Announcements for November 20

Vestry Meeting
The vestry meets Monday, November 21, beginning at 7:00 PM in the church.

Thanksgiving Worship Services
The Holy Eucharist will be celebrated at St. John’s on Thanksgiving Day, November 24, beginning at 10:00 AM. The community interfaith Thanksgiving service is Wednesday, November 23, beginning at 7:30 PM at the Parish of St. Joseph, 17951 Dixie Highway in Homewood.

Annual Pledge Campaign
If you have not yet turned in your pledge card please return it to the parish office as soon as possible.

Holiday Cookie Walk – December 3 
St. John’s annual cookie walk is a local community tradition and an important fundraiser both for outreach and the parish. To succeed, everyone needs to bake! Volunteers are also needed. Call the parish office or contact Alison Deniston for more information.

ReVive (Cathedral Shelter) Christmas Baskets: Several Families Still Need Adoption! 
Provide gifts this Christmas for a senior or family with limited financial means. Information is available in the undercroft. Wrapped and boxed gifts are due in the parish office by November 30.

Best Buddies Pet Pantry Seeks Toys 
The Bloom Township food pantry holds a Christmas party for their clients each year. Dale from Best Buddies Pet Pantry attends with dog and cat toys and invites the kids to choose a toy to give their pets for Christmas. If you can donate a new toy, please drop it off in the Best Buddies collection box by the staircases. There's no such thing as collecting too many toys, because Dale also plays Santa at various rescue shelters in the area. Of course pet food donations are always welcome as well. Our next re-packaging work day at St. John's is on December 10th at 10 AM, so that's when the toys and food will be picked up. Thanks for your support!

Make Advent Wreaths Next Sunday
Regular Sunday School classes will not meet next Sunday, November 27. Everyone is invited to the undercroft during the 9:00 AM hour to make Advent wreaths for use at home.

Practicing Our Faith Book Club
For December the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading The Name of God is Mercy by Pope Francis. Read the book, and then join us on Thursday, Dec. 15 at 7pm in the Guild Room for the discussion. New members are always welcome.

St. John's Annual Caroling for Canned Goods & Best Cocoa Ever: December 11, 4:00 pm.
Everyone's invited...bring your friends of all ages! Join church youth in collecting canned goods for Rich Township Food Pantry with our church neighborhood caroling party! Meet in St. J's undercroft at 4pm on December 11th for homemade cocoa (the real McCoy). We'll then set out to spread Christmas cheer among our neighbors, in exchange for canned goods for the hungry. Feel free to bring items to add to the haul. And if you have a wagon we can use for the effort, bring it along. Please join us--it's a fun activity and really brings on the Christmas Spirit in a remarkably short time--little more than an hour. Perfect for those who need service hours! Questions or suggestions: Contact Dee McManamy or Margi Strombeck.

Grande Prairie Singers Holiday Concert
Sunday, Dec. 11, at 4 pm at St. Lawrence O'Toole Church in Matteson. Selections include “A Boy Was Born” by Benjamin Britten and John Rutter songs such as “Candlelight Carol” and “Shepherd's Pipe Carol.” Tickets are $10 for students and $15 for adults ($20 at the door), available from Bob Burgwald or Betsy Elliot.