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This week is the beginning of the end of the beginning of the end... sort of. It is the end of our liturgical year, the end of the season of eternal green (Pentecost) and the opportunity of what is yet to come. A definite nod toward Christmas, and the coming of the new king, that is really about His final return.
This week as we celebrate Christ the King Sunday we gaze upon the throne as we look up to see the one to whom we yearn, but the throne is perhaps not as we might have imagined. Instead we are given a cross, and the distant thought of a baby in a crib (Luke 23:33-43). A reminder that Christ doesn't just occupy the place of kings, but is also found amongst the marginalized and fragile as well; "Truly I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these, you did it to me" (Matt. 25-45).
We are reminded that as we prepare for His coming we cannot forget the urgency of Christ's message that is not hampered by a seasonal experience of a Christmas or a Easter Christ. A reminder that we should be hyper vigilant in finding Christ not only in those people and places where we find inspiration, but also in those who need us most, remembering the ultimate expression of our religiosity is found in the ACTION of abundant LOVE.
Over the next few weeks I invite you into the opportunity to find Christ as he is represented in all His diversity. With the hope that you too might be able to spread your love in dynamic ways.
Blessings and Peace to you all as we search out our King!
Fr. Nick+
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Updated November 16, 2016
Christ Church Upcoming Events & Announcements
*CHANGE OF DATE* FOR VISIT TO THE GETTY CENTER - The NEW date is Friday, November 18 (it used to be Friday, October 14). This event is being organized by the Sociable Seniors at St. Cross and will involve taking a bus to the Getty Center at 1200 Getty Center Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90049. YOU MUST SIGN UP. Please call or email Susan Mulledy-DeFrank and she will make sure you get on the sign up list. Tel (310) 370-8956 or email coeescrow@hotmail.com.
Parish Thanksgiving Potluck - Saturday, November 19th from 6-9pm.
Please see flyer at the end of the update, and also copies in the church and parish hall. We invite everyone to this annual event. If you are able to bring your favorite dish to share, it would be very much appreciated.
Fifth Wednesday Shared Bread - November 30th, 2016.
If you would like to help out, or would like more information about this event, please contact Barbara ramsey-Duke at (310) 251-6830 or brdslily1@gmail.com.
Christmas Eve - Saturday, December 24th, Family Service with Carole Singing and Holy Eucharist at 5 p.m. / Christmas Vigil and Holy Eucharist 11:30 p.m.
Christmas Day - Service of Holy Eucharist and Blessing of the Gifts, Sunday, December 25th, at 9:00 a.m.
SPECIAL NOMINATION REPORT 2016, the Fall edition of the diocesan Episcopal News magazine is here. It includes each bishop coadjutor candidate's picture, short biography and answers to search committee questions. It also has a description of the bishop coadjutor search process. The candidates will stand for election at Diocesan Convention, meeting Dec. 2 - 3 in Ontario, Calif. The new bishop coadjutor will succeed Bishop J. Jon Bruno as bishop diocesan when Bruno retires.
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SUNDAY SERVICES THIS WEEK
8:00 AM Choral Holy Eucharist (said service)
10:00 AM Choral Holy Eucharist (with music)
Sunday School
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Ms. Sylvia is thrilled to welcome her Catechesis of the Good Shepherd children back to the atrium. Please bring your children ages 3 to 10 to this wonderful experience of learning. The doors open before the 10 AM service begins and the children rejoin the congregation before Holy Communion begins.
ACOLYTES SERVING IN NOVEMBER
November 6: Brendan Prasad
November 13: Ryder Want
November 20: Ryder Want
November 27: Needed
PASTORAL EMERGENCIES OR ILLNESS?
In case of a pastoral emergency, please call Fr. Nick (213) 663-0294. If you are ill and not able to attend church or hospitalized and wishing to have a visit by Father Nick, please give him a call and let him know.
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 We are trying to keep our prayer list current. So, every four weeks we will start our list over again. If you wish to have someone added to our weekly Prayers of the People, please call Trudy Bush at 310 540-1722 or send her an email at christrb@aol.com. Thank you.
We commend to God's love and care those for whom our prayers have been requested especially:
For all those serving in our armed forces at home and abroad and especially those known to us: Blake, Joshua, Louis, Eric, Spencer, Christopher, Simon, John Joseph, Jimmy, Gage, Josh, John, Ken, Jeff, Blake H, Danelle, and Jarrod.
