Rector s Reflections. Inside this issue:

Similar documents
SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Vestry Elections Sun., Dec. 13th, 9:00am 2:00pm Parish Hall

SANCTUARY. Rector s Reflection. Calendar. September Birthdays. Prayer List. Newsletter of St. Alban s Episcopal Church, Elberton, Georgia

OPENING PRAYERS FOR ADVENT SERVICES

AN UPDATED LETTER FROM OUR RECTOR

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Memorial/Burial Services for Mr. Man (Church Cat) Sun., Aug. 5, 9:15am

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Blessing of the Animals & Celtic Music w/he. 16th Anniversary of Hispanic Congregation

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Set your clocks ahead one (1) hour Lenten Dinner & Program (Parish Hall)

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru UPCOMING EVENTS Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Dec. 11 & Dec. 12

The Way of St. J. Faith. Service. Teamwork. Friends. St. James Episcopal Church Fremont, CA

UPCOMING EVENTS Thrift Shop Thank-You dinner Wed., Nov. 14

Diocesan Narrative: Christ Episcopal Church, Rockville, Maryland

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Worship Service at Church of the Common Ground Sun, July 15, 12:30pm

NEW ORGANIST & CHOIRMASTER

Position Description Outline The Episcopal Diocese of Newark

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Advent Wreath Making *N Parish Hall

Grace and peace, Marc Peña Lead Pastor

The Prescription. Spirit Filled Sabbatical Time From Sandi+ Seeking to bind your wounds and heal your soul

ADULT CHRISTIAN EDUCATION OFFERINGS

This is our Church. Let s do God s work together!

St. Peter s Episcopal Church Kerrville, Texas

Welcome to Our Mother of Perpetual Help Parish

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru Sun., 11-27, 9:15am Parish Hall *N Childcare is available in the Nursery (enter from the Parish Hall).

Newsletter of Trinity United Methodist Church July 2012

Appeal Sunday Presenter Manual. Table of Contents

LIFT! Living in Faith Together FAMILY FAITH FORMATION PROGRAM

E-Newsletter November 16-22, 2018

THIS WEEK IN MISSION AND MINISTRY

the illumination news from Saturday, October 11 a.m. Inside this Issue

E Newsletter November 23 29, 2018

St. Philip s Episcopal Church

4. HOW ARE YOU ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO ALLOW GOD'S WORD TO SHAPE THEIR PRIORITIES AND ACTIONS, AND TO NUTURE CONSTANT LEARNING AND THE LIFE OF THE MIND?

815 Wilmot Road Deerfield, Illinois

Missional Opportunities First Presbyterian Church, Greenville, SC

St. Andrew s in the Pines Episcopal. Parish Profile

Community Portfolio Information

E Newsletter December 7 13, 2018

WE WELCOME INTO CHRIST S FLOCK THROUGH THE SACRAMENT OF HOLY BAPTISM ( 10:00am )

TRINITY PARISH NEWSLETTER JANUARY, A message from the Interim Rector

SANCTUARY. Rector s Reflection. Calendar. December Birthdays. Prayer List. Newsletter of St. Alban s Episcopal Church, Elberton, Georgia

E Newsletter November 2 8, 2018

A New School Year Prayer

A Booklet of Lay Ministries for 2014 at King of Peace Episcopal Church

E Newsletter November 9 15, 2018

PARISH RELIGION PROGRAM and

SONGS OF PEACE & THANKSGIVING Hymn Festival THIS Sunday, Oct. 16, 4pm

Ministry Portfolio. Grace Church, Camden, Upper South Carolina. Full Portfolio (last updated Sep 16, 2016)

PARISH PASTORAL PLAN. Mary, Star of the Sea Parish

First Presbyterian Church of San Jose 49 N. Fourth St., San Jose, CA (408)

The Road to Damascus December, 2014

Straight Talk A newsletter of life and ministries at St. James Episcopal Church

Summer Ends and School Year Begins

Let the word of Christ dwell in you

Church at the Crossing Senior Pastor Opportunity Profile DRAFT v4 Indianapolis, Indiana June 2017

Loving To Our Neighbor Bishop s Annual Telephone Follow-up Manual. Bishop s Annual Appeal Follow-up Process

Christ Church Rector Search Results from Parish Conversation Cafés

Looking Forward A message from the editor

St. Andrew s Episcopal Church

PLEASE TAKE THIS BOOKLET HOME WITH YOU.

