Social Concerns Updates for Week Ending December 4th, 2004

ST. MICHAEL'S PARISHIONERS - YOU'RE NEEDED!

Please help spread holiday cheer by signing up for and / or
helping with one or more of the following.

Bazaar - Sat. Dec. 4th

*Refreshments - bring goodies by 4:45 PM, help serve.
*Setup - help muscle tables around Sat. morning.
*Tables - help sell our stuff - Guatemala, Haiti, candies, etc.
*Cleanup - straighten for Sunday's big day.

Bazaar - Sun. Dec. 5th

*Sit "our" sales tables in 2-hour increments.
*Be a "floater" to help visitors and vendors.
*Cleanup - beginning 3 PM

School Las Posadas lunch, Dec. 17th

Help serve for this festive occasion.
Arrive around 11 AM; be done in less than 2 hours.
The school contracts with our friend Maria Garcia for the meal,
so her projects with indigenous in Mexico benefit.

Cookies for BorderLinks' Christmas party

Bake cookies for children in Nogales, Sonora -
Deliver to St. Michael's by 3 PM on Dec. 17th.
Party is Dec.18th. You're welcome to attend.
Last year almost 1000 children attended.
For details, BorderLinks' Pat Brandenburg, 792-3312.

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* Gifts * Food * Music

Purchase from more than 20 of Tucson's socially-committed non-profit groups.

Fair-trade items from Azure Skies Global Gifts.

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Sat. Dec. 4th, 5 PM to 8 PM:

Opening Reception & Sale

Mzekala - Balkan Traditional Songs, 6:30 PM

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Sun. Dec. 5th, 9 AM to 3 PM

African art, calendars, children's books, regional authors,
Haitian crafts, Mayan weavings, jewelry,
fair-trade handicrafts from more than 30 cultures,
Just Coffee, Just Cashews, holiday goods and goodies,
boxed gift candies, and more.

* Holiday tamales & foods - Maria Garcia, La Indita

* Informal Music

St. Michael & All Angels

602 N. Wilmot (at 5th Street), Parish Center

HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH A CONSCIENCE!

Information: 886-7292 (church), 623-3063 (coordinator)

LOOK FOR YOUR FAVORITE GROUP!

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COMMUNITY WORK THIS WEEK

Greet Burmese refugee when he arrives Dec. 1.

If possible, also help with hot meals for his first full day in the U.S. Refugee Program staff will be at the airport. Your task would be just to make him feel welcome as he begins a new life. He is 43 years old, Christian, and will arrive from Thailand. To help, call Janell Mousseau, new director of the Refugee Program, 721-4444.

ANDEAN FREE TRADE AGREEMENT [AFTA] TALKS IN TUCSON

this week, with more than 1500 delegates from Ecuador, Peru, Colombia, and the U.S.. NAFTA has proven problematic environmentally and for the poor of southern Mexico, increasing both suffering and undocumented migration to the U.S. Unfortunately, when trading "partners" are unequal, a seemingly good idea results in exploitation, reduction of public services, cultural and environmental degradations, and increasing gaps between the rich and poor. Major public protest events:

Tuesday, November 30th:

* Press Conference, 10 AM, Southside Presbyterian Church, 817 W. 23rd Street.
* Community Rally, 11 AM - 1 PM, Tucson Convention Center.
* AFTA teach-in, UA College of Law, Room 146, 7 PM - 9 PM.

Friday, December 3rd:

* Anti-AFTA March, Old Main (UA) to Marriott Hotel Park. Assemble 3 p.m.

Information, details - rboren@igc.org, www.noafta.org, 520-312-2988.

Announcements for Week Ending December 4th, 2004

Attention high schoolers - Youth Minister Kaytee Needham is out of town for the Thanksgiving holiday, and the youth group meeting will not be held this week.

Angel Tree ministry is now in progress with a tree in the back of the Church. This project is for children of prisoners and Native American children. This year we need over 80 gifts for the children. Join in by choosing an angel or Indian tag from the tree at the back of the church, and place your name and the code # for your gift on the list on the ushers' cabinet. Please do not giftwrap the gifts, but do include the tag when bringing the gift to the church. Donations may be made in place of gifts. Gifts are needed by December 20. For more information, call Ancelyn Smith.

2005 Ordo Kalendars available on the ushers' cabinet. A donation of $3.00 per calendar is requested to cover handling charges.

Advent International Bazaar - holiday shopping with a conscience, Saturday, December 5th, 5:00 - 7:00 PM, and Sunday, December 6th, 9:00 AM - 3:00 PM. Food, music, gifts and goods.

Contributions made to the Arizona Episcopal Schools Foundation by December 31, 2004, will be credited dollar for dollar against your Arizona income tax up to $500 for individuals and $625 for couples filing jointly. These contributions are also tax deductible on federal tax returns. For more information, please call Erika Weitzel at 722-8478.

Angel Food Candy is still available - just come to the church office to directly purchase this wonderful candy made by our very own parishioners. A great package for $10. There is still time to purchase candy for the holidays!

