Announcements for December 2nd

Christmas Basket Program  https://www.saintjamescathedral.org/outreach/christmasbaskets.

This year’s deadline for dropping off your Christmas Baskets at St. John’s will be no later than Wednesday, December 5^th. If you are unable to shop and would like to be a part of this blessing, please give checks made out to St. John's, with "Revive Christmas Baskets" in the memo.  The youth of the congregation will be adopting/shopping and wrapping the presents for the family. Checks should get to the church by Friday, November 30^th.

Fundraising Coupon Booklets

The Vestry is supporting a new easy and fun product to sell as a fundraising campaign for St. John’s. We are selling fundraising coupon books for $20.00 from a company called Simple Qpons. The books allow individuals to save money with things like buy-one-get-one-free and 50% off discounts at tons of our favorite local merchants. These books make for great small gifts and stocking stuffers. There are two editions of the book: one for Northwest Indiana and one for Southland Chicago. You can contact Vestry members or the church office to either purchase books yourself  OR to help in selling books for this fundraiser.

South Holland Master Chorale’s Annual Christmas Concert

The popular Christmas concert will include songs and carols, new and old, sung by the Chorale with help from the organ, instruments, children’s choire, and the audience. The Southlake Children’s Choir will join the Chorale in this concert. This marks the 18^th time the Chorale has presented its Christmas concert at St. Victor. The dates for the concert are Sunday, December 2^nd at 4:00 pm at St. Victor Catholic Church (553 Hirsch Ave., Calumet City); and Sunday, December 9^th at 3:00 pm at St. Maria Goretti Catholic Parish (500 Northgate Dr., Dyer, Indiana). All Chorale Concerts are free, but free-will donations are gratefully accepted.

FMSC Volunteers:  Be on the Look-out!  

Please check your email frequently leading up to our Dec 8th trip to the Aurora facility.  You will receive emails directly from Feed My Starving Children regarding specific details of our volunteer work.  Pay close attention to what they suggest you wear and what they ask you to leave at home.  Also watch for emails from me about our departure time and transport from St. John's. Thanks so much to all of you who have volunteered for this worthwhile project (which should also be a very fun time).  Please contact Dee McManamy with any questions or updates.

Holiday Cookie Walk

The 19^th Annual Cookie Walk will take place on Saturday, December 8^th from 9:00 –11:30 am. All proceeds are a benefit of the OUTREACH commitment and St. John’s. Historically, we have netted over $3,800.00 yearly. We need everyone to make a DOUBLE or TRIPLE batch of cookies, candy, jam, or jelly. The emphasis is on homemade. Dog treats will be available. All items should be brought (in non-returnable containers) to the undercroft on Friday, December 7^th before 7:00 pm. Helpers of all ages are needed Friday, December 7^th  from 10:00-1:00 and 1:00-4:00 and Saturday, December 8^th from 8:30-10:00am, 10:00-11:30am, and 11:30am-1:00 pm. Any questions? Contact Alison Deniston.

Announcements for November 25th

Christmas Basket Program  https://www.saintjamescathedral.org/outreach/christmasbaskets.

This year’s deadline for dropping off your Christmas Baskets at St. John’s will be no later than Wednesday, December 5^th. If you are unable to shop and would like to be a part of this blessing, please give checks made out to St. John's, with "Revive Christmas Baskets" in the memo.  The youth of the congregation will be adopting/shopping and wrapping the presents for the family. Checks should get to the church by Friday, November 30^th.

Only 5 Spots Left to Help Feed the World! 

Join other St. John volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, as we pack nutritious meals for the world's malnourished children.  We will caravan from church (approx 1:00 pm) to the packing facility for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Aurora, IL, where we--along with over 200 other volunteers--will assemble and pack meals for shipment to the hungry.  It's fun fellowship with like-minded folks, it's perfect for chalking up service hours, and it is quite literally life-saving, soulful work.  Can't join us?  PLEASE consider donating money to cover the cost of the meals we will pack!  Each volunteer will pack $50 worth of food which translates to 216 meals!  Our goal is to raise $750...that's 3,240 meals. Make checks payable to Church of St. John with FMSC on the memo line.  Want to know more about FMSC?  Check out this amazing Christian organization at http://www.fmsc.org . For more information, please contact Dee McManamy. There are jobs for everyone and for every ability from age 5 yrs upward. Need to sit while working? We've got those jobs, too!  If you signed up for this project during St. J's Ministry Fair in September, look for info emails soon with more details.  

