Welcome!
Please review The Church of St. Michael & St. George's weekly newsletter to
keep abreast of our events. Visit our online calendar for event
information.
Come visit! Let us know....
If you or someone close to you has had a change in circum-stances [in the hospital, moved to a nursing home, etc.] please call the church at 314.721.1502, so we can keep CSMSG in your life.
Recent
Transitions
Baptisms
Rory Patrick Farrell, son of Suzanne Miller Farrell & Paraig G. Farrell
Deaths Brandon Hsueh 9-30-11 Susan Chalfant 9-30-11 Weddings
Visit Our Website
Volunteer
Music
Questions? Call us at 314.721.1502 or e-mail laurie@csmsg.org
The Church of
St. Michael &
St. George
6345 Wydown Blvd.
PO Box 11887
Clayton, MO 63105
314.721.1502 p
314.721.4670 f |
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"Living Christ In This World"
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October 10 - October 16, 2011
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This Week's Banner
This past Saturday was YM Youth Service Day. Youths participated in a variety of service projects in the St. Louis area. Another service opportunity for our youth is a year-round fundraiser, "Rent-a-Kid." Take advantage of our "leaf-raking" special. See the Youth column below for more information. |
Preaching Rota
October 16 The Rev. Andrew John Archie
October 23 The Rev. Andrew John Archie
October 30 The Rev. Jedediah Wynn Fox
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Sunday Adult Education
The Rector's Forum The Rector's Forum will continue its study of the book of Exodus this Sunday. Faith & Life Forum 
The Faith & Life Forum, led by John Tyler, meets each Sunday at 10:30 AM in the Sverdrup Room. The current series is titled "The Master's Men: Character Sketches of Four Disciples". Sunday (October 16) we will discuss the character traits of the apostle John and how they are applicable to our Christian lives today. Come join us on any or all Sundays.
 The Life of the Church |
Giving in Gratitude
Annual Stewardship Appeal 2012  How do we embrace practices of gratitude? How is the annual stewardship appeal, a time that is traditionally devoted to raising support for the life-giving ministries of our congregation, also a time to embrace proportional giving as an intentional practice of gratitude and to recognize our giving practice as worship--a concrete way that we offer praise and thanksgiving? Money represents the labor and substance of our lives. When we make a pledge commitment, in a very real way we are offering ourselves, souls and bodies back to God to be blessed for the building up of God's kingdom. Giving is worship. Giving is a powerful act of gratitude for all that has been given.
We understand that it is not always easy to be grateful. Work and life pressures abound, we face disappointments and loss. The cries of scarcity of the culture grow louder. Anxious worry, especially about money, often wins over trustful surrender. Gratitude is not always the obvious choice, it needs to be cultivated, nurtured and tended to with inner attentiveness. Gratitude is the fruit of life abundant. Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life--turning what we have into enough and more. It can turn a stranger into a friend, a meal into a feast, a house into a home.
Pledge cards arrive in the mail the week of October 17. We hope to receive all the pledges on Pledge Sunday, October 23.
Contact Laurie Brown at Laurie@csmsg.org with questions. |
From the Pews
I have to confess (even though I don't think its exactly what we Episcopalians do) that I am not always passionately trying to understand God. But I show up. I spend a fair amount of time trying to understand God intellectually, I'll admit. I like grappling with the 'concepts.' But passionately trying to understand Him? Wow, that sounds kind of risky, kind of evangelical or something. To be passionate about seeking God feels too, well, out of control. And I, as an Episcopalian, like the order and control and routine. To break all of that up with passion feels, um, well, it feels like it's probably the right thing to do. Because I'll never grasp all of the intellectual points of Him anyway. So, maybe I should be a little more passionate in my pew. Well, that's my view. |
This Week
Tuesday, October 11 Steak & Stories
6 PM Great Hall
Continuing our fall tradition, we will focus our theme with pilot, Greg Newell, sharing his experience with his US Air Force Reserve deployment, AL Udeid Qatar 2009-10. He will share his experiences and knowledge and give you insights into being a pilot.
