Holiday Service Schedule

Sunday, December 10     Advent Lessons and Carols                5.00 pm

Sunday, December 17     Children’s Christmas Pageant              Noonish

Sunday, December 2       One Service for Advent 4                  9:00 am

Sunday, December 24     Creché Service (Children’s Service)       4:30 pm

Sunday, December 24     Music of Christmas                      10:00 pm

Sunday, December 24     Festal Eucharist                          10:30 pm

Monday, December 25     Holy Eucharist                           10:00 am

Sunday, December 31     Regular Worship Services

                              7:30, 9, 10:45 am

Clergy Notes

            As we enter the month of December we in the church get a little schizophrenic. The conflict comes from the differing demands placed on us by our secular and sacred communities. As the rest of America begins the buying frenzy of the secular Christmas season, we enter the contemplative season of Advent. As Christmas carols bombard us in every public space, we struggle to find an inner quiet as we prepare for the coming of Christ. The sacred celebration of the coming of Christ will begin as the secular celebration is being packed away and replaced with the sexually charged drive to Valentines day. By the time we actually get to sing Christmas carols in church, most of us are sick of them because we have been bombarded by them for the last two months in shopping malls.

I know what you’re thinking, “What got into Fr. Grinch?” Don’t worry, there is good news! As we enter the holiday season, the demands placed on our time, and money, and just plain sanity go through the roof. We all know this going in, but still we go. Every year. Why? Are we trying to make up for everything we missed during the rest of the year? Is that really possible? How can we make a difference this year? How can we respond to this commercial juggernaut in a way that gives peace and life?

In his letter to the Romans, Paul writes, “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Could this be a way to meet the busyness of the season? Remember this year that we always have a choice. We can do little to change the busyness of the world, but we can choose to not let the busyness become who we are. I encourage you to make use of our parish Lenten Reflection booklet. Make it a spiritual discipline to carve out 10 minutes a day to read the short scripture passage from your bible and the brief reflection written by one of our parishioners. Some days it will be easy. Others it will be hard. Make a real effort to find 10 minutes a day. Perhaps right when you get up, or with your morning cup of coffee. Maybe the time right before bed will work better for you. As you take the time and effort to truly prepare for the Feast of the Incarnation, you find yourself blessed by the season of Advent, and greeting the Christmas season with new found faith and joy!

See you in Church!

Bill +

For unto you is born this day

in the city of David

a Saviour,

which is Christ the Lord.

From the wardens...

ADVENT, a time of preparation for the birth of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. I pray that you take this time for prayer and quiet meditation. This year again we will have Advent booklets to help with your preparation. Thank you to Deacon Liz for her time and effort putting the booklet together.

                                     .

Our stewardship drive has begun and I would like to thank everyone that returned their pledge in a timely manner. If you have not returned your pledge letter, please consider pledging this coming year to help with the ministries at St. Charles’ Episcopal Church. Without everybody’s help we will not meet our obligations for the coming year nor be able to pay for the new bathroom renovations.

Speaking of bathroom renovations, as you may have seen, our construction project is under way and thanks to all for their help during this time of change. Please continue to help with parking by using the medical building parking lot to the south of church and leaving the front circle parking to our elder parishioners and visitors.

The front page of the newsletter has our schedule for Advent and Christmas services. Try to attend as many as possible to help with your Advent and Christmas worship. If you will be traveling and visiting family and friends during this holiday season, do travel safely and we will see you next year.

We are still looking for candidates for the vestry for next year. If you feel you are being called to this position of leadership and have any questions please call Bob or me.

May God continue to bless you and your families

Joe and Bob

Stewardship Update...

We mailed out 159 letters November 1^st. We have received back 78 responses listed below:

            47        Increased their pledge

            20        Pledge remained the same

             3          Decreased their pledge

             3          Are new pledgers

             4          Pledgers who have moved

             1          Pledger who is not pledging this year.

If you are one of the 81 who we have not heard from yet, we would like your response as soon as possible. If you need a new form, please contact Lela in the church office.

If you would like offering envelopes (whether you pledge or not), please contact the church office.

