Advent is here! What is Advent all about? Come join Father Josh during the Christian Formation time (9:15 am) on December 7th, 14th, and 21st in an exploration of the rich season of Advent. Father Josh promises that it will be informative and fun; there will be talk of the arbitrary nature of time, what God is really up to, and comic books. You do not want to miss this opportunity!

Sunday, December 7, is the day to pick up your greenery. You can go to the Rain Day Room (on the first level of the Parish Building) between the services (9-10:15 am) or after the 10:30 am service to pick up your ordered greenery. If you have any questions, contact Scottie Chastain 704-661-9166.

Let's start at the very beginning - a very good place ("The Sound of Music"). This is true not only for learning to read or to sing, but for getting acquainted with the Bible. On Friday mornings at 7:15 am, beginning on Friday 19th December, Darren Burgess will be leading Beginners' Bible Study. If you're not sure whether this is for you, come and find out. For more information, please contact Darren at 980-297-6322 or [email protected]

We invite any and all to our annual leaf raking event on Saturday, December 6th at 8 am and should be finished by 10:30 am. If you have a rake, blower, and/or tarp, please bring it. Coffee and doughnuts will be served. Rain date will be December 13th. Come enjoy fun and fellowship with your fellow brothers and sisters. Thanks, Thea Mayne ([email protected], 704-609-2859) and Ed Sale ([email protected] 704-661-1995).

Children and Volunteers Invited

to

Saturday, December 20

10:00-1:00 pm

Practice, fun, and lunch included!

Please RSVP to Lillian Richards by 12/15/14

The costumes are being spruced up, the star re-glittered, and parts pondered! Please join us for our Annual Christmas Pageant on December 24th at 4 pm in the church. The pageant will be the first part of the service with Holy Eucharist following. All children are welcome to participate! Please contact Lillian Richards for details at [email protected].

The Youth will be collecting bags to donate to the Uptown Men's Shelter. Be sure to pick up your bag on December 7th, 14th, and 21st. Items to stuff those bags with include: towels, washcloths, deodorant, soap, disposable razors, toothbrushes, body lotion, shaving cream, toothaste, underwear, hats, gloves, sweatshirts, scarves, and socks (all sizes for clothing will be accepted). Please, no mouthwash. Bags need to be returned by December 21st.  

Every year, before the Christmas Eve service, the Flower Guild takes great pleasure in adding additional flowers to the church. You can help out by making a donation to the St. Martin's Flower Guild and designating it in honor or in memory of a loved one. The names will be listed in all the Christmas bulletins and the flowers will be up for the entire season of Christmas. If you would like to donate, please fill out a form found at the back of the church, outside the church office, or on the website. Your   donation needs to be to the office no later than December 17th. 

Angel Tree donations are due Sunday! The gifts are due to be shipped on Monday, December 8. If you haven't already purchased your gift, please remember the gifts should be small (Mother Margaret will be delivering them and she has a really small car!), and inexpensive. 

Questions? Contact Terry Ertel: 704-575-5454 or [email protected].

We will continue to collect hand and toe warmers, along with hats, gloves, mittens, and scarves through the end of the year. Thank you very much for your continued support.

Talented young singers from every corner of Charlotte will come together to share the spirit of the season on Decmeber 12 and 13 when The Choir School at St. Peter's presents its 2014 Christmas concerts. 

The concert will include traditional and contemporary Christmas selections from Winter Wonderland as sung by Ella Fitzgerald to Gloria from Keble Missa Brevis by the contemporary British composer Philip Stopford. 

Advance general admission tickets are $15 or $5 for children under the age of 12. Reserved blocks of four tickets can be purchased for $100. Tickets are available at the door (115 W. 7th St) or online at www.thechoirschool.org. 

 

Monday, December 15 at noon

Robert Burlington, Director of Music at The Cannon School and Bass Section Leader in the St.Peter's Choir, will conduct a program of Christmas favorites with a new ensemble of St. Peter's singers. In the finest tradition of Christmas celebrations, the audience will be invited to sing along on well-known carols of the season. Free admission. 

 Click here! 

Augustine Literacy Project is excited to announce a Winter 2015 tutor training class! 

 

Through this project, tutors provide one-on-one literacy instruction to low-income first and second graders in Charlotte. If you are interested in becoming a tutor or would like more information, visit the website:  augustine.st-peters.org.

 

St. Martin's Annual Women's Retreat will be the weekend of April 24-26 in Valle Crucis, NC. Registration forms and more information coming soon. For questions, contact Mandy Dobrich at [email protected] or 704-779-2999.

Children's Worship (CW) is a worship service for children in Kindergarten through 4th Grade. Participants follow the wooden cross down the center aisle after the Collect and return to their parents during the Peace. CW is led by parish volunteers (3 adults) in the Children's Chapel located on the lower level of the Parish House. Their Order of Worship includes music, readings and responses, the Lord's Prayer, Gospel reading, and prayer circle.

 In addition to the coloring clipboards located in the big, wicker trunk, please take advantage of the "Look & Find" booklets located in a basket on the table next to the clipboards. I've attached photos so that you know what to look for! Please note that you will need to sit near the stained glass window of the corresponding booklet your child chooses and that info is located on the red cover. 

You might also want to consider having your child go through the bulletin, find the hymn numbers, and then mark the hymnal accordingly. Book marks will be located on the table with the "Look & Find" basket.

CW is when children in grades K-4 leave the service for their own worship service and return at the Peace. 

CF is childcare provided for infants-preschoolers at 9-10:15 so that parents may go to Christian Formation and during the church service, 10:15 until communion time. CF will be staffed entirely by hired sitters on November 9th. 

St. Martin's launched its 19th year of caring for the homeless via Room in the Inn on Tuesday, December 2nd. This year our December-March effort to provide compassionate care for our homeless neighbors will last 18 weeks, two longer than in past years. 

If you are interested in volunteering for Room in the Inn, please see the table in the Fellowship Courtyard after the 10:30 service and talk to Gainor Eisenlohr or Nan Robertson. We will be glad to answer any questions.  

Have you lost your St. Martin's name tag or never ordered one? Don't delay, order one right away!!

Print your name on the request form found on the clipboard in the Narthex or email Michele Nichols at [email protected], to place your order. The name tag is free for the first order!