Thursday, October 13
Attention Church School Moms!
Mom's Night Out at Katherine Mathews house on Thursday, October 13, 7:30 PM. Bring a bottle of wine or dessert.
Saturday, October 15
Hunger Sandwich-making
10 AM Taylor Room
Hunger Ministry Sandwich-making--All parishioners are invited and encouraged to join the St. Michael's Hunger Ministry on the third Saturday of each month from 10-11:30 AM in the Taylor Room to make sandwiches for FOCUS and Centenary Food Ministry clients. This month we'll be meeting on October 15. Bring a friend. Come join in meeting this ever-growing need for our community.
Sunday, October 16
Susan Mount Sunday
 following worship Great Hall
Please join us in the Great Hall following morning worship for a reception on Sunday, October 16, to honor our church's benefactress. This has been designated as Susan Mount Day to honor Ms. Mount, whose anonymous gift helped to establish our parish in 1912. In 1914 she donated additional funds to construct the parish house. Her identity was revealed after her death in 1917, and the parish house was named in her honor. |
Music
The CSMSG Girls Choir The CSMSG Girls Choir is still accepting new members, ages 9-18, to sing throughout this choral season concluding in May of 2012. Contact Christi Bye now for more information by email at cbye@csmsg.org or by contacting her at church at 314.721.1502, ext. 4043.
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Church School Happenings
Sunday, October 30
All Hallow's Eve Family Night 5 PM The Great Hall & Taylor RoomBring your family and enjoy a delicious dinner, parade and Halloween crafts in the Great Hall. The cost is $4 per person. Please RSVP to the Church School jfisher@csmsg.org . |
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Youth
8th Grade Lock-In at CSMSG: Calling ALL 8th graders AND FRIENDS! You will NOT want to miss the fun at this year's 8th grade LOCK-IN on Saturday, October 22, 6 PM, at CSMSG! It is going to be a rockin' good time, so RSVP today to youth@csmsg.org! RENT-A-KID Rent-a-Kid is a year-round fundraiser for the Youth of CSMSG High School Mission Trip and also provides a unique opportunity for teens to connect with each other and the community through service. If you have ANY job in mind, please contact Bart Freer at 314.276.3733 or bart.freer@gmail.com. October Special: Leaf Raking! Hire 2 teens, plus 1 adult for $20/hour. (suggested donation)
BOO-YA! Halloween is just around the corner and, to celebrate, Buzz and Jenny Matthews are hosting a Halloween Costume Party and Haunted House On Sunday, October 23 from 6:30-8:30 PM! All 9th-12th graders AND YOUR FRIENDS are invited to join in the ghoulish fun! RSVP to youth@csmsg.org. Cost is $5.
Thank you to ALL who volunteered last Saturday for the Youth Ministry Fall Service Day.  Sunday School for our 6th-12th graders has begun and meets every Sunday immediately following the 9:15 AM liturgy. All 6th-8th graders meet in the gym and the 9th-12th graders meet on the 4th floor in Canterbury Hall (take the stairs just opposite the reception desk up to the top to Canterbury Hall.)
LIVE FEED...Movies: Isaac and Buzz have started a Sunday evening small group called LIVE FEED. This group watched "It's Kind of a Funny Story" and began a discussion of the big themes of the Christian story (things like sin and redemption, vocation and life's purpose) in the culture around us as reflected in this movie. The purpose of our LIVE FEED group this fall is to find these themes in a movie, and connect them to God's Word so we can learn lessons for our own faith and know how to talk to others about Christianity using the movies! It is NOT TOO LATE to join LIVE FEED even if you weren't able to see the movie as clips relevant to the discussion will be shown weekly. This group meets on Sundays from 4-5:30 PM. E-mail youth@csmsg.org for more information or to sign up.
Calling all parents, grandparents, want-to-be parents and interested adults! You are invited to attend the YM Fall Parenting Seminars which began yesterday. Buzz Matthews will lead the discussion this Sunday in our series, "So, you want your Kids to be Christian?" This class is held in the basement classroom under the stairs from 10:30-11 AM and coffee and refreshements will be served. All parishioners and friends are invited to attend!