Christmas Flowers - the special beauty of St. Michael's Christmas worship is the work of many people. Not all can be directly involved, but all can contribute to the Christmas flowers and decorations. Please use the Christmas Flowers envelope for floral donations.

Announcements for Week Ending November 28th, 2004

Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 25 - there will be a Mass at 9:00 AM. Come and join in worshiping Almighty God and giving thanks for his mercy and our blessings. All parishioners are invited to bring fresh flowers for the altar as a symbol of our gratefulness.

Parish Office closed Thanksgiving and Friday, November 25 and 26. The clergy and staff wish you and your family a blessed Thanksgiving!

Casa Maria volunteers will meet this Friday at 6:30 PM, in the Parish Center to prepare sack lunches. Your help is needed the volunteers can always use a few extra hands and shelled hard boiled eggs. Join them for fellowship and to help with this good work.

Godly Play Group and Family Mass next Sunday. All are welcome to attend the next family mass and picnic. Please bring a Mexican themed dish or casserole to share (turkey leftovers are fine). Beverages will be provided. See you in the park!

There are lots of boxes of Angel Food candy available. At $10 a pound, in an attractive gift ready box, this is an affordable means of sharing this fund raising effort by St. Michael's parishioner volunteers. Just stop by the church office for your Angel Food. Also available are 1 pound bags of toasted coconut and roasted macadamia nuts at $1 each. Use this tasty combination on ice cream, in recipes, etc.

Next ECW Meeting Wednesday, December 15 - this meeting will include a cookie exchange (please bring 36 of your one favorite cookie to share) and a lunch served by Joy Miller of EnJoy Cooking (cost $5 per person) Sign up sheet located on ushers' cabinet. For questions, please contact ECW Chair Dolores Braren.

It's Angel Tree time again - starting the first Sunday in Advent, a Christmas tree in the back of the church will have angels hanging on its branches. This year, we have 30 children from Angel Tree and 50 children from the Indian reservation. We have requests for new shoes from several of the families and will ask for gift cards from Payless Shoes or a similar store, There are also requests for gift cards from local stores so that children can choose something they want. If you buy clothing, please include the gift receipt so that exchanges can be made. Please sign the list on the table at the back of the church so that I know who has taken each child. We are asking you bring your gifts unwrapped to the church office or to the tree on Sundays before or after Mass. The Angel Tree program is an important part of St. Michael's ministry for children of prisoners and Indian children in need. For additional information, please call Ancelyn Smith.

8,400 canned and dry goods were collected by our Parish Day School students for both the church food pantry and the Community Food Bank. This is the most that has ever been collected! Thank you, students and faculty!

Announcements for Week Ending November 21st, 2004

Vestry Meeting this Tuesday starting at 7:00 PM in the Parish Center. Parishioners are invited to attend.

St. Michael's Episcopal Church Women (ECW) meeting this Wednesday in the Parish Center starting at 10:00 AM. All women of the parish are invited to attend this meeting.

Social Concerns Meeting next Sunday following the 10:00 AM Mass in the Parish Center.

Thanks to your extraordinary generosity of purse and spirit, the October Social Concerns special collection for Sudan and Haiti totaled $1,711. With the added $500 match from existing Social Concerns funds, that's $2,200 to send through Episcopal sources to relieve suffering and help rebuild in the two countries.

St. Michael's 9th Advent International Bazaar – December 4 and 5. Parish artist and service groups, if you would like a table to sell holiday goods, please contact coordinator Ila Abernathy now. Typically, 25 to 30 parish and socially committed community non-profit groups participate. Want to help plan, publicize, and make the event special? Contact Ila!

Annual trash pickup along migrant routes with Samaritans and friends Saturday, November 20 (morning). This group will go over the dry creek bed and into the mesquite bosque to complete the cleanup begun in October for a grandmotherly Arivaca resident. Meet at 7:00 AM at Southside Presbyterian, 327 W. 23rd Street, to car pool. Bring gloves, desert attire, common sense, hat, water, etc. Optional lunch / debriefing / coffee in fascinating Arivaca ($3 - $6). Half day event. Call St. Michael's coordinator Ila for details, especially if you can bring a pickup.

Can you help with the annual Thanksgiving meal with refugees from all Tucson's refugee programs Saturday, November 20 (evening)? St. Michael's wants to prepare a meal for 12 more if lots of us plan to attend. Meal to take place at Grace St. Paul's, 2331 E. Adams Street, from 5:00 to 7:00 PM. Call the Holts to find out what's needed.

10th Annual Thanksgiving Family Retreat at Chapel Rock (the Arizona Church Conference Center) in Prescott Thursday, November 25 through Saturday, November 27. All are invited. Varying costs and information listed on the bulletin board.

Thank you to all the wonderful volunteers who spent many hours making St. Michael's Angel Food Candy. Approximately 1,200 pounds of candy was made. Orders are filled and are ready to be picked up. Please stop by the church office to claim your order. Again, thank you for supporting this "fun" raising event!

Angel Food Candy is still available. Stop in the church office to purchase. We also have 1 pound bags of topping (toasted coconut and roasted macadamia nuts) at $1 each great for baking or on ice cream.

