The Courier

August 2003

Volume 56, Issue 8

 

OUR NEXT STEP

 

During this month of August, I will be taking vacation time to do a few chores around the house and to get away for some rest and relaxation. I hope everyone else is able to do the same, if not this summer, then at least at some point during the year. It is terribly important that, in spite of the great needs that confront us daily, we take time to restore and recharge. We will be of no value to anyone, if we become to fatigued that ministry loses its energy and enthusiasm. The word “enthusiasm” by the way, comes from the Greek which means to have God within us: en theos. Therefore, enthusiastic ministry is the only kind we are interested in.

 

Son, all too soon, September will be here, and the busy rounds of school and work will return. At Christ Church, the choir will reconvene, children’s education will start up, and Adult Forum will return, albeit in a slightly different format. Our Capital Projects Team hopes to have all the permits and approvals in place to begin the actual work on our “Grounds that Beautify” segment of the capital campaign. And, one other very important and related ministry will start to become more visible.

 

Sally Vasse and Ginna Moore have been working with Jr. Warden John Colclough to take the next step in our strategic plan. As the capital projects are completed, and we get our physical plant better situated for parish growth, we then need to turn our attention to the growing church. Sally and Ginna have gathered a “Welcoming Team” which has started to sketch out plans for welcoming and incorporation members. John has decided that when he serves as Sr. Warden he would like church growth to be the major focus of his year, which starts on January 1, 2004. The Vestry is also getting into the act, restructuring itself so that at least four of its members will provide leadership at the Vestry level for growing the parish.

 

Why grow the church? Why do we need more people here?

 

I would like to offer a crucial starting point for church growth. Many look around Christ Church and say how nice it would be if we had more people to help with our ambitious ministries. We need more Sunday School teachers. We need more reading partners for Climb the Beanstalk. We need more volunteers at the homeless shelter. We need more people who will make a financial pledge. However true we may believe the statements above to be, they do not represent compelling reasons to grow the church.

 

In my opinion, growing the church is not for “our” sake, but for “their” sake. If we go after new people in order to make our work easier, or to lower our financial commitment, no one will join us,…or not too many. If however, we share the new life of the resurrection, which is very strong in this parish, and our joy in serving our neighbors near and far, and if we invite others to join us for their sake (for the new life it will bring them) and for the sake of furthering the reconciling ministry of Christ, most will find it irresistible.

 

We need to get our welcoming house in order. We need to attend to clear and informative pew cards. We need to follow up with those who visit us and are interested. We need to genuinely greet people who come to the church for the first time. We need to do all the other inviting and welcoming details so that the “stranger” feels at home here. But at the heart of the welcoming is a desire to connect the new life in Christ with the lives of human beings. Christ is the one who heals, and saves and restores. We have been entrusted with the honor and responsibility to share Christ with the world.

 

 

Michael

 

 

A NOTE FROM GOD

August 4           Psalm 78:1-29              Nehemiah 9:16-20                    Romans 8:35-39                       Matthew 14:13-21

July14              Psalm 29                      Jonah 2:1-9                              Romans 9:1-5                           Matthew 14:22-33

July 21             Psalm 67                      Isaiah 56:1(2-5)6-7                  Romans 11:13-15,29-32          Matthew 15:21-28

July28              Psalm 138                    Isaiah 51:1-6                            Romans 11:33-36                     Matthew 16:13-20

 

NEWSLETTER DEADLINE

The DEADLINE for the September “Courier” is Sunday, August 18. Please bring items to the parish office, or you may e-mail articles to me at christchurch@mindspring.com

 

Thank you!

 

Michele Haynes

 

TAKE ME OUT TO THE BALLGAME

HUDSON VALLEY RENEGADES GAME

The annual Christ Church Renegades outing will be on Wednesday, August 14, 2002. They are playing the Staten Island Yankees.

