 From the Rector
Dear Friends, At our MCM meeting, (the Ministry Coordination Meeting consisting of all of our parish leaders within our committees and parish organizations held on April 18), a note of concern for my wellbeing was raised by one of our parishioners. Without an assistant, concern was expressed that I am offering too many services on Sunday - 8:00, 9:30, 10:45 (education), 12:00 and 5:00. It was suggested that I drop one of them to give me a "breather". I am not only touched by this concern, but I feel compelled to heed this caring advice. One of the topics that we discussed was the self care of our parish leaders who, in addition to their workloads during the week with their jobs and families, offer so much care, support and leadership for our church. We discussed ways of cutting back on some of our meetings and finding ways that the church could offer them the kind of spiritual nourishment which would energize and enrich their lives rather than overwhelming them with more things to "do". I realized that I needed to heed my own advice to our parish leaders and, as one parishioner put it, practice what I preach. In light of this concern I have asked the small group of people who normally attend our 12:00 service if they would be able to come instead to an earlier or later service. Although this will cause an extra effort for some who have a distance to travel to get here, they have all graciously agreed to discontinue the noon service. We will continue to offer all three services (8:00, 9:30 and 5:00) during the summer. The last day of Sunday School and adult education will be held on Sunday, June 3, with a special ceremony offered at the 9:30 service and a party following to celebrate the formation ministry and honor our devoted Sunday School teachers and youth leaders. Education for adults, children and youth will resume on September 16. We would appreciate hearing from you about your feelings and thoughts about our worship services and will be offering a survey to give us a sense of our strengths and weaknesses. The survey will be included in our bulletins in the next few weeks and will also be available on line on our website. We would like to hear from as many of you as possible as we continue to seek every opportunity to provide liturgy and music to enrich our spiritual wellbeing. I am grateful for the love and care that all of you offer me and the concern we have for each other's wellbeing. You embody the image of a caring community and offer the kind of genuine friendship that so many people are searching for in our overscheduled, transient society. Your caring dedication gives me energy and your commitment to your faith journey is contagious and offers a great spirit of joy. It is small wonder that new people continue to be attracted to our community and feel moved to join us in our efforts to pursue and offer hope in this world that longs for our Good News. Thank you for your friendship, The Rev. Dr. William Hague Rector
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Warden's Column
I am Ben Haskell your new Senior Warden. Thank you for the opportunity to serve you on our Vestry. This is a very exciting time at CCPK. Over the following months, Sharon Bartram (Junior Warden) and I will continue to update you on the happenings of the Vestry and other developments. As you all know, we are in the midst of a search for a new assistant rector. The search started soon after Gini left and has been fruitful thus far. We have received over 20 resumes and have conducted several interviews. There have been many interesting and God-filled candidates. We are looking forward to the future with optimism and excitement. Our goal is to have someone here on or around June 1st. As of now, we are still on track to meet this timeline. In December, the Vestry passed a balanced budget for the current year. This budget included money to fund the cost of an assistant rector. We are very fortunate to be in the position to hire an assistant rector given the hard choices we had to make last year. Thank you for all of your generous pledges to help support all of the aspects of CCPK we have come to love. As always, Sharon and I are available to answer your questions or address your concerns. Please feel free to stop us in church or send an email to me at (seniorwarden@ccpk.org) or Sharon at (juniorwarden@ccpk.org).
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 ADULT FORUMS IN MAY
May 6: All Parish Coffee
May 13: Mothers' Day Celebration and Recognition of New Confirmands - In addition to honoring our mothers this celebration will recognize the hard work and preparation of the 22 youth and a number of adults who will have been confirmed the day beforehand in our Cathedral. These confirmands will reaffirm the vows they made before the bishop during our 9:30 service so that the congregation may offer our support for their Christian journey and remember our own baptismal vows. Our special thanks go to Lee Puricelli who did an outstanding job of preparing our youth for this major event in their spiritual lives.
May 20: Outreach Forum - An exciting new approach has been designed by members of our Outreach Committee who will be presenting the details at this forum. The approach enhances our clarity of mission while offering practical ways of reaching out for caring people with busy schedules.
May 27: How Can We Talk About Our Faith? Our identity statement appeals to many people in the 21st century: "We are a community of doubters, seekers, and believers, pursuing and offering hope". A panel of parishioners will discuss ways that we can talk about our faith as we draw on our Anglican heritage of tradition, scripture and reason/experience.
