Safe Worship – The Next Developments
As we approach the Governor’s goal of 70% vaccinated we are far safer than we were during the worst of the surges. As of this week those who have received full vaccination (and the two week post-vaccination period) are allowed by the state to proceed without masks.
Thursday morning, the Diocese of Easton released new, substantially relaxed protocols. We will enact as many of these changes as possible for this Sunday. All entrances will be available. No check in will be required.
There is a difference between doing what is permitted and how we as Christians interact with the world. Jesus’ commandment that we love one another places additional burdens on us. As Christians, we are obligated to protect our children who have not been vaccinated as well as those whose immune systems are compromised.
Last Monday night, the Vestry affirmed the continuing of wearing masks during worship. We are a singing congregation and mask wearing is still expected for singing.
We will discuss this decision during announcements on Sunday.
I ask your patience and prayer as we sail these uncharted waters. We practice radical hospitality at Christ Church. Please place the needs of others as a high priority.
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You send forth your Spirit, and they are created; *
and so you renew the face of the earth.
Psalm 104:30
Celebrate the Breath of the Spirit
Psalm 104 is a great Psalm for the Spring! The exuberant song of praise gives thanks to God for every aspect of creation. The psalmist can scarcely contain himself as his mind spins to every corner of the universe.
By turn, he offers praise for the skies, the earth, the seas, the fresh water rivers, plants & animals, even sea monsters! Everything is delightful and everything depends on God at every moment of existence.
This spring has been one great growth after another. As we emerge from a winter of distancing and pandemic, this spring has appeared ridiculously beautiful to me. Right now as I look out my window, a cloudless blue sky wraps the achingly green reach of the pine trees. Birds and frogs take turns with their songs.
The Psalmist attributes all of this energy to God. Recalling how God’s Spirit moved at beginning of creation (Genesis 1:2), the psalmist imagines God sending forth the Spirit again, renewing everything in creation. You will recall that in both Hebrew and Greek, the word can be translated both spirit and breath. The air in our lungs and the wind in the trees all belong to God. In this way, the sending of the spirit is very much like breathing. Inhaling life, exhaling with new energy.
Pentecost is here. So spend some time this week finding your own reasons to praise God. The mud of the wetlands and hug of a vaccinated friend are equally life-giving. Even more importantly, you and I are called to be co-creators, providing new life and energy in our own time and place.
The fruits of all this breathing, this spirit, are many. Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-Control; these show our participation in God’s Creation. Bless the Lord! Hallelujah!
Peace,
Mark +
O God, who on this day taught the hearts of your faithful people by sending to them the light of your Holy Spirit: Grant us by the same Spirit to have a right judgment in all things, and evermore to rejoice in his holy comfort; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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IN-PERSON WORSHIP SERVICE
Each SUNDAY at 9:30AM
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This Sunday's Worship Service
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Please pray for: Lorraine Aaron, Al Athey (RIP), Anne Barr, Bill, Louis Brutto, Joan Cammarata, Chris, Mary & Chad Clapsaddle, Margie Conlin, James Cox, Bob & Laura Dean, Deny, Jackie Dick (RIP), Robert Doak (RIP), Mike Faulkner (RIP) & his family, Susan Fralic, Eddie Garback (son of Ed & Bette), Glen, Carol Holland, Chalk Jewell, Katie LaMaire, Bishop George Macko (RIP), Molly Mays, Sharon McCain, The McIntosh/Shepard Family-Ali, Quinn, Cameron,Tom Mendenhall, The Nelsons, Camilla Parrott, John Perkins, Geoff Price (RIP), Paul Ray, Mike Robertson, Gary Valentine, Lynne Wilkins, Bob Willis, Jack Wright
Prayer Requests can be sent to prayer@ccpki.org
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Christian Formation
Learn more about the gifts of the Holy Spirit by tuning into “Wednesdays with Winne.” This week we cover the gifts of Counsel, Fortitude and the Fear of the Lord. In “Lessons with Lisa” we see how the wind can remind us of the Holy Spirit and hear the story of how the Holy Spirit came into the room and filled the followers of Jesus with peace. This is called Pentecost and thought of as the birth of the church. Bring your Pentecost windsock to church this week and wear red to help celebrate the birth of the church.
Peace,
Miss Lisa and Winnie
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Volunteers needed to help perform church audit. The Finance Committee is looking for 2-3 parishioners to help with an audit of the church finances this year. No experience is necessary, but the ability to balance a checkbook is helpful. A commitment of 6-8 hours is required. If interested, contact Brenda in the office, or Cary Gates at 443-481-0914.
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Broad Creek Cemetery
Service of Remembrance
The Service of Remembrance will be held on
Saturday, June 19, 2021 at 1:00 pm
at
Broad Creek Cemetery
370 Romancoke Rd
Stevensville, MD
All are welcome!
