Very soon we will be announcing a town hall meeting to share what our architect has presented to the Vestry as a follow-up to our master plan. As this date nears, I thought it would be a good idea to remind us all how we got here. As the months have gone on, I am aware that many of us have forgotten why the Vestry went down this road in the first place, or weren't a part of the congregation when we started. In order to make sure we all have the same basic foundation for interpreting this upcoming presentation, I thought it would be helpful to recap the process that got us here and some of the data that pointed the way.

 

It was more than two and a half years ago when the Vestry decided to address crowding at the Sunday 9:15 am and Saturday 5:30 pm services. We held town hall meetings in March 2016 to share our concerns and brainstorm solutions. We followed up the town hall meetings with a parish survey that generated almost 300 responses, after which we held another round of town hall meetings. That survey helped us focus on a short-term solution to the problem: adding another service to our schedule. It was the following January that we launched the parish hall service as our fourth Sunday morning service. It was designed to reduce the overcrowding at 9:15, which it has done.  READ MORE HERE.

Watch a video HERE for a more detailed discussion of some of the data included in this week's Rambling.

X Church will return to the weekly line-up of Holy Eucharist worship services on Wednesday, October 17, at 6:30 pm, in the historic church. X Church is a service of quiet contemplation, reverence and praise that takes place every week. Join us for this time of peace and reflection in the middle of your busy week.

 

The Men's Discussion Group, which meets on Wednesdays at 10:30 am in the Youth Room is currently reading  Our Towns: a 100,000 Mile Journey into the Heart of America , by James and Deborah Fallows.  " A vivid, surprising portrait of the civic and economic reinvention taking place in America, town by town and generally out of view of the national media. A realistically positive and provocative view of the country between its coasts.  Books are available in the church office for $21. Please contact Father Tom at  [email protected] , for more information.

 

On Thursday, September 13, 2018, from 9:00 am to 12:00 pm, the College of Coastal Georgia will host the Hands of Hope Pack-a-thon, at the Student Activity Center, at 1 College Drive, in Brunswick. All who would like to help pack backpack kits for children are welcome to join the assembly line! For more information, please contact Kalista Morton at [email protected] or at 912-816-8689.

 

The Backpack Buddies will be packing next on Wednesday, September 26, at 9:30 am. Please mark your calendars and make plans to join the packing team. All are welcome!  For questions about the Backpack Buddy program and information about how you can involved with packing and more, please contact Susan Shipman at [email protected] . Thank you for making this the best Backpack Buddies season we've ever had!

The Christ Church Comforters kick-off meeting for this program year is Friday, October 12th, at 10:30 am, in the Parish Hall. Christ Church's Prayer Shawls extend beyond our congregation.  Prayer Shawls are delivered each year to Safe Harbor, House of Hope, Grace House, Heather House, Hospice of the Golden Isles, and the International Seafarers. All who are interested in knitting or crocheting blankets, shawls, caps, scarves and other comfort objects are welcome to join the group! Contact Gay Barron at [email protected] for more information.

 

The Frederick Cousins Guild will meet on Tuesday, September 18th at 6:00 pm at Louise Bartlett's home, at 232 Five Pounds Rd. John Hartland, the yoga instructor who teaches at Christ Church on Monday mornings will be the guest presenter. He will lead a gentle yoga session centered on de-stressing and breathing properly.(Don't worry - guild members will be allowed to remain in their chairs!) There are many interesting speakers lined up this year, and lots to discuss and plan. Please bring a friend and/or a SMALL appetizer and come join the fun! Contact Louise Bartlett at [email protected] for more information.

Mark your calendar for Sunday, September 23, and plan to join us, immediately after the 11:15 am worship service, for a church-wide picnic on the lawn, where we'll welcome our new Associate Rector, Katie Knoll-Lenon and her family, and celebrate the marriage of Mother Becky and Uli Keller! The church will provide the fried and baked chicken, iced tea, lemonade and paper products - you bring your favorite side dishes, slides or desserts. Tables and chairs will be set up, but please feel free to bring your own lawn chairs and picnic blankets. We also encourage you to invite guests and neighbors to join us. (Please call the office at 912-638-8683 and let us know you're coming, so we can get an accurate head count for purchasing food and supplies.)

 

 

The Chairs and Co-Chairs of ECW 2019 Tour of Homes met on Tuesday, September 12, to kick-off plans for the 66th Tour that will take place on March 16, 2019. There is great excitement  about the upcoming tour and ALL are invited to get involved! No gift of time, talent or treasure you can share is too small!  Please contact Tour of Homes Chairman Charlotte Graham at  [email protected]  or Co-Chair Susie Henning at  [email protected]  to find out how you can be part of the Tour of Homes team!