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 Wednesday Dinners
Due to a real decrease in attendance at the "Wednesday Community Night Dinners", we will be suspending them as of May 31st. This is not a decision that was made due to summer approaching us. In the fall and the spring we will try to have at least 2 special themed community night dinners. The quarterly Ministry Coordination Committee meetings will be one of those times. At this time it is not financially feasible to continue. Thanks for your support. The Parish Life Committee
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 Congratulations to David Wood
Congratulations to Christ Church's own David Wood for capturing the Pulitzer Prize. The Huffington Post had this to say about the honor: "...for eight months this past year, Wood reported extensively on the lives of severely wounded veterans and their families in "Beyond the Battlefield", a 10-part series awarded Monday with the Pulitzer Prize in National Reporting. Wood's Pulitzer marks the first win for the seven-year-old Huffington Post and a milestone in the influential Pulitzer committee's recognition of online-only news organizations".
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 Church Humor
Those Bulletin Mistakes... 1. Bertha Belch, a missionary from Africa, will be speaking tonight at Calvary Methodist. Come hear Bertha Belch all the way from Africa. 2. Our youth basketball team is back in action Wednesday at 8 PM in the recreation hall. Come out and watch us kill Christ the King. 3. Ladies, don't forget the rummage sale. It's a chance to get rid of those things not worth keeping around the house. Don't forget your husbands. 4. The peacemaking meeting scheduled for today has been canceled due to a conflict. 5. Remember in prayer the many who are sick of our community. Smile at someone who is hard to love. Say "Hell" to someone who doesn't care much about you. 6. Don't let worry kill you off - let the Church help. 7. Miss Charlene Mason sang "I will not pass this way again," giving obvious pleasure to the congregation. 8. For those of you who have children and don't know it, we have a nursery downstairs. 9. At the evening service tonight, the sermon topic will be "What Is Hell?" Come early and listen to our choir practice. 10. Scouts are saving aluminum cans, bottles and other items to be recycled. Proceeds will be used to cripple children. 11. Please place your donation in the envelope along with the deceased person you want remembered. 12. The church will host an evening of fine dining, super entertainment and gracious hostility. 13. Potluck supper Sunday at 5:00 PM - prayer and medication to follow. 14. The ladies of the Church have cast off clothing of every kind. They may be seen in the basement on Friday afternoon. 15. This evening at 7 PM there will be a hymn sing in the park across from the Church Bring a blanket and come prepared to sin. 16. Ladies Bible Study will be held Thursday morning at 10 AM . All ladies are invited to lunch in the Fellowship Hall after the BS. is done. 17. The pastor would appreciate it if the ladies of the congregation would lend him their electric girdles for the pancake breakfast next Sunday. 18. Weight Watchers will meet at 7 PM at the First Presbyterian Church. Please use large double door at the side entrance. 19. The Associate Minister unveiled the church's new tithing campaign slogan last Sunday: "I Upped My Pledge... Up Yours!" |
 Youth Corner
The Swing Dance was a blast! The J2A wants to thank everyone who came and cut a rug to support their pilgrimage to Nova Scotia. The J2A also thanks the Rockville Swing Band for their generosity and for making the evening such a great success. The J2A had great retreat at Camp Wabanna on April 20 and 21. The setting, on the Chesapeake Bay, was beautiful. There was a bonfire with s'mores and fun team-building exercises. The best part was the giant swing! The group used ropes and pulleys to hoist one brave soul in a swing harness 50 feet into the air. At the top, the person in the swing let go of a release cord, freefalling until the ropes pulled tight and they swung in high arcs over the ground -- awesome!! Speaking of awesome, 19 youth will be confirmed on May 12, 2012 at the National Cathedral. These youth participated in a Lenten confirmation discernment process. Lee Puricelli and Aime Keith want to thank all who came for their great insights and thoughtful discernment. Please come and celebrate their confirmation on Sunday May 13 during the service and at a reception in the undercroft after service. Lastly, you are all invited to lend your special talents to the youth program. There are many ways in which all can help and many hands make a light load. Youth ministry is one of the most rewarding, joyous, and enlightening ministries and everyone is welcome to help. If you would like to volunteer or just talk about it, please contact Lee Puricelli at: (301) 585-6535 or at leepuricelli@yahoo.com.
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 Confirmation, Reception, & Reaffirmation Bishop Mariann Budde will be leading a Eucharist for those being confirmed, received, and reaffirmed in the faith on Saturday, May 12th at 10 am. Please come out and support those from Christ Church who are affirming their faith!
