Thanksgiving Eve Service with Holy Eucharist

Wednesday, November 22

7:30 p.m.

Cooking and serving the Thanksgiving Meal

for the Soup Kitchen

(Trinity Episcopal Church, Aurora)

Cooking on Tuesday, November 21

Serving on Thanksgiving

Clergy Notes

"All things come of Thee, O Lord, and of Thine own have we given Thee."

Dear friends -

As the leaves and the temperature begin to fall, and our thoughts turn to warm fires and darker nights, we begin to think about giving thanks for the roofs over our heads and for family, and for enough to eat. It's easy to lose this sense of gratitude in the summer, when the living is easy and the sun shines warm and high. We don't worry as much about having shelter and food - life seems to be an endless day at the beach. But now we turn inward, a biological clock of sorts resets itself and reminds us that we need certain creature comforts: a place to rest our heads, nutritious food, and companions to sustain us through the long dark winter.

This month we celebrate the American holiday of Thanksgiving. Culture may entice us to buy pilgrim shaped candles, orange tablecloths, and cornucopias and it may tempt us to the glories of gluttony, but let us as Christian people, remember that all of what we have and all of what we are comes from the Lord. God is indeed the Great Provider. It is truly a time to offer praise and thanksgiving to God for all the blessings of this life. My heart is deeply grateful for each one of you; for your commitment to this place, for your willingness to serve, and for your companionship.

As we give thanks this November, let us also remember those who have less than we do. Remember that the homeless can no longer survive sleeping outside and must return to shelters. Remember that many families have to make a choice between whether to eat or whether to heat their houses. Remember that someone who lives alone may crave companionship. And remember that we are at war - and many young men and women of this nation are facing their first Thanksgiving without family in order to defend our country. Give thanks to God. Give generously to one another. And fill your hearts to overflowing with a sense that God is indeed richly present in our lives and in the world.

See you in church!

Deacon Liz

From the wardens...

This is my first Warden's letter so I wanted to thank everyone for the encouragement and support I've received as I considered and accepted this new role.

Since I'm new and have the excuse that I don't know what is supposed to go into a Warden's letter, I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity to share my perspective on our parish and it's journey.

Like many of you, I believe that St. Charles' Episcopal Church is truly an amazing group of people and that we are doing God's work in our community. I believe we are exceptional because we are a caring place where everyone can feel welcomed. We demonstrate our caring through our actions everyday. We love and support our children and youth. We care for those who are in need and are heavy burdened, both inside and outside our parish. It is how a parish demonstrates God's love that defines it and I believe people will come to know us by our actions. I pray that we will support a growing church, so that, as Jesus asks, we can love more of our neighbors and share with them the gifts we have been given.

I know we are not perfect, but I pray that in the months ahead, we can work on our challenges together with God leading us. Too few people are doing too much of the work and more of us need to pick up the yoke and receive the joy that action in God's name can give. We also need to become a tithing church. God is very clear that one of the things he expects from each of us is the first 10% of our time, talent and treasure. We get to keep the 90%, but we need to give back because we love God and each other and we have received so much.

Well, now you know a little more about why I decided to run for Junior Warden. Let me know what your ideas, hopes and dreams are for our amazing parish. But be prepared, I probably will suggest that we need your help, because we do.

Now on to some of those important things we are doing:

♦     A more welcoming church - construction on the upstairs bathroom, a new water system, etc. is about to start.

♦     An opportunity to give back - our stewardship campaign is underway.

♦     How we can get better - the wardens are going to be asking for your feedback in a parish survey.

♦     Taking care of God's House - the vestry and especially Henry Mora are taking a hard look at what our church and rectory need now and in the future in the way of repair and maintenance.

♦     An opportunity to learn - Nov. 10 and 11th is our Diocesan Convention with a lot of educational opportunities and a bird's eye view of the work of the Episcopal Church. A group of us are going. Come and be part of the fun.

♦     An opportunity to serve - join us on the vestry next year. Talk with either Joe or Bob if you are interested.

That's it for now. Thank you for giving me this opportunity to serve.

Bob

for

Joe Ryan - Sr. Warden

and Bob Parks - Jr. Warden

Who’s Who In Church!

Jean Phipps grew up in Kenosha, Wisconsin where she attended St. Matthew's Episcopal Church. She met her husband when they were both students at University of Wisconsin-Madison. Jean moved to St. Charles from Glen Ellyn in 1999 and still misses her home there, which was designed by contemporaries of Frank Lloyd Wright. Jean was widowed after 56 years of marriage. She still misses her husband who was an inventor and developer of many products, including circular knitting needles for Boye Company.