In this issue. Newsletter Deadline

Shamrock News. Notes from the Pastor by Fr. Jim Angert, T.O.R. Families In Service. Symbolon. Lectio Divina. Faith Formation Ministry Highlights

The Missive January 2019

Home Again Sunday. In This Issue. Schedule. September 2014

2019 Ministry Teams Catalog

Lance Ousley Essay Question 1: What is it about the Diocese of Nevada that excites you and draws you to accept our invitation? (500 word maximum)

Experience the Hope of Jesus Christ September Grace and peace,

Commission Leadership Directory Religious Education Program Preschool Program Youth Ministry Program... 5

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting Emmanuel Episcopal Church February 18, 2018

OPPORTUNITIES TO BECOME INVOLVED AT ST. PIUS X PARISH

Parish Profile. Episcopal Church of the Resurrection. of the. Centerville, Utah

Announcements for the week of June 17-24, 2015

Diocese of Marquette Increased Offertory Program

MINISTRY PLAN 2018 FOR I KNOW THE PLANS THAT I HAVE FOR YOU. Jeremiah 29:11

Fair Oaks. Presbyterian. Church

CONNECTING FAITH WITH EVERYDAY LIFE

Calvary Episcopal Church. Strategic Plan FINAL. Calvary Vestry 11/22/17 Final

from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace.

Community Ministry Profile St. John s Episcopal Church, McLean, VA January 1, 2019

A Note From Pastor Kacey

heritage highlights Mark 6:30-43 (NRSV)

HANDBOOK FAITH FORMATION. Church of Saint Joseph. 12 West Minnesota Street Saint Joseph, Minnesota 56374

SPECIAL EVENTS FOR thru

From the office of the CLAY Coordinator. Members of the Executive Board Jonathan Davis SUBJECT: CLAY Report #5 DATE: Thursday June 30th, 2016

Corpus Christi Catholic Church 300 N. Tanque Verde Loop Rd Tucson, AZ (520) Fax (520) NEW SUNDAY MEET UP TIMES

St. Gregory of Nyssa Episcopal Church Narrative Budget The one thing truly worthwhile is becoming God s friend

The Saltire. Rally Sunday! September 17 at 8:30 and 11 a.m. Our celebration of faith, family. baptismal vows and launch our program year.

Grace Abounding! 1. Quoted from a response

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH 216 Sunset Road Willingboro New Jersey (609)

Crossroads Connection Prison Ministries 2009 Annual Report

Our Mission Action Plan 2015

2015 Vision Plan OUR GUIDING TEXT

Special February Events!

TRACYTON TIDINGS. Tracyton United Methodist Church February Newsletter. March Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat PASTOR S LETTER.

Editor Note: All notes will be given to Allen in their entirety. The following are some excerpts. Thanks for sharing.

Ministry Portfolio. St. Boniface Episcopal Church, Southwest Florida. Full Portfolio (last updated Feb 16, 2016)

Trinity-By-The-Cove Episcopal Church, Southwest Florida. Cash Stipend Housing / Rectory Detail Utilities $30000 $7500. budget

NOVEMBER 16, 2014 THE TWENTY-THIRD SUNDAY AFTER PENTECOST THE GENEROUS COMMUNITY

St. Bartholomew s Episcopal Church Profile 2014

Fort Sill Catholic Community Using Our Time and Talent to Fulfill Christ s Mission

Grace Episcopal Church Walker s Parish

P A. April 4 8 Spring Break Tift County Schools. May 5 National Day of Prayer. May 8 Mothers Day. May 8 Senior Adult Day. May 21 Armed Forces Day

Transcription:

September 2014 Christ Church : E Page September 2014 Volume 37, Issue 9 Rector s Reflections Inside this issue: Stewardship TNT 2 Pledge Update 2 Walking in Love with Christ Church Parish Picnic and Games 4 What is Foyers All About? 4 What s in the Bag? 5 Summer Closeout Sale 5 Parish Retreat 6 Lounge on the Lake Photos 7 Rainbow Village: The Blessings Are Great Transitions 9 Beth-Sarah Wright, Ph.D. to Speak at Christ Church Book Bag Thank You 11 Sandwich Sundays Spread the Love Update on St. Joseph's School in Haiti 3 8 9 12 14 Outreach Updates 15 Come & See Sunday 16 Fragility Last Friday I seized a bit of time to dig around in the flowering plants that live on my back deck. To be honest, I was on a rescue mission for my zinnias since they have recently been besieged by our hound dog puppy, Scout. My husband, David, has yet to remember that the deck is not an appropriate place for puppy time out. There is simply too much stimuli out there for him to employ. Because they thrive in hot sunny places, the zinnias like my back yard. But, when they are dug up from the roots and laid bare upon the sweltering deck, their good fortune is compromised. So, in an effort to revive them, I set out with trowel and watering can to see if any were salvageable. Zinnias are by stature tall and lanky. Their lively, vivid faces reach up into the sun s light, making the whole lot of them a riot of color. Sadly, the ones lying on my deck had fallen pale and lifeless. Although their survival was doubtful, I decided to replant them anyway. As I carefully placed them back in cool, moist dirt, it was necessary to provide props to help them stand up. Once I had completed my part in the task of their survival, I surrendered them to the nurture and care of Mother Nature. The morning after I had replanted, I noticed that the zinnias were looking a slight bit greener, though they were still dependent on the props. By the following day, they were even a bit stronger. And on the third day, they were well on their way to recovery, able then to stand alone. The zinnias, once fragile and vulnerable, are in recovery now. However, the cause of their demise still lurks about until their nemesis, the dreaded hound, grows to maturity. We are not unlike those zinnias. God plants us in this earthly soil, amidst all manner of grace and threat. And, there is for us a fragile balance of all the right things: nourishment, meaningful work, someone to love who loves us back, a faith community for support and growth. When we have these things, we can bloom into a riot of color. But, if we get dug up by malevolent forces, if the fragile combination of our supporting elements is disturbed, our well-being is threatened and we often fail to thrive. Because they are woven deeply into the fabric of everyday like, we are apt to take our life-giving elements for granted. We forget how vital they are to our lives, or (Continued on Page 10)

Page 2 Stewardship TNT Time and Talent It's Dynamite! Stewardship encompasses all that we do to bring God to those around us. The Stewardship Commission is pleased to announce a new section in this publication! It will be called Stewardship TNT Time and Talent It's Dynamite! and it will highlight those who give generously in so many ways to make this church function on the myriad of levels that we do. Next month, watch for the highlights of two such people. If you know of someone that should be noted, please send their name to Joyce Proctor (joycehproctor@ gmail.com) or Daphne Gary (daphnegary@bellsouth.net). Then he said to his disciples, The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest. Matthew 9:35-38 Joyce Proctor is a monthly publication of Christ Church Episcopal 400 Holcomb Bridge Rd. Norcross, GA 30071 770-447-1166 The Rev. Ceci Duke Rector The Rev. Jody Greenwood Associate Rector Christian Education & Youth The Rev. Juan Sandoval Deacon Judy Moore, Editor newsletter@ccnorcross.org Deadline for submissions is the 10th of each month for the following month s issue Pledge Update My sources inside the Church Office tell me that over half the people who submitted pledges for 2014 are currently behind in their payments. Most of the amounts are not great, but they do add up to over $40,000. Obviously this is a cause for concern. Normally in any discussion I have about stewardship my emphasis is on its positive effect on the spiritual growth of the giver. I also emphasize the importance of giving of one s Time and Talent. Today it s about Treasure. If you have been on vacation all Summer and have gotten behind on your bills, please submit your overdue pledges on Sunday and disregard this article. But if you think you have come up with a better use for your money than staying current on your pledge, please consider all the marvelous services Christ Church provides its parishioners and the Norcross community every day. Of course, God will continue to love you, whatever you choose but we could really use your contributions. In His Name, Charlie Post

