Feast of the Baptism of our Lord this Sunday

The Baptism of the Lord, or Theophany, is the feast day commemorating the baptism of Jesus in the Jordan River by John the Baptist. This Sunday, we will celebrate the feast day by renewing our baptismal vows and hear a message from the Rev. Canon Robert Griner. 

Cover art: Baptism of the Lord Jesus Christ in the Cathedral of San Marco, artist unknown. 

CANCELLED: Epiphany Party at St. Georges, Maplewood

The Epiphany Party scheduled for January 6 has been cancelled due to the impending inclement weather conditions on Saturday night. Although we’re disappointed, we look forward to finding another time to gather as a region in the spring! 

New: Weekly Morning Prayer

Monday-Thursday, 8:30am – In-person and Zoom

In this new year we invite you to begin your day with Morning Prayer, a time of abiding with God in community. A part of the Daily Office, Morning Prayer is a Spiritual practice with deep roots in the Anglican tradition. The daily recitation of psalms, dwelling in scripture, and speaking with God through prayer helps us to spread wide our branches, to give thanks, to know, and to be known. Join us in person in the baptistry or online via Zoom for this 15-minute service. 

Join Morning Prayers on Zoom

Meeting ID: 874 7000 5903 | Password: CCSH

Coming Soon: Lenten Devotional Sign-Up

Scripture and prayer have long been paths to the heart of God. Combining the two is a special blessing. One of the historic spiritual disciplines during Lent has been to be guided by a devotional collection of readings. This year, we will publish a daily Lenten Devotional with thought-provoking reflections, prayers, poetry, art, and music from members of our own parish community. A sign-up and additional information will be available in next week’s Messenger.

Editors Needed: We need 1-2 volunteer editors to help collect and copy-edit the daily devotionals before they go to print. Interested? Contact the Parish Office. 

Holy Grounds Epiphany Series

Outward and Visible Signs: The Sacraments

Sundays at 9am in the St. Mark's Room

This Epiphany-tide join Rev. Paul and others around the coffee table as we explore the 7 sacraments—what they are; where they come from; why we do them; who they’re for; and, most importantly, what they mean. 

Funeral and Viewing for Leon Surgeon

Saturday, January 6, 6-8pm @ St. George's, Maplewood

Viewings for Leon Surgeon will be held at Christ Church tonight, January 5 from 6pm to 8pm and Saturday, January 6 from 9am to 9:45am. A funeral service will follow at 10am on January 6. After the funeral service, there will be a repast in Parish Hall.

For those unable to attend in person, the funeral service will be live streamed here.

Breakfast Club Youth Gathering

Sunday, January 7, 9am

Youth are invited to gather this Sunday for Breakfast Club beginning at 9am in the Christ Church kitchen. On the first Sunday of each month our middle and high school students meet to prepare our favorite breakfasts together. Don’t miss it! 

On the menu: pancakes, eggs, bacon, and fruit

This is My Story:

Learning to See, Talk, and Share Stories of Faith

Tuesdays, January 9-30, 7-8:30pm

Bishop Hughes’ 2024 Study Group will focus on learning how to talk about faith and developing an ease with using language of faith both inside and outside of our faith communities. We will not focus on converting people or proselytizing, but rather on speaking faith to each other and into the various areas of our lives. Each session will include small group practice time. 

The study group with meet on four consecutive Tuesday nights, Jan 9–30, 7-8:30pm. The first two sessions will be via Zoom, the final two sessions will be in person at St. Peter’s Essex Fells. [Learn more] 

A Case for Love Documentary

Tuesday, January 23, 4pm & 7pm, Various locations

On January 23, a new film inspired by the leadership of Presiding Bishop Michael Curry will be screened at over a thousand theaters nationwide including in Watchung and Wayne, NJ.

“A Case for Love” is a documentary that examines whether love, specifically unselfish love, is the solution to the extreme societal and political divide facing the US.

Now, more than ever, we live in a divided society. Many have moved into tribal corners, seeing the world from an “us versus them” point of view. This documentary focuses on everyday people from across the U.S., striving to live their lives selflessly while representing various ethnicities, walks of life, and socio-economic backgrounds.

