Congregational News
Quick Dates
Campus Ministry Services every Sunday at 6pm
Wednesday, December 14: 6:30pm Book Club at the home of Kaitlin Raver
Saturday, December 17: Pageant Rehearsal 10am-noon
Sunday, December 18: AWAKE Christmas Pageant at the 10:30am service
Saturday, December 24: Christmas Eve Services 4pm and 9pm
Sunday, December 25: Christmas Service 4pm followed by potluck
AWAKE/AWARE
Sunday, December 11-Carolyn Baginski leads ‘MAKE’, where our AWAKE and AWARE children create art in the ways that only they can….(of course, helped along by Carolyn…).
SUNDAY, December 18, at 10:30 am……the Annual AWAKE Christmas Pageant, entitled ‘A Voice from Prison’, will be presented by the children and youth of St. Stephen’s.
-NOTE; there will be a rehearsal for the Pageant on Saturday morning, December 17, from 10:00 am until noon. Breakfast will be served, and costumes will be fitted.
Please note that there will be NO AWAKE or AWARE on the Sundays of December 25 and January 1 due to the Holidays.
AWAKE/ AWARE photos from past years are on display in the sanctuary, presented by Chris Donaldson (as she has done for seven years!).
Book Club News
The December Book Club meeting will be on Wednesday, December 14, 2016 at 6:30 PM at Kaitlin Raver’s home. Kindly let Kaitlin know in advance if you plan to attend. We’ll share a potluck super followed by the book discussion. Please bring something to share (main dish, side dish, dessert, beverage). And, instead of a book, we’ll all bring a poem to share (a favorite, one that moves you, something new you’ve discovered — you decide). Everyone is welcome. In January we’ll be sharing books that we would like to read in 2017, so please start thinking about what you’d like to suggest.
Christmas Service Schedule
Christmas Eve -Holy Communion -Saturday, December 24
4:00 pm Family Friendly Service
9:00 pm Festive Eucharist with Choir and light incense
Christmas Day -Sunday, December 25
NO MORNING SERVICE
4:00 pm Christmas Day Eucharist -simple service of Holy Communion welcoming the Christ Child followed by “Encore Potluck”, bring your leftover festive goodies to share. Wassail will be provided.
Service Opportunities
NSI Donations for November/December
Now NSI is getting ready for Christmas. We’ve been asked to donate 450 boxes of potatoes, any kind. As of Sunday, the total of boxed potatoes donated is 377. They should be at church by Sunday, December 18.
If you adopted a child or children for Christmas gifts. THE GIFTS NEED TO BE AT CHURCH BY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 11. If you have any questions, contact Carolyn Vander Stouw
Parishioner in Need: Used Car
Due to unforeseen circumstances, Liz and TJ Hecker are in need of a good, used car. They are working with a budget of $3,500. If you have a lead on a vehicle please call them. They would really appreciate it.
BREAD News
Monday December 12th is the BREAD research kick-off, 7:00 pm at First Congregational UCC (444 E. Broad St.). At this event, the first hour will be spent discussing the BREAD research process, and the second hour will be time for the committees working on the various problems to meet individually. The current campaigns are crime, jobs for people with criminal records, the municipal ID, and restorative justice.
BREAD has raised $105,000 toward the goal of $120,000 in the investment drive because of individual commitments. It is not too late to make your own contribution to the work of justice in our city. Mail a check to BREAD at 404 S. 3rd St., Columbus 43215.
BREAD events for 2017
April 3 — Rally
May 1 — Nehemiah Action (the BIG one at the fairgrounds)
Holiday Project Christmas Day Visit
For the past 21 years, members of St Stephen’s and our Columbus community have visited patients at the Moritz Forensic Center on Christmas Day as part of the Holiday Project. We share cookies, lead them in singing and most importantly talk with them. Don Farrow is the person who started this wonderful ministry. We will be there on Christmas Day from 12:30 pm to 3:00 pm.
If you have not joined us in the past, you will need to have a background check completed by Dec 9th. Call Maureen Fahy 614-641-4326 to set up a time to complete that background check.
If you can join us, please contact Kathy Sellers 614-425-5500 or kasellers@aol.com
Thank you,
Kathy
Around Town and Beyond
Refresh Your Soul Conference
Exciting news! ERS Parish Health Ministry (PHM) and Xavier University (XU) are partnering to present two days devoted to dementia care.
Refresh Your Soul 2017 – Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Overcoming the Struggles & Living Inspired: Monday, March 13, 2017 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. &
XU Dementia Care Summit: Tuesday, March 14, 2017 8 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Location for both events: The Cintas Center at Xavier University
For more information or to download a printable flyer to share, please visit parishhealthministry.com/rys
Reminder: If you’re mailing something to the church, especially time-sensitive materials, we recommend using the PO Box! St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, PO Box 82263
Columbus, OH 43202