Wise Maiden Heading
Thursday Reminder 
An Online Ezine
Advent 2015


Greetings from your church!

In This Reminder
This Week
Items for Consideration or Prayer
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extras!
This Week
 
Saturday, December 19th: Pageant Rehearsal

10 a.m. All Principal Parts with Costumes
11 a.m. Shepherds, Sheep & Angels for a final run-through

At the Tang Center, Rectory School. 
Here's a hastily drawn map, if you need one!



December 20, 2015: Last Advent

8 a.m. Holy Communion (Dave, preacher and Jane, worship leader). A copy of the readings can be found here
9:00 a.m. Choir rehearsal for Christmas Eve Choir
9:30 a.m. Church School, musicians, teen groups are all meeting at the Tang Center to get set up, made up and last minute prep!
10:15 a.m. Christmas Pageant at the Tang followed by a Reception back in the Great Hall! (Worship Leaders, Jane & Dave along with our young people)

Leaflet with Announcements can be found here
Carols for the Pageant are found here

Deadline for February Courier is January 18th
 
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



Christmas Pageant Time: 
Rehearsal on Dec. 19th at 10 a.m. all principal parts; 11 a.m. with Angels and Shepherds for a final run-through!

Pageant on Dec. 20th at the Tang Center, Rectory School

We kicked 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 utilized "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 Saturday & Sunday for the Pageant. 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/Update
We are reviewing an application from an experienced candidate. You'll be hearing more soon. Thanks!

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 4: The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here
        We often read about God's favor and grace. Almost every Sunday there is a reminder somewhere in our readings. At times there is an attempt to explore "why". Why does God love us, love Israel, love the disciples, love the churches of Paul? Is it because we "deserve" that concern and attention? Perhaps we really are meek, mild, grace-ful, caring & special. God seems to have very "good taste"!  Turning this about, perhaps we would do well to care about the "deserving poor", the "reformed prisoner", the "changed heart", the "better behaved child"? 
         In contrast, this Sunday's Magnificat, Mary's remarkable hymn/poem in Luke's Gospel, is more open-ended and wonderfully puzzling. Mary says God simply loves her, no "whys" or reasons, no explanations. That's the reality we celebrate most deeply and we probably need to hear about most often. God loves us because..... God does! 

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 for Dec. 2015 

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

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.

Saturday, Dec. 19th: 3 p.m. Meeting of the Guatemala Mission participants at Mitzi Davis' house (7 Fairview Circle, Pomfret Center: Longmeadow Estates)

Sunday, Dec. 20th: 8 a.m. Service at the Church; 9:00 a.m. Christmas Eve Choir rehearsal; 10:15 Christmas Pageant in the Tang Center

Tuesday, Dec. 22nd: 7:00 p.m. Women's Spirituality Group meets with Jane Hale in the Library; 7:30 p.m. "Christmas Eve" Choir meets in the Choir Room

Wednesday, Dec. 23: NO Healing Eucharist until March 2nd, 2016 (avoiding the cold and dark)

Thursday, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th: 
4:30 p.m. Lessons-Carols and Eucharist with Teen Readers (Jane Hale, preacher)
9:00 p.m. Choir Warm-up
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 with Dave

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 60 pledges for $153,000. 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
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 January 20th at 7 p.m.

Buildings and Grounds John Murphy is replacing rotted windows around the downstairs chapel. Shawn Densmore/Flue Doctor has given us a proposal 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 January 25th (no cooking in December) 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!
Advent Lessons and Carols at St. John's College, Cambridge
Advent Lessons and Carols at St. John's College, Cambridge
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!