Esther 7:1-6, 9-10; 9:20-22
Psalm 124
James 5:13-20
Mark 9:38-50

Our early service is unaccompanied by music and usually lasts about 50 minutes. Coffee and fellowship are offered before the service begins in the parish hall, while the sanctuary is available for quiet prayer. Another coffee hour follows the service.

Our late morning service is accompanied by organ music, congregational singing, and the offerings of our adult mixed choir. On the first, and occasionally second, Sunday of each month, Soul Purpose, our contemporary music band, accompanies the liturgy. Nursery care is available for our youngest members and guests. A festive coffee hour for children and adults follows the Eucharist.

Pancake breakfast this Sunday, between the services: This is another fund raiser for scholarships to the Women's Retreat, October 23-25th at St. Andrew's House. Come enjoy good food and fellowship!

On Sunday, October 4th, following the 10am Eucharist, there will be a Church Work Day. Please plan to stay an extra couple hours to help with some end-of-summer maintenance on our beautiful building. Major tasks include windowsill painting, kneeler repair, and the sprucing up of our Sunday School classrooms. Tools and materials will be provided, and many hands make light work!

The Pierce County Hunger Walk takes place Saturday, October 10th and Christ Church will be sponsoring a team this year. This PCHW is the largest walk for hunger in the Pacific Northwest and generates the largest contribution to local food banks. Please contact Robin Partington if you'd like to make a donation or participate in the walk. Checks should be made payable to Pierce County Hunger Walk.  Check out the posters and brochures in the Parish Hall, or visit www.pchungerwalk.org for details.

Godly Play - Please contact Kris O'Brien if you'd like to share your time and talent and help reduce the materials cost in our new Sunday School program . Kris has patterns to create many of the Godly Play materials, ranging from simple cardboard and felt cut outs to more complex woodworking projects.
 
Love INC's Christian bookstore:
Love In the Name of Christ is collecting and selling pre-owned Christian books. If you donate or buy from them, it is really three gifts for one act of service! 1. You will get a tax deductible receipt. 2. Someone else will have the benefit of growing closer to God through this book. 3. It will help Love INC raise money to support the expenses of the ministry, helping us to help those in need, without solely relying on financial donations! The address of the store is: 9116 Gravelly Lake Dr. SW  Lakewood, WA. They are also in the process of creating an online bookstore so you can shop in the comfort of your own home.  The address is:  www.lovestreasury.com  and they hope to have it up and running soon. If you have books to donate, give them to either Elsa or Joan McCullough.
 
Knitting Ministry update:
Nine months of 2009 are almost over, and this is what the Knitting Ministry has done so far this year. There have been 164 shawls knitted or crocheted, along with 97 foster care blankets; 27 have been given to Franciscan Hopsice care, 6 to our graduating Seniors, 17 have gone to members of our parish or their friends and family, and 13 are currently in the Cornerstone awaiting distribution. 351 military pocket prayer shawls have been mailed to the troops. There are also four white shawls available for new babies or baptisms.

Our sincere thanks to the donors of the small animals that accompany the foster care blankets. Also to The Lamb's Ear Yarn Shop in Tacoma which has donated a considerable amount of yarn to our ministry. The cleaners that I take the shawls to for steaming and blocking are now doing that at no charge. The owner feels that 'this is for God's work', so we are grateful for her generosity. We are also embarking on making newborn and premie hats for the area hospitals. Thanks to all who have helped make this ministry so successful!