September 2014 Page 3 Walking in Love with Christ Church Reflecting on this Summer s rewarding, heartfelt moments, I feel blessed to be part of Christ Church. During these moments, I was engaged with my Christ Church friends and fellow parishioners in the larger community, bringing me closer to God and causing my heart to overflow with Christ s love for us. Our Christ Church community came together providing and assembling over 150 lunches for Rainbow Village children. In Christ, we took the walk with other faith partners to assure children of Rainbow Village were adequately nourished for their Summer day camp. As I recall our Christ Church children writing notes, joyously decorating and filling those lunch bags, my heart overflows with Christ s love for us. In Christ, we took the walk engaging in simple arts and crafts, outdoor games, song and percussion music parades, snacks, and a picnic lunch with children at Norcross Cooperative Ministry VBS [Vacation Bible School]. As I recall the children s smiles, a game of Hokey Pokey, and a rainbow, my heart is delighted and overflows with Christ s love for us. In Christ, we took the walk making sandwiches and then more sandwiches for those in need in our larger Atlanta community Emmaus House, Nicholas House, and Church of the Common Ground. [See the related story on Page 12.] Knowing our Christ Church family comes together to serve others, my heart overflows with Christ s love for us. In Christ, we joined together in the Nave watching our incomparable Christ Church Players in the glorious production of Some Enchanted Evening. They shared not only their talent, but also their joy and love of Christ with us. And as I recall the costumes, amazing music, songs, comedic lines, and faces, and the reception afterwards, my heart overflows with Christ s love for us. As I consider all of these wonderful moments and our engagement with one another this Summer, I know I am the one shown Christ s love in greater measure. Thank you Christ Church friends for helping create these memories, this path, and walking with me in Christ. Preparing lunches for Rainbow Village Mary Halliburton VBS at Norcross Co-op Photos: Bruce Halliburton & Jody Greenwood Sandwich Sunday

Page 4 Parish Picnic and Games Mark your calendars for Sunday, Sept. 7 for the Parish Picnic after the 11am (combined) service. FUN! GAMES! FOOD! FELLOWSHIP! Organized by the Stewardship Commission and Parish Forums, with fun and fellowship fuelled by YOUR participation. All you need to bring are yourselves and your enthusiasm!! And if you are so inclined there is a sign-up sheet in the Parish Hall to help with setup and cleanup tasks on PICNIC DAY!! Contact Mary Halliburton at mmhallib@comcast.net or 404-433-5529 for more information. What is Foyers All About? Foyers is about organized small groups of adults that share a simple meal and fellowship together on a roughly monthly basis. And that is ALL that it is about FELLOWSHIP! Foyers has a long and rich tradition at Christ Church and our goal is to reenergize the program, making some minor tweaks in recognition of today s busy lifestyles that make it easier to participate. Larger groups (8-10) so the fun goes on even if someone can t make it! Emphasis on a SIMPLE meal (dinner, lunch or brunch) that keeps the hurdle low for the next host! Seriously, soup, salad, and sandwiches are excellent menu choices! With the agreement of everyone in the group, patronizing a local restaurant is also an option! Or, take those sandwiches on a picnic! Starting in October and running through May for maximum scheduling flexibility, particularly around the holidays. For those who aren t sure (or are understandably suspicious about the definition of simple ), let us know that you just want to try it out and we ll make sure that you are included in a group for at least one or two meals. Open to all adults couples and singles. Sign up will begin Aug. 31 Sept. 14 in the Parish Hall after the 10:30am service, OR contact Kristie Bernard at kbernard11@hotmail.com or 678-691-4264 for more information.

September 2014 Page 5 What s in the Bag? Over the past year, you may have seen some of our Newcomer s committee members giving out red bags to our first time visitors. These bags are part of the welcoming ministry of the Growth Forum. Inside, our visitors will find a welcome letter from the Newcomer s committee, some sweet treats, a small gift, and information about the Episcopal church and CCE s youth and children s programs. Most of our recipients are surprised by this gift, and it is fun to see their pleased reaction. It is our hope that this intentional effort to make our visitors feel cared for will result in the growth of our church. Would this be a way you might like to be involved at CCE? Extending a smile and introduction to our visitors as well as a fun, red bag? If so, then the Newcomer s committee welcomes your participation! You don t even have to be a part of the committee to join this fun. The bags are stored in the sideboard located in the Narthex. Feel free to grab a bag and introduce yourself to a firsttime visitor! Do you enjoy making things or doing crafts? Would you like to participate in the creation of these bags? If so, please contact Annette Broomfield at growth.ccenorcross@gmail.com. This is an easy and fun way to join the effort to make our church a WELCOMING CHURCH to all who enter our doors! Photo: Annette Broomfield CHRIST CHURCH THRIFT SHOP SUMMER CLOSEOUT SALE! Aug. 26-Sept. 6 50% off ALL Clothing & Merchandise * Sept. 9-13 BAG SALE $5.00 per bag Sept. 16-18 Closed for restocking Sept. 20 REOPEN with Fall and Winter Fashions * Jewelry and Case items are excluded from entire sale OPEN: Tue., Wed., Thurs., Sat. 10:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m. 400 Holcomb Bridge Rd Norcross, GA 30071 770-447-1166

