Parish News & Updates
The earth produces of itself, first the stalk, then the head,
then the full grain in the head.
But when the grain is ripe, at once he goes in with his sickle,
because the harvest has come.
Mark 4:28-9
 
Concerning Avocados and Their Care
 
I confess to having killed many avocado plants. I wasn’t much for guacamole back in the 4th Grade, but whenever Mom cut into an avocado, I was there with my jelly jar and toothpicks. I always imagined that I was going to grow a mighty avocado forest and feed the whole neighborhood with my produce. Sometimes, I forgot to check the water levels. Sometimes Woofer the Dog found a new chew toy. Even when I did it all right and the seed sent out roots and tendrils it never really made it to becoming a tree.
 
Later in life I learned about where avocados grow. I learned that pollenating the flowers involved the female flowers opening one day and the male flowers opening a day or two later. I also learned that most of the avocados we eat are grown from young choice limbs specially grafted onto older tree stock.
 
I guess it’s a good thing that I am not in charge of the guacamole harvest.
 
Part of the Gospel we will hear on Sunday is unique to Mark. Jesus offers this little parable about seeds and harvest. Verses 26-27 describe how the farmer sews the seeds and then goes to sleep. Day after day, as the seeds do their thing, the farmer watches. In a perfect First Century agricultural description we hear how “the earth produces of itself”. It is not until everything is ripe that the farmer has to get a sickle and get involved.
 
We cannot imagine what God’s sovereign rule over all creation entails. From the tiniest microorganisms to black holes with a billion times more mass than our sun, there’s a lot of stuff in God’s domain. After nearly 14 billion years or so, I think we can give the Creator credit for rainbows, comets and the fact the babies already come equipped with fingernails.
 
But we do have our part to play. We are functioning members of God’s plan. In the Collect for Sunday we hear of God’s truth and justice. Our part is to proclaim God’s truth with boldness and minister God’s justice with compassion. Starting out, it may be like preteen Mark, equipped with toothpicks and a jelly jar. Yet we can develop our knowledge and skill. God’s truth is based in love; we know something about how love changes everything and so we can be bold! God’s justice is for everyone, especially those in want, need, suffering and despair. Here’s the chance to administer compassion to those who need it most!
 
Jesus says that God’s creation is productive. We need only to take our place and wait our time, armed with boldness and compassion.
 
Peace,
Mark +

Keep, O Lord, your household the Church in your steadfast faith and love, that through your grace we may proclaim your truth with boldness, and minister your justice with compassion; for the sake of our Savior Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

SIGNUP TODAY
For Your Small Group Conversation
 
The pandemic has brought about many challenges and changes for each of us, our families, our parish and the community. We have worked hard to adapt and adjust. Thank God, we have reached a point where we can begin to look forward. Now is a perfect time to gather our energy, share our thoughts and shape how we will move Christ Church forward together. 

Beginning on June 12, we will offer opportunities to gather again both virtually and in-person for conversation, fun and fellowship. We have scheduled times in parishioners’ homes, on Zoom, and in-person at church, where small groups can engage in conversation, discuss what we have learned and share ideas about the way forward.

Please join one of our small group conversations so that together we can share our perspectives. Our conversations will be centered on four focus areas:

  • Worship: In-person, on-line and live-streamed services; activities that support worship services, including Lectors, Eucharistic Ministers, Ushers, Greeters, Altar Guild, Videographers; Daily Evening Prayer and other worship-related ministry.
  • Outreach: Service to those in need in our community, including our support for Haven Ministries, Grasonville Food Pantry, Backpack Meals for Kids, the Soup Group and other outreach ministries.
  • Care and Community: Pastoral care and care for one another; in-house learning activities like EfM, book studies, Bible studies; and providing space for community activities including Scouts, Recovery Groups.
  • Children, Youth, and Families: Christian Formation, Child/Youth-Centered programming, and Family Programs.

During these conversations, we will take notes so that all ideas are captured. Ideas will not be attributed to individuals; there will be no judging. After the session, we will email the notes to participants so that you can be sure that they are complete and accurate. You can even add additional ideas that you may not have mentioned during the conversation. 

Once all our meetings have been completed, we will compile the ideas from all the meetings and provide feedback to the vestry and the entire congregation. 
Broad Creek Cemetery 
Service of Remembrance
 
The Service of Remembrance will be held on
Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm


Broad Creek Cemetery
370 Romancoke Rd
Stevensville, MD
 
All are welcome!
Christian Formation

This week we are looking at the Old Testament for inspiration. In today’s culture there is so much emphasis on outward appearances. As we explore the story of the anointment of David as King, we discover that God is more interested in what is in our hearts rather than what we appear to be on the outside. In “Wednesdays with Winnie” we see that Winnie is also more interested in our hearts. She doesn’t care about how we look but only if we treat her kindly and with love. She has an innate sense of what humans carry in their hearts.

