Announcements for Weeks Ending January 4 and 11, 2009

Announcements

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All of us St. Michael’s wish to express our gratitude
to everyone for the beautiful Christmas liturgy,
to those who decorated the church, the choir,
the director, the instrumentalists and all who helped
us welcome the Christ child with great joy and beauty.

FEAST OF THE EPIPHANY – TUESDAY JANUARY 6 – MASS AT 6:00 P.M. Join us for a “Pot Luck” Dinner immediately following Mass. Bring your favorite dish to share. Beverages provided. For dessert – our famous “Epiphany Cake” with “dime for wealth”, “ring for love” and “thimble for good works” all hidden with in the cake. The person who finds the “thimble” receives the honor of baking the Epiphany cake at next year's celebration.

St. Michael and All Angels Church
and Parish Day School
wish each and every one
a very blessed and peaceful
New Year.

NOVEL THEOLOGY - The next meeting of our book club, Novel Theology, is at the home of Lynette Emory at 6:30 PM on Thursday, January 8, 2009.The book discussed is Reading Lolita in Tehran by Azar Nafisi. Books and study guides are provided! We welcome newcomers. Join us for lively discussion and good company. Call Lynette Emory for your materials and more information.

ECW QUILT RAFFLE - The ECW handmade quilt raffle has been moved to the English Tea on Saturday May 9, 2009. This gorgeous quilt may be seen in the church office. Tickets are on sale.

St. Michael’s Angel Food - There are only a few boxes of Angel Food Candy remaining. Just stop by the church office for your Angel Food. Share the goodness and sweetness of St. Michael and All Angels Church!

The Knitters and Quilters will meet January 10, 2009.

Opportunities for Giving

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EPIPHANY GIFTS FOR PRIMAVERA - our treasure chest is now available for those who would like to donate warm clothing, new socks and underwear, blankets, and sleeping bags to help homeless men, women, and families throughout this winter season. Toiletries are also needed. The Primavera chest will be available through Sunday, February 15.

TAX CREDIT REMINDER – St. Michael’s Parishioners, we need your help! There are four weeks remaining to complete your tax credit designation to Arizona Episcopal Schools Foundation. We are asking for all parishioners to take action, get involved and help St. Michael’s School receive those important tax dollars. Every dollar we receive supports assistance for deserving families. More information to come. Questions? Call Lila at 722-8478, extension 213, at St. Michael’s School

Parish Life is Growing -
When Will We See You?

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Mark Your Calendar! Gaslight Theater - Sunday February 8th at 3 PM. Sign up now: only 12 tickets remain, first come first served. Payment is required at sign-up, adults $18.00, children $9.00. Envelopes provided; drop in collection basket!

Photos of the Week!

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Before the music starts on Christmas Eve.


Last minute consultations


"Backstage" preparations


Between the celebrations.

Photos by Karen Funk Blocher. Reminder: if you use or repost any of my photos elsewhere, please list me as the photographer. Thanks!

Christmas Service Schedule 2008

December 24th
Vigil of the Nativity - Christmas Eve



5:00 PM - Family Mass with Christmas Story
for Children and Setting Up the Creche

10:00 PM - Concert and Carols
10:45 PM - Solemn Procession and High Mass

December 25th
The Nativity of Our Lord Jesus Christ
Christmas Day



7:30 AM - Morning Prayer

7:45 AM - Mass

10:15 AM - High Mass and Procession

Parish Offices Closed December 24th through 26th

The Clergy and Staff
of St. Michael and All Angels Church
and Parish Day School
Wish to One and All a very Blessed Christmas
and a Peaceful New Year!

Announcements for Week Ending December 21, 2008

Announcements

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Stewardship Reminder - Those who have not yet estimated their giving please use the pledge cards and envelopes located at the end of each pew. You may simply drop the completed cards in the collection, mail them or bring them by the parish office. Please remember to pick-up your contribution envelopes in the back of church!

VESTRY MEETING – The Vestry will meet this Tuesday at 7 pm in the Parish Center. All parishioners are invited to attend this important parish function.

