Wise Maiden Heading
Thursday Reminder 
An Online Ezine
Lent 2016
    
     From Last Sunday: Here is the contact information for the private World War II museum, 508-651-1944 or email, director@museumofworldwarii.org. 

     Wonderful News for Jane Hale: She was admitted as a Candidate for Holy Orders as of last night! This is the next very important step and paves the way for ordination to the transitional diaconate (3 months or less?)!

     An important Word from all of our Bishops (national): Can we ensure the safety of some while rejecting the hopes of others?

     Updates: Scaffolding in moving into the church today, tomorrow and Monday so the cleaning can begin.  

     Passion Sunday Procession: At the 10:15 service this Sunday we will assemble in the Great Hall, and then those who can, will process out (cross, readers, choir, clergy, parishioners) down the road (on this side of the street), cross over to the "pomfret corner" and there bless the palms. Then we will cross back again and return, to begin the service and church school/teen programs. It is a Christian Witness. If Jesus can walk the Via Dolorosa perhaps many of us can too, in a symbolic way!

P.S. This is all "weather dependent"!
In This Reminder
This Weekend
Items for Consideration or Prayer
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extra: Stan & Ed
This Weekend

Sunday, March 20th: Palm Sunday
8 a.m. Holy Communion (Dave, worship leader, celebrant; Jane is preacher)
9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal
9:15 a.m. Chapel resumes in April (not sure where yet)
10:15 a.m. Contemporary Family Eucharist (Dave, worship leader, celebrant; Jane is preacher) Choir, Church school, Teen program and Nursery.  Team for Coffee

Leaflet with Announcements can be found here
Readings link can be found here 
Try this link to our Google Calendar
Here is a link to the hymns coming up through April 3rd

Deadline for April Courier is March 21!
 
March Courier with Calendar/Schedule is 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


This Sunday, 
We will be wrapping up our Moses Chronicles workshops (gr. 1-5) and Faces of Easter (Godly Play) following the Palm Procession which will begin in the Great Hall this year, go outside (keep your jackets on!) and down to the "pomfret green" for the Blessing of the Palms, and back to the church!   

Henri Bessette will be shining shoes to raise money for Heifer International during coffee hour.  Bring your "Sunday Best" in preparation for Easter, but know that he can even clean your athletic shoes!

If you have thought about helping out with fun activities for grade-schoolers downstairs, here is your chance!  After Easter Sunday, we will be trying out our new lectionary-based curriculum, "Feasting on the Word".  All of the message/lesson content will be given during the chapel time, and materials for related activities will be prepared in advance by the director for you!  All you need to do is bring your own sense of curiosity and fun and arrive a little early (9:45am) to help make the sessions 'go'.  Check your calendar and please let me know if you have a Sunday or two to be present to help out. No prior teaching experience is required, just a willingness to share time with the children in an authentic way, knowing that you will learn as much from them as they will from you! ("Shepherds" are still very welcomed and needed on Sundays as we adjust to the new approach.)

We are looking for helpers with the Easter Eggstravaganza, and could use your help!  Please sign up with Nicole if you are able to be present on the day to help out in some way, or could drop off baked goods (large plain sugar cookies for decorating or decorated cupcakes). 

You will find a poster and signup sheet for this event on the Church School bulletin board, or you can see me or Amy Landis if you can help out in some way or would like more information.  We hope to see many of our youth at this event, including teens (who are always welcomed to participate and help out!)

Here is your personal invitation to the Eggstravaganza always at 10 a.m. on Holy Saturday (and includes a telling of the Easter Story using Beulah Land felt figures)

Here is how you can help out with the Eggstravaganza. All we need to make it another fun event. 

Here is a  copy of the Church School Schedule coming up!

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! 

J2Aers: Starting to look at the Pilgrimage Sites. Please check the Wonder Voyage website to consider the options. Meets in the their regular space this Sunday.

J2A Parents meeting on the Pilgrimage in the J2A space during coffee hour!

