The Weekly News - October 17, 2018

Greetings!

In this issue of The Weekly News:

  • Prepare the way . . .with Music
  • Gifts of Music
  • Common Grounds
  • Indy Choir Fest: Evensong
  • St. Christopher's Youth Fall Lock-in
  • Fall Into Fun Family Event
  • Backpack Ministry
  • Third Quarter Giving Statements
  • CROP Walk Donations
  • How to Pledge Online
  • Dates for Your Calendar
The theme of the 2019 Stewardship Drive
"Prepare the Way! . . ."

Prepare the way for God's coming . . . make the road smooth and straight! Mark 1:3

Each week between now and November 18, we will focus on an area of "preparing the way" that will help us achieve what we believe God is calling us to do to fulfill his dream for St. Christopher's. The following is about the second area of focus.
Prepare the way . . . with Music

Sing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs among yourselves, singing and making melody to the Lord in your hearts. Ephesians 5:19

St. Christopher’s is blessed with a beautiful space in which to worship God and to enjoy glorious music. Because of its size and location, the church is used for major diocesan events and special concerts. Director of Music & Organist, Robert Richter, leads our dedicated volunteer adult choir and children’s choirs, and ensures special instrumentalists for our seasonal celebrations at Christmas and Easter. 

Great music and the Episcopal Church go together. We aspire to strengthen and expand our music offerings in the coming year. 

Additional funding would make possible: 

  • Development of a program that can compete with other area children’s music programs. Imagine a St. Christopher’s Choir School, or a Carmel Children’s Choir, or the St. Christopher’s Music Academy. Such programs bring families into the Episcopal Church and offer valuable music training. 

  • An expanded concert series to include small ensembles of professional musicians, an organ concert by a national concert artist, and “Soirées Musicales” – less formal events for fun and entertainment. 

  • Choir Section Leaders to provide consistent musical quality every Sunday so parishioners and guests experience our best offering of worship. Such leaders would encourage and foster vocal confidence in our cherished volunteer singers. 

Each new or increased dollar pledged for 2019 earns a dollar for debt elimination. A matching grant gives everyone the opportunity to help with debt elimination.
Gifts of Music

I am very pleased to report to you that St. Christopher's will be receiving the gifts of two pianos in the next several weeks. The pianos are extraordinarily generous gifts that will benefit this parish’s music and worship life for decades to come.  
 
The first piano is a new hand-crafted Shigeru Kawai Grand Piano for the sanctuary of the church. This piano is being given to the honor and glory of God by the George Douglass family. It will be used during our Sunday worship in addition to the organ, and will also greatly enhance the parish’s ability to host concerts as a solo instrument and accompanying vocalists and instrumentalists.
 
The second is a new Kawai Grand Piano for the choir room. This piano is being given to the honor and glory of God and in memory of Dick Gilbert. In addition to being the primary rehearsal piano for our choirs, it will be used to accompany student concerts for Robert Richter’s piano students as well as the students of Amy Thornburg, whose music studio is located here. Having such an instrument to support rehearsals will make a significant difference for our choral program.
 
Our profound thanks go to the donors. Once these pianos are in place, we’ll host a special event in which we’ll dedicate these instruments and enjoy hearing them played!
 
Father Stephen
Common Grounds
An Adult Formation Forum
October 21, 9:00 - 9:45 am
In the Parish Hall
Childcare will be available

Sunday's Topic - The "E" Word: Evangelism
Does the word Evangelism make you anxious? Do you break out in hives? As Christians we are called to share the Good News of Christ, yet as Episcopalians we often find this a very difficult task. Join us as we discuss our perceptions of Evangelism, why it is difficult and ways in which we can more easily share our faith with integrity and grace. Marty Torrance will lead this Common Grounds forum.
The handouts from previous Common Grounds Forums are online. If you missed a session, download the handouts using the link below.
Indianapolis Choir Festival: Choral Evensong
St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis
Sunday October 21, 4:00 pm

Guest conductor Martin Neary, former choirmaster at Westminster Abbey and Winchester Cathedral, leads the combined choirs from several parishes in the Diocese of Indianapolis in a festival choral evensong. Martin Neary is most famous as having been the director of music for the funeral service of Princess Diana. Several members of St. Christopher's Choir will be participating. Don't miss this unique opportunity to hear over 100 voices combined under the direction of a world famous conductor. Admission is free. 

St. Paul's is located at 6050 North Meridian Street in Indianapolis
St. Christopher's Fall Youth Lock-in
October 26, 8:00 pm to October 27, 10:00 a.m.

Get ready for St. Christopher's Fall Lock-in for youth, sixth through twelfth grades. We will have lots of fun through fellowship, games, a bonfire, and more! Friends are welcome and it is okay if you have to come late or leave early. This is a laid-back and flexible event for youth to come together to have fun and experience the love of God through community.

Questions? Contact Youth Leader, Jenna Parker: jparker@stchriscarmel.org
Fall Into Fun Family Event
Sunday, October 28, 11:15 am
Please join us on the last Sunday of October for some fall fun. We'll gather at the shelter in the Warren Gartner Natural Playground (weather permitting). The children will have a costume parade and decorate mini pumpkins. We will have Halloween snacks, coffee, and apple cider for all.
Backpack Ministry

Thank you for your generous support, we are delivering our first weekend meal backpacks for Carmel school children this Friday.

In advance of our next delivery date we are asking for donations of individual mac & cheese cups, canned pasta, and individual cereals. Please consider adding these items to your grocery list and purchase them as you shop for your household. Then bring your donations to church on Sundays. You will find baskets for your donations marked "Backpack Ministry" in the narthex.
Giving Statements

Please be on the lookout for your Giving Statement, which went out via email on October 10 with the subject line: Your Giving Statement from St. Christopher's Episcopal Church.

Consider adding notifications@onrealmmail.org to your address book so that future Giving Statements reach your inbox instead of your spam folder.

If you did not receive yours, please contact Cindy Short: cschort@stchriscarmel.org.
Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk

We will collect donations for CROP Walk for the remainder of October. CROP Walk donations help alleviate hunger locally and across the globe.There are three ways to give.
  • Sock it to Hunger: Take a sock from the table in the narthex, and fill with loose change, cash, or a check (made to St. Christopher's and marked CROP Walk)
  • Donate online: https://www.crophungerwalk.org/carmelin/StChris
  • Place a check in the offering plate made to St. Christopher's and marked CROP Walk
How to Make Your Pledge Online

Please consider making your pledge online in Realm, St. Christopher's administrative system. There are several benefits to doing so:

  • You can manage payment options in your personal account and change them at at any time
  • You can check your giving history/statement from your computer or mobile device
  • Pledging online creates less work for the administrative staff who must otherwise enter the information from printed pledge cards

You will find "Tips for Making a Pledge Online" on the round table in the narthex. Or view or download them for printing using the link below.
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. 

October 24, 11:30 am | Young at Heart Luncheon
November 4 | Daylight Saving Time Ends (Day of Change at both services)
November 4, 11:30 am | Training for Lectors and Chalice Bearers
November 11, 11:30 am | Anti-Racism Meeting
November 11 | Pick up Holiday Totes for Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center
November 12 | St. Christopher's 4Cs
November 14, 11:30 am | Young at Heart Luncheon (note earlier than usual date)
November 18, 11:15 am | St. Christopher's Crops Meeting

Church Office hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
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.