Announcements for December 6

Fall Pledge Campaign
If you have not already done so, please turn in your pledge cards as soon as possible. You may place them in the alms basins on Sunday or mail them to the parish office.

MIQRA: For Youth Grades 6 - 12
Miqra is a weekend youth retreat focusing on the Bible. Gather with new and old friends, have fun, and learn about the Bible. Sponsored by the Diocese of Chicago. Held at Grace Church, Oak Park, January 16-18. More information and registration HERE.

Children’s Christmas Pageant
The children’s Christmas Pageant is offered as the proclamation of the Gospel during the 4:00 PM service on Christmas Eve. Calling all kids! We will assign parts and read through the script after the 10:00 AM service Sunday, December 13. Additional rehearsals will be after church on December 20 and at 4:00 PM on December 23. Questions? Contact Pat Smith Huntoon.

Youth Group
Inner child to be unleashed this Sunday, 4 PM at St. John’s. Gather your friends and come for pre-semester finals fun and games. Designed to help you take a breather and a brain break before the craziness sets in. It’s St. Nicholas’ Day—come see if he brings goodies for you (even if you’ve been naughtier than nice this year)! Text Dee or Margi to let us know if you’re coming and how many friends you’ll bring.

Yarn Ministry still needs the congregation’s assistance
We will be collecting some winter clothing articles for the PADS Ministry. Donations of hand or machine made (store bought) scarves, hats, gloves, and mittens for men, women and children. PADS is also accepting coats and socks for all their people in need. Donated items, if not new, should be clean and gently used. We urgently request all the crocheters, knitters, and shoppers in the parish, to please help the Yarn Ministry make this another very successful project. Collections bins are located in the undercroft and at the office entrance. There is a PADS collection bin located in the undercroft, as well. Deposit items in any of the containers, Thank you. Collection dates are December 13 and January 31.

Handel’s Messiah
Illiana Oratorio Society is pleased to announce its performance of Handel's Messiah which will be held on Sunday, December 6, 2015. It will be held at First Christian Reformed Church of South Holland (16248 South Park Ave, South Holland, IL) at 2p.m. This year's soloists will feature: Elaine DeYoung, Maria Bouwhamp-Luttjeboer, Jack Cotterell, and Douglas Anderson. All are welcome to attend!

Grande Prairie Singers Holiday Concert
The concert will be held at 4:00 pm, Sunday, December 13, at St Lawrence O'Toole Church in Matteson. Great selections from "In the Bleak Midwinter" to Britten's "A Hymn to the Virgin" to "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." See Bob or Betsy Burgwald for tickets.