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THE MESSENGER
December 15, 2023
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Priestly Ordination of The Rev. Paul Keene
Saturday, December 16, 10am
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Join us tomorrow at 10am for the ordination of the Rev. Paul Keene! God willing and the people consenting, the Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, Bishop of the Diocese of Newark, will ordain Rev. Paul to the Sacred Order of Priests at Christ Church beginning at 10am. A festive reception will follow. You can RSVP here and you are invited to keep Rev. Paul in your prayers this weekend.
A purse is being collected for a gift to Rev. Paul. You can contribute through our website or you can mail a check to the office with Ordination Gift in the memo line.
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Can't Attend In-person? Watch the Livestream. | |
The Longest Night Service
Thursday, December 21, 7:30pm @ St. Stephen's, Millburn
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During the Longest Night Service, we companion those who struggle during the holiday season and acknowledge the pain experienced by many during this time. With the Winter Solstice being the longest night, it provides an opportunity for us to gather as a community to worship and to heal together. This is an in-person service with our friends at St. Stephen's, Millburn (119 Main St., Millburn).
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Children's Christmas Pageant
Sunday, December 24, 4pm
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Celebrate with us next Sunday at 4pm during the Annual Nativity Pageant with Holy Eucharist. The Canterbury Choir will sing many of our Christmas favorites and the service includes a narration and reenactment of the Nativity Gospel story according to Luke with the Sunday School Children.
If your child is in the pageant, please bring them to the rehearsal this Sunday at 11am and the final rehearsal on December 24 at 2pm. If you have any questions please contact the Rev. Dr. R. Kevin Johnson.
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Christmas Music & Flowers
Christmas is coming! The time when Christ Church is filled with song and adorned with flowers to celebrate the birth of Christ. It is your donations that make the glorious music and flowers possible. Please consider a gift to help us prepare for Christmas. You can download and complete a flower dedication form or email the Parish office before December 18.
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Embrace-a-Family
This is the season for giving and this year we are embracing several families residing at the Apostles House in Newark. The Embrace-a-Family Outreach at Christ Church is an annual project inspired by the Advent season to fulfill the wish list items to families in need. If you signed up to give, gifts should be delivered to Christ Church by this Sunday, December 17 at 10am.
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Advent Morning Prayers Continue this Week
Mondays-Thursdays, 8:30am
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This Advent, 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 or online via ZOOM.
Join Advent Morning Prayers on Zoom
Meeting ID: 874 7000 5903
Password: CCSH
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CHILDREN, YOUTH, & FAMILIES | |
Youth Group Christmas Party
Sunday, December 17, 5-7pm @ Grace, Madison
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This Sunday at 5pm, students in grades 6-12 from parishes in the Evelyn Underhill Region of the Diocese of Newark are invited to a Christmas Party hosted at Grace Episcopal Church in Madison, NJ. We will begin the evening with Chipotle catered for dinner and end the evening with a “Secret Santