| The church office will be closed early on Thursday, January 31 and on Friday, January 1, 2021, for the New Year. Wishing you blessings, good health, and peace in 2021! |
 It's finally time to turn the page on 2020. This has been quite a year, and one many of us are eager to see in the rearview mirror. Apart from individual struggles and losses, this has been one of, if not the worst, collective year I can remember, based on what I've seen and heard from others. I say that based on the disruptions and challenges that affected us all, though each of us has had a unique and personal interface with the events of 2020. This isn't to say that all of 2020 was bad. There have been things to celebrate; joy sprinkled in the midst of trial.
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| Worship This Week | 
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For the Second Sunday of Christmas, January 3, 2021, we invite you to join us for our regular schedule of Sunday worship services.
8:00 am: Holy Eucharist, 1928 BCP, in the Tent^
9:15 am: Holy Eucharist, Rite II, livestreamed from
historic Christ Church
10:20 am: Drive-Through Communion
11:15 am: Holy Eucharist, Rite I, in the Tent^
^Please call 912-638-8683 during regular business hours, to reserve your place.
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Family Worship Service Begins Again for Epiphany - Starting on January 10
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 We had such a wonderful time with all of you who worshipped with us at the 10:20 am Child-Centered service this past Advent Season. We have decided to carry on with it during the Season of Epiphany. So, as long as the other tent services meet, we will gather, too, starting on Sunday, January 10. We hope you will join us again under the tent!
Please call the office before 2:00 pm on Friday, January 8, to sign up for that Sunday's service - we have plenty of spots available! Bring lawn chairs, blankets, your rosaries, a doll or a stuffy! We also have chairs available. We will continue to follow the guidelines for social distancing - six feet apart from others outside your family unit, wear your mask, and please stay home if it might be possible that you have COVID.
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| Evening Prayer |
If you enjoy hearing Evening Prayer read, please look for it at 5:00 pm on the Christ Church Facebook page here. The Rite I bulletin for evening prayer can be found here. The Rite II bulletin for evening prayer can be found here.
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| Christmas Eve 2020 - 6:00 PM Worship |  |
The dramatic change in weather we experienced on Christmas Eve this year did little to deter the faithful from joining us for our outdoor 3:00, 4:00, 5:00 and 7:00 pm services. We did have to cancel the 8:00 pm service, when the rain and wind got too wild, but we have our 6:00 pm indoor service recorded for all who missed worshipping with us that night. Please view it here. |
| Christmas Pageant - The Movie! |  |
COVID-19 played a big and most unwelcome role in everybody's 2020 Christmas worship plans, so this year's creative solution at Christ Church was to turn our Children's Pageant into a movie, which was shown at our 3:00 and 4:00 pm Christmas Eve outdoor worship services. The children did a great job telling the story of Jesus's birth and Mtr. Katie thanks all who helped make this special "movie" a reality! You can watch it HERE. Please feel free to share with friends and family!
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| Christmas Day Worship |  |
Christmas Day dawned bright and chilly on St. Simons Island and all were invited to tune in at 10:00 am to the Christ Church livestream and watch Christmas Morning Holy Eucharist, from St. Ignatius Chapel. If you missed it and would like to see the service, please go to the link HERE. |
| Women's Book Study |
The Women's Book Group will begin a new book on Thursdays during the Season of Epiphany. We will be reading Take This Bread by Sara Miles.
Take this Bread is a journey of person's faith and the impact of the Sacramental Faith. If you would like to be a part of this group discussion or have any questions, please contact Mother Ashton at [email protected].
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| Devotionals |
 If you are a regular reader of the Forward Day by Day devotionals that are typically available in the Christ Church office and would like to continue to have access to them, please contact Glenn Queener at [email protected]. Glenn would like to have your name and street address, so he can send you copies of the booklets. You can also find the devotionals online here. |
| Adult Sunday Class Continues Break |
The Adult Sunday Class, led by the Rev. Bob Brown continues to be on hiatus. For questions about the class and future studies, please contact Bob at [email protected].
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| Kidurgy | |
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Mother Katie continues to record weekly Kidurgy lessons for our children which you may watch on Sunday mornings with your children online, or whenever it's convenient during the week. See the most recent Kidurgy lesson HERE.
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| Confirmation Class for Age 16 and Up |
 This spring we would have offered a Confirmation Class under normal circumstances. If you are 16 or older and are interested in becoming an individual member of the church, by making a statement of faith in front of the whole church, please contact Mother Katie at [email protected] by February 1, so that we can make a confirmation class schedule that will accommodate you.
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| Youth Group in January |  |
Calling all youth in grades 6 - 12! Ring in the New Year by joining us for Youth Group, in the tent, on Sunday, January 10, at 6:30 pm. Don't forget to bring your mask and water bottle, and please pay attention to the weather so you can dress appropriately! Have questions? Please contact Mtr. Katie at [email protected].
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| Christ Church Families on Facebook | |
 Families! Please join the Christ Church Families Facebook group to keep up with all the latest events and activities. Find us on Facebook here!