Now Jean lives just down the street from church with her pet Lucky, a genuine alley cat. She has two sons and four grandchildren. Jean likes to work with her hands; she designs and creates jewelry (Jean is both a silversmith and a stonecutter!) She is a longtime knitter and recently learned to crochet. Jean is very active in the prayer shawl ministry and taught jewelry making at Marketplace, our Vacation Bible School.

One of Jean's favorite things is her church. She said when she first came here it was very warm and inviting and it felt like coming home. If you haven't met Jean you can meet her at the 10:45 service, the 9:00 Adult Education class, gatherings at prayer shawl, and the Thursday night women's book group.

Holiday Bakers Needed

Get out your favorite recipes and start baking! We need cookies, cakes, pies, etc. for our Holiday Craft Show on Saturday Dec. 2^nd and we will need cookies for our Parish Shut-in and Fox Valley Hospice collection on Dec. 10^th. What better way to fill your home with the smells of the season than to bake up a few batches of Christmas cheer!

Candlelight Carols

St. Charles Singers will present their annual Candlelight Carols concert on the first weekend in December. The theme is “Seasonal Music From Around the World.” They will sing carols from the U.S., Canada, Iceland, England, Spain, Belgium and other countries. “Candlelight Carols” will be presented on Saturday, Dec 2^nd at 7:30 pm and on Sunday, Dec 3^rd at 4:00 pm. Both performances will be at Baker Memorial United Methodist Church, 307 Cedar Avenue, St. Charles. Tickets are $35 for premium seating, $25 for general admission, and $20 for seniors and students. For tickets, call 630-513-5272 or see Beverly Nesbit.

“An Old Fashioned Christmas” Concert

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/.

Join members of the internationally acclaimed Illinois Brass Band for a musical journey through An Old Fashioned Christmas. With gleaming brass, rhythmic percussion, and soaring voice, we'll take you to Old Main Street and capture the holiday bustle as people prepare for Christmas. From there, celebrate Christmas Eve with the sacred and traditional music that embodies the spirit of the season. During Christmas Morning, we'll capture the joy of family and the fanciful exuberance of Christmas through the eyes of children. We’’ll end our journey with our Christmas Greetings celebration of the rich traditions of the holiday season. This seventh annual holiday show by The Illinois Brass Band includes special guests, The Choral-Aires, a world-class choral group joining the thirty-piece brass ensemble for selected numbers and performing spotlight pieces of their own. Details are available at www.oldfashionedchristmas.org

Christmas is coming!

The Outreach committee is giving us a chance to be part of the Salvation Army’s Christmas Program. We have an opportunity to make a difference for families in need in the Tri-City area by participating in the Angel Tree program ( providing gifts of clothing and toys for children). If you would like to commit to one or both of these programs you can sign up in Ludtke Hall by Nov. 5. Gifts need to be dropped off here at the church by Dec. 10.

Thanksgiving Dinner!

The Sign Up Sheet for Thanksgiving at the Trinity, Aurora Soup Kitchen is out on the table in Ludtke Hall. We’re looking for chefs, bakers, servers and saints to help for the cooking on Tuesday Nov. 21 and serving on Thursday Nov. 23 (Thanksgiving Day). What better way to share your thankfulness than to participate in this wonderful day of loving service?!

If you have questions, please contact Liz Ryan or Barbara Ross.

Thanksgiving Eve Service Help Wanted

Would you like to participate in the Thanksgiving Eve service on November 22? The sign up sheet is in Ludtke Hall.

Volunteers Needed

Do you love to hold babies? Are you a grandparent or wanna be grandparent or parent and wanna be parent? We have a wonderful opportunity for you to help in our nursery by being an extra pair of hands for our nursery attendant – no diaper changing involved. We are asking for 1 hour of your time once a month. Sign up in Ludtke Hall or ask Liz Ryan for more information. This is an opportunity for anyone over the age of 18.

E-mail is the best way for you!

If you would like to receive the Announcements from The Pulse, send an email to scecoffice@sbcglobal.net with Pulse in the Subject line. The announcements will be emailed on Friday morning for the Sunday service.

What’s Up in Kids’ Formation?

Happy November!

The Atriums are busy, busy, busy!

The children in the Green Atrium are learning about Saints and prophets and how they trusted God. The children in the Blue Atrium are learning about the Bible, - who, what, where, when, why. Both are busy thinking of ways to save their pennies for their Heifer Project animals and being thankful by filling their UTO boxes.

