Wise Maiden Heading
Thursday Reminder 
An Online Ezine
Advent 2015


Greetings from your church!


Thanks all for your help. Current total runs just under $15,000!


In This Reminder
This Week
Items for Consideration or Prayer
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extras!
This Week
 
December 13, 2015: Advent 3
Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath
(Note that Dec. 14th is the anniversary of Sandy Hook)

8 a.m. Holy Communion (Jane, preacher and Dave, worship leader)
9:00 a.m. Choir rehearsal
9:15 a.m. Rectory School Chapel (last until January) with Dave as presider & preacher
10:15 a.m. Family Eucharist; Dave, Worship Leader; Jane is the preacher; Purple Team for Coffee

Leaflet found here
Announcements can be found here
A Litany for Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath is here

Deadline for January Courier is December 14th (very early because of the Christmas rush)
 
Readings link can be found here

December Calendar and Schedule is found here

December Courier can be found here

The September '15 to January '16 Coffee Hour Team Schedule can be found here
 
February to June 2016 Coffee Team Schedule is 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. 
 
 
Church School Notes


 Rebecca Patenaude and our youngters working on a banner project for Church First Sunday!

Continuing this week (Advent 3): Christmas Pageant practice.  Any adults who would like to help out downstairs are welcomed to join us in this joyful work!  Children's chapel will meet as usual each Sunday, as will Godly Play.  Nonperishable food donations are especially appreciated at this time of year.

Grade 1 through the teen program students will be learning music and lines for the Pageant (see music files, script and carols links below).  If your child would like to practice music or lines at home, use the attached links to the script and songs.  

We are sending home Pageant costumes.  Please bring in any extra clean plastic grocery bags you might have to help us package up the costumes and accessories! Check them out over the next weeks. You'll need them on the day! (Rehearsal on Dec. 19th at 10 a.m..... Pageant on Dec. 20th at the Tang Center, Rectory School)

We will also be kicking off our "Read to Feed" Advent outreach mission for Heifer International this week, and information will be send home with grade-schoolers.  Here is the link to our Christ Church School Team's home page.  We will utilize any "down-time" during our Pageant rehearsals to learn more about Heifer and how this program will help our global family this holiday season.  Reading logs and hard copies of donation forms will be provided also.

Heifer "Read to Feed" outreach found here, future curriculum ideas, and more!

Christmas Pageant Links:
Here is the Pageant Script
Here are the Pageant Carols
Here is the Pageant solo music/special sheet music/words
Here is a link to a recording: Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine
Here is a link to a recording: Friendly Beasts
Here is a link to a recording: Messiah's Lullaby
Here is a link to a recording: Sing Noel

A link to the Church School Registration form.
 
Nicole Nichols, Church School Director
   My contact is 860-928-2155, or by email:  ccchurchschoolpomfret@gmail.com 
 
 
Teen Program Updates:
 

Rite-13 6 and 7th grades! They are painting their room to make it their own! See above
The Rite-13ers are working on the Vine and Branches photo directory project and having fun meeting and other projects! Many of us are working on Pageant items.
 
J2Aers:  See you on Sunday. We're organizing a few different projects this season. Check out the individual emails! Leaders: Amy Nunes, Ginger Lusa & Adam Squires (part-time leaders: Brian Smith, Steve Adams & Cyndi Sturni). A number will be helping with the Pageant.

Dee Dee has an email out to parents to sign up and commit now for Nightwatch at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine (link here) on the night of March 4, 2016 (return late in the day on Saturday). This a fun and informative night for teens that we've done several times in the past. It is very popular, hence the advance registration. The cost is $85 per teen, paid by families (if you need some subsidy for this let Dave know). Please respond soon so we can get the date we want! Thanks.
 
YACers: Meet as scheduled.... for info contact Jen Ritzau: 
(Leaders also include Peter Mann and Donna Bessette, advising)

Teen Coordinator Position
As some already know Dee Dee and the Markes family are heading back to California, their home. She will be winding up her duties as Teen Coordinator on December 31st and would like to hand on the duty and salary ($6000 a year) to another candidate before then.
Here is a current description of the position. This position can be reconfigured per the interest of the candidate (for instance less hours for less money) Let Steve Adams, Peter Lusa or Dave know if you would like to discuss it. Thanks! 
 
