Upcoming Advent and Christmas Events

The holiday season is a busy time for everyone… and it’s really bustling here at Ivy Chapel. We hope you’ll be able to take time to celebrate with us as we prepare for the celebration that is the miracle of Jesus Christ’s birth. Need more information about any of these events? Drop us a line and we’ll fill you in.

Here are some of the events going on this month:

Sunday, December 4

Hanging of the Greens during worship

Potluck Soup & Bread Lunch after worship

Santa’s Workshop after lunch – there’s still time to sign up to participate (ages 5 years - 6th grade) or to help out (7th grade – adult).  Our Santa’s Workshop elves are finalizing their plans tonight so just let us know ASAP so that we can make sure we have enough crafts.

Sunday, December 11

Choir Christmas Cantata during worship (no Sunday School – let’s all enjoy the Cantata)

For Middle & High School Youth – putting together the College Care Packages after worship

ALL YOUTH (grades K – 12!!!) Cookie Baking & Card Making party (with pizza!!)  4:45 – 6:15

6:30 – Advent Storytelling in the sanctuary.  Hearing stories read by candlelight, followed by cookies and fellowship. ALL ages are welcome - from babies to the oldest among us!

Saturday, December 17

Christmas Pageant Rehearsal in the Sanctuary 9:00 – 11:00 a.m.

Sunday, December 18

Christmas Pageant during worship (come at 9:15 to get your costumes on)

Saturday, Dec. 24

Christmas Eve Family Worship – 6:30 p.m.

Christmas Eve Worship - 11:00 p.m. service

Sunday, December 25 – Christmas Morning – worship at 10:00 a.m.

Tuesday, December 27

College Student Get together – Middle School, High School and College Aged Youth – meet for lunch then on to our service activity

Thursday, December 29 – Friday, December 30

Alpha-Omega (Sr. High) Christmas Party and Lock-in! We’ll be doing our annual “gift exchange”.   More details to come later.

Santa’s Workshop and Hanging of the Greens Dec. 4

It’s that time of year again… time to get our church ready for the holidays… and time for the young people to have fun making presents for the ones they love in Santa’s Workshop. On Sunday, Dec. 4, we’ll celebrate with a Pot Luck lunch, and then kids aged 5 through 6th grade will head to the basement for the fun. The cost is just $6 per child to cover supplies. Want to sign up? Drop us an email for more information. And be sure to be here for all of our other special Advent and Christmas activities!

If you’re interested, fill out this form and bring it with you.

Thank you, and Merry Christmas from Ivy Chapel.

HarvestFest Fundraiser: November 5!

It’s that time of year again, time for one of Ivy Chapel’s biggest fundraisers. It’s an auction. It’s a huge fellowship event. It’s a wine tasting.

It’s HarvestFest! November 5, 2011 at 6:30 at Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ, 620 N. Woods Mill Road in Chesterfield. The cost is $15 per person in advance, and $20 at the door.

The last HarvestFest raised over $9,000 and we need your help to make this year’s event even bigger. Proceeds will benefit two local food pantries, Joint Neighborhood Ministry and Circle of Concern.

Get in touch with us if you have any questions about the event.

Auction and other donations welcome: Click here to download the invitation and donation form.

Gaze at the Stars, Oct. 8

Participate in World Food Day, October 15

For the second year, the youth of Ivy Chapel United Church of Christ is taking part in World Food Day festivities at the Donald Danforth Plant Science Center.

The Center is hosting a community food packaging event to commemorate “World Food Day.” World Food Day is observed annually and is intended to to increase awareness, understanding and action to alleviate hunger. It is held in recognition of the founding of the United Nations’ Food and Agriculture Organization.

The Center’s program consists of one-hour food packaging sessions, where volunteers assemble nutritious rice/soy meals to be sent to those in need in Africa. After the packaging session, participants have the opportunity to tour the Danforth Center and learn about their research into reducing hunger and malnutrition around the world. The Danforth Center is located at Olive and Warson Roads in Creve Coeur

We have selected 9:00 a.m. on Saturday, October 15 as our time slot. The cost is $10 for students and $20 for adults (plus wiring fee). Click here to learn more and to register for World Food Day. When you do, please put “Ivy Chapel” in the organization section so we will be grouped together.

Need more information? Drop us a line and we’ll fill you in.

TIME UPDATED: Let’s break bread together

Blessing of the Animals, Sep. 10

One of the highlights of the fall at Ivy Chapel is the Blessing of the Animals. This is our tenth year of welcoming all of God’s creatures to our beautiful grounds.

Join us on Sept. 10 from 1 to 3 p.m. … and bring your pet for a special, personalized blessing.

Each year we team up with an animal-related charity. This year we are proud to work with the Bi-State Pet Food Pantry, a St. Louis-based volunteer organization  whose mission is to keep animals with their “people” during difficult financial times by providing emergency assistance with pet food, litter and other necessities.

We will be accepting donations at the Blessing of the Animals for the pet food pantry. Their most needed items include:

• dry dog/cat food* any size
• canned cat/dog food, dog/cat treats
• cat litter
• ziploc 1 and 2 gallon re-sealable bags
• gift cards to gas stations, Target, PetSmart® or Sam’s Club®, or cash donations.

*please ensure meat is the first ingredient as corn is tough on tummies.

For more information on the food pantry, visit: http://www.bistatepetfoodpantry.org/

Thanks for a great summer… and a great time at VBS!

It’s hard to believe summer is over… but we’re glad to welcome everyone back from vacation. It was an exciting, busy summer at Ivy Chapel… including our always-popular Vacation Bible School, which was held July 25-29.

Remember…

God watches over you.God listens to you.  God loves you, no matter what. And God gives good gifts.

Learn more about Instituto El Rey June 8

This is your chance to meet Earl and Sharon Washburn, the administrators of Instituto El Rey in Honduras at a special gathering on Wednesday,  June 8^th, 7 pm at Ivy  Chapel.  Come learn more about the progress the students  are making.

Dessert will follow a short presentation.  Please feel free to invite friends and family.

By the way, this is the first time Sharon will be visiting Ivy Chapel.

Please let Russ Washburn know that you would like to come to enjoy dessert and learn more about Instituto El Rey. Or send us an e-mail.

You can learn more about Instituto El Rey at: http://ierschool.org/

All invited: Ivy Chapel Spring Picnic June 5

The annual church picnic is always the highlight of the spring… and this year the Fellowship Committee has hatched something extra-special: Serengeti Steve will be making an encore performance! Steve’s performance at our fall picnic produced many laughs — and a few gasps.

Invite your friends and family to the Ivy Chapel Reptile Experience.

Of course… it wouldn’t be an Ivy event without great food. There will be plenty of that!

The festivities start at 11 or 11:15 (right after church) under the pavilion.

Need more info? Drop us an e-mail.

Here are some photos from our last encounter with the Reptile Experience. Click on the photo to view the album.

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