This Week at Christ Church
The Weekly Letter of Parish News

For the Weekend beginning: January 4, 2009

MILESTONES & CELEBRATIONS

Birthdays This Week
Jack I, Linda R, Rob H, Jared H, Mary W, Jeff T, Ann R, Rachel M

Anniversaries This Week
Jeremy and Jennifer Keller, Rob and Kate Hogg, Steve and Nancy Mortimore

The Altar Flowers are offered to the glory of God by Dr. James and Susan Turner in thanksgiving for the birth of Paul Alexander Turner in Dubai, UAE, on Dec. 15.

NOTE: MONTHLY ITEMS

The print edition of this newsletter contains our monthly calendar and prayer list.

 

  

THIS WEEK'S CALENDAR
 

Sat., Jan. 3

5:30 p.m.

Holy Eucharist

Sun., Jan. 4

8:00 a.m.
9:00 a.m.
9:15 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:45 a.m.

Rite I Holy Eucharist
Blood Pressure Screening
Education Hour – all ages
Children’s Christmas Pageant & Holy Eucharist
Blood Pressure Screening

Mon., Jan. 5


4:00 p.m.
5:15 p.m.
5:15 p.m.

Deadline for Annual Reports
Warden’s Mtg.
Men’s Bible Study
Bodacious Women Bible Study

Tues., Jan. 6

3:30 p.m.
3:30 p.m.
6:00 p.m.

Loaves & Fishes Pantry (offsite)
Green Square Meals (offsite)
Men of Whatever

Wed., Jan. 7

9:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m.
11:00 a.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
6:00 p.m.
5:00 p.m.

Staff Mtg.
Holy Eucharist / Bible Study
Women’s Support Group
Worship Commission Mtg.
Choir Night Begins
Heartland Mtg.
GEMS

Thurs., Jan. 8

1:30 p.m.

Brother Lawrence Guild

Fri., Jan. 9

6:30 a.m.
10:00 a.m.

Men’s Prayer Breakfast
Women’s Bible Study (offsite)

Sat., Jan. 10

5:30 p.m.

Order of Worship for Evening

MESSAGE FROM BARBARA, Priest-in-Charge

Dear Friends,

It is still Christmas, and I trust you are still celebrating the Light of Life being born again into the world.  It is also the New Year and a time to look ahead to what is happening at Christ Church.  We have some special events coming up, so get your calendars out.

Christ Church’s Annual Meeting will be held on January 25.  There is one service at 9:30, followed by the meeting and lunch.

Bishop Scarfe will be at Christ Church on Feb. 21 and 22 for his Visitation and some other special things, which I cannot elaborate upon yet.  Please save Sat. afternoon and Sunday morning.

Bishop Epting will be with us for a Quiet Day on Feb. 28 to start our theme for Lent which is “The Spirituality of the Desert.”

Dr. Belden Lane will be the other bookend of our Lenten program on April 4 at Trinity in Iowa City.  He is Professor of Theological Studies and American Studies at St. Louis University and the author of The Solace of Fierce Landscapes: Exploring Desert and Mountain Spirituality.

On March 2 people interested in Judeo-Christian dialogue from our parish and the larger community are invited for supper and a program on the differences and similarities between Purim and Lent.

Later in March the National Jubilee Ministries will hold their annual meeting at Christ Church.  We will be hosting Jubilee Officers from all over the country.

Obviously there are more details, but this is a heads-up.  We are also hoping that Christ Church will welcome a new rector as well as many people who will be here to help with flood rebuilding.

Now I end with prayers for a holy and healthy New Year for all the people of Christ Church and their families and for a restorative year for the beloved and beleaguered city of Cedar Rapids.  May it be a good year for all, God willing and the rivers don’t rise.

In Christ’s love,
Barbara

  

Whether or not the Weather is….

Apologies to all who braved the incredible cold and blustery winds on Advent IV and made it to church only to discover services were cancelled.  We have decided upon a new weather procedure that we hope will prove helpful:

When the weather looks uncertain, the usual 8 a.m. Holy Eucharist service will become a Morning Prayer service for those who are able to attend.

By 8:30 we will decide if the other two events of the morning, Education Hour at 9:15 and Worship at 10:30 can occur, with or without a priest.

To find the answer, please either call the office to hear an updated message, check the church website, or turn on your television to KCRG if they are scrolling messages.

We hope that we will have no more uncertain weather—that is, bad weather.  We’ve had enough for a whole winter already.  BE ASSURED THAT OUR FIRST CONCERN WILL BE FOR EVERYONE’S SAFETY.  And we respect the fact that everyone’s travel situation is unique and people must make their own decisions based on that fact.

On Saturdays if the service needs to be cancelled, we will call all people serving and then place the same three messages: office phone, church website, and KCRG.

Traveling mercies to all,
Barbara

 

MINISTRY IN DAILY LIFE

We remember and give thanks for all the volunteers to our church and to the many charitable and service organizations in our community.

WORSHIP / PARISH LIFE / OFFICE NOTES

We welcome Amanda D to the Christ Church staff. Amanda is the new attendant in our nursery/children’s room. Stop by and say hello!

Healing Services are scheduled for Jan. 17 & 18: Special prayers for healing and the laying on of hands will be part of services Jan. 17 and 18. Healing teams will pray with you for whatever concerns you wish to bring – for yourselves, for others, for a situation in your family, community, work or the world.

One worship service, 9:30 a.m., on Sunday, Jan. 25, followed by the parish Annual Meeting. After the meeting the Vestry invites everyone to join them in the Parish Hall for lunch.

Scout Observances: Boys: Feb. 1 ; Girls: March 8. Christ Church joins the many faith communities who annually commemorate the work of the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts. Scouts & leaders are invited to wear their uniforms to the 10:30 service, process and recess with the altar party, and receive prayer and blessing. We also print names in an insert. To facilitate this, names of boys (& leaders) need to be given to the office by Jan. 26; Girls  by March 2.

Annual Reports are due this Monday, Jan. 5. Send to lindaa@christepiscopal.org.

2008 & 2009 Pledges: If, because of the weather, you were unable to either fulfill your 2008 pledge or make one for 2009, our Treasurer would be pleased to accept either or both as soon as possible. If you are unsure of your total giving for 2008, please call Linda in the parish office.

2009 Offering Envelopes: If you requested offering envelopes when you returned your 2009 pledge card, they are available in the narthex.

Our clergy and staff extend a warm thanks to those who contributed to this December’s staff gift. Thank you for your generosity.

Forms for 2009 Altar Flowers & Sanctuary Candle memorials are available in the narthex and office (and are attached to the hard copy of this publication). If the date you requested has been filled, you will be called to arrange an alternate date. Thank you.

Vestry Lock-up Jan.: Karen and Edie.


  

THE EDUCATION HOUR:
Sundays, 9:15

“Vicar of Dibley”: Join others for some warm, cheery conversation following a showing of an episode from “The Vicar of Dibley”. This BBC series offers a lighthearted look at life in a small Anglican Church in England. Episodes deal with real life issues and allow us to laugh at ourselves through the slightly eccentric personalities living in Dibley. See you in the library on Sunday mornings, January 4, 11, & 18.

Inquirer’s Class begins in January for newcomers to the Episcopal Church or Christ Church and for people who would like to brush up on the basics of faith and church life. It will meet Sunday mornings, January 4, 11, & 18 using a recently published and excellent book for people who are new to the Episcopal Church. In February we will attend the class on Paul together and then for those interested in being confirmed or received, Bishop Scarfe will be here February 22. For more information or to "register" speak to Barbara.

FELLOWSHIP & FOOD / MEETINGS & EVENTS

Men of Whatever invite the men of the parish to join them at 6 p.m. in the Parish Hall on Tuesday, Jan. 6 for fellowship and a meal featuring shepherd’s pie!

