April 3, 2014
Important Information
For more information on Easter Lilies, please click here.
Rector's Ramblings

I'm sure that by now you are nervous to read any emails from Christ Church.  So many losses in our parish in only one week's time.  Marietta Jacobson, Martha Veal, and Eloise Harrington all gone within four days, and we'll likely lose another by week's end.  I know that many of you offer prayers for the deceased and for their grieving families, and thank you for that - please keep doing so.  Yet it gets hard to deal with the constant stream of death, even if these aren't people we know well, and especially if we do.

We're quickly coming up on Holy Week and Easter, which are powerful times.  We don't particularly like focusing on the events around Jesus' death, but we do it.  The Sunday of the Passion is often referred to by its secondary name, Palm Sunday for a reason.  It's easier to think of the triumphal entry instead of the long narrative that retells Jesus' arrest, trial, and crucifixion.  But as much as we might want to turn away from it, it's important that we don't.

We cannot avoid death and the unpleasantness of life - it comes whether we want it to or not.  And, as we know, it is through the trials and pains of this life that the path to life is opened.  It is necessary to go through the Passion and through Good Friday to get to Easter.  Death gives way to life, through the work of Christ.  We can't understand death on some levels, nor can we fully understand the promise of new life, yet it remains a promise of our faith, especially in times when we are burdened by death.

Don't avoid the emails from Christ Church as much as you may want to.  Offer prayers for the deceased, prayers for the survivors, and prayers for ourselves as we give thanks for life in all its fragility.   We can give thanks for the promise of new life through Jesus Christ, whose death first opened the way of life.  We can deepen our appreciation of these promises through our commemoration of Jesus last days as we relive them in Holy Week later this month.  Holy Week can make us uncomfortable, and we shouldn't turn away from it when it does.  God continues to work through the uncomfortable events of Jesus' last days.

While you're at it, say a few prayers for Rev. Leigh.  She has been handling all of these losses while I am in PA helping my parents while my girls are on Spring Break.  She's up to the challenge, but it isn't easy, even when there's help.  I know you appreciate her ministry as much as I do.

Don't lament Christ Church, God is good, and our Alleluia's, while "away for Lent," ring true no matter the season, the day, or the loss.  Today is a day to set aside our gentle prohibition, and let our Alleluia's ring!

Tom+

 

Almighty God, we remember this day before thee thy faithful servants Martha, Marietta, and Eloise; and we pray that, having opened to them the gates of larger life, thou wilt receive them more and more into thy joyful service, that, with all who have faithfully served thee in the past, they may share in the eternal victory of Jesus Christ our Lord; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. Alleluia  

In This Issue
Quick Links
Look Who's Serving

The Episcopal Diocese of Georgia
Stay Connected
 Like us on Facebook    Follow us on Twitter   View our videos on YouTube
Worship
Holy Week/Easter Service Schedule

Holy Week Services are as follows: 

Palm Sunday, April 13th - Services will as usual, other than the 11:15 a.m. service will be in the Parish House, and will have musical selections from Jesus Christ Superstar. 

 

Monday-Wednesday of Holy Week - There will be a noon Eucharist in Christ Church. 

 

Maundy Thursday - 7:00 p.m. Service. 

 

Good Friday - Noon, Stations of the Cross at St. Ignatius' Chapel, 7:00 p.m. Good Friday Service at Christ Church. 

 

Holy Saturday - �7:00 p.m. Easter Vigil/Easter Eucharist at St. Igantius' Chapel (There will be no 5:00 p.m. service). 

 

Easter Sunday - 3 Services as usual, there will be overflow seating in the Parish Hall. There will be no Sunday Evening Service at St. Ignatius' on Easter. Due to the popularity of the Easter Services, we ask that you do no save seats on Easter Sunday.Holyweekservices

Holy Humor Sunday
Sunday, April 27th will be Holy Humor Sunday at Christ Church.
Funeral Services
The funeral service for Martha Veal will take place at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, April 3rd in the Christ Church Cemetery. This is a graveside service only.

