The Weekly News for August 30, 2017  
Greetings!

In this week's issue of The Weekly News:

  • Come Meet Our Interim Rector
  • Musical Notes
  • Come Follow the Way of Jesus
  • Adult Christian Development Catalog
  • Wednesday Book Study Fellowship
  • Youth Formation Teachers Needed
  • Daughters of the King
  • Training for Acolytes
  • Diocesan Listening Sessions
  • Labor Day Schedule
  • Important Dates
You are invited to meet our Interim Rector!

The Rev. Dr. Stephen Applegate will be with us on Tuesday, September 5. We will have two Meet & Greet gatherings in the Parish Hall, one from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. and the other from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. Children are welcome.

Please come! Learn about Father Stephen and share your hopes, dreams, and concerns. Father Stephen is eager to meet us.
Musical Notes

St. Christopher's Choir offers parishioners an opportunity to provide musical leadership and enrichment in the liturgy. The Choir is a welcoming and supportive community. Rehearsals begin Thursday August 31, 7:00-8:30 p.m. This choir welcomes everyone who would like to sing.

St. Christopher's Choristers, for children and youth Grades 3 and up, combines excellent musical training, leadership, teamwork, worship, and fellowship. Choristers learn musical skills and theory through singing and ringing handbells. Rehearsals resume September 10. All are welcome.

St. Christopher's Cherubs, for children pre-school through second grade, meets regularly after the 10:00 a.m. service for a short time of music enrichment and education. Cherubs sing for worship several times throughout the year. Rehearsals begin September 10.

For questions or more information about any of these musical opportunities, contact Director of Music, Robert Richter: rrichter@stchriscarmel.org 
Come Follow the Way of Jesus

In this Christian Development offering, you will hear Michael Curry call Episcopalians to join the Jesus Movement with reflections on the practice of ministry in light of the movement. Various authors contribute to our book, and Michael Curry closes with a word on making the world whole. These leaders model ways for us to follow Jesus. The class time and dates will be determined by group members, so if you are interested, please register using the link below. 

Registration closes September 10. You won't want to miss the conversation!



I nterested in other classes?

Browse the Adult Christian Development Catalog to see the fall offering. Choose a class that makes you curious and register for it. You can register right from the description of each class.Simply click on the catalog to review the options. What could be easier?

Come join us as we grow together!
Wednesday Book Study Fellowship

We welcome you to join us beginning Wednesday, September 6, as we begin our new book, Everybody’s Normal Till You Get to Know Them, by John Ortberg. The book covers many facets of relationships: authenticity, acceptance, empathy, conflict, forgiveness, confrontation, inclusion, and gratitude with our ultimate goal HEAVEN. The group meets for book study, fellowship, and prayer every Wednesday at 10:30 a.m. after the Eucharist. If you have any questions or would like to order the book, please contact one of the following:

Deb Callahan 317-844-2757 | debster48@aol.com or 
Claire Zmak 317-844- 2276 | lvz2kuk@aol.com
Are you sitting on the fence?

Now's the time! Formation starts September 10! We are still in need of a couple of teachers each week to lead the classes for our youth, middle school through high school. Are you interested in the spiritual growth and development of our youth? You need not have teens in the group, just the desire to join in a very important ministry for St Christopher's youth.

This volunteer opportunity involves the following:

  • complete the Safeguarding God's Children education online at your pace
  • review the provided lesson for your assigned week
  • coordinate with the second assigned teacher for your week
  • go with our youth to Holy Communion after the choir and before the congregation.
  • teach the provided curriculum from 10:45 to 11:45 a.m. for your assigned week

Please consider volunteering to teach once per month. Don't delay! You can be one of the adults who makes a big difference for our youth. Contact Alison Tierney:

Phone or Text 317-313-1597 | tierneysinfishers@gmail.com
Daughters of the King

All women of St. Christopher's are invited to attend the Daughters of the King (DOK) meeting in the Parlor at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 9. We will bless our meeting and build our living altar. The living altar will hold our prayers, petitions, intercessions, and blessings. Please bring something to put on it. This can be pictures or objects that signify what you want us to pray for.
Acolyte Training

There will be a training for new acolytes who are in the fourth and fifth grades on Sunday, September 10, after the 10:00 a.m. service. We will be training for the position of torch bearer. Parents are welcome to attend. Training for current acolytes and new acolytes in sixth through twelfth grades, will take place after October 1.
Diocesan Listening Sessions
 
Bishop Jennifer wants to hear from as many of us as possible about our hopes, dreams, and the challenges we see for our diocese. We are invited to attend a listening session at Trinity Episcopal Church, Indianapolis, on Thursday, September 7, at 6:00 p.m. The youth session will be held at Waycross on Saturday, September 9, at 6:30 p.m.

The sessions are planned to:
  • Provide opportunity to deepen the relationship between Bishop Jennifer and members from around the diocese
  • Dialogue about diocesan strengths and challenges as described in the diocesan profile
  • Further define what members of the diocese need from their Bishop and the Bishop’s staff

Each session will include prayer, a meal, and ample time for you to share your thoughts. A full report of the sessions will be given to the diocese including a presentation with table discussions at Diocesan Convention in October.
Labor Day Schedule

The church office will close at noon on Friday, September 1, and re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, September 5.

The submission deadline for news and announcements for The Weekly News of Wednesday, September 6, is noon on this Friday, September 1.
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. 

September 9 | Daughters of the King
September 10 | Fall Term Formation Begins
September 24 | Friends & Family CPR Class (11:30 a.m.)
September 27 | Young at Heart Luncheon
September 30 | Natural Playground Work Day

Church office hours
The office will be closed on Monday, September 4, for Labor Day
Monday through Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon
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 announcements news , and articles for   The Weekly News  is Monday Noon   each week. Email announcements to the church office at  awalker@stchriscarmel.org with a copy to  carolyncparrott@gmail.com .