The Middlers are discussing how to be a Christian “even at school”. Not to mention some fun times and even an outing! ( more on that from the teachers...)

The Jr. High has been looking into the Catechism in the back of the Book of Common Prayer. There’s some great stuff back there if you have never taken the opportunity to check it out!

The High School class continues to pray for you all during their prayer time (if you need specific prayers, there are prayer slips on the table beneath the Prayer concerns board in Ludtke Hall). They are also playing Episco-games as they learn more of the history of the Episcopal Church.

Announcements:

☺     Our Poinsettia Sale starts Nov. 5^th. Look for more information on the Bulletin Board.

☺     Diocesan Convention is coming up! November 11^th & 12^th at the Westin Chicago North Shore in Wheeling, IL. If you would like to volunteer some time, or participate there is still time to register. There are programs for every age. For more information, call Lela in the office or check out the Diocese of Chicago website: www.episcopalchicago.org.

☺     Looking for a way to enrich your Thanksgiving traditions? You and your family can help at the Thanksgiving Soup Kitchen at Trinity Church in Aurora. We will be cooking on Tuesday evening Nov. 21^st and serving on Thanksgiving day Nov. 23^rd. A group will leave the church at 9:30am Thursday morning and we should return some time around 2:30 pm. 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.

☺     Have you been looking for a “Top Ten Reasons to be an Episcopalian” t-shirt? A new order will be coming in any day. See Liz Ryan for details.

Looking ahead...

➔     Nov. 26 There will be no regular Kids’ Formation classes BUT, there will be an Advent Celebration in the Blue Atrium for Preschool through 4^th Grade. Kids from the upper classes who would like to volunteer to help the younger children with projects would be very welcome. Please call Liz Ryan at the church or contact her by e-mail: stckidsformation@aol.com

➔     Dec. 3 Youth Sunday. The Sr. High will be serving at the 10:45am service.

➔     Also Dec. 3 We will be collecting the full UTO boxes! Don’t forget to put a coin in each time you are thankful!

➔     Dec. 17 Christmas Pageant!!! The pageant will be after the 10:45am service. Come and enjoy our Jr. High’s version of the Christmas story

Come Out and Play

On Saturday, November 4^th from 5:30 to 9:00 pm, the Parish Life Committee will be sponsoring a family game night in Ludtke Hall. Bring your favorite board game or sign up to join the adult Bunco game. Children are also welcomed to bring games to share too!

Families with last names beginning A-M are asked to bring an appetizer or snack to share and families N-Z are asked to bring a dessert. Brats and hotdogs will be offered for an nominal price. Chips, lemonade and iced tea will also be provided. Adults are welcomed to BYOB.

Please sign up in Ludtke Hall if you plan on attending in order for us to plan accordingly. Also, Bunco Players are asked to sign up so that we save a spot for you! For more information, contact Mary Benjamin.

Dollars and Sense

Faithful Steward Ministries is pleased to offer:

Faith & Family Finances

on Thursday, November 16 from 7 to 9:30 pm.

       Registration fee is $35.00/ family

       Call 630-845-8880 to register.

Finances touch every aspect of our lives. This workshop is for those who want to learn more about:

☞     Preparing for college

☞     Financial planning for retirement.

☞      Biblical stewardship.

What others are saying:

“Truly a wealth of information and helpful to every generation…”

“Helped us see what we were doing right & what things we could improve.”

“Gave us clear direction for reaching our financial goals.”

“Wish we had taken this workshop years ago!”

Five Reasons to Tithe

☺  Ancient Model: Tithing is our most ancient model for giving. One of the best tithing stories in that of Jacob (Genesis 28:10-22). It is the Episcopal Norm (General Convention resolutions since 1982).

☺  Trust in God: Tithing helps us worship God more in our lives. As an act of thanks, tithing strengthens faith, encourages our spiritual growth and builds trust in God.

☺  Financial Wisdom: Tithing brings God’s wisdom to our finances, exercising a healthy spiritual discipline over them, and helps us to combat the destructive materialism and greed that destroy the lives of many.

☺  Congregational Strength: Tithing strengthens the ministry, outreach and health of our congregations, molding us into true Christian communities of faith, love and grace.

☺  Ministry Support: Tithing provides adequate financial support for the work God calls us to do.

The Benefits of Tithing:

•  Tithing Builds Character

•  Tithing indicates moral strength and self-discipline. Further, by it we develop a greater sense of trust in God that strengthens our inner life which is the basis of our character.

