Wednesday Wireless - Immanuel's Weekly News Update
Our Angel Tree to support CornerStone still has plenty of tags available for you to take! You can even call or email the Parish Office this week to have one set aside for you.
CornerStone Angel Tree
The tree is up and the ornaments are ready for you to take!! Please take an ornament and shop for a gift for either a teen boy (red ornaments) or teen girl (green ornaments) ages 13-17. We do not have names, sizes, or other detailed information. CornerStone has so many to serve now that they cannot reasonably keep up with that all of that information and be sure all of their folks in need get a gift. Please use the ornament as the tag for your wrapped gift.
If you'd like to shop before you are next at the Parish House, you can call the Parish Office at 779-3454 or send an email to immanoch@verizon.net to request a tag (either boy or girl, please specify) be set aside for you.
Your gifts need to be back by December 11. Thank you for helping those in need this Christmas!
Hats, Scarves, Gloves, Socks, and Coats for CornerStone
CornerStone is gathering coats, gloves, scarves, hats, and socks for all ages. They can even take gently used items. Donations are due in the Parish House by December 11!
Thanks for Helping the Animals
We collected over $100 in cash plus lots of litter, food, bedding, and more for needy animals during our Thanksgiving for the Animals drive. Hickory Hill K-9 Rescue was so happy to receive our donations. Cat food donations went to Elsie Johnson, who is supporting a colony of semi-feral cats.
Cyclamen Orders Due 12/11, Greening of the Church on 12/22
It's time to order cyclamens for the greening of the church for Christmas! If you'd like to order a cyclamen that will be placed in the church in memory or honor of someone, your cyclamen order is due by Sunday, December 11. The cost is only $15 per cyclamen.
Order forms are in the church and the Parish House, plus there's one below that you can print if you'd like. Please turn in your orders and payments to the Parish Office. Please write cyclamen in the memo section of your check. Thank you!
The greening of the church will be held on Thursday, December 22 at 6:30 p.m. Greens will be provided. The congregation will be invited to join in the activity and a light supper will be provided. Please join us for any part of that time that you can spare.
Christmas Cyclamen Order
Name:______________________________________________________________
In Memory of: _______________________________________________________________________________________
In Honor of: _________________________________________________________________________________________
# of Red or White Cyclamens (color depends on availability from the supplier)
at $15 each: ___________________
Total Due: $___________________ by December 11
December Men's Shelter Meal & Shelter Supplies Help Needed
We are looking for food donations for the December men's shelter meal. We need: stuffing, vegetables, soft drinks or milk, dessert, and potatoes. The deadline for bringing items for December's meal is December 18. Please let Teresa Davis at tcmd17@gmail.com know if you can help and what you are bringing.
Additionally, we are collecting supplies for Safe Harbor shelter. Any of the following are welcome:
Art Supplies: Construction paper, Oil pastels, Drawing pads (8.5x11" and 12x18"), Canvas (20x16" or less), Foam stickers with letters/shapes, Glitter, Small paintbrushes
Household Items: Cleaning Products with bleach*, Disinfectant Spray, Cleaning Wipes*, Paper Towels*, Paper Plates/Cups, Kitchen Trash Bags*, Plastic Wrap/Aluminum Foil*, Ziplock baggies, all sizes, Toilet Paper*, Battery-powered lanterns, Sponges, Dish Soap, Dishwasher Detergent*, Laundry Detergent (powdered)*, Laundry Baskets, Batteries (all sizes), Light Bulbs (all sizes),Towels (new or slightly used), Sheets (twin-size)**, Mattress Pads (twin-size)**, Blankets and Comforters**, Bed Pillows**
Personal Items: African American Hair Products*, Hair Brushes*,Soap (bar and hand pump), Feminine Products*, Deodorant, Pain Relievers, Cold and Cough Medicines, Tissues*, Diapers, all sizes*, Pull-Ups, all sizes*, Baby Wipes*, Children/Infant Motrin and Tylenol, Children's Ear Thermometer, Umbrellas, Flashlights with Batteries, Storage Bins
Gift Cards & Bus Tickets: (Often our families arrive at our shelter with few resources or transportation. Bus tickets enable our clients to get to work, while gift cards offer the opportunity to purchase needed items not readily available in our pantry.) Kroger/Martin's, Wal-Mart/K-Mart/Target, Gas Cards, Dollar Tree, Home Depot/Lowes, Staples/Office Max, CVS/Walgreens (used for prescription meds), GRTC Bus Tickets (can be purchased at Kroger Customer Service)
Just as for the food donations, if you can donate supplies, please let Teresa Davis at tcmd17@gmail.com know if you can help and what you are bringing.
New Lights in the Parish House
We are gradually upgrading light fixtures in the Parish House. They are brighter than the older ones, which had gradually degraded over the years. It might take a bit to get used to working in proper light conditions! Thank you to Warren Rice, Charlie Causey, and Pat Cowling for the installation work.
Vestry Reviews the 2017 Proposed Budget
At the November vestry meeting we reviewed the Proposed 2017 Budget. The vestry felt that a summary of this information should be shared with our congregation. This discussion presents a summary of our income/expenses and has not been finalized (to be finalized at the December 6th meeting).
Income for Immanuel comes from pledges, fund raisers, loose offering, and investment income. Your pledge is the major source. To date we are projecting a total income of $196,000. We have other assets such as the Old Church Foundation, Cemetery Fund, Memorial Fund, Music Ministry Fund, Pastoral Fund, Altar Guild Fund and a few others. These funds are directed for specific uses and in some cases we can only use the income and not the principal.