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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)
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CECDS News
CECDS is in the process of registration for school year 2021-22. We are offering classes 3 days a week (Monday, Wednesday and Friday) for school year 2021-22. We have a few opening s in our 3 day Nursery class and in our 3 day Full day Pre-K class. The morning Pre-K class is at capacity.
Scholarship applications are available upon request. We are beginning to offer in person tours of the school. Please call the school at 410-643-8248 or email at cecds@verizon.net for an appointment.
Lisa Oesterling, Director of CECDS
410-643-8248
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Ways to Support Christ Church
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Electronic Giving: Click Here
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Text to Give by texting CCPKI to 73256
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Bank: Have your bank send a check or make an ACH transfer
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By Check: CCPKI 830 Romancoke Rd. Stevensville MD 21666
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During the last year, a number of our parishioners joined over 5,000 people in 1,712 local groups in participating in the 10-part Sacred Ground program developed by the national Episcopal Church. This program explored U.S. history as it relates to Indigenous, Black, Latinos, and Asian/Pacific American histories and what binds us all together.
From the Sacred Ground program, came a desire to learn more about the history of Kent Island and Christ Church, with emphasis on the life of African Americans on Kent Island and how Christ Church has adapted and survived for 390 years.
If you are interested in the history of Christ Church and Kent Island, we invite you to join us in a Zoom discussion on Wednesday, May 26 at 7 p.m. Whether you have information to share or questions you would like answered, you are welcome to join in our journey to learn more about our past.
At the meeting we will discuss, what we would like to study and how we should do this. Areas that might be explored include:
- Who were the Native Americans who were here when Kent Island was settled? What happened to them?
- Did the African Americans on Kent Island prior to 1900 attend church? If so, where? Were African Americans baptized or married at Christ Church? (At least in the 1840’s the answer is yes.)
- Who was Julianna Blunt who gave land in 1838 to Christ Church for the support of the rector? Why did she make the gift? Where did the land come from? How has that gift made a difference to the church?
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If you are interested in being part of this group but are not able to join in the discussion on Wednesday, May 26, please let Father Mark or Dottie Wilson know.
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Finding affordable housing in Queen Anne’s County can be challenging. The median rent in the county is approximately $1600 a month, $131 above the national average for rent, and the median home price is approximately $329,000, considerably higher than the national median home price of $231,200.
To help address this issue, Haven Ministries is building two homes in Stevensville in which it will operate a Housing Assistance Program to support local residents when affordable housing is unattainable. While participating in the program, participants will work closely with a Haven Ministries' case manager to ensure that they are positioned for success to secure safe and stable long-term housing once their program period is over, usually within two years. Individuals and families who live in Queen Anne’s County may apply for the program and then must pass background checks, pay a program fee, and voluntarily agree to work with a case manager.
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Haven Ministries will continue to operate its seasonal shelter at Kent Island Methodist Church to offer emergency overnight safe and warm accommodations for individuals and families who do not have a dedicated location in which to sleep. Although both of these programs are important, they serve different segments of the community with different needs.
Construction of the homes for the Housing Assistance Program is being funded by private donations, grants, and fundraising activities. Many local businesses, including Lundberg Builders, Torchio Architects, Lane Engineering, and Increte, have already contributed supplies and/or labor to the project. Haven Ministries is very grateful for their contributions and invites other businesses to partner with them in this critically important project.
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SAVE THE DATE
Everyone is invited to watch an online recital by Ensemble Lafayette (Diane Kinsley, organ and Rebecca Anstine Smith, harp) on Wednesday, June 2nd at noon. This recital is sponsored by the Musician’s Performance Trust Fund, and will be live-streamed from the sanctuary of St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, Severn Parish with Fr. Victor Hailey as our technician. When these concerts were established during the height of the Pandemic, “in person” audiences were not permitted, and that is the word to date. The program will include transcriptions of several well-known favorites by J.S. Bach and César Franck, beloved tunes such as Danny Boy and Simple Gifts and conclude with two original works by composer Peter Mathews.
As the date nears, we will be sending a link via email so everyone is able to watch and hope that you will mark your calendars!
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As the 2020-2021 school year begins to wind down, The Sunday Supper Committee is excited announce our next virtual discussion: RISING TOGETHER: Empowering Community Growth. On Sunday, June 6th from 4-6 PM, we will screen a recorded presentation of Maya Angelou's poem "Still I Rise" read by students of Sudlersville Middle School and follow with a facilitated discussion.
We look forward to ending the school year with this discussion, and to seeing our community together one last time before we move in to the summer holidays.
- The Sunday Supper Committee
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Christ Church Parish Kent Island| 410-643-5921 | office@ccpki.org | ccpki.org |
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