The Weekly News - May 23, 2018

Greetings!

  • Interim Associate Rector Appointed
  • Search Committee Update
  • Strawberry Fest
  • "Pack the Cruiser" Food Drive
  • Summer Lunch Program
  • St. Christopher's Crops
  • A Joyful Pentecost
  • Graduating Acolytes
  • Appreciation for Our Dedicated Volunteers
  • Calling All Graduates
  • Dates for Your Calendar
The Rev. Dr. Lawrence "Larry" Walters
Appointed Interim Associate Rector

Father Larry is no stranger to St. Christopher's. Last year he served our parish as a supply priest for four months. In his role as Interim Associate Rector, Father Larry will share in the responsibilities for worship, preaching, and pastoral care. He will have primary responsibility for evangelism.

Search Committee Update

We soon will be ready to “go live” with the invitation to receive resumes and letters of interest from priests who want to consider becoming the next rector of St. Christopher's Episcopal Church. This is an exciting time for our team and our church as a whole. In the coming months we will focus on training, and then using the techniques we learn, for reviewing resumes and interviewing candidates.

When we officially launch the invitation to submit resumes and applications, all resumes will be welcome. We will advertise the position nationwide. How can you help? Please think about that wonderful priest you know from your travels. Contact them and encourage them to submit a resume.
 
If you have questions, please direct them to our committee chair, Drew Bender:
Two Weeks and Counting!

St. Christopher's Annual Strawberry Fest is two weeks from Saturday. We know many of you will be away for the Memorial Day weekend, so we are encouraging you to sign up now to help.

We need just 14 volunteers to complete the staffing for the Strawberry Fest. The work isn't difficult. Volunteers serve ice cream, cut shortcakes, or clean tables. Will you be one of the volunteers to help make our event a success?

Please stop by the Strawberry Fest table in the narthex on Sunday to choose a shift or use the Signup Genius link below.
Purchase Strawberry Fest Tickets

Tickets ($5 per serving) will be available in the narthex this Sunday. Purchase your tickets and invite neighbors and friends. The Strawberry Fest is a great way to introduce them to St. Christopher's.

St. Christopher's 13th Annual Strawberry Fest
Saturday, June 9, 12 Noon to 8:00 p.m.
1 North Rangeline Road
in the Carmel Arts & Design District
Pack the Cruiser to Benefit Summer Lunch Program
Saturday, June 2, 10:00 a.m to 2:00 p.m.

Food Insecurity for children here in Carmel is not something that we want to think about, but it is a fact of life. There are over 1000 children in Carmel Clay Schools who depend on free breakfasts and lunches five days a week at school. Many also receive weekend food assistance during the school year; however, these children may go hungry when they are out of school for the summer. The Carmel community is coming together to address this problem through the Carmel Summer Lunch Program. The program provides a sack of nutritious ingredients to make each child five healthy breakfasts and lunches each of the eleven weeks of summer break.

St. Christopher's will be a host site for the Summer Lunch Program beginning Sunday, June 3. You can help us have the food we need for these children by participating in the "Pack the Cruiser" food drive at two Carmel Kroger locations: 1217 South Rangeline Road or 106th and Michigan Road.

Stop by the police cruiser on June 2 during the designated hours to pick up a list of items to purchase. The donation of Kroger gift cards will also be accepted.
Summer Lunch Program

The big day is almost here! On Sunday, June 3, we will welcome the families chosen to participate in the Summer Lunch Program. We will provide the breakfasts and lunches for 48 children between now and the beginning of school in mid-August.This is a big undertaking and your help will be vital to the ministry.

How can you help?
  • Put your name on the REMIND text list to receive notice of immediate needs on an occasional basis or to help on Sundays: text @gd3849c to number 81010. 
  • Look for a list of requested food items posted on the door just outside the kitchen, then use it as a guide to purchase items when you shop for your household.
  • Order non-perishable food items online and have them shipped directly to the church, 1402 West Main Street, Carmel, IN 46032.
  • Donate money to purchase food. A gift of $25 will feed one child for one week. A gift of $275 will feed a child for the entire summer.
  • Download the "Ways to Help" document for a list of suggested food items and instructions.
St. Christopher's Crops Garden

On Sunday we gathered in near-perfect weather as Father Stephen asked God's blessings on the garden. Afterward gardeners of all ages helped plant the seedlings that, with the help of volunteers and good weather, will provide produce for local food pantries.

Will you be one of those volunteers? Work days are scheduled on Saturdays at 9:00 a.m. and Wednesdays at 6:00 p.m. Use the Garden Crew Signup Genius form to choose your work times between now and Wednesday, August 29.
What a joyful day!

From the early days of the Church, Pentecost was traditionally a time for baptisms. We continued the tradition at St. Christopher's with eight persons being baptized at the 10:00 a.m. service. We welcome those who were baptized into the Church and into our parish family.

Caleigh Grace Krueger and Catherine Ann Krueger
(Parents: Todd and Elizabeth Krueger)
Ingram Reed Longan
(Parents: Andrew and Tori Longan)
Fiona Mae Rose Schlichting
(Parents: Marc Schlichting and Emily Mueller)
Eli Richard Shore and Gus Balfour Shore
(Parents: Richard and Megan Shore)
Nora Kay Tooman
(Parents: Adam and Meghan Tooman)
Adam Alexander Tooman
Congratulations to Our Graduating Acolytes

We acknowledge with grateful hearts the consistent, dedicated service of Erin Waite and Sarah Jacobs. Between them, they have 20 years of service as acolytes.

Father Stephen presented scholarships given by the congregation. Erin will enroll at the University of Southern Indiana. Sarah will enroll at the University of Cincinnati.
Thanks and Appreciation for Our Dedicated Volunteers

As we come to the close of the program year, we acknowledge the service of those who have helped with Christian Formation and sung in St. Christopher's Choir. You will find the names of those who have volunteered for these vital ministries at the link below.
Calling All Graduates

We would love to recognize all in our community who are graduating from high school or college this Spring. Please contact Jenna Parker with your name, the institution from which you are graduating, and where you are headed. Please send this information by the end of May for publication in The Weekly News in June.
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. 

May 25, 5:00 p.m. | Deadline for announcements for The Weekly News of May 30
May 28 (Memorial Day) | Church Office closed
June 1 | Church Office summer hours begin
June 3 | Summer Lunch Program begins
June 10 | Anti-Racism Team meeting
July 16 - 19, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. | Vacation Bible School

Church office hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 to 4:30 p.m.
The deadline for announcements, news, and articles for  The Weekly News  is Monday Noon each week (except as noted above). Email announcements to the church office at  awalker@stchriscarmel.org with a copy to carolyncparrott@gmail.com