DEADLINE FOR THE MESSENGER - The New Year is already upon us – the January issue of The Messenger copy deadline is this coming Wednesday, December 17. Please submit your article to church @ stmichael.net or the church office. January’s copy deadline is early due to the upcoming Christmas schedule.

ECW QUILT RAFFLE - The ECW handmade quilt raffle has been moved to the English Tea on Saturday May 9, 2009. This gorgeous quilt may be seen in the church office. Tickets are on sale.

St. Michael’s Angel Food - Don’t forget your “Angel Food” for last minute Christmas gifts in an attractive gift-ready box. This is an affordable means of sharing the fund raising effort by your parishioner volunteers. Just stop by the church office for your Angel Food. Share the goodness and sweetness of St. Michael and All Angels Church!

The Knitters and Quilters will not meet this month. We’ll see you next year, January 10, 2009.

Opportunities for Giving

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Casa Maria will meet this Friday at 6 pm in the Parish Center to prepare the sack lunches for Primavera. Your help is needed! The volunteers can always use a few “eggstra” hands and two dozen shelled hard boiled eggs. Please join us for fellowship and to help with this good work!

TAX CREDIT REMINDER – St. Michael’s Parishioners, we need your help! There are four weeks remaining to complete your tax credit designation to Arizona Episcopal Schools Foundation. We are asking for all parishioners to take action, get involved and help St. Michael’s School receive those important tax dollars. Every dollar we receive supports assistance for deserving families. More information to come. Questions? Call Lila at 722-8478, extension 213, at St. Michael’s School

ANGEL TREE Giving 2008 - This was the last Sunday to obtain Angel Tree tags from the Christmas Tree at the back of church. Please be sure to sign the sheet on the usher’s table so that we will know what children’s names have been taken. This year I need all the gifts returned to the office or brought to the tree no later than Wednesday, December 17th. Please remember to include the tags for return if any of the items are the wrong size or color. For any of you who would like to participate but are unable to shop, let me know and I will be glad to take care of it for you. May God Bless all of you during this wonderful time of the year. Please call me if you have any questions or have any problems with your gifts. Thanking you in advance for your generosity – Ancelyn Smith

Parish Life is Growing -
When Will We See You?

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Walk through Winterhaven – Friday December 19th, 8 PM. – Meet at the corner of Kleindale and Tucson Blvd. Bob and Penny MacArthur (one block north of Kleindale) will have an OPEN HOUSE both before and after the walk for hot drinks and goodies. Sign up sheets are in the back of church.

Mark Your Calendar! Gaslight Theater - Sunday February 8th at 3 PM. Sign up now: only 25 tickets available, first come first served. Payment is required at sign-up, adults $18.00, children $9.00. Envelopes provided; drop in collection basket!

Photos of the Week!

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The lighting of the Advent Wreath

From the Picasa online photo album Life at St. Michael and All Angels

Photos by Karen Funk Blocher. Reminder: if you use or repost any of my photos elsewhere, please list me as the photographer. Thanks!

Announcements for Week Ending December 14, 2008

Announcements

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Stewardship Reminder - Those who have not yet estimated their giving please use the pledge cards and envelopes located at the end of each pew. You may simply drop the completed cards in the collection, mail them or bring them by the parish office. Please remember to pick-up your contribution envelopes in the back of church!

CHRISTMAS - FRIENDSHIP – FELLOWSHIP LUNCHEON will take place Monday December 15th at 11:30 am in the Parish Center. The delicious luncheon will be catered by “JOY” the cost is only $10.00. Sign up sheets are in the back of church or simply call Peggy Speece with your reservation.

E.C.W ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON - will take place on Wednesday, December 10 at 10:30 am in the Parish Center. All women of the parish are invited. Reservations made on the sign-up sheet in the back of church. The cost of the luncheon is $6.00. Won’t you join us? The last day for reservations is no later than Monday, December 8th.

