Announcements for the week of April 27, 2008

Sixth 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

Acolyte training is Sunday, May 4 following the 10:30 service.

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.

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.

YOUTH
Sunday, May 18th, is Senior Sunday, Sunday School Recognition Day and the end of the year party. We hope to have a dunk tank, and a couple of other activities for the children. Please try to attend. Sign up on the clipboard in the undercroft (number of people coming and what you can bring). If there is a graduating senior in your family please give the information to Judy (secretary) ASAP so we can include information about them in that days bulletin. If you would like to make a display board for your senior, there are display boards available in the Christian Education Office. See Kristi Smith for any questions or more details.

Journeys Service Project. The Journeys youth are holding a fund raiser now through May 11th. There is a white container in the entry by the red doors, please put hygiene products (toothbrushes, toothpaste, combs, brushes, mouthwash, lotions and soap) in this container. Also, put diapers, and any clean small stuffed animals or toys. These items will go to a domestic abuse shelter here in Sarpy County. All three churches have containers for donations.

Wednesday Journeys is about over for the year. Wednesday, May 21st, is the last week of Journeys for this year. We will start again September 3rd, at St. Martha’s. On the 21st., we will have a barbecue and talent show at St. Martha’s. Everyone is invited! More information will be coming.

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

An amazing Vacation Bible School will take place June 23-26, 9am - Noon. The sign up has started! There are registration forms in the undercroft. VBS is for ages three, through the fifth grade). The theme is “The Creation”. Please tell your friends and neighbors. If there are older children who would like to help out please see Kristi.

COMMUNICATIONS
Fellowship is in the process of 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!

Rummage Sale - Saturday, June 7thThe 2nd Annual Rummage Sale has been moved to June 7th, so please keep saving those used household, kitchen and other miscellaneous items. We will also accept clean and gently used children’s and adult clothing and are looking for something to hang clothes brought in on a hanger. If you have a suggestion, please let Charlotte Austin or Karen Sterzer know! We are always pleased to accept the help of our parishioners, so please consider volunteering for a few hours and enjoy some fun fellowship!! More information will be coming out regarding the date to start bringing items to the church. All proceeds to go to remodeling the kitchen, last year we brought in over $1,000.00!

Thank You From Jaime
It seems difficult to believe it has been almost 8 weeks since Barb’s death. Words can’t even begin to express my gratitude for all the help, support, and especially love this congregation has expressed to Rachael, me, and Rosemary and Dick. It would have been much more difficult to deal with if we didn’t belong to such a loving and caring family. You are all still so wonderful and I know all I have to do is ask... God Bless, Jaime

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.

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 profes-sionals and other adults who are involved with the case and provides written re-commendations to the Judge at each court hearing. The CASA advocates for the best 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.

Our prayers of thanksgiving are offered with those who are celebrating birthdays this week, especially: Mahlon Chase Sr. (Apr 27), Jennifer Burns, Kevin Burns (30).

Our prayers of thanksgiving are also offered with those who are celebrating wedding anniversaries this week, especially: Doug & Marcia Adams (Apr 27), Del & Kristi Hazelip (30).

Terry and Diana LaCrosse
invite you to a Celebration of their marriage Saturday, May 3, 2008
at Confluence * 505 Cornhusker Road * Bellevue, NE * Anytime between 7-9 P.M.
Casual Dress

New Recycling Receptacles at CHS

Thanks to Phil Scarbrough for arranging to have Sterrett Brothers pick up our recycling waste produced here at the church. The two large black containers outside the fence near the parking lot doors are now strictly used for recycling materials.

Please be sure to use the recycling receptacles we have dedicated for recycling waste, located inside the church: the paper bin is located next to the copy machine, two others are located outside the kitchen door under the mail boxes: one for paper, tin and plastics and the other for aluminum cans. These recycling ma-terials are now picked up by our refuse service and should be emptied in the two large black receptacles outside located near the parking lot door. All glass should be set next to the kitchen-receptacles as it will be taken to an off-site recycling center.

Reminder: Papillion Sanitation stopped picking up household glass for recycling on 1/1/07 (joining Omaha who stopped 1/1/06) and they do not recycle plastic grocery bags!

Most of Bellevue has our household waste picked up by Papillion Sanitation. They will pickup most plastics (noted as 1 thru 7 in the triangle), aluminum, tin and paper that is placed in a recycling bin. They do take motor oil if you put it in a container next to the recycle clearly labeled “USED MOTOR OIL.” If you do not have a recycling bin, or need more than one, call 293-3135. They do not pick up glass, plastic grocery bags or all other hazardous waste.

Since Papillion Sanitation stopped picking up glass for recycling on 1/1/07 (joining Omaha who stopped 1/1/06), you are encouraged to collect your glass and take it to the recycling center. The following are recycling centers for Bellevue residents that accept glass. The closest to Bellevue is South East Drop Off Site called River City Recycling located at 6404 South 60th Street just north of Harrison Street on 60th Street. They are open Monday–Saturday: 8am–4:30pm, in Winter they close at noon on Sat. For directions, take Cornhusker to 48th and take a right, go to Harrison and take a left to south 69th and go right. As an alternative with more flexible hours, you can go to the South West Drop Off Site called Firstar Fiber that is open M-F from 7am to 7pm, located at 10330 I Street. Take 80 W to 84th street exit 448 and go left on 84th. Turn right on F Street to 102nd. Turn left on 102nd and quick right on I Street. A good resource for more recycling information is www.wasteline.org.

To recycle grocery bags you can take them to Wal-Mart-Bellevue and Bakers. Some elementary schools are also recycling grocery bags.

Hazardous Waste
To dispose of paint, batteries and other hazardous waste, take them to Under the Sink located on 4001 So. 120th Street. They have restrictions and limited hours on Wed. – Fri. so be sure to call 444-7465 or go to www.underthesink.org for details.

For more information or to join our efforts see Ruth Richter or Phil Scarbrough who serve as CHS Environmental Stewards.