Welcome to Christ Church

Invitation

dickm@pshift.com (Dick Mansfield) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:48:43 +0000

This Week's Announcements

dickm@pshift.com (Dick Mansfield) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 11:49:34 +0000

“Integrity Vermont” will hold their annual Valentine’s Weekend Eucharist this afternoon, Sunday, February 12, 2012 at 4:00PM here at Christ Church. All are welcome!

Finance Committee Meeting will be held on Monday, February 13, 2012 at 7:00 PM

Sunday, February 19, 2012 will be a big day in the life of Christ Church, Montpelier. At the 10:00 AM service, we will commission the Rev. Jean Jersey’s newly painted sacred icon of Julian of Norwich. This icon was painted by world renowned iconographer, Zachary J. Roesemann of Brattleboro, VT. In addition, we will collectively “send with our blessings” Sara Baker, on a trip to Kenya so that she can make a difference in the lives of African children. Please join us for this uniquely special Eucharist.

Youth Christian Formation: The youth of Christ Church will be making fleece blankets during church school on 2/12 & 2/19. These blankets will be blessed and donated to those in need within the greater Montpelier area. Our youth are actively engaging in service projects to deepen their spiritual roots and give back to others in our community. See Elizabeth Wilcox, Director of Youth Christian Formation if you’d like to contribute or support the growth of Christ Church’s youth program.

Christ Church Vestry Meeting will be held on Tuesday, February 21, 2012 at 7:00PM at the Vermont Medical Society. If you have feedback regarding the life or ministries here at Christ Church, please feel free to attend the vestry meeting or pass along your thoughts to any vestry member.

Celebrating our call to Mutual Ministry! On Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 4:00PM, Bishop Tom Ely will lead us in a “Celebration of our Call to Mutual Ministry.” This service will honor the partnership forged between Paul, our Priest-in-Partnership, and the people of Christ Church, Montpelier. There will only be one service on this day to encourage everyone to come out and celebrate in worship and fellowship. A festive potluck dinner will follow this celebratory Eucharist so please be sure to mark your calendars!

The Prayer Shawl Ministry will meet in the Parish Hall today after the 10 am service. If you can’t stay, please stop by for a progress report and to check your contact information. New members are always welcome, as are donations of gift cards to The Knitting Studio and Joanne’s.

Prayer Calendar

St Thomas and Grace, Brandon/Forest Dale; Bishop Booth Conference Center; Iglesia Anglican de la Region Central de America; Portugal, Spain, Italy, Malta

Prayer Shawl Ministry Meeting

dickm@pshift.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 23:58:39 +0000

The Christ Church Prayer Shawl Ministry will gather in the Parish Hall after the 10:00 a.m. service on February 12. Bring your work! If you are unable to stay, please stop by and check in on shawl status and your contact information. New members are always welcome, as are suggestions of shawl recipients and gift card donations for The Knitting Studio and Joanne's.

Meet the Vestry

dickm@pshift.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 05:00:00 +0000

Paul Harrington- Sr. Warden

Paul Cunningham - Jr. Warden

Josh Fitzhugh - Finance

Dick Herrmann - Music

Sharon Winn Fannon - Secretary/Communications

Corrie Wilcox - Worship

Steve Reynes - Diocesan Liason

Erica Baker - Hospitality

Ann Bushey - Youth Christian Formation

Note: Paul Cunningham, Corrie Wilcox, and Erica Baker were elected at the 2012 annual meeting replacing Bob Uertz, Diane Holland, and Ruth Beard.

Contact information for all Vestry members is available through the parish directory or by contacting the church office.

Valentine's Day Eucharist

saracoyote@gmail.com (Sara Baker) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 15:09:35 +0000

IntegrityVT@yahoo.com

Integrity Vermont & Christ Church Episcopal, Montpelier, invite you to join us for a:
Eucharist in celebration of the Feast of St. Aelred
(transferred) and
Valentine’s Day Party

The Rev. Paul Habersang, Christ Church Priest in Partnership, will lead us in a Eucharist celebrating the Feast of St. Aelred, patron saint of Integrity USA. The Rev. Stan Baker, Cathedral Deacon will preach.

