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Thursday Reminder 
An Online Ezine
Lent 2016

       Innovation comes to our Church! That's right, the Episcopal Church of CT is re-engineering, re-imagining, re-creating itself in a bold, new fundamental way! The driving issue is WHERE IS GOD AT WORK IN OUR WORLD? The Church is reorganizing to encourage you and me, its parish members, to participate more fully in the needs and ministries of our area. By building new connections among parishes, we can better leverage our efforts and impact in the ways we are called towards God's mission of reconciliation and restoration. HOW THIS WILL ACTUALLY WORK IS UP TO US. A  Convocation to explore our reorganizing with a focus on ministry will be held Friday evening and Saturday, April 22 and 23, in Ashford. ALL OF US ARE INVITED TO ATTEND. (Dave is going, I am going) This is our chance to be represented in these formative discussions! More information can be found at this link. Thanks, Lindsay Paul


      Updates on the interior of the church: There is a good chance that we will be back in the church on Sunday, April 10th. If so, we will be doing a special blessing at the start of each service... probably involving some blessed water & a kind of re-consecration! Cleaning is going very well. Photos:





In This Reminder
This Weekend
Items for Consideration or Prayer
Coming Up
Your Stewardship
Housekeeping
Extras:
This Weekend

Sunday, April 3: Easter 2
8 a.m. Holy Communion (Dave, celebrant & preacher; Jane is worship leader) Coffee: Jan & Bill
9:00 a.m. Choir Rehearsal
9:15 a.m. Rectory Chapel in the Great Hall
10:15 a.m. Family Eucharist (Dave, preacher and celebrant; Jane is worship leader) Choir, Nursery, Church School and Teens all in session. Silver Team for Coffee

Leaflet can be found here
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 May Courier is April 18th!
 
April 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 are starting our new Feasting on the Word curriculum which has a different format and includes tie-ins to what we're reading upstairs (Lectionary-based). Our theme for this week is "the Peace of the Lord".

If you have thought about helping out with fun activities for grade-schoolers downstairs, here is your chance! 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've reposted an invitation to a qualified person who might be interested in becoming an Asst. Director in the Church School. See the Announcements this Sunday for more details. Link is here

Thanks to all those who have volunteered to help out with the Eggstravaganza this Saturday as well as to those who are considering training for Godly Play!

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! Meeting every Sunday!
The Rite-13ers are also working on the Vine and Branches photo directory project! 

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 and young people. Here is the link that Ginger emailed to everyone. It's an overview of the North American pilgrimages. Check it out.

YACers: "Confirm not Conform" continues in April.... 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
Easter 2: The full text of the readings can be found at the Lectionary Website here
        On Easter the reflection hinged on these words, "Take another look". It's such a part of John's Gospel. So many of the stories and conversations ask us to "take another look" because there is something more going on than meets the eye or the ear. In a parallel way, "revisiting", having a second or even third event in the same place is also a theme. It's part of Thomas' story this Sunday where Jesus makes two visits with the disciples in the upper room, the first when Thomas is absent, the second when he is there. Each visit has a different theme, each a wonderful richness. The first stresses the new responsibility of the band of followers to be "Jesus" for others. The second stresses the way in to that apostolic life, our new trust in the Risen One.

Here's a link to further reflections on the readings:
                     the Textweek Page for Easter 2

Our Regional Convocation is now scheduled for April 22nd and 23rd. Our Diocese is reorganizing in an important way that affects us. See above. Lindsay Paul has become a point person as well. More can be read at this link. 

Partners in Development, our trip organizer 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. BTW, the group of Christ Church parishioners who went in January is now thinking of returning about the same time in 2017. Think about joining us.

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, April 26th.  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, April 3rd, Easter 2: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 Services 
The Vestry Planning Meeting starts at 12 noon with lunch in the Library.

Wednesday, April 6th: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist followed by B-fast at the Bean

Sunday, April 10th, Easter 3: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 services. Hale Baptism at the 10:15 service. Jane is preacher, Dave is celebrant and worship leader. These services may very well be back in the church!

Wednesday, April 13th: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist followed by B-fast at the Bean

Sunday, April 17th, Easter 4: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 Services. This is a Contemporary Music Service and possible Church First. 

Wednesday, April 20th: 7:30 a.m. Healing Eucharist followed by B-fast at the Bean

Friday-Saturday, April 22-23: Northeast Region Convocation in Ashford

Sunday, April 24th, Easter 5: 8, 9:15 and 10:15 services. Possible Douglass baptism at the 10:15 service.

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. Other items still needed include replacing the Library windows, replacing the door on Dave's office which has "sprung open". We need to build a utility closet around the furnace in the church to prevent any soot issues in the future. The front steps of the office building need either repair or a more extensive replacement. Other larger items looming are a possible bigger repair to our organ not related to the soot which includes foot pedals and stops. We've also detected a weakness in the upper Rose Window during the cleaning that needs attention asap.

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 April 25th 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
In case you did not see it. Here is Cliff Buttermark receiving a medal from the Republic of South Korea for his role in that conflict. It is being presented by Rep. Joe Courtney



Easter Opening Anthem & Hymn
Easter Opening Anthem & Hymn
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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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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