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Mission and Outreach  |
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| Highlights in Helping | |
In case you missed last week's News You Can Use, we want to re-cap some of the highlights of our outreach ministries during 2020. Thank you, faithful people of Christ Church, for continuing to answer the calls of the desperate, in these extremely challenging times.
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| Angel Tree 2020 |  |
Thank you, Christ Church, for sharing the Christmas spirit through our Angel Tree this year. Through your generosity, we helped brighten Christmas morning for 31 children and young adults at Safe Harbor and Burroughs Molette Elementary School with almost 90 gifts in total. This doesn't include ornament package toppers or all the books a local children's author donated. One of the families who received gifts at Burroughs Molette was moved to tears of gratitude when she came to the school to pick up gifts for her children and saw what we had collected. Thank you so much for caring enough to help others during this special time. A special thank you to Donna Purdy for organizing the Angel Tree again this year! Well done, Christ Church!
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| Christmas Baskets 2020 |  |
Many thanks to you, faithful Christ Church parishioners, for your generous support of the Christmas Basket outreach ministry this year. Even though our collection time was short, due to a late Thanksgiving, we still managed to collect enough food to give 25 local families full Christmas dinners and have extra items to donate to our other food ministries. Thank you for coming through, once again, Christ Church! And thank you to our youth, for helping organize all the food for our packers!
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| Backpack Buddies - Taking Care of Our Friends in a Pandemic Year
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The year 2020 has been a record-setting year for the Backpack Buddies Program. This is attributable to the pandemic and school closures. The demand for food bags reached unprecedented levels during the March through December period.
The backpack buddies team packed and distributed 21,876 weekend food bags to children and families in need. Averaging around 13 food items per plastic storage bag, our effort entailed packing approximately 284,000 food items weighing just shy of 98,000 pounds. Schools and agencies served have increased as well. Our bags are serving homeless teens at Safe Harbor's Street Beat program, and children at Children in Action Sports Camp, Burroughs Molette, St. Simons, Oglethorpe, Golden Isles, Glyndale, and C.B. Greer Elementary Schools.
The Program has also been record breaking in terms of donor support. Schools are adding children almost every week, so we welcome new donors as well as our steadfast supporters!
Christ Church has partnered with St. Athanasius, our sister Episcopal parish in Brunswick, to distribute groceries to adults in need every two weeks. We were fortunate enough to distribute over 13,000 pounds of fresh fruits and vegetables as well as some dairy and eggs through Second Harvest's participation in the USDA's Farms to Families program. Second Harvest is our main supplier of food at unbelievably low SNAP prices.
In addition to the thousands of washable masks Christ Church provided when school resumed, Backpack Buddies provided thousands of disposable adult and children's masks to households this spring and summer.
2020 has been a landmark year in Christ Church's outreach to the hungry, but program director Susan Shipman knows she speaks for everyone involved (40+ individuals) that it has been a landmark year in terms of rewards. "We've reaped as much, if not more, than those we have served."
You are welcome to donate to the Backpack Buddies ministry by check (just mail it to Christ Church, at 6329 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522 - check memo, Backpack Buddies) or give online HERE (choose Backpack Program).
We are always grateful for your help with the Backpack Buddies mission! If you have any items you'd like to donate this week, they may be dropped off on the front porch at the Christ Church Parish House. If you have any questions about the Backpack Buddies program, please contact Susan Shipman at [email protected].
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| Supporting Our Seafaring Friends in 2020 |
This year, under the leadership of Mtr. Katie, our young Pathfinders in grades 3 through 5, took on the task of preparing gift boxes for the seafarers who will be visiting the Port of Brunswick during the 2020 Christmas season. The children filled 20 boxes with toiletries, snacks, small gifts and snug caps, which were knitted and crocheted by our talented and dedicated Christ Church Comforters. Many thanks to the youngsters and all the folks at Christ Church who participated in this annual outreach project!
If you would like to make a box or ditty bag for the seafarers yourself, there's still time! Just get a clear plastic shoe box or a small drawstring bag and add 12-15 of the items from the list above. Then drop off the box or bag at the International Seafarers Center at 307 Newcastle Street, Brunswick, GA. Help put a smile on the face of one of our seafaring friends!
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| The Christ Church Door Ministry |
 The Christ Church Door Ministry has continued to assist needy Glynn County residents with emergency funds for utility bills throughout the COVID pandemic. Families needing help during the last few months were interviewed via telephone, instead of in person, to adhere to COVID safety guidelines. Power and water bills were paid directly to the utility suppliers from Door Ministry funds. This year, we have paid over $13,000 to help our neighbors who have found themselves in emergency circumstances. If you would like to contribute to the Door Ministry, you may make your check to Christ Church, Frederica, with Door Ministry in the memo line. Checks may also be dropped off at the church office during our normal business hours, Tuesday-Friday, or mailed to Christ Church, Frederica 6329 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522.
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| 2021 Vestry Nominations |
 Nominations are now closed for the 2021 vestry election. This year's nominating committee members are Rip Graham, Tisa O'Cain, Ellen Kuehm, Julianne Temple, Tony Kreimborg and Susan Shipman. With Fr. Tom, these six individuals are creating the slate of nominees for election at the annual meeting, which will be held virtually, on Sunday, January 24, 2021.
