News You Can Use
July 7, 2021
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Rector's Ramblings - Encounters with the Divine |
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Rhythm of the Divine
by Mother Katie
When Father Tom asked me to find guest Rector’s Ramblings writers during his sabbatical, I came up with the prompt for our contributors to reflect on a personal experience of an encounter with the divine. This past week, I read Amena Brown’s poem, She said, “How do you know you are hearing from God.” In the beginning of her reflection, she talks about sensory memories - the taste of corn bread, the sound of music, sunrise blinding vision, the smell of baked bread, the feeling of holding a newborn baby. These are the five senses of humankind help us to process and understand our world. Not only do they help us survive, but they also link us to past times and the people we were with. This triggered for me that I had recently smelled the combination of chlorine and sunscreen and that allowed me to time travel to my childhood summer spent at my grandparents' pool. Since coming to Christ Church, my memories of my grandparents are triggered on a weekly basis.
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In-Person Indoor Worship Schedule
We are now holding in-person worship services in historic Christ Church and in the Christ Church Parish Hall every Sunday morning.
The 8:00 am, BCP 1928 Holy Eucharist, the 9:15 am, Rite II Holy Eucharist and 11:15 am Right I Holy Eucharist services will take place in the Church.
The 10:30 am Child-Centered Holy Eucharist service will be held in the Parish Hall.
COVID Stage II Guidelines for Worship can be found HERE.
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9:15 am Online Worship Continues
Every Sunday, we will continue to offer online worship from Christ Church at 9:15 am, which you can watch on the Christ Church website at https://ccfssi.org, the Christ Church Facebook page HERE and the Christ Church YouTube page HERE.
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Drive Through Communion - Sundays from 10:15 to 11:00 am |
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Drive-Through Communion takes place on Sundays from approximately 10:15 to 11:00 am. There is no need to make a reservation. Cars should enter at the gate next to the mailbox on Frederica Road and exit onto Stevens Road. Please bring your four-legged friends, too. We have special blessings and treats waiting for them! |
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Save the Date for the Blessing of the Backpacks |
On Sunday, August 8, 2021, we will be holding the Blessing of the Backpacks at the 9:15 am service. Please come if you are student, no matter your age, or bring your young students, if you’re a parent or grandparent. Don’t forget to bring the backpacks, so we can bless them and bless you, as everybody begins a new school year! For questions, please contact Mtr. Katie at katie@ccfssi.org.
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Worship at St. Ignatius to Resume in August |
Our 5:30 pm, Saturday evening worship services will begin again at St. Ignatius Chapel on August 21, 2021. Details relating to the Diocesan COVID guidelines will be forthcoming. Father Tom will be back from his Sabbatical and will preach at this first service!
We will also have a Parish-wide celebration of Father Tom’s return on Sunday, August 22, so mark your calendars for that. More information will be coming in July.
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Worship Service Volunteers Urgently Needed! |
Now that we have resumed in-person worship every Sunday at Christ Church, we are in dire need of volunteers to help with all aspects of the four services. We need greeters, ushers, lectors, lay eucharistic ministers and audio technicians to help at 8:00 am, 9:15 am, 10:30 am and 11:15 am. If you are interested in any of these important service opportunities, please contact Glenn Queener at glenn@ccfssi.org or by calling 912-638-8683. Glenn will be delighted to explain what each job entails and make sure you receive any training you may need. Please prayerfully consider joining the Christ Church worship team now!
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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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Flower Dedications for Worship Services |
We are now accepting requests for flower memorials for the beautiful floral arrangements on display during our Sunday worship services. Remember a loved one and give glory to God with a gift of flowers. Please contact Ethel Horton at ethhorton@comcast.net or call her at 912-634-8327 for more information.
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Wednesday Men's Study Group Resumes Meeting In Person |
The Men’s Study Group is now meeting via Zoom, for those who are unable to attend the sessions and in person on Wednesdays, at 10:30 am, in the Youth Room of the Christ Church Parish House. They are currently reading The Gospel of St. Thomas, translated and annotated by Stevan Davies.
For more information about the book or joining the group, please contact Te Turner at royteturner@gmail.com.
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If you are a regular reader of the Forward Day by Day devotionals, you may pick up a copy in the church office during regular business hours Tues. - Thurs., 9:00 am - 5:00 pm, or Fri., 9:00 am - 2:00 pm. You can also find the devotionals online HERE.
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Child-Centered Worship Every Sunday Now at 10:30 am |
Families with young children are encouraged to join us in the Parish Hall every Sunday, at 10:30 am, for our child-centered Holy Eucharist service. Each week, Biblical lessons will be presented in a child-friendly way, as the youngsters learn more about God and Jesus, who always welcomed the little children to his side. |
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Back to the Creek Retreat for Youth! |
July 30 - August 1
Grades 6-12
Cost: $125
Registration is Open!
