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A Few Scattered Seeds... April 27, 2017
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Please, please, please consider:
On a stunning, October day in 2010, in Alexandria, VA, students at Virginia Theological Seminary, filed out of the historic chapel after a noonday prayer service. One of the last to leave was a student on the worship planning team. He collected the discarded bulletins, straightened up the sacristy, and then just before closing the door, took the spent charcoal from the thurible (for incense) and dumped it in the trash. Tragically, the charcoal was not actually spent. Smoldering in the trashcan and then bursting into flame four hours later, the fire engulfed the chapel so quickly that by the time the firefighters arrived on the scene, there was little they could do. Thankfully, no one was hurt.
City preservationists mourned what was one of the country's earliest and most beautiful examples of gothic revival architecture. Current students and alumni mourned for other reasons: namely the loss of a primary outward and visible sign of their inward and spiritual journey. Like many, I wrestled with God in that chapel. Our own son, Isaiah, was baptized there. Seven years later, I still get emotional looking at the pictures of the place in ruin.
Why bring this up now?
The outpouring from Christ Church for the Good Shepherd Campaign to make out building more accessible, hospitable and functional has been deeply humbling. So far we have 125 gifts. The recent matching initiative is generating new and increased gifts by the day. I am deeply grateful to Tom and Meredie Scrivner who have made themselves available for too many conversations to count.
We are close, but we are not there yet.
After hearing a detailed analysis from the architect and construction engineers, the building committee strongly recommends that a key element of our plan should be a fire suppression system. The chances of fire are low, but the devastation can be swift and immeasurable.
If you have not yet given, or you think you could stretch to give more, you might give for a host of reasons:
- To honor and celebrate those in our community with mobility challenges.
- To foster more fellowship before and after worship.
- To host more events and programs for spiritual, emotional and physical wellness for the community.
- To give thanks for all that this church has meant to you.
- To preserve this sacred space to the best of our ability for generations to come.
If you have not yet given, or you think you could stretch to more, please prayerfully consider doing so. Fifty more gifts of $5000 each would make a dramatic difference. EVERY dollar from every household is critical.
Please, please, please, consider placing an envelope in the mail today or bringing one for the offering plate this Sunday. In just 10 days, on May 7, we hope to be able to celebrate together what God and God's people have done together.
With Deep Gratitude for this community,
To listen and/or read Sunday's sermon, click
here
.
For this week's readings, click here.
To view the SPRING ISSUE
of the
Messenger
, click
here.
To read the Annual Reports from 2016
, click
For more information regarding our Building Campaign,
click
here.
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Long term: Donna, Joan Streed, Sue Shaw, Frances McDowell, Janet Shaw, Marylin Banzhaf, Stella Hensley, Candice, John, Arlene, David, Charty Bassett, Pat Birchall, Grace Dreher, Heidi Hudnut-Beumler, Barbara K., John McIntyre, Sue McIntyre, Patti, PJ Lawler, George Stolarczyk, Laura Tatum, Phyllis Babb, Elizabeth Casey, Bob Figg, Michael Jent, Eric, Dustin, Taj, Earl, Larry, Lynn, Ann, Jack, Marge
.
Especially this week
: Ben, Alicia, Jack Dargle, Mary Cunningham (RIP) and family, Joanne Smith, Sarah Gottlieb.
Birthdays this week: David Eurich, Tom Naleid, Polly Durant, Fallon Bubacy, Ryan Foley, Christine Binder, Anna Harmon, Kenneth Konet, Lila Hermann, Alden Laev, George Morris, William Navarre, Janet Ryan. Anniversaries: Brent and Ranee Field.
Home-bound: Edith.
Candidate for Holy Orders: Drew Harmon.
Parents Expecting: Ingrid and Andrew Davis; Jean and Justin Heffernan, adoption.
Serving in the Armed Forces: Anthony, Bill, Davin, Jeffrey, Jack, Mark, Matthew, Nick, Scott, Tom, Will.
Sunday's altar flowers
are
given to the glory of God and in memory of Margaret R. and Robert T. Martin
f
rom their daughters, Cathy Martin Braun and Mary Martin Smith and their families.
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8:00 a.m. Service:
Acolyte/Reader - Bonnie Thomson. Ushers - Barb Hantula, Brenda Hantula
.
9:30 a.m. Service:
Vestry Greeters -
Jean Bieszk, Chris Goodale.
Lesson
Readers - Margaret Cooper, Will Foote. Prayer Reader - Maggie Dietrich.
Acolytes -
Isaiah Dietrich, Nora Miller, Ruby Donner, August Eurich.
Eucharistic Ministers - Mary Meyers, Drew Harmon, Mike Giesecke, Hillary McCown, Kathy Eurich, Cathy Martin Braun.
Ushers - Mike McCabe, Don Allen, Dave Eurich, Dave Honecker
.
Evening Prayer Wednesday & Thursday
week of 4/30
:
Denton Jones, Julie Ross
.
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T
oday's Fellowship and Formation for All Ages
Nursery is available from 9:20 until the end of Christian Formation at 11:50.
Godly Play meets at 9:20 until the Peace in Rooms 5 and 7 for children in K4 and K5.
Children's Chapel meets at 9:20 until the Peace in Room 10 for Grades 1-3
15 Minute Feast for All
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Following
the 9:30 am service, everyone is invited to gather in the Great Hall for a "15 Minute Feast." Kids and adults enjoy fellowship. Newcomers can meet new friends. We can share a little more of our life stories over coffee and snacks.
Sunday School
-
After the 15 Minute Feast, Children K4-Grade 5 will follow their teachers downstairs for Sunday School and return to the Garden Vestibule at 11:50.
