Dave O’Connell

Are any of you suffering?  Pray.  These words from Saint James’s epistle today are most appropriate for we New Bernians and Christ Church congregation. Today we are surrounded by suffering, loss, and pain, but we have been through disasters before.  We are a Christian community whose faith is tested in many ways throughout our lives.  We come each Sunday morning to hear the word of God proclaimed to us and to celebrate the Eucharist in this sacred space.  It is appropriate that we talk about stewardship in the midst of the disaster of Florence.  This sacred space has become a center of relief for helping people, and also to continue our church’s programs through the year. This requires leadership, and we are blessed to have to have this leadership in the presence of Paul, Cortney and Lisa who are guiding us and our community through this immediate disaster. Please take a moment to read our mission statement contained in our service leaflets. It is really lived out at times like this. In closing, I draw your attention to 1st Peter:  4:10.  “As generous distributors of God’s manifold grace, put your gifts at the service of one another, each in the measure he has received.”

Karen O’Connell

We at Christ church are a blessed people and a giving people. We give of our time, our talents and the fruits of our labors.   To most of us who worship here, this has never been more evident than now when there is such need in our community. And as we know, our parish has risen to the task of helping. Our gifts to the annual stewardship campaign make it possible to give to others in need.

Please remember all the ways that God gives and allows us to give, and give to the stewardship campaign as you are able.

Click here to read our latest publication about Stewardship at Christ Church.

2018 Stewardship Education Brochure

In early 2017, the Vestry of Christ Church commissioned a survey of the parish looking into the various demographics of who we are.

The results of that survey are available here. 2017demograhicsurvey. Individual, personal information has been omitted.

Also check out these links:

paulcastpod.libsyn.com/saul-never-became-paul-the-name-change-myth-ep-58?tdest_id=375590
and

glanier.wordpress.com/2017/02/23/no-saul-the-persecutor-did-not-become-paul-the-apostle/

May 4, 2018

Dear friends,

Alleluia! Christ is Risen!

Seven days a week, 52 weeks a year, we see Christ Church being an active and living branch of the Body of Christ. There is so much that goes on here to glorify God that one letter from me won’t be able to encompass it all. I want to share a few thoughts on some of those things for which I am exceedingly grateful in the first four months of 2018, as well as what to expect as we approach the summer months.

Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep.” – John 21:17

Two Sundays per month, teams from Christ Church provide breakfast at Religious Community Services. Around 125 people are fed each time. For many, it is the only meal they will have that day. And it is the people of this place that makes those meals happen. It takes the time and talent of the people who serve, and the treasure of the many people of Christ Church who pay for those meals, answering Jesus’ call to “feed my sheep.” To learn more about this ministry, contact David Cook at 252.702.7811 or dcook7811@gmail.com.

In the hallway outside the Parish House, we have a freezer full of food for those who could use a pre-cooked meal, whether it is after a joyful or mournful life event. I lost count of how many times in the past nine months that freezer has been emptied and refilled! Those in need have received generously from those who are part of the Christ Church Cooks, which is funded through the pledges of members of this parish. Meals are available for anyone, whether or not they are associated with Christ Church, who may be in need. To learn more about this ministry, contact Judi Dorn at 412.389.9999 or Jurdo47@suddenlink.net or Ellen Chance at 252.638.2650 or kechance@earthlink.net.

I was glad when they said to me, let us go to the house of the Lord. – Psalm 122:1

While I am always thankful for the work of the people of Christ Church, I am never more grateful than at Christmas and Easter. The many and varied talents of the altar guild, Eucharistic ministers, ushers, greeters, acolytes, and musicians made Lent, Holy Week, and Easter 2018 one of the most sacred experiences in recent memory. I have numerous letters from parishioners and those who were visiting this year who spoke to that feeling. Not only was it those groups who contributed to worship, but it was the welcoming spirit displayed by so many of you that helped make people feel at home here at Christ Church.

As I often say, there is never a dull moment at Christ Church, New Bern! Those are just a few of the ways your contributions of time, treasure, and talent allow us to be the hands, feet, and voice of Christ in the world. I could also talk about our Sunday School teachers, prison ministry volunteers, buildings and grounds crews who care the property, those who provide for coffee and goodies on Sunday mornings, our docents who welcome and give tours. The list goes on and on… It is the pledges and contributions of people like you who make these ministries happen at Christ Church. On behalf of the Vestry and staff, thank you!

If you have contributed financially to Christ Church in 2018 through check or bank draft, a record of your gift is on the back of page three of this letter. Please contact Patti Williams with any questions. If you would like to make a pledge for 2018 or need to adjust your pledge, Patti would be happy to help you with that, too.

