Dan McKeon Announcements

Announcements – 12/15/2019

Worship

† There are still open spots for readers, greeters and intercessors for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (See Liturgy Participant schedule.) Contact Beth Johnson if interested.

† Are you friendly?  We need you! Our greeter ministry is one of the key ministries of our church.  Greeters welcome visitors, make people comfortable, hand out service leaflets and take up offering.  They make sure the service runs smoothly. Starting in October, we will be organizing a monthly Greeters breakfast with the Rector, probably at a local restaurant.  If you’re interested in serving God in this way, talk to Jim Jervis or Fr. James.

† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays.  Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smartphone apps!  See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.

Outreach

† Connect by Night Sheltering Program We have completed the schedule for lunch-making for our annual Connect by Night Shelter program. Our guests will be staying in the church every night during the month of December. Lunch-making involves coming to church in the evening at a time of your choice and preparing 50 bag lunches for the guests. If you are able to greet them when they arrive at around 9:30, that is also wonderful, but optional. If you would like to bring a donation, the best item is to bring individual juice boxes to put in the lunches (50 per night), or donations to the Outreach committee. The program asks not to provide snacks for the guests while they are staying with us, but we put out water for them and will be organizing some Christmas presents from the congregation and cards from the Sunday School. The lunch-making items are being stored in the kitchen and on the shelves and upright freezer in the storage room in the  church basement to the right at the bottom of the stairs. Instructions are in the kitchen.

† If you have questions or need to get into the church and don’t have a key, contact Joe Zorc at zorc@email.chop.edu or 215-776-4285.

† The sign-up sheet is available in the church hall and at this Google docs link: https://bit.ly/2WbmPn3

† There are lots of opportunities to participate in Holy Apostles Outreach through our various programs:

      – Delivering items to a food pantry in Northeast Philadelphia

      – Meals at Darby Mission (3/17) or our annual holiday meal with the East Parkside Community Association (12/9). Other ideas are welcome.

Children and Youth

† Nursery childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.

† The Holy Apostles Choir School is off and running.  If you have a potential student, apply today.  More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.

Parish Life

† Christmas Flower Memorials—Suggested donation of $8 a name. Please have names to the office or email by December 20.

† Caroling rehearsals at 6pm on December 19. Christmas Caroling is on December 20, followed by Christmas Party!

† We are getting ready to refresh the hallway outside the church offices including some new paint, new furniture, and eventually new flooring.  As a result we have been moving some things around. The Lost & Found box is now located in the church office.

† If you have an announcement to be included in Acts of the Apostles, please send it to holyapostlescomm@gmail.com before Thursday at noon of each week.

† Don’t forget to enter the church through the Parish office door and grab a “Church Member” badge from the office during Daycare hours (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri)!

† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:

· Purchase through JT Wertz

· 5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.

· Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through Peapod online delivery service.

Education

† Join us for BASICS class, every 3rd Sunday at 9AM. 

† Bible Study on Deuteronomy, Thursdays at 11AM.  All are welcome.

† FacePsalm online study of the Psalms: bit.ly/2ndKq9o

Dan McKeon A Note from the Rector

A Note from the Rector – 12/15/2019

Today is pageant day!  A big thanks to all our children, parents, Sunday School teachers, and helpers for putting on this wonderful Holy Apostles tradition.

With today’s pageant and last Sunday’s guest preacher, I’ve been on a little preaching hiatus.  I’ve tried to use the time wisely, as St. Paul writes, “redeeming the time because the days are evil” (Ephesians 5:16).  So, I’ve been working on my sermons for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Casting about for inspiration, I landed on For the Time Being: A Christmas Oratorio by the Episcopal poet, W.H. Auden.  Of course, this long complex poem begins, not with Christmas, but with Advent.  

Darkness and snow descend

The clock on the mantlepiece

Has nothing to recommend,

Nor does the face in the glass

Appear nobler than our own

As darkness and snow descend

On all personality…

Everyone will be relieved to know that this hardly uplifting bit of poetry will NOT make it into my Christmas Eve sermon.  But, the Advent section of Auden’s long poem does capture the mood of mid-December pretty well. Darkness and snow. Both sound so dreary in Auden, but remember that both darkness and snow figure mightily into the magical formula of those treasured, glowing coals of Christmas nostalgia.  Who doesn’t dream of a White Christmas, covered in snow? And all those Christmas lights don’t look very interesting or impressive unless its dark. Snow and darkness are sort of essential elements, at least in the imagination of cultural Christmas.  

