This Week at Christ Church

Christ Church in the City of New Brunswick

Worshiping God, Serving God's People

December 15, 2023 | Events for the week of December 17, 2023

Office Hours: Tuesday - Wednesday 9:00a.m. - 2:30p.m., & Friday 9:00a.m. - 12:30p.m.

The Third Sunday of Advent

Worship Services This Week

JOIN US IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM!

8:00 AM & 10:30AM

Eucharistic Service

Liturgical Ministers Needed!

See links below for sign-ups!

For those joining on Zoom

Click HERE to join the 10:30AM Service

Click HERE to watch the 10:30AM service live on YouTube, or HERE for Facebook, or watch anytime.

Find Sunday's worship service materials below:

8:00 AM & 10:30AM Parish Notes HERE

Follow along with the Book of Common Prayer HERE

Wednesday

Noonday Prayer-click HERE to join

Liturgical Ministers Sign Ups!

Please check your calendars

and sign up!!

December: Here

PARISH EVENTS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY

Holy Eucharist, 8:00AM

Children Pageant Rehearsal, 9:00AM

Advent Series, 9:15AM

Choir Warmup, 9:30AM

Holy Eucharist, 10:30AM

Coffee Hour, 12:00PM

TUESDAY

Tuesdayers, 7:00PM via Zoom

WEDNESDAY

Noonday Prayer via Zoom

WomenSpirit, 7:30PM via Zoom

THURSDAY

Choir Rehearsal, 7:00PM

COVID GUIDELINES

Please review the most current COVID-19 guidelines from the

Diocesan Taskforce for Re-entering, Re-opening, and Re-imagining HERE

Christ Church Advent Series 2023

In much of the church the season of Advent is known for haunting melodies, apocalyptic imaginations, longing for change, and a whole lot of waiting. But what if Advent is more about a demand, an immediate and urgent call for something different?

Using Scripture texts from Isaiah and the Gospels, we will frame Advent differently, calling all into a provocative posture of seeing Jesus here and now. Using the traditional texts, the Advent wreath, and the deep blue color scheme, we will also join the imagination of our people, who are singing carols in their cars and in the malls, who are giving more and sharing more. We will expect Jesus to be in our midst, consistently demand God’s presence, and trust the Holy Spirit in our call, “Why Wait?!”

Join Rev. Joanna in person or on Zoom:

Week 3: Lament Now; Ross Room and Zoom 9:15am-10:00am

Week 4: Peace Now; Zoom ONLY 10:30am-11:15am (after our one 9:30am Zoom Morning Prayer)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83944528112?pwd=dEtESlByM1BzdzU3QWlMbTB2SXBHQT09

Meeting ID: 839 4452 8112

Passcode: 195056

ADVENT SERIES RESOURCES GALOR!

NEW THIS YEAR: Weekly 5-9 minute at-home practice

videos!!!

https://vimeo.com/user/22210734/folder/18284251

The link for the Reflection and Activity Packet can be found in the weekly email and paper copies of them can be found in the back of the church!

There is also a book that you can use in your Advent practice: Ordinary Blessings for the Christmas Season: Prayers, Poems and Meditations . We have purchased 10 copies of the book for those for whom the cost of the book ($17-$18) may be difficult to come up with or who do not like to purchase things online. You can also purchase the book here https://tinyurl.com/2e389vb4 or here https://tinyurl.com/mw62apry.

Finally, there is a beautiful printable Advent Calendar that you may use with or without Ordinary Blessings. You will find the calendar HERE or there are copies in the back of the church.

December, 2024 Laundry Love Report

On December 12 your contributions and volunteer hours allowed 32 families to wash up to 620 pounds of clothing and bedding for 88 people. Unfortunately, we ran out of cards and five people were turned away. We did serve 25 first-time guests from 11 households. Also for the first time some of our Laundry Love guests were not on their best behavior, and I will be meeting with Hector, the manager of Handy Street Laundromat, to discuss how we can help our guests be more considerate of others using the facility. A first step will be to spend more time circulating once the cards, detergent, and softener is distributed so that our volunteers develop more of a relationship with our guests and so that we can spot any difficulties that arise.

