Announcements for the week of August 10, 2008

Thirteenth Sunday after Pentecost

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 NEWCOMERSYou 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.

Diocesan Women’s Ministry Event: Saturday, August 16, 9am-4pm, at St. Augustine’s in Elkhorn

YOUTH

Happening Weekend for youth in grades 9-12 will be Labor Day weekend at St. Luke’s in Kearney.

CHRISTIAN ED OPPORTUNITIES

Sunday School starts Sunday, September 7, at 9:30am. Registration forms are in the basket on the table in the undercroft. It will be an exciting, memorable God filled year. Teachers are always needed and helpers are always needed. If this is your calling please see Kristi Smith or Mother Ruth. The adult class will begin on Sunday, September 7 also.

Education for Ministry, affectionately known as EFM, will resume in September. You will find that EFM teaches you how to think theologically, deepens your faith and your understanding of our Christian heritage, and provides you with a new confidence to be Christ’s minister. For more information please speak with Mother Ruth or the co-mentors: Marian Barnett and Joan Wood.

Our third Annual appearance in the Arrows to Aerospace parade is about 2 weeks away. (Saturday, August 23) Last year many of you graciously donated water bottles and hard candy. We are asking for that help again this year. Bags of candy (no chocolate, except little tootsie rolls please). Also, water is a necessity! Please leave all donations on the counter in the Christian Ed Office and if that becomes full, water can go on the floor.

Wednesday Journeys
Wednesday Journeys starts again on August 27, at 6:30pm at St. Martha’s in Papillion. Second stop this year will be at Church of the Holy Spirit, and the Spring will find us back at St. Luke’s. Youth, grade 6 and up are welcome. If you are not already a part of Journeys and would like to join us for food, fellowship and fun every Wednesday during the school year see Kristi Smith or Jan Sinram. We also need teachers. Training will be offered in mid August, please pray about this and speak with Mother Ruth or Jan Sinram if you would like to know more.

COMMUNICATIONS

Tri Faith Panel Discussion, Sunday, August 17, 12:30-1:30pm, at St. Martha’s in Papillion. Panelists will include members of all three faith groups (Jewish, Islam and Episcopalians). If you have questions, speak to Mother Ruth.

We will not have Wednesday morning Eucharist on August 13, 20, and 27. The Eucharist will resume again on September 3.

Lay Readers please notice! Mary Ruth is working on the new list of readers and will send it by email ASAP. Please check and let her know if there are any corrections. We’d like to have a final list by September. A few people have had to stop lay reading. They will not receive a list. If you don’t get one and still want to be included, let Mary Ruth know. Thanks for all your good work.

Daughters of the King: We will soon meet to plan for our new year of prayer and service. Have you given your dues to Toby? If not, please do so....we’re late!

Prayer Chains: There are three ways you can ask for prayers: write our request on the biddings list which is kept in the rear of the sanctuary before each service or call it in to the church office, call Trudy Conley (291-7793 to be put on the telephoned list of prayers, or call Toby Wingert (291-6257) to be on the Daughters of the King prayer list. Do all three, if you’d like. We want to be able to pray for your concerns. All we need is a name (first will do) and a category (ill, other concerns, etc.). You need not go into detail.

The Psalter: The book of Psalms was the hymnal of old Israel. These poems represent about a thousand years of history and just about every religious feeling a people could have. Written by many different poets, they cover everything from inexpressible anguish to unspeakable joy. Jesus knew them well. The Wednesday Morning Bible Class will begin studying them September 3. We hope you can come and join us at 10:15, after the Eucharist on Wednesdays. A study Bible will be helpful but not necessary.

Please Support Our Annual CHS Open House and Parish Picnic!
Please invite your friends, family and colleagues to our Annual CHS Open House and Parish Picnic, and share the love of Jesus Christ and the joy of your Episcopal faith with others We’ll hold our Annual Open House the weekend of September 13 and 14, 2008 at your regularly scheduled service times of 5 pm Saturday, 8 am or 10:30 am Sunday. Then, we’ll hold our fun and food filled Parish Picnic beginning at 12 noon Sunday the 14th that will include a potluck, a face painter, bounce house, and more. Watch the bulletin and your weekly e-mails for information regarding formal printed invites you can use to share with others, the potluck “letter” assignments and we’ll also pass a sign up sheet during services to help us determine our headcount to purchase chicken as our main course for the picnic. If you’re interested in providing assistance to this important effort, which involves almost every aspect of our parish to prepare for, please see Lynda Wyant or email her at lwyant@cox.net. We look forward to seeing you there!

Search Committee Update: Our parish profile and rector opening advertisement have been publicized for about six weeks now, and we have received applications from several interested priests. Our evaluation and interview process are currently drafted and should be finalized within the next two weeks. Very soon thereafter, we will begin the interviews and other steps toward narrowing the field, with the goal of having a final recommendation list for the vestry established by September. We continue to be pleased with both the quality of the candidates and the progress we’ve made along the path toward hiring a new rector. As always, if you have any questions, feel free to ask Vic Culp, Helen Moffett, or any other member of the search committee.

3D (Diet, Discipline, Discipleship) Program
The 3 D group meeting has been postponed until Saturday, September 6, at 10am, in the conference room. Anyone interested please contact Pat Tarleton at 292-8684. This is a wonderful way to have fun and fellowship and is also a great learning experience!


Lay Eucharistic Visitors and those interested in making pastoral calls: Please let Mother Ruth know if you might be interested in visiting people who are home bound or in the hospital. We will have a training in July for those who might want to explore what this ministry is all about. Mother Ruth has a Master’s degree in Pastoral Ministry so this might be the right time for any parishioners to learn more about this ministry and discern if you are being called to do this important job within the church.

The Nave Altar Flowers for last week were given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for their marriage, by Joan & Dean Olander.

Our prayers of thanksgiving are offered with those who are celebrating birthdays this week, especially: Kristen Thatcher (Aug 13).

Our prayers of thanksgiving also are offered with those who are celebrating wedding anniversaries this week, especially: Phil & Sandi Scarbrough, Bruce & Carla Smith (Aug 11), Ken & Tracy Gomeringer (14).