The Weekly News
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September 19, 2018
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Greetings!
- Common Grounds
- Heads-up for Friday Parish Email with Important Update
- Greeting Ministry Information and Training
- St. Christopher's Crops Work Day
- Celebrating Angels
- Blessing of the Animals
- CROP Hunger Walk
- Backpack Ministry
- Dates for Your Calendar
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Common Grounds
An Adult Formation Forum
September 23, 9:00 - 9:45 am
In the Parish Hall
Childcare will be available
Sunday's Topic: Religion & Politics
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Emily Post and other self-appointed arbiters of etiquette have long ruled that politics and religion should be “scrupulously avoided at dinner.” Some would add that the mix of politics and religion should also be scrupulously avoided from the pulpit. Is it ever appropriate for a preacher to talk about controversial political matters in a sermon? Or should sermons only address the spiritual lives of the members of the congregation? What moral obligation does the church as an institution have to address issues facing society? How does the idea of the separation of church and state fit into the picture? And what do we do when we disagree with each other? Join us for a respectful conversation about these questions.
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Please Check Your Email on Friday
for an Important Parish Communication
For almost two years, a group made up of former senior wardens of the parish and members of the Development Leadership Committee (aka the DLC - St. Christopher's Building Committee) met to address eliminating the remaining construction debt and assuring long term maintenance of our wonderful church building. In February, the Vestry agreed to retain a consultant to further help us address the issues. Financial support for the consultant was provided by the Center for Congregations and the Diocese.
On Friday, we will share an initial update with members of the parish via email. We hope that you will be pleased with the progress and inspired by how our members and friends are responding to God's call to stewardship in our world.
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Greeter Ministry Enlightenment and Training
Sundays, September 23 and 30, 11:30 a.m.
in the Andres Library
Sunday Greeters, new and current, please join us immediately following the 10:00 am service on two Sundays to learn more about this important ministry. For more information, please contact Deb Callahan:
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St. Christopher's Crops Garden Closing
Sunday, September 23, 12:30 pm
Many hands make light work! Please join us to help close St. Christopher’s Crops Garden for 2018. Volunteers can bring a lunch to enjoy in the Natural Playground shelter. Cold water, sodas, and snacks will be provided.
Rain Date: Sunday, September 30, 12:30 pm
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Celebrating Angels
On Sunday, September 30, we'll take a break from the long "green season" of the Sundays after Pentecost and celebrate the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. St. Michael, who is honored on September 29, is traditionally one of the four Archangels, the other three being Gabriel, (who brought the tidings of Jesus' birth to Mary), Raphael, and Uriel. At St. Christopher's, we'll read the special lessons appointed for the day and, at the 10:00 am service, sing hymns about angels in all their glory.
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The word, angel, is derived from the Greek word that means "messenger," and the role of angels as intermediaries between heaven and earth, along with their acting as protectors of humankind - think "guardian angels" - make these beneficent spirits worth our interest and devotion.
If you have an angel figurine, item of jewelry, or piece of art, bring it with you on Sunday, September 30. We'll join with "angels and archangels, and all the heavenly host," as we do each Sunday, praising God as we say or sing the Sanctus together: "Holy, Holy, Holy Lord, God of power and might."
Anonymous Byzantine painter (395-1453 AD) Public domain image
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Blessing of the Animals
Saturday, October 6, 10:00 am
On the first Saturday of October, St. Christopher’s will offer a service for the
Blessings of the Animals in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi. The Blessing Service will be held at the west entrance of the church. Members, family and friends of Christopher’s Church, young and old, are invited to bring their pets, large and small, suitably restrained by leash or crate, for this brief service. The clergy also will be happy to bless animals in cars or trailers instead, if that is preferred by their human companion.
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Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk
Sunday, October 7, 1:30 pm
At the Civic Center Gazebo
The Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk is coming up on the first Sunday of October.
The "walk" now has a Walk, Run, or Ride option, each consisting of a 1-mile or 3.9-mile route on and around the Monon Trail.
Here are ways to participate:
WALK/RUN/RIDE - Register to walk, run, or ride.
SPIRIT WALK - Help our team!
- Ask your friends and neighbors to make donations to CROP Walk on your behalf to St. Christopher's Team
- Offer prayers for those who walk, run, or ride
DONATE - Help St. Christopher's meet our goal of $4,000.
- 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 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
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Backpack Ministry
Due to the overwhelming success of the summer lunch program, we would like to continue to serve the needs of children in the Carmel schools who are experiencing food insecurity. Through the Backpack ministry, we will provide weekend meals to elementary school children in Carmel. Each child who qualifies will receive one bag of food for each day of the weekend. St. Christopher’s has committed to providing weekend food bags for children at 8 elementary schools, at 4 different times throughout the school year. Will you prayerfully consider supporting this ministry?
You can support it in several ways. We always welcome food donations! Specifically, we are seeking single serve breakfast cereal cups, apple sauce in single serve pouches (the cups seem to leak and puncture easily), juice boxes (100% juice, please), and peanut butter or cheese crackers in individual serving sizes. Donations of these items may be dropped off in the narthex in the bins marked “Backpack Ministry.”
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No time to shop? Monetary donations are always welcome! We are happy to shop for you! Are you more hands-on? We welcome any and all to help sort food and pack the bags! We will fill bags immediately following the 10:00 a.m. service on Sundays, October 7 and 14.
Please look for the poster in the narthex for more information.
Questions? Contact either of the following:
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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.
September 30, 11:30 am | Greeter Ministry Training
September 30, 12:30 pm | St. Christopher Crops Garden Clean-up (rain date)
October 6, 10:00 am | Blessing of the Animals
October 7, 1:30 pm | Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk
October 13, 10:00 am | The Daughters of the King
October 21, 4:00 pm | Indy Choir Fest Concert (at St. Paul's, Indianapolis)
October 28, 11:30 am | Fall into Fun Family Event during Coffee Hour
Church Office hours
Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 12 noon and 1:00 to 4:00 pm.
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