Again, thank you for the tremendous gift Christ Church is giving to the New Brunswick community. Our next session is January 9. We welcome any volunteers who want to come and mingle with our friends as they complete that most basic chore of doing the wash. Feel free to bring your own laundry and toss in a load to join in the companionship. (Handy Street has those immense units that handle quilts and other large objects with ease).

Catherine Ambos, Coordinator

New Brunswick Laundry Love

Christ Church Annual Giving Tree

This year the Angel Gift Tree will focus on three

ministries: The Rector's Discretionary Fund; Laundry Love; and the Men's Rotating Shelter.

We are seeking donations of cash/check or gift cards to support these specific ministries. The Rector's Discretionary Fund can use cash or gift cards; Laundry Love- cash, and the Men's Shelter- cash or gift cards (Visa/etc).

Starting Dec. 3, through Dec. 31, you will find different colored angels on the tree in the back of the sanctuary; one for each ministry.

Presiding bishop invites applicants for 2024 UN Commission on the Status of Women delegation

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites applicants for Episcopal delegates ages 19 and up to represent The Episcopal Church in person and virtually at the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW68) in New York City, March 11-22, 2024.

Applications are due by Dec. 15. Find all criteria and applications online in English and Spanish.

The 2024 UNCSW session lists its priority theme as “accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

Learn more HERE.

Beware: Scam Messages on the Rise:

Have you received any suspicious text messages or emails lately? Learn ways to protect yourself HER E

Return of Coffee Hour

Dear Christ Church members,

The Sign - Up sheet located on the notice board by the Nicholas Room, each host/hostess will be asked to bring some cookies or a comparable alternative as well as a juice item to be served for fellowship attendees. Thanks for your co-operation.

Wendy Benjamin – on behalf of the Fellowship Committee.

Taking Faith Home is a resource that provides a weekly guide for faith-filled conversations and actions during the church year. Taking Faith Home for the month of November can be found below:

Forward Day by Day booklets (large and regular print) for November, December, and January have arrived. Please contact the office to have a copy mailed to your home.

There are so many other ways to be involved at Christ Church! Find your inspiration HERE with 101+ ways to be involved at Christ Church!

Finance Update November 2023

Finance Committee Invitation

The Finance Committee will be having conversations about increasing our parish income! Meetings are on the 4th Saturday of each month at 10a.m. You may join the meetings using this link HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact Bruce Anderson at aba18s@yahoo.com.

Vestry Corner:

Key Topics from the November 2023

Vestry Meeting

1) The Vestry was so happy to meet in person for this Vestry meeting!

2 ) At the meeting held on Dec. 10th, the Vestry reviewed the proposed budget for 2024. After questions were asked and answered, and discussion took place around various specific items, the Vestry unanimously voted to approve the budget. This will be shared prior to the February 4, 2024 Annual Meeting.

3) Through review of data collected at the Listening Sessions held at the end of October, with approximately 30 parishioners participating, the Vestry approved a revised job description of the Music Minister. This description will be posted in the next few weeks. Stay tuned for more information.

Minutes of the November 2023 meeting can be found HERE.

To help support those in the Middle East. Visit the link to donate HERE.

Have you completed your online Pledge Certificate for 2024? You will find the link HERE

Thank you to those who have pledged $257,675 to date.

Mark McMahon

The Pullaro Family

Penelope Lattimer

H. Arthur Phills

John Ager

Meegan Adames

Barry Qualls

Nancy Lown

Monica Williams & Jeremiah Weston Kevin Stansbury

David Bell

Wendy Benjamin

Jo Duhr

Margaret Caroline Brown-Stansbury Mr. Ronald Stansbury

Gerri Callahan

Debra Lowe

Sandra Smithson

Jean Houvener

Renis and Mervis Johnson

Peggy Smith

David G, Briggs & Beverly B. Briggs

Beth Binde

Sheila Cooper

Penelope Gordon

The Rev. Joan E. Fleming

Towanda Stovall

Barbara Patricia (Pat) Lowe

Sarah Braun

Joan S Borden

Kenreic and Marva VanLoo

Jonathan Gloster

The Rev. Joanna Hollis

Jean Zimmerman

Margaret Hall

Zida & Allen Abbott, Sr.