Adult Forum
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Parishioner Andrea Westlund is giving a talk entitled, "Narrating Grief." It may be difficult to talk about loss, and yet it is something that many of us feel the need to do. How and why do we tell our stories, and the stories of our loved ones, as we grieve? How are these stories related to acts of mourning and memorialization? We will discuss these questions together in a philosophical spirit.
(Reverse) Youth Group -
Parents attend for a discussion and the youth stay home.
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The Mission Fund was created to provide grants to Christ Church parishioners who are bringing the light of Christ into the world as an individuals or with a groups not associated with the parish. For example, a Christ Church college student may want to go serve a Native American population through an established mission organization, or a group of mothers on the Northshore may want to ban together to do mission work in the city of Milwaukee.
Group leaders would apply for a grant of up to $1000 for their particular mission project. Criteria will include relevance to Christian mission, number of people, total expense, financial need, duration of the project.
Deadline: Monday, May 8, 2017.
and feel free to contact
the
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New Feeding Ministry Open to Families with Younger Children
The Society of St. Vincent De Paul runs a large meal site in the basement of All People's Church, Milwaukee. They feed over 100 people in the Harambee neighborhood, 5 nights a week.
Christ Church has volunteered to cook and serve food on May 12th. This feeding program is particularly open to families with younger children and there are many different ways to get involved. Purchasing food; cooking food at home or at church; picking up and delivering food; and serving
spaghetti sauce, green salad, sweets. You can do one piece, many or all! We need about 6-8 volunteers to serve the meal, and again, children are welcome. The meal starts at 5:30 p.m. and volunteers are not responsible for dishwashing. Email Lynne Schley at
[email protected] and
Melissa Santa-Cruz at [email protected]
for more details.
Kids Working To Succeed, KWTS,
is a youth program at All Peoples Church
for children ages 8-16 that focuses on three areas: Discipleship, Job Training and Leadership. This ministry continues on Saturdays during the school year and daily during the summer months. They teach children about a strong work ethic, Christian values and money management. The kids also work in the gardens adjacent to the church.
Christ Church has partnered with the KWTS program to provide 65 lunches on
Saturday June 10, Monday July 10 and Monday August 14.
If you would like to help pack the bags, deliver the food or work in the gardens with the children, please contact
Lynne Schley at
[email protected]
or talk to me at church!
The Worldwide Hunger Relief Food Pack
Thanks for your help last weekend! It was a wonderful way to help others and get to know our fellow parishioners and community members.
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If you were not able to attend John Haydon's presentation (see below) or you were able to attend and want to review his information. John has kindly made it available by clicking HERE.
"What Do White People Gain by Eliminating Racism?"
Based on his experience, study, research and writing, John (discussed) a topic of interest to us all. For further details, contact John at
[email protected]
.
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News from St Marc's Haiti
Christ Church supported St. Marc's with prayers, funding for hurricane recovery in Oct. 2016, and several parishioners gave pregnant goats via Creative Exchanges Initiatives this past Christmas. New life is the result. Keep the prayers coming!
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Tea Drinker? Gardener? Recycle!
If you're a tea drinker like me, you throw lots of tea bags in the trash. And since I'm always looking for little ways to waste less & recycle more, I started reading about alternative uses for old tea bags.
I like to garden too & started a compost pile last year. You can throw your tea bags right into your compost pile as they add lots of good tannins which are fuel to the soil. The tannic acid can also lower the soil PH & help prevent fungus. If you don't have a compost pile, you can
start an indoor scrap container or get one inexpensively from Amazon.
If you don't want to deal with composting, you can simply put the tea bags in your garden. Most of the tea bags are compostable as well. The one thing I'd advise, is removing a staple, if tea bag has one, before planting.
The average American produces about 1,300 lb. of waste per year so it certainly could make a difference if all of us tea drinkers tried it.
Margaret Cooper, Green Team Member
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Middle School and High School Youth Group
Looking Ahead:
Click HERE to see what's coming up next week!
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Sunday Night Bible Study:
7 p.m. Contact
Christine
.
- Monday Evening Centering Prayer Group: 5:00 p.m. at the Bentons. Contact Helen
- Tuesday Morning Women's Faith Group: 9 a.m. in the J.T. Room. We are reading The Sacred Fire:A Vision for a Deeper Human and Christian Maturity, by Roland Rolheiser. Please let Helen know if you would like a copy ordered for you. There will be a short Bible Study based on the readings in Forward Day by Day during the last half hour of each session. Contact Helen.
- Downtown Small Group: Tuesday 12-1 p.m. at Quarles & Brady. Contact Seth or Dan.
- Wednesday Morning Men's Scripture Group: 7:30 a.m. Contact John.
- Wednesday Noon Men's Group: meets in the JT Room. On May 3rd, we are starting The Life Together, by Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Contact Ed.
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First Thursday Play Group -
Parents with young children are invited to a monthly play group on the first Thursday of each month- Church Great Hall. Contact Anna Harmon.
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Third Thursday Moms' Book Group
meets monthly in the J.T. Room at 7 p.m.
Our next meeting (not on a Thursday) will be
May 24th. We are discussing
Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Matthew Desmond
.
Contact Anna Harmon
.
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TGIF Groups
meet the second Friday evening of each month in parishioners' homes for food, fellowship and discussion. Contact Ed Leidel for more information
.
*For more information on Adult Small groups, click here.
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To view the latest quarterly newsletter, The Messenger, click here.
To read the latest Vestry documents click here.
To read the latest Mary & Martha's newsletter for women of the Diocese click here .
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