Weekly Announcements
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General Announcements for the Week beginning Sunday, November 17
Blessing of your creche. On the first Sunday of Advent, December 1, you are invited to bring a figurine from your home creche for a blessing as part of the service. Advent is an intentional time of preparation for the coming of Christ into our homes and the creche is an outward expression of that preparation and eventual arrival. An Advent Evening, December 8, 5:00 -7:00 pm. From Christmas cookies to a candlelight compline, there will be something for all ages at this special event. Gather in the Parish Hall for a lasagna dinner (gluten-free pasta also available), make an Advent calendar craft, sing carols with Christmas carol bingo, and end the evening with a sung compline service in the sanctuary. You are invited to bring a dish to share. Names A-L (salad) and names M-Z (a side dish). RSVPs for dinner are helpful. Make them through Realm or by email to Anita Walker. Enneagram Workshop Registration Open. Ben Sternke from Gravity Leadership will lead a five-hour workshop on the Ennegram on Friday, January 24 (7:00 - 9:00 pm), and Saturday morning, January 25 (9:00 am - Noon). The Enneagram is an ancient personality assessment that will enrich your understanding of and love for yourself, others, and God. More than just new information about your personality, the Enneagram opens up powerful possibilities for deep spiritual transformation. Rev. Cara has used this tool for 15 years and envisions using it for many more. Registration will be handled through Gravity Leadership at https://bit.ly/33DPjc1. Please use our discount promo code STCHRISTOPHER25 to lower the workshop cost to $25 per person. Free childcare for St. Christopher’s members will be available, if requested to Cathy Scott by January 15. Invite those outside the church who you think would be interested; we expect that we will have many non-church members present. Making your list? Include us! If you send out holiday cards with a family picture, please include St. Christopher’s on your list; we'd love to post the holiday greetings on our bulletin board. Formation Announcements Children’s Formation. Kid's SPIN is our children’s program during the 10:00 am service. Lessons for Sundays in November will be on Gratitude and Thanksgiving. Nursery is available during the service for children under age three. Youth Formation: Jesus’ Birth Stories with Rev. Cara. Youth in grades six through twelve meet at 9:00 am on Sundays in the Youth Lounge. Rev. Cara will lead a study comparing different Christmas stories and symbolism within them through December 1. Drama, games, and donuts will also be provided. Youth Group will will not meet on November 24 due to the Youth Fall Retreat. Common Grounds: The parishioners of St. Christopher's have generously supported Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center by filling Christmas tubs for many years. This Sunday, November 17, the President of Mary Rigg, Clark Lienemann, will be presenting at Common Grounds. See you Sunday at 9:00 in the Parish Hall, and as you know, coffee is served! Childcare will be offered in the Nursery. Wednesday Book Study. On December 4, the group will start a new book study of Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World: Finding Intimacy with God in the Busyness of Life by Joanna Weaver. This twelve-week study meets on Wednesdays in the Andres Library at 10:30 am. Everyone is welcome. If you are interested please contact Deb Callahan or Claire Zmak. Outreach: Serving the Community Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center Holiday Totes. One of our Christmas outreach traditions is providing help to the families served by the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center on the southwest side of Indianapolis. One hundred totes will be available in the Narthex on Sunday, November 17. Pick up one (or more) to take home and fill with suggested items for a special Christmas dinner for these families. This year, in addition to food, we also will collect new blankets and children/teens winter coats, hats, gloves, and scarves. The filled totes and gift items must be returned to the church no later than Sunday, December 1. We will bless the totes that day. You are welcome to bring them earlier! There are many ways to make this outreach project special as we prepare for the season of giving: join with members of a ministry group within St. Christopher's, a group of neighbors, or family members visiting during the Thanksgiving holiday to fill a tote. Or, be one of Santa's helpers to assist parents in selecting gifts at the MRNC toy distribution on December 9. Learn more about this volunteer opportunity at the Connect Center. Please join our mission to help bring Christmas cheer to the MRNC families in need. Our gifts are God's love in action. Knitting and Crocheting Ministry. Calling all knitters and crocheters! The Pastoral Care Committee would like to restart the knitting and crocheting ministry. There are needs in our congregation and neighboring senior living communities, such as prayer shawls, scarves, fingerless mitts, and other items. There will be an organizational meeting on Tuesday, November 19, at 9:30 am in the upstairs parlor. Please join us and use your love of knitting or crocheting to benefit God’s kingdom. If you have any questions please contact Jane Dunnivant. Weekend Back Sack Program. Thank you for your on-going support of the Weekend Back Sack Program. We are making great progress toward our December needs. We have surpassed our goal on mac and cheese, granola bars, canned pasta, applesauce pouches, and popcorn. Our greatest needs are small individual boxes of cereal, juice boxes or pouches (100% juice please), and cheese or peanut butter snack cracker packs (packs of 6 please). Please consider adding these items to your weekly shopping and drop them off in the Riser Room. Our next packing date is Sunday, December 15 following the 10:00 am service. Everyone is welcome to help on that day. Bereavement Program. The Bereavement Group, previously announced, will not be held at this time. Important Dates for Your Calendar November 17 | Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center holiday totes pick-up November 20, 11:30 am | Young at Heart Luncheon December 1 | Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center holiday totes return December 8, 5:00 - 7:00 pm | Parish Advent Event December 15, 11:30 am | Weekend Back Sack Pack December 18, 11:30 am | Young at Heart Luncheon January 24, 7:00 - 9:00 pm | Enneagram Workshop (Part 1 of 2) January 25, 9:00 - Noon | Enneagram Workshop (Part 2 of 2) |