Welcome to
Christ Episcopal Church!
|
Christ Episcopal Church is an open, inviting, and affirming place of worship, mission and Christian formation. We believe in blending the great traditions of our church with a fresh, modern, contemporary approach to the Gospel.
All are welcome.
|
|
4TH ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT FESTIVAL
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 30th
|
THE VESTRY VOICE
_________________________________________________________________________________________
October 2016
|
Each month when we meet as a vestry, we ask three questions:
- What is going well?
- What needs improvement?
- Who needs thanks/attention?
This month the Pet Blessing went well, we have added a fourth acolyte, there is now a hospitality sign-up sheet for coffee and snacks after the 10:30 service, and we have some new additions to the wall in the hallway of the education building. Go take a look and thank Cindy Wells for putting all those banners up on the wall. They look really awesome! We can also thank Josiah Macfoy for mowing the extensive grounds, Diana Hiebeler for Family Game/Fun Night, and Sherrie Hill and the Roots teens for providing a delicious lunch last Sunday.
I cannot possibly list all the exciting happenings at Christ Church or thank everyone who needs thanks, but I will share with you a couple of things in particular that caught my attention during our October vestry meeting (you can read the vestry meeting minutes, usually posted on the bulletin board in the library, and soon (one hopes!) to be online).
The first thing that caught my attention is our October 30th fifth Sunday workday in Jonestown, as we are invited to not go to church, but instead to go out into the world and share God's love with our neighbors. We will meet back at Christ Church for lunch together! I love having lunch together! I also love sharing God's love with our neighbors, but I have a lot to learn about loving others as God loves us and I am grateful for this life to get to continue to learn about God's love and to have the opportunity to share with the world everything that God has created me to be and all the blessings that I have received.
The second attention catching item is that we will be starting an online learning community to expand adult formation. This sounds really cool, especially if you're busy and can't seem to find time for adult Sunday school or bible study or a reunion group. We all have such busy lives and finding a time when we can all be in the same place at the same time is difficult! If you'd like to know more about what's coming in the realm of adult online formation keep posted and ask Danny Oliver about it.
I am truly grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on the vestry these past three years. I have met new people and learned a lot, but I have also continued my journey with Christ and yes, it has been a spiritual experience, the memories of which will remain in my heart.
Thank you,
Sarah Simpson
Vestry Member
|
|
|
SUNDAY MORNING ADULT FORMATION
|
|
Invite. Welcome. Connect. |
For the next six weeks, we will be watching a video series based on the book series: A Generous Community-Amplified for the Future by The Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle. We will watch the video and then have a discussion about what we saw. The first video is called, "The Church of Possibilities: The Church That We See, Past and Future.
Bishop Doyle has wonderful insights about what the Body of Christ can be and do in the 21st century. Grab a cup of coffee and a donut and join us in the Library at 9:15 am.
|
|
WOMEN'S RETREAT
________________________________________________________________________
Saturday, October 22nd | 9 am - 3 pm Christ Episcopal Church
|
LIVING OUR GRATITUDE
Hey Ladies! Come enjoy the day on the beautiful grounds at Christ Episcopal Church... hanging out with other women as we enjoy great music, fellowship and immerse ourselves in worship!
Bring a sack lunch, your journal and Bible! You're promised to have fun... and it's free!
Mark your calendars now, round up your girlfriends, and we will look forward to seeing you on October 22nd! If you have any questions, please feel free to email
Delinda Woltring.
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
FIFTH SUNDAY SERVE!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 30th
|
October 30
th
is the fifth Sunday of the month and...
______________________________
I'm inviting you to
NOT
come to church with me that morning! ______________________________
I'm inviting you to join me in service to people in our community.
We have several senior adults or disabled adults who live in our area who need light repairs or cleaning to be done in their homes. We will be going out in small teams to designated homes in the Jonestown area to do whatever they need. You will be assigned to a team ahead of time so that you will be able to discuss what your job will be.
On Sunday, October 30th, we will meet at 8:30 at the Jonestown Community Center for Morning Prayer and then we will go out into the community. There are cards available in the narthex so you can sign up and let us know what chores you are willing to do. If you have children and need babysitting for the morning, please email
Jan Halstead so that we will have enough childcare workers!
|
|
|
TRUNKS NEEDED FOR OUR 4TH ANNUAL TRUNK OR TREAT!