From the Treasurer:

Before I get to the regular year end notes, I need to tell you about some tax law changes effective for the 2007 tax year. In the never ending quest by our federal government to improve and simplify our lives, "The Pension Protection Act of 2006" was signed into law on August 17, 2006. While the bulk of the bill addresses problems with private pension plans, certain charitable giving reforms were included in the bill. Of chief interest to all of us, is the requirement for record keeping on all cash contributions. Under the new rules, for any cash contribution, the donor must maintain a cancelled check, bank record (this includes credit card statements), or a written communication (receipt) from the donee organization showing the name of the organization and the date and amount of the contribution. No other records will be allowed by the IRS. This means that you cannot deduct cash contributed in the collection plate unless you use a pledge envelope so that we know who you are. I urge every one who regularly puts cash in the collection plate to get pledge envelopes so that we can track your contributions and send you a statement at the end of 2007. This is the only way that you will be allowed a charitable deduction for these contributions when you file your 2007 tax return. No matter what the motivation for this change was, it seems to me that it could have the effect of stifling spontaneous charitable giving. Oh, and another addition to the rules is that no deduction will be allowed on contributions of clothing and household items unless they are in good used condition or better.

Please remember that with our bathroom construction project underway, fulfilling your 2006 pledge is especially important. We do not want to end 2006 with a $6,117 budget deficit like we had at the end of 2005.

To comply with IRS rules, contributions received at the Church by 12/31/06 and mailed contributions postmarked in 2006 but received in 2007 will be reported on your 12/31/06 pledge statement for income tax purposes. Checks received with 2007 postmarks and marked "2006 Pledge" will be credited to your 2006 pledge but will be reported on your 2007 statement for income tax purposes, regardless of the check date. If you pay a portion of your 2007 pledge in December, please mark the check as "2007 Pledge" so that it will be properly credited.

If you have any questions about amounts on your pledge statement please contact Lela at the church. Lela tracks pledges in the "Membership Plus" program. To maintain pledge confidentiality, I do not access this data unless a specific need arises.

Thanks for your help and continued support of Saint Charles' Episcopal Church.

Tom Miller, Treasurer

Oh Happy Days!

December Birthdays

1        Jean Savoie

3        Linda Winter

4        Jacki McCullough

4        Liz Johnson

5        Dallas Heikkinen

8        Jack Viverito

8        Sandra Parsons

9        Jamie Koch

10      Kathy Hari

11      Jan Bach

12      Dalia Bach

13      John Godina

14      Bobette Dodson

15      Marjorie Benolken

15      Jon Monken

16      Margo Churchwell

16      Cristopher Hatcher

17      Jessica Birk

18      Tracy Anderson

19      Matt Rhead

21      Robert Thomson

22      Bill Churchwell

22      David Trizzino

23      Jim Scanlan

24      Alexander McCullough

24      Gavin McCullough

25      Cathy Koch

25      Carol Paschal

25      John Benning

25      Jesus Christ

26      Andrew McCullough

26      Linda McGaan

27      Christy Becker

30      Jonathon Monken

30      Liz Meade

31      Henry Mora

December Anniversaries

28      Doug & Diana Brown

30      Tom & Karen Flood

January Birthdays

1        Darlene Gillis

1        Sharon Miller

4        Nate Nesbit

4        Ted Danielson

5        Norman Stickler

7        Lisa Parse

8        Emily Vitel

9        B.J. Griswold

11      Jim McGaan

11      Ann Mora

12      Douglas Johnson

13      Ginny Monken

14      Jeanne Monken

14      Jack Groskopf

16      James Mertes

16      Austin Schuetz

17      Patrick Parks

17      Laura Graf

18      Fritz Koch

20      Sarah Vitel

21      Hannah Barnes

22      Robert Parks

22      Tom Havard

23      Drew Van Zandt

23      Dylan Anderson

23      Becky Kruse

26      Eric Foster

27      Mary Elfring

28      Bill Yeck

28      Shannon Foran

29      Christina Foster

29      John Groskopf

30      Jessica Elfring

31      Elizabeth Owen

January Anniversaries

4        Norm & Edie Stickler

10      Gib & Michelle Moore

What’s Up in Kids’ Formation?

Happy December!

The Atriums are busy, busy, busy!

The children in the Green Atrium have started to learn about the coming of the Messiah through the readings in the New Testament and through their Jesse Tree readings from the Old Testament. The children in the Blue Atrium are learning about where the Bible was written. Both have saved their pennies for their Heifer Project animals. The children from the Green Atrium have saved and sent in enough money to purchase a flock of chickens! And the children of the Blue Atrium have saved for animals as well. Great job kids! (And parents!)

The Middlers are preparing for the Christmas Pageant with a thought provoking study of the angels and the coming of Christ..

The Jr. High has been working really hard on their Annual Christmas Pageant which will be held after the 10:45 am service on December 17^th.

