The Weekly News
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October 10, 2018
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Greetings!
In this issue of
The Weekly News:
- Prepare the way . . .
- Common Grounds
- Walking the Camino de Santiago (Rescheduled)
- Backpack Ministry News
- Third Quarter Giving Statements
- CROP Walk
- Dates for Your Calendar
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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
St. Mark’s Gospel begins with a call to prepare the way for God’s coming into the world. John the Baptist quotes Isaiah, who imagined a road being built – a major project where every valley would be lifted up and every mountain and hill laid low. With all obstacles removed, Isaiah says, “the glory of the Lord will be revealed, and all people will see it together.” The prophet casts a vision for a future full of hope and promise and then declares that the time to make ready is now.
In conversations during the parish’s 60th birthday party last December – during the Search Committee’s “Day of Discovery” – in informal discussions during coffee hours and Bible Studies, and in serving others through the Carmel Summer Lunch Program and support of the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center – common themes have surfaced: parishioners want St. Christopher’s to be a welcoming, effective, organized church where the transformative experience of God’s love makes a difference in our lives and in the lives of those Jesus called our neighbors.
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 first area of focus.
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Prepare the Way . . . to be better disciples
Speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ. Ephesians 4:15
Vital churches have strong Adult Formation programs. That’s because, as Neil Parent has written, “The Christian faith is, for the most part, an adult faith. Much of what it takes to understand the faith – not just with one’s head but also with one’s heart – can be dealt with adequately only in adulthood.” So Adult Formation is essential. When we use the word, “formation,” we are talking about making disciples – faithful followers of Jesus of Nazareth for the 21st century.
During this interim time, St. Christopher’s has experimented, offering a weekday evening Lenten series that included Eucharist, a shared supper, study, and common prayer. This fall our adult discussion group, “Common Grounds,” premiered on Sundays between morning services with topics ranging from the way the church is organized for mission to an introduction of Luke’s Gospel.
Sustaining our existing programs and embarking on new ones will help each adult member grow “into the full stature of Christ.” Additional funding would make possible:
- Speakers series on life stages, scripture, and spirituality.
- Annual off-site retreat opportunities.
- Activities for celebrating the secular and sacred seasons of the year.
- Warm, welcoming hospitality for parishioners and guests at formation gatherings.
- Development and implementation of one-year discipleship program.
- Dedicated staffing.
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.
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Stewardship Brochure, Sermon, and Letter
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If you were not at church last Sunday, please take the opportunity to read the Annual Stewardship Drive brochure to learn our vision and the goals of the 2019 drive. (Just click on the brochure cover image to read or download it.)
Use the link below to hear Father Stephen's sermon in which he discussed the kickoff of the annual drive.
Letters will be going out from St. Christopher's via USPS late this week. Please be watching your mailbox for yours.
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Common Grounds
An Adult Formation Forum
October 14, 9:00 - 9:45 am
In the Parish Hall
Childcare will be available
Sunday's Topic: Thanks, the Second of
Anne Lamott’s “Three Essential Prayers”
[2 of 3 in the Prayer 101 Series]
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When we express our gratitude to God for all the blessings and mercies God gives us, we are offering prayers of thanksgiving. For many of us, the grace we learned to say before we shared a meal was the first prayer of thanksgiving we ever said. “God is great. God is good. And we thank Him for our food. Amen.” Did you know that the word “Eucharist” is the Greek word for “thanksgiving?” So, the central act of worship for this community of faith is a prayer of gratitude. In the world as it is, maintaining an “attitude of gratitude” is very difficult. So, this Sunday, we’ll spend some time on Thanks.
[Please note there is a break in the prayer series between October 14 and 28.]
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The handouts from previous Common Grounds Forums are online. If you missed a session, download the handouts using the link below.
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Backpack Ministry
Thank-you to everyone who purchased food, gave monetary donations, or helped pack bags for the Backpack Ministry last Sunday. We were able to pack all the meals for our October 19 weekend! Our next packing dates will be in December.
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Please note!
Walking the Camino de Santiago
Rescheduled - March 9, 2019
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Giving Statements
Please be on the lookout for your Giving Statement which will go out via email on on Thursday of this week. The subject line will be 2018 Third Quarter Statement.
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Hamilton County CROP Hunger Walk
We'll be collecting donations for CROP Walk for the remainder of October. 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
Visit St. Christopher's photo gallery to see pictures from CROP Walk.
Link at the bottom of the page.
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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 21, 4:00 pm | Indy Choir Fest Evensong at St. Paul's, Indianapolis
October 24, 11:30 am | Young at Heart Luncheon
October 26, 8:00 pm | Youth Fall Lock-in
October 28, 11:30 am | Fall into Fun Family Event during Coffee Hour
November 4 | Daylight Saving Time Ends (Day of Change at both services)
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.
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