Election Day January 24, 2021
Voting for the Christ Church 2021 Vestry election will take place in person, after the outdoor worship services at 8:00 and 11:15 am on Jan. 24 and via drive-through that morning, following the 11:15 service. More details will be coming.
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| A Message from the Christ Church Wardens |
 Please consider a year-end donation to say thank you to our staff at Christ Church. They always work hard on our behalf, and this year has been no different. In fact, the pandemic has seen our staff work even harder to find ways to meet the ministry needs of the parish while navigating all the stresses and challenges of this year. We think they have done a phenomenal job, and we hope you will agree. Donations may be sent to Christ Church, with a memo for "Staff Appreciation". Monies collected will be evenly divided among the staff proportionally based on their status as PT or FT employees. Please note, Father Tom chooses not to participate in this process to ensure the rest of the staff is well taken care of. Please consider a Christmas gift to our wonderful staff!
Beth Smith, Sr. Warden
David Blatchford, Jr. Warden
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| End of the Year Gifts |
 As we approach the final days of 2020, we'd like to extend an invitation for year-end gifts that would benefit Christ Church and may benefit you if you find yourself looking for additional annual deductions. If you would like to make a gift via stock transfer, or if you have any other questions about year-end giving, please contact our Financial Administrator, Stan Kyker or our Parish Administrator, Glenn Queener. They can both be reached at 912-638-8683. If a year-end gift fits into your plans, thank you!
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| Making a Charitable Distribution |
In this season of giving, and as we wrap up 2020, we've got some information to share about making charitable donations from the required distribution of your IRA, should it apply to you.
Did you know that you can make a donation of all or a portion of the Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement account to Christ Church, and your donation will be tax exempt? Here's how it works. If a person is at least age 70 and a half, they must take at least a minimum distribution from their IRA or incur a penalty equal to one half of the otherwise required minimum distribution amount. They may take more than the minimum at their discretion. These individuals may instruct their IRA account manager to distribute any amount of their choosing to one or more tax-exempt charities such as Christ Church.
When that is done, it is considered to be a tax exempt contribution. Christ Church would acknowledge to the giver the receipt of that contribution from their IRA. Also, this contribution is tax-exempt even if the individual does not itemize deductions for income tax purposes because the IRA account manager would not identify this to the IRS as reportable income in accordance with the tax code. For more information about Qualified Charitable Distributions, check out the Internal Revenue Service Publication 590-B, "Distributions from Individual Re-tirement Arrangements (IRAs)" or speak with your tax advisor.
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| Giving Made Easy | |
You may use the CCF website to make pledges, donations and payments for some activities. Just select "Giving" at the top of the CCF homepage. This brings you to the pay portal. The process is fast and easy and allows you to pay by credit or debit card or by electronic bank transfer. You may change or add new payment methods at any time. Contact: Stan Kyker, CCF financial administrator at 912-638-8683.
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Pastoral Care and Prayer List
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Pastoral Care
Your pastoral care team is here for you! If you have a pastoral concern, a blessing you'd like to share, want to arrange a hospital or home visit, and/or receive Holy Communion, please contact Mother Ashton Williston at 912-638-8683 or [email protected].
Prayer List
To amend our prayer list or to update the church on the condition of your loved one, please email Mtr. Ashton Williston at [email protected] or call the church office at 912-638-8683.
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Nancy Acree
Sam Barrick
Beryl Blatchford
David Blatchford
Tory Braden
Judy Bradford
Rowland Bradford
Andraus Brice, Sr.
Anne Brown
June Brown
Beverly Burns
Jackie Byrne
Colleen Cassidy
Zoann Covington
Jim Curran
Sarah Dance
Jackie Davis
Linda Davidson
Marie Dennard
Tom Dennard
Mary Lou Detwiler
Natalie Dixon
Patricia J. Ellison
Dave Geiszler
Julie Hancock
Kim Harrison
Burgess Hartsell
Larry Hartsell
Andrew Hobbs
Carol Hoffine
Lise Hofmann
Angela Holland
Jessica Hope
Bob Huggins
Gordon Jackson
Mark Jicha
Holly Lamb
Mary Landen
Dott Marler
Tom Martin
Kathy Marvel
Claire McCarty
Donald McCullough
Frank Owenby
Andy Padgett
Judy Paige
Pep Peppiatt
Dale Pierson
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Alison Quirk
Robert Quirk
Johnny Riddle
Julia Riddle
Terry Hall Robbins
Willou Smith
David Somerville
Sam Spak
Nancy Stamper
Mike Swindling
Edith Tayloe
Christina Taylor
Lauren Ward
Sarah Whitman
Jennifer Willingham
Royce Wood
Amy
Ava
Betty
Bob
Carol
Dale
Dave
Dick
Dr. Pep
Dorothy
Jack
Jake
Jim
Joanne
Jordan
Karen
Katherine
Larry
Maria
Marianne
Marjorie
Marla
Megan
Michael
Muriel
Pidge
Richard
Susan
Tom
Traci
Virginia
Walter
Departed:
Jennie Doyle
Sally Jones
The Rev. Bill Littleton
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