Volume 4, Number 52                       The First Sunday After Christmas Day                       December 30, 2007

IT’S CRUNCH TIME

(We’re Leaving in Three Months)

Immanuel is leading a second Mission Trip to New Orleans with 25 participants (from Immanuel and eight other congregations!).  We will be in New Orleans March 23 – 29, during Easter week, to help the Diocese of Louisiana rebuild homes.

To help defray the costs of airfare, van rentals, and food, we request that you donate toward our trip, if you are able.  Should you wish to make a monetary donation, please make out checks to Immanuel Church, Highlands, with “Katrina Mission Project” in the memo line.

We will also hold a series of fundraisers over the next two months.  Here are two:

Bayou Bingo!  We invite you to an afternoon of fun on Saturday, January 26 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in Immanuel’s Dining Hall.  Admission of $10.00 gets you your first bingo card, ($1.00 for each additional card), as well as complementary cookies and coffee.  We will have a variety of prizes for the winners!  All proceeds go to support our Katrina Mission Trip. 

Prayer Shawl Knit-a-thon!  Once again our nifty knitters will be helping to launch our 2^nd Katrina Mission Trip.  You are invited to pledge for each prayer shawl knitted between January 1 and March 1.  The prayer shawls will be given to needy folks in our community and the proceeds will be donated toward the cost of the trip.  A sign-up sheet is in the foyer!

Additional events will be scheduled soon.  Keep reading the Highlands Voice for announcements.

                                                               VICKI ANTHOS, Katrina Ministry

NOTICE ON CONTRIBUTIONS AND TAX DEDUCTIONS:  In order to claim a 2007 deduction for contributions made to Immanuel, gifts must be received and deposited into the church’s bank account no later than December 31.  To meet this IRS requirement, hand-delivered contributions must be in the office no later than noon, Monday, December 31 (the Business Office will be open on that date; hand the contribution directly to bookkeeper Fiona Mulligan).  The only exception to this rule is that contributions mailed and post marked on or before December 31 are considered gifts for 2007.  Please be aware that the date on your check does not determine the date of your gift!

                                                                                    The Vestry and Business Office Staff

Extra COOKIES at your house?  All are invited to bring Christmas cookies and other treats for coffee hour on Sunday, December 30.

                                                                                    Carolyn Gibson

Offering Envelopes for 2008 (just one per customer) will be available on the lobby credenza this Sunday, December 30.  If you do not find your packet, please contact me at 239-6077.

                                                                                    Ken Germain

THIS WEEK AT IMMANUEL:

Sun     30     First Sunday After Christmas

                                          No Sunday School

                      8:00 am        Holy Eucharist in Chapel

                    10:30 am        Sung Eucharist,

                                               followed by Coffee Hour downstairs (bring in your leftover goodies)

Mon    31    New Year’s Eve

                                          Parish Business Office (only) open for 2007 contributions until noon

                                          Other parish offices closed

Tue      1    New Year’s Day

                                          Parish Offices closed

Wed     2       6:30 pm        Quiet Prayer (Common Room)

                      7:30 pm        Healing Service (Chapel)

Thu       3       7:30 pm        Mixed Choir (Choir Room)

Sat        5     12:00             AlAnon (Common Room)

                      2:00 pm        Andrew’s Place Cooking (Kitchen, Dining Room; see Alex Lehr-Maunder)

COMING SOON:

Sun       6     Epiphany

                      8:00 am        Holy Eucharist in Chapel

                      9:30 am        Sunday School resumes

                    10:30 am        Sung Eucharist,

                                               followed by Coffee Hour downstairs

                      4:00 pm        Evensong by the men of the choir,

                                               followed by candlelight reception

Mon     7       7:00 pm        Liturgy Meeting (Parlor)

                      7:00 pm        Katrina Meeting (Common Room) for trip participants

Tue       8       6:30 pm        Search Committee Meeting (Parlor)

What can I do? This is a natural response to the question of homelessness, but sometimes the answer can be as simple as contributing toilet paper.  By giving Friendship House enough toilet paper for a month, we help cut their operating costs significantly, and that makes other resources go farther.  Friendship House uses 400 rolls of toilet paper each month in the day ministries alone.  Let's try to meet one month's need!  Bring in any brand of toilet paper during January, and you will be helping to address the needs of homeless people in Wilmington.  Many thanks.

                                                                                    Sue Welles, Outreach Ministry

Only about one week left to work on the project A Present for China!  This has no money attached to it but some effort.  Which is easier?  Take it as a challenge to put together some kind of "scrapbook" from your family to introduce yourselves to the children in the school that Julian Taplin is working with.  These will be presented to Julian and a Chinese student at the 10:30 service on Epiphany (January 6, 2008).

                                                                                    Simon Jeynes, Christian Education

Choral Evensong for the Feast of the Epiphany, January 6, will be led by the Men of our Choir.  In this brief service, amid the beauty of the still-decorated church, the gently soaring sound of plainsong invites us to hail the coming of the Savior for all nations and peoples.  Start the New Year right: Invite a friend to join you for this lovely and unique service, followed by an elegant candlelight reception.  Child care is provided.

                                                                                    Jack Burnam, Parish Musician

Fr. Thom may be reached at his church phone, 302-658-7326 Ext. 14, during his normal office hours Tuesday-Thursday, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. He works from home on Fridays. Please feel free to call him on his cell phone 302-229-8449 or write to thomjensen@gmail.com at any time other than church office hours, if a need arises.