The Church insists that you can’t have real Christmas without Advent. That a season of waiting and expectation is essential. Advent tells us that part of preparing for Christmas might mean facing the realities under which we live; facing the darkness.  This is what Fleming Rutledge, perhaps the best Episcopal preacher now living, has to say about Advent: “Advent begins in the dark… [It] teaches us to delay Christmas in order to experience it fully when it finally comes.  Advent is designed to show that the meaning of Christmas is diminished to the vanishing point if we are not willing to take a fearless inventory of the darkness…The authentically hopeful Christmas spirit has not looked away from the darkness, but straight at it.  The true and victorious Christmas spirit does not look away from death, but directly at it. Otherwise, the message is cheap and false.” (from a sermon given on the first Sunday of Advent, 1996, printed in Fleming Rutledge, Advent: The Once and Future Coming of Jesus Christ, page 251).

Of course, we are all in different places in our lives, and we have a variety of experiences during this time of year.  If this is a time of unremitting happiness for you, then you should go with that. I pray with one of the Prayer Book’s best prayers, that God would “shield the joyous” so that they may continue in their joy under God’s protection. But, if you experience some of the darkness of loss, loneliness, or sadness this time of year, do not let yourself despair. You are not alone. In Advent, we are reminded the whole world is waiting in darkness for the dawning of the light.  And I pray that you, that all of us, that the whole world, will ultimately find the Light of Christ’s coming. I pray that God will transform us, including our suffering, and give us healing and health and peace that only the Light of God’s love can bring.  Oops. I guess I can’t help but preach, even when I’m not supposed to be preaching.

In Christ,

James+

Dan McKeon This Week at Holy Apostles

This Week at Holy Apostles – 12/15/2019

Sunday, December 15
Third Sunday of Advent
Celebrant: The Rev. James Stambaugh

8:30a Morning Prayer
10:00a Holy Eucharist


Monday, December 16

Parish Offices closed

Tuesday, December 17

9:15a Morning Prayer
3:30-6:00p Choir School

Wednesday, December 18

9:15a Morning Prayer

Thursday, December 19

9:15a Morning Prayer
11:00a Bible Study
3:30-6:00p Choir School

Friday, December 20

9:15a Morning Prayer

Sunday, December 22
Fourth Sunday of Advent
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. James Stambaugh

8:30a Morning Prayer
10:00a Holy Eucharist

Dan McKeon A Note from the Rector

A Note from the Rector – 12/8/2019

There is a depth to the season of Advent that makes it my favorite season of the church year besides Easter (what can top a 50 day party?).  Themes are layered within this season like a rich and surprising dessert. There’s hope, preparation, expectation, longing; there’s the movement into the darkest part of the year while defying that darkness with light.  Advent is also a season to reflect on Last Things. As I preached about last week, “Advent…is a time of preparation for the coming of Jesus—preparation for the celebration of his first coming, as a child in a manger in Bethlehem, and preparation for the day when he comes again in great power and glory to judge the world and rule over the nations.”  This dual focus means that Advent has been the traditional time the church reflects on four interrelated themes: Death, Judgement, Hell, and Heaven. Doesn’t that just give you the warm and fuzzies? Nothing makes me want to cozy up near the stocking lined hearth, to watch snowflakes fall, and drink hot cocoa with the vocal stylings of Bing Crosby gently playing in the background like a good discussion about the end of all things.  Ok, maybe I’m exaggerating a bit, but I don’t think these themes are out of place in the weeks leading up to Christmas, especially because the holidays can be a difficult time. For many of us ,they are a time when we poignantly remember those we love who have died. The holidays can be a time when feelings of loneliness and loss can creep up on us very easily and unexpectedly.  

So, there is some wisdom and, yes, even healing to found in taking a little bit of time to acknowledge the facts of life in the weeks leading up to Christmas.  Death is real and happens to us all, but Christian reflection never ends there. As surely as death is inevitable, God’s love for us is invincible. God and God’s love are not defeated by death.  