FAITHBOOK: What's YOUR Status? If you were not able to be at the kick-off, there is a packet for each 6th-12th grader that will be placed at the end of the cloister walk. Please stop by to pick up your packet asap so you can sign up for the exciting events offered!
YM Adult Bible Study and Dinner is tomorrow night, Tuesday, October 11 from 7-8:30 PM at Isaac Arten's home. All SS teachers and small group leaders, YM Leadership Team members, and regular YM adult volunteers (including YM event chaperones) are invited! RSVP to youth@csmsg.org today please! |
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Welcoming
Fishin' for Folk
Church "business" cards are available in the Great Hall and Narthex. Look for the flower pots. Please plant a card in a friend's hand and let them know about all the great things happening here.
Forward this e-letter to your friends!
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Upcoming Events
Friday, November 4
Fundraising Concert Great Hall
Join the Girls Choir of The Church of St. Michael & St. George, as well as many professional musicians from the St. Louis area, as we celebrate music and raise the money we need to send the Girls Choir to Chicago in February. Enjoy a music-filled cocktail hour while perusing and bidding on the silent auction items. Have dinner and hear opera arias, baroque music, jazz standards and movie tunes. There will surely be something for everyone! During the intermission, bid on silent auction items, drink some coffee and eat delectable desserts. Food and drink starts at 6 PM. Concert at 7 PM. download flyerPrice: $35 per ticket or 4 for $120. Reserve your seat today!
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Adult Formation
Join Fr. Fox for Bible Study on Mondays
6:30 PM Library
The Bible--It's big, it's complex and sometimes even a little frightening. You need someone to study along side, someone to share the load of understanding the story of God's continued work of renewing the world. Come and study with Fr. Jed and other parishoners of St. Michael & St. George as they pursue this endeavor most Mondays in the Library at 6:30 PM.
October 10 No Bible Study (Fr. Jed is out of town)
October 17 Romans 1 (continued)
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Thank you for wearing your name tag!
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Endowment Fund
Over the last several years, it has become apparent that the Endowment Fund of The Church of St. Michael and St. George ("CSMSG") needs to be significantly expanded. Our members provide generous financial support to fund the ongoing activities of the church. The average annual pledge of CSMSG members is almost twice as large as those of other Episcopal churches. Unfortunately, our endowment of approximately $6 million is much smaller than statistical comparisons would indicate is needed for a vibrant church of our size.
The recent period of economic weakness has graphically illustrated that pledges alone will not completely fund our current programs, allow full implementation of the recently approved Strategic Plan, and assure the long-term viability of the CSMSG. The logical source of additional and consistent revenue to meet these objectives is a larger endowment.
The Endowment Expansion Committee has been formed to study our financial needs. The Committee, chaired by John Rowe, includes: Ken Bean, Spencer Burke, Marianna Deal, Becky Fouke, Nick Kouchoukos, Talbot MacCarthy, Jeff Miller, Stephen Nickelson, Joe Sheehan and JoAnn Vorih. If you have any suggestions regarding this important initiative, please feel free to discuss them with the Committee members. |
 Outreach Ministries Sausage cook(s) needed! Every Sunday the Shelter Ministry prepares a sumptuous breakfast for the residents of Gateway180: Homelessness Reversed, an emergency shelter for women and children located at 19th & Cole. A core part of this breakfast is sausage. What we need is volunteer(s) who will be willing to come to Gateway one or more Sundays a month to cook sausages. To be ready for breakfast to be served at 7 AM, the sausage cook needs to be on-site by roughly 6 AM. Pay is very low. Reward is high. For additional information call Nick Clifford at 314.997.4011 or email at nickclifsr@yahoo.com. Shelter Ministry
Gateway 180 will be opening two units of transitional housing for large homeless families within the next three weeks. There are a few needs to furnish the two units. The goal is to have families in the units by October 17! If you can help with any of these needs (either by in-kind gift of the items or restricted donation to purchase items), please contact Gateway 180 by calling Toni Muhammad at 314.231.1515. Thanks for your ongoing support and help. It is very exciting to have 12 new beds of transitional housing for our community! By the end of February, it is planned to open an additional 5 units (26 beds). Your support wil be needed then, also. Please help us keep moving forward!
