ST. THADDEUS EPISCOPAL CHURCH
158th Annual Meeting
Sunday, December 4, 2011
Cheetham Parlor, 12:15PM
Please make plans to attend.
Committee reports are due now.
VESTRY NOMINEES
Jim Wolf
Linda McComb
Loretta Beckner
Bruce Leinster
Rob Chadwick
WHO IS The Reverend Deacon Jane Hostetter?
The Reverend Deacon Jane Hostetter is a Vocational Deacon. Her call to ministry is expressed in the diaconal call to interpret the needs of the World to the Church. The ministry of the deacon is to proclaim the Gospel, bid the Confession, set the Table, and give the Dismissal. Deacons are non-stipendiary (they usually have jobs in the “realworld”) and they serve under the direct authority of the Bishop. Deacon Jane has been deployed to our parish by Bishop Waldo. Please welcome her as she begins her ministry among us!
EYC NEWS: This afternoon we will join with our parish family for the Advent Wreath making from 4:00 – 6:00 pm. Please bring cookies or cookie decorating items and come celebrate the start of the Advent season. Next Sunday, December 4th, will be our EYC Christmas Party from 5:00 – 7:30pm. Join us for games, food, fellowship and fun.
EYC Parents’ Night Out: The EYC will be hosting a Parent’s Night Out on Saturday, December 10 from 6:00 – 9:00 pm. Children aged 6 months and up are welcome. We will provide pizza, games, movies and activities. Cost is $10 per child. Please sign up in the narthex or by contacting Jennifer Huff – jennifer@stthaddeus.org; 648-5497 office or 979-4277 cell.
ST THADDEUS COAT DRIVE. Please bring clean, gently used coats to the Narthex or church office anytime during the month of November, to be delivered to the homeless shelters. These can be for men, women and/or children.
LENTEN LUNCH: It may seem early but St. Thaddeus will be hosting one meal at the Lenten Luncheons held at First Baptist this year. Our date is March 14 and we need to have someone host and coordinate sandwiches, chips, etc…
MEAD HALL SCHOOL: Please remember to send in BOX TOPS, LABELS FOR EDUCATION, Coke Rewards and Project A+ labels periodically, as they do expire. This is a very easy way to raise money for our school. Last year we paid for half of a SMARTBoard with money from the labels!
BULLETIN ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MUSIC need to be in the office by 9 am Wednesday mornings.
DROP-IN SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS: The Drop-in Sunday School class is exploring J. Ellsworth Kalas’ The Thirteen Apostles. Dave Hepner has the books. Come join us, all are welcome. Marianne Swearingen and Kathie Fowler facilitators.
ACTS Food Collection for December: Hot Cereal. You may leave it in the Narthex or Church Office.BIBLE CLASS: Our Bible Class is studying the history and theology of the Reformation. We will view DVD’s on Martin Luther; look at early reformers Wycliffe, Huss, and Savonarola, review the Council of Trent (the Roman Catholic’s response to the Reformation); and relate this to our own Book of Common Prayer. We will also view DVD’s on the first 3,000 years of Christianity. Father Joseph is a frequent (and very insightful) resource. We invite you to join us every Sunday at 10:10 in the large parlor.
WEDNESDAY MORNING STUDY GROUP: Regular meetings of the Wednesday morning study group begin promptly at 9:30 am in the Stevenson-McClelland Bldg. small parlor. We are reading, studying, and discussing a book titled “If GRACE IS TRUE, WHY GOD WILL SAVE EVERY PERSON” by Philip Gulley and James Mulholland. For information about the group’s activities, and the purchase of the book, please call Burt Tiffany at 648-8422 or email at BAMTiffany@aol.com.
MEAD HALL SCHOOL: Please remember to send in BOX TOPS, LABELS FOR EDUCATION, Coke Rewards and Project A+ labels periodically, as they do expire. This is a very easy way to raise money for our school. Last year we paid for half of a SMARTBoard with money from the labels!
ST. THADDEUS EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON The annual Christmas ECW Luncheon will be held on Tuesday, December 6, 2011 at 11:30AM. The luncheon will be held at Newberry Hall. Charge for the luncheon will be $16.00. As usual we will have the Christmas Tree for donations to the Seminarian Book fund. As the costs of Seminary books are expensive, the fund is a real help. This year we have seven Seminarians from the Upper Diocese, as well as our own Joe Mitchell, who will benefit from this fund. We have a special Mead Hall Program planned. Please make reservations by November 30th to Ceil Pendleton, 117 Dewberry Lane, Aiken, South Carolina 29803. Checks should be made out to St. Thaddeus ECW. Please plan to attend this annual Christmas get-together. As a woman and member of St. Thaddeus Church, you are automatically a member of ECW. We look forward to seeing you. Contact Ceil if you have any questions, 648-9958.JOSEPH’S “ADVENT” CLASS: Mondays, November 28-Dec 12 at 5:30 pm. This evening class will cover Prayer types and will be held in the Chapel. Please sign up in the Church office.
FIRST COMMUNION CLASS: There will be a First Communion Class on Monday, January 9 from 3:30 – 4:30. First Communion will be celebrated on Sunday, January 22, 2012.
THE ST. THADDEUS BOOKSTORE IS AGAIN PROVIDING DAILY DEVOTION BOOKS FOR ADVENT FOR OUR CONGREGATION. The readings begin on November 27th and run through Epiphany, January 6. These are provided at no charge but we request that each family take only one book. However, if this will be a source of family strife, you make take an extra!
The bookstore has a wonderful selection of pure silk scarves from Christian Silks. They feature stained glass windows from the National Cathedral and English cathedrals.