God’s judgement is also real.  Scripture is full of reminders that we must give an account of this life to God.  We affirm every Sunday that Christ will return to judge both the living and the dead, and that’s no joke.  Perhaps the only things clearer in Scripture than God’s righteousness and justice, however, is God’s indestructible mercy.  Our patience and ability to forgive is so disproportionately small compared to God’s capacity for patience and forgiveness, they counted on different orders of magnitude.  All the sins, all the evil, of all the world in all times is like a handful of sand compared to ocean of God’s mercy. The Advent themes of judgement and hope, then, are completely compatible when we are talking about our God.  Scripture puts it this way: Nothing we do and nothing that is done to us can separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus (Romans 8:35-39). God will never abandon the living, and neither will God abandon the dead.      

Death, Judgement, Heaven, Hell: what all this will actually be like, I cannot say. What I can say is that the same love that reaches down to us at Christmas, the love that caused God to come down to earth as a human, is the love that is going to sort out all things at the end of our days, and at the End of Days.  And that is good news of glad tidings, indeed.

In Christ,

James+

Dan McKeon Announcements

Announcements – 12/8/2019

Worship

† There are still open spots for readers, greeters and intercessors for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. (See Liturgy Participant schedule.) Contact Beth Johnson if interested.

† Are you friendly?  We need you! Our greeter ministry is one of the key ministries of our church.  Greeters welcome visitors, make people comfortable, hand out service leaflets and take up offering.  They make sure the service runs smoothly. Starting in October, we will be organizing a monthly Greeters breakfast with the Rector, probably at a local restaurant.  If you’re interested in serving God in this way, talk to Jim Jervis or Fr. James.

† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays.  Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smartphone apps!  See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.

Outreach

† Connect by Night Sheltering Program We have almost completed the schedule for lunch-making for our annual Connect by Night Shelter program. Our guests will be staying in the church every night during the month of December. Lunch-making involves coming to church in the evening at a time of your choice and preparing 50 bag lunches for the guests. If you are able to greet them when they arrive at around 9:30, that is also wonderful, but optional. If you would like to bring a donation, the best item is to bring individual juice boxes to put in the lunches (50 per night), or donations to the Outreach committee. The program asks not to provide snacks for the guests while they are staying with us, but we put out water for them and will be organizing some Christmas presents from the congregation and cards from the Sunday School. The lunch-making items are being stored in the kitchen and on the shelves  and upright freezer in the storage room in the  church basement to the right at the bottom of the stairs. Instructions are in the kitchen.

† If you have questions or need to get into the church and don’t have a key, contact Joe Zorc at zorc@email.chop.edu or 215-776-4285.

† The sign-up sheet is available in the church hall and at this Google docs link: https://bit.ly/2WbmPn3

† There are lots of opportunities to participate in Holy Apostles Outreach through our various programs:

      – Delivering items to a food pantry in Northeast Philadelphia

      – Meals at Darby Mission (3/17) or our annual holiday meal with the East Parkside Community Association (12/9). Other ideas are welcome.

Children and Youth

† No Youth Group tonight, but our family interactive service, Light and Peace, is at 6:30pm.

† Nursery childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.

† The Holy Apostles Choir School is off and running for the Fall of 2019.  If you have a potential student, apply today.  More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.

† Christmas Pageant: December 15 during the 10AM service. Rehearsals will be during Sunday School (10AM) on Dec. 1, and Dec. 8. There will also be a rehearsal on Sat., Dec. 14 at 9AM. All children encouraged to participate! Contact Michelle Gallagher with questions or email holyapostlessundayschool@gmail.com.

Parish Life

† Caroling rehearsals at 6pm on December 12 and 19. Christmas Caroling is on December 20, followed by Christmas Party!

† We are getting ready to refresh the hallway outside the church offices including some new paint, new furniture, and eventually new flooring.  As a result we have been moving some things around. The Lost & Found box is now located in the church office.

† If you have an announcement to be included in Acts of the Apostles, please send it to holyapostlescomm@gmail.com before Thursday at noon of each week.

† Don’t forget to enter the church through the Parish office door and grab a “Church Member” badge from the office during Daycare hours (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri)!

† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:

· Purchase through JT Wertz

· 5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.

· Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through Peapod online delivery service.

Education

† Join us for BASICS class, every 3rd Sunday at 9AM. 

† Bible Study on Deuteronomy, Thursdays at 11AM.  All are welcome.