To be followed by a festive reception of sweets. All are welcome. Please bring a sweet to share. Don’t hesitate to wear your pink!

Where: Christ Church Montpelier, 64 State Street (across from the Vermont Supreme Court, next to The Inn at Montpelier)

When: Sunday, February 12, 2012
Time: 4:00

Bring: Yourself and friends as well as a Valentine’s Day dessert (beverages will be provided)

Celebration of our Call to Mutual Ministry

paulhabersang@comcast.net (Rev. Paul Habersang) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 23:10:59 +0000

January 26, 2012

Dear Members and Friends of Christ Church,

On Sunday, March 11, 2012 at 4:00 PM, The Right Reverend Thomas Ely will visit the people of Christ Episcopal Church, Montpelier to lead us in worship as we give thanks to God in “Celebration of our Call to Mutual Ministry.” This celebration will honor the partnership that has been forged between us since the Ministry Discernment Committee and the Christ Church vestry called me to serve as your Priest-in-Partnership. I firmly support the fundamentals of mutual ministry and I personally believe that as Christians in process, each of us is called to love and serve God and one another collaboratively! Because we are engaged in mutual ministry, there will only be one service celebrated on Sunday, March 11th so that everyone in our community can be together at one time.

Immediately following this festive Eucharist, we will continue with our celebration by sharing in a pot-luck meal. I hope you will mark your calendars and will make every effort to be present for this very special event!

Faithfully,

Paul Habersang

Priest-in-Partnership Christ Episcopal Church

CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR

wilcoxse@comcast.net (Elizabeth Wilcox) — Sun, 22 Jan 2012 01:13:00 +0000

CHRIST CHURCH YOUTH CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR

CHRIST CHURCH YOUTH CHURCH SCHOOL CALENDAR

Winter/Spring 2012

· January 22^nd: Lesson Day. Write letters to Kenya and work on Vision boards

· 29^th: “In Church” Youth Sunday

· February 5th: Lesson Day. Work on Vision boards

· 12^th: Lesson Day. Complete vision boards

· 19^th: Youth Service Day: Make fleece blankets for needy. Instruction by Anna Baker. Bless in Church

· 26^th: “In Church” Youth Sunday

· March 4^th Lesson Day. Pat Carruth speaks to youth about Lay Eucharistic Visitor ministry

· 11^th: Bishop Ely visits church at 4pm service. No Sunday school

· 18^th: Youth Service Day. Pat Carruth and youth bring communion to shut-ins during church service.

· 25^th: “In Church” Youth Sunday

· April 1^st: Lesson Day. Palm Sunday

· 8^th: EASTER! No Church School

· 15^th: Youth Service Day. A video-making workshop under the instruction of Daniel Hollister to later be presented to the Congregation

· 22^nd: “In Church” Youth Sunday

· 29^th: Lesson day. Work on video

· MAY 6^th: Lesson Day. Work on Video

· 13^th: Lesson Day. Mother’s day

· 20^TH: Youth Service Day. Planting of the Courtyard: Service project in thanksgiving to all to making Youth Christian formation{church school} happen this year

· 27^th: “In Church” Youth Sunday

· June 3^rd: Final day of Church School celebration and unveiling of video to the congregation.

My upcoming trip to Kenya

saracoyote@gmail.com (Sara Baker) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 00:56:34 +0000

