Announcements for November 27

Make Advent Wreaths This Sunday
It is a rich experience to keep the Advent season at home. We will have materials to make Advent wreaths and suggestions for other Advent activities in the undercroft this Sunday at 9:00 AM.

Holiday Cookie Walk – Next Saturday, December 3 
Please bring your baked goods to the church any time Friday, December 2. Volunteers are always needed Friday and Saturday. Contact Alison Deniston if you can help, even just for an hour or two.

From the Vestry: Pledge Update 
On behalf of the Vestry, I would like to thank everyone who has pledged their time and talent to St. John's for 2017. So far, you have pledged $154,368 towards costs of running our parish, paying our talented clergy and staff, continuing the programs that enrich our lives, and fulfilling our commitment to the Diocese of Chicago. Our estimated budget for 2017 is $230,000, to keep everything going in the way it has been. The Vestry will vote on your 2017 budget in early January, and the budget will be determined by the pledges received before the end of this year. Again, thank you for your pledge, and if you are still prayerfully considering a pledge to St. John's please turn in a pledge card or contact the parish office by phone or email. –Anne Edwards, Senior Warden 

ReVive (Cathedral Shelter) Christmas Baskets: Due Wednesday, November 30 
God bless everyone who has adopted families and individuals or is participating in any way! Wrapped and boxed gifts are due in the parish office by November 30 at 1:00 PM.

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. 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!

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). Bring canned goods to contribute and a wagon, if you have one. 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.