ECW QUILT RAFFLE - The ECW handmade quilt raffle has been moved to the English Tea on Saturday May 9, 2009. This gorgeous quilt may be seen in the church office. Tickets are on sale.

St. Michael’s Angel Food - Don’t forget your “Angel Food” for last minute Christmas gifts in an attractive gift-ready box. This is an affordable means of sharing the fund raising effort by your parishioner volunteers. Just stop by the church office for your Angel Food. Share the goodness and sweetness of St. Michael and All Angels Church!

The Knitters and Quilters will not meet this month. We’ll see you next year, January 10, 2009.

Opportunities for Giving

---

St. Michael’s Parishioners – we need your help! There are four weeks remaining to complete your tax credit designation to Arizona Episcopal Schools Foundation. We are asking for all parishioners to take action, get involved and help St. Michael’s School receive those important tax dollars. Every dollar we receive supports assistance for deserving families. More information to come. Questions – Call Lila @ 722-8478 – extension 213 - at St. Michael’s School.

ANGEL TREE Giving 2008 - Angel Tree tags are now available for pick-up from the Christmas Tree at the back of church. Please be sure to sign the sheet on the usher’s table so that we will know what children’s names have been taken. This year we have 35 children and will also be buying groceries for Christmas baskets for several of the families. I appreciate all the donations you have made in the past for the Angel Tree project. This year I need all the gifts returned to the office or brought to the tree no later than Wednesday, December 17th.

Please remember to include the tags for return if any of the items are the wrong size or color. Most stores will give these when the gift is purchased. For any of you who would like to participate but are unable to shop, let me know and I will be glad to take care of it for you.
May God Bless all of you during this wonderful time of the year. Please call me if you have any questions or have any problems with your gifts. Thanking you in advance for your generosity – Ancelyn Smith

Stewardship By The Numbers - Thanks to everyone for doing their faithful best in these difficult times! There are some parishioners out of work—please pray for them. Most are blessed with continued employment or retirement income. Our stewardship is always based on what we receive each month to live on.

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.

Parish Life is Growing -
When Will We See You?

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Walk through Winterhaven – Friday December 19 – Meet at Bob and Penny MacArthur's (one block north of Kleindale) after the walk for hot drinks and goodies. Sign up sheets are in the back of church.

Mark Your Calendar! Gaslight Theater - Sunday February 8th at 3 PM. Sign up now: only 25 tickets available, first come first served. Payment is required at sign-up, adults $18.00, children $9.00. Envelopes provided; drop in collection basket!

Photos of the Week!

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Aztec Dancers arrive for a performance
at the Advent International Bazaar.

More photos on the St. Michael's Arts page.

Advent International Bazaar

An invitation to –

St. Michael’s Advent International Bazaar

Saturday December 6, 5 - 8 p.m.

Opening reception & sale

MZEKALA – Balkan traditional songs, 6 p.m.

Sunday, December 7, 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Sale continues

• Indian tacos, tamales, Colombian empanadas – after 11:30
• "children only" trinket table – items 10 cents to $2
• pinata on the patio, 10 a.m. and noon
• music and dance – after 11:30, including

Danza Mexica Cuautehmoc, indigenous dance, 12:30 p.m.

Ted Warmbrand, bajo and folk guitar, 2 p.m.

St. Michael & All Angels

Episcopal Church,

602 N. Wilmot (at 5^th Street).

The Bazaar offers shoppers the opportunity to purchase unique gifts and holiday items directly from more than 25 socially-committed non-profit groups. Live music and food round out the festivities.

Look for fair-trade items from 30 cultures, and selections from Africa, Colombia, Guatemala, indigenous communities, Mexico, and close to home – calendars, children’s books, holiday decorations, jewelry, fair-trade coffee, Maya textiles, boxed candies, cards and photos, and many other one-of-a-kind items – most very reasonably priced.

FREE ADMISSION

Information: 886-7292 (church)

Bazaar activities take place in the Parish Center and adjacent patio in the northeast corner of the church complex, 602 N. Wilmot Road.

