It's the most wonderful time of the year, or so says the Christmas song that Andy Williams made popular in the sixties. Generally, I tend to agree, whether it's Advent or not. The "Christmas Spirit" takes hold in these final weeks of the year and that spirit brings a lot of kindness, warmth, and compassion - all of which we need more of. And yet, this is a season that can be very difficult for some. It is precisely because of the joys this season of preparation for Christmas holds that many find themselves experiencing emotions that aren't the most wonderful.

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Please join us at Christ Church on Tuesday, December 17 , at 5:30 pm and experience the meditative music of Advent, during this Choral Evensong, led by the Christ Church Trebles and Cantori. All are welcome!  

All Altar Guild members are asked to attend an important, mandatory meeting on Tuesday, December 10, at 10:00 am, in the Parish Hall. We will be finalizing the schedule for Christmas Eve services and need all guild members present. For more information, please contact Nancy Zell and [email protected].

The Men's Discussion Group gathers on Wednesday mornings at 10:30 am in the Youth Room in the Parish House. They have begun a new study of Thomas 

Sowell's Discrimination and Disparities, which presents a wide array of empirical evidence to challenge the idea that different economic outcomes can be explained by any one factor, be it discrimination, exploitation, or genetics. If you'd like to join the group , please contact Te Turner at [email protected] .

Fr. Tom and Rabbi Rachael Bregman are leading Wednesday lunch-time sessions in Advent that take a deep dive into the history of the birth of Christ. The study is utilizing Amy-Jill Levine's, Light of the World: A Beginner's Guide to Advent and will explore the biblical texts surrounding the story of the birth of Jesus, tracing the Christmas narrative through the stories of Zechariah and Elizabeth, Mary, the journey to Bethlehem, and the visit from the Magi. The group meets on Wednesdays at 1:00 pm through December 18. A simple lunch will be served each week. Books are available through the Christ Church bookstore for $11.50. Contact: Fr. Tom at [email protected]

Mark your calendars for Friday, December 20 and make plans to do your last minute Christmas errands, while we entertain your children, (age 12 and under) at Christ Church. Parents' Day Out will take place in the Parish Hall from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Parents may spend time with their children at the church during this event, as well. The day will include lunch, snacks, games, and more! Please contact Mtr. Katie at [email protected] to sign up your children for this event.

 

Our annual collection of food for Christmas baskets begins December 7 and concludes on December 19 at 9:00 am. Please bring non-perishable food items for Christmas dinners to St. Ignatius or the Christ Church parish hall, or you may donate cash or checks, marked for Christmas baskets. Volunteers are needed to assemble and deliver the baskets on Thursday, December 19 at 9:00 am.  Contact: Jeannie Wade at  [email protected] . 

The Christ Church Backpack Buddy program is feeding 500+ students this school year and we need all the help we can get on packing days. Please join us on the line, on Wednesday, December 11 , at 10:00 am, in the Parish Hall and help us get all the bags packed. This will be our final packing of the first school semester and we really need everyone to give us a hand!

You can honor a loved one this Christmas by sponsoring weekend food for a child for an entire school year for $100, or for one semester for $50. For more information, please contact Susan Shipman at [email protected]

Every year during the season of Christmas, the International Seafarers' Center spreads the love of Christ through their Christmas at Sea program. About 1500 seafarers travel through the port of Brunswick from Thanksgiving to January 7th and the Center hopes to give every seafarer a Christmas present. 

 

If you'd like to be part of this ministry, it's as easy as filling a clear plastic shoebox or ditty bag with 12 - 15 item from the list found  here and bringing it to either the church office in the Parish Hall, or to the International Seafarers Center, at 307 Newcastle Street in Brunswick. 

New ECW cookbooks, cookie tins and aprons  are in and make perfect holiday gifts! All are available for purchase in the church office in the Parish House and in the Christ Church Gift Shop. Cookbooks and aprons are $20 and cookie tins are $15. All proceeds benefit nonprofits in our area, with a focus on women and children.

The Susanna Wesley Guild will have a Christmas luncheon at the Cloister on Tuesday, December 17, meeting at the church at 11:30 a.m. to carpool. Bring a Christmas gift in the form of cash or check (payable to Christ Church with Susanna Wesley Guild on the memo line) for telephone gift cards to be distributed to mariners at the International Seafarers' Center. Please RSVP by Friday, Dec. 13, to Ethel Horton at 912-634-8327 or  [email protected] .

 

Nominations for the 2020 Christ Church Vestry election are open between now and December 26. You may make nominations to Fr. Tom by email at [email protected], by phone at 912-638-8683 or in person.