† FacePsalm online study of the Psalms: bit.ly/2ndKq9o

Dan McKeon This Week at Holy Apostles

This Week at Holy Apostles – 12/8/2019

Sunday, December 8
Second Sunday of Advent
Preacher and Celebrant: The Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey

8:30a Morning Prayer
10:00a Holy Eucharist
6:30p Light and Peace


Monday, December 9

Parish Offices closed

Tuesday, December 10

9:15a Morning Prayer
3:30-6:00p Choir School

Wednesday, December 11

9:15a Morning Prayer

Thursday, December 12

9:15a Morning Prayer
11:00a Bible Study
3:30-6:00p Choir School

Friday, December 13

9:15a Morning Prayer

Sunday, December 15
Third Sunday of Advent
Celebrant: The Rev. James Stambaugh

8:30a Morning Prayer
10:00a Holy Eucharist

Dan McKeon A Note from the Rector

A Note from the Rector – 11/24/2019

A few weeks ago, I sent an appeal letter to every member of our parish.  I wrote about the theme of our stewardship season, “Wonder, love and praise,” which comes from Charles Wesley’s immortal hymn.  And I wrote of our calling as a parish church: We are called to foster wonder, to learn to love our neighbors, and to praise God.  This is one calling, and not three separate callings, because each of those items is really an aspect of the same thing. Wonder is about an encounter with the living God.  We believe that God is present to us in real ways in our real lives. A concentrated moment of God’s presence is our weekly gathering of Eucharist when we encounter Jesus in the bread and the wine.  Our first response to the encounter with the living God is gratitude. This is why we call it Eucharist, Greek for Thanksgiving, in the first place. Along with gratitude comes praise, which is simply the expression of gratitude.  We praise God through things like music. But, praising God is also a mindset that can and should inform the everyday actions of our lives. That is where learning to love our neighbors comes in. Scripture is clear: our love for God is expressed in our love for our neighbor.  1 John tells us that if we don’t love other people, we don’t actually love God, which inspired Dorothy Day to write these words: “I love God only as much as the person I love the least.”  

Cultivating wonder and gratitude, extending real care to our neighbors, and learning to praise God in every detail of our lives—this is the hard work of being a Christian and a member of Holy Apostles.  Charles Wesley’s song predicts that on the last day, along with all the saints, we will cast our golden crowns before the Jesus, the King of Kings and Lord of Lords, and that we will be lost in wonder, love, and praise.  In the eternal moment of heaven, everything else will cease to matter, and we’ll be lost: gratitude and worship will come naturally, it will be the only thing we can possibly do.  But in this world, oftentimes it is the opposite. We are lost in our daily preoccupations, our jobs and families, the cares, and trials of this life. That’s why EVERY Sunday is so great.  Our weekly Sunday Eucharist is an opportunity to experience the splendor of heaven. For a few minutes at least, (and sometimes this takes practice) we can be lost in wonder, love and praise.  In Sunday worship, praising and God and loving our neighbors should come easily to us. We should rush to honor each other and exchange the sign of God’s peace with each other. We should revel in our time of fellowship afterward and revel—just as much—In our time of prayer.  

All of this is amplified this Sunday because it is the Sunday that we gather together our pledges of financial support for the parish.  We have had several weeks of discernment and prayer. We have been asked to consider with gratitude the various gifts God has given us. And now we are provided with the opportunity to express our gratitude to God and express our mutual responsibility and care for each other and for this place of worship, prayer, and peace.  After service we will revel together in the possibilities for mutual flourishing that our financial support can bring us. It’s all pretty exciting, and I am truly grateful to each of you for making this church community a place of wonder, love, praise; for making this church community a place to belong.  

In Christ,

James+

Dan McKeon Announcements

Announcements – 11/24/2019

Worship

† On December 8, we will welcome our second St. Faith preacher, the Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey, the Canon for Growth and Support at the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

† Are you friendly?  We need you! Our greeter ministry is one of the key ministries of our church.  Greeters welcome visitors, make people comfortable, hand out service leaflets and take up offering.  They make sure the service runs smoothly. Starting in October, we will be organizing a monthly Greeters breakfast with the Rector, probably at a local restaurant.  If you’re interested in serving God in this way, talk to Jim Jervis or Fr. James.

† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays.  Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smartphone apps!  See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.

Outreach

†  The Sunday School’s annual Treats for Troops drive to send items to our service members overseas will be ending this Sunday.  Items are listed in the church hall, and a collection box is in the hallway.  Popular items include power bars, batteries, beef jerky and any candy that might be leftover from Halloween.  The Sunday School will make cards to send for the troops.  Please support our Treats for Troops drive!

† Thanks to those who contributed to the St. Mary;s Ardmore Food Pantry Thanksgiving meals!