The funeral service for Marietta Jacobson will take place at 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 3rd in Christ Church, followed by a committal service in the cemetery. There will be a reception in the Parish Hall.

The funeral service for Eloise Harrington will be at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, April 8th in Christ Church. There will be a reception following in the Parish Hall.
Formation
The Lenten Devotional Series
The Lenten Devotional Series will begin continue in the Parish Hall tonight at 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday Small Group Bible Study
The remaining lessons of the above series will resume after Easter on Wednesday April 23 and run until May 7th. Passages for study will be taken from the New Testament beyond the Gospels. As is the practice, the Study passages for pre-reading will be advised weekly in advance. Since each lesson is independent of the prior ones you can join in, and you will be welcome, at anytime. We meet in the Vestry room of the Parish House. Blessings.

Godfrey
638 8747
Women's Formation Group 

Rev. Leigh is looking to build a women's formation group that meets regularly for reflection, study, and spiritual growth. The focus of the group is yet to be determined, but could include: a Bible study, a study of specific book, or the development of a spiritual practice.  Those who are interested should email Rev. Leigh. 
Episcopal Youth Community - EYC
EYC Schedule - April & May

Sunday, April 6 - EYC Drop-in Hours (Spring Break ends)
Sunday, April 13 - EYC Meets
Sunday, April 20 - No EYC Meeting (Easter Day)
Sunday, April 27 - EYC Meets
Sunday, May 4 - EYC Meets
Sunday, May 11 - EYC Meets (Mother's Day)
Sunday, May 18 - No EYC Meeting (Rev. Leigh away)
Sunday, May 25 - No EYC Meeting (Memorial Day Weekend)
Men's Bible Study
The Men's Bible Study continues to meet in the Library each Tuesday morning at 7:30 p.m. The men will be wrapping up the Book of Luke in the coming weeks.
Lenten Bible Challenge
Here are the standings for week 3 of the Lenten Bible Challenge.

Lenten Formation Opportunities

 

+ In addition to our parish Lenten Devotional booklet and any other practices you may have, there a few more options we might suggest.  The first is a Living Compass Lenten Devotional booklet, available in the parish office.  "Renew a Right Spirit Within Me: Journeying Toward Easter with All Your Heart, Soul, Strength, and Mind," is a simple booklet that can be used for daily readings and reflections around health and wholeness.  They are free and located on the literature rack in the main office.

 

Also, if you have not encountered Lent Madness, but you like church history, Final Four brackets, or whether you just like a little humor and levity, you'll want to check it out.  Basically, historical saints of the church "compete" against each other every day in Lent to see who will win the "Golden Crown" at the end of the season.  All of us are invited to read up on the contestants and vote for our choice.  It's fun and educational at the same time, as it gives us an opportunity to learn about the saints of our church who have gone before.  You can find out more here, including a YouTube video to help explain in detail how you can participate.  Go here:  http://www.lentmadness.org/2014/03/new-to-lent-madness/    

Lenten Meditation
The 2014 Christ Church Lenten Meditation Booklet, edited by John La Boone, is available by following this link. Also, you will receive an email each day containing the meditation for that day. Thank you to Patrick Driscoll for taking the time to schedule each of those emails.
Fellowship
Passover Seder
The Passover Seder that had been scheduled for next week has been canceled.
The Susanna Wesley Guild

The Susanna Wesley Guild will meet April 22, 2014, 10:30 a.m. at the Parish House.  The date has been changed because of Holy Week schedules.

Celebration of Shared Ministry - A Music Offering

There will be a Celebration of Shared Ministry, a Music Offering, on Thursday, May 1st at 6:30 p.m. This music offering celebrating the shared ministry of our Parish Family, and  will feature our Adult Choir and guest musicians.  

