The Shamrock
December 9, 2015

Christmas Eve - Thursday, December 24

5:00 p.m. Nativity Pageant with Holy Eucharist

10:00 p.m. Choral Prelude followed by Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day - Friday, December 25

10:30 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Nave

Sunday, December 27

8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist, Chapel

10:30 a.m. Christmas Lessons & Carols with Holy Eucharist, Nave

no christian formation classes

Wednesday, December 30

12:15 p.m. Holy Eucharist and Healing Prayer, Chapel

UPCOMING EVENTS

Celebration of our Spiritual Gifts Graduates: This Sunday, during the 10:30 a.m. liturgy, join us as we celebrate our participants' journeys of discernment, and as we support their going forth in the blossoming of their ministries.

Christmas Flowers: Christmas poinsettias, which are placed at the altar for the Christmas services are available for ordering now through sign-up sheet posted in the hallway near the office. The cost is $20 each. The poinsettias are a lovely way to honor friends and family during the season of Christmas. The deadline for ordering is Sunday Dec 13.

Advent Dinner Discussions

Beginning in Advent, look for take-home cards on Sunday. They will offer reflection questions, based on the lectionary readings of the week and would be great dinner discussion starters. The questions were created by a group of St. Patrick's members and they invite conversation and curiosity for people of all ages. The cards will be handed out on Sunday mornings.

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LOOKING AHEAD

Saturday, December 19 at 5:00 p.m.	Parish-wide Yuletide Merrymaking
Sunday, December 20 at 9:00 a.m.	Whole Parish Bible Day
Sunday, December 20 at 12:30 p.m.	Vestry Meeting, Room TBA
Sunday, December 20 at noon	Malachi's Toy Distribution Party
Sunday, January 3, 2016	Adult Formation Meet & Greet and Art Exhibit
Wednesday, January 6, 2016	Epiphany Service and Meal

DETAILED CALENDAR:For more detailed information, please check the website.

WEEKLY EVENTS

Centering Prayer: W e meet in the library on Mondays at 1:15 p.m. All are welcome!

Thursdays in Advent: Let us watch and wait in hopeful expectation. Join us for a time of candlelit quiet in the chapel each Thursday evening during Advent, 7 p.m. - 8 p.m. Our watching and waiting will be informed by readings and space as we look for the coming and being of God in our lives. All are invited, and are welcome to come and go for any part as needed.

Join Mother Julia Mondays:
Mondays at Noon- Meditative Basics Class (open to beginner and long time practitioner alike)

Mondays at 2:30- Gentle Yoga (a very gentle yet transformative practice)

Cost: recommended donation of $10-$15

(Donations through December used to purchase yoga supplies such as blocks, blankets, straps, and mats, with at least a tithe of donations going to support Malachi's)

CHRISTIAN FORMATION

Children

Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - meet at 9:00 a.m. in their classrooms:

Level I - children ages 3, 4, and 5-years old
Level 2 - children in 1st, 2nd, and 3rd grades
Level 3 - children in 4th and 5th grades

Youth

Journey to Adulthood classes meet at 9:00 a.m. in their classrooms

Rite 13 - grades 6-7

J2A - grades 8-9

YEA - grades 10-12

Adult Christian Formation - Sundays at 9:15 a.m.

Getting Personal with Scripture

Doing Art Looking Up

Dreams: Listening to God

Dec. 20: Whole Parish Bible Day: Luke 1:39-45

Come for an immersion within the Magnificat. Delve in as we delight in Mary's famous song through praying, singing, exploring and creating. This session will be led by your clergy, art, and music team.

Wonderful Wednesdays

6:00 - 6:50 - food and fellowship. Diners are asked to contribute $7 ($5 for children) to cover food costs. Please call the church office to make your dinner reservation.
7:00 - 8:00 - Program -

From Christ to Constantine - December 9

Together we will select episodes from the PBS series Ancient Roads: From Christ to Constantine for our viewing pleasure and spiritual edification.

December 9: Ancient Roads: Constantine

Viewing time: 50 minutes. If you want to talk about the experience, stay for 30 minutes of discussion.

December 16: Advent Fun Event

Lectionary readings for this Sunday.

OUTREACH

Malachi's is open each Wednesday - lunch at 11:00 a.m., free grocery shopping from 1 -3 p.m.
Click here to learn more.

Malachi's Toy Party needs you!

Get in the Christmas Spirit! Join us for our Annual Christmas Toy Drive as we support our Malachi's families. We encourage you to give your time, and would appreciate your donations of toys and/or gift cards. Cash donations are also welcome. The children we are serving are ages newborn - 15 years old. Please bring all donations to St. Patrick's and drop off in the boxes in the Narthex.

Toys will be distributed to pre-registered parents on Sunday, December 20 following the 10:30 service. Parents will come and select a gift for their child. They will be served hot chocolate and cookies and the gifts will be wrapped for them to take home. We are using an on-line program for parishioners to sign up to help. It is really easy, but if you have any questions please contact Judi Carlson at 630 220-2178 or carlsondjnj@me.com.

Please sign up for Malachi's Toy Party 2015 - here's how it works in 3 easy steps:

1. Click this link to go to our Sign Up Genius: www.SignUpGenius.com/go/4090B4AABA92AA75-malachis2

2. Sign up! Choose your spots - Sign Up Genius will send you an automated confirmation and reminders. Easy!

Note: Sign Up Genius does not share your email address with anyone. If you prefer not to use your email address, please contact Judi and she can sign you up manually.

Peachtree Pine Ministry Needs Volunteers: We are in our 17th year of taking dinner to the Peachtree-Pine shelter. The need has been constant and our capacity to fulfill the need requires a regular infusion of new volunteers. Now is such a time. We need a couple new chefs to help with dinner preparation on third Tuesdays of each month...and we need a couple more volunteers to help serve dinner on both first and third Tuesdays. If you want to help, please contact David White at (770)310-3307 or by email @ Handcrafted_construction@yahoo.com

Peachtree-Pine Collection: This year we are taking stockings of sorts for all of the men on December 15. We are collecting traveling toothbrushes, toothpastes, and other personal toiletries. If you can help us by providing some of these, please bring them to the table in the parish hall during Hospitality House this Sunday.

Episcopal Relief and Development Giving Opportunities: Decking the halls, gathering with family, researching recipes or going though old ones all elicit a time of belonging to a community larger than ourselves. Many families are looking to mix up some tradition this year by creating their own this Christmas season.

Episcopal Relief and Development has a stunningly simple way to transform lives around the globe without you having wrap anything! No waiting in long lines or looking for hours online for the perfect gift.

ERD has you covered........Animals and Agriculture, Basics for Life, Green Gifts, Health and Wellness or Economic Opportunities are found in this link or find a brochure in the Narthex of St. Pat's this coming Sunday for your viewing pleasure.

"What ever we do to the least of these" is now simpler than ever!

St. Patrick's Episcopal Church | StPat.net | 770.455.6523

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