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The Christ Church Community Update
For Sunday, February 14, 2010
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Whoever you are, and wherever you
find yourself on the journey of faith, you are welcome at Christ
Church, as you are, to receive the blessings of God so freely given.
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Greetings!
If anyone has a good prayer for snow blowers, please forward it; ours is clearly vexed. In anticipation of the second wallop this week, we took "old reliable" in for service, and when we picked it up on Tuesday, it started right up with o  ne pull. That was in the shop, of course; on Thursday, with Christ Church and Burial Ground under cover of wet heavy snow, nada, rien, kaput, zilch. So, as they did last weekend, Will Ware, Neil Ronk and John Hopkins moved tons of the stuff by hand. Not only the sidewalks around the church, but they cleared, as the city requires, the 500 feet of sidewalk around the burial ground at 5th and Arch. I tell the story because all day Thursday, your church received visitors from all over the world unlucky enough to get caught in Philadelphia during a blizzard. Over and over again, we heard, "You are the only place we can visit, everything is closed." In a city paralyzed, our guests at least went back home with some of the vision, faith and courage so present in the church we all make possible by our giving of our time, talent and treasure. So, it goes without saying that we have Sunday services, 9 and 11 AM. Please note that 9 AM is the Holy Eucharist, and 11 AM is the Morning Prayer service with sermon and choir. If you can walk, please do, and for parishioners driving, please avoid the snow clogged Church Street between 3rd and 2nd Streets. Lent begins this coming Ash Wednesday, February 17, and services for this important day of observance are offered at 8 AM, 12 noon, and 7 PM. See below for an article on the importance of Ash Wednesday in our worship life. This Lent, in our Sunday forums at 10:10, we will focus on baptism and ministry, specifically claiming our own ministries in the church and the world as a responsibility of our baptism. This Lent, we inaugurate " Ministry Season," and read Charlie Moleski's article about this important initiative in the article below.
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This Sunday at Christ Church--February 14
9 AM--The Holy Eucharist
10:10--The Rector's Forum--Sunday Scripture Study
11 AM--Morning Prayer and Sermon, with the choir
Ash Wednesday, February 17
8 AM, 12 Noon, and 7 PM
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Rescheduled for March 7--Baroque Concert at Christ Church Sunday Afternoon, 5 PM
Old City Music Baroque Ensemble is presenting their debut concert, "Inspired Bach!" Sunday, March 7 at 5 PM.
The exciting program will explore some well-known pieces and musicians
that have inspired J.S. Bach, and whose works and lives he in turn has
inspired. Admission is free and donations are very welcome.
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Make a financial commitment to Christ Church
For
many people at Christ Church, they are facing financial uncertainty and
are unable to make a year long-pledge to Christ Church. Still, all
members will be helpful and good stewards of Christ Church if they make
known to the Vestry their expected financial support to Christ Church. To make your financial commitment for 2010, or to set up gifts from a bank account, debit card or credit card, please visit our Stewardship webpage.Parishioners
have asked, "Can I make a commitment for a shorter period of time?"
The answer is "yes." It may make sense to make a financial pledge
between now and May 31st, or June 30th. As
well, several parishioners have asked to have their financial gifts
made through one-time or recurring gifts from their bank account, debit
card or credit card. Christ Church has a new, secure system for its
members to set up gifts that are made on a specific schedule, with a
specific ending date. |
 Why it is important to observe Ash Wednesday
Christ Church offers three services on Ash Wednesday, 8 AM, 12 noon, and 7 PM. The congregation is strongly encouraged to observe this important day in the life of the church.
The unfortunate nickname, "Ash Wednesday" does a disservice to its central meaning. On Ash Wednesday, we commit to using the 40 days leading to Easter as a time of pilgrimage, reflection, self-examination,
confession, fasting and repentance to prepare ourselves for the joy of the Resurrection feast. The more
determined and intentional the observance of Lent, the sweeter the Easter. It all begins Wednesday.
In the service, we share in the Litany of Penitence, among the most
important and powerful prayers of our tradition. These prayers urge us all to reflect seriously on how we, individually and communally, can best amend our lives to to receive the blessings of God so freely given.
So, why the nickname Ash
Wednesday? In Lent, seek to have that which
is broken, hurtful, weak, addicted, and destructive to die in us so that our authentic self can rise with Christ. In Lent, we pray that which destroys us will not
anchor us to the grave; we seek to be set free to embrace new life.
For centuries, the Church has used ashes to symbolize the reality of death, as a motivation, in our prayers, to put death behind us during Lent, and focus on
life and resurrection. The ashes
represent the dirt from which Adam and Eve were made, and
to which our earthly bodies will return in death.
During the service, worshipers are invited to have ashes placed on their foreheads with these words,
"You are dust, and to the dust you shall return," the same words we use when
lowering a casket or urn into the ground.
Christ Church, as a gathering of modern pilgrims from
so many different Christian traditions, will find many among us for whom ashes
are important, and others for whom they are irrelevant, if not contradictory to
Jesus' explicit words in the Gospel reading.
We are a place that honors all. Receiving
the ashes is an option; none must and all may.
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Lent is the first "Ministry Season."
During the
upcoming Lenten season, Christ Church will launch its first "Ministry Season."
Each member-new and old-will be invited to enter into ministry or become involved
in a Church program.
Christ Church
depends on the volunteer efforts of its parishioners to fulfill its operations.
During these economic times, contributions of parishioners' time and talents
have become more important than ever. More importantly, becoming involved
in the activities of the Church builds our connections with each other and
deepens our relationship with God.
Many parishioners give incredible time and
energy to the church-and we sincerely thank you. For the newcomers
to Christ Church, we understand that the church can seem very buttoned-down and
at times intimidating. We want to assure you that all doors to the
church-literal and figurative-are open to you.
And then
there are those somewhere in between the newcomers and the longstanding
parishioners. You have
participated in a few programs, and helped out here and there. While your
efforts are obviously appreciated, we ask that this Lent you take the time to
find some ministry or program and deepen your commitment to it.
But everyone
should realize that every ministry needs volunteers and that we all benefit
when people get involved.
Given the
demands of our lives, a request to volunteer may be met with a groan and
perhaps a little feeling of guilt. So while we may be emphasizing volunteering,
the point is to get involved at Christ Church. Even by attending a Sages
gathering, a Bridge lunch, or a Parents Night Out, you are making an important
contribution to the life of Christ Church.
As Barbara
Brown Taylor says in An Altar in the World : "The point is to find [a ministry] that feeds your sense of
purpose, and to be willing to look low for that purpose as well as high. Whatever it is, perhaps you will hold
open the possibility that doing it is one way to learn what it means to become
more fully human."
During this
Lenten season, we hope you will
make a commitment to become more deeply involved in the life of Christ
Church. Let us remember...We are the
Church.
Charlie Moleski
Incorporation Ministries Committee
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