Congregational News
Quick Dates
Sunday, Jan 15: after the 10:30 service Farewell Coffee Hour for Meghan
AWAKE/AWARE
Sunday, January 15-AWAKE/ AWARE starts up, with lessons about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Sunday, January 22-AWAKE will be SERVE, with Rachael Smith again leading our group to create food for someone in need in our church community.
MAKE returns, with Carolyn Baginski guiding us to make the coolest art anywhere.
Lent starts March 1 (already?????), which means we will continue our tradition of the annual AWAKE Trade-In Bake Sale, where we will make baked goodies, and the congregation brings in non-food items for those in need. Uma Harris and Aurianna Hobson will lead the five week event this year.
FINALLY……………thanks to everyone for helping and participating in the AWAKE Christmas Pageant this past Christmas. In spite of the weather, etc., it went very well, and many people complimented our children and program. Many also said that it was especially significant that it was on Christmas. Truly, it was a very special event.
Christmas/Epiphany Offering
In this season of light breaking into the darkness of our lives, we have decided to expand the season of giving to include the weeks of Epiphany following Christmas. Please use one of the Christmas offering envelopes found in the pews or simply mark your check “Christmas/Epiphany offering”. This year the proceeds will be divided between refugee assistance and “Street News”, a project of the Coalition for the Homeless that employs 50 people to both write and personally sell the news on Columbus’ streets in order to prevent homelessness for those on the economic edge.
2017 Leadership Nominations Open
It’s that time of year again! We are currently accepting nominations for Vestry Members and Convention Delegates through January 29. You may nominate yourself or someone else (though please make sure you’ve spoken to that person first!) by placing a nomination form in the offering plate. As many candidates as would like can run for these positions. A quick description of the jobs and number of openings follows:
Vestry: 4 positions open
Vestry members are responsible for directing the business of the church. Meetings are once per month or by special schedule. A full Vestry term lasts 3 years.
Convention Delegate: 5 positions open (4 delegates, 1 alternate)
Convention Delegates and alternate attend the Diocesan Convention held the second weekend of November as a body to vote on the business of the Diocese for the coming year and to share in fellowship with other congregations of the Diocese. Convention for 2017 will be held in Dayton and expenses are covered by St. Stephen’s.
In Memory of Rawleigh Emmons
Word has reached us that our friend Rawleigh Emmons died on Tuesday in Arizona. Arrangements are still pending.
May angels surround him, and saints welcome him in peace.
Service Opportunities
NSI Donations for January
For the rest of December and all of January we will be collecting cans of soup.
During the cold winter months there’s a special need for new or gently used winter clothing such as coats or jackets, hats and gloves or mittens or all sizes for men, women, and children.
Some interesting stats for December at Neighborhood Services, Inc.: 1,208 family visits, 4,014 individuals served, 82 Produce Market visits, 447 Christmas Baskets of food distributed, 619 children provided with Christmas gifts through NSI donors, and 461 children provided gifts through partnership with Firefighters for Kids.
BREAD News
BREAD and the “Welcome Columbus” initiative appeared on the front page of the Columbus Dispatch on Tuesday January 10.
This article describes the work of BREAD in advocating for a local identification card, as well as some concerns from those opposed to the measure.
Benefitting NSI: 2nd Chili Cook Off – Saturday, Jan. 28th 5-7 pm
This year we’ll be at The Commissary – 1400 Dublin Road 43215 – with more room for more Chili and a bar of Actual Brewing Beers for purchase. We’ll have twice the fun with a popular vote winner AND a Souper Famous Judges Panel winner. (Stay tuned as we reveal our panel of judges and the awesome prizes!)
Enter your Chili
Fill out this form (click through and scroll down a bit) and enter your chili into the line up. You’ll bring a family-sized slow cooker full of any chili you want to enter, beef, turkey, vegetarian, mild, hot, white. Whatever you call Chili, we call Chili. (That doesn’t mean the judges will … but you get it.)
No chili to enter but want to try them all and be a part of choosing the winner?! Just come join us and dine on all the free chili and bread you’d like and take advantage of this opportunity to pay it forward in our Donation Slow Cooker to Neighborhood Services.
Around Town and Beyond
Hospice Volunteering 101
If you are interested in becoming a hospice volunteer whether at the bedside or behind the scenes, join us for a special panel discussion. A group of Mount Carmel Hospice volunteers will discuss their roles and contributions then answer your questions. The session can help you find the best way to serve your community at end-of-life. Please join us on February 7 from 1 pm to 2 pm or on February 21 from 6 pm to 7pm at the Mount Carmel Hospice and Palliative Care Center. Register by calling 234-LIFE (5433).
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