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Alan Schultz in Concert

The Southern Arizona Symphony Orchestra will play a concert at Saddlebrook Mountain View Clubhouse at 3:00 P.M., Sunday, November 14. Included in the program are the Wagner Siegfried Funeral Music, the Beethoven Eroica Symphony, and the premier of Alan Schultz's New Concerto for Violin and Orchestra with Sam Kreiling, violinist. Tickets are $10.

This concert will be repeated 3:00 P.M, Sunday, November 21, at Sahuarita High School Auditorium, a hall with extremely fine acoustics. Located at Sahuarita / Helmet Peak Road, 1/2 mile east of I-19 at Exit 75. Present this announcement at Sahuarita High School on November 21 and receive as many free tickets as you need,

You are my guests. I am honored with your presence at either of these performances.

Thank you,

Alan Schultz

Announcements for Week Ending November 14th, 2004

Volunteers needed to sort and stack food following school food drive Monday, November 15. Volunteers are needed at 9:00 AM. Interested volunteers just need to come to the church. Lynette and Shigeko will help coordinate this project.

Advent Reflective Morning and Diocesan Assembly, sponsored by the Order of the Daughters of the King in the Diocese of Arizona, is open to all members and guests of St. Michael and All Angels on Saturday, December 4, from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM (Registration will begin at 9:30 AM; meditation at 10:00 AM), At Church of the Apostles in Oro Valley, 12111 N. La Cholla Boulevard north of Tangerine Road. Sign up deadline is Sunday, November 21. A sign up sheet is located on the ushers' cabinet.

St. Michael's Parish Day School needs a day care worker/coordinator, minimum of 3 hours per day from 2:30 PM to 5:50 PM; maximum 6 hours per day from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM (includes lunch monitor and clerical work). Start at $7.50 then go to $8.00 after 60 days. For more information this immediate opportunity, please contact Judy Engstrand at the School office, 722-8478.

Altar Guild Meeting this Saturday immediately following the 8:30 AM Mass in the Church.

Angel Food Candy - This wonderful English Toffee dipped in chocolate, rolled in toasted Macadamia nuts and macaroon coconut, then boxed in a beautiful red and gold metallic printed gift box is still available. Orders are still being taken. For your convenience, order forms are available on the ushers' cabinet. Share the goodness and sweetness of St. Michael and All Angels Church!

St. Michael's ECW (Episcopal Church Women) Raffle - drawing for a new Panasonic 27" flat screen stereo TV/DVD/VCR combo (valued at $500). Tickets are $1 each; drawing to be held Sunday, December 19. Proceeds to benefit ECW's programs.

Announcements for Week Ending Novermber 7th, 2004

Please Welcome the Rev. John Denaro from the Episcopal Migration Ministries’ Church Relations and Outreach this Wednesday starting at 7:00 PM, in the Parish Hall. Interact with a leader from the national church office, exchange ideas, and learn about the work of Episcopal Migration Ministries nationally and in Tucson. Free - light refreshments.

This is the week for Angel Food candy making - St. Michael’s parishioners will start making our wonderful English Toffee dipped in chocolate, rolled in toasted macadamia nuts and macaroon coconut, then boxed in a beautiful red and gold metallic printed gift box. Monday, November 1, through Saturday, November 6! Volunteers are still needed; just stop in the Parish Center at 9:00 AM Orders are now being taken. For your convenience, order forms are available on the ushers’ cabinet. Share the goodness and sweetness of St. Michael and All Angels Church!

10th Annual Thanksgiving Family Retreat at Chapel Rock (the Arizona Church Conference Center) in Prescott Thursday, November 25 through Saturday, November 27. All are invited. Varying costs and information listed on the bulletin board.

St. Augustine Catholic High School Open House Night Monday, November 9, at 7:00 PM. Recruiting students for the upcoming 2005-06 school year. Here is an opportunity for parents and children to meet the principal, faculty, parents, and students from St. Augustine’s. Applications will be available. For questions, please call 751-8300.

Festival Of The Arts at Holy Trinity Monastery in St. David Saturday and Sunday, November 13 and November 14. See bulletin board for details.

How To’s of Helping the Homeless; Focus on Trauma presented by Tucson Planning Council for the Homeless Friday, November 5, 8:30 AM to 11:30 AM. Call Lynn Ratener at 917-2384 for more information. There is no charge. Beverages and snacks will be served. Announcement is posted on the bulletin board.

Check Out the Ongoing Parishioner Photography and Painting Art Show in the Parish Center. This possibly may be the start of a St. Michael's parish activity where artist may show, demonstrate, educate, and promote their artistic gifts. For more information about this program, please contact Kelli Peacock or Bob Bennet.

Speaking of artistic gifts - St. Michael's has a new blog for parishioners' art, photos, essays, poetry, meditations, prayers, etc. Check it out! Better yet, contribute! The web address is http:/smaaarts.blogspot.com. Please email your contributions to Karen @ mavarin.com or mavarin @ aol.com. Karen will also take contributions in person after each Sunday 10 AM Mass.