We also pray for:
George; Sal; Joe; Pat and Gene; Sandie; Aiden; Alice and Blake; Blanca and Albert; Francesca; Carlene; Fran; Hunter; Allan; Martha; Rita; Byron; Ann; Todd; Sara; Sherry; Bradley; Maria; Nancy E; Ann; Father Bob and Madelyn; John R; Rdythe and family; Al and Shirley Miller family; Anne; Lenia; the Catlett family; David; Teresa; Megan;
Leo and the Licciardone family; George and the Hoag family; Florence Haefner and family; Paula;
the entire Steib family as they help and support Betty, especially Laura and Sam;
Gwendolyn; Joannie; Eric; Roger; Frieda K; William Ro; Ray; Al; Tom;
the Dwyer family; Lawrence; Carlene; Bennett; Rebecca; Angie and her baby boy Myka; Tom; Dave; Andrea; Joanie and Pat; Ping; and Sandy.
For all who have died in the hope of the resurrection, especially:
We pray for our pets who we love, or are lost, sick or dying especially:
And we give thanksgiving for those celebrating Birthdays and Anniversaries this week, especially
the birthdays of: Patricia, Shari, Gail, and Ron.
The anniversaries of: Kara and Matthew.
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The flowers in the church this Sunday are donated to the Glory of God by:
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8 AM COFFEE HOUR - Please use the sign up sheets in the Parish Hall, or call or email Trudy to sign up.
10 AM COFFEE HOUR - Please see the Guidelines below. Extra copies of the Guidelines are also
attached to the Coffee Hour Sign up sheet in the parish hall.
Any questions, please call or email Trudy in the church office at (310) 540-1722 or christrb@aol.com.
November 20, 2016 (Christ the King)
8:00 AM: Nancy Taugner
10:00 AM: Needed
November 27, 2016 (The First Sunday of Advent)
8:00 AM: Needed
10:00 AM: Nancy Engelbert
December 4, 2016 (The Second Sunday of Advent)
8:00 AM: Needed
10:00 AM: Needed
December 11, 2016 (The Third Sunday of Advent)
8:00 AM: Needed
10:00 AM: Needed
December 18, 2016 (The Fourth Sunday of Advent)
8:00 AM: Needed
10:00 AM: Needed
December 25, 2016 (Christmas Day)
NEW COFFEE HOUR PLAN AND GUIDELINES
We are going to try something new for Coffee Hour after the 10:00 a.m. service. The change will begin on October 11, 2015. Sticking with the Theme of "Hospitality and Welcome", we will ask that three or more families or individuals sign up per Sunday. This change will help spread the cost and time commitment out among the members of the group serving on that particular Sunday.
The following guidance will help explain what is involved when your group is responsible for providing the refreshments, hospitality and clean up.
1. On a typical Sunday, there will be between 25 and 40 people attending the Coffee Hour.
2. Those providing the Hospitality/Refreshments will plan between themselves what they will bring and serve.
3. Setting out the refreshments can take place just after you have come up for communion, providing sufficient time for everything to be ready for the group at the end of the Church Service. If you need assistance in finding where trays are kept and serving utensils please ask Susan Mulledy-DeFrank and she will be happy to show you around the kitchen.
4. Clean up: Please clear all food and serving trays off of the tables. If food is left over and you wish to take it that is great. If you wish to leave it there are plastic zip lock bags in the pantry. Please make sure if you are using the Refrigerator or Freezer that you make sure that they are closed securely. Wash, dry and put away the utensils and trays. If you are unsure of where they go, please dry them and just leave them on the kitchen counter. Please make sure that all used coffee mugs are placed in the dirty cup plastic bin (it's kept by the Coffee Machine during the Coffee Hour). If someone could put the bin in the kitchen sink and fill with soapy water fully covering the coffee mugs that would be appreciated as the dirty mugs draw bugs. The soapy water keeps them at bay. The mugs are washed and sterilized on Wednesday morning by Susan.
5. Finally please wipe down the kitchen counters to keep any crumbs and food product from attracting bugs.
This offering of Hospitality is one of our most important ministries at Christ Church. As you have read and heard in Sermons over the years " Jesus Christ" was always teaching his followers about the importance of this welcoming gift-the Gift of Hospitality.