YACers: "Confirm not Conform" session 4 in the LIBRARY.... 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
Passion Sunday: The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here
         The whole progress of the services this Sunday leads us to walk with Jesus as he goes from welcome and high expectations to ignominious torture and execution. It's a journey that many have taken in the past, a journey that many take today. It parallels the Via Dolorosa, an actual walk through Jerusalem that pilgrims still can do. It has some uncomfortable parallels to the way we've treated many of our temporal leaders. Can you think of some?

Here's a link to reflections on the readings:
                     is the Textweek Page for Passion Sunday
         
LentenWords: A Journey Together
Christ Church, Jane Hale and other churches in the area are working together on a "Lenten" collaboration. We've set up a new Facebook page called LentenWords there is a word posted everyday to all who have friended the page. Here is a link to LentenWords

A Lenten Study/Conversation around Science and Faith using Krista Tippett On Being interviews. this Monday March 21st: Exoplanets and Love, Science that connects us to one another at 6:30 p.m. at the Rectory (Dave hosting). A possible showing of the movie, Interstellar, might be included with time and interest. Feel free to check out the OnBeing website directly!

Our Diocese is reorganizing in an important way that affects us. The Diocese is now split up into Regions. We are in the Northeast Region (Deaneries are gone). Jane Hale is one of two leaders from our NE Region that is helping pull our 20 something churches together as new group. More can be read at this link. We will need a number of us to attend the first organizing meeting on April 22-23. 

Partners in Development, our trip coordinator for Guatemala, has just put out their newsletter for the late winter.  Here  is a copy! PID is having their yearly gathering on Sunday, April 3rd in Ipswich, Mass. Note information in the the Newsletter.

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, March 22nd.  A time of spiritual and faith exploration, story-sharing, and celebrating our Sisterhood!  Contact Jane Hale at jclhale@charter.net. 

Pastoral Notes/Prayers: is the full Prayer Chain for March and April.

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, March 20th, Palm Sunday: 8 a.m. and 10:15 services. Jane is preacher, Dave is celebrant/worship leader. The 10:15 service begins in the Great Hall. We process to "pomfret corner" and then return for the liturgy. Holy Week begins!

Monday in Holy Week, March 21st: 6:30 p.m. Science and Faith at the Rectory: Exoplanets and Love: Science that connects

Tuesday in Holy Week, March 22nd: 7 p.m. Women's Spirituality Workshop

Wednesday in Holy Week, March 23rd: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist

Maundy Thursday, March 24th: Taize'-style Table Eucharist: 6:00 p.m. at the Rectory (Soups & Breads). There is room for all.

Good Friday, March 25th: Our plan still is that the Chartres Labyrinth will be available all day until 9 p.m. in the Great Hall for a Pilgrimage Walk; the Good Friday Liturgy will be at 6:30 p.m. in the Great Hall as part of our Labyrinth observance.

Holy Saturday, March 26th: 10 a.m. The Eggstravaganza and the telling of the Easter Story in the Great Hall as well as outside; Rectory School Easter Chapel at about 4:00 p.m. (at the Tang Center)

Easter Sunday, March 27th: 8 a.m. and 10:15 Services. Jane is Worship Leader; Dave is Preacher 

Wednesday, March 30th: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist followed by B-fast at the Bean

Sunday, April 3rd: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 Services 
The Vestry Planning Meeting starts at 12 noon.

Christ Church Online Google Calendar 
Your Stewardship!
Thank you for your generosity!

Stewardship: Visions and Ventures
It's that time; The Pledge Materials are available HERE as a downloadable copy of the written brochure. And HERE is a pledge card for 2016. Our goal is 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
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 the Planning Meeting beginning with Lunch on Sunday, April 3rd (no meeting in March)

Buildings and Grounds John Murphy has finished the outside foyer door on the church.

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 March 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! Under African Skies
Under African Skies: Nine6teen on 3.13.16
Under African Skies: Nine6teen on 3.13.16
Dave Carter
Christ Church Pomfret
(Box 21) 527 Pomfret Street 
Pomfret, Ct. 06258

Feel free to contact us: christchurchpomfret@gmail.com

 
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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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