Page 6 Parish Retreat: Sept. 19-21, 2014 at Camp Mikell Going Deeper: Connecting afresh to God and each other Why go on a retreat? Why not? Why not schedule time for yourself in early fall to get away to beautiful north Georgia with your church community? If you have been fortunate enough to experience a weekend at Camp Mikell, you know the feeling that you have when you return home. You may recall feeling rested, yet energized, peaceful yet excited, with memories of a wonderful weekend. I recently saw on the news that camp for adults is increasing in popularity! People want to experience the outdoors, zip lines, climbing walls, ropes courses, sports, hiking, fishing and campfires. No multitasking, no carpooling, no cell phones, no emails... In our busy lives, it is important to schedule time to tend to our spiritual lives. This retreat promises to do just that. Jim and Carol Shores of Acts of Renewal (actsofrenewal.com) will provide a spiritually refreshing weekend. Their dynamic presentations will offer us a unique opportunity to experience deepening of our faith through all our senses. Christ Church, with our own Christ Church Players, is passionate about theatre. What a better fit for our congregation than Acts of Renewal! Jim and Carol have delighted audiences all over the country. They are real, accessible, and funny. This retreat will provide a fresh experience that will stay with you long after you return home. The parish weekend is family friendly! Activities are planned for children and youth during the weekend. NOTE: The youth are also having a retreat within a retreat where the 6th- thru 12th-graders can stay in a cabin together (separate from their parents). They ll participate in the dynamic and engaging program provided by Carol and Jim Shores, and then have their own discussion time, games, and fellowship. Youth should contact The Rev. Jody Greenwood to let her know they plan to come to Camp Mikell and join in the fun! Think about it. Pray about it. Experience it. Please contact Beth Holland in the Church Office ASAP to make your retreat reservations and choose the unit in which you and your family would like to stay (770-447-1166 ext. 222, or office@ccnorcross.org). Leslie Freeman

September 2014 Page 7 Lounge on the Lake: Men s Group Retreat Photos Eighteen men had a great time at our annual Lounge on the Lake Retreat, held on Aug. 9, 2014. This year it was hosted at Bo O Kelley s place on Lake Lanier. The weather was supposed to be rainy but there was no rain during the time we were there. Thank you, God. Deacon Ed Fuller conducted two-hour sessions on Making Room for God in Your Life. We swapped stories, drank a little beer, and ate prime rib burgers, ribs, and more chips than you could imagine. We took a couple of rides on Bo s pontoon boat to see a little of the lake. We are a group of guys at Christ Church who get together to grow spiritually through Sunday morning classes and special quarterly events. We build lasting friendships by working side by side on service projects and just plain having fun at many get-togethers like hiking, watching football, or team Tavern trivia. Our guiding quote is The Men s Group builds relationships, relationships sustain organizations period. If you are 16 years or older, you can be part of the group. Just contact one of the board members (click here for the Men s Group Brochure on the church website) to get on the email list. Ben Pitman Photos: Bruce Halliburton

Page 8 Rainbow Village: The Blessings Are Great Photo: Rainbow Village Rainbow Village (rainbowvillage.org) began as an Outreach ministry of Christ Church as Rainbow House. Rainbow Village is a transitional housing community for homeless families with children. When I rejoined the Rainbow Village staff in November of last year, I thought I had a pretty good idea about what goes on at the Village. After all, I served as a volunteer beginning in 1995 and then as a part -time employee from 2000 2004. In the intervening years I kept track of Rainbow Village through my church. I visited the after school program with a Girl Scout troop. I supported the program through backpack drives and book fairs, but I hadn t visited the current campus until last summer. I was astounded by the growth in the facilities and by the expansion of the program, and I could only imagine the transformations occurring in the lives of the Rainbow Village residents. I must confess that I continue to be astounded each day. In 2000, it was rare to receive more than a few phone calls a day from those seeking assistance. Contrast that to last week, where over the course of two days, we received 24 requests for assistance from families who are currently or soon to be homeless. Not only have the numbers of those in need of housing assistance increased, but Rainbow Village has also become quite visible. Conduct a search on the internet for homelessness in Atlanta and Rainbow Village is often one of the first listings. Social service agencies in metropolitan Atlanta send us referrals on a daily basis. The need is great, far greater than I imagined. In 2000, it was also rare for someone to come to our office door unannounced and bringing donations. We were still a newcomer in the service community. Today that is far from true. We are blessed through our partnerships with churches, businesses, service organizations, and individuals. We receive donations of much-needed items every week... nearly every day. We have a loyal following of Angels who support us with monthly cash donations. I am amazed at the outpouring of love that envelops Rainbow Village: children asking their friends to honor birthdays by giving to Rainbow Village, churches committed to monthly service by providing meals before our evening program, business people calling and asking simply, what can we do for you, what do you need? and countless individuals, who learn of our program and feel compelled to give of their time and their talents. The giving is great, far greater than I imagined. In 1995, Rainbow House was a fledgling organization committed to helping homeless families with children yet learning each day how best to help those families. By the time I left in 2004, Rainbow House had become Rainbow Village, Inc.; we d grown from a single house turned duplex to a village of eight homes in Norcross and an expansion to Duluth was imminent. During my (Continued on Page 10)

