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Religious Education & Church School News
Adult Ed
Visions of the End: Truths for Today
From your Rector
God bless Dorothy Reilly! In case you don’t know who she is, Dorothy volunteers in our office on Wednesday afternoons from 2pm to 5pm. She answers the phone, greets people and handles various office tasks, but her main responsibility for the last few months has been to update our parish mailing lists. We have a master list, a newsletter list, and the stewardship list, along with committee lists. She has also been working on the Parish Directory list. (We hope the new directory will be published soon.) What prompted me to ask Dorothy do this work was a letter I received from someone who received a Stewardship letter from us.
The writer complained that she had received a letter from us hounding her for money and, in fact, she was a faithful member of another denomination. What she had done was make a small contribution to the Clergy Association Fuel Fund two years ago. Somehow her name found its way on to our master list; therefore she was receiving all of our mailings, including our stewardship requests.
My response to her was gentle and I assured her that her name would be removed from all our mailing lists. I also assured her that if she ever did participate in worship or an education program or other event at Christ Church she would be welcomed as a guest who is welcomed as Christ.
Raising money is difficult even with the right people and the correct lists. St. Paul had trouble when he appealed for funds. Once, he sent “the brothers to go ahead arrange in advance for the bountiful gift that you have promised, so that it may be ready as a voluntary gift and not as an extortion.” You can hear the background of resistance and argument through the centuries. Paul pressed on: The point is this: “the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.” Each of us must give as we have made up our minds to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for “God loves a cheerful giver.” (2 Corinthians 9)
I hope you have had a chance to look over the stewardship material sent to you last week, and if you haven’t turned in your pledge card, please do so as soon as possible. We have to be able to plan for the coming year. Remember the use of money is central to our spiritual health and maturity. After all, all we do is voluntary—for the sheer thanksgiving and love of what we have, and of the opportunities we have been given. We give because we believe in something nearly impossible: that love expressed and freely sown here will help us all reap bountifully.
We need everyone’s support.
God's
blessings and peace,
David+
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Religious
Education & Church School News
Much has been accomplished in the Church School programs over the past month. We had our first inter- generational program on October 5, the Nursery has had a complete make-over, and the Church School families participated in an after-church barbecue.
Thank you to Sheila Bailey who
organized and led our first inter-generational program on October 5. These programs are designed to include all the age groups in the church school. Sheila will be organizing them for the first Sunday of each month, when the Children’s Choir is singing during Service.
After Church on October 5, several families stayed late for our barbecue and to help empty, scour and sort materials for the Nursery. On Wednesday evening several more families came to put the Nursery back in order. Thank you to all of you (adults, youth and children) who helped with this chore!
With much deliberation, we have decided to paint the Nursery Space. While we regret covering the beautiful paintings by our past Church School children, the mold growing on the walls necessitates a complete scouring and painting. We hope to design a way to incorporate pictures done by the children of the church school once we have completed this task.
Youth Group
On Wednesday, October 29 at 6:30 pm there will be a planning session for the revival of the Youth Group. We wish to create a dynamic program with a service component that our young people, in the 7th grade and older, will be excited to be a part of. We hope all that are interested in helping to plan this group will be involved in the planning, especially the youth themselves. Please contact me with any ideas or information about the Youth Group.
Religious Education Committee
On Thursday, November 6 at 6:30 pm, there will be a meeting of our Religious Education Committee. All are invited to attend as we determine our upcoming objectives for the committee. We are seeking representation from all sections of the Church: church- school teachers, parents, participants in adult education programs, and other interested parties! Grace Greene is the newly appointed Vestry liaison, and you can talk with her or me if you have any questions or comments for this committee.
Parents Night Out
On Wednesday, November 12 from 6:30-8:45 pm will be our first ever offering of evening childcare for young children while parents get out. We intend to offer this service on the second Wednesday of each month throughout the Church School Year. Please see the bulletin board outside of the church office for further details and information about how to sign up.
I
can be reached at 244-7718 and at the
church on Wednesday evenings.
In peace,
—Melissa
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Advent Wreath Making
Friday, November 28 at 7 pm in the Parish Hall
Join in building the Advent Wreath that hangs in our Church until Epiphany. If you like, you can also make wreaths for your homes and offices! Greens, candles and wire are provided. A Community Good Time to kick off the new Church year.
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Healing
I lost most of my vision in November, 1996, when I had a severe hemorrhage after an eye operation.
My first thought was, “My life is over. My ministry is gone.” I struggled medically and emotionally. I was uplifted by the Christ Church community of faith, which showered me with love, support, caring and prayers.
My down times were at night. I kept a mini-recorder under my pillow, which I used to express all my fears, doubts, and emotions.
Healing comes in many forms. Jesus brought sight to the blind. I have not had that instant healing, but God restored my sight through the acceptance of my loss, a positive attitude, changing my life and living in a new way.
My healing continued with a free ten-week training course in daily living skills, and a further nine-month white cane instruction given by the Vermont Association for the Blind and Visually Impaired. This training allows me to stay independent, live alone, and be a contributing member of society.
God’s grace and healing have been with me since the beginning of my loss and continue with me each day. As Jesus said, “Your faith has made you well.”
—Pat Carruth
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Christmas Card Fund Raiser
Help raise money for Christ Church.
On November 2 and 9 you can select the card you want to send to friends and family this Christmas, and help your church at the same time. Check in at the Parish Hall to choose from the array of beautiful cards designed by our parishioner, Cynthia Steed.
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Visions of the End: Truths for Today
The Rev. Gunnar Urang is leading a discussion series on topics from that dangerous and visionary writing
called the Revelation to John.The last three sessions are Thursday evenings November 6, 13 & 20. The regular 5:45 Eucharist will be followed by a 6:30 supper and the 7:30 Bible Study.
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