As a community service, St. Michael’s provides space gratis for the participating non-profit groups.

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Featuring

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NEW GROUPS CONFIRMED

Cafe para la Vida Digna -- fair-trade coffee -- schools, clinics in Chiapas

Los Desconocidos -- textiles, quilt squares from recycled migrant clothing -- International Migrant Quilt project

Galeria La Sirena -- Latin American / Haitian art -- the various artists and the Tucson community (the gallery hosts many benefits)

Saguaro Christian Church -- stitchery - ornaments and stuffed animals -- Congo mission

RETURNING CRAFTS / GIFTS TABLES confirmed

African Team Ministries -- African crafts, jewelry -- artisans in Kenya & elsewhere

Arabic Paintings from Amal -- refugee paintings -- Iraqi refugee family in Jordan

ArtsReach, Tucson Indian Center -- students’ art / literature magazine -- Indian youth in Tucson schools

Benedictine sisters -- handmade soap -- Benedictine monastery on Country Club

Borderlands Theater -- tickets, information, other -- Borderlands theater, developing actors / playwrights

Cultural Exchange Council of Tucson -- tees, posters, tickets for Jan. event -- ALL Tucson

Sierra Club -- calendars, DVD "Wild Versus Wall" -- local Rincon Group of Sierra Club

Episcopal Peace Fellowship -- bilingual children’s books , many cultures -- local EPF chapter

GUAMAP -- Guatemala textiles, crafts -- acupuncture clinics in the Peten

No More Deaths -- tees, buttons, stickers -- work with migrants in distress

Nyame Adom Foundation -- African beads & jewelry -- orphanage in Ghana

Owl and Panther -- Central American crafts -- refugee children, torture survivors

Kelli Peacock -- photography, cards

St. Michael’s Angel Food Candy / ECW -- boxed candies; raffle tickets -- various St. Michael’s projects

St. Michael’s Guatemala Project -- Maya textiles, crafts -- Mayan health workers in 22 rural communities

St. Michael’s Social Action Committee -- Haiti crafts, Holy Trinity School -- community action here; students in Haiti

Samaritans -- tees, "no walls" jewelry -- women in Mexico; migrants in distress

Shalom Mennonite Fellowship -- "cards for Colombia" craft project -- sister church in Colombia

Sisters of St. Francis -- variety, handmade stitchery -- the Sisters

Spay & Neuter Solutions -- variety -- low-cost spay & neuter options

Ten Thousand Villages -- crafts, holiday items from 30 countries -- artisans in developing countries

Mary Uhrig -- handcrafted egg ornaments

Zambian Children’s Fund -- African arts -- orphans in Zambia; the craftspeople

FOOD – Sunday, by 11:30

Fry bread and Indian tacos, holiday tamales:, Maria Garcia, for a clinic and Indigenous projects in Hermosillo

Colombian empanadas – for Comedores Populares, supporting a lunch program in Fundacion, Magdalena, Colombia

Announcements for Week Ending December 6, 2008

Announcements

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Whisperings in Concert Saturday, December 6th at 7:00 pm St. Michael's and All Angels Episcopal Church 602 North Wilmot Road, Tucson, AZ 85711 Featuring Piano Performances by Liz Story, Joseph Akins and Lisa Downing Tickets are $20 for Adults $15 for Seniors and Under 18 Buy Tickets Online at BrownPaperTickets.com or call the 24/7 Brown Paper Tickets Hotline at 1-800-838-3006 to order by phone.

St. Michael’s Advent International Bazaar Saturday December 6th, 5 PM – 8 PM Opening Reception & Sale. Sunday December 7th, 9 AM – 3 PM All participating groups. Gifts, Food and Music

E.C.W ANNUAL CHRISTMAS LUNCHEON - will take place on Wednesday, December 10 at 10:30 am in the Parish Center. All women of the parish are invited. Reservations made on the sign-up sheet in the back of church. The cost of the luncheon is $6.00. Won’t you join us? The last day for reservations is no later than Monday, December 8th.