Outreach
Pastoral Care: Angel Guild Members Needed
The Angel Guild of Christ Church provides meals for parishioners who have had a significant medical event, such as a hospital stay or other illness. Coordinated by Susan Imhoff, the Angel Guild falls under the umbrella of Pastoral Care. Guild members rotate the responsibility, with two members taking a month at a time. We need more people for this important ministry. If you would be interested in joining the Angel Guild, please contact Rev. Leigh ([email protected]).
ECW Collecting Gently Used Clothing
"Klara's box" is open in the PH and available for gently-used clothing that we will donate to the STAR Foundation or Goodwill.  Please remember, these items will not be shredded so make sure they are wearable and in good condition.  As the seasons change and yu update your closets around the house, please remember those who might enjoy your gently used items.
Backpack Buddies
The next backpacking session will be on Tuesday, April 15th at 10:00 a.m. They will pack in the Parish Hall.
Ministry to the Sages: Drivers Needed

Christ Church has many parishioners who are unable to drive to evening or night services or events (or at all) due to vision impairment. Our Ministry to the Sages (parishioners age 55+) seeks to connect these folks with a driver who could provide transportation to and from church for evening events or services. If you feel called to assist with this much needed ministry, please contact Rev. Leigh by calling the church office (912.638.8683) or by emailing her ([email protected]).

St. Athanasius' Food Bank

The St. Athanasius' Food Bank collection day will be this Sunday, April 6th. Please bring your non-perishable food items to worship with you that weekend.

Information
Hearing Loop

 

 

 

The following information was provided by a seasonal parishioner, David Abell. If you have hearing loss, and use a hearing aid, this information might be useful to you when you worship with us at Christ Church.

 

Christ Church, Frederica has a hearing loop installed in its sanctuary. It can be accessed directly by any person using a hearing aid equipped with a t-coil or telecoil (or having a cochlear implant) anywhere within the seating area. This is accomplished by turning on a t-switch or changing programs on the hearing aid without need for any additional equipment. By using the hearing loop, parishioners will be able to clearly hear the speakers during the services. Those persons not having a telecoil can use the hearing loop by requesting headphones from an usher.   Because the placement of the organ speakers in the sanctuary creates additional sound to that from the microphones feeding the hearing loop, users may wish to turn off the hearing loop while listening to music. In addition, some telecoils may not be properly oriented and it may be necessary to incline one's head or sit in a different area to obtain a better signal. Persons not familiar with the telecoil or t-switch can obtain further information from an usher. Most hearing aids (other than very small aids) have a telecoil. Some users may need to consult with their audiologist to turn on or adjust the telecoil or install one. 

The Rev. Dee Shaffer Update
The Rev. Dee Schaeffer has been serving St. Paul's, Jessup as a full time interim this year, and will not be able to continue to serve on some Sundays at St. Ignatius.  Join us in thanking her for her service at the Sunday night service on April 6.  Thank you, Dee, you are well loved at Christ Church!
Memorial Easter Lilies

If you wish to remember a loved one at Easter with a memorial Easter lily, please send the name, along with a check for $20, to Weezie Campbell, 13 Tanglewood Rd., S.S.I. Checks should be made payable to "Christ Church Altar Guild" and received no later than Wednesday, April 16th.  If you have any questions, please call Weezie at 638-3166.easterlilies

Altar Guild Spring Meeting

Due to the funeral, the time of the Altar Guild Annual Spring meeting hsa changed, it will be Tuesday, April 8th at 2:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. All members of the Altar Guild are encouraged to attend.

Pastoral Concerns Committee

The Pastoral Concerns Committee will meet on Sunday, April 27 from 1:00p to 2:30p in the Vestry Room. Lunch will be provided, so please RSVP to Rev. Leigh ([email protected]) so that we might adequately prepare. Please note that the previously published date of April 13th is incorrect.  