Barry & Dawn Johnson

Elizabeth & Jonathan Clark

Paul & Catherine Ambos

Dale and Patricia Buckendahl

Tanya Penman-Sterling

Eugene Lisnay

Ashlinn Stansbury-Fields & Jeffrey Fields, Jr. Gordon Arsenoff

Rozanne Jhamb

Lori Covery and James Nichols

Gloria Peroune

Kelly-Jane Cotter & Stacy Bruden

Karen Bemis & Doug Bonar

John and Leticia Egekeze

Edna Pozo

Barbara Chludzinski

Louise F. Deis

Fernanda Perrone

Melbourne & Alice Garber

Nancy Walworth and Bob Chant

Robin Stephenson

Stephanie Elson

A. Bruce Anderson

Thelma Fergusson

Joanna & Stephen Greenwood

Winifred Connerton & Jennifer Ryan

Christopher & Isha Davies

Yvette Bailey

Vincent & Stephanie Ryan

John Sullivan

Our work TOGETHER depends on your support.

Christmas Eve

Morning Prayer, Advent 4, 9:30 a.m.

Family Eucharist & Christmas Pageant, 4:00 p.m.

Special Christmas Music, 8:45 p.m.

Celebratory Choral Eucharist, 9:00 p.m.

Christmas Day

Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.

Christmas 2023 Flower Memorials and Gifts

Each Christmas our Church is beautified with flowers memorializing departed loved ones, commemorating anniversaries or representing thank offerings. Flower memorials and gifts may also be provided throughout the year. The cost for each Christmas donation or a single date in 2023 is $50. A perpetual memorial may be established with a one-time contribution of $500.

To be included in the printed Christmas leaflets, we must receive your request no later than Tuesday, December 19.

Send your memorials via mail or email to admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org

Christmas 2023 Flower Memorials and Gift

Christmas Music 2023

Support our special music during the 9:00pm Festive Eucharist on Christmas Eve. We will have delightful musical offerings, and your favorite Christmas music. Just as flowers, plants, and other decorations adorn our worship space on festive occasions, special music also add to the beauty of our Christmas liturgies.

Will you consider a donation to our Christmas music? Donations may be given as memorials or thanksgivings. Please make checks payable to Christ Church, and mark the memo line “Christmas Music.” Gifts may be mailed to the Parish Office or put in the collection plate. To be included in the printed Christmas leaflets, we must receive your request no later than Tuesday, December 19.

Send your memorials via mail or email to admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org

Christmas Music 2023

Join our very own

Rev. Joanna Hollis for the

Longest Night

Bilingual Prayer Service.

Wednesday, December 20th at 1:00p.m.

UMC at New Brunswick, George Street

Recognizing the holidays aren't always happy, anyone struggling with depression, anxiety, addiction, grief, loneliness, separation from family, and/or any other trauma or challenge are welcome to gather for comfort and encouragement on this longest night of the year.

Calling all Volunteers!

For the past many years, the Parish House and Choir Building windows have been sealed with plastic sheets to make the spaces more comfortable and reduce our energy consumption.

This year, the Auditorium is the first priority for our tenants and the men’s shelter, followed by the choir room. If time permits, the kitchen, Ross, and Nicholas Rooms will be completed as well.

John is generally available the week before and the week after Christmas. It would be great to have help to expedite the process.

Please reach out to John at jager@optonline.net if you have interest and have availability.

Every winter, houses of worship in New Brunswick unite to open their doors to our unhoused neighbors. We rotate from church to church each week and typically house about 15 men. The shelter runs from 22 December to 10 March, when the temperatures are below freezing. Christ Church will be hosting 31 December to 14 January.

The ministry has been running for over 20 years, and is recognized by our homeless neighbors and by community leaders as compassionate, life-saving, and much needed.

This year, our needs are:

· Volunteers to stay overnight with the guests

A full shift is 7 PM – 7AM and partial shifts are possible.

At Christ Church, volunteers will typically sleep in the choir room from 11 PM –5:30 AM and then start the coffee pots.