ECW QUILT RAFFLE - The ECW handmade quilt raffle has been moved to the English Tea on Saturday May 9, 2009. This gorgeous quilt may be seen in the church office. Tickets are on sale.

HOLY ROSARY - In honor of the Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary (December 8th) please join us for recitation of the Holy Rosary on Saturday December 6th at 7:45 am.

NOVEL THEOLOGY - The next meeting of our book club, Novel Theology, is on Thursday December 4th at 6:30 pm. We are reading March, a story of the civil war written by Geraldine Brooks. Our gathering will be held at Sally Creswell’s house. Books and study guides are provided! We welcome newcomers. Join us for lively discussion and good company. Call Lynette Emory for your materials and more information.

St. Michael’s Angel Food - Don’t forget your “Angel Food” for last minute Christmas gifts in an attractive gift-ready box. This is an affordable means of sharing the fund raising effort by your parishioner volunteers. Just stop by the church office for your Angel Food. Share the goodness and sweetness of St. Michael and All Angels Church!

TAIZE PRAYER SERVICE - Taize Ecumenical Prayer Evenings continue at 7 PM on First Friday’s at Our Mother of Sorrows Parish, 1800 S. Kolb Road. The prayer service is for reconciliation, healing and unity among Christians. Congregants from many churches in the city make up the Taize-style prayer community over these past few months. The Taize-style prayer services brings about a unique gift of spiritual ecumenism. The next Taize prayer service is Friday December 5th at 7 PM.

HOLIDAY GREENS - St. Michael’s Angels Parent Organization is excited to announce their annual Holiday Evergreen Fundraiser. Brochures and order blanks are in the back of church. Simply complete the form and return it to the church office with payment. Please know that $10 – $12.00 per wreath comes back to St. Michael’s Day School!

To the ST. MICHAEL AND ALL ANGELS EPISCOPAL CHURCH family: Food For The Poor wishes to thank you for the welcome you extended to Father Pierce on his recent visit to your parish. On behalf of our less fortunate brothers and sisters of Latin America and the Caribbean, we thank you having shared in their lives. They and you are blessed by your generosity. In Christ, The Food For The Poor Family

A HUGE THANK YOU to our volunteers at our St. Michael’s School/Food Pantry last week. We filled our Food Pantry and storage room in less than two hours. A special thank you to Rick and Milt who filled the storage room with the help of students. The ladies (plus Bob) did a wonderful job filling the pantry and guiding the students in the front of the school. Our endeavor was completely successful.

Opportunities for Giving

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ANGEL TREE Giving 2008 - Angel Tree tags are now available for pick-up from the Christmas Tree at the back of church. Please be sure to sign the sheet on the usher’s table so that we will know what children’s names have been taken. This year we have 35 children and will also be buying groceries for Christmas baskets for several of the families. I appreciate all the donations you have made in the past for the Angel Tree project. This year I need all the gifts returned to the office or brought to the tree no later than Wednesday, December 17th.

Please remember to include the tags for return if any of the items are the wrong size or color. Most stores will give these when the gift is purchased. For any of you who would like to participate but are unable to shop, let me know and I will be glad to take care of it for you.
May God Bless all of you during this wonderful time of the year. Please call me if you have any questions or have any problems with your gifts. Thanking you in advance for your generosity – Ancelyn Smith

LAST CALL for Fr. Smith’s “shoe box” charity project. Shoe boxes are still available this weekend at the back of church with a list inside with suggestions of what is needed to fill them. Just fill and wrap the boxes (the top lid wrapped and separated from the box) and return to the church office no later than Tuesday, December 2, 2008.

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.

Parish Life is Growing -
When Will We See You?

---

Walk through Winterhaven – Friday December 19 – Meet at Bob and Penny MacArthur's (one block north of Kleindale) after the walk for hot drinks and goodies. Sign up sheets are in the back of church.

Mark Your Calendar! Gaslight Theater - Sunday February 8th at 3 PM. Sign up begins January 4, 2009.

Photo of the Week!

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Father Womble is dressed for the occasion.