SUNDAY NEWS - WEEK of November 16, 2008

OUR ANNUAL STEWARDSHIP APPEAL CONTINUES. Last Sunday was Pledge Sunday, and the response was very good.  We are continuing to receive pledges today.  If you brought your completed Pledge Cards today, please bring them forward and place them in the basket at the altar at the time announced.  If you need a pledge card, they are also available.  Members who have not returned their Pledge Cards by November 28 will be contacted by a Vestry member to follow up on their concerns. 

HARVEST DINNER THIS THURSDAY.  Today is the last day to sign up for the Harvest Dinner, which is this Thursday at 6 p.m. in the fellowship hall of the Aspen Community Church. The sign-up sheets are on a clip-board above the visitor’s register in the entryway of the sanctuary.  This special dinner will be catered, so just bring the family and come join the celebration! 

MAKE A JOYFUL NOISE!  Choir rehearsals for our annual Lessons and Carols service begin Thursday, December 4th at 5:30 pm.  All rehearsals will take place in the sanctuary of the Aspen Community Church, on three consecutive December Thursdays - 4, 11, and 18 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m. - and on Saturday, December 20 from 10 a.m. to noon.  The service is at 7:30 p.m. on Sunday, December 21.  We expect members of the Community Church choir to join us as well.  Everyone is encouraged to participate. If you have questions, please call Andrew at 948-6517. Please invite your friends!

NOW IS THE TIME TO ADOPT A FAMILY FOR HOLIDAY BASKETS.   Please see the enclosed bulletin insert.  Additional information and sign-up forms may be found on the poster mounted on the easel in the entryway.  Due to the renovation project, we are limited on storage space. Please bring your finished family bag to the Rectory on Sunday afternoon November 30th or Monday December 1.  Thank you.  Questions?  Please call Caroline Moore, our church chairman for Holiday Baskets, at 925-9416. 

ADVENT BEGINS ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30.  The four-week liturgical season of Advent begins this year on the last Sunday of November and leads us to Christmas.  The theme of the Advent season is the Coming of Christ — not His birth in Bethlehem, but his Return in Glory.  In the church we use the Advent wreath to mark the passage of the Sundays.  Many families use Advent wreaths at home, too.  You can make your own, or order one from amazon.com or other one-line stores. 

CHRISTMAS SERVICE SCHEDULE.  Our Christmas Services this year will be offered jointly by Christ Church and our host congregation, Aspen Community United Methodist Church.  A complete schedule with detail on the services is viewable and printable on our website homepage and from the weekly eNews.  Events and Services: Christmas-Mini Pageant – during 11 a.m. service, Sunday 12/21; Lessons & Carols - 7:30 p.m. Sunday 12/21; Christmas Eve – 5 p.m. (Episcopal liturgy), 7:30 p.m. (United Methodist liturgy), 11 p.m. (Episcopal liturgy); Christmas Day – 10 a.m. (United Methodist liturgy).

PLEASE sign up to sponsor Altar Flowers and Special Music!  If you would like to make an offering for altar flowers or special music, either as a memorial or in thanksgiving, please sign up on the board, or email or phone Kelly in the Parish Office, kelly@christchurchaspen.org or 925-3278.  Please consider making such an offering as an aspect of your own worship. Checks should be made payable to “Christ Church” with “Flower Fund” or “Music Fund” in the memo line. Special requests for music should be directed to Andrew Todd at 948-6517.

WEDNESDAY MORNING MEN’S BIBLE STUDY AND PRAYER GROUP.  The Wednesday Morning Men’s Bible Study and Prayer Group is meeting at 7:30 on Wednesday mornings in a private dining room at The Mountain Chalet Hotel, 333 E. Durant Street. Many thanks to Ralph Melville for welcoming us to his hotel!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY Chris Klug (11/18); Bruce Schwartz (11/21)