Keeping the Faith, August 17, 2023

Dear Ones,

First, thank you to everyone who took part in Hank Emerson’s funeral on Tuesday. It was a fitting send-off for a wonderful human being. It was so good to look out into the crowd of faces and see so many members of our church family.  I am glad to be back with you after a couple of weeks of vacation. I return with my mind set on the opportunities for worship, education and outreach ahead of us.

Worship

Caroline Leonard has again offered to host an outdoor service at her place. We had such a lovely time last year, I am inclined to say yes, but the Sundays of summer are rapidly fading away. I wonder if there is interest in gathering there on Sunday, September 10? I know it’s a little late for swimming in the pool (unless we get a heat wave) but it should still be warm enough to be outside. We will be using the Season of Creation liturgy, so outdoor worship is particularly appropriate.

Is there interest in (re)forming a choir for Sunday worship? We have tried a few times, post-COVID, but it’s been difficult to get any momentum behind it—which is too bad, because we have some very gifted musicians in our midst! When I first arrived 9+ years ago, choir met in the late afternoon on a weekday to review the hymns and practice an anthem. When Susan took on the job of music director, rehearsal was moved to just after worship, and I think that was less effective. I am open to hearing your ideas about how to rebuild our choir over the coming months.

Education

The Thursday morning Zoom book study will resume soon. The first book of this new season is JESUS, A  New Vision by Marcus Borg. For more information, including the time and Zoom link, be in touch with Br. Matthias Tanner (br.matthias@gmail.com or 998-5654) or Doug Wall (dougwall90@gmail.com or 583-2994)

The Isaiah study will resume in September as well. Possible times to meet: Thursdays at 11:00, Friday mornings after 9:30. Please let me know your preference.

Some of our Chapel Kids have reached an age when I think they would benefit from more of a youth group model of Christian Formation: a place to ask questions, talk about the challenges of becoming/being a teenager in this world…or eat pizza and play frisbee golf, if that’s what they want to do! It is also an opportunity for them to invite friends to get to know our church family outside of a worship service, which can feel strange to someone who hasn’t grown up with it.  I wonder if there are a couple of volunteers who might help me create some opportunities for fellowship and formation geared toward their interests and questions. I am open to the timing and frequency: one Sunday evening a month? Every other Wednesday after school? What works?

Outreach

For anyone interested in developing the outreach funding application, please let me know which of the following dates/times you could meet (it can be a hybrid Zoom/in-person gathering):

September 6 in the afternoon                                                September 7 after 11:00 AM

September 14 after 11:00 AM                                                September 20 in the afternoon.

Whew, that’s a lot to consider! I look forward to hearing back from you all. In the meantime….keep the faith,

Nancy+

THIS SUNDAY’S READINGS

Genesis 45:1-15   *   Psalm 133   *   Romans 11:1-2a, 29-32   *   Matthew 15: 21-28

BIRTHDAYS AND ANNIVERSARIES

Bonnie Trundy 8/31   *   Jose and Carolee Garcia 8/22   *   David and Nancy Mering 8/25

CREATION CARE TIPS

Four weeks ago, I wrote about climate change and current disasters. The next week’s article began a four-week series focusing on that same topic and the four headlines quoted in it.  Now that Nancy is back, we’ll resume that topic. 

Al Gore said looking at the natural disasters occurring simultaneously over the Earth’s expanses was, “Like taking a nature hike through the Book of Revelation.”  I had to check that out!  Chapter 8 seems to be at least part of what he was referring to.  It’s some very interesting reading, with “peals of thunder, rumblings, flashes of lightning, and an earthquake,” then came “hail and fire mixed with blood, and it was hurled down on the Earth.  A third of the Earth was burned up, a third of the trees were burned up, and all the green grass was burned up.”  The entire chapter is a whopping thirteen verses; I highly recommend reading it, but probably not as your bedtime story.

So, what can we, our Christ Church family,  do to reverse the damage humans have been doing to the Earth, making it look like something described in the Book of Revelation? 

I know that most of us have made many changes for the better in the last decade or more, but there’s more we can do. Write to our congressional representatives, at both the state and national levels, letting them know this is a number one priority; make earth-friendly decisions when shopping; drive less by combining errands and by choosing better routes. (Did you know Google Maps gives directions that are the most fuel efficient path from point A to point B?); perhaps put up with sweat stains on our shirts, and forgo the air conditioning on 80 degree days, saving it for days that are 83 and above;  button up the draftiness in our homes in the next month or two, saving gallons of oil and oodles of dollars; and exploring Vacationland’s parks for picnics, hiking, and sightseeing.

Are you willing to share with our Christ Church family your successes, ideas, and dreams for making this world less like the Book of Revelation and more like the Garden of Eden?  We’d love to hear from you!

– Patty

Hurt not the earth–neither the sea–nor the trees. Revelation 7:3

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Diocesan Flag  As part of the diocesan move to increase visibility around the state, we have received a diocesan flag. Now we need to decide where to hang it! It is designed to be weather-resistant. So the next time you’re around, especially if you are driving by, think about where that flag would make the most sense. You can add your thoughts to the sheet on the bulletin board across from the office, or email them to christchurchnorway@gmail.com.

MINISTRIES LIST

This week:

Lector 1:             Jill Cunningham                                                                                Nancy Mering

Lector 2:             Allison Long                                                                                      José Garcia

Acolyte:              Doug Wall                                                                                        Patty Watts

Euch. Minister:   Allan Crane                                                                                      Patty Watts

Ushers:               Holly & Jeff Stuhr                                                                 David Mering

Altar Guild:         Jan Wall & Allison Long                                                        Jan Wall & Allison Long

Coffee Hour:       Holly Stuhr                                                                                       Melisa Sprague

Counter:             Jeff Stuhr                                                                                          David Mering

Church Closer:   Jeff Stuhr                                                                                          David Mering