Weekly Announcements
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General Announcements for January 12 - 19, 2022
Sunday Worship Services are at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. Due to the current high rate of COVID in our community, we are masking at the 10:00 a.m. service. Masks are not necessary at the 8:00 a.m. service. There will be no Coffee Hour during the month of January . We are following our school district's masking policy for children.
Virtual Worship. If you are unable to attend the in-person Sunday worship, we livestream the 10:00 am worship service. The service will be available via the worship page of our website beginning about 9:55 am and then available later after the service ends. When things go wrong with the livestream, we will put a video offering on our website by Monday afternoon. Whether you view the service livestreamed while it is happening or later, the link below will get you to it.
Dedication of New Green Vestment Set. With the gifts made in memory of long-time member, Lori Boland who passed away last year, the church purchased a new set of paraments and vestments that will be dedicated this Sunday, January 16, at both services.
Quarterly Newsletter Submissions. Articles covering church life in March through May for our quarterly newsletter are due February 1 to the parish administrator at office@stchriscarmel.org. The target date for newsletter distribution is March 1.
Communion Workshop and Communion Recognition. Children second through fifth grade are invited, along with their parents and godparents, to learn more about the Holy Eucharist through hands-on activities and instruction. The Communion workshop will be Saturday, January 22, from 2:00 – 5:00 p.m. with the Communion Recognition occurring the next day during our 10:00 a.m. service. This rite of passage recognizes the maturing faith of our children. Email the Rev. Cara Spaccarelli (cspaccarelli@stchriscarmel.org) to sign up by January 15.
Altar Flowers. The 2022 Sunday calendar for altar flowers is up outside the kitchen. Some people like to choose a Sunday closest to a birthday or anniversary to honor. The suggested donation for flowers is $50. As your Sunday nears, arrangements are made for the bulletin dedication and donation, and you are welcome to take the arrangement home. You can also email office@stchriscarmel.org to sign up for a Sunday.
Winter Weather and the 8:00 a.m. Service. The early service will be canceled if there is a significant chance for ice or a large amount of snow (3+ inches). Salt does not work quickly enough on the parking lot for it to be reliably ready for the early service. We'll do our best to make the call the night before so everyone has plenty of notice.
Common Grounds - Adult Formation, Sunday, January 16, 9:00 a.m. via Zoom. Common Grounds and the Outreach Ministry are pleased to host a speaker from the Shepherd Community Center on January 16. The Shepherd Community Center’s mission is to build upward stability and assets so that people can break the bonds of generational poverty. By fighting systemic causes and serving with life-long, relationship-based care, Shepherd makes a difference-physically, socially, and spiritually. Our speaker will be Gabe Short, who serves in the role of Development Officer and Church Relations Coordinator.
The Shepherd Center has made the administrative decision that their employees will not do in-person meetings at this time. Therefore, this Sunday Common Grounds will be held via Zoom from 9:00 to 9:40 a.m. The Zoom link will be published in the Sunday morning announcements. Please feel free to leave early if you need more time to get to the church service. Please join us to learn about the Shepherd Community Center and how we can play a role in their important, life-changing work. Wednesday Book Study - New Study Begins January 19. Are you interested in lively conversation and diverse perspectives? Please consider joining The Wednesday Book Study on Wednesday mornings at 10:00 a.m. in the Bridal Parlor. Discussion of a new book, What Jesus Meant by Garry Wills, will begin on January 19. Please contact Nancy Dimond at office@stchriscarmel.org if you have questions.
Children and FamiliesChildren's Formation, Sundays, 10:00 am (Children's programming resumes on January 2.)
(All families and children begin in the sanctuary.) Preschool - 2nd grade children will be led to the Chapel (upstairs) for a children's chapel service after the Collect. They will return at the time of the Peace. The theme for November is Elements of Worship. The 3rd - 5th grade children will remain in church with their families for the entire service. Children's bulletins, pew activities, and books will be available just outside the sanctuary doors. Empty worship bags will be nearby for children to fill with themed worship activities, which include coloring, puzzles, and other related activities for the month. The theme for November is Elements of Worship. Youth Formation, Sunday, January 16, 11:00 - 11:45. This winter youth will explore racial equality. We will learn about Civil Rights leaders and enacting change in our community.
Youth Book Club - Wednesday, January 19, 7:00 - 8:15 p.m. This month we introduce a midweek offering for youth at Panera (2001 East Greyhound Pass Carmel, IN 46033) OutreachPlease note! We have two (2) packing events this month - something we would not usually do. The Back Sack Packing for Carmel Schoolchildren would have fallen on February 6, which is the date of the Annual Meeting of the Parish.
Packing for Shepherd Community Center. Please join the St. Christopher’s Packing Team as we work together to pack weekend Back Sacks for Shepherd Community Center this coming Sunday, January 16. Following the 10:00 a.m. service, all youth and adults are invited to help pack the sacks in the Parish Hall. We hope to pack roughly 750 sacks for the children at Shepherd and children in their surrounding community.
If you are interested in learning more about Shepherd, we encourage you to join us at Common Grounds via Zoom* that morning from 9:00 to 9:40 a.m. to meet a representative from Shepherd. St. Christopher’s will pack weekend back sacks for Shepherd four times this year and put together back-to-school backpacks in the summer. We are looking forward to this new relationship with our outreach group! Note: *The Zoom link for Common Grounds will be provided in the Sunday announcement. Back Sack Program for Carmel Schoolchildren - Donation and Packing Information. The number of Carmel children with food inadequacy continues to grow, and the Back Sack Program helps to address that need. This month we will support 160 children in 12 Carmel schools by supplying weekend food packages.
The congregation is asked to donate these food items: cheese/peanut butter cracker packs, Cheez-it packs, and small boxes of raisins. Items can be placed in the bin outside the church office or in the designated bin in the Narthex. If you prefer, you can order online for delivery to the church. The targeted date to receive your donations is January 23, 2022. Packing for the Back Sack Program will be on January 30, 2022, after the 10:00 a.m. service. The Compassion Packing Team will have the items set up in assembly-lines in the Parish Hall. We will pack 675 bags each containing 9 items. All youth and adults are invited to be part of the packing line. Upcoming dates for your calendar
January 16, 11:00 a.m. | Packing for Shepherd Center January 17, 6:30 a.m. | Women's LIFT Group, Bar Louie January 22, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m. | Communion Workshop (article above) January 23, 10:00 a.m. | Communion Recognition January 30, 11:00 a.m. | Packing Back Sacks for Carmel School Children February 6, 11:00 a.m. | Annual Meeting of the Parish March 5, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. | Lenten Retreat Day |