Nave renovations this summer

Last summer, the Vestry engaged the services of contractor John Peterson to shore up the bell tower, replace the ladders in there, to paint the louvers on the tower, and to repoint many bricks on the bell tower and the Parish House building. In March, the Vestry reengaged Mr. Peterson’s company to do work in the Nave that will be more visible. The work will entail re-plastering and painting the walls and ceilings in the chancel and bay areas. In other words, all the places you see when you’re sitting in the pews and looking straight forward. It doesn’t take much looking to see where the paint is chipping, and the plaster has cracked, especially near the altar area. The Vestry has allocated $68,000 from our reserves to pay for this work.

We will still worship in the Nave during this project. Since scaffolding will cover the chancel beginning at the pulpit and lectern and going towards the altar area, Mr. Peterson will construct a platform off the second step of the chancel that comes about half-way around the Baptismal font. We will use the Stallings Table as an altar as we currently do at the 8:45am service, and we will serve Communion as we do at that service, too. Mr. Peterson knows of the needs to access the sacristy and to access the doors between the Nave and the reception area and has given every indication that it will not be a problem for us to continue to have access to those areas.

We anticipate this work to begin the first full week of June and last about two months.

Summer Schedule of Worship

And since we are talking about the worship space this summer, let’s talk about worship itself.

Our Summer schedule begins May 27^th (Memorial Day weekend) with one service at 10:00am followed by a picnic on the lawn.

Beginning June 3^rd, we will have worship at 8:00am & 10:00am. A few differences you may notice this summer:

• As has been our schedule the past several years, the 8:00am service will alternate between Rite I (1^st & 3^rd Sundays) and Rite II (2^nd, 4^th, & 5^th Sundays) Eucharist. This year, however, we will introduce music to the 8:00am service as part of the prelude, offertory, and postlude on either piano or soft organ.
• On the first Sunday of the month, we will continue our recent tradition of a 9:00am service specifically designed for young children and their families. Zach Bishop, a 9^th grader here at Christ Church, will be working with Ashley Simpson, Cliff Badgley, and me to enhance that liturgy as part of his Eagle Scout project. “Children” of all ages are welcome!
• In years past, our 11:00 “style” of worship has taken prominence during the 10:00am service in the summer, with the 8:45 “style” being on the 3^rd Sunday of the month. That will not be the case in the Summer of 2018. You may have noticed what we might call “crossover” of music at both 8:45 and 11:00 this Spring. The organ has led music at the 8:45 service on a few occasions, and Cliff, our Director of Music, has been very intentionally including music from the Wonder, Love, and Praise and Lift Every Voice hymnals at the 11:00 service. This summer, worship at 10:00am will blend the best of our traditions and practices, reminding us of both the breadth and depth of our life together and the unity of being one parish family. The singability of hymns continues to be a high priority.

I recognize that this has been a long letter, and I thank you for reading it all! I continue to be excited about the future of Christ Church, and I hope you are, too. It is my deep honor to be your rector during this time. If you have any questions or would like more information about what I’ve written or anything else going on here, please do not hesitate to be in touch with me or with any member of the Vestry or any member of my staff.

The Lord is risen indeed! Alleluia!

In Christ,

The Rev. H. Paul Canady III

Rector

                                    paulcanady@christchurchnewbern.com

The Christ Church Vestry

Kathleen Rice, Senior Warden             Kip Peregoy, Junior Warden                Betsy Jutras, Clerk
Harry Ballard                                       Sarah Buffa                                          Kirby Smith
Sam Curry                                            David Ward Jr.                                    Bill Dorn
Sheridan Holstein                                Jean Reichenbach                                 Guy Smith

The Christ Church Staff
The Rev. Cortney Dale, Associate Rector                                 Clifford Badgley, Director of Music
Ashley Simpson, Director of Children & Youth Ministries        Ellie Roberts, Director of Church Life
Debbie Fodrie, Director of Growing in Grace                           Patti Williams, Financial Assistant
Dequan Williams, Receptionist                                                 Terry White, Custodian
Daniell Butler & Gray Proctor, Nursery Staff

Upcoming Events at Christ Church
Thursday, May 10 – Ascension Day Eucharist (7:00pm; will include incense)
Sunday, May 13 – Recognition of Growing in Grace volunteers (11:00am service)
Saturday, May 19 – Ordination of Linda Murdock, Stephen Batten, and Adam Pierce to the Sacred order of Deacons (10:30am)
Sunday, May 20 – Graduating Senior Recognition and Reception (8:45am & 11:00am services)
— Choral Evensong (5:30pm)
Wednesday, May 23 – Fourth Wednesday Dinner and speaker, featuring Linda Murdock
Sunday, May 27 – ONE service at 10:00am followed by picnic on the lawn
Sunday, June 3 – Summer schedule begins (8:00am, 9:00am, 10:00am)

Good Book Club #10 from Christ Church on Vimeo.