Come join the Bodacious Women who will be studying Sophia in the Bible as found in the wisdom literature and then taking it into the post-Biblical era and the present time. The texts to be used for group discussion include the Bible and Sophia: The Future of Feminist Spirituality by Cady, Ronan and Taussig. The group meets Mondays, from 5:15 to 6:30 p.m. beginning this Monday, Jan. 5, in the Gundrum Parlor. For more information, speak to Susan H, Sally S or Barbara S.

GEMS (Giving Empowers My Sisters) invites all women of the parish! We chat, we laugh, we eat and try to help a woman in need. We’ll gather the evening of Wednesday, Jan 7, from 5 to 7 p.m. in the parlor. Bring a treat to share and your own beverage. We have a basket for $20 donations (more or less is welcome). This collection goes to a woman in need. (GEMS will meet the first Wednesday of the month throughout 2009.)

2nd and 4th Wednesday Suppers: Join the parish family for supper on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month – supper is served from 5:15 until 6:45 in the Parish Hall. Our next supper is Jan. 14.

The Women of Excellence will be eating in Wednesday, Jan. 14, at 11:30 a.m. Lunch is being provided by Chef Sanchini. Paula wanted us to have the benefit of her trip to Seattle. She will be bringing in “fresh food” from there and setting the repast before us. We will divide the cost, somewhere between $5 and 10 a person. We will also be looking to induct women who have recently turned 60 or will soon turn 60. You know who you are. Don’t make us come after you! Everyone, please sign up on the list in the narthex (or call the office).

Super Bowl Party: It’s not too early to reserve the evening of Sunday, Feb. 1 to join others in our annual Super Bowl Party in the Gundrum Parlor.

 

REACHING OUT:
COMMUNITY & BEYOND

Start the New Year remembering the Willis Dady Center and its provision of shelter and job support services with gifts of these most needed items: alarm clocks, power strips, deodorant and shaving cream. Place your gifts in the Outreach basket in the narthex for speedy delivery to the center. Cash donations are also welcome. Just use the envelopes on the giving tree and note “Willis Dady” in the memo line on your check. Thank you!

The Cornerstone Clothes Hanger is a FREE clothes closet that is open year ‘round to help meet the needs of the people of our community. It is located at 162 Jacolyn Dr NW. It is across the street from Dollar General and is right next to St. Mark’s UMC. It is open every Tuesday morning 9 - 11 and every Wednesday evening from 5 - 7. Donations are accepted during operating hours. Contact Jenny Drake at djdrake@mcleodusa.net for more information.

January Pantry Items: Chicken Noodle Soup and Canned Peaches.

COMMUNITY ANNOUNCEMENT

The Cedar Rapids Concert Chorale is holding auditions for its 50th Anniversary year spring semester on Jan. 6 and 13. Auditions begin at 6:30 p.m. at First Lutheran Church and will consist of scales, range, ear training, and some simple sight-reading. Rehearsals are every Tuesday, 7 - 9:30 p.m., September through May. The Chorale performs 4 to 5 concerts each year; two are typically with the Cedar Rapids Symphony. Please call 365-8221 or e-mail crchorale@hotmail.com to schedule your 10 minute audition.

VESTRY CORNER

[Ed Note: The Vestry members at Christ Church are each contributing what the words, from our Mission Statement: "... our rich and broad Anglican tradition" mean to them. These will be compiled and placed on our Mission Statement webpage.]

NOTE for the week beginning January 3: The regular Vestry Corner article is replaced by the Priest's monthly address in this issue (please see above). A new Vestry commentary on the Mission Statement should be here next week. Thank you!

ONLINE PRIVACY

Please note that in most cases last names and contact information of parishioners have been omitted from the online version of our weekly newsletters. Please contact the parish office (319) 363-2029 if you need complete information. Thank you.

 

 

 

 

You are here: Our News --> Weekly Newsletter