† Turkey Trot: 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk 9:00 a.m. Thanksgiving, Nov. 28th, to raise money for the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania . (Meet in front of St. Faith Daycare, Havertown.) The fee is $20 or $10 for participants under 12. This event is held each year in memory of Matt Smyth who passed away from Testicular Cancer at age 23.  Make your donations payable to Abramson Cancer Center and in the memo put “The Matt Smyth Fund”.

† We are starting to fill out the schedule for our annual Connect by Night Shelter program. This year we will be hosting guests for the entire month of December in the church space.  We could use the following:

      – Week captains able to pick up supplies for lunch-making for a week

      – Lunch preparers for every night of the month. This involves coming to church in the evening at a time of your choice and preparing 50 bag lunches for the guests. If you are able to greet them when they arrive at around 9:30, that is also wonderful. Sign-up link:: bit.ly/2WbmPn3

† There are lots of opportunities to participate in Holy Apostles Outreach through our various programs:

      – Delivering items to a food pantry in Northeast Philadelphia

      – Meals at Darby Mission (3/17) or our annual holiday meal with the East Parkside Community Association (12/9). Other ideas are welcome. Please contact Joe Zorc (zorc@email.chop.edu) or see the sign-up sheet in the parish hall.

Children and Youth

† Nursery childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.

† The Holy Apostles Choir School is off and running for the Fall of 2019.  If you have a potential student, apply today.  More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.

† Christmas Pageant: December 15 during the 10AM service. Rehearsals will be during Sunday School (10AM) on Nov. 24, Dec. 1, and Dec. 8. There will also be a rehearsal on Sat., Dec. 14 at 9AM. All children encouraged to participate! Contact Michelle Gallagher with questions or email holyapostlessundayschool@gmail.com.

Parish Life

† Caroling rehearsals at 6pm on December 5, 12, and 19. Christmas Caroling is on December 20, followed by Christmas Party!

† Pancakes with Santa! December 7th is not too far away.  I am looking for volunteers.  Help will be needed with getting the word out, arts and crafts, set up, kitchen, and clean up. Please contact Drew Meiers. 

† We are getting ready to refresh the hallway outside the church offices including some new paint, new furniture, and eventually new flooring.  As a result we have been moving some things around. The Lost & Found box is now located in the church office.

† If you have an announcement to be included in Acts of the Apostles, please send it to holyapostlescomm@gmail.com before Thursday at noon of each week.

† Don’t forget to enter the church through the Parish office door and grab a “Church Member” badge from the office during Daycare hours (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri)!

† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:

· Purchase through JT Wertz

· 5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.

· Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through Peapod online delivery service.

Education

† Join us for BASICS class, every 3rd Sunday at 9AM. 

† Bible Study on Deuteronomy, Thursdays at 11AM.  All are welcome.

† FacePsalm online study of the Psalms: bit.ly/2ndKq9o

Dan McKeon This Week at Holy Apostles

This Week at Holy Apostles – 11/24/2019

Sunday, November 24
Last Sunday after Pentecost
Preacher and Celebrant: The Rev. James Stambaugh

8:30a Morning Prayer
10:00a Holy Eucharist


Monday, November 25

Parish Offices closed

Tuesday, November 26

9:15a Morning Prayer
3:30-6:00p Choir School

Wednesday, November 27

9:15a Morning Prayer
6:30p Thanksgiving Eve
Service

Thursday, November 28

9:15a Morning Prayer
11:00a Bible Study
3:30-6:00p Choir School

Friday, November 29

12:15p Eucharist

Sunday, December 1
First Sunday of Advent
Celebrant and Preacher: The Rev. James Stambaugh

8:30a Morning Prayer
10:00a Holy Eucharist

Dan McKeon Announcements

Announcements – 11/17/2019

Worship

† On December 8, we will welcome our second St. Faith preacher, the Rev. Canon Betsy Ivey, the Canon for Growth and Support at the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania.

† Are you friendly?  We need you! Our greeter ministry is one of the key ministries of our church.  Greeters welcome visitors, make people comfortable, hand out service leaflets and take up offering.  They make sure the service runs smoothly. Starting in October, we will be organizing a monthly Greeters breakfast with the Rector, probably at a local restaurant.  If you’re interested in serving God in this way, talk to Jim Jervis or Fr. James.