Our regular expenses are projected to be $236,000 and included many uses such as care of the building and grounds, youth and adult education, evangelism, insurance, office supplies, utilities, worship, outreach, Region XI, diocesan pledge, and payroll with its associated expenses (i.e. FICA, etc.). The vestry has worked hard to keep our salaries competitive (we are not there yet). In addition to regular expenses, for 2017 we need to budget $7,000 to $10,000 for search and moving expenses associated with calling a new rector.
So you can see we have a significant projected deficit for 2017. Even using the projected carry over from 2016 of $23,000 we will come up short by about $26,000. Your Stewardship Committee has is working with enthusiasm to fulfill their mission. Please keep this summary in mind as you consider your pledge for 2017.
Thank you!
Jeff Piland
Senior Warden
Adult Christian Education
Why This Jubilee? - Ever give thought to the words of the Christmas carols you love to sing? During Advent, we will turn our focus to songs of the season. Join us after refreshments as we sing and explore the meaning of a familiar hymn each week. Themes for the four Sundays of Advent will be: The Place, The Men, The Mother, and The Child. Books for the study are available. Let Joan Beal know if you would like one. Contact Joan Beal for more information on our Adult Christian Education program.
Outreach Opportunities at Immanuel
Cornerstone: There is a donation bin in the entrance to the sanctuary for canned and box food for the Cornerstone food bank in Aylett. As fresh foods become less available this time of year your donations become more important. Please donate as you can.
Habitat for Humanity: Ever notice the aluminum recycle bins outside the Parrish House entrance? All recycled aluminum there goes to Hanover Habitat for Humanity. If you use the transfer station on Verdi Lane, there is a special site to contribute there as well. Want to get more involved with Habitat for Humanity? Go to their web site hanoverhfh.org and find an opportunity that fits your ability and interest in their Faith Build projects. There are more opportunities to be covered; your input is welcome.
Thank you,
David Jennings
dlj366@hotmail.com
Parish Office Hours
Britton Trimble, the Parish Administrator, is generally in the office Mondays-Thursdays, 9am-4pm. She usually takes a 1pm-2pm lunch break.
Walk in Love
We invite you to pray for Immanuel as we prepare our church for 2017. The in-gathering of pledge cards was on this past Sunday, but it is not too late to submit a pledge card! You may drop yours off in the offering plate on Sunday, or drop it by the Parish Office.
Godly Play
The children gather at 9:55am, and are brought to church to join their families for Holy Communion on a couple of Sundays every month. Remaining Godly Play Sundays in 2016 include November 20, December 4, and December 11. Age groups: 4 year olds through 2nd graders meet in the right side of the Parish Hall, while 3rd graders through 5th graders meet in the library.
Cub Scout Corner
The Cub Scout Calendar through the end of 2016:
- 12/6 - 6:30 regular meeting
- 12/13 - 6:30 pack meeting with bridging ceremony
Yoga at Immanuel!
Come join us for Integral Hatha Yoga on Tuesdays, 4:45 pm - 5:45pm in the Parish House. The recommended donation is $12. Beginner to intermediate levels are welcome; please bring your own mat. The class is being taught by Martha Childress, RYT 200. Martha has taken 200 hours of training to become certified to teach Yoga through the Integral school, which was founded by Sri Swami Satchidananda, who stated the goal of Yoga is "an easy body, a peaceful mind and a useful life." Contact Martha at c86c88@aol.com if you have questions.
Parish House Security System
Keyholders, please be sure you still have your access code and instructions (see Britton Trimble in the Parish Office for a replacement if needed). Please don't trust your memory - take a moment to review your code and the steps to disarm the security system before you unlock the Parish House door.
If you are the last person to leave the Parish House, it's up to you to lock up and arm the security system. If the system only beeps once when you try to arm it instead of starting the 45 second countdown of beeps, it's not armed. Pull the main door more tightly closed, stand still in front of the alarm panel for a few moments, and try again. If you set off the alarm by mistake, please call Britton Trimble, Parish Administrator immediately at 814-7342. Please call Britton if you have trouble arming the system.
Attention Past and Current Shawl Knitters
If you have any leftover Homespun yarn that you would be willing to consider contributing to a "shawl of many colors" prayer shawl(s) that will be constructed of all of our offerings, please bring it to church or drop it by the parish house during office hours. It's a great way use up the leftovers and create a unique shawl with many blessings for its wearer.
Shop at Kroger, Help Immanuel!
Have you tried registering your Kroger Card with the Kroger Rewards program? It's a very easy way to benefit Immanuel, and not many of us are doing it. All you have to do is register your Kroger Plus Card online, choose Immanuel (Kroger organization number 82682) under Community Rewards, and whenever you shop at Kroger Immanuel will get a small percentage back. See Britton Trimble in the Parish Office for more information. Britton will even help you log in and set it up!
The Calendar for November 30 - December 7
Wednesday, November 30
- No Choir Rehearsal!
December 1
- 11am: Stewardship Committee meeting
- 12:30pm: Budget Committee meeting
- Parish Office Closed
- 6pm: Cherub Movie Night
Sunday, December 4 - The Second Sunday of Advent
- 9:55am: Godly Play
- 10am: Holy Eucharist
- 11:15am: Refreshments, followed by Adult Christian Education
- 6:45pm: EfM
- 7pm: Venture Crew
- 4:45pm: Yoga
- 6:15pm: Vestry Budget Meeting
- 6:30pm: Cub Scouts
Wednesday, December 7
- 7:30pm: Choir Rehearsal!
