WEEK OF 12/21/2020 AT ST. AUGUSTINE OF CANTERBURY EPISCOPAL CHURCH

CHRISTMAS EVE SERVICESAll of the services will be available beginning at the times shown below through the links provided. Links for bulletins for each of the services are available directly below the video on the YouTube page. We hope each of you have a joyous Christmas!
 
12:00pm - Christmas Around the Crѐche: SERVICE | BULLETIN
5:00pm - A Whimsical Celebration Retelling of "The Nativity Story": SERVICE | BULLETIN
10:00pm - Traditional Candlelight Service: SERVICE | BULLETIN
 
OFFICE HOURS AND END OF YEAR GIVING
Saint Augustine's office will be closed on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day and New Year's Day. Any donations you wish to include for the 2020 tax year must be submitted by December 31st. Our office will be open until 1:00pm on Thursday, 12/31.

• Drop it off at the church office, or mail it to the church.
• Text the word GIVE to 405-708-6422 and follow the instructions given.
• Your gift can be credited to your stewardship pledge, or a particular area that you direct the funds toward, such as education, building fund, music, hospitality, or outreach. 
• If you have appreciated stock this year, you may realize a tax break through a donation to Saint Augustine. Consult with your tax adviser about your situation. For donation instructions, please contact Marian Moon, Senior Warden at marianmoon50@gmail.com or by calling the church office. Gifts must be dated on or before 12/31/2020.
• If you are age 70.5 or older and have a required minimum distribution from your retirement plan, you may benefit from a directed gift to Saint Augustine. Talk to your tax adviser or plan administrator and let them know you are interested in possible tax benefits.

Please note that any gift processed online after December 31, 2020 will be included in your 2020 giving statement. Per IRS requirements, contributions placed in the offering basket beginning January 1, 2021 will only qualify for charitable gift tax reduction for 2020 if the check is dated 2020 and came in over the holidays

BISHOP'S APPEAL
This year’s Bishop’s Annual Appeal will benefit Historic Vernon A.M.E. Church in Tulsa, which has served over 200,000 meals in their community since March 2020 through prepared meals and bags of groceries. Click HERE for a link to hear the Bishop's announcement about why he has chosen this cause for his 2020 appeal.  Since this type of outreach is near and dear to St. Augustine's ministry and mission, we have not only set a goal for ourselves to raise $5,000, but the Vestry has voted to match our contributions, dollar for dollar, up to the $5,000 goal, from our church outreach budget. 

If you would like to participate in this important outreach endeavor, click HERE to send a donation via tithe.ly (make sure to click on Bishop's Appeal) or mail in a check to Saint Augustine of Canterbury, 14700 N May Ave, Oklahoma City, OK 73134 and put Bishop's Appeal in the memo line.
 
BREAKFAST BURRITOS AND WARM AND FUZZY'S
For the last four years on Christmas Eve morning, a sizeable group of St. Augustine’s members and volunteers have cooked and delivered hundreds of breakfast burritos to our homeless brothers and sisters in the OKC community. Even though Covid-19 has caused some changes, we are pleased that this special ministry will continue this year. Rather than a large group assembling in the kitchen to cook, a small group of parishioners will deliver 700 breakfast burritos—donated by Selina’s Catering—to the Jesus House and Salvation Army’s Red Shield Kitchen.

Another small group of volunteers with distribute hats, gloves and socks—donated by many of you and supplemented with purchases from our outreach budget—around downtown Oklahoma City to those who live outdoors and have to endure the cold days of winter.

Although we will miss the fun and comradery of the 5:00 a.m. burrito-cooking/delivery extravaganza, these needs of the homeless will nevertheless be addressed. We look forward to resuming the ministry in our traditional way next Christmas!

There is a famous Christmas song that says, “Love came down at Christmas.” We can be assured that through our simple acts, many people will experience the true meaning of Christmas and, through us, feel the love of the one who was born in Bethlehem.
May the peace of the Prince of Peace be with you and yours this season.