† Morning Prayer is offered at 8:30AM on Sunday mornings and at 9:15AM Tuesdays through Fridays.  Anyone can pray the service privately using the Book of Common Prayer or one of a number of smartphone apps!  See the last section of the digital edition of the “Acts of the Apostles” for details.

Outreach

† Thanks to those who contributed to the St. Mary;s Ardmore Food Pantry Thanksgiving meals!

† Turkey Trot: 5K Run or 1 Mile Walk 9:00 a.m. Thanksgiving, Nov. 28th, to raise money for the Abramson Cancer Center at the University of Pennsylvania . (Meet in front of St. Faith Daycare, Havertown.) The fee is $20 or $10 for participants under 12. This event is held each year in memory of Matt Smyth who passed away from Testicular Cancer at age 23.  Make your donations payable to Abramson Cancer Center and in the memo put “The Matt Smyth Fund”.

† Through Sunday, November 24th the Sunday School will be conducting our annual Treats for Troops drive to send items to our service members overseas.  Items are listed in the church hall, and a collection box is in the hallway.  Popular items include power bars, batteries, beef jerky and any candy that might be leftover from Halloween.  The Sunday School will make cards to send for the troops.  Please support our Treats for Troops drive!

† We are starting to fill out the schedule for our annual Connect by Night Shelter program. This year we will be hosting guests for the entire month of December in the church space.  We could use the following:

      – Week captains able to pick up supplies for lunch-making for a week

      – Lunch preparers for every night of the month. This involves coming to church in the evening at a time of your choice and preparing 50 bag lunches for the guests. If you are able to greet them when they arrive at around 9:30, that is also wonderful. Sign-up link:: bit.ly/2WbmPn3

† There are lots of opportunities to participate in Holy Apostles Outreach through our various programs:

      – Delivering items to a food pantry in Northeast Philadelphia

      – Meals at Darby Mission (3/17) or our annual holiday meal with the East Parkside Community Association (12/9). Other ideas are welcome. Please contact Joe Zorc (zorc@email.chop.edu) or see the sign-up sheet in the parish hall.

Children and Youth

† Nursery childcare is available during the 10:00AM Sunday service for children ages 3 and younger in the Godly Play Room.

† The Holy Apostles Choir School is off and running for the Fall of 2019.  If you have a potential student, apply today.  More information is available at holyapostlespa.org/choir-school/. Please forward this information to friends and neighbors who may be interested. Contact Deb Stambaugh if you have any questions.

† Christmas Paegant: December 15 during the 10AM service. Rehearsals will be during Sunday School (10AM) on Nov. 24, Dec. 1, and Dec. 8. There will also be a rehearsal on Sat., Dec. 14 at 9AM. All children encouraged to participate! Contact Michelle Gallagher with questions or email holyapostlessundayschool@gmail.com.

Parish Life

† Caroling rehearsals at 6pm on December 5, 12, and 19. Christmas Caroling is on December 20, followed by Christmas Party!

† Year-to-date statements for 2019 Stewardship pledges are available, pick yours up from the table in the hallway.  Those not picked up will be mailed.

† Pancakes with Santa! December 7th is not too far away.  I am looking for volunteers.  Help will be needed with getting the word out, arts and crafts, set up, kitchen, and clean up. Please contact Drew Meiers.  Organization meeting today, Nov. 17, after 10AM service. 

† We are getting ready to refresh the hallway outside the church offices including some new paint, new furniture, and eventually new flooring.  As a result we have been moving some things around. The Lost & Found box is now located in the church office.

† If you have an announcement to be included in Acts of the Apostles, please send it to holyapostlescomm@gmail.com before Thursday at noon of each week.

† Don’t forget to enter the church through the Parish office door and grab a “Church Member” badge from the office during Daycare hours (7:00AM – 6:00PM Mon-Fri)!

† The Cash for Causes Program at Giant Supermarket:

· Purchase through JT Wertz

· 5% of card value is given to Holy Apostles operating fund.

· Can be used in store or when ordering Giant groceries through Peapod online delivery service.

Education

† Fall Soup Group: We are studying the lives and teachings of the Fathers and Mothers of the Church.  All sessions begin at 6:30PM. For a full list see our website: holyapostlespa.org/soup-group

† Join us for BASICS class, every 3rd Sunday at 9AM. 

† Bible Study on Deuteronomy, Thursdays at 11AM.  All are welcome.

† FacePsalm online study of the Psalms: bit.ly/2ndKq9o