September 2014 Page 9 Transitions Baptism Margot Ruby Pearson, daughter of Kevin Charles Pearson and Mary Rebekah Pearson, on Aug. 3. Deaths Beresford ( Ittie ) Melrose Taylor, a Christ Church congregant at the Parc at Duluth, on July 23, 2014. James Beauford ( Beau ) Scarbrough III, who served Christ Church for over 20 years as Organist-Choirmaster, on Aug. 8, 2014. Beth-Sarah Wright, PhD to Speak at Christ Church Dr. Beth-Sarah Wright, wife of diocesan Bishop Robert Wright, will be guest speaker at Christ Church on Monday, Oct. 27 at 7pm. She has written a couple of books on depression and is a frequent speaker of that topic and others. Dr. Wright will be appearing at the regularly scheduled meeting of our Stephen Ministers group. They would like to share her talk with the rest of the parish, so the meeting will be held in the Parish Hall and all are invited. She has been asked to speak on the topic, How Can Stephen Ministers Help Care Receivers Suffering from Depression? They have read her book on her battle with depression, Me? Depressed? Dr. Wright will also have copies of her book with her and will be glad to have a book signing. Dr. Wright has a PhD in Performance Studies from New York University, a BA from Princeton University in sociology and Afro-American studies, and an MPhil in anthropology from Cambridge University. She has worked as a college professor, teaching expository writing at NYU, and serving as the director of the African Diaspora and the World program at Spelman College, Atlanta. She is currently a writer (of 3 books) a poet, an inspirational speaker, and she leads retreats on spirituality and healing. She s been married to The Rt. Rev. Robert C. Wright for 16 years and they have five children. Read more about Dr. Wright on her website, bethsarahwright.com. Stephen Ministers are congregation members trained to offer highquality, one-to-one Christian care to people going through tough times. A Stephen Minister usually provides care to one person at a time, meeting with that person once a week for about an hour. Twice a month, Stephen Ministers gather with their Stephen Leaders for supervision and continuing education. Judy Moore

Page 10 Rector s Reflections (Continued from Page 1) we become so absorbed in a frantic cycle of survival in a consumerdriven world, that before long, we find ourselves as lifeless as uprooted zinnias on a scorching deck. Among those life-giving elements so often taken for granted is our faith community. Unlike a corporate job, or teaching position, we don t have to attend church. In fact, because we are so drained from the weekly routine, it just seems good and right to stay home on Sunday and rest. Whereas the practice of the stay-athome Sunday is a nice indulgence on occasion, it does not substitute for the practice of worship which shapes and forms us in ways in which we are only dimly aware. A faith community is more than a prop. It is a life force without which many flail about. A faith practice in community keeps us honest. It keeps us connected as the One Body in whom Christ is the head. I have no doubt that I will be out on the deck before long to replant more zinnias. It is a reminder to me that God keeps replanting and replanting in us for as long as it takes until we find our home in him, our true stature. Ceci + Rainbow Village: The Blessings Are Great (Continued from Page 8) tenure, the offices grew from one room, to two, to an office suite, to a wing of offices to accommodate the needs of the resident families. Our after school program and evening programs were in their infancy, staff members were being added to better serve our families and community recognition was rising. Due to the generosity of many, we now occupy our current campus and are poised to expand yet again with much-needed additional homes and a Community Center. It is both daunting and exciting to be a part of this expansion. It is above all a bless- ing to be both a witness and a recipient of the transformation that occurs within this village. The blessings are great, far greater than I imagined. Holly Moore Parishioner Holly Moore is the Administrative Assistant at Rainbow Village, and previously served as Publications Assistant from 2000 2004. This article appeared in the Rainbow Village e-newsletter on July 29, 2014 and is reprinted by kind permission of the author.