The High School class is playing Episcopalian trivia games to learn more about the church they are members of. They have taken orders for Christmas Poinsettias and the orders will be in on or around December 2^nd.

Announcements:

       ☺   Christmas Pageant: Dec. 17^th after the 10:45 am service (approximately 12 noon)

       ☺   There are NO FORMATION classes on Sunday, Dec. 24^th or Dec. 31^st .

       ☺   Looking for a way to enrich your Christmas traditions? You and your family can help at the December Soup Kitchen at Trinity Church in Aurora. We will be cooking on Wednesday evening Dec. 27^th and serving on Thursday Dec. 28^th. Sign up to help cook and/or serve or to provide the food items we need on the sheet in Ludtke Hall. For more details see Barbara Ross or Liz Ryan.

       ☺   Our new “The Episcopal Church” t-shirts and “Top Ten Reasons to be an Episcopalian” t-shirts are available for sale on Dec. 3^rd and 10^th and they make great Christmas gifts! See Liz Ryan for details.

       ☺ Look for details about an “Episco-Disco” coming up in December! DJ and all!

Looking ahead...

       ⇨    Jan. 7^th Formation Classes resume. The Jr. High will be serving at the 10:45am service.

       ⇨    Ludtke Scholarship applications go out to graduating High School Seniors. Due date: March 1, 2007

       ⇨    Jan. 28^th Annual Meeting - There will be two services that day (7:30 am and 10:45 am) with the meeting sandwiched between them.. Activities planned for youth and children during the meeting. Nursery available from 9 am to 12 noon.

       ⇨    Jan 26^th -28^th : New Beginnings!!! Any 6^th through 8^th grader is welcome to attend this terrific retreat. Forms are available through our Diocesan website www.episcopalchicago.org or from Liz Ryan.

Women’s Book Group

The St. Charles' Women's Book Group will not meet in December.

In January, we are reading Barbara Brown Taylor's book LEAVING CHURCH. This memoir recalls the renowned Episcopal priest's decision to leave parish ministry and describes her angst at doing so. We will meet to discuss this non-fiction work on Thursday, January 18^th at 7:30 pm. Please call Deacon Liz (262-9541), if you have any questions.

Lessons & Carols

Please join us on Sunday, December 10^th at 5 pm for “A Festival of Lessons and Carols”.

A reception will follow.

This is a wonderful opportunity to slow down and contemplate the true meaning of this Advent and Christmas Season.

The Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl Ministry continues to deliver shawls, afghans and baby blankets to those experiencing life's moments of joy and sadness. These items are requested by parish member and their friends through the sign-up sheet in Ludtke Hall or by calling the church office. The group meets on Thursday, December 7^th and January 4^th at 7 pm and on Tuesday, December 19^th and January 16^th at 10 am. We especially welcome new knitters and crocheters as well as donations to cover the cost of yarn. Questions--Christy Becker.

CROP WALK - Update

The 2006 Fox Valley Community Response to Overcoming Poverty (CROP) Walk this year was very successful. The community raised about $32,500. We had 22 churches sponsoring 374 walkers (a record). The nine walkers from here raised $759 including $80 on the Internet. Twenty five percent of that total will go to local food distributors including The Salvation Army, Northern Illinois Food Bank, and the Batavia Interfaith Food Pantry. The remaining funds will be distributed overseas by Church World Service. We thank the sponsors for their donations and our walkers: Doug Brown, Stephanie Paul, the Senior High Youth Group (two walkers), Glorianne Campbell, Robin Travis (three walkers), and especially to Damon Heikkinen for organizing, recruiting and walking the walk this year.

BUNCO!!! Did you say BUNCO!!!

Calling all women Bunco players. We had such a great time at game night that we'd like to have a fun filled night of Bunco every month. If you love the game, or just need to get away, please join us. Sign up in Ludtke Hall for our first ever Bunco Saturday night in February (the 2^nd or 3^rd Saturday night, date not determined yet. The exact date will be determined by who signs up). Questions: Sheryl Vitel.