The bookstore is well stocked with advent calendars and the very special Episcocats and Episcopups calendars for 2012. We also have wonderful sweatshirts and belts in addition to the Robin Williams t-shirts and Episcopal flip-flops. We have NOT forgotten your dog and hope you won’t either. We have Episcopal collars and leashes in all available sizes and colors. PLEASE REMEMBER THE ST. THADDEUS BOOKSTOE AS YOU START YOUR CHRISTMAS SHOPPING. Open weekdays 9AM – 4PM.
ATTENDANCE
Sunday Services, November 20, 2011: 303
Sunday Services, November 21, 2010: 327
Average Sunday Attendance for 2010: 282
Nursery Attendance: 12 children
Children’s Chapel: 18 children
Drop-in Bible Study:
Adult Bible Study: 24
4K and 5K: 5
1st and 2nd grade:
3rd 4th and 5th Grade:
Middle School Class: 1
High School: 0
EYC: 16 youth, 5 adults
Mead Hall Episcopal School enrollment: 200
Saturday, November 26, 2011 Soup Kitchen: 154
75 People served
33 Seconds
37 Take outs
9 Home Deliveries
154 Total
SOUP KITCHEN is in need of volunteers. It is only 4 hours on a Saturday morning 9-1 ONCE a month. Please contact me Jim Wheeler: 640-5640, for more information.
ACTS 2011 Heater and Utility Drive. Your donation of $40 can purchase an oil filled radiator that is safe and economical to operate. ACTS is located at 340 Park Avenue, SW, Aiken.
Your 2012 ENVELOPES are ready for pick up in the Church office.
STEWARDSHIP PLEDGE FORMS have been mailed. Please inform the Church Office if you have not received you packet in the mail.
CHORAL EVENSONG : The Feast of St. Andrew, Kirkin’ of the Tartan, will be celebrated at St. Thaddeus on November 30 at 6:30pm.
YOU ARE CORDIALLY INVITED TO ATTEND
A CHRISTMAS OPEN HOUSE
FROM 10:00 AM TO 1:00 PM ON WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2011
IN THE CHURCH OFFICE OF ST. THADDEUS.
COME JOIN US FOR REFRESHMENTS AND SHARE IN THE JOY OF THE SEASON!
The Herbal Advent Wreath we are using is copied from the one used in Bruton Parish Church in Williamsburg, Virginia. The herbs used are from our own member=s gardens. Some of the dried flowers were used on the altar during the past year and some are from the roadsides.
The religious symbolism for the herbs used are as follows:Rosemary For remembrance – in legend the herb changed its flowers from white to blue in Mary’s honor.
Sage Herb of immortality.
Lavender Beloved by Mary – represents purity and virtue.
Rue Herb of Grace – symbol of repentance.
Thyme A manger herb – symbol of bravery associated with the Holy Child who would endure much suffering.
Garden Mint Known since medieval times as “Our Lady’s Mint” and dedicated to Mary throughout western Europe.
We give this Advent Wreath in memory of Mellie Hickey, Vivian Milner, Edith Anderson, Grace Busbee and Barbara Verbrick.
Thank you to Madeline Fox for gathering the herbs from friends, neighbors and parishioners and creating this beautiful wreath for us.
Please join us on December 23 (Friday) at 1:00 pm to decorate for Christmas. Tall people are welcome!!
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE OF SERVICES
Saturday, December 24, 2011
4:00 PM Christmas Eve Family, Holy Eucharist Service and Pageant 10:45 PM Carols and Traditional Music, Holy Eucharist IISunday, December 25, 2011
10:00 AM Holy Eucharist II Service and Baptism No Sunday School Christmas Day.St. Thaddeus Annual Family Advent Gathering
Join us, TODAY, November 27th, from 4-6pm in the large parlor as we start our busy holiday season. As a church family, we will take time to focus on the real gifts of the season through the making of advent wreaths, the decorating of cookies, and enjoying fellowship over hot drinks and holiday music. Each family is asked to donate $10 for the advent wreath makings. If you cannot attend but would like to assist, we need fresh greens for the wreaths, cookies and cookie decorations. Reservations are a must so please call Joseph Whitehurst at 648-5497.
ST. THADDEUS EPISCOPAL CHURCH 2011
MONTHLY INCOME & EXPENSE COMPARISON
Compare Y-T-D Budget October Act v Bud 2011 2011 Difference Receipts 570,000 556,537 (13,463)
Expenses Clergy 167,500 165,109 (2,391) Lay Staff 137,500 137,464 (36) Admin. 58,000 46,152 (11,848) Quota 75,000 75,000 0 Outreach 27,000 24,360 (2,640) Worship 4,000 4,090 90 Build/Gnds 92,000 103,589 11,589 Formation 2,000 1,397 (603) Other 7,000 7,789 789 Total Exp. 570,000 564,950 (5,050)
Balance 0 (8,413) (8,413)
Thank you to those whose contributions are now current. Your efforts resulted in our reducing our annual deficit to $8,400 and we now expect to reach breakeven by the end of December.
The Restoration & Repair Fund and the Soup Kitchen are in need of your designated contributions. Please give generously during November. Have you made your Stewardship commitment to St. Thaddeus for 2012? Your contributions of time, talent and financial support enable St. Thaddeus to fulfill its Statement of Mission: Loving God…. Serving Others….Living Our Faith….
74 Pledges as of November 22, 2011 totaling $256,833.
CHRISTMAS MEMORIAL The Flower Committee of the Altar Guild will again this year decorate the church for the Christmas Season. If you wish to give a memorial, you may do so by contacting the Church office or by placing your request in the Alms Basin. It is the custom of St. Thaddeus to deliver these flowers to the shut-ins at the end of the Christmas season.