At the end of July, after a hiatus of almost 17 months, the Diocese is excited to start offering in-person gatherings for youth at Honey Creek! Our first event will take place Friday, July 30 - Sunday, August 1 and will be for youth in Grades 6-12. This "Back to the Creek Retreat" will allow our young people to take a break before their school year begins. Because Covid-19 is still a risk, participant numbers will be limited for this event. Smaller numbers will enable everyone to spread out in the dorms and during worship and other activities. Sign up quickly when registration opens next week!
Please contact Canon Varner at jvarner@gaepiscopal.org with questions about this event! We strongly encourage all participants who are able to do so to get vaccinated before the event!
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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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Backpack Buddies: Little Surprises = Big Smiles |
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The Christ Church Backpack Buddy team is always looking for ways to personalize the food bags for the young children we serve. The youngsters receive seasonal treats like small toys at Christmas, chocolate hearts for Valentine’s Day and candy eggs at Easter. This year, for their Fourth of July celebrations, each child received a red, white and blue pinwheel in his or her weekend food bag.
Sounds easy enough, doesn’t it? Well, it would have been, if the festive pinwheels had not arrived in seven not-so-festive separate pieces, and 500 needed to be assembled! That’s when our volunteers got busy recruiting literally everyone they could find to help put together the Fourth of July treats for the children, and by golly, they got them assembled and just in time for all 500 pinwheels to be delivered the following morning! That’s teamwork at its best! Thanks assembly team!
All are welcome to “adopt” a Backpack Buddy at any time during the year, even NOW, when the school year has come to an end! A sponsorship for a child is $100, which will supply the youngster with weekend food bags for the entire school year. You may donate online HERE, (choose Backpack Program from the drop-down menu), or by check (just mail it to Christ Church, at 6329 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522; memo line, Backpack Buddies).
If you have any questions about the Backpack Buddies program or are interested in joining the packing and distribution teams, please contact Susan Shipman at susanshipman920@gmail.com.
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Christ Church Storm Preparation 2021 |
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In preparation for Tropical Storm Elsa, which has so far proven to be more of a soggy than windy event, the Christ Church worship tent was taken down on Tuesday and the recently installed storm shutters on Christ Church were pulled down for the first time. Storm shutters are currently on order for St. Ignatius, as well, so that our historic structures can be better protected in the event of more damaging weather now and in the future.
Though this storm does not look as though it will cause severe damage, should you ever need assistance preparing for an evacuation, please call us at the church office, 912-638-8683 and let us know what you need.
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Concert for Michael Hulett - July 11, 2021 |
Local singer and musician, Michael Hulett, has been a part of the Christ Church music program for many years and has supported countless community programs over the decades. He is currently facing some serious health issues and a team of local musicians and business people are holding a fundraiser to help him out. The Michael Hulett Benefit will be held from 6:00 to 9:00 pm, on Sunday, July 11, 2021, at Mary Ross Park, in Brunswick. Attendees should bring chairs and refreshments. The cost is $10 per guest but additional donations will be happily accepted. |
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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: Glenn Queener, CCF Parish Administrator at 912-638-8683.
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Pastoral Care & 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 ashton@ccfssi.org.
Pastoral Care Hospital Visitation Update
Your Christ Church Clergy love you and want to know when you're in the hospital. The hospital COVID visitation policy has been updated, so that you may now have two visitors AND a clergy member visit you at the same time.
Please contact us at 912-638-8683 when you or your loved one is admitted into the hospital and we will arrange a visit. If you have any questions or concerns please let Mtr. Ashton know.
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 ashton@ccfssi.org or call the church office at 912-638-8683.
Alana Andrews
Joan Ballard
Allen Bowen
Bob Budd
Beverly Burns
James Burns
Oscar Covington
Zoann Covington
Jim Curran
Jackie Davis
Marie Dennard
Tom Dennard
Jack Erikson
Kurt Federer
Sydney Federer
Lynne Fox
Ron Garrett
Walter Graham
Mark Jicha
Paul Hackenberry
Billie Huggins
Michael Hulett
Eileen Hutchinson
W. J. Hydrick
Ginny Jarrett
Penny Jones
Mary Landen
Davi Langston
Jennifer Littlejohn
Sharon Longmire
Dorothy McClain
Maryalice McDonald
Kelly Macjewski
The Rev. Tom Martin
Carlotta Martz
Jack Martz
Chuck Moore
Connie Moore
Katie Orrel
Josh Payne
Pep Peppiatt
Dale Pierson
Jim Polezoes
Michael Principato
Willou Smith
David Somerville
Edith Tayloe
Deric Tipton
Douglas Turner
Kelly Valentine
Glenda Ward
Pat Wilkinson
Jennifer Willingham
Cannon
Chamblee
Dave
Joan
Joseph
Mary Susan
Virginia
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