Who’s Who in the Church

On Saturday, February 3rd, our Deacon in Training, Debbie Harrington, will be ordained to the Vocational (permanent) Diaconate. She has a story worth sharing. Now in her 5^th year as the noon meal coordinator for 80-100 persons at Hesed House in Aurora, Debbie has always has a career in food service. This work included a Howard Johnson's managerial position. She and her husband, John, were married at the Indianapolis Cathedral 23 years ago. They lived in South Carolina and Georgia before arriving in the Fox Valley 14 years ago. John works for Unilever. A cabin in Canada is their vacation base for fishing and relaxing. Their daughter, Stephanie, attends College of DuPage and their son, Kyle will attend Western Illinois after his graduation from Waubonsee in January. John and Debbie are members of Calvary in Batavia. Soon after Father Rasicci arrived at Calvary, he recognized Debbie's special gifts and suggested she consider the diaconate. Following the six month parish discernment process and the Diocesan Discernment Weekend, Debbie began her course work in 2003. She and classmate, Dan Hughes of St. Martin's in Des Plaines, attended classes in theology, homiletics, Old and New Testament, ethical and moral theology, leadership, small groups and spirituality. Deacon Liz Meade has been her mentor throughout the process. Class locations moved about the suburbs and were at Calvary for two terms. Debbie also did a continuing education unit at Rush Hospital. Her field work assignment at our church is the last step before her ordination. Debbie said her present job at Hesed House enables her to affect people's lives in a more meaningful way than previous jobs and her ordination will enhance her way of living a Christian life by example. Thank you, Debbie, for your time at St. Charles.' Episcopal Church.

Mark your calendar for her ordination February 3^rd at St. James Cathedral, Chicago at 11 am.

Our sympathies go to:

Jerry Becker upon the loss of his brother, Tom on Thanksgiving Day, November 23^rd.

Jan Bach upon the loss of his mother, Ann, October 31^st.

David Ingraham upon the loss of his grandmother, Mary , October 31^st.

Lou Gallagher and the family of the Rev. Robert Stewart upon his death, October 29^th.

FYI

Do you ever think that you would like to get more involved with the service? If you would like more information on USHERING, please contact the church office. We will be pleased to mail you the Usher Information Guide.

Soup Kitchen

Thanks to the many parishioners and friends who generously gave their time or food donations to the Trinity Church, Aurora, Soup Kitchen Thanksgiving Day dinner. We had the largest number of guests ever for that holiday. They were treated to a delicious festive dinner cheerfully served at decorated tables.

The Soup Kitchen will continue to need your help throughout the winter. We will serve again Thursday, December 28^th, with cooking at our church the Wednesday night before. We are looking for a person-in-charge for that month. That person selects the menu (we have a lot of large-scaled recipes available), sees that the ingredients are available Wednesday night and supervises the serving on Thursday.

This holiday week provides a good chance for families to participate together in this rewarding ministry. Adults with time off from work or young people with a week off from school have an opportunity to join in the Soup Kitchen experience and see what it is all about.

For more information, contact Liz Ryan at the church, Barbara Ross or see the sign up sheet in Ludtke Hall.

Epiphany Celebration...

Watch The Pulse for more information concerning our Epiphany Celebration in January.

Christmas Concerts...

Saturday, December 9, 7:00

Elgin Symphony's Holiday Showcase at the Sears Centre Arena in Hoffman Estates featuring Baritone Doug LaBrecque, the Holiday Festival Chorus, the Chicago Jazz Synchronized Skating Troupe, and performers from Cirque de Soliel. Tickets: www.elginsymphony.org or call the symphony box office at (847) 888-4000. Mention code "Elgin Choral Union" and get 15% off

Saturday, December 16, 7:00

A Rutter Christmas at the Blizzard Theatre at Elgin Community College. The Elgin Choral Union and the Elgin Youth Symphony will perform the Rutter "Gloria", along with many Christmas carols, including many Rutter originals. Tickets: See Kristin Balisi, Dick Hattan or Phyllis Andrew; or call the ECC box office at (847) 622-0300

Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 pm

The six-time North American Brass Band Association Champion, Illinois Brass Band, with parishioners Lisa-Ann and Rob Barnes, is delighted to present ‘‘An Old Fashioned Christmas’’ on Saturday, December 9 at 7:30 pm in the Historic Arcada Theatre! Tickets for the performances, priced at $25, $20 and $15, can be purchased at the Arcada Theatre Box Office, or online at http://www.thearcada.com.

ST. CHARLES’ EPISCOPAL CHURCH

The Rt. Rev William Persell, Bishop

The Rev. William R. Nesbit, Jr. Rector

The Rev. Elizabeth G. Meade, Deacon

Dan Williams, Director of Music

Liz Ryan, Director of Youth & Children’s Formation

Lela Lowe, Administrative Assistant

phone: 630-584-2596

Fax: 630-584-8633

email: scecoffice@sbcglobal.net

Web site: www.stcharlesepiscopal.org