Furnishings that Gateway 180 NEEDS for the units:
1. Four sets of bunk beds (two sets per unit).
2. Two twin-sized foundation
3. Two twin-sized bed frames
4. One queen-sized bed frame
5. Pots & pans
6. Eating utensils
7. Linens
8. Cleaning supplies |
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Suggestion Box
Please let us know what you like about our e-newsletters and how you think we can improve upcoming editions. This is an interactive publication and we'd like to hear from you! Give Us Your Feedback |
Canterbury Bookstore
Halloween fun can be found at Canterbury Bookstore--right now. Cards, smiley pumpkins and festive jewelry. In addition to the fall flavors of jams from Monastery Kitchens and beautiful Colonial Candles in rich fall colors, you'll find small, colorful agate crosses priced at just $8 each. Have you seen the newest bead work collection from Pink House? Bracelets, necklaces and small bags perfect for the season.
This week's book selections
Save the date! Sunday, November 13 Canterbury Bookstore's Very Special Christmas Open House
8:45 AM-12:30 PM
Games, Treats, Special Prices Don't miss the fun!!
Bookstore hours: Sunday 8:30-11:30 Monday 10-noon Thursday 10-3 Friday 8:30-noon
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Columbarium Update
Columbarium Update First came the bitter cold of last winter, followed by the torrential rains of spring and the suffocating heat of summer. In the midst of all was a city-wide mason's strike and periodic delays in stone shipments. Each has played its part in delaying construction. But... the Page Garden columbarium is finally starting to round into shape. Most of the Missouri red granite has been laid, with limestone caps, new pavers and landscaping to come. Construction should be done this fall, weather (and materials shipments) permitting, with landscaping to follow. |
Bulletin Board
 CSL St. Nicholas Day Luncheon
Ladies, we need your treasures and/or white elephants for the upcoming Church Service League St. Nicholas Day Luncheon and Bazaar. Please turn in your donated items to the receptionist. CSMSG Pre-primary Enrollment We are currently accepting 2011-12 applications for our parish's two pre-primary programs: 18-24 months on Thursday and Friday mornings from 8:30-11:30 AM and 2-3 years on Monday through Wednesday mornings from 8:30-11:30 AM. We are also offering a five-morning schedule for both classes. Our programs are taught by a degreed teacher and have proven quite successful since their inception. For more information, call Carol at 314.721.1502.
 Wanted: 8 AM Greeters
Looking for a place to serve? Become a greeter at the 8 AM liturgy and help extend the hospitality at of The Church of St. Michael & St. George. Contact Patricia Johnson before or after the liturgy, or call her at home at 314.993.3779.
The Servers' Guild
The Servers' Guild provides a unique opportunity for students from 6th through 12th grades to participate in the Sunday liturgies and gain a deeper appreciation for our traditions and style of worship. If you would like to join a group of young people who are dedicated to enhancing the worship experience at CSMSG, contact Catherine Salmon at salmonfarm@gmail.com.
Altar Guild We invite you to deepen your spiritual life and connection to the liturgy by becoming a member of the Altar Guild. This ministry is dedicated to the service of God by lovingly preparing the altars. Many hands are needed, weekdays and Sundays, to care for the linens, candles and silver. Contact Betsy Panke: 314.993.6487 or epanke@aol.com.
Smiles Needed!
Want to volunteer one Sunday a month? The Greeter position is just right for you. Contact Laurie Brown at Laurie@csmsg.org or 314.721.1502.
Valet Parking Valet service by Midwest Parking will be available on Sunday mornings for elderly parishioners and those with special needs. This valuable service is being provided by an anonymous benefactor. Thank you for this very generous gift!
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