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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.

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry: Christmas Greetings 2015
Presiding Bishop Michael Curry:
Christmas Greetings 2015


Camdyn Grace Tiffany was born on December 29th and weighs in at 4 lbs 11ozs. Here's a photo. Congratulations to Carissa and Craig (and Nathan) Tiffany.


In This Reminder
This Week
Items for Consideration or Prayer
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extras!
This Week

Saturday, January 2nd: Epiphany Party

A thank you party for your work during the year, at the Carters (the Rectory) starting at 5:30 p.m.

 
Sunday January 3rd: Christmas 2

8 a.m. Holy Communion (Dave, preacher and Jane, worship leader)
9:00 a.m. no Choir Rehearsal
10:15 a.m. Family Eucharist (Dave, preacher and Jane, worship leader) No choir, church school, teen program or nursery. Church School Curriculum Meeting in the Library, starts at 11:45 a.m.

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

Deadline for February Courier is January 18th

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)

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to All!  Thank you for your continued commitment to Christ Church School.  I hope you all are enjoying time with family and some real rest and relaxation.  
I wanted to take a minute to make sure you all know what is going on for January into February.  (Note these dates!)  

Jan. 3rd- No church school or nursery.  (Fr. Dave and I will meet with our Vestry liaisons after church to choose new curriculum for Lent.)  

Jan 10th- Jan G. will do an all-group Godly Play Epiphany lesson downstairs.  (We may not need all shepherds, but if one or two of you can help out, that would be great!) 

Jan. 17th & 24th (CHANGE!) Epiphany activities: "Guiding Stars" activity alternating with a Heifer Intn'l Geography workshop.  I am going to do the Geography workshop myself, but I need someone to lead the story/craft on both Sundays for "Guiding Stars". Anyone interested??? (It's very simple!) 

There will be a Church School Committee Meeting on Jan. 24th after church to share new curriculum discuss plans for Lent!  Please try to join us!

Jan. 31st & Feb. 7- Amy Landis has volunteered run the Lego "John Baptizes Jesus" workshop, alternating Sundays withEITHER a Heifer Intn'l video workshop (easy) OR a Godly Play Baptism lesson (training required).  I am still looking for someone to run the latter workshop on those last two Sundays!  Anyone???  (I'm open to other suggestions if someone has an appropriate lesson or activity of their own to offer...)

Heifer 'Read to Feed' outreach wraps up at the end of January. Lent begins Feb. 14th, which is also President's Day weekend. 

We hope to have a special Scout Sunday service on February 21st, for which the children (gr. 1-5) will be in church for the service.  

I hope this gets everyone oriented for the new year in Church School.  Please confirm that you have received this message so I know I have your current contact information correct. It would be great if anyone would like to help out with the two vacancies for volunteer leaders...  I am around to answer questions (860-928-2155) or pass along materials if anyone would like!  Hopefully we won't have any 'snow days' :)
Looking forward to hearing from you,
Nicole

We kicked off our "Read to Feed" for Heifer International.  Here is the link to our Christ Church School Team's home page. 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.

We have 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)
 
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.  

Catherine Bastow
catherinebastow@sbcglobal.net
cbastow@rectoryschool.org
Items for Consideration or Prayer



First Take
Christmas 2: The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here
         We're choosing the Gospel reading from the second chapter of Matthew for this Sunday, Jan. 3rd. It's unique to this Gospel, the visit of the 3 Magi who arrive mysteriously from the East and just as mysteriously depart. Seeing them as 3 "Kings" is really a later tradition adopted all over Europe and passed on to us. It's probably based on an appraisal of the luxury of their gifts. Instead Matthew calls them "Magi" - "Wise-Ones". They are represented as sky-watchers and even better, sky-interpreters for they follow this "star" or as the Gospel indicates this asterism or heavenly event, maybe a comet, and understand it's significance as a signal of a great birth. What's more they then act on their observations. They follow the star. It can be hard enough for anyone of us to perceive deeper moral dimensions but then to take a risk and respond in a positive way? That's another matter entirely. 

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, January and February.

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

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.

Sunday, January 24th: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 Services, Contemporary Worship at the 10:15; Jane is Preacher, Dave is Celebrant and Worship Leader

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 2016. 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! Please pick up your poinsettia on January 10th. Thanks

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 which we've approved and waiting for completion. 

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!

Amahl and the Night Visitors: G. C. Menotti
Amahl and the Night Visitors: G. C. Menotti
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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