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!
 
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 or Prayer



First Take
Advent Sunday 3: The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here
        There are a lot of unanswerable questions such as the favorite one that the kids ask the Rector, "Where does God come from?" And other repeatable questions like, "What is God doing in my life?" Then others that are more direct, "What can I do now, right now?" These are the questions that the various folks are asking of John the Baptist in response to their baptism and desire for change. I suspect it is good for them as for us to have "answers" here. John the Baptist says to the soldiers, "Be satisfied with your wages", to the tax collectors, "Don't collect more than your due." Straightforward and direct. But it's all preliminary, on the way to something deeper and richer, life-changing and transforming, not just behavior changing-- Jesus.

For your health and healing:  
             The Candidates (Jane Hale and others) and newly Ordained in our Diocese are participating in an Advent Daily reflection blog which can be found here. 
        
Spirituality with Oscar Brockmeyer.
Group Spiritual Guidance for those within and beyond the church. Oscar's schedule is found here. 860-942- 2934 orobbrockmeyer@snet.net for more information. 

Spirituality with Jane Hale: The Women's Spiritual Growth Group. The Next Meeting is 7-8:30 pm on Tuesday, December 22nd.  A time of spiritual and faith exploration, story-sharing, and celebrating our Sisterhood!  Contact Jane Hale at jclhale@charter.net. 

Pastoral Notes/Prayers: Here is the full Prayer Chain 

Vine and Branches "Directory" Project
The Rite-13ers are continuing this project and we're taking photos at Coffee Hours. Thanks to Jim Goodwin and his help with photos. Thanks all!     


Coming Up

Sunday, Dec. 13th: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 services

Wednesday, Dec. 16th: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist followed by B'fast at the Bean

Saturday, Dec. 19th: 10 am. to 12 noon, Pageant Rehearsal at the Tang Center. Principals at 10 a.m.; Angels and Shepherds join them for a run-through at 11 a.m.

Sunday, Dec. 20th: 8 a.m. Service at the Church; 10:15 Pageant in the Tang Center

Wednesday, Dec. 23: 7:30 Healing Eucharist followed by B'fast at the Bean (could be last until early spring to allow for problematic weather.... we'll know soon)

Thursday, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th: 
4:30 p.m. Lessons-Carols and Eucharist with Teen Readers (Jane Hale, preacher)
9:00 p.m. Choir 
10:30 p.m. Festival Candle-lit Eucharist with the Choir (the Rev. Gary Sturni, preacher)

Friday, Christmas Day, Dec. 25th:
9 a.m. Reflective Eucharist 

Sunday, Christmas 1, December 27th: 8 and 10:15 services led by the Rev. Jim Kellaway

No Wednesday Eucharist on Dec. 30th

Saturday, January 2, 2016: Epiphany Open House at the Carters, starts at 5:30 p.m. for Christ Church folks. Good Food and Beverage!  (Adult event!)

Sunday, January 3, 2016: 8 and 10:15 Services, Dave Preacher; Jane, Worship Leader 

Christ Church Online Google Calendar 
Your Stewardship!

Nicole Nichols on the Stewarding of Christ Church
Nicole Nichols on taking care of Christ Church

Thank you for your generosity!

Stewardship: Visions and Ventures
It's that time; The Pledge Materials are out. In case you need it though, HERE is a downloadable copy of the written brochure. And HERE is a pledge card for next year, 2016. We encourage folks to spend a few minutes with the materials, to think about how you can help. The current total is about 57 pledges for $140,000. Our goal is at least 95 pledges for $203,000. Thanks in advance.

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
Advent Season is ongoing (No Flowers). But you can honor a loved one by signing up for the Christmas poinsettia memorials and thanksgiving at $10 each and taking them home! Respond to this email OR fill out form on Sunday (on the music stand in back).

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 December 9th at 7 p.m.

Buildings and Grounds John Murphy is replacing rotted windows around the downstairs chapel. We're getting a referral to Shawn Densmore for Chimney items. 

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....  Next cooking for Community Kitchen at 8 a.m. on December 28th 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!
Sing Lullaby: Choir of St. John's College
Sing Lullaby: Choir of St. John's College
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!

  

Stewardship 2016
  

Pledge Card 2016
 

Quick Links




Donate/Share

Join Our Mailing List!