The following announcement is from Dave Nixon:

Happy New Year! Let’s come together this first Sunday of 2011 to signal our desire to live and work as a worshiping community in Norwood and beyond!

PLACE ::
The back of St. E’s, where we celebrated Advent

BREAKFAST ::
9-10 a.m. Bagels and coffee provided. You bring the rest: fruits, cheeses, etc.

WORSHIP ::
• singing
• liturgy & response
• teaching (Matt Dawson & Dave Nixon
• communion

Following our time together there won’t be a potluck lunch. (Put that excess cooking energy into breakfast.) Practice hospitality afterward by inviting someone into your home.

The larger context for this post is our weekly Advent gatherings leading up to Christmas.  The following is a message from Laura McNeel:

REFRESHMENTS for Advent Gatherings

Last Sunday night was the start of our four week series of Advent celebrations, leading up to Christmas and birth of our King. Thank you to all our friends and neighbors who made this beautiful time of worship and fellowship possible.

As the Advent season continues, we hope to draw even closer together as a family of Christ. One way you can contribute is by sharing the gift of hospitality through food and drink. Refreshments for the remaining 3 Advent evenings can be light and simple, and should easily be covered by a few willing volunteers ( one person for food, one person for drinks each week.)
Whether you have a talent for baking, coffee brewing, or just the extra time and resources to buy a few pre-made items from the grocery, your gifts will be gladly received and appreciated.

To sign-up (and to ensure that all our ducks are covered), follow this doodle link, type your name to the left, and check the box for the corresponding date and item you are willing to bring.

Blessings and Thanks,
Laura McNeel

(If you have any questions, feel free to drop me a note on Facebook!)

Emilie Ogle and her family are happy to announce the arrival of Nicholas William Shefer, who was born this past Wednesday, July 21 around 10:00 AM – eight pounds, two ounces. Emily and the baby are now home from the hospital and are doing well.

If you would like to bless the family by preparing them a meal  - or in some other way – please contact Becky Novotni at: rebeccabliss@yahoo.com. Meals are specifically needed on Sundays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the second half of August and beyond. Thank you so much for your support!

Emilie Ogle is getting closer to having her baby! If you are interested in being of support by cooking a meal for the Ogle/Oster household, please contact Becky Novotni at rebeccabliss@yahoo.com so that she can start coordinating the meals in advance of the little one’s arrival. Thanks for supporting Emilie and her family.

Vineyard Central is welcoming Don Whitaker from Step Up Prison Mentoring for an evening of training. Together we will learn what it takes to create of positive mentoring relationship with someone at the River City Correctional Center in Camp Washington. In order to attend the training, please send Joshua Hanauer an email (joshuahanauer@me.com) and he will send you a volunteer application and provide further details.

When: July 29th from 5-8 pm
Where: St Es

Light snacks/refreshments provided.

link to step up’s website: http://www.jobsplusnetwork.org/jmla/stepup.html

The pastoral council would like to assemble a list of members who would be willing to sit down with newcomers (over a meal) and get them oriented to who and what Vineyard Central is.  If you would like to volunteer, the PC will provide you with a small packet of information and 4-5 talking points to cover the history, values, and mission of VC.

Your name will be put in a rotation to host newcomers as they appear and show interest in our church.

cforms contact form by delicious:days

Jeff Rogers, a pastor at the Batesville Vineyard, alerted us to a hospitality request.  A member of that church is in need of a place to stay, preferably near Children’s Hospital.  From the request, it sounds like a married couple just needs a place to stay during their son’s medical treatments.

If you are interested in responding to this situation, get in touch with Jeff:  jrogers@batesvillevineyard.com

The following is a message from Marissa Havens:

The Wheelock family welcomed beautiful Ruby June on Friday, April 23rd.  Congratulations Matthew, Amanda, Noah & Jonah!  In an effort to help them during this time of transition, I would like to organize a meal schedule for them.  We’ll try to cover Monday-Friday for as long as we can.  If you are willing and able to help out providing a meal (or two), please email me with your available days.

Thank you for loving on their family in this way!
Marissa Havens
fh1@hotmail.com

The Gilles family (Kevin, Sarah, Noah and Ethan) welcomed Ruby Rose Diane on February 24.  If you are interested in supporting them with meals, please e-mail Angie Ferrell at aaferrell@yahoo.com.  A schedule will be forthcoming.  Thanks for loving the Gilles family in this way!