The Weekly News
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October 3, 2018
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Greetings!
- Blessing of the Animals
- Common Grounds
- CROP Hunger Walk
- Walking the Camino de Santiago
- Backpack Ministry
- Indy Choir Fest Evensong
- Dates for Your Calendar
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Blessing of the Animals
Saturday, October 6, 10:00 am
West Entrance
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St. Christopher’s Church will offer a service for the Blessings of the Animals in honor of the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi at 10:00 am this coming Saturday. The Blessing Service will be held at the west entrance of the church.
Francis, who was born in 1182 and died in 1226, founded the Order of Friars Minor, also known today as the Franciscans. Legend says that Francis could communicate with animals. He wrote a Canticle of the Creatures, an ode to God’s living things, in which he proclaimed, “All praise to you, O Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.”
The bond between a human and his or her pet is like no other relationship, because the communication between fellow creatures is at its most basic. No wonder people enjoy the opportunity to take their animal companions to church for a special blessing. Church is the place where the bond of creation is celebrated.
St. Francis is honored in the church calendar on October 4 but many parishes, including St. Christopher’s, will hold services on the Saturday closest to that date so that as many people and their pets as possible may attend.
Members of St. Christopher’s, as well as family and friends, 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 companions.
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Common Grounds
An Adult Formation Forum
October 7, 9:00 - 9:45 am
In the Parish Hall
Childcare will be available
Sunday's Topic: Help, the First of
Anne Lamott’s “Three Essential Prayers”
[1 of 3 in the Prayer 101 Series]
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Christian writer Anne Lamott says that Help “is the first great prayer.” When we pray, most of us pray for a lot of things. In the church we talk about intercessions, requests for God’s blessings and healing grace for others. The Prayers of the People we use on Sundays - when we pray for the church, our nation, the world, our community, people in trouble, or those who have died - are prayers of intercession. Or we talk about petitions - requests for God’s blessings and grace for ourselves - guidance in making a decision, protection from evil, or the healing of pain. Lamott lumps these prayers into a single category: Help. Prayers that fall into this single category will be our subject this week.
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The handouts from the September Common Grounds Forums are online. If you missed a session, download the handouts using the link below.
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Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk
This Sunday, October 7, 1:30 pm
At the Civic Center Gazebo
The Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk now offers 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'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
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It’s easy to think about hunger on a global scale, but consider these local facts:
- In Hamilton County alone, over 26,000 individuals live on food stamps.
- There are 43 food pantries within Hamilton County to help serve these needs.
- 12% of children in Hamilton County live in food-insecure households, and 60% of those households don’t qualify for food assistance.
- 20% of Hoosier households struggle to afford food.
Join the St. Christopher’s team to walk, run, or bike to address hunger in our community and around the world.
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Walking the Camino de Santiago
Saturday, October 13, 10:00 am
The Mary and Martha Chapter of The Daughters of the King is pleased to present "Walking the Camino de Santiago." The Rev. Virginia B. Hall will share her 500-mile pilgrimage across northern Spain in word and picture. Mother Virginia, a Deacon, formerly served on staff at Trinity, Bloomington. Everyone is invited to attend this special program in the Parish Hall.
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Packers needed for Backpack Ministry
Sundays, October 7 and 14
St. Christopher's will provide 225 weekend meals for elementary school children from eight Carmel elementary schools. We - and other churches in the area - are sharing the responsibility for this important ministry to help families experiencing food insecurity. We will provide backpacks just four times a year.
Our first delivery will be Friday, October19. We will pack the sacks on Sundays, October 7 and 14, immediately following the 10:00 am service.
You can support this ministry by providing specific food items, helping us sort and pack on Sundays, and donating money (we'll shop for you), Make checks payable to St. Christopher's with backpack ministry on the memo line, or give online through your Realm account.
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Most-needed food items for packing this Sunday:
- 450 single-serve breakfast cereal boxes (we have only 16!)
- juice boxes (100% juice, please)
- applesauce in single-serve pouches (the cups seem to leak and puncture easily)
The single-serve cereals are available in variety packages of anywhere from 4 to 30 individual servings. Juices and applesauce are available in packages of 4 to 12 individual servings. Donations of these items-may be dropped off in the narthex in the bins marked “Backpack Ministry.”
Questions? Contact either of the following:
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Save the Date for
Indianapolis Choir Festival: Choral Evensong
at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, Indianapolis
Sunday, October 21, 4:00 pm
Guest conductor Martin Neary, former choirmaster at Westminster Abbey and Winchester Cathedral UK, will lead 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 a world famous conductor. Admission is free.
We've put this item in The Weekly News a bit early so you can get this special service on your calendar now. You won't want to miss this!
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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.
October 8, 6:30 pm | St. Christopher's 4Cs at Prodigy Burger Bar at Clay Terrace
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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