Christ's Peace in Welcome & Hospitality,
Susan Mulledy-DeFrank
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COLLECT AND READINGS FOR THIS COMING SUNDAY
November 20, 2016 Proper 29C Last Sunday after Pentecost: Christ the King
The Collect
A
lmighty and everlasting God, whose will it is to restore all things in your well-beloved Son, the King of kings and Lord of lords: Mercifully grant that the peoples of the earth, divided and enslaved by sin, may be freed and brought together under his most gracious rule; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
The First Lesson
Jeremiah 23:1-6
W
oe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the Lord. Therefore thus says the Lord, the God of Israel, concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people: It is you who have scattered my flock, and have driven them away, and you have not attended to them. So I will attend to you for your evil doings, says the Lord. Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the lands where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them, and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed, nor shall any be missing, says the Lord.
The days are surely coming, says the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety. And this is the name by which he will be called: "The Lord is our righteousness."
Psalm 46
Deus noster refugium
1
God is our refuge and strength, *
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved, *
and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea;
3 Though its waters rage and foam, *
and though the mountains tremble at its tumult.
4 The
Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
5 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God, *
the holy habitation of the Most High.
6 God is in the midst of her;
she shall not be overthrown; *
God shall help her at the break of day.
7 The nations make much ado, and the kingdoms are shaken; *
God has spoken, and the earth shall melt away.
8 The
Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
9 Come now and look upon the works of the
Lord, *
what awesome things he has done on earth.
10 It is he who makes war to cease in all the world; *
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
and burns the shields with fire.
11 "Be still, then, and know that I am God; *
I will be exalted among the nations;
I will be exalted in the earth."
12 The
Lord of hosts is with us; *
the God of Jacob is our stronghold.
The Epistle
Colossians 1:11-20
M
ay you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation; for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created, things visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers-- all things have been created through him and for him. He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together. He is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, so that he might come to have first place in everything. For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell, and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things, whether on earth or in heaven, by making peace through the blood of his cross.
The Gospel
Luke 23:33-43
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hen they came to the place that is called The Skull, they crucified Jesus there with the criminals, one on his right and one on his left. Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them; for they do not know what they are doing." And they cast lots to divide his clothing. The people stood by, watching Jesus on the cross; but the leaders scoffed at him, saying, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!" The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him sour wine, and saying, "If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!" There was also an inscription over him, "This is the King of the Jews."
One of the criminals who were hanged there kept deriding him and saying, "Are you not the Messiah? Save yourself and us!" But the other rebuked him, saying, "Do you not fear God, since you are under the same sentence of condemnation? And we indeed have been condemned justly, for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds, but this man has done nothing wrong." Then he said, "Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom." He replied, "Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise."
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CHRIST CHURCH SPIRITUAL LIBRARY
The following books have been added to the lending library. There is an updated book list along with at least one copy of each new book in the parish hall.
They can also be purchased as E-books or hardcopy for your reading.
1.
Grounded: Finding God in the World-A Spiritual Revolution
by Diana Butler Bass.
2. Wisdom Distilled from the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today
by Sr. Joan Chittister
3. Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis
4.
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion
by Fr. Gregory Boyle
(Note: purchases of this book benefit Homeboy Industries).
5. Holy Currencies: Six Blessings for Sustainable Ministries by The Rev. Eric F. Law
The following books continue to be part of the lending library.
The Kingdom Within John Sanford
Unearthing My Religion: Real Talk about Real Faith Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves
Innocence: A Novel Dean Koontz
Naked Spirituality: A Life with God in 12 Simple Words Brian McClaren
Living on the Border of the Holy L. William Countryman
Violence Unveiled: Humanity at the Crossroads Gil Bailie
Knowing Jesus James Allison
Why Did Jesus, Moses, the Buddha and Mohammed Cross the Road? Christian Identity in a Multi-Faith World Brian McClaren
Proof of Heaven: A Neurosurgeon's Journey into the Afterlife Eben Alexander
Falling Upward: A Spirituality for the Two Halves of Life Richard Rohr
Healing After Loss-Daily Meditations Martha Whitmore Hickman
Paradoxy: Creating Christian Community beyond Us and Them Ken Howard
The Re-Enchantment of Everyday Life Thomas Moore
The Common English Bible (CEB) Study Bible-The Book of Mark
The Power of the Powerless: A Brother's Legacy of Love Christopher de Vinck
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Christ Church Mission: Who We Are & What We Hope to Do and Become