Announcements for the week of April 13, 2008

The sermon this week will be in a little different form than the usual - I'll be telling a Godly Play story. The story of the Good Shepherd is a one that lends itself well to
being told by this method. I've found that we as adults learn from stories told in different formats so I hope you will enjoy and learn something new about Jesus, the Good
Shepherd during our services on Saturday and Sunday.

Mother Ruth


Fourth Sunday of Easter

MISSION STATEMENT

The Church of the Holy Spirit (Episcopal) shares the love of Jesus through being a friendly community, participating in liturgically rich worship experiences, and by empowering individual ministries.

WORSHIP NEWS

WELCOME NEWCOMERS
You are welcome to join us at the communion rail when it is time to receive Holy Communion. Our ushers and any member are happy to assist if you have any questions during our worship. Jesus loves you! We are glad you are here.

CHRISTIAN ED OPPORTUNITIES

The Sunday School children have done some creative art work lately
and it has been displayed in the undercroft. If there is a problem with having it displayed, please notify Kristi. Please don’t remove it yourself without explaining why it was removed. It upsets the children. Thanks. Kristi

Parents: Our new Sunday School plan was developed to make sure all children could get to Sunday School on time and have a meaningful Sunday School experience. One session starts at 9:30 and one at 10:15. At 10:30 every child present should be in church or Sunday School or if under 3 years old in the nursery. There are three new signs posted today; 1. Asks that no one plays the piano. 2. Asks that no one goes into the Christian Education office without first checking with Kristi. 3. Asks parents to make sure the children clean up when playing with the toys. Please work with us to make sure these requests are met.

YOUTH

Attention Youth! Today, Sunday, April 13, we will gather in the church
undercroft after the 10:30 a.m. service and car pool to Dave & Busters in West Omaha for some lunch and games. Please plan to bring a donation of $5 per child if at all possible to help defray some of our costs. If you plan to come and didn’t get a chance to sign up yet, please call Jennifer Wilson at 933-2991 so we can make sure we have a ride arranged for you. Please join us – it’s going to be lots of fun!

Wednesday Journeys is about over for the year. We plan to have a couple activities this summer. We will start up again on Wednesday, September 10, at St. Martha’s. We are losing at least one and possibly two of our teachers. We will need replacements for them and then we also need a whole new team. A new team will be started for incoming sixth graders, which requires two new instructors. Training will be offered this summer. Please start praying about this and considering it as a new project. Please feel free to contact Jan Sinram or Kristi Smith for more information.

On April 25-27, 2008, Women’ Ministries of the Diocese of
Nebraska is sponsoring a retreat to be held at Saint Benedict Retreat Center in Schuyler, NE. The retreat leader is Deacon Diana Champagne. “The Way, the Truth and the Life” is the theme of the retreat. All women of the diocese are invited to participate. The registration forms are on the bulletin board in the undercroft.

Wednesday Morning Bible Class: Will continue the study of our prayer book. Please join us after the 9:30 Eucharist.

Save this date! Vacation Bible School will be June 23-26, 9am - Noon.

COMMUNICATIONS

Fellowship is in the process on taking inventory of all the tablecloths. Please refrain from buying any tablecloths unless you check with Linda Wyant/ Once the inventory is done, a list will be posted notifying the parish of what colors and sizes we need. Thanks!

CASDA (Coalition Against Sexual and Domestic Abuse of Sarpy) presents The 8th Annual Pancake Feed & Silent Auction Sunday, April 27- 2008- 8:30 am to 12:00 pm-Bellevue volunteer Fire Department-District 4 Station-13501 South 25th Street (25th & Capehart)-Featuring “The Pancake Man” See bulletin board in undercroft for more details.

Please take note! Amy Denman is responsible for keeping the church calendar (and building use) up to date. So when you need to schedule an activity or event, please contact Amy by calling her at 292-3175, or emailing her at briandenman@cox.net.

Alleluia Fund in 2008: Your Gifts in Action Statewide:
At their February meeting, the Executive Commission of the Diocese of Nebraska awarded several Alleluia Fund grants that will help a wide variety of ministries.
• A grant to St. Paul’s in Arapahoe and St. Elizabeth’s in Holdrege will help support revitalizing ministries’ within the two parishes.
• St. Martin of Tours, Omaha received a grant to help the church continue to recover and reach out to the community of South Omaha.
• A grant for Natural church Development is sending out “coaches” to help revitalize parishes throughout the state.
• The Fresh Start Program received a grant to help parishes and clergy who are in a time of transition.
• A grant to the Diocesan Commission on Stewardship will provide materials and help send representatives to the TENS Conference for training. (TENS is an acronym for “The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.)
• Another grant is sending Deanery Youth Coordinators and other children and youth leaders to a faith formation conference.
• St. Monica’s Home is getting help with a funding crisis for its important Adolescent Girls Program.
All of these grants were made possible by the generous giving of parishioners from across the diocese. Please consider making a gift to help the Alleluia Fund grow the Diocese of Nebraska. Remember, your gift automatically doubles in value because of a special grant from the Bishop Clarkson Episcopal Foundation. For more information, visit www.episcopal-ne.org.

Faith Formation Summit- If you are interested in attending a conference on Christian Education and Youth Ministry in Estes Park, Colorado, May 1-3, see Mother Ruth for details.

CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate) is a screened and trained volunteer who is appointed by a Judge to advocate for a child who is under the jurisdiction of the Juvenile Court because of abuse or neglect. A CASA Volunteer must be over the age of 21, be literate, able to pass a background check, and complete 33 hours of training. Each CASA is appointed to work with one family and visits the child(ren) wherever they are placed - at home, with relatives, in foster care or residential placement. The CASA Volunteer also meets with all the professionals and other adults who are involved with the case and provides written recommendations to the Judge at each court hearing. The CASA advocates for the beat interests of the child(ren) and stays involved with the case until the child(ren) are in a safe and permanent home. If you are interested in becoming a CASA, please contact: Sarpy County CASA Program*Sarpy County Courthouse*1210 Golden Gate Drive*Papillion, NE 68046*Phone (402)593-2259, Fax:(402)593-2158*Email: casa@sarpy.com.

Can you help? The church needs to replace its’ aging phone system and phones. Our current system was installed in 1984 and we are living on borrowed time until it totally fails on us. We are looking for donations to cover the $2300 it will take to purchase and have a new system installed. The point of contact is Phil Scarbrough.

You Can Help! All foods donated to food pantries in the months of March and April will be counted, and the Feinstein Foundation will divide $1,000,000 in proportion to the number of donations each pantry receives. Bring your goodies here! We’ll see that they get to the Bellevue pantry. This is too good to miss!

The Church of the Resurrection presents
“The Wesley Dean Memorial Fish & Spaghetti Dinner!”
Saturday, April 26, 2008 - 12:00-6:00pm.
Adults: $9.00 - Children 10 & Under: $4.00.
Dinner includes: whole catfish, spaghetti, cole slaw, cornbread/roll & dessert. Eat in or take out!
3004 Belvedere Blvd., Omaha, NE 68111 phone: 455-7015

GROUNDS

The Church Spring Grounds Clean Up is scheduled for Saturday, April 26. Questions? See Phil Scarbrough.

Our prayers of thanksgiving are offered with those who are celebrating birthdays this week, especially: Savannah Inks (Apr 14), Mamer Marop Mamer (15), Jennifer Cosgrove (16), Alexander Gomeringer (17), Ty Ingle, Glenna McVey, John Parsons (18), Leah Hartman, Kassie Hazelip (19).