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Dear Deacon,
Ok Dog, at church I see people making the sign of the cross at different points in the service. They obviously know something I don't, and I want to join in. When does one make the sign of the cross? ~ Feeling Awkward Dear Awkward, Please don't feel awkward, making the sign of the cross is entirely personal (and optional) and should not be something you should feel peer pressure about. The gesture itself is an outward sign of a stirring in our souls and there are no hard and fast rules about that. Many folks will cross themselves at different points in the service, such as: *Before or after prayers. *Before and/or after receiving communion *Whenever the blessing is pronounced *Whenever absolution is pronounced *Before the Gospel is read *Before and/or after the sermon is preached *When approaching or leaving the altar *When entering or leaving church *Before and after receiving healing *After the words of institution *During the creed when referencing the resurrection *At the gestures of epiclesis To settle the matter, I would ask yourself: When in the service is your soul most moved by the spirit? Love and licks, Deacon |
 My Pilgrimage Through Holy Week
By Katie Cogan
I have always thought a pilgrimage was a journey to a sacred place in a foreign land. Last week I attended all the services at Christ Church offered for Holy Week and was pleasantly surprised at how different I felt on Easter Sunday. The foreign land was my complete presence and the sacred bonding moment was happening inside my soul, right here at home. Monday's Eucharist, Jesus was dining with Mary and Martha. I thought about all the times I am like Martha, worrying about things that really don't matter and made a promise to myself to be more like Mary, at least the for the rest of the week. I slowed down and was more aware of the beauty in nature, more compassionate towards those who sometimes annoy me, and tried to be more patient and understanding. Tuesday, I listened to Jesus foretell the Passion. In my Mary-like state my heart was more open and I could really feel what it must have been like for Jesus and his disciples. Wednesday was Tenebrae. I have never been to this service before. As one candle after another was extinguished, I felt more and more alone. When the Christ candle was put out I literally felt panic, imagining a world without God. Beating drums got louder and louder until I thought I could stand no more, and then the cross came back and the Christ candle was lit again. Thursday we celebrated the Last Supper. By this point I felt like I was actually there 2,000 years ago. Everything in me was prepared for Jesus' crucifixion and death. On Good Friday, I had the most amazing yet grueling experience. During the service I felt as if I was at my own funeral, realizing that Jesus' spirit was surrounding me; in us all. I cried all the way home. When Easter Sunday came, I rejoiced!! Jesus was alive and we are saved. I also knew this was true, but this Holy Week I experienced it. I knew what it would mean if none of this ever happened and I was beyond grateful. After church my family celebrated my 50th birthday and all I could think about was my Holy Week pilgrimage. Jesus is alive--what better present could I ever ask for!
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 Other Groups Meeting at Christ Church
WHOW Women Helping Other Women Tuesday 7:30pm -Room 3 AA and AL-ANON MEETINGS Women's Al-Anon- Monday 7:00 pm-Youth Room Women's Al-Anon Tuesday 9:30am-Youth Room Women's Al-Anon Tuesday 10:30 am-Undercroft Women's Al-Anon Tuesday 11:45 am-Youth Room Liberty AA Tuesday 8:30 pm-Youth Room & Room 2 Terrapin AA Thursday 10:30 am-Undercroft |
 Please Keep Current on your Pledge
As summer approaches, please remember to keep current on your pledge. Sending in your pledge before you go on vacation will help the church meet its obligations during the summer "cash flow crunch". Pledge income numbers through March of 2012 are down more than projected. To date expenses are exceeding revenue by approximately $15,000. Look in the mail for your statement of what you have given to the church thus far in the year. Summer is a great time to catch up on your pledge!
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 May Outreach: Ceylon School for the Deaf and Blind
Dear Friends in Christ, It is that time of the year again, the month of May, at which you, God's people, pray for and give monetary contributions to the 700 Deaf & Blind children in the three schools in far away Sri Lanka. As your liaison person, I am in constant touch with the Resource & Development Committee, the totally voluntary Committee which is in charge of raising funds to run the School. As most of you now know, this school was started by an Anglican missionary named Miss Chapman over 100 years ago. It is indeed a true test that the blessed Holy Spirit has deemed it fit to endure these many years despite being in a Buddhist country where there is much poverty, and now since the last few decades the hideous face of terrorism. With the funds we collected in June 2011, we were able to sponsor 18 children for one year. Please bear in mind that these 700 children come from day laborers' families, whose average income would be $40 or less per month!! Except that the School gives these 700 children room, board, and an education, I shudder to think of their fate. Recently milk and, as you all know, rice prices, as well as petrol to bring fruits and vegetables to the markets in cities where these schools are have greatly increased. All this translates to the School being responsible to try to give these poor little ones proper nourishment. Their 'ration' for the day being two meals of a little rice, one green vegetable of 'salad' and if lucky a piece of fish or dried fish. Milk is given as the School is able to provide. The School is continuing to go ahead with projects to improve the Computer Lab for the Blind School, remodel and improve toilets at the Deaf School, and try to make the sleeping quarters of all three schools a little more comfortable for the children, amongst all these worthwhile projects the grave difficulties of trying to feed the children. Please ask the Holy Spirit for guidance and give to the best of your ability. With many thanks from the 700 children and me, Yours in Christ, Rukmani Munasinghe Willis
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 Christ Church Needs 50 New Prayer Books
CCPK needs 50 new copies of the 1979
Book of Common Prayer.
