Announcements for the week of October 26, 2008

Twenty-fourth 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.

Consecration Services - Thanksgiving Potluck Supper
All members will have the opportunity to submit our Estimates of giving for 2009 during our Consecration Services on November 1 and November 2. Sunday Services on November 2 will be combined with a 9:30 gathering to hear Susan Medina’s (wife of Rev. Ernesto Medina) thoughts on Christian Stewardship and to share a Thanksgiving meal together following the service. During that meal, we’ll give report of our 2009 Estimate of Giving collection from the members of this great church. Cards are available in church this weekend, a mailing will go out this week as well and we’ll be calling the parish roster this weekend. If you are able to bring something for the meal-the following is the plan for our potluck meal (with a minor change from last week). In any case, please sign our clipboard so we know how many to expect.
If your last name begins with:

A-F: Desserts

G-L: Salads, Fruit, or Relish Tray

M-P: Meat Casserole or Chicken or Beef or Potato

Q-R: Chips/Dips, Bread, Muffins, etc.

S-Z: Veggie Dish, Vegetarian Casserole

YOUTH
Attention Youth; Today we’ll be going to the Bellevue Pumpkin Patch (5-7:30pm) for our annual Haunted Hayrack Ride, there will be hot dogs, s’mores and LOTS of “spooktacular” FUN! There is a cost of $4 per person for this event (the Youth Group will cover the rest). Please call Wendy Lee @ 214-5001 with any questions. Be sure to come bundled up and ready to have fun!

CHRISTIAN ED OPPORTUNITIES

COMMUNICATIONS
Women of the church: Please mark your calender now for our annual Ladies’ Holiday Luncheon, December 13 in the Undercroft. We begin the feast at 11:30. You are welcome to bring anybody with you, and all we need from you is a salad, a dessert, or bread. This year, we ask for your input as to who should be our “Woman of Spirit” at church. Please write your suggestion on a slip of paper and drop it in the box on the Secret Sister table in the Undercroft. (Also, at this luncheon this year’s secret sisters will be revealed and next year’s chosen, if you wish to participate.) As usual, very brave men are heartily welcomed! Children, too, tho we may not have a babysitter.

Reminder: Deadline for the Advent issue of the Flame is Sunday, Nov 2. Pictures of the Renaissance Faire and the picnic are needed. Black and white is good, but we’ll take what we can ger (and return them later). If anyone has other pictures you’d like to see in the paper, we’ll use all we can. We’re working on making them clearer and better. Any help with that would be much appreciated.

The Flame needs a photo person to help with final copy photographs (produced on the office copier). If you can help, you will receive another star in your crown!

Be Bold!! Join the greeting Ministry!! Members of this ministry connect with people by making them feel welcome as they enter church. The goal is to welcome every single person who walks through the door with a warm handshake and smile. You can sign up on the clipboard located on the clipboard table. The time commitment is minimal: a briefing on the new greeter process and being “at the door” 15 minutes prior to the service you signed up for. Make a difference in someone’s life today!

Anyone interested in being an Acolyte please call or email Christine Brockinton, 291-1274 or scbamanda@cox.net.

The CHS Shop “Dollar Off Days”
For the month of October all religious items over $5 will be one dollar less - ie: prayer books, religious jewelry, episcopal items, cookbooks, aprons, house blessings and more (excluded are all consignment items from our parishioners. We need to give them the monies earned by their items. Reva & Ruth are looking for new shop manager(s). The person(s) would open the shop after the 10:30am service - and we will give the new person training . Interested people, please stop by the shop and we will explain more fully about the job. Questions? Call Ruth at 291-1437.

If you contribute to the United Way Please help the Fricke
Pantry financially by designating your United Way giving to the Dean Fricke Memorial Episcopal Food Pantry Inc., Trinity Episcopal Cathedral, 113 N. 18th St.. Omaha, NE 68102 - 342-7013. We are not on the list, so ask your United Way volunteer for a Donor Designation form. Fill in the space for a non-affiliated agency indicating Episcopal Food Pantry. You do not need an ID#, even though the form may ask for it. To ensure proper credit, please check the box to receive acknowledgment of your contribution. United Way funds are important to this mission of the Omaha-area Episcopal churches – in the year 2006 the Fricke Pantry received over $16,500.00 from this source. For Federal Employees: Please help the Dean Fricke Pantry by designating your Combines Federal Campaign giving to the Dean Fricke Memorial Episcopal Food Pantry (address & phone number above). The Fricke Pantry is part of the Combined Federal Campaign. All Federal employees can now designate our pantry, a mission of the Omaha-areal Episcopal churches, on their CFC pledge forms. To insure proper credit. Please check the box to receive acknowledgment of your contribution. Our CFC # is 41889.

A big thanks to all our bakers who participated in our baking the last two Saturday’s! We are at the finishing stage of our baking, and I have to say we have a lot of tasty cookies, breads and candies. If you are able to give a few hours or more to help sell our baked goodies on November 1, please contact Karen Sterzer or Charlotte Austin. We hope to see all our parishioners partaking in the “Holiday Express” to show their support for all the hard work put into our baking. And of course don’t forget we will have crafters set up with their unique holiday gifts for family, friends and teachers. Admission is free, so don’t miss out on this holiday event held by your church! We will also be selling the Younker’s Community Day tickets. We have less than 10 to sell before we get to get a percentage of the tickets sold in the store (4000+).

The Chapel Altar Flowers for this week are given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for their granddaughter Ava Austin’s fourth birthday by Hank and Charlotte Austin.

Our prayers of thanksgiving are offered with those who are celebrating birthdays this week, especially: Walt Davis (Oct 27), Nancy Beitenman (28), Trudy Conley (30), Christine Brockinton (Nov 1).