Alternative Christmas Gift Market

Are you thinking about Christmas shopping? The Alternative Christmas Gift Market enables you to contribute to a charitable organization. An alternative Christmas gift to friends and family will benefit those in need. Your alternative gift to another will extend the true meaning of Christmas and ensure spiritual action after Christmas has passed and other gifts are forgotten or discarded. For each donation made, you will receive a decorative card indicating the name of the organization to which you have donated. This card can then be given as your alternative Christmas gift.

The following organizations will be included this year:

* Cancer Support Group                                    * Bakery Dos Corazones

* Christian Peace Makers                                  * ReVive

* The Night Ministry                                         * Respond Now

* Episcopal Relief and Development                 * Holistic Riding Equestrian Therapy

You will be able to purchase donations in the amounts of $5, $10, $15 or $25. Payment will be made to Transfiguration. Order forms will be distributed on November 11th, November 18th, and November 25th. On the back of the order forms there will be a brief description of each organization. Order form will be collected along with payment in cash or checks made out to Transfiguration on November 18th and November 25th. Cards with a copy of the order form will be distributed to participants on November 25th and December 2nd.

Dinner Groups

This is your last chance to sign up for St. John’s Dinner Groups. Reconnect with old friends and make new ones. Groups of six to eight will meet at each other’s homes at least three times. This is an interesting way to get to know other parishioners better. Sign up by November 25 with Gale Michael before or after mass. For more information contact Gale Michael.

Announcements for November 18th

Christmas Basket Program  https://www.saintjamescathedral.org/outreach/christmasbaskets.

We have one family left that needs sponsoring, so anyone who is able, please contact Fr. Jeremy to receive their Family Packet. This year’s deadline for dropping off your Christmas Baskets at St. John’s will be no later than Wednesday, December 5^th. If you are unable to shop and would like to be a part of this blessing, please give checks made out to St. John's, with "Revive Christmas Baskets" in the memo.  The youth of the congregation will be adopting/shopping and wrapping the presents for the family. Checks should get to the church by Friday, November 30^th.

Fleece Blanket Donations

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center provides fleece blankets to all children with whom they conduct sensitive interviews.  At this time they are running out of blankets.  We will be putting together blankets on Tuesday 11-13-2018 at 6:30pm.  If you are planning to help assemble the blankets please bring sharp scissors, a ruler and a marker.  If you would like to donate towards supplies, please contact Shirley Reilly.  Thank you!

Only 5 Spots Left to Help Feed the World! 

Join other St. John volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, as we pack nutritious meals for the world's malnourished children.  We will caravan from church (approx 1:00 pm) to the packing facility for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Aurora, IL, where we--along with over 200 other volunteers--will assemble and pack meals for shipment to the hungry.  It's fun fellowship with like-minded folks, it's perfect for chalking up service hours, and it is quite literally life-saving, soulful work.  Can't join us?  PLEASE consider donating money to cover the cost of the meals we will pack!  Each volunteer will pack $50 worth of food which translates to 216 meals!  Our goal is to raise $750...that's 3,240 meals. Make checks payable to Church of St. John with FMSC on the memo line.  Want to know more about FMSC?  Check out this amazing Christian organization at http://www.fmsc.org  If you want to go with us and help pack meals, please email Dee McManamy. There are jobs for everyone and for every ability from age 5 yrs upward. Need to sit while working? We've got those jobs, too!  If you signed up for this project during St. J's Ministry Fair in September, look for info emails soon with more details.  

Ping-Pong Table

The church has a ping-pong table that could be yours for the taking! It folds in half for moving and storage and is on wheels. You probably would have to buy a new net for it. If you or an organization you know of would like to have it, speak with Fr. Jeremy or Susan Marquis.

Interfaith Dinner, November 18^th

The South West Interfaith Team (SWIFT) will be having its annual interfaith dinner at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Homewood on Sunday, November 18 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. There will be lots of food and great conversation. Tickets are $20 and must be bought ahead of time. If you are interested please talk to Rob McManamy or Bryan Burke. 

