Chimes 5 December 2021

John the Baptist in the Desert

Georges de la Tour, 1649

Old Donation Episcopal Church

Weekly Chimes E-News

December 5, 2021

Second Sunday of Advent

Hello Old Donation!

Well, for a “low Sunday” the Sunday after Thanksgiving, ODEC was bustling. It was the first time resuming a schedule that more closely represents pre-pandemic times, and though we may have had a couple of glitches, all in all it was a huge success. Children’s Chapel was timed incredibly well (I have been praying continuously about that!), and each of our services were actually larger than usual! Not to mention Carolyn Gerace and family guiding us through a lovely Advent wreath making session in the Narthex that was more joy-filled than ever before. What a way to enter into this season of expectation and new life!

Now, hang on and read carefully to everything this month, because December is jam-packed. This Sunday is our first of two Coat Sundays, where you can bring in all of your spare coats to give away to those who most need them. We’ll collect them at the altar, and the Waide family will distribute them accordingly.

This Sunday is also St. Nick Sunday! The beloved St. Nicholas, Bishop of Myrna, will be with us during the 10:00am services, and will depart with the kids for Children’s Chapel where they will be able to hear his story and then do some St. Nicholas related activities. Then, following the 10am services, St. Nick will be here and available after the 10am services for pictures, so make sure to stay for that. We will not have a photographer so bring your cell phones to capture your memories!

Coming up:

Christmas Cookie Extravaganza! Dec 10, 5:30pm—pizza, cookies, and A Charlie Brown Christmas! RSVP HERE!
Christmas Pageant signup is live and speaking roles are filling up! Sign up NOW!

The list goes on for the rest of the month, so again—keep reading your newsletters! I’ll definitely be seeing you soon.

Ashley

Daily

Our Christmas Pageant is coming!

Click HERE to sign your kids (of any age) up to participate, or to volunteer to help!

Poinsettias!

It's time to order the poinsettias to adorn the Church and Great Hall. The cost is $12 each, and you can dedicate them. You can pay by check to ODEC with poinsettia on the subject line. Click HERE to order online.

Decorate the Great Hall for Advent

Bring in your nativity/creche for display on one of the tables in the Great Hall.

Christmas Cookie, Pizza & Movie Night

Friday 10 December, 5:30pm, for all ages! RSVP here!

Knit Wits

This Thursday, 1:30pm. Contact Diane Miller if you have questions!

Ushers? We Need (More) Ushers!

All ages, train on the job. Sign up for a slot...show up early for that service. Get some steps in, meet everyone, and tell them where to go! It's fun! For the 10:00am service, please show up at 9:30am, and wear a coat - we need you outside to help direct.

Communicating with the Parish Office

Please be sure to communicate with the Parish Office by email, not by calling the office. God willing, we will have phones again soon!

Ready for Baptism?

Sunday, 9 January is the day for you! It is the First Sunday after the Epiphany: The Baptism of our Lord. Please contact Fr. Bob or Mother Ashley if you'd like to be baptized, or have a child to be baptized. The more, the merrier!

Shop for a Cause

Mark your calendar for Sunday 12 December. You can do some Christmas shopping, and we'll have $1 baskets for kids to shop, too! Click for more info!

Angel Tree is our prison ministry gift program where we sponsor Christmas gifts for local children of prisoners. This year we will continue to use our Virtual Angel Tree! Click HERE for full information and instructions.

Youth this week!

Everyone on Middle School and High School are invited to join us - the more the merrier! If you don't attend earlier in the day, join us at Sundays@5 before the youth program begins! Questions? Email Fr. Bob

Normal Schedule:

5:50pm - 6:15pm: HS and MS youth have supper together

6:15pm - 7:15pm: Groups go their separate ways for fun and fellowship.

Stewardship

We are grateful for your faithful support during our Annual Campaign. Thank you to all who have made a pledge or estimate of giving, electronically, in person, or by mail! We are humbled by the turnout at our Kick-Off event on Old Donation Feast Day and at our In-Gathering on All Saints' Sunday. If you have not yet made a pledge for next year, there is still time, and doing so early allows your pledge to be factored into ODEC's planning and budget process currently underway.