My dear people of Holy Trinity,

These weeks of Advent are a time for spiritual reflection and inventory-taking. For asking: what in my life contributes to an authentic living out of my faith? And what can be made better through some adjustments?

As you contemplate this, see if these words of C.S. Lewis help:

Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what he is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on: you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that he is building quite a different house from the one you thought of—throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were going to be made into a decent little cottage; but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.

What do you think about that? Let me know. And I am glad you are here today to hear the Word spoken and sung.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Joan Pritcher
The Second Sunday of Advent

My dear people of Holy Trinity,

Advent readings speak of foundations being shaken, of worlds being rocked; the coming of Christ into our lives can be disruptive. It demands that we look at things through his eyes and not ours alone. That might call for the rearranging of old priorities and plans.

But the Gospel also promises us that when the shaking and the rattling and the disruption are over, what we are left with cannot be shaken. Advent, with its re-evaluation and prioritizing is a time for freeing space in our lives.

Please see page 6 for a schedule of Advent and Christmas Services and events.

I am glad you are here today.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Joan Pritcher
The First Sunday of Advent

My dear people of Holy Trinity,

Most years, the Decatur Cooperative Ministry sponsors a Community Thanksgiving Service. This year, we will be the host congregation for the service. DCM has asked that it be held Tuesday night, November 22. Join us that night at 7:30 for worship.

I hope you will be with us next week, November 20, for Fr. Allan’s last Sunday as our Associate Rector. Following the 10:30 a.m. service, we will also gather in Tisdale Hall for a time of fellowship with him.

This morning, we continue our focus on Stewardship—Justine Fletcher will share with us her thoughts at both services.

I am glad you are here today.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Joan Pritcher
The Twenty-Second Sunday after Pentecost

My dear people of Holy Trinity,

Today, the last Sunday after Pentecost is traditionally called Christ the King. H. King Oehmig suggests: “that means that our lives are not our own; they belong to Christ. And that we live in Christ and under Christ—a rule filled with spine-tingling possibilities and sacrificial responsibilities.”

On this Christ the King Sunday, consider what that might mean in your life.

Today is the last Sunday of our formal Stewardship Campaign. The co-chairs of the Campaign share with us today—a message from Steve Bishop is on the back of the purple scripture sheet, and Ellen Bishop speaks to us at both the 8:00 and 10:30 services.

It is with a heart both heavy and joyful that I bid farewell to Fr. Allan Sandlin—today is his last Sunday with us at Holy Trinity Parish.

On December 12, he begins his new ministry as Priest in Charge of St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in Newnan, GA. We will pray for him as he prays for us and our future ministry.

After the 10:30 service, we will gather in Tisdale Hall for fellowship and a grand send-off for Fr. Allan, Gretchen, Thomas and Lizzy. Hope you will be with us.

I’m glad you are here today.

Faithfully,

The Rev. Joan Pritcher
The Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King

My dear people of Holy Trinity,

Please welcome our guest preacher and seminarian, Tracy Wells Miller! Tracy helps us begin our important Stewardship season. She will also be the speaker at our Adult Forum, at 9:15 a.m. in Tisdale Hall. Read more about Tracy and Stewardship on page 2 of Parish Matters.

Today, I am completing my CREDO week in North Carolina—I look forward to seeing you next week on All Saints’ Sunday.

Faithfully,

The Reverend Joan Pritcher
The Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost

My dear people of Holy Trinity,

The pink you see today in our flowers and in the basket of petals in the Narthex reminds us of those women and men who have been affected by breast cancer. The pink also represents our continued support of all who are struggling now with the disease.

The piano that accompanies the Holy Trinity choir in the Offertory Anthem today was donated by two couples: Christie & Aulbert Kinsaul in memory of their son, and David and Donna Warfield. We will dedicate this gift with a prayer at the 10:30 a.m. service today.

I will be in North Carolina through next Sunday, for CREDO. CREDO is an eight-day conference of the Episcopal Church that provides an opportunity to examine significant areas of life and to discern prayerfully God’s call in a lifelong process of practice and transformation.

Returning on November 4, I will worship again with you on All Saints’ Sunday, November 6.

I am glad that you are here today.

Faithfully,

The Reverend Joan Pritcher
The Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost

My dear people of Holy Trinity,

We will be busy for our next three Sundays. Next Sunday is Pink Ribbon Sunday—a day to honor our breast cancer survivors and remember those who have died from the disease. On the following Sunday, October 30, we begin our season of Stewardship. Guest preacher that day is our seminarian, Tracy Wells Miller.

And November 6 is All Saints’ Sunday with baptisms at the 10:30 a.m. service.

Make plans to be with us—I’m glad that you are here today.

Faithfully,

The Reverend Joan Pritcher
The Eighteenth Sunday after Pentecost