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January 2012
FROM THE INTERIM PASTOR Dear Friends, Happy 2012 and a blessed new year to one and all! 2011 was amazing for Christ Church, filled with the excitement of a Rector elected Bishop; the bittersweet goodbye parties and liturgy for Fr. Scott; another unbelievably successful stewardship campaign; a beautiful Lessons & Carols; a great mission trip to New Haven, CT; and the unveiling of 20+1+1, our rhythm of life including, daily prayer, weekly worship, and monthly service. As we turn the page to a new year, we have the chance to review the year past and to make plans for the upcoming year. We dove eagerly into the 20+1+1 project last January, beginning with a kick-off sermon delivered in tandem by Fr. Scott and me and 20+1+1 giveaways, like bumper stickers and magnets. We offered a number of opportunities to learn about and try various kinds of prayer—the daily office, praying while commuting, centering prayer, and lectio divina. I know a number of you have adopted—or are at least trying!—daily prayer practices. In an effort to focus even more on serving others and to provide an easy, monthly opportunity to serve, we began our monthly Saturday breakfasts that we quickly doubled to twice a month. At our first breakfast, we served 15 people; at our last breakfast on December 17, we fed over 90 people! Clearly, 20+1+1 was a great way to help us grow deeper in faith. Perhaps you’ve wondered what we have in store for 2012? We are going to continue our Restoration Work! You see, we were inspired in our 20+1+1 work by Fr. Christopher Martin (a friend of Fr. Scott’s) in California who began The Restoration Project (therestorationproject.net). His idea is that all Christians need to be restored to the image of God in which we were created and that the best way to do that is through knowing our basic story through study of scripture, history, and theology; following a Christian rhythm of life; and joining a Discipleship Group that helps one live into the full measure of Christian discipleship. Here at Christ Church we have begun the rhythm of life and one active Discipleship Group. This spring, we will offer four courses in the “Basics”: Christianity, Bible, Anglicanism, and Discipleship. At the end of the courses, we will begin new discipleship groups for those who seek support and accountability in their Christian walk. If you like the idea of deepening your spiritual commitment further with fellow members of your church family, then please consider attending one or more of our Basics Classes this spring! See page 2 for a schedule of classes. Stay tuned for much, much more! And Happy New Year to all! Faithfully, Mother Suzanne +
THE BASIC CLASSES: GROWING IN OUR KNOWLEDGE OF OUR CHRISTIAN HERITAGE AND FAITH Each class meets for two to four sessions, and each session lasts about 75 minutes with time for prayer, teaching, and conversation. Basic Christianity: The Story of Our Faith Thursdays, February 2, 9, and 16. 10:00-11:15 AM or 7:30-8:45 PM. Basic Bible: Reading, Studying, and Praying the Scriptures Thursdays, February 23 and March 1, 8, and 15. 10:00-11:15 AM or 7:30-8:45 PM. Basic Anglicanism: Citizenship in The Episcopal Church Saturdays, March 17 and 24. 10:00-11:15 AM. Basic Discipleship: Practicing What We Preach Thursdays, April 19 and 26 and May 3 and 10. 10:00-11:15 AM or 7:30-8:45 PM.
UPDATE ON THE TRANSITION The Search Committee met with The Rev. Tom Orso for our orientation in leading a parish through transition. Rev. Orso is the Canon for Deployment at the Diocese of New York, and has overseen 180 searches in our diocese over the last 10 years. He pointed out that the average duration of those searches has been about 14 months, and he outlined many of the steps we’ll be taking in the months ahead. We also held our first meeting of our own, which focused mainly on “data gathering” for our parish profile. Our goal is to interact with and obtain input from the entire congregation, and we’ve put plans in place to accomplish that. Our first “official” interaction will be an open question & answer period to be held during coffee hour on January 15th. Stay tuned . . . Peace to all! Matthew Mumford Search Committee Chairman ST. MARGARET’S SOUP KITCHEN In spite of major cuts to its government funding, the Soup Kitchen continues to serve a mid-day meal 365 days a year althoughitems have been deleted from the menu. The Goshen Boy Scout Troop 66 volunteers, with scouts, leaders and parents, are still very dedicated to helping at the Soup Kitchen, and we are hoping Christ Church can help there too. Our 2012 schedule (Sundays from 1:30-4:30 PM) is as follows: January 8, February 12, March 18, April 22, May 27, July 1, August 5, Sept. 9, October 14, November 18 and December 23. This schedule will be posted in the Parish Hall. If you are interested, please contact Sarah Hock at 845.986.1321 or sfhock@optonline.net. She needs to know by Wednesday (before each serve date) so that she can coordinate with the Scouts and the Soup Kitchen. Please pray for the Soup Kitchen and the people it serves in Middletown. THE TOY SHOP COLLECTION REPORT The Ecumenical Council Toy Shop was open from 1:00 - 4:00 PM on Thursday, December 22, when the food basket clients came to the Warwick United Methodist Church to pick up their baskets. Parents of children up to 18 years of age could shop for 2 toys per child, paying $1 per toy. In addition to several tables of toys and some clothing, there were boxes on the floor with small items that could be taken for free. After 3:30 PM, when all parents had been served once, any who wanted to buy more toys could re-enter the shop. This time they could buy as many $1 items as they wanted. By 4:00 PM all toys, clothing, and the little free items were gone!! It was a happy day for all!!! Thank you one and all for your part in making this happen! Katharine Caufield, Program Chair
ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of the parish will be held on Sunday, February 5 following the 11:00 AM service. The meeting is scheduled to begin at about 12:30 PM. As always, the annual meeting agenda will include the presentation of our parish financial reports as well as parish elections. This year we will be voting for a new class of vestry members as well as a new Senior Warden. If you would like an early look at our parish financial reports or our annual report booklet, please contact the Church Office at the end of this month. THE FAITHFUL STEWARD: Stewardship is giving thanks! “All things come of Thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” —1 Chronicles 29:14 These are familiar words, part of the worship service in hundreds of congregations. They come from a story from 1 Chronicles in the Old Testament. King David was growing old, his reign coming to an end, and he assembled the leaders of the nation of Israel. David told them that he had hoped to build a temple in Jerusalem, a privilege God decided to deny David because he had been a warrior. Then, he described the temple that would be built by his son, Solomon, whom God had chosen to succeed David. After describing the plans in great detail, David listed his own contribution of gold, silver, precious jewels and money to be used for building the temple. Finally he asked, “Who then will offer willingly, consecrating themselves today to the Lord?” The response was amazing. The assembled leaders gave generously of their own gold, silver, bronze and precious jewels. And all began to rejoice “because these had given willingly.” In the midst of this celebration David began to praise and give thanks to God, saying, “But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to make this freewill offering? For all things come from you, and of your own have we given you … O Lord our God, all this abundance that we have provided for building you a house for your holy name comes from your hand and is all your own … O Lord, the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, our ancestors, keep forever such purposes and thoughts in the hearts of your people, and direct their hearts toward you … Then David said to the whole assembly, ‘Bless the Lord your God’ ” — 1 Chronicles 29:14, 18, 20 David’s joy in giving was contagious in this story. He gave freely of his wealth to build a temple to house the ark of the covenant, even though God had denied him the privilege of building the temple. His example encouraged others to give freely as well, and in the giving they experienced great joy. May we also experience that same joy as we return to God a portion of His own. (From The Office of Stewardship, The Episcopal Church)
A POEM FOR EPIPHANY: Where the Map Begins by Jan L. Richardson This is not any map you know. Forget longitude. Forget latitude. Do not think of distances or of plotting the most direct route. Astrolabe, sextant, compass: these will not help you here. This is the map that begins with a star. This is the chart that starts with fire, with blazing, with an ancient light that has outlasted generations, empires, cultures, wars. Look starward once, then look away. Close your eyes and see how the map begins to blossom behind your lids, how it constellates, its lines stretching out from where you stand. You cannot see it all, cannot divine the way it will turn and spiral, cannot perceive how the road you walk will lead you finally inside, through the labyrinth of your own heart and belly and lungs. But step out, and you will know what the wise who traveled this path before you knew: the treasure in this map is buried not at journey’s end but at its beginning.
A WORD FROM OUR MIDDLE SCHOOL YOUTH … “WHAT CHRISTMAS MEANS TO ME” Ahhh, Christmas, my favorite time of the year! When the Christmas trees go up along with the ornaments and the wreaths. The “ho, ho, ho’s” and “you’re a mean one Mr. Grinch!.” I’ll be honest, I don’t really care about all of the presents and stockings full of Hershey Kisses. They are nice to receive and to know that I am a very fortunate person to have money (well my parents’ money) to afford all of it. Then as I am thankful for that, I think of all of the people who cannot afford to go the mall and buy their husband/ wife a new coffee maker or their kids a toy truck or a Barbie. Holiday seasons are the most important to me as well. I know that I can give back to people in the community who cannot afford to buy anything for their family or friends. I try to lend people a hand decorating their homes or places they love. I come to the church clean-up during the season. Last year I helped put up the pine roping along the balcony. I swept up leaves in the front as well. It was nice to see other people joining together and helping others out. My Christmas is very uplifting. On Christmas Eve, my family and I all meet at my grandmother’s house. Since I rarely see my family outside the humdrum of daily life, I take advantage of having them around. Being with family should only be happy times full of joy. To me, family is everything. My main wish this year is for every family to have joy just the way my family shares it. The one thing that I like about presents is that you have your family there when you are opening them. That really brings warmth to the house with the excitement of finding out what the wrapped gift is. Submitted by Morgan Schultz I think that Christmas is very exciting. When you think about all the presents and Santa, you get excited. You shouldn't get too caught up in all of that, because that isn't what it's all about. It, to me, is about celebrating the birth of Jesus, and spending time with your family. Everyone has a birthday and only that person gets a present, but on Jesus' birthday everyone in the world gets at least one present. Submitted by Emma Wiedbrauk I think that around this time of year, joy is in the air. I like and dislike this time of year also. I like it because Jesus was born and there is Advent and Christmas presents. I dislike this time of year because getting ready for Christmas is chaotic and my family usually gets stressed and fights. I can't say I don't fight, too. Submitted by Stuart Davidson Note: This column welcomes submissionsour readers. Please email Mark Arnowitz for details at arno485@gmail.com.
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