The Weekly News
May 17, 2017 
Greetings!

In this issue of The Weekly News:
  • Diocesan Honor for Sue Blase
  • Blessing and Planting Day for St. Christopher's Crops
  • Calling All Youth and Acolyte Parents
  • Volunteers Now for the Strawberry Fest
  • Wine and Canvas Party
  • Summer Lunch Program
  • Service Opportunity with Interfaith Hospitality Network
  • Important Dates for Your Calendar
Sue Blase to receive honor
 
Janet Higbie, Diocesan ECW President, will attend the  10 a.m. Eucharist on May 21 to make a presentation to Sue Blase. St. Christopher's nominated Sue for the award of Diocesan Woman of the Year.  Sue's tireless work as Parish Nurse and Lay Eucharistic Visitor has brought comfort and cheer to our home bound members for several years. She gives much of her free time to these ministries. Although Sue was not chosen as Woman of the Year, all nominees are being recognized for the important ministries they carry out.

St. Christopher's Crops Blessing and Planting Day
Sunday, May 21

We will plant the garden on Sunday. Please come! Even if you aren't planning to work in the garden, take a few minutes immediately following the 10 a.m. service to pause with the Garden Crew and our clergy to ask God's blessings for a bountiful crop. 

Garden work days begin on Monday, May 22 
Mondays at 9 a.m.; Wednesdays at 6 p.m.; and Saturdays at 8 a.m. 
Attention parents of youth, Grades 6-12, and acolytes regardless of grade

Please register your youth for St. Christopher's Youth Program by completing our online form by May 23. Taking a few minutes now will help us do a better job of communicating with you and your youth using media and channels that you prefer.

We ask that only one parent complete the form, even if parents live in different households. The form will accommodate information for up to four youth per family.
We're counting on you!

We’re less than a month away from our annual outreach fundraising event.

Can you help us spread the good word about St. Christopher’s while dishing out delicious strawberry shortcakes? Please donate a couple of hours of your time to assist with our event. You’ll have fun plus enjoy some really good strawberry shortcake.

The Strawberry Fest will be on Saturday, June 10, from 12 Noon to 8:00 p.m. (or until we run out of shortcakes). It will be held in the PNC Bank parking lot at the corner of Rangeline Road and Main Street in the Carmel Arts and Design District.

Sign up using the button below or at the Strawberry Fest table on Sunday. Questions or ideas, email Steve Lawson at stelaw2011@yahoo.com or call him at 317-590-0025.

If you have volunteered to bake shortcakes, please download and use only this recipe: Strawberry Shortcake Recipe

Wine and Canvas Party
Sign-up Required by June 9
 
Our next social event is a wine and canvas party at Painting with a Twist on Saturday, June 24, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. This event is limited to 40 participants. The cost is $35 per person which pays for paint supplies and your take-home painting. Beer and wine can be purchased for an additional fee. We will order pizza at the event. 

Be among the 40 to get your names on the list for this event by June 9. To participate, do one of the following:
  • Sign up on Sunday, May 14, in the Narthex.
  • Email Gina Frey at ginamariefrey@gmail.com. Once Gina has your email, she will send you the link to register and pay Painting with a Twist.
If this event is popular and we have more people interested than those allowed to join the first event, we’ll take the next 40 to sign up and host another event soon, with those not having attended previously to be the first to join the next one.

The Social Event Team is planning an all-inclusive event, such as a movie at the IMA or a concert in a park, in July. Watch The Weekly News for details in the coming weeks.
Summer Lunch Program

On May 28, after the 10 a.m. worship service, we will begin a family-friendly 11-week Service to Others project in conjunction with Hamilton County Harvest Food Bank and two other churches. We will  assemble food packs for a summer lunch program for kids here in Carmel who are food insecure. The families chosen for the program will pick up their food at St. Christopher's. 

Here's how you can help now:
  • Purchase the following items: Regular and Honey Nut Cheerios (only these two please), peanut butter, jelly, and a small jar of honey. Store brands are okay. Please put your donations in the baskets under the round table in the Narthex beginning Sunday, May 14.
  • If you and your family want to assemble food packs on Sundays, please let us know by clicking the button below and completing the Summer Lunch Program Interest Form.
Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) Service Opportunity, June 11-18

Interfaith Hospitality Network, Inc. (IHN), provides temporary housing for families which is a wonderful alternative to shelters. Congregations and organizations, with facilities large enough to accommodate four families for a week, take turns throughout the year hosting and providing meals for these families.

Second Presbyterian Church, an IHN host congregation, is currently seeking volunteers to help with hosting four homeless families at their church. Volunteers are  needed in the areas of set up and tear down, transportation, staying overnight, and kids' activities/recreation. It's easy and doesn't require a huge time commitment. Families are welcome to come and play with the kids from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. 

Volunteer spots will go fast! Sign up now for this service opportunity via the Second Presbyterian Signup Genius by clicking the button below.
Ushers/Greeters needed for 7:45 a.m. Service

The pool of volunteers available to serve as ushers and greeters for the 7:45 a.m. worship service has grown quite small. Can you give us 15 to 20  minutes one Sunday a month to assist with this important ministry? If so, please contact Ken Crandall at 317-292-1780 or kencrandall511@msn.com
Important Dates for Your Calendar

The  Save the Date page  of St. Christopher's website is updated weekly. Check this resource for new information. You also may want to review the insert in the Sunday bulletin, as it provides the schedule for the coming week. 

Wednesday, May 24 | Young at Heart Luncheon
Sunday, June 25 | Father Steve's last Sunday to celebrate the Eucharist with us;
reception to follow
Saturday, August 19 | Farewell Party for Father Steve and Marian

Church office hours
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to noon. If you plan to visit the office during the hours of 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., please call ahead for availability.
Closed on Friday. The office will be closed on Memorial Day.
Continue  the  conversation with us on Facebook for inspiration, interesting articles and questions,  news  of upcoming events, pictures and videos from recent events, breaking  news , and more. Or, follow us on Pinterest and Instagram. For information about St. Christopher's Service to Others Ministries, Music Ministry, and Christian Formation, visit us at  stchriscarmel.org .

The deadline for announcementsnews, and articles for The Weekly News is Monday Noon each week. Email announcements to the church office at office@stchriscarmel.com with a copy to carolyncparrott@gmail.com.