Wise Maiden Heading
Thursday Reminder October 8, 2015
An Online Ezine
Pentecost 2015


Greetings from your church! 

In This Reminder
This Week
Items for Consideration
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extras!
This Week
 
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost, 
October 11, 2015

8 a.m. Holy Communion 
9:00 a.m. Choir rehearsal
9:15 a.m. Stewardship Committee meets in Rector's Office
No Rectory Chapel
10:15 a.m. Family Eucharist; Jane, Preacher; 
Dave, Celebrant; Turquoise Team (Landis, Nunes);
Church School (celebrating St. Francis with a blessing of the animals/pets near the end of the service... bring a photo!) 
Teen Program in session

The Leaflet can be found here
The Announcements can be found here
 
A blessing for our Church School teachers and teen leaders with the "laying on of hands" can be found Here.

Deadline for November Courier is October 23rd!

Readings are Track Two, a link can be found here

October Courier can be found here

October Calendar and Schedule is found here

The September '15 to January '16 Coffee Hour Team Schedule can be found here
 
Pastoral Emergencies or to put someone on the Prayer Chain please call the office: 860-315-7780 or Dave's Cell Phone, 860-608-7632. 
 
Eucharistic Visitors see under Teen Program for Safe Church Training.
 
 
Church School Notes


 
   
Last Sunday we had an exciting time learning about ways to help refugees with Chris George of IRIS!  It was truly a collaborative experience, with all of the teens joining the children from first grade up in the chapel downstairs.  Thanks to all the facilitating leaders, and to all of you who so generously donated household and personal care items for IRIS.  There was a great outpouring of support!

This Sunday, October 11 we will celebrate St. Francis of Assisi. All of the children are invited to participate in a Blessing of the Animals at the end of the church service.  Please bring in one special stuffed animal, a photograph, or drawing of a pet to receive a blessing just before the announcements in church. 
Children in Grades 1-5 will begin the second round of Potter's Workshops, exploring Daniel's story with Legos, Storytelling and a Game.  Godly Players will wonder about the Exodus. Thanks again to everyone who has volunteered to help out in the Church School this term!
 
Mark your calendars for the next Church School Meeting:  Nov. 1st.  All parents, volunteers, and folks with a heart for youth are encouraged to attend!
 
Parents are reminded to complete and return one Church School Registration for each child attending Church School or Nursery.  Please also review our Behavior Management Protocol letter and return one acknowledgement per family.  Both of these documents can also be obtained from our bulletin board area at the top of the stairs leading down to Church School, or from Nicole directly.  This is also where student sign-in sheets will be located each Sunday morning for parents to sign their child/ren in. 
 
We collect non-perishable foods and household items in our offering basket during chapel time each Sunday, so please work with your child to remember the needs of others each Sunday by bringing in something for our local food banks.
 
Nicole Nichols, Church School Director
 
Here is a copy of the fall Workshop Schedule, Sunday by Sunday. My contact is 860-928-2155, or by email:  ccchurchschoolpomfret@gmail.com
 
The Donations list for IRIS can also be found here
 

Teen Program Updates:


Rite-13 6 and 7th grades! Leaders: Kim Bergandahl and Greg Nichols (Christine Carter will be advising). The Rite-13ers are working on the Vine and Branches photo directory project and having fun on meeting and other projects!

J2Aers:  See you on Sunday. Leaders: Amy Nunes, Ginger Lusa & Adam Squires (more part-time leaders: Brian Smith, Steve Adams & Cyndi Sturni).
 
YACers:  This Sunday we're working on our Pilgrimage Presentation. Contact Jen Ritzau asap if you wish to help & if you have more info: 
(Leaders also include Peter Mann and Donna Bessette, advising)

Current Teen Leaders Materials: HERE is a link to find PDF copies of all the different group materials. Note that the main item for each group is the manual of lesson plans. Use as you see fit!
 
Safe Church Training is required for all Teen Leaders that have not had it. But here is a link to the Diocesan Schedule:
 
The Teen Program Registration Form is needed for each student so we can provide a consistent and safe environment for your young person. Thanks.

