Greetings!



In this issue of The Weekly News:

• Schedule for Sunday
• Stewardship Season
• Bishop to Visit St. Christopher's
• Pick Up Holiday Totes to Fill
• Nominating Committee for Vestry
• Confirmation Opportunity
• Episcopal Dip 2
• New Men's Bible Study Series
• Volunteer Opportunity at Mary Rigg Center
• Church Office Holiday Schedule
• Dates for Your Calendar
• Prayer Requests

Schedule for Sunday, November 19

8:00am Worship and New Member Welcome (Sanctuary)

10:00am Worship and New Member Welcome (Sanctuary)

• Children's Chapel, for students PK to 2nd grade - The topic: Advent and Christmas
• Nursery care, for children up to 3 (Nursery near the Parish Hall)

11:00am

• Coffee Hour to Welcome New Members following 10:00am Worship
• Youth Formation (2nd Floor Youth Room) - The topic: Epistolary Writings of the New Testament, Part 1

Stewardship Season

Thank you to the many in our community who have committed to financially supporting St. Christopher's in the coming year.  

While we have a little ways to go before we meet our dollar goal, we are celebrating today that of the 179 pledges returned, there are 34 new pledges!  

Work has begun on next year's budget, and if you intend to pledge, we'd love to hear from you before the Thanksgiving holiday.  

The Bishop is Coming!

Episcopal Church law requires bishops make a pastoral visit to every congregation once every few years. A pastoral visit is a time for our bishop to check in on our parish's health and vitality, to visit with lay and clergy leaders together to ensure that we are engaging in mutual accountability in our leadership, and to connect our local congregation with the broader work of the life and ministry of the Diocese of Indianapolis, the Episcopal Church, and the worldwide Anglican Communion.

On Sunday, December 3 we will gladly celebrate the presence of Bishop Baskerville-Burrows at our Sunday worship services at 8:00am and 10:00am. A Bishop's Visit is an "everyone comes" Sunday, and I know she is looking forward to seeing you. The 10:00am service will be followed by a festive reception with time for fellowship and holiday crafting.

Holiday Totes for the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center

Join us in our holiday tradition of filling a holiday tote for families served by the Mary Rigg Center on the Southwest side of Indianapolis. Only 15 of the 100 empty totes remain in the Narthex. Please pick up and sign out a tote on Sunday, November 19, and return it filled by December 3. A list of suggested items and instructions is taped to the inside bottom of each tote. Filling a tub can be a wonderful family or group project! Thank you for your willingness to serve and care for those in need this Christmas.

Our North End Neighbors

The North End Neighbors social team was excited to host an “Eat, Meet and Greet” event on November 8 with many of our I/DD (Intellectual or Developmentally Disabled) neighbors at the new North End development. We also have a group of volunteers providing support as scheduled drivers to transport residents who need rides to their jobs and school.

• Rob Wiley rob.wiley@gmail.com is coordinating the transportation volunteers.
• Julie O’Connor julmac732@gmail.com is coordinating the social event volunteers.

The North End Neighbors will be available to answer questions and discuss possibilities with anyone interested on Sunday, November 19 after both services.

Nominating Committee for New Vestry Members

In February we will elect three new Vestry members. The vestry both oversees the overall health of the church and is a discerning body for major decisions. A good candidate for vestry is someone who has an active spiritual life and cares for the work of the church. The time commitment is an average of five hours a month in addition to your current ministry involvement. If you are interested in serving or would like to discuss the nomination process, please contact the Senior Warden, Steve Lawson, stelaw2011@yahoo.com 

Confirmation Opportunity



The next opportunity to become a formal member of the Episcopal denomination (not just a member of St. Christopher's) is when the Bishop visits on December 3. Newcomers and those who have attended Episcopal Dips in the past are invited to consider taking this step if you feel that the Episcopal Church best expresses your relationship with God. For more information and/or preparation (reading component for those who have not attended the Dips), please contact Rev. Chana.

Episcopal Dip 2

Saturday, November 18, 10:00 - 12:00 noon

Join Rev. Chana on Saturday, November 18, from 10:00 - 12:00 to explore the sacraments and Episcopal polity (how we operate as a denomination), and our connection to the wider Anglican communion. RSVP and email questions you have about the Episcopal Church to ctetzlaff@stchriscarmel.org

Men's Bible Study to Begin New Series

Beginning Thursday, November 30, join the Men’s Bible Study for a 6-week discussion series reading Marcus Borg’s Meeting Jesus Again for the First Time. The group meets on zoom at 7:00am Thursday mornings. Contact Kirk King at kirk13225@gmail.com for the link.

Volunteer Opportunity at Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center

Interested? Sign Up by November 22

Be a part of Team Santa, Monday, December 11, 4:30 - 7:00pm at the Mary Rigg Neighborhood Center. We will assist families who come in to pick up their holiday totes and "shop" in the center's gymnasium for toys, books and winter clothing.Ten spots are reserved for St. Christopher's. This is a great volunteer activity for teens and adults. We can carpool, if desired. To volunteer, please call/text or email Diane Girbert by November 22 at 317-506-5763, diane_gee@sbcglobal.net or look for the easel with the stuffed elf in the Narthex to sign up.

Church Office Holiday Schedule

The church office will be closed November 23-25 for the Thanksgiving holiday. The Weekly News email will be in your inbox on Tuesday, November 21 instead of Wednesday. We wish you a joyful time with family and friends and safe travels if you will be going out of town.

• November 15, 11:30am | Young at Heart (Today!)

• November 18, 10:00am - 12 noon | Episcopal "Dip"

• November 19, 8:00 & 10:00am | New Member Welcome and Coffee Hour

• November 30, 7:00 am | Men's Bible Study New Series (via Zoom)

• December 3, 8:00 & 10:00am | Visit of Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows

• December 3, by 10:45am | Filled Holiday Totes Due Back to Church

• December 3, 11:00am | Festive Advent Reception and Crafts

Church Office Hours: 9:00am-2:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If you want to talk with someone during or outside these times, please make an appointment with them. Staff are checking USPS mail, email, and voice mail regularly. Please direct requests and emails of a general/administrative nature to office@stchriscarmel.org.

The deadline for announcements for The Weekly News is Monday,12 Noon, each week. Please send to carolyncparrott@gmail.com and office@stchriscarmel.org.