Alternative Christmas Gift Market

Are you thinking about Christmas shopping? The Alternative Christmas Gift Market enables you to contribute to a charitable organization. An alternative Christmas gift to friends and family will benefit those in need. Your alternative gift to another will extend the true meaning of Christmas and ensure spiritual action after Christmas has passed and other gifts are forgotten or discarded. For each donation made, you will receive a decorative card indicating the name of the organization to which you have donated. This card can then be given as your alternative Christmas gift.

The following organizations will be included this year:

* Cancer Support Group                                              * Bakery Dos Corazones

* Christian Peace Makers                                 * ReVive

* The Night Ministry                                        * Respond Now

* Episcopal Relief and Development               * Holistic Riding Equestrian Therapy

You will be able to purchase donations in the amounts of $5, $10, $15 or $25. Payment will be made to Transfiguration. Order forms will be distributed on November 11th and November 18th. One the back of the order forms there will be a brief description of each organization. Order form will be collected along with payment in cash or checks made out to Transfiguration on November 18th and November 25th. Cards with a copy of the order form will be distributed to participants on November 25th and December 2nd.

Dinner Groups

Make new friends and reconnect with old ones ant St. John’s Dinner Groups. Groups of six to eight will meet at each other’s homes at least three times. You don’t have to host to participate. Conversation will flow, and it doesn’t even have to be religious! Sign up by November 25^th with Gale Michael, before or after mass. For more information, contact Gale Michael.

Announcements for November 11th

Christmas Basket Program  https://www.saintjamescathedral.org/outreach/christmasbaskets.

St. John’s is once again participating in the ReVive Center for Housing and Healing’s Christmas Basket Program. We are asking parishioners and church organizations to please volunteer and sponsor a family to provide them with a merry and memorable Christmas. Packets will be available in the undercroft that provide information about the families, such as the number of members and the corresponding family number they’ve been assigned. When you select a family, please print your name and phone number on the sign-up sheet next to the family number you are taking, and make sure you take the correct packet! This year’s deadline for dropping off your Christmas Baskets at St. John’s will be no later than Wednesday, December 5^th. If you are unable to shop and would like to be a part of this blessing, please give checks made out to St. John's, with "Revive Christmas Baskets" in the memo.  The youth of the congregation will be adopting/shopping and wrapping the presents for the family. Checks should get to the church by Friday, November 30. IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO ADOPT A FAMILY AND CAN’T MAKE IT TO CHURCH THIS SUNDAY, PLEASE EMAIL Fr. Jeremy with the approximate size of the family you are willing to adopt by November 11^th, 2018.

Blue Jean Yard Cleanup — Sunday, November 11^th

Fleece Blanket Donations

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center provides fleece blankets to all children with whom they conduct sensitive interviews.  At this time they are running out of blankets.  We will be putting together blankets on Sunday 11-11-2018 after the 10:00am service and Tuesday 11-13-2018 at 6:30pm.  If you are planning to help assemble the blankets please bring sharp scissors, a ruler and a marker.  If you would like to donate towards supplies, please contact Shirley Reilly at 708-305-2540.  Thank you!

Interfaith Dinner, November 18^th

The South West Interfaith Team (SWIFT) will be having its annual interfaith dinner at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Homewood on Sunday, November 18 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. There will be lots of food and great conversation. Tickets are $20 and must be bought ahead of time. If you are interested please talk to Rob McManamy or Bryan Burke. 

Don't Throw Away Your Halloween Candy

Again this year we will be collecting left-over (or specially purchased) Halloween candy for the Manteno Veterans' Home. The facility serves up to 294 veterans with medical and special needs issues. The residents are provided with meals but not with extras, so candy is a real treat for them -- especially the fun-sized candy bars. You may donate opened bags of candy as long as the candy pieces are individually wrapped. There will be a donation box in the food collection area between the two staircases. The collection will continue through Sunday, November 11th, which, appropriately, is Veterans' Day.

Only 5 Spots Left to Help Feed the World! 