David was chosen because of who he was on the inside. He loved God and wanted to serve him in everything he did. It is much more important to be kind and loving to other people than to look cool or have the latest fashion.

Try not to worry about how you look or judge others by their appearance. Take a closer look at what is inside of you and others. 

Peace,
        Miss Lisa and Winnie
Sign up Now for Fall
EfM Class
  
Every one of us is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. We start in September and meet once a week until May. As lay people we face the challenging task of interpreting the richness of the church's faith in a complex and confusing world. We need a theological education that supports our faith and teaches us to express our faith in day-to-day events. The EfM program is preparation for the ministry to which we all are called. EfM is a four-year program: Old Testament, New Testament, History, and Theology.
 
We are now recruiting for the Fall where we will do both Zoom and In-person meetings (we hope for in person!). For more information, please contact one of our mentors: efm@ccpki.org
Adele Sadiq (410-924-3313), Bluette Blinoff (610-212-6366), Ann Sieracki (302-547-5692), or Connie Clark (502-235-9674)
Ways to Support Christ Church

  • Electronic Giving: Click Here
  • Text to Give by texting CCPKI to 73256
  • Bank: Have your bank send a check or make an ACH transfer
  • By Check: CCPKI 830 Romancoke Rd. Stevensville MD 21666
Garden Team!

Christ Church Kent Island has a new Garden Team comprised of folks who have been individually keeping our grounds looking great. Nothing is more relaxing than spending a couple hours with your hands in the dirt ripping out weeds, mulching or planting flowers. While there has been plenty of progress, we are blessed with ample grounds with even more weeds to pull.
 
Members of the team include Tim and Caroline Aland, Dennis and Carol Conrad, Bud and Lynne Shand, Anne Tyler, with additional help from Keith Fulmer and Ginny Wathen.  They typically work on their own schedule to accomplish the task at hand. Some focus areas include:
  • the Circle Garden, where folks have been working on weeding and contemplating adding brick paths;
  • the beds around Shand Hall, where Lynne has been lifting bulbs, weeding out wiregrass and replanting the bulbs;
  • the Labyrinth and nearby planters, where Keith has scraped off weeds and grass and Tim and Caroline maintain the planters;
  • the ivy garden at the back entrance, where trimming ivy, weeding and removing small volunteer trees is needed;
  • the Day School window gardens, where weeding is needed;
  • the parking lot islands, where bids to remove the junipers have been solicited;
  • the plantings around each sign at the Rt. 8 entrance, where Tim and Anne trim and weed; and
  • the areas around the HVAC units, where weeds and grass need to be removed from around the units.  

Additionally, the Jaimie Jacobs Memorial Butterfly Garden by the entrance road is in need of loving care. Information on the background, history, and plantings in the garden is available.

Skill level is low but fulfillment high. Having your own favorite gardening tool is a plus.
 
If you are looking to join the team and pitch in, please contact Tim Aland at tima@cheshear.com.
2021 Graduation Celebration

Dear Friends of Christ Church Parish,

Another year has rolled by and a new group from CCPKI has graduated from High School and College! Christ Church Parish joins in celebrating amazing achievements and future plans. 

Families and students, please send an email to office@ccpki.org to let us know about your graduates and their plans and next steps. 

Please include a photo so that we can put together a slideshow to share with the congregation on our June 20th Video Service. 

God Bless You. Your resilience and accomplishments are an encouragement to us all! 

Peace,
Mark +
IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE
Each SUNDAY at 9:30AM
This Sunday's Worship Service

Please pray for: Robin, Pender, John Perkins, Bob Willis, Deny, Chris, Avery, Jack Wright, Laura & Bob Dean & Family, Carol Holland, Susan Fralic, Dot Deren, Camilla Parrott, Sally Russell, Jay Czerniak (RIP)-Lisa Oesterling & Family, Barbara Jerome, Barbara Faulkner, Connie Jones, Nancy King, Shelia McJilton, Aubree Burton & Tiffany Tia, Daniel Bedard, John Price (RIP), Abdul Sabur (RIP)-Susan Fauceglio, Chalk Jewell, Dot Deren, Colleen Minahan, Sheila Savage
 
Prayer Requests can be sent to prayer@ccpki.org
Christ Church Parish Kent Island| 410-643-5921 | office@ccpki.org | ccpki.org