluet, Randy Mullett Class of 2022 Melinda Gable Elizabeth Thomas, Chandler Van Voorhis Class of 2023 Alix Coolidge, Daniel Leger Ed Moore, Laurie Volk

Trinity Episcopal Church is a parish of the Diocese of Virginia of the Episcopal Church 9108 John S. Mosby Hwy., Upperville, VA 20184 32