Through mid-DECEMBER
Christmas Toy Drive
Community Partners for Children is having the annual toy drive for the needy children and families of the City of Alexandria. Now is the time to pick up toys before the after Thanksgiving crush. Bring the new, unwrapped toys to church and place them in the box in Marshall/Rutter Hall. Volunteers are needed to distribute toys . Contact Jan Taylor for times to volunteer or with any questions you have. Have a fun time shopping! Jan Taylor (703-998-6092)

St. Clement Christmas Pageant
Running to Bethlehem via the Great North Woods—St. Clement’s annual Christmas Pageant will be part of the Christmas Eve Liturgy on Monday Dec. 24. In this years story we will envision the birth of Jesus through the eyes of Native American tradition.

We need hunters (a.k.a. shepherds), Chiefs (a.k.a. kings) wolves, bison, Mary, Joseph, Gabriel, narrators and a multitude of God’s creatures and of the Heavenly Host. There are roles for all, and we need pageanters young and less young who would like to be part of wonder. For those with talking parts practices will be essential. We’ll have plenty of walk-on parts Christmas Eve for those who would like to be silent but involved.

We will practice every Sunday after the 10 AM service (with a brief break for coffee and a cookie). The first practice will be on Sun. Dec. 9, and we’ll assign parts and try a read through! The first 2 rehearsals should only be about 1/2 an hour long. Questions: please call Vicki Hughes at 703. 960.6130 or email at vic1823@aol.com

December 2 and 9
HEBREW CLASSES
Please try to contact Dennis Hardy by phone or email if you are interested in participating, if possible. Last minute attendees to the first class are also welcome. (or call the church office for contact information)

Learning the Hebrew Alphabet – A Basic Introduction
3:15-4:00PM
This simple, basic and exciting course is designed for all ages. You will learn to read the alphabet and not memorize it. You will learn the sacred importance of the alphabet letters and the words they form in the Old Testament. You will begin to understand the importance of the alphabet and words in the Old Testament to Jesus and to us Christians today. You will be amazed at the amount you will know after these 6 lessons.

Please try to commit to attending all 6 lessons. Make up lessons can be arranged if you miss a lesson. Help sessions with the teacher outside of class are encouraged and available. The teacher will provide the textbook at no charge. Planned class dates are October 21 and 28, November 11 and 18, and December 2 and 9. Time for each class is 3:15 to 4:00 pm.

Introduction to Biblical Hebrew – Part I
4:15-5:30PM
If you already know the Hebrew alphabet and would like to begin to know more, such as vocabulary and introductory grammar, then this is the course for you. We will study the most frequently encountered nouns and verbs in the Hebrew Old Testament. We will begin to study the very important idea of verb tense in Hebrew and how it differs dramatically from western languages. We will be able to read simple sentences and then read simple stories in Hebrew by the end of the class sessions. This course is also an ideal refresher course if you have already had one or two semesters of introductory biblical Hebrew.

Text materials will be available from the teacher. Actual dates and times of the classes will be subject to student and teacher schedules. For now, proposed dates will be the following Sundays from 4:15 to 5:30 pm: October 21 and 28, November 11 and 18, December 2 and 9, and January 6 and 20.

Introduction to Hebrew Bible Reading
1:15-3:00PM
If you have successfully completed a two semester Hebrew grammar course then you are welcome to join us for guided Bible reading and study in Hebrew using the First Hebrew Reader (which you must purchase). We will meet on the same Sundays as Introduction to Biblical Hebrew above except the time will be 1:15 to 3:00 pm.

COOKING FOR CARPENTERS SHELTER
We need 8 volunteers to cook eight casseroles for the DECEMBER 16 holiday dinner at Carpenters Shelter. Please call Annette Foster, 703-587-4042, if you can cook a casserole. You will need to bring your cooked casserole to St. Clement and place it in the kitchen refrigerator before 4PM on Dec 16.

Click here for a printable copy of the recipe - it's easy!

DECEMBER 18
Chalicer and Lay Reader Training
For beginners and updating your skills and knowledge. Tentatively set for December 18 after the 7:00 PM service. Please see Ellen Shreve if you are interested. We are in need of volunteers. Please prayerfully consider this opportunity for service. Thanks, Ellen Phone 703-823-3133.

Flower Reminder
Please submit your pink sheets & checks for inclusion into the Christmas bulletin.

Greening the Church - The Church is in need of helpers to decorate for Christmas. Funds will be available for purchasing flowers. Anyone interested in taking charge should contact Margaret Milburn.

Saturday DECEMBER 29
Dignity meeting
6:30PM (Sanctuary)

1st Wednesday of the month—7:30 PM, American Indian Society (Children's Chapel)
Every Saturday - 8:30 AM Books and the Bible
Every Saturday - Altar Guild, 9AM -12 PM
Every Saturday – 10 AM, AA meeting (Children’s Chapel)