September 2014 Page 11 Book Bag Thank You Thank you to everyone who purchased a book bag and school supplies for our Hispanic children. On Sunday, Aug. 3, the students were presented with their bags, and then they lined up by age and processed into the 1pm Hispanic service, where they and their bags were blessed. The book bag program began five years ago, when we decided to help our Hispanic students who needed school supplies. The Norcross Cooperative Ministry (NCM) donated about 30 book bags filled with supplies, which we distributed to the children. However, many of our students do not live in the ZIP Codes assisted by NCM, so the following year we decided to collect and distribute the bags and supplies our- selves instead of collecting supplies and giving them to NCM, we would help members of our own church. That year we had 34 names of children needing help. This year we had 65 names, and each child who needed help received a nice new book bag and supplies. Thank you to everyone who brought in a book bag. It is a good thing for a child to start the new school year with all they need. The children were very excited when they received the bags and each child wrote a thank-you note to those who donated. The notes are on a table in the Parish Hall for you to pick up. Nicki DeVillier Photos: Bruce Halliburton

Page 12 Sandwich Sundays Spread the Love The Church of the Common Ground thanked Christ Church on their Facebook page for the sandwiches. Hunger doesn t take the Summer off. All those children who benefit from meal programs during the school year are left to find other ways to fill this need during the Summer months. Many area outreach programs know this all too well, and increase their meal offerings during this time of year, and we wanted to help. We designated the third Sundays of this Summer as Sandwich Sundays at Christ Church, and used the Sunday School time (9:15-10:15am) to spread the love by making sandwiches, and talking about the issues of hunger and homelessness. In June we made sandwiches for Emmaus House, an Episcopal ministry empowering families in the Peoplestown community of Atlanta, near Turner Field, to move beyond poverty. in July we made sandwiches for Nicholas House in Atlanta, a transitional housing facility providing housing and programs to homeless families. And last month we provided sandwiches for Church of the Common Ground, a worshipping community of our Diocese made up of and for the homeless of downtown Atlanta. Thank you to all the children, youth and adults who participated in making and delivering the sandwiches! Judy Moore Homeless worshippers at Church of the Common Ground pictured with sandwiches made by Christ Church. Photo: Church of the Common Ground Christ Church volunteers made 25 loaves worth of sandwiches for Church of the Common Ground. Photo: Jody Greenwood

September 2014 Page 13 Co-op VBS was a Big Success! Christ Church is one of about 12 area churches that participated in putting on Vacation Bible School (VBS) for the Norcross Co-operative Ministry on selected days this Summer, and provided lunches, snacks, and Tuesday night dinners for the children whose parents were waiting in line and being served by the Coop staff and other volunteers. This year Christ Church conducted a VBS with a FIESTA theme (Where Kids get Fired Up about Jesus) for Norcross Co-op on three Tuesday evenings in June and July, and one Saturday in July. (See the related story and photos in the July issue of on our website, and an additional photo on Page 3 of this issue.) The Men s Group provided a picnic lunch for the VBS program on Saturday, July 12. Coordinator Mary Halliburton received a thank you note from Norcross Cooperative Ministry Children s Ministry for helping with the Vacation Bible School program. Many thanks to all who volunteered: Carolyn Collins, Ceci Duke, Nancy Emery, Mary Ann Fair, Deborah Fuller, Jody Greenwood, Bruce and Mary Halliburton, Erin Hart, Piper Justice, The Men's Group; Audrey Posmer and her children Kevin, Steven, and Marissa; Dwalu Tay, and Leslie Wengenroth and her children Dominic and Roni. Judy Moore Photos: Ben Pitman & Bruce Halliburton

