St. Anselm of Canterbury Episcopal Church13091 Galway Street Garden Grove, CA. 92844 (714) 537-0604
12/3/02 Dear Parish Family: Greetings to you in this Advent season. Enclosed with this letter please find a pledge card for the following year. During this season we prepare for the arrival of our Lord, and we recognize that his birth comes as a gift to our lives. Jesus comes to bring redemption, and the promise of a life fulfilled. It is perhaps a good time to consider your gift to the church. At a time when we spend loads of money on gifts for others, it is probably a good time to reflect on the real needs of our parish, and it’s support for the future. We are here at St. Anselm’s because Jesus came into the world, and he is a major part of our lives. What if Jesus had not been born? Certainly there would be no St. Anselm’s parish, and there would be no Christian faith. The gift of grace that our Lord delivers through his redemption would have been lost to us. Our parish plays a vital role in our lives, and its sustenance is our priority. Please pray and reflect on your gift. Consider also increasing your gift, as things go up in price every year, and every year we feel the brunt of our expenses. Wonderful things have been happening in our midst these days. With the arrival of our new Choir Director our music has expanded in variety and quality. You may have also noticed that the choir is singing with new enthusiasm, they sound more spirited. Leo Barrientos is an asset to us, and we are all enjoying his work. We need to get the word out so that others may come and enjoy our liturgy and music. Leo is also a composer, and we have been working on new music together. I’ve been writing lyrics for his music, and we have a piece we’ve titled "Be Still." This piece is very beautiful. You will all get to hear it soon. We plan to continue working on more music. "Invite a Friend Sunday" last month was also a wonderful event. Attendance doubled that day, thanks to your invitation of your friends and family. We hope to get some of these folks back in church with us, and hopefully some will see the value in making this place their spiritual home. Our Latino ministry continues to grow, and for those of you who are early risers, we will be having a 5:30 AM Spanish Eucharist on Thursday December 12, in honor of Our Lady of Guadalupe. On that day we will sing the Mañanitas, to the Mother of our Lord, in keeping with Mexican tradition J all are welcome. I will be on annual leave beginning December 25th, and this year I get to travel to Costa Rica. I’ll be there visiting with Elizabeth Hutchinson-Cervantes, and her family. They have extended a warm invitation for me to join them for the holidays, and I’ve decided to take them up on it. I am looking forward to this with lots of enthusiasm. As some of you know, Elizabeth and I have been dating, and this has turned into a genuine blessing for both of us. Our supply priest while I’m away will be Mother Susan Purnell, who has been with us many times in the past, and is much liked here at St. Anselm’s. I’ll be away the following two Sundays after Christmas day. We will be having our traditional Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist on Tuesday December 24th at 7:00 PM. Please bring goodies to share for the reception to follow. It is my prayer that this season of Advent lead us into the Christmas season to come, filled with hope, love, peace, and joy. Our Lord Cometh, and we eagerly await his arrival and blessing. May the world be transformed by His coming, and may His Kingdom of peace, love, and justice, become real in our lives. In Grace, The Rev. Wilfredo Benítez Rector
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