Perhaps you might consider purchasing a prayer book for Christ Church and maybe one for yourself. Red, Pew-size copies may be purchased from www.episcopalbookstore.com for $20.00 plus shipping ($5.80 each).
The church would also like ten additional copies of Enriching our Worship, Supplemental Liturgical Materials, 1997. These may be purchased from www.episcopalbookstore.com for $18.00 plus shipping $5.80 each).
Or, if you prefer, you could make a contribution of $23.00 for each Book of Common Prayer and $20.00 for each copy of Enriching our Worship, to Christ Church by June 4, and we will place a bulk order to save on shipping costs.
If you would like to donate either of these books, Christ Church would be pleased to put a bookplate in the front of the book, denoting the gift in memory or thanksgiving as you designate.
If you have any questions, please contact Sharon Bartram 301-946-0632 or psbartram@verizon.net.
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 MAY Celebrations
Birthdays Paul R. Eckert 05/01 Griffin Hamilton 05/01 Grant Neave 05/01 Lynda Witten 05/01 Claire Youmans 05/01 Dorothy Israel 05/02 Linda Kean 05/02 John Cornwell III 05/03 Kettner Griswold 05/04 Matthew Johnston 05/04 Suzanne Shaw 05/04 Alexandra Thanos 05/04 Sean Woodward 05/06 Linda Smith 05/07 James Zampella 05/08 Deborah Bartlett 05/09 Mark St. George 05/09 James Swartz 05/09 Katharine Shuler 05/11 Lauren Miller 05/13 Davis Yewell 05/13 Angela Day 05/14 JoAnn Price 05/14 Morgi St. George 05/14 Dominique Charleston 05/15 Jane M. Hague 05/15 Pauline Harvey 05/15 James Hester 05/15 Mario Lara 05/15 Chris Lekakos 05/15 Linda Rowan 05/15 Osebo Akhigbe 05/16 Eliza Carney 05/16 Pamela Prindle 05/16 Sharon Dinbergs 05/17 Norman McKay 05/17 Billi Saunders 05/17 John Cornwell Jr. 05/18 Cora Flynn 05/19 W. Scott Wykoff 05/20 Diana Johnson 05/21 Maximilian Vanegas 05/21 Barbara Ferry 05/23 H. Yvonne Jackson 05/23 Paul Kaufman 05/23 Paul Robbins 05/23 Mary Anne Shull, III 05/23 Andrew Schoemer 05/24 Lance Kilpatrick 05/25 Lydia Marks 05/25 Rachel Neave 05/25 Kett Griswold Jr. 05/27 Barbara Hartz 05/27 James Ingham 05/27 Duane Boniface 05/28 Barbara Dorsett 05/28 Soren Scott 05/28 Stephen Buck 05/29 Dorothy Cornwell 05/29 Mike Etherton 05/29 John Everett 05/29 Dorcas Rusoke 05/29 Beverly Badders 05/30 Patrick Cowan 05/30 Anniversaries Anthony & Nancy Ody 05/05 Anthony & Marcia Coe 05/06 John & Joyce Neave 05/07 Kari & Kyle Rudgers 05/08 Ted & Annie Seale 05/09 Thomas & Anne Tatem 05/12 Ronald & Sarah W. Leung 05/16 Nathan Howard & Katie Swanson 05/17 Robert & Elizabeth Quinn 05/19 Joan & Bill Leffingwell 05/20 Peter & Sharon Bartram 05/25 Carl & Angela Day 05/26 Lauren & Walker Simpson 05/27 Farrand & Pamela Prindle 05/28 William & Jane Hague 05/30
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Christ Church Parish, Kensington Maryland
Lenord Hawkins
Head Verger
Assistant Vergers Anthony Coe Susan Catlette Office Hours Monday-Friday 9:00 am-5:00 pm;
E-mail:administrator@ccpk.org
Telephone: 301.942.4673
Service Schedule
Sunday:
8:00am 9:15am &11:15am
Wednesday: 6:30 pm
VESTRY Rector-The Rev. Dr. William Hague Sr. Warden-Ben Haskell Jr. Warden-Sharon Bartram Treasurer-Bonnie Douglas Clerk- Bonnie Muheim Phil Padgett (Outreach) Ben Haskell (Finance) Calvin Smith (Property) Caroline Turner (Communication) Pam Prindle (Parish Life) Julianne Clarke (Stewardship) Diane Jung (At Large) Sharon Bartram (Education) Diane Mand (Inreach)
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