Announcements for the week of
December 18, 2016
Congregational News
Quick Dates
Campus Ministry Services every Sunday at 6pm
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
Monday, Dec 26- Monday, Jan 2: OFFICE CLOSED, voice and email will be monitored
Greening the Church!
Please Save Your Greenery clippings this week for the greening of the church! Greenery can be brought to St. Stephen’s between this Sunday Dec 18 and Friday Dec 23. A crew will be decorating on the 23rd. If you have questions please contact Jerrie Cribb at 614-451-4053
In addition, if you wish to submit names for Christmas Memorials, envelopes will be in the pews this Sunday, or you can email the Parish Office with your list of names (parishoffice@ststephens-columbus.org). For printing in the Christmas Eve bulletins, names are due by 2pm on Wednesday, December 21. Any names received after that will be printed in subsequent bulletins through the Christmas season.
AWAKE/AWARE
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!).
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.
Year End Financials
Please make sure that any financial gifts including pledge payments for calendar year 2016 are postmarked on or before December 31st, placed in the offering plate no later than Sunday, December 25th , or hand-delivered to the church office by making arrangements with the Parish Administrator at (614) 294-3749 in advance.
The IRS requires that all pledges or donations collected on the first Sunday in January (whether they are intended for your 2016 pledge AND regardless of the check date) be reported as 2017 contributions for income tax purposes. If you have any questions about this, please contact Wayne Sheppard at awsheppard@lovelandlaw.net , or 614-928-9107.
In memory of Trudy Bush
A memorial service in thanksgiving for the life of Trudy Bush will be held Thursday, December 29, 2017 at 1:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church. A light reception will follow. In lieu of flowers memorial contributions may be sent to:
This progressive Christian magazine is where Trudy spent the happiest 13 years of her professional life.
Trudy had a life-long love of elephants. The National Resources Defense Council has set up this fund to fight the world’s illegal ivory trade.
Friends of Sabeel, North America
Sabeel is a Christian Palestinian peace, justice and reconciliation center in Jerusalem. This North American organization supports its work.
A gift in her name to the Church, Synagogue or Mosque you attend.
Please continue to hold Elliott Bush, Karl Stevens, and the whole family in your prayers.
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 today, we’ve collected 450 boxes of potatoes (our goal)! NSI will gladly accept any more that come in this Sunday, Dec 18.
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 at 614-268-5807. They would really appreciate it.
BREAD NEWS
On Monday Dec. 12, several members of St. Stephen’s attended the BREAD research kick-off. At the two-hour meeting, we spent the first hour talking through the BREAD research process. Briefly, we are looking to identify issues that are (1) popular (to be sure that the BREAD congregations will get behind the issue); (2) unifying (something that all congregations can agree will move the community forward); (3) win-able (specific and within the jurisdiction of a local official); (4) building the organization (something to increase the credibility and power of BREAD); and (5) controversial (someone is profiting from the injustice).
Following that discussion, we split into four groups, each group focused on a particular issue. Kaethe Sandman joined the group working on Restorative Justice (RJ). This is a revisit to an issue that BREAD promoted in 2011-2012, and Judge Elizabeth Gill from Franklin County Juvenile Court set up multiple RJ circles in certain Columbus neighborhoods. The goal was to identify first time juvenile offenders with misdemeanors and to divert those youths from detention to a community RJ circle. In the ensuing years, the circles have been active to very different degrees. They work well and are well-regarded, but very few cases are being referred to RJ. The BREAD initiative this year will focus on this in two ways: (1) to review the RJ circles and determine if the program can be saved and promoted to wider use; and (2) to work with Columbus City Schools to implement aspects of restorative justice in the schools.
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
