Announcements for the week of December 14, 2008

Third Sunday of Advent

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 AND VISITORS
Please feel free to join us at the communion rail when it is time to receive Holy Communion. Our ushers and any member will be happy to assist if you have any questions during our worship. Jesus loves you! We are glad you are here.

YOUTH

CHRISTIAN ED OPPORTUNITIES

ATTENTION! The Christmas Program is today, December 14. It will take place during the 10:30 service.

COMMUNICATIONS

100 Reasons We Give to CHSPlease submit your reason(s) why you Give to CHS on a 3x5 card - state why you give to CHS or why you come to CHS - what does CHS mean to you? We’ll print all submissions in the next issue of the Flame. You can submit more than one card! Please find extras and put your completed cards in the small bag sitting on the “clip board” table in the undercroft.
Time and Talents for 2009
Please submit your Time and Talents sheet for 2009, letting us know what ministry’s you are or would like to participate in. There are sheets on the clipboard table and a box to put them. In addition there is a copy on the website at http://www.chsepiscopal.org/programs/index.html
Update on Estimate of Giving Collection
God bless the 66 members/families of this community who have submitted an Estimate of Giving for 2009! We are very close to meeting our goal of 70! For all new members and existing members who haven’t given your estimates, we hope you will take this opportunity to support the budgeting process and submit your estimate within this week. If you are planning to give to the church in 2009, submitting an estimate at this time will make a world of difference for the entire community. Please see Ruth Richter, Stewardship Commissioner with any questions you have.

We will not serve at Francis House in December. They are having a special event on our night to serve. (We will serve in Jan.).

An Opportunity to be Christ’s Hands in the World - We will be gathering donations for two Habitat families through Dec 22. Due to the economy, we will be purchasing a gift certificate from Walmart for one family to enable them to buy food and other items as needed. We will be donating money to Habitat to help pay the mortgage payment of the other. There is a tree in the undercroft with gift tags on it. Please give whatever you wish; no amount is too small. If you place a check in the collection plate, please note Habitat Christmas on it. If you have questions, see Jan Sinram (291-8235).

This is the last weekend for the “Penny Drive” for Grace Episcopal church in Galveston TX. Please have your children bring in pennies, empty your pockets and lets give their Sunday School children a Christmas gift from our children. Canisters are available throughout the church.

Next Sunday, December 21 we will have Sunday School and we will have a baby shower for Jesus! Please have your child bring an unwrapped baby item. (Anything is fine. Dollar Tree has a nice assortment of baby hygiene things and blankets and newborn items). We will wrap them and take them to the Open Door Mission. There will be games, and refreshments. “Lunch and Listen” is also Dec 21, bring some sandwiches to share, we will have drinks, and chips. The program will start 15-20 minutes after church is over. Questions? See Kristi Smith.

It’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year! Please plan to join us for our 4th Annual Youth Christmas Caroling event on Wednesday, December 17 from 6:30 pm to 8:30 pm. CHS Youth grades 5th through 12th, Journeys Youth and friends and family of all are welcome to come and spread the joy of Christmas in our CHS neighborhood. We will meet at CHS at 6:30 pm for a brief “warm up” and then head out into the neighborhood for caroling. We’ll return to pizza, soda and goodies. A sign up sheet will be passed at this week’s services and Journey’s classes so we can plan the food appropriately. For more information please contact Kristi Smith or Jennifer Wilson. See you there!

Advent Lessons and Carols at St. Barnabas Church; St. Barnabas church warmly invites you to attend its annual Festival of Advent Lessons and Carols this afternoon, beginning at 4:00 pm. A reception will follow the service in the Church Undercroft. Saint Barnabas Anglican church is located at 40th and Davenport Streets in Omaha (one block north of Dodge). Additional parking is available on either 39th St. Or 41st St., one block east or west of the church respectively.

The CHS Shop “Dollar Off Days” For the month of December all religious items over $5 will be $3 dollars 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.

Vestry Nominations
Each year the vestry seeks out members of our parish who feel called to take an active role in the leadership of our community and who are willing to fill vestry positions being vacated as other’s term of service comes to an end. If you think God is calling you to serve in this capacity, or you see this gift in a member of our parish, please contact Dean Olander or Fr. Tom.

Our prayers of thanksgiving are offered with those who are celebrating birthdays this week, especially: Christopher Westman (Dec 14), Del Hazelip (19).

Our prayers of thanksgiving are also offered with those who are celebrating wedding anniversaries this week, especially: The Revs. Bob & Catherine Scott (Dec 14), Todd & Pam Thatcher, Aaron & Cynthia Knop (Dec 18).

The Nave Presence Candle for the month of December was given to the glory of God and in memory of Stu Campbell, by the Rice and Vassar families.

The Nave Presence Candle for this month was given to the glory of God and in thanksgiving for his wonderful wife Pat, by Howard Tarleton.