•  Tithing organizes life around God’s purpose

•  Tithing brings contentment and a sense of joy at obeying God. It helps keep our focus on things eternal and the purposes of God to change the lives of others.

•  Tithing opens the door for God to use and bless us: God’s word teaches that our obedience puts us in the position to make a difference in the lives of others and to experience God’s blessing for our own lives.

WOMEN'S BOOK GROUP

In November, the Women's Book Group are reading SARAH: A Novel by Marek Halter. This story is a fictional account of the life of Sarah, the wife of Abraham of Ur. In our discussions, we will look at both the novel and at the scriptural references to Sarah and try to reconcile the two. The book has recently been released in paperback and is available online or at Borders as well as at your local library. All women in the parish are welcome to join us for this book and biblical discussion.

We will meet Thursday November 16th at 7:30 pm at the church. Questions? Call Deacon Liz.

DEVOTIONAL BOOKLETS

The Theological Reflectors of St. Charles’ Episcopal Church are again preparing a booklet of Advent reflections for your reading and devotional needs. The booklet will contain a daily reflection written by fellow parishioners based on the daily readings assigned for Advent in Lesser Feasts and Fasts. They are free of charge and will be available by the first Sunday in Advent (Dec 3). Look for them on the table in Ludtke Hall as Advent approaches.

REMINDER: If you have been asked to write a reflection and have not already done so, you know who you are and we need it post- haste!

Coffee Hour

Coffee Hours on Sunday are an expression of our hospitality and an opportunity for fellowship. “Light Refreshments” (coffee cakes and/or fruit, juice, coffee and tea) are provided by volunteer hosts or co-hosts following each of the services. What a wonderful way to extend hospitality to newcomers and members alike. Sign up in Ludtke Hall.

Did you know?

Lambeth Conferences are less than 200 years old? The idea for a Lambeth Conference was raised by Bishop Hopkins of Vermont in 1851, but only came into reality at the request of Canadian bishops in 1867. They wanted to convene because there was a very real concern that actions of the Canadian Privy Council "should leave us governed by canons different from those in force in England and Ireland, and thus cause us to drift into the status of an independent branch of the Catholic Church." As we fret over the health of the Anglican Communion, and fall into thoughts that it's as least as old as King Henry the VIII himself, we would do well to recognize that this venerable institution is but an infant in the history of the church.

Prayer Shawl Ministry

The Prayer Shawl ministry invites all to join us in this powerful ministry of wrapping friends, neighbors, relatives and others in God's love for healing, strength, and joy. We will be happy to teach you to knit or crochet and supply yarn and needles, too. In November, we will meet on Thursday, November 2 at 7.00 pm and on Tuesday, November 28 at 10.00 am in Ludtke Hall. (Note these dates are different to accommodate Thanksgiving preparations.) Our time together is very special and very fun and we would like to share this fellowship with more of you!

And, we welcome all of your support by requesting shawls. Simply, fill out the information on the sign up sheet in Ludtke Hall or contact the church office. There is a bank near the sign up sheet that welcomes donations of all sizes to help fund our yarn purchases.

Happy Birthday for the month of November

1  Kavita Deodhar

3  Don Murray

3  Carolyn Campbell

4  Rob Travis

6  Bob Dickey

6  Alec Meade

8  Alison Blane

9  Jane Hansen

9  Thomas Miller

10 Timothy Murphy

10 Greg Van Zandt

10 Anne Van Zandt

10 Sam Madura

10 Erik Balisi

13 Robert Hatcher

13 Gilmour Hildebrand

16 Lindsay Scanlan

18 Rob Barnes

18 Jim Deodhar

18 Maria Foran

20 Victoria Ryan

22 Damon Heikkinen

24 Dottie Finatri

24 Bob Johnson

24 Karen Flood

26 Beverly Nesbit

28 Peter Van Nortwick

30 Gloria Babcock

30 Nancy Jones

Celebrating an Anniversary in November

5  Bill & Jane Van Nortwick

7  Larry & Liz Engel

30 Gerry & Christy Becker

Happy Birthday in the month of December

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 Christopher 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 Jack Benning

26 Andrew McCullough

26 Linda McGaan

27 Christy Becker

30 Jonathon Monken

30 Liz Meade

31 Henry Mora

Congratulations on your new baby!

Annie Tate Gibson was born to Jeff & Ellen and big sister, Hattie on October 3, 2006.

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