Please visit the St Alban’s website www.saintalbans.jp for the latest news. Note also our new email address for Church Office stalbans@saintalbans.jp
This week at St. Alban’s
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Forthcoming Events
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Welcome all visitors and newcomers!
Please take a few moments to complete our Membership Form. Copies are available at the Welcome Table in the hall at coffee hour after the 10:30 service. Please give completed form to the person at the Welcome Table. There is also a visitors’ book for visitors to sign.
St. Alban’s News and Announcements
- Yearly Pledge Information – For those of you who have ordered pledge cards, they will be available for you in the hall after the service. We also have statements of your giving over 2011, so please pick up those statements.
- Uphold the beauty of God’s altar – Are you one of the people God is calling to be part of the Altar Guild? If so, please contact Sarah Yoshimatsu, sarahyoshimatsu@ybb.ne.jp, or Father Scott.
- Need for Sunday School Teachers – Do you enjoy working with children? Please consider joining our dwindling staff of committed volunteer Sunday School teachers. Each Sunday we need two teacher –one for the smaller children ages 2-7 and one for the older class of 8-11 year olds. We are down to a core group of four teachers, all of whom have family and work demands to balance with this important work. Please tell Nicola, Julie, Betsy, Joan or Father Scott if you can help with this very important ministry.
- Wanted! Knitters and Crocheters! - St. Alban’s would like to begin a prayer shawl ministry. The group will knit or crochet shawls that are blessed and then given to those ailing in body or heart, or in some other need of comfort. Meetings will likely be once per month, and most of the handiwork is done on your own at your own pace. Patterns and suggestions will be provided. This is a wonderful opportunity to use something you enjoy doing to show Christian love and care to someone in need. If you are interested and would like more information, please contact Joyce Knight at 080-3086-1833 or crktoaz@aol.com
- St. Alban’s Book Discussion Group - Our first meeting is set for Friday, January 27, at the home of Morena Christian. (A map is available at the coffee hour.) Participants are asked to arrive around 7:00 p.m. so that discussion can begin around 7:30. Probably we will finish our discussion by 9:00 so that we can be on our way home by 9:30. Please bring something to share in the way of food or drink (cheese and crackers, cookies or cake, wine, soft drinks, etc.). The readings for the first meeting will be “The Moon Over the Mountain” and “The Master”, both by Atsushi Nakajima. Copies are available at coffee hour. The leader for the first session will be Paul McCarthy. We hope to have a different person suggest the each month’s readings and offer to lead the discussions each month subsequently. We look forward to seeing many of you on January 27.
- The St. Alban’s 2012 Calendars have arrived! – Once again this year, the format is Churchman’s Ordo Kalendar, listing both the special days of observance from The Episcopal Church (USA) and other traditional Anglican holy days. Pick up a copy (or copies) at the welcome table during coffee hour. The cost is 500 yen each; net proceeds will support outreach projects.
- Would you like to add one more New Year resolution? - The Jerusalem Friendship Committee of Tokyo Diocese is looking for foster parents for the students at the Holy Land Institute for the Deaf in Salt, Jordan. This institution belongs to the Jerusalem Diocese. There are about 150 deaf students (nine of whom also cannot see) staying in school dormitories and studying there. They range in age from first grade to high school. In order to be a foster parent, you pay 2,500 yen per month. You can pay every month or bimonthly. I have students’ profiles, and you can choose any student. If you are interested in adding one more New Year resolution, please contact SarahYoshimatsu at 0422-48-5454 or sarahyoshimatsu1515@parkcity.ne.jp.
- Congregational meeting notice - There will be a brief meeting of the congregation immediately following the 10:30 service on January 29th to vote on the proposed annual budget for the church. Please stay for a few minutes after our worship, in order to conduct this important item of business.
- The Textile Group needs volunteers! - We are beginning some new projects and are really in need of people who can sew, applique, embroider, knit — anything with a needle. You do not have to be an expert either! There are a number of easier tasks and people who can help or direct. And, who knows, you may even improve your skills while helping the church with something that is greatly needed. Please contact Mary Hager for more information (hagermmh@aol.com or 080 4477 2713). We really need you!
Please send Church Office stalbans@saintalbans.jp a draft of any announcements by Wednesday morning for the following Sunday’s Announcement Sheet. Thank you very much for your cooperation.
