Wise Maiden Heading
Thursday Reminder 
An Online Ezine
Christmas 2015


Merry Christmas from your church! 

The light of the Christmas star to you,
The warmth of home and hearth to you,
The cheer and good will of friends to you,
The hope of a childlike heart to you,
The joy of a thousand angels to you,
The love of the Trinity,
And God's peace to you and yours always.

A Christmas Welcome c/o the Episcopal Church Near You!
A Christmas Welcome c/o the Episcopal Church Near You!

In This Reminder
This Week
Items for Consideration or Prayer
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extras!
This Week
 
Thursday, December 24th: Christmas Eve

4:30 p.m. Lessons, Carols and Family Eucharist 
Dave, worship leader; Jane, preacher; Teen readers

Leaflet can be found here

9:45: Choir meets in the Choir Room for Warmup
10:00: Acolytes begin lighting the candles

10:30 p.m. Festival Eucharist with the Choir
Dave, worship leader; the Rev. Gary Sturni, preacher

Leaflet can be found here

Friday, December 25th: Christmas Day

9:00 a.m. Contemplative Communion
Dave, worship leader

 
December 27, 2015: Christmas 1

8 a.m. Holy Communion (the Rev. Jim Kellaway, preacher and celebrant)
9:00 a.m. no Choir Rehearsal
10:15 a.m. Family Eucharist (the Rev. Jim Kellaway, preacher and celebrant) No choir, church school, teen program or nursery. 

Leaflet can be found here
Announcements can be found here
Readings link can be found here

Deadline for February Courier is January 18th

December Calendar and Schedule is found here

December Courier can be found here

January Courier can be found here

January Calendar and Schedule 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









For January! 
Special Committee Meeting on January 3rd at 11:45 (if you wish to help us look at Curriculum)

Church School picks up again on January 10th!
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!

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! 
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, January 10th. 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
Hired! Catherine Bastow has been hired to be our new Teen Coordinator starting on January 1st, 2016. Catherine has extensive experience with one of the key tasks of the Coordinator, "making arrangements" for travel, tickets and programs. Thanks Catherine! 
 
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
Christmas I: The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here
        The Gospel reading for Dec. 27th is the opening of John which when read aloud sounds more like poetry than prose. It could also be understood as a complete summary of what is to follow. John has a unique perspective among the Gospels in a number of ways. This introduction includes one of the most significant. Jesus is recognized as being an active participant in the divine nature before the creation existed. Jesus is the Word. This does not mean that Jesus is the Bible or the Hebrew Scripture. "Word" here means something far more. God created the world using God's "word" in Genesis. It is this Word that John is referring to. Jesus is the creative, active, power-filled "word of making" from before time, a Word on-going and ever-explaining and revealing the "new thing" in the present. From John's perspective the Gospel story has never ended. The Word was born among us, lived, died and is risen, active in our hearts, minds and in one another.

A Christmas "Psalm" by Merrill Ann Gonzalez can be found as a link here

For your health and healing:  
             Morning Prayer from the Iona Community in Scotland:

        
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. 

Our Guatemalan Mission group met on Saturday, Dec. 19th at Dr. Davis' house where we discussed more of the details of packing, travel and procedures. We're excited because the Vestry just voted another $1000 to spend on Safe Cooking Stoves that some of our group will be helping install when we are there.

Spirituality with Jane Hale: The Women's Spiritual Growth Group. The Next Meeting is 7-8:30 pm on Tuesday, January 26th.  A time of spiritual and faith exploration, story-sharing, and celebrating our Sisterhood!  Contact Jane Hale at jclhale@charter.net. 

Jane is taking her GOE's (General Ordination Exams) on January 4, 5 and 7: these exams are the "exit" ramps for ordination. We'd love to give her prayer support at this time! Keep her in your thoughts!

Pastoral Notes/Prayers: here is the full Prayer Chain for December 

Vestry Positions: We are already transitioning into the new year. At the Annual Meeting on January 31st we will be electing new officers (or renewing their one year terms) as well as at least 3 Vestry for the Class of 2019. At this time we have candidates for 3 Officers positions: Sr. Warden, Jr. Warden and Treasurer but do need a candidate for Clerk (a kind of Executive Secretary). We have a full slate for the members Class of 2019 as well. BUT if you have an interest in the Vestry or in the Clerk position let us know asap. Speak to Steve Adams, Dave or Peter Lusa. The Vestry is a counsel of advice, are made of members that are active in the parish, governs the use of our funds, has oversight of the maintenance of the buildings and grounds and some their use, as well as raising funds. 

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

Thursday, Christmas Eve, Dec. 24th: 
4:30 p.m. Lessons-Carols and Eucharist with Teen Readers (Jane Hale, preacher)
9:45 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. Contemplative Eucharist with Dave

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

Wednesday Healing Eucharists suspended for the winter except for Ash Wednesday on February 10th and will resume in earnest on March 2nd at 7:30 a.m.

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; Christmas 2: 8 and 10:15 Services, Dave Preacher; Jane, Worship Leader: No Church School, Teen Program or Nursery; Special Church School Curriculum Meeting at 11:45 a.m. in the Library

Saturday, January 9th: Guatemalan Mission Trip begins!

Sunday, January 10th; First Sunday after Epiphany: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 Services; the Rev. Jim Kellaway is Preacher and Celebrant; Jane is worship leader; All programs are running

Sunday, January 17th: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 Services; the Rev. Jim Kellaway is Celebrant; Jane is Preacher; All programs are running. The Guatemalan missioners return in the evening.

Christ Church Online Google Calendar 
Your Stewardship!
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. 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
Thanks to all who signed up for Christmas poinsettia memorials and thanksgivings! 

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. We voted a few items by email over last weeks including the spending of our Special Mission funds for the year on special projects for TEEG, PID (Guatemala) and the No Freeze Shelter in Willimantic as well as hiring Flue Doctor to do some chimney repairs at the Rectory & hiring Catherine Bastow as our new Teen Coordinator as of January 1st. 

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)


 

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