The Weekly News
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December 12 2018
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Greetings!
In this issue of
The Weekly News:
- Common Grounds
- Angel Tree
- Flowers for the Christmas Season
- Invitation to Youth and Their Parents
- Young at Heart Luncheon
- Schedule of Christmas Services
- Notes from the Search Committee
- Backpack Ministry
- Voting Faithfully initiative
- Ushers Needed
- Flower Chart for 2019
- New Books in the Andres Library
- Church Office Schedule
- Dates for Your Calendar
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Common Grounds
An Adult Formation Forum
December 16, 9:00 - 9:45 am
In the Parish Hall
Sunday's Topic:
Come . . . in Adoration
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Advent is well underway and the third Sunday of Advent will be a lesson about adoration as we are only nine days away from Christmas. Our concluding preparation is all about celebrating the gift of Christ’s birth! It is the time that builds as a crescendo to inspire us in songs of praise and exaltation. Carols, scripture, and prayer will frame the final lesson in Advent.
This is the third of three Advent lessons. You need not have attended the previous session in the series to enjoy and learn from this week's forum.
Dorinda Dick will present.
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Angel Tree Gift Cards
Donate By December 16
Purchase gift cards from Kohl's, Walmart, Target, Kroger, and Meijer. Gas cards also may be purchased. Take an envelope from the angel tree display and place one (or more) gift card(s) in the envelope for someone in need. Put your gift envelope in the red angel tree mailbox by the angel tree.
The gift cards will be distributed evenly among three Hamilton County organizations: Prevail, Good Samaritan, and Third Phase.
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Flowers for the Christmas Season
Donate through December 16
If you would like to give flowers for the Christmas season, please pick up an envelope from the round table in the narthex. You may designate your offering in thanksgiving, or in memory or honor of someone. Please fill in the requested information and make checks payable to St. Christopher's Altar Guild. Place the envelope in the offering plate or drop it off in the church office.
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Invitation to Youth and Their Parents
Parents and youth, grades six through twelve, are invited to join youth formation after communion on Sunday, December 16, for the greening of the youth lounge and cookie-decorating party. Youth are invited to bring a favorite ornament for the tree and wear their most merry holiday sweaters! Cookies and beverages will be provided.
Please RSVP by Friday, December 14, if you plan to attend (so that we have plenty of cookies)!
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Young at Heart Luncheon
Wednesday, December 19, 11:30 am
Are you a senior or enjoy being with seniors? Join us in the parish hall for a light luncheon and good fellowship. The Daughters of The King prepare and serve the meals.
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Please contact Nancy Barney by Sunday, December 16, to reserve your place at the table. Nancy also can add your name to the call list for future luncheons.
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Schedule of Christmas Services
Christmas Eve, December 24
4:00 pm | Christmas Pageant and Holy Eucharist
8:00 pm | Candlelight Festival Eucharist with Choir and Brass
11:00 pm | Candlelight Sung Eucharist with Soloist and Harp
All children - whether members or guests - are welcome to participate in the Christmas Pageant at 4:00 pm on Christmas Eve. The service will include a simple telling of the story of Jesus' birth. No rehearsal is required. Parents or grandparents and their children should arrive at 3:30 pm and go to the area outside rooms 203 and 204 (above the Godly Play room). All the materials needed to dress the children as shepherds and angels will be available there. The children will line up and move to the narthex (or lobby) at 3:55. The procession will begin at 4:00 pm.
Christmas Day, December 25
9:00 am | Holy Eucharist Rite I with Carols (note the time change)
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Notes from the Search Committee
Are you wondering where the Search Committee might be in the process of finding our new rector? Actually, the question could be: Where might the
Search Committee be?' We have entered the phase of visiting candidates in their hometowns and observing their church services. We are checking references and connecting with the candidates in a more meaningful way to discern who is right for St. Christopher's.
Please pray for us in our work and also for safe travel as we journey and search.
If you have questions, please direct them to our committee chair:
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Thank you for supporting the Backpack Ministry
Together we are making a difference for many elementary school students in Carmel with food, monetary donations, and time. Thank you! Backpacks are packed and ready for our December delivery.
Our next delivery will be the week of January 21. We will pack on January 13, and if necessary, January 20.
In advance of that date we are collecting individually wrapped granola bars. Please consider adding them to the grocery shopping list of your household. Place your donations in the Backpack Ministry basket in the narthex.
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Report on the #VoteFaithfully Initiative
“Voting and participation in our government is a way of participating in our common life, and that is a Christian obligation...” Presiding Bishop Michael Curry
During six weeks leading up to the November midterm elections, St. Christopher’s participated in the Vote Faithfully Initiative of The Episcopal Church. In conjunction with the non-partisan group, Faith in Indiana, volunteer callers from ten area congregations gathered weekly at St. Christopher’s, one of three host sites, and helped to educate and mobilize infrequent voters in Indiana (adults under 35, people of color, and women). These efforts led to near-record turnout of voters in this important election.
Data from our site reveal that we had 50 individual volunteers, 94 volunteer shifts, and 1,129 conversations.
We are grateful to the volunteers from St. Christopher’s who participated: Kelly Vrtis, Marty Torrance, Stephanie Grabow, and Beth DeBard.
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Flower Chart for 2019
Would you like to give a floral arrangement in memory of someone or in honor of a special occasion, such as a birthday or anniversary? The suggested donation is $50. The flower chart, donation forms, and instructions are on a bulletin board near the nursery. Please complete a form and sign your name by the date you on which you wish to donate flowers. A member of the Flower Guild will coordinate with you near your chosen date for any special requests and the purpose of your donation.
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Church Office Schedule
The church office will be closed from Monday, December 24, through Tuesday, January 1.
The Weekly News will not be published on December 26.
Reminder: If you plan to make a year-end financial donation for 2018, it must be postmarked by December 31.
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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.
January 13,10:50 | Youth Formation Resumes for Spring semester
January 13, 5:00 - 7:00 pm | Sunday Dinner for youth, grades 6-12, and parents
January 14, 6:00 pm | St. Christopher' 4Cs
January 18-20 | Chicago Mission Trip (details available in coming weeks)
February 3,11:30 am | Annual Meeting of the Parish
Church Office hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 to 4:00 pm.(except as noted above)
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