As you have probably heard, President Obama announced temporary relief for many immigrants in the United States now without documents. This relief comes in the form of protection from deportation and eligibility for a work permit. It benefits parents of United States citizens and parents of those already holding green cards.  
 
Just Neighbors provides legal services to low-income immigrants and receives volunteer and financial support from St. Anne's. They are seeking volunteers for a legal services clinic at the organization's Herndon office on Saturday, Dec. 6. You do not need to be a lawyer to volunteer, Just Neighbors provides immigration legal services to low-income immigrants and refugees of all faiths and nationalities in Northern Virginia.  If you can help, please contact volunteer coordinator Linda Lacy and indicate whether you speak Spanish. 

The Advent Conspiracy is an opportunity to return to the message of Jesus' birth. Rather than give a hat or another pair of socks, give a gift of you! For our Advent Conspiracy project this year, we're supporting the Hypothermia Shelter that Epiphany Episcopal Church in Franklin Farm is running Christmas week (see below for details.) In recognition of time worked at the shelter or items donated, St. Anne's will give you a special Christmas card that you can send to a friend. The card contains a message that lets the recipient know that rather than a gift this year you've given something even more important: your time to help others.

For those who signed up for wreath-making, Suzi Jones and Martha Furniss look forward to seeing everyone on Saturday at 8:30 in the

Please bring with you:

• A check for the wreath and basic supplies -- $15.00 per wreath
• Decorations to wire or glue onto your wreath (optional) -- holiday trinkets, bells, use your imagination
• Ribbon -- if you want a specific color for your decor -- 1.5 inch wide, wire edged is easiest to use when learning
• Your own scissors to cut ribbon, wire cutters (wire will not be very heavy) -- we have some loaners

• There are two sisters in a group home who need assistance navigating the mall. We need two volunteers on Dec. 16 or 17 to help them do their Christmas shopping together.
• We will help the SPARC community wrap their gifts on Dec. 18 at the Southgate Community Center. We had a wonderful time last year and enjoyed laughter, fun and fellowship together. You can attend just to meet and talk with our friends or to bring gift bags, wrapping, ribbons and whatever else is really fun to help wrap gifts. This is one of the few times that a SPARC participant may have enough privacy and help to wrap a Christmas gift for a loved one.

To sign up for either the mall visit or the gift wrapping, please contact George Bounacos or by calling at 703-597-9311.

Please join us for our last round of sandwich making/lunch bagging in 2014 on Saturday, Dec. 6, starting at 10:30 a.m. It typically takes us only about 45 minutes to make 240 sandwiches and bag 120 lunches, so we'll be cleaned up and on our way well before noon. Children old enough to help make their own lunches are always welcome! Please click here to sign up.   If you have any questions or concerns, please contact Emily McPhie.

Gifts for Christmas Due Saturday 

Thanks to everyone who signed up to provide a Christmas gift for a needy child in the Reston/Herndon area. Thanks to your efforts 85 children will receive a nice selection of gifts. The gifts are due at the Cornerstones office by Saturday, Dec. 6. The Cornerstones office is at 11150 Sunset Hills Rd., Suite 210. 

We are now accepting flower dedications for Christmas. There is a sign-up sheet in the Narthex or you may email the Church Office with the dedication. The suggested donation is $35, which may be placed in the offering plate with "Christmas flowers" in the memo line of your check.  

The Monday Book Group will be meeting again on Jan. 12 at 12:30 at Café Montmartre in Lake Anne Plaza. They will be discussing The Book of Strange New Things by Michel Faber.

Save-the-date for the St. Anne's Art Show & Silent Auction to benefit scholarships for participation in St. Anne's programs and events: April 17. The theme of the show is "creation" and we are calling for entries in a variety of media, including but not limited to painting, knitting, music, jewelry, poetry, ceramics, metal, drawing, embroidery, photography, printmaking, glass, wood, quilting, and sculpture. Attendees will be able to bid on the entries and thereby help St. Anne's to provide scholarships for persons to participate in various events and programs. 

Volunteers are needed; please contact Rev. Laura to serve on the art show & auction organization committee.

Start working on your own "creation" today!

Coats for Newly Released Prisoners 

Help provide a warm, fresh start to those who are newly released from prison. OAR (Opportunities, Alternatives and Resources) of Fairfax needs gently used men and women's coats, size AS to AXXL This begins Sunday, Nov. 2 through the middle of March. We are also in need of monthly volunteers to help us pick up the coats once a week and deliver them to OAR in Fairfax. As space is limited, please only donate warm, winter coats. You can leave the coats in the bin under the coat hangers in the Narthex To learn more about OAR, see their website. For more information contact Jackie Wooldridge (703-819-2346).