In addition to these people, well-known figures, including Sec. Pete Buttigieg, Al Roker, Sam Waterston, the Rev. Becca Stevens, Rep. John Clyburn, Dr. Russell Moore, the Rev. Kelly Brown Douglas, Sen. John Danforth, Rabbi Yeheil Poupko, Dr. Mohammed Elsanousi, Rabbi Shoshana Conover, and historian Jon Meacham offer insight. [Learn more and purchase tickets]

Lay Retreat with Bishop Carlye J. Hughes

February 2-4, 2024 at Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center

Lay members of the diocese are invited to (W)holy Work: Seeing Our Daily Work as Ministry, a weekend retreat with Bishop Hughes at Cross Roads Camp & Retreat Center.

How would our approach to work change if we thought of our work as a holy calling? What if our most precious offering to God is to see ourselves as serving God’s people in the workplace? Join us as spiritual guide Kathleen Henderson Staudt leads a retreat focused on exploring the way we see our work. [Learn more and register]

The Pingry School Choirs Coming to Christ Church

Join us on Sunday, January 21 at 10am when the service will be led by the choirs of the Pingry School. The “Old American Songs” of Aaron Copland will be performed under the direction of Jay Winston and Andrew Moore. The students will also perform a cappella selections during coffee hour following the Eucharist.

Rev. Bowie's Sabbatical: Part II

Rev. Bowie began the second half of her sabbatical this past week and will be away through February 7. During this portion of her sabbatical, she will focus on writing and poetry as a spiritual discipline.

Ongoing Spiritual Formation

Holy Grounds

Sundays at 9am

Gather around a fresh pot of coffee at 9am in the St. Mark’s Room to explore varied extended topics in scripture and Christianity, to ask burning questions, and to deepen our Christian vocation through conversations and learnings on faith.

Note: See above for additional details through Epiphany.

Noonday Prayers

Thursdays at 12pm

Take a brief break on Thursdays at noon to worship together on Zoom. We will use An Order of Service for Noonday from The Book of Common Prayer. All are welcome!

Join Noonday Prayers on Zoom

Meeting ID: 874 7000 5903

Password: CCSH

Fall 2023 Outreach Grants Announced!

The fall cycle of Outreach Grants are listed below, with sustaining grants to many local ministries and some exciting new recipients. Congratulations to all of the recipients. Click on the button below to learn more about the organizations and projects.

All the Way Up Adult Education Center, Newark

Grace Church Choir School, Newark, NJ

Episcopal Preaching Foundation, Springfield, NJ

St Paul’s Choir, Englewood, NJ

Grace Church, Rutherford, NJ

Triangle Park Food Pantry, Jersey City, NJ 

Grace Community Services, Jersey City, NJ

Grateful Paws, Lincoln Park, NJ

South Ward Promise Neighborhood, Newark, NJ

BlinkNow Foundation, Mendham, NJ

Each week, we continue to remember those in need of prayer. 

Special Prayers: Hilary S., Ruth G., Sen K., Sol, and Teresa K. 

We pray for the repose of Leon Surgeon, Terence M. Finan, Charles Callahan, and Doy Hagwood. 

We pray for Elizabeth Henry, daughter of Ray and Susan Henry, and Joshua Bramall who were married on December 29, 2023.

Ongoing Prayers: Rebecca M., Mabel, Leonor D., Suzanne M., Paul J., Vivian J., Jane H., Linda J., Graham P., Sofia D., Liz D., Ginny, Celine, James I., Mary I., Frank B., Angelo B., Andrew G., Peter M., Duke L., Mary T., Joanie, Katia G., Priscila F., Winnie, Curtis F., Lupe V., Sandra, Donna N., and Elena B.

Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: We pray for We pray for St. Peter’s Church, Mountain Lakes; Grace Church, Newark; and St. Peter’s Church, Mt. Arlington

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: We pray for The Scottish Episcopal Church

We pray for: For Peace in the world and an end to war, especially in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine. We pray for all those effected by the earthquakes in Japan.

Please contact the Rev. Paul Keene if you have any prayer requests or would like a pastoral visitation.