Announcements for the week of December 21, 2008

Fourth 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.

Please help us celebrate the birth of Jesus by attending one of our three Christmas services. On Christmas Eve, services will begin at 7pm and 11pm. (Bring an appetizer or goodie to share at our between services party). Our Christmas morning service (without music) will begin at 10am.

Weather and Office Hours: With the change in weather, it is once again time to remind you that if the Bellevue Schools are closed, the church office will be closed. To see if weather or road conditions impact our weekend services please check our website and watch KETV’s scrolling closures for the latest updates.

YOUTH

CHRISTIAN ED

COMMUNICATIONS

The Bishop is Coming!! The Bishop is Coming!!
Mark your calendars now – the bishop will be here at CHS on Sunday, January 11th, at 5 pm to preside at a service to celebrate Fr. Tom’s installation as our new rector. A short reception will follow. Childcare will be provided.

Layreaders, Please Note: Please sign up for readings at the Christmas services if you wish to do this. We have several places left to fill. Also, your new schedule for the caring of the robes will be up before the new year. Most of you only have one duty time. Please check when you’re in the sacristy. A copy will be left on the bulletin board for a while. As always, thanks for your good work!

Please note: There will be no Tai Chi until Jan. 7.

Wednesday Morning Bible Study will meet again on Jan. 7

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).

There will be Sunday School today and remember today we will have a baby shower for Jesus!“Lunch and Listen” is also today! The program will start 15-20 minutes after church is over.

Estimates of Giving for 2009
God bless the 71 members/families of this community who have submitted an Estimate of Giving for 2009! We are very close to meeting our goal of 70! Our first draft of the 2009 budget is estimating an $11,000 shortfall so of course we would appreciate receiving new Estimates of Giving. Wouldn’t it be a blessing to being the New Year with a balanced budget? All new members and existing members who are planning to give to the church in 2009 and haven’t yet completed an estimate of giving card, we hope you will take this opportunity to do that. Please see Ruth Richter, Stewardship Commissioner with any questions you have.
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 surveys on the clip board table and a box to put them. In addition, there is a copy on the web site at htt://www.chsepiscopal.org/programs/index.html.
100 Reasons We Give to CHS
Did you turn in an estimate of giving card? Why? Take a moment to tell us on a 3x5 card and we will print the submissions in the next issue of the Flame. Tell us why you give ti CHS or why you come to CHS - what does CHS mean to you? You can submit more than one card! Stop and read the reasons our members give on the display - be sure yours in noted. Cards are available and being collected at the “clip board” table in the undercroft.

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.

Thank You!
Several people said to me last Sunday after the Christmas Program: “You did it again” “Best ever,” and several other heart warming compliments. A director is only as good as the people she has helping her. If you think about it, I really did nothing. I owe the success of the pageant to so many people. I hope I can thank everyone who helped and supported me. I need to start with the children. I love them all and I call them my kids. They were wonderful, well mannered, and calm. They listened and responded to all the adults, I was so very proud of them. Thanks to all the parents who helped them practice and read with them through the week. Our new organist was amazing. I literally dumped everything on her Sunday morning and she played on cue. Thanks so much Jolene! To Lynda Wyant, Kim Culp, Cathy Talmadge, Terri Storm, Lori Stevens, and Pam Chisam, as usual you all had smiles on your faces and a sense of humor. It seems as though the Christian Education Department has their own personal youth pianist. To Abby Culp for always being willing to play or sing when needed. Thanks to Jane Stangl for spending three hours with me on Friday preparing costumes. Every costume was ironed and matched, I matched, she ironed! I want to thank Fr. Tom for being so supportive and letting me go with the plans that were started. I for one feel like this parish has been blessed two fold with the addition of Fr. Tom and Sharon. God Bless each and every one of you and may you all have a blessed Christmas and a New Year full of peace and joy! Kristi Smith

Our prayers of thanksgiving are offered with those who are celebrating birthdays this week, especially: Nichole McGruder (Dec 23), Corrine Cosgrove (24), Shirley Cummings, Cathy Westman (26).

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.

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.

Members of the Vestry
A gentle reminder.....Annual Reports are due no later than Jan 7th. Please check your mailboxes for last years reports. Thank you! Judy