"You know, that child doesn’t belong only to those who raise him, because one day that child will be educated, and then he will belong to the whole country, in fact, to the whole world! And his job will be to help others! So that is why he is called ‘everyone’s child’ - he belongs to all of us, even America." -Fr. Thomas, Principal, Lanet Umoja Primary School, Kenya In February of 2012, I will embark on a journey to Kenya, with a non-denominational organization called Everyone’s Child. The mission of Everyone’s Child is to “educate where there are no schools, to care where there is a great need and to connect where there is isolation”. Toward that end, Everyone’s Child has built 5 primary schools in Kenya and supports a large number of students who were orphaned by AIDS. We will be visiting these students and their teachers, bringing penpal letters, art, school supplies and a sense of connection to Moretown, Vermont – a place where children, just like themselves, have struggled with natural disaster (Moretown was hard hit by TS Irene) and who want the same things that they do – to play safely, to have friends, and to learn all they can about this great big fascinating world we share. Through the activities and songs that we share with the students at these schools, it is our hope that they will see that though there are differences in how we live and what we look like, that our hearts and minds are very much the same. Through my participation in Sudan Communion, I have come to realize how vital it is to be in Communion and prayer, with each other, as members of Christ Church and also reaching out to other communities, to connect and support each other. Because, in my opinion, kids are always the best place to start - I have visited with our Sunday School to explain what I will be doing and how it related to their current “Vision Board” creation (I dreamed of traveling to Africa as a child). I was graciously received and our children asked great questions. I was impressed with their thoughtfulness and sincerity. They have generously agreed to pray for me and for the students and teachers I will meet and are also individually considering being part of the Messages of Mercy Program. This program invites students in public or private school in the United States to write a “message of mercy” that begins “Dear Friend,” encouraging the student receiving the letter to continue working hard in order to receive a good education. Several public and private schools in central Vermont have already begun reaching out to kids in Kenya in this way, helping students in both countries to feel connected, important and needed. In addition to letters, Christ Church Sunday School will be creating a mural, depicting winter in Vermont, to bring as a gift for one of the schools to be hung as a daily reminder that there are kids who live in a place very different from theirs, that are thinking about and praying for them. Ways to help: 1. If you have a school age child or grandchild that you think would be interested in writing a letter, please let me know and I will forward you the information that details what should (and should not) be in the letter and I will personally hand carry the letter to Kenya. 2. If you have simple picture books that a child learning English would enjoy, please let me know and we will figure out how best to get them there. I will be able to carry some books and supplies in my luggage but shipping is cost prohibitive so I am somewhat limited as I will also be carrying medical supplies, but I will do what I can and would be happy to take your donations. 3. We will purchase most of the school supplies from local vendors when we arrive (apparently this is the most cost effective way) and then distribute them to the sites as we visit. If you would like to make a tax deductible financial contribution toward the purchasing of these supplies, please make your check out to Everyone’s Child and put Kenya 2012 School Supplies on the memo line. You can give it to me at church or mail to me at: 1 Kemp Avenue, Montpelier, VT 05602 4. Prayer: As more news of violence in South Sudan surfaces, I become more convinced that educating various tribes together is a promising avenue toward ultimate peace and ask for prayer for both South Sudan and Kenya as their peoples work through these issues. More information about Everyone’s Child can be found at: http://www.kidsinkenya.org/ In gratitude and anticipation, Sara Baker (the blonde one)

Artist to display during Art Walk

dickm@pshift.com (Dick Mansfield) — Tue, 17 Jan 2012 18:18:21 +0000

Artist Rosa Fink will be exhibiting at Christ Episcopal Church during Art Walk (February 10th). Her art will be exhibited in the Parish Hall Foyer that is entered from the court yard. Please contact Naomi Flanders if more info is required. She plans to be present for the duration of the Art Walk hours. Here is a biography of the artist: Rosa Fink is an artist born in 1988 living in Vermont. She enjoys reading, photography, film, and art. She received her BFA degree at Johnson State College and had an exhibition there. She works in other mediums such as collage, digital art, and photography. Art has always been a part of her background growing up, through dance, music, and writing. However, studio art has become her element. She experiments a lot with her work, through abstract and dreamlike images out of elements of nature such as leaves, sticks, and flowers. In her work she takes these overlooked natural objects and reveal their complexity allowing her to discover the patterns and forms hidden within nature. Currently living in Stowe, Vermont she still continues her work.

New Acolytes

dickm@pshift.com (Dick Mansfield) — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:14:19 +0000

One of the exciting new beginnings at Christ Church is young acolytes serving at the altar. It is stirring to see this latest generation of "saints" carry and hold the Gospel book and elevate the chalices. Rev. Paul, with his quiet coaching and directions, and welcoming attitude, is helping lead this inclusive initiative.