Page 14 Update on St. Joseph's School in Haiti St. Joseph s School Photo: Terry Franzén Christ Church supports St. Joseph s school in Jasmin, Haiti by funding the salaries of the teachers and staff, as well as funding the supplies, equipment, books, uniforms, and shoes for the students. The parents who can, pay tuition, also. Since our involvement began, the school has grown from 120 to 500 students, pre-school through 8th grade. Plans are to add the 9th grade soon. I want to share Pere (Father) Kerwin s email to me when we wired the most recent donation for the school. He shared some very exciting news: the school is growing again, and 29 of our 32 8th-graders passed the national exam! Dear Terry, Terry Franzén Greetings to you and the people of Christ in the Name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Through these lines, I would like to thank you for all your unconditional love and support to the community of St Joseph s. As usual, your financial support has been tremendous to us, because without it would be quite impossible for us to keep the school running. So in the Name of all the people of St Joseph s, and in particular the teachers staff, I would like to say a big thanks to you. We are so grateful to you and all the donors who have committed themselves to supporting St Joseph's school. As you know last year, we got to the 8th grade and all the students have succeeded for the 9th grade. So we received so many requests that like St Philippe's, we are planning to add the 9th grade to answer positively to the parents and students request. So we don't want to be too much exaggerated, because we are aware of all the efforts that you have done so far to support us, but would it be possible for you to think of [adding] an additional $200 to your monthly support to the school so that we can complete our budget for the new school year with the 9th grade added? Thanks in advance for considering our request. School will be resuming on the first week of September. According to the officials, we have done so well on the official exams of the sixth grade this year. Only 3 of 32 have failed the exams. This is a real success for the school, so we are so proud of it and so grateful to you at Christ Church. May God continue to bless our partnership for His great glory. Shalom, Kerwin+ Save the date Pere Kerwin will be with us at Christ Church on Sunday, Oct. 5. Let s give him a warm Southern welcome!

September 2014 Page 15 Outreach Updates Send a Child to School! Try and buy delicious Haitian Coffee the first Sunday of each month. Your purchase supports the school at St. Joseph s, Jasmin, Haiti. Vitamins Needed for Fall Trip Improve the health of the children in Jasmin, Haiti by donating children s vitamins with iron [NOT gummies, they melt] for our October mission trip. It s amazing how something so small can make such a huge difference in the health of these kids. Place your donations in the basket in the breezeway. Thank you! ERD Aiding Ebola Crisis in West Africa Episcopal Relief & Development [an international relief and development agency and a compassionate response to human suffering on behalf of The Episcopal Church] has increased its support for the response efforts of the Episcopal Church of Liberia to the worsening Ebola outbreak. Additional funds will enable the Church to continue promoting accurate information via local radio, including facts about Ebola prevention and recommendations for how to treat sick people and the deceased. The support will also enable the Church to deliver increased food and medical supplies to hospitals and local Ebola Task Forces in four counties: Grand Cape Mount, Bong, Lofa, and Rivercess. In Bong County, Phebe Hospital affiliated with Cuttington University, an Episcopal institution is providing medical care and food to approximately 500 people in quarantine at its facility. Without sufficient supplies of protective equipment, health workers are at risk, and seven staff have already died from Ebola. However, the hospital remains the best equipped institution in the area to deal with the outbreak and serve as a center for humanitarian response. To enable Episcopal Relief & Development to respond to crises like the current Ebola crisis in West Africa, please donate to the Disaster Response Fund. Please mail donations made by check to: Episcopal Relief & Development, P.O. Box 7058, Merrifield, VA 22116-7058 or go to the website www.episcopalrelief.org/what-youcan-do. Karen Swenson ERD Rep, Christ Church Halloween for Haiti: Save the Date! Saturday, Oct. 18 Halloween for Haiti, our annual haunted walk and Fall carnival, will be here before we know it! Pony Patty Bingo! Find out details in the next issue, and make plans to attend this year s Halloween for Haiti to participate.

Page 16 Christ Church Episcopal invites you to Come & See Sunday Sept. 7, 2014 10:00 10:45am* *Holy Eucharist is at 11:00 that day, followed by the Parish Picnic Get a glimpse of the Children & Youth education planned for the year! On Come & See Sunday we open the doors of all the classrooms that your children and teens will be attending on Sunday mornings at 9:15am at Christ Church, as well as Children s Worship at 10:15am. We hope you will come on Sept. 7 to see the classes, meet the leaders, and learn more about these offerings! Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Education Wing Atrium I Atrium II Atrium III Children s Worship 3 years thru 1st grade 2nd & 3rd grade 4th & 5th grade 3 years thru 5th grade Youth Center Rite 13 (Disciples) J2A (Pilgrims) Sr. Youth (Missioners) 6th & 7th grade 8th & 9th grade 10th thru 12th grade