Tickets are $13.00. The price includes a meal of: hamburgers, hotdogs, cheeseburgers, beans, chips, fruit and soft drinks.

We will meet up at Christ Church at 5:15pm and car pooi it to the Game. The picnic starts at Dutchess Stadium at 6pm. The game itself starts at 7:11pm James Monteith will have tickets on Sundays and Michelle will have them during the week. Make your check payable to Christ Church. Cash will also be accepted. James Monteith is organizing the event. Call him at 339-0881 if you have any questions.  It is a fun event - rain or shine!!!

 

MUSIC AT CHRIST CHURCH:  SUMMER 2002

Christ Church will host two days of the third annual Hudson Valley BachFest on August 10 and 11.  There are two concerts on Saturday at Christ Church.  The afternoon concert begins at 3:30 p.m. and features the BachFest Chamber Choir performing Cantata 106 and Jesu, meine Freude.  Choir member Carol Lundergan will also sing the Wedding Cantata.  The evening concert begins at 7:30 p.m. and will feature choruses and arias from the St. Matthew Passion sung by the BachFest Choir, conducted by Laura Ramsey Russell, and accompanied by a professional orchestra.  The choir includes 75 adult members from all over the Hudson Valley, representing 48 choral groups: 16 community choirs, 21 religious choirs, and 11 school or college choruses.  New this year is the BachFest Children’s Choir, a group of more than 30 young singers aged 8 to 17.  They will join with the adult choir for portions of the St. Matthew Passion.  For the concerts, there is a suggested donation at the door of $7.00.  Christ Church will also hold a “Bach Service” on Sunday morning, August 11, at 9:00 a.m.  This Eucharist service will include hymns by Bach and, following the service, there will be an extended Postlude Concert of instrumental and vocal music by Bach.  For more information about the programs, call Laura at (845) 485-1648 or visit the website at www.hudsonvalleysocietyformusic.org.

 

SUNDAY SCHOOL REGISTRATION

September is just around the corner, and Sunday school classes will begin before you know it.  Did you know that you can register your children for our Sunday school program on-line?  You can access the Christ Church website (www.christchurchpok.org) and click on the "Sunday School" link, where you'll find information about our different Sunday school programs.  Click on the on-line registration form link, complete a separate form for each child, and your children will be enrolled ... quick and easy! 

 

We look forward to working with your children this coming year.  If you have any questions about the Sunday school programs or about the on-line registration form, you can call the church office at 452-8220.

 

Carol Lundergan

 

CHRIST CHURCH SUMMER CAMP - 2002

We are still accepting contributions for Christ Church Summer Camp 2002, in session from July 1 through August 9. We have planned an exciting summer, but we need your help to make it happen. This year we face a special challenge; the free lunch program is not available locally during either the first or last week of camp. Can you help? We need donations to buy food for these two weeks, as well as contributions to cover materials, scholarships, and special activities. Contributions of any size are appreciated! We also need drivers for special activities and volunteers to assemble simple lunches. If you are available, please contact Michele at the Church Office.

 

Thank you!

 

The Summer Camp Committee

 

FROM THE CAMP DIRECTOR

Greetings from the Christ Church Summer Camp!  We are approaching our fourth week of operation and are having a great time.  In our four weeks, we have already gone on three field trips: sailing on the Hudson River, learning at the Norrie Point Environmental Center, and playing at the Children’s Museum.  We are looking forward to the coming weeks for more camp fun and excitement!

 

Torry Walley, Camp Director

 

 

FROM THE WARDENS

At the July meeting, the Vestry:

  • deferred final action on the Sexual Misconduct Policy pending further information about legal ramifications;
  • heard about a bequest to Christ Church from Bob Raymond’s estate;
  • heard about a plan for a joint celebration with St. Paul’s of the first Eucharist of that parish;
  • discussed steps to be taken in conducting the Capital Campaign during the fall of 2002.

 

Phyllis George, Senior Warden

 

 

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