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The Shamrock
December 15, 2015

                                                                                                            Advent III, 2015
 
Dear friends:
 
This third week of Advent begins with Gaudete Sunday, which is Latin for rejoice!
And we are truly rejoicing as we recognize all the ways God has blessed us this year!
 
Mos. Sarah and Julia have been with us for a year and Youth Director Liz Beal Kidd since the summer, bringing fresh joy and holy energy to our gatherings and offerings for all ages. There is a sweet, sweet Spirit in this place, especially on Malachi's Wednesdays and Worship Sundays! Looking ahead, I do hope you have marked your calendars for some caroling and yuletide merrymaking this Saturday evening, and joyful toy wrapping for Malachi's on Sunday afternoon.
 
And let me now rejoice in sharing how God the Giver has opened our hearts wide with a generous response to our Stewardship Campaign. As of today, we have received 91 pledges to our 2015 Operating Budget, totaling $369,174. This is a great start, and it buoys our hope that we will exceed the $409,513 pledged this past year.
 
Even as we look forward to this New Year in our life together, we are now beginning to close out 2015. As is the case in most years, we anticipate that December giving to the Operating Budget will be robust. This year we are prayerfully hopeful that year-end generosity will satisfy and then exceed our modest operating deficit of $25,000.
 
We are so very excited to invite you to follow Christ as we welcome, nurture, love and feed all God's children. We want to encourage you to lean on this community as you need, and give back as you are able, through your offering of both gifts for ministry and treasure. In that regard, if you have not yet pledged and intend to, please return a completed card to the office (click here for a card).
 
Also, as you complete your giving to St. Patrick's for 2015, we invite you to pray about making a special Christmas Offering through a gift to the Operating Fund. You may deliver your gift to the office or use one of our Christmas Offering envelopes available in the pews beginning Christmas Eve.
 
We are so very thankful for your gifts and offerings to the glory of God here at St. Patrick's!
 
Rejoicing with you!
                               
Mike Cropper, Senior Warden                                     The Rev. P. Richard Game, Rector
December is the month when many complete or exceed their pledge through gifts of funds or stock. All checks received or postmarked by December 31 (or stock received by that date) will be reflected on your 2015 contribution record. Transfers of stock may have favorable tax consequences. Consult your tax advisor. As always, Nicole Cone, our Parish Administrator, is pleased to answer any questions you may have about your financial contributions to St. Patrick's. You may reach her at nicole.cone@stpat.net or (770) 455-6523.
EVENTS

Endowment Trustees Commissioned: We are grateful that the following parishioners have been commissioned to serve as the inaugural Trustees of the Endowment. We are blessed to have this fund in their faithful and competent hands.
Lander Stoddard
Bill Shaughnessy
Julian Williams
John Watson
Ron Cook
Chris Bright
Bruce Wilson
Mike Cropper (ex officio as Senior Warden)
Fr. Dick Game (ex officio as Rector)
They were Commissioned on Dec. 13 at the 10:30 service. 

Closed Sign


Church Office Holiday Closure: The St. Patrick's Church office will be closed from 10 a.m. on Dec. 22 through 9 a.m. on Monday, Jan. 4, 2016.


Melissa Lanza to Speak at Hospitality House Dec. 27: Melissa will be visiting us after the 10:30 a.m. service on Dec. 27. She will be discussing her experiences of spirituality. Her books are In My Presence (2009) and Experience God's Presence (2014). There are copies in our library and online at B&N and Amazon. More information about Melissa can be found here on her website.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           
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, December 27 after 10:30 a.m. service
Melissa Lanza to speak at Hospitality House
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: The last centering prayer for the year is Monday, Dec. 21. We will not meet on Dec. 24, 28, or 31.
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. The last Thursday in Advent is December 17.

Join Mother Julia Mondays:
There will be no yoga on Monday, Dec. 28.
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   
Children's Church takes a break on December 27 & January 3, resumes on January 10. 
 
Youth 
Rite 13 - grades 6-7 - class meets at 9:00 a.m. in their classroom
 

Adult Christian Formation - Sundays at 9:15 a.m. 
Sunday December 20
Whole Parish Bible Day: Luke 1:39-45 
 
Imagine what could happen if everyone in the parish were focused on the same Bible passage at the same time. That's what Whole Parish Bible Day is about.
 
All adults and young adults (J2A - grades 8-9; and YEA - grades 10-12) are invited to gather in the Nave at 9:15 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 teams.
 


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  
Wednesday December 16
A Moravian Love Feast
 
Celebrate a traditional Moravian agape feast in the spirit of Advent. Come to the Parish Hall at 6:00 pm to nourish your Christmas spirit.
 
Diners are asked to contribute $7 ($5 for children) to cover food costs. Please call the church office to make your dinner reservations.
 
After tonight, Wonderful Wednesday will be on Christmas break until the Epiphany Celebration and burning of the greens, Jan. 6, 2016.



 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 will be closed on Dec. 23 and 30.
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:

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