Join other St. John volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, as we pack nutritious meals for the world's malnourished children.  We will caravan from church (approx 1:00 pm) to the packing facility for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Aurora, IL, where we--along with over 200 other volunteers--will assemble and pack meals for shipment to the hungry.  It's fun fellowship with like-minded folks, it's perfect for chalking up service hours, and it is quite literally life-saving, soulful work.  Can't join us?  PLEASE consider donating money to cover the cost of the meals we will pack!  Each volunteer will pack $50 worth of food which translates to 216 meals!  Our goal is to raise $750...that's 3,240 meals. Make checks payable to Church of St. John with FMSC on the memo line.  Want to know more about FMSC?  Check out this amazing Christian organization at http://www.fmsc.org  If you want to go with us and help pack meals, please email Dee McManamy. There are jobs for everyone and for every ability from age 5 yrs upward. Need to sit while working? We've got those jobs, too!  If you signed up for this project during St. J's Ministry Fair in September, look for info emails soon with more details.  

Ping-Pong Table

The church has a ping-pong table that could be yours for the taking! It folds in half for moving and storage and is on wheels. You probably would have to buy a new net for it. If you or an organization you know of would like to have it, speak with Fr. Jeremy or Susan Marquis.

Announcements for November 4th

Fleece Blanket Donations

The Will County Children’s Advocacy Center provides fleece blankets to all children with whom they conduct sensitive interviews.  At this time they are running out of blankets.  We will be putting together blankets on Sunday 11-11-2018 after the 10:00am service and Tuesday 11-13-2018 at 6:30pm.  If you are planning to help assemble the blankets please bring sharp scissors, a ruler and a marker.  If you would like to donate towards supplies, please contact Shirley Reilly. Thank you!

Blue Jean Yard Cleanup — Sunday, November 11^th

Yarn Ministry — Monday, November 5^th at 7:00 pm in the Guild Room

Interfaith Dinner, November 18^th

The South West Interfaith Team (SWIFT) will be having its annual interfaith dinner at St. Andrew United Methodist Church in Homewood on Sunday, November 18 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm. There will be lots of food and great conversation. Tickets are $20 and must be bought ahead of time. If you are interested please talk to Rob McManamy or Bryan Burke. 

Don't Throw Away Your Halloween Candy

Again this year we will be collecting left-over (or specially purchased) Halloween candy for the Manteno Veterans' Home. The facility serves up to 294 veterans with medical and special needs issues. The residents are provided with meals but not with extras, so candy is a real treat for them -- especially the fun-sized candy bars. You may donate opened bags of candy as long as the candy pieces are individually wrapped. There will be a donation box in the food collection area between the two staircases. The collection will continue through Sunday, November 11th, which, appropriately, is Veterans' Day.

All Souls Day — Friday, November 2^nd at 7:00 pm.

You can still bring photographs and/or mementos of loved ones who have passed away for us to include in our Shrine of Remembrance for this All Saints Day, which will remain up through the month of November. You can give them to Fr. Jeremy or drop them by the church office. Also, please send your list of names that you would like to be remembered in the All Souls bulletin to the church email.

Only 5 Spots Left to Help Feed the World! 

Join other St. John volunteers on Saturday, Dec. 8, 2:00 - 4:00 pm, as we pack nutritious meals for the world's malnourished children.  We will caravan from church (approx 1:00 pm) to the packing facility for Feed My Starving Children (FMSC) in Aurora, IL, where we--along with over 200 other volunteers--will assemble and pack meals for shipment to the hungry.  It's fun fellowship with like-minded folks, it's perfect for chalking up service hours, and it is quite literally life-saving, soulful work.  Can't join us?  PLEASE consider donating money to cover the cost of the meals we will pack!  Each volunteer will pack $50 worth of food which translates to 216 meals!  Our goal is to raise $750...that's 3,240 meals. Make checks payable to Church of St. John with FMSC on the memo line.  Want to know more about FMSC?  Check out this amazing Christian organization at http://www.fmsc.org  If you want to go with us and help pack meals, please email Dee McManamy. There are jobs for everyone and for every ability from age 5 yrs upward. Need to sit while working? We've got those jobs, too!  If you signed up for this project during St. J's Ministry Fair in September, look for info emails soon with more details.  

Ping-Pong Table

The church has a ping-pong table that could be yours for the taking! It folds in half for moving and storage and is on wheels. You probably would have to buy a new net for it. If you or an organization you know of would like to have it, speak with Fr. Jeremy or Susan Marquis.