Ushers Needed
We are looking for more ushers to serve at Christ Church services. Please consider signing up for this important, welcoming ministry. If you are interested, please contact Glenn in the office, who will get you connected with the usher team.
The ECW Needs Your Help
ECW teller team is almost complete but we sure could use a few more hands to count the cookbook proceeds on Monday mornings. If you have about an hour or hour and a half to spare and can lend us a hand, we sure would appreciate the help.  We are trying to get about 10-12 on the teller team so that we will have duty every 4-6 weeks.  Please let the office know if this is something you might like to do.
The Live Poet's Society
The Live Poet's Society would love to have anyone who writes poetry or is interested in writing poetry join us for our monthly meetings.  We have lost several members and need to build our number back up.  Call me at 638-2717 for more information.
Thanks,
Angie Burns
Vi Fluentis Children's Choir PJ's Concert

The Vi Fluentis Children's Choir PJ's Concert with Dinner will be 5:45 p.m. on Friday, April 25th. For more information, please contact Kathleen Turner ([email protected]).

Pastoral Care
Prayer Needs

Calendar of Events
Serving This Week

 

Saturday, April 5, 5:30 p.m. - St. I

      Charles Lamkin - Altar Guild

 

Sunday, April 6, 8:00 a.m. - CCF

      Anna Belle Friedman - Altar Guild

      Paul Salter - Chalice Bearer

      Paul Salter - Lector - First Lesson

      Lee Dyson - Usher

 

9:15 a.m. - CCF

      Maggie Holt - Acolyte - C

      Chris Holt - Acolyte - TB

      Alex Kellogg - Acolyte - TB

      Maryalice McDonald - Altar Guild

      Sandy Storino - Altar Guild

      Catherine Holt - Chalice Bearer

      Jody Bradford - Chancel Master

      Margie Dorsey - Lector - First Lesson

      Bud Dorsey - Lector - Second Lesson

      Linda Allen - Greeter

      Phil Allen - Greeter

      Oscar Covington - Usher

      R. Wayne Martin - Usher

 

11:15 a.m. - CCF

      Kathleen Chitty - Acolyte - C

      Lynn Nazzaro - Altar Guild

      Jean Webley - Altar Guild

      Te Turner - Chalice Bearer

      Jim Crankshaw - Lector - First Lesson

      K. Martin Worthy - Lector - Second Lesson

      Diane Ansley - Greeter

      Henry Ansley - Greeter

      John Killgallon - Usher

 

5:00 p.m. - St. I

      Marjorie Downes - Altar Guild

      Susan Shipman - Altar Guild

      Paul Salter - Chalice Bearer

      Paul Salter - Lector - First Lesson

      Paul Salter - Lector - Second Lesson 

This Week at Christ Church

Morning Prayer is held at St. Ignatius' Chapel at 8:00 a.m., Wednesday - Friday.

Evening Prayer is held daily at Christ Church, Frederica at 5:00 p.m.

 

*Unless noted otherwise, all events take place at Christ Church

 

Thursday, April 3, 2014

11 a.m. - Martha Veal Funeral

2 p.m. - Marietta Jacobson Funeral

 

Friday, April 4, 2014

11:30 a.m. - Healing Service

 

Saturday, April 5, 2014

5:30 p.m. - Worship at St Ignatius

 

Sunday, April 6, 2014

St. Athanasius Food Bank Donations

8am, 9:15am, 11:15 a.m. - Worship at Christ Church, Frederica

10:15 a.m. - Coffee Hour

10:30 a.m. - Sunday School for All Ages

5 p.m. - Worship at St. Ignatius

 

Tue, April 8, 2014

7:30 a.m. - Men's Bible Study

11 a.m. - Eloise Harrington Funeral

2 p.m. - Altar Guild Spring Meeting

2 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. - Handbell Choir Rehearsal

 

Wednesday, April 9, 2014

4 p.m. - 4:45 p.m. - Chorister Rehearsal

6 p.m. - 7:30 p.m. - Lenten Series

Christ Church, Frederica | (912) 638-8683 | [email protected] | http://ccfssi.org
6329 Frederica Road
St. Simons Island, GA 31522

Copyright � 2013. All Rights Reserved.