Holiday Office Hours
The Parish Office will be CLOSED Wednesday, Nov 25 and Thursday, Nov 26 for the holiday. Regular office hours will resume on Monday, Nov 30.
Faith will be away from Tuesday, Nov 24 through Saturday, Nov 28. In the case of a pastoral emergency, please contact Deacon Sherm Everett at Everett.sherm@gmail.com
Upcoming Congregational Activities
Sunday, November 29: at 10:30am service: Service of Lessons & Carols
Sunday, November 29: after the 10:30am service: Viewing and Discussion of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry’s Installation Sermon
Friday, December 4: EASE Gallery Discord and Discourse: Exhibition Opens: Preview 2-6; Artist Talk 6-7; followed by Reception 7-9.
Tuesday, December 8: 11am-4pm Red Cross Blood Drive in Hobson Hall
Wednesday, December 9: 6:30pm Book Club at the home of Nancy McCracken
Monday, December 12: 10am-12pm Christmas Pageant Rehearsal for all interested youth
Sunday. December 13: at the 10:30am service: Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 20: at the 10:30am service: Holy Baptism -Gretchen Strauss
Sunday, December 20: after the 10:30am service: Potluck and AWAKE art exhibit
AWAKE, AWARE, ALIVE
AWAKE Christmas Pageant will be Sunday, December 13. It is entitled, ‘All in the Family’. Come and celebrate Advent and the holidays with this great presentation by the AWAKE children.
-NOTE; there will be a rehearsal for the AWAKE Pageant on Saturday, December 12, 2015, from 10:00 am until 12 noon. Breakfast will be served, and costuming will be fitted.
The third annual AWAKE Art Exhibit will be held on two Sundays, which are December 20 & 27, 2015. Children are HIGHLY encouraged to display their artistic expressions those Sundays. Drawings, paintings, photography, etc. can be submitted. Our AWAKE photographer, Chris Donaldson, will display Photos from the AWAKE Pageant. Let me know what you can bring.
AWAKE/ AWARE Advent potluck dinner, Sunday, December 20. Parents and children/ teens/ youth, etc…………what can you bring?!? Our St. Stephen’s church community will also be celebrating the Baptism of Gretchen Strauss that Sunday morning as well. Fellowship AND FUN, AND FOOD.
Thanks for Giving: Stewardship Update
What would you do with $200 each month?
At St. Stephen’s, that’s the average amount that 44 of our members have pledged to give in 2016. Some have pledged $10 or $25 per month, and others are able to give more. Each represents the giver’s commitment to the mission and ministry of St. Stephen’s. We are grateful for every one of these gifts.
Have you made your pledge yet?
So far, our pledge commitments total $113,000. That’s not quite enough to maintain our ministry and outreach. Your pledge could ensure that we continue to teach children, reach out to college students, and serve those in need. Your pledge can make a difference in the life of our church and–more importantly—in the lives of those we serve.
If you have already made your 2016 pledge, thank you.
If you are still thinking about your gift or pledge, join us! Please consider returning a pledge form this Sunday, November 29. We are counting on you.
NSI Updates
NSI is getting ready for Christmas. St. Stephen’s will be collecting boxes of potatoes, 500 of any kind. The potatoes need to be at church by Sunday, Dec. 13.
Also you can “adopt” a child to buy gifts for Christmas. NSI has requests for gifts for more than 900 children. Under the pulpit is a tree with paper ornaments on it. Each ornament tells the guardian’s name and phone number, the child’s name and age and child’s gift preferences. Also on the ornament are instructions if the gifts should be wrapped and how to label the gifts. NSI is asking that in fairness for our neighbors, many of whom in a family could be adopted by different community members, that you spend approximately $50 per child. As some of you did last year, you might want to go with a friend or another family to buy the gifts. All gifts should be to church by Sunday, December 13.
If you’d rather not shop, you can donate any amount of money. Make out your check to St. Stephen’s with NSI toys on the memo line. All money needs to be at church by Sunday, December 6. Volunteers will be shopping the next day.
Save the Date
St. Stephen’s is Co-Sponsoring the Trinity Institute at St. Philip’s on Woodlawn Ave
January 21-23, 2016
Sacred Conversations for Racial Justice: Explore the more pressing issues of our time: structural racism, mass incarceration and policy change. Come with open ears and leave with a greater capacity go to back into your community and create change!
Book Club News
Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, December 9 at 6:30 PM at Nancy McCracken’s home (8405 Kirkaldy Ct., Dublin, OH 43017, 614-718-1063, nmcc@kent.edu). We will start with a shared meal (please bring a dish or beverage to share), followed by what has become the traditional December sharing of favorite poems. All are invited to bring a poem to share or just come to listen and join in the fellowship. Kindly let Nancy know ahead of time if you plan to attend.
Reflections from a Gated Community art exhibit
Experience a rare glimpse of secluded lives at a December exhibit, Reflections from a Gated Community: Art from Ohio Inmates. This month-long show at High Road Gallery & Studios in Worthington features the work of 30 inmates from the Ohio Women’s Reformatory and Marion Correctional Facility.
High Road Gallery • 12 East Stafford Avenue, Worthington, OH 43085
December 2015 • Opening Reception, December 6, 2-4 p.m.