· Volunteers to clean and to help move cots from one church to the next on Sunday mornings

· Volunteers to cook or bring meals for 15 guests + 3 volunteers

· If you can’t volunteer your time, you can also donate supplies or money

To sign up for a shift or meal, please reach out to Jason Kaelber at interfaithrotatingshelter@gmail.com or 848 228 3620. We also have a few volunteer openings Christmas week at the synagogue, and later in the season, so you need not restrict yourself to the days Christ Church is hosting.

Thank you for supporting this ministry and the homeless men of New Brunswick!

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ANNUAL MEETING COMMITTEE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the following parishioners have been

appointed to the Annual Meeting Committee of Christ Church for the

February 4, 2024 Annual Meeting of the parish:

Meegan Adames, Chair

Paul Ambos, Parliamentarian

Arnold Bruce Anderson

Margaret Brown-Stansbury

H. Arthur Phills

Shannon Pullaro

The offices to be filled at the meeting are:

People's Warden (one-year term) (one to be elected)

Vestrymember (three-year term) (two to be elected)

Diocesan Convention Deputies (one-year term) (three to be elected) (1 meeting + associated costs)

Diocesan Convention Alternate Deputies (one-year term) (three to be elected) (1 meeting + associated costs)

Delegate to Northern Convocation (one-year term) (six to be

elected)

Nominations for the offices to be voted on should be made through the Committee by completing and signing a nomination form and submitting it to the parish office or giving it in person to any member of the

Committee.

Would you like to join the Vestry or become a Diocesan Convention Deputy or Alternate? Know someone who may be great for the

position?

If yes, please fill out the nomination form HERE or

in-person

on the table in the back of the church.

Prayers requested for:

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Arnold, Christine, Dale, Danielle, Doreen, Dorothy, Eleanor, Isobel, Jacqueline, Jim, Joy, Karl, Lenora, Larry, Mary, Matthew, Sarah, Shawn, Tabby, Timothy, Vivian, and Winston.

Christ Church Ministry: Altar Guild

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea.

Diocesan Cycle Prayer: The Revs: Canon Valerie L. Balling, Barton Brown, Nicholas Chase Danford, Kristen Foley, Frederick Galano, Rosemary H. Lillis, Robert A. Nagy, Canon Dr. Martin U.N. Oguike, Fernando Paiva, III, Canon Ronald N. Pollock, C. Scott Trull, James C. Walworth.

Birthdays this week: Yazmyne Abbott, Kendall Beckles, Frank Deis, Katherine Hadzimichalis, Kris Hendricks, Cecile Hopkins, Raritan Long, Ruth Macdonald.

Memorial Flowers: are given by Mary Nelson and Family in loving memory of Gilbert L. Nelson.

Faith Formation Newsletter

Thank you for your generous giving to support the Mission and Ministry of Christ Church!

We encourage you to send your pledges and donations to Christ Church in a variety of ways:

Go to the Donate/Pledge page on our website and give through PayPal
Schedule payments through your bank to Christ Church directly
Zelle to admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org
Mail in a check to Christ Church

Bishop French's statement regarding the Gaza and Israel: HERE

News and Events from Diocesan Offices & Committees

Click HERE for Diocesan News and to subscribe to the Diocesan weekly newsletter, Good News in the Garden State

Opportunities to share your time, talent, and treasure

Secure donations for Laundry Love, RaiseRight, as well as General Donations or Pledge contributions can be made on our website by clicking HERE. You can also donate through the bill pay app at your bank, or by using Zelle. Zelle payments may be sent through your bank and directly deposited to the church via email to admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org
You can still purchase your RaiseRight cards to support the church! You can pay through Zelle or PayPal and designate that payment to RaiseRight, Payments received will be reported to Paul Ambos. Please contact Paul by phone (732) 572-2067 or email HERE to place your order.
LAUNDRY LOVE is back to doing Laundry Love in-person at the Handy Street Laundromat, 314 Handy Street, New Brunswick, on the second Monday of every month from 5:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Parish volunteers to assist are always welcome. Email Catherine Ambos, msambos@gmail.com to volunteer. You can donate to Laundry Love through the DONATE tab on our web site HERE .