Dee Dee Markes 
79 Mashamoquet Road  
Pomfret Center, CT 06259  
860.963.0846 860.617.7996  
deedeespa@charter.net 
 
Items for Consideration



First Take
Twentieth Sunday after Pentecost The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here

Readings for the twentieth Sunday after Pentecost:  Amos 5:6-7, 10-15; Psalm 90:12-17; Hebrews 4:12-16; Mark 10:17-31
 
In this week's Gospel reading, a man asks Jesus "Good Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?" 
Likewise, the disciples wonder,  "Who can be saved?" Salvation and eternal life are two tricky concepts that are often bandied about these days.  But is there a prescription for salvation?  Can we earn, or buy, eternal life?   An acquaintance of mine once was once given a checklist that promised that if she followed it to the letter, she would be sure to get on the right "life raft" of faith. She wondered if there was any truth to this.  These are age-old questions, and yet Jesus' response points, not to a list of things to do, or boxes to check, or points to earn, but to a way of life that joins Jesus in God's mission of restoration and reconciliation of the whole world to God and one another.  It asks us not to be human doings, but human beings, who are willing to open our hearts and minds to what God, the eternal source of life, is up to in the world in our present context.   The apostle Paul writes in this week's epistle, "the Word of God is living and active."  The love and life of God in Jesus through the power of the Holy Spirit meets us where we are, at this very moment, and invites us into that abundant, grace-filled, communal life...the very life of God.... Jane Hale

Something Different: Here is a poetic and rich NYTimes Opinion article by Margot Mifflin, "Learning to die". Here is another great article called "Stop Googling, let's talk", a probing article on this internet age and how that reduces rather than increases our sense of compassion, raises questions and suggests responses. NYTimes article on Svetlana Alexievich who has just won the Noble for Literature as writer specializing in the voices of ordinary people.
            
Lay Eucharistic Visitors Updates
Safe Church Training opportunities can be found at the Diocesan website..... see link in Teen Program. Jane Hale will be working with this group in training and organizing as we move forward as she brings experience from her internship at St. John's in Vernon.

Outreach Nutsale  has started! Catherine Bastow has done her magic again and here is our order form. The Deadline to get your form in with full payment is October 18th. All income above cost goes into our CSO budget and is granted out into the community. Thanks.

Special Mission Outreach
PID trip to Guatemala is scheduled for January 10th through the 17th of 2016. This is a medical and building project mission trip. Here is the website! We're making our flight arrangements now and are very excited! A number of us were very moved and excited by Chris George's comments on the Refugee situation (IRIS). He currently has 4 families from Syria that are being settled in New Haven so all our collected items will be well utilized! What more can we do? We've talked about helping to sponsor a family, perhaps with another church? Here is the IRIS website.

Spirituality with Oscar Brockmeyer.
Group Spiritual Guidance for those within and beyond the church. Oscar's schedule begins the first week of October and is found here. He is offering Spirituality Workshops on second Saturdays in the morning, a conversation entitled "Spirituality for the Second Half of Life" on third Thursdays in the afternoon, a "Spiritual Companions" Group on first Tuesdays in the evening (starting on October 6th). 860-942- 2934 orobbrockmeyer@snet.net for more information.

Spirituality with Jane Hale: The Women's Spiritual Growth Group Tentative Date for next meeting: 7-8:30 pm on Tuesday, October 20th in the Christ Church library: A time of spiritual and faith exploration, story-sharing, and celebrating our Sisterhood!  No experience necessary, just bring yourselves.  (Plenty of laughter and snacks included!) We've had wonderful response! Interested? Questions? Yes, folks from outside the church can join. Contact Jane Hale at jclhale@charter.net. 

Pastoral Notes/Prayers: Jean Sheldon continues in Hospice Care at her youngest daughter's home in Hanover, Ct.; Keep Elaine in your prayers, diagnosed with cancer (parent of member). 

Vine and Branches "Directory" Project
The Rite-13ers are continuing this project and we're already taking photos at Coffee Hours. Thanks to Jim Goodwin and his help with photos. Thanks to Cyndi Sturni, Judy Busse and Rebecca Patenaude for finishing the artwork and the lettering!  


Coming Up

Saturday, Oct. 10th: 10 a.m. Spirituality Workshop with O. Brockmeyer

Sunday, October 11th: 8 a.m. and 10:15 Services only (no 9:15 service). Jane Hale, preacher; Stewardship Committee meets at 9:15 

Monday, October 12: Office Closed for Columbus Day

Wednesday, Oct. 14: 7:30 am. Healing Eucharist & B'fast at the Bean at 8:30 a.m.

Saturday, Oct. 17th: 9 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Clean out and Clean up. Final fall work around the church, raking, clearing out to coincide with Pomfret Bulky waste weekend. 

Sunday, Oct. 18th: 8, 9:15 & 10:15 services with Dave preaching and celebrating; 2016 Budget Committee Meeting in the Library at 11:30 a.m.

Tuesday, Oct. 20th 7:00 p.m. Women's Spirituality with Jane Hale (in the Library)

Wednesday, Oct. 21st: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist; B'fast at the Bean

Sunday, Oct. 25th: All Services, Jane Hale, preacher; Contemporary Service at 10:15 a.m.; Church First: tentative plan: Pilgrimage Presentation!

Monday, Oct. 26th: 8 a.m. Cooking for Community Kitchen

Wednesday, Oct. 27th: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist followed by B'fast at the Bean

All Saints Sunday, Nov. 1st: All Services and Programs; Dave is preacher; Jane is visiting in the Church School
DAYLIGHT SAVINGS ENDS


Christ Church Online Google Calendar 
Your Stewardship!

 
Nicely done video. A number of personal takes on sharing and giving, the stewardship of our lives from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia
Nicely done video. Personal stories of sharing and giving, the stewardship of our lives,
from the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia


Thank you for your generosity!

It's time to plan next year's budget, next year's program & ministry. The Budget Committee will be meeting on Sunday, October 18 in the Library. The Vestry and Stewardship Committee have been thinking about how we want to do a little more to explore being good stewards, and more, how we can "grow" our program offerings and interests to benefit our community.

Stewardship: Visions and Ventures Committee
We will be meeting in the Rector's Office at 9:15 on Sunday, October 11th to start working on the program for November; Your pledge remains the most important source of income for us to continue our ministries, by far. Thanks! 
Pledging and Donating Online:

(Note: when you wish to access the Christ Church easytithe donation site you will need to go through this button, here on the Reminder, or on the website. It will not work on the easytithe site directly. That log in is for account managers.)

Amazon Smile: Amazon.com will donate .5 percent of eligible purchases to Christ Church. Amazon pays these donations. You can still shop through your own account but Christ Church will benefit. Link is Here Thanks! 
Housekeeping


















Flowers
Sign Up Master List is posted to the left of the office door. You can sign up there, call the office (860-315-7780), or Lora's cell phone (above) or respond to this email to Make a Memorial or a Thanksgiving for a loved one ($30/Sunday).  Flower donations are encouraged. There are always applications for flowers in the back of the church ($30).

Vestry Notes
Next Meeting is October 14th at 7 p.m.

Budget Committee meets in the Library after the 10:15 service on October 18th to formulate the 2016 suggested budget for Christ Church.

Buildings and Grounds John Murphy is pricing out the rotted window replacements around the Library, the downstairs chapel & in the hallway outside the Library; Other jobs pending: Roofing and Chimney items. We have a final Clean Out and Clean Up morning on Saturday, Oct. 17th from 9 to 11:30 to coincide with Pomfret Bulky Waste weekend.

Shawl Ministry:
 Blessed shawls on the back table in church (fill out the log book). We have had a number of folks respond with thanks after receiving one of the shawls. Rebecca Patenaude, Coordinator

Outreach....  We had a warm thank you from Bob Kirk of the Hill Church at the 8 a.m. service for our Cooking crew and especially Pauline this past Sunday! Next cooking for Community Kitchen at 8 a.m. on October 26th here at CCPomfret to bring to the 1st Congregational Church of Woodstock (the Hill Church). Contact Pauline Phillips at Christ Church. CSO Committee meets periodically to recommend grants.
Extras!
Infinite Eyes
The Anthem September 27th: Nine6teen

(this is music with a slide show)
Dave Carter
Christ Church Pomfret
(Box 21) 527 Pomfret Street 
Pomfret, Ct. 06258

Feel free to contact us: christchurchpomfret@gmail.com

 
Welcome to your church!
Steeple
Mission Statement

To seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as ourselves, welcoming all who come through our doors to participate in worship, education, service and fellowship on a journey in Christ, a journey that we believe not only has power to heal and change us but also has potential to transform the world.

(Vestry 2003)


 

Supporting your church financially!

 

Pledge Card
  

Stewardship for 2015
 

Quick Links





Donate/Share

Join Our Mailing List!