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Sunday, October 30th | 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm
|
We need church members who can give out candy!
Pick a theme (it can be as simple or ornate as your imagination allows), decorate your trunk or truck bed, and bring plenty of candy! Then sit back and watch as the smiles on the kids' faces light up the night sky!
We can't wait to see what everyone will come up with this year! Themes can be biblical, seasonal, sports-related, etc. Only one rule - NO scary themes or costumes!
Be sure to bring plenty of individually wrapped candy to distribute to our trunk or treaters. You can also distribute Christian tracts or trinkets like bracelets, etc.
If you are interested in giving out candy during Trunk or Treat or being involved in any other aspect of the event, please email
Sherrie Hill.
Thank you for supporting your church and the ROOTS YOUTH ministry!
|
|
|
Cindy Wells -
Banners in Family Life Center
Donna Naymick, Stephen Mathew,
Delinda Woltring & Carol Monroe -
Audit Committee
Robert Wren -
Substitue Counter
Kevin & Jacquelyn Manhal -
Edging and trimming lawn
Maureen Wright -
Acolyte Vestments
Brielle Giard and Barbara Alvarez -
Kids Kingdom & Crossroads
Sherrie Hill -
ROOTS
Kristine Miller -
Bishop's Reception
Jim Hart & Jerry Halstead -
Plumbing Issues
|
|
LET'S LEARN ABOUT THE KAIROS MINISTRY
_________________________________________________________________________________________
Article written by Bernie Davies
|
In Matthew 25: 31-46, Jesus talks about how and when we ministered to Him and those times are when we ministered to others around us that are in need. One of the specific classes of people Jesus references are those in prison. The disciples asked Jesus "when did we see you in prison...?" Yet it is clear from scripture that Jesus was/is to be found in prison and that as the church we are called to go there.
For a number of years Christ Church has answered that call and has been found in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice System prisons. Specifically, and mostly, at Bartlett State Jail located in the northeast corner of Williamson County.
The Kairos Program is the prison version of Cursillo, Walk to Emmaus and Via de Christo. Our congregation has sent people to serve on a Kairos team over the years with 42 men being introduced to Christ twice a year. This has a definite influence on the behavior of the inmates on one another for the whole unit 2 months prior and 2 months after each of these 4 day events.
Most of the prison inmates come to our Kairos event for the home baked cookies and the delicious food we bring in! It is also a "R&R" to get away from the general population in the prison. To their surprise, the Holy Spirit works in a mighty way overcoming their hatred, gang structure, and walls they put around themselves mentally.
If you feel or hear a little voice inviting yourself to help out in this ministry, but you don't feel like you could nor want to go into a prison, there are 4 opportunities for you to help out:
- PRAYERS. During the 4 days we serve, we bring in a "prayer chain" where a person like you dedicates 30 min to pray for the Kairos, and each link of the chain is connected to another link represents each person praying for them.
- BAKING COOKIES. We need over 2,000 dozen homemade cookies for this weekend. Each person in the whole prison gets a dozen cookies. We usually say to the inmates of the whole population "These are Cookies from Christ", most all of them surprisingly say back in return "God Bless You". They may not respect anyone else at that point in time, but they do respect the name of "Christ".
- MAKING PLACE MATS. Handmade place mats are made by children (which has only their 1st name and age on them). There are many stories that have been shared on how these place mats have touched their hearts and most of the inmates bring their place mat back to their cells. The children in Christ Church has been a blessing to help make these.
- MONEY. It costs approximately $10,000 each time we hold a 4-day Kairos event. That translates into each of the 50 team members donating $125 and sponsoring each candidate for $125.
Most all of the inmates come back for the next Saturday follow up, and stay ministering to one another and continue in Bible Studies and meeting on a weekly basis. Truly, the Holy Spirit is "on fire" in the last place you would expect it.
We have a team going into the Bartlett Unit on Tuesday, October 27th. If you feel drawn to help out in any way, you may contact me at
bdd3@verizon.net or call my cell phone at (512) 627-2175.
Your brother in Christ,
Bernie Davies
Checks can be made out to Christ Church and noted to be designated for Kairos; or, you may donate online to our special Kairos account!
____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
|
|
|
|
SUNDAY MORNING YOUTH GROUP will meet on the 2nd and 4th Sunday of each month from 9:30 am to 10:15 am.
Our next meetup will be on October 26th! We will be doing a skit for Kids Kingdom at 10:30 am!
DEEPER ROOTS
(10th-12th graders) will meet on the 1st Sunday of each month from 9:30 am -10:15 am with Father Trawin to discuss topics of special concern to older teens. Our next meetup will be on November 6th.
ROOTS YOUTH
will meet on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays from 6:30 pm-8 pm in the Family Life Center.
Our next Wednesday night meet-up in October will be on
October 26th.
|
|
OCTOBER OUTREACH FOCUS: JONESTOWN COMMUNITY CENTER
____________________________________________________________________________________________
for Hill Country Community Ministries
|
Jonestown Community Center
is out of laundry soap,
toothbrushes & toothpaste,
bar soap and shampoo!
Please bring to the Narthex
on Sunday morning!
|
|
PRAYER REQUEST SUBMISSIONS
|
Tell me more about the prayer ministry at CEC:
We are a group of people who are dedicated to praying daily for your intentions, your needs and those of your family and friends.
How can I submit a name for prayer?
We will need the full name of the person for our office records. Names will remain on the prayer list for one month. It will be necessary to add names each month if necessary.
Please send the names of those for whom you wish to pray to Donna Naymick at admin@cectx.org.
Many in the congregation have asked if we can start to print the list of those for whom we are praying on a day to day basis. The answer is yes. The list will be printed each Sunday and first names only will be said at the prayers of the people.
On Sundays, or after any service, you can complete one of the prayer cards which are placed in every pew. Should there not be a prayer card in your pew, please let one of the ushers know and he/she will assist you. There is a wood Prayer Box, so marked, at the rear of the church on the right hand side as you exit. In completing the prayer request card or when e-mailing, please let us know if you require a call from either Fr. Trawin or Deacon Jan.
All requests are kept in strictest confidence and are only discussed within the ministry if clarification is needed.
|
|
|
Did you know that you are able to give your offering or tithe online? Just go to our website at
http://cectx.org/give/ and click on the "Donate" button, and you will be taken to our secure server! We appreciate your faithfulness to give!
"Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure,
pressed down, shaken together, running over,
will be put into your lap; for the measure you will
give will be the measure you get back." -- Luke 6:38
|
|
|
|
- Condlin Family
- Duane
- Sara
- Carol & Steve
- Stennett
- Rosemary & John
- Sara & Scott
- John & Rosemary
- T. L.
- Carol
- Leslie
- Julie
- Mimi
|
|
ADULT BIBLE STUDY
_______________________________________________
Sunday Morning
9:15 am | CEC Library
|
Father Trawin will be leading us in a video series based on the book series: A Generous Community-Amplified for the Future by The Rt. Rev. Andy Doyle. We will watch the video and then have a discussion about what we saw.
Bishop Doyle has wonderful insights about what the Body of Christ can be and do in the 21st century. Grab a cup of coffee and a donut and join us in the Library at 9:15 am.
Grab a cup of coffee & donut and join us in the library at 9:15 am
|
|
OCTOBER VOLUNTEER SCHEDULE
|
SUBSCRIBE TO EPISCOPAL DIOCESE OF TEXAS E-NEWS
|
To receive notification of upcoming diocesan events and conferences, along with links to local parish news and employment opportunities, subscribe to the digital Dialog, the e-news of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas. Simply go to
epicenter.org and click the link at the lower right to subscribe or go to:
http://tinyurl.com/3rjmcoq
to subscribe.
From epicenter.org you may also make changes to your address and subscribe to the quarterly magazine, find links to Bishop Andy Doyle's sermons and numerous other resources.
|
|
CALENDAR & E-LETTER ANNOUNCEMENT DEADLINES!
____________________________________________
Mondays | Before Noon
|
All announcements and newsletter requests must be made before Monday at noon in order to be included in that weeks communications. Also, any events that need to be added to the calendar must be added at least 3 weeks in advance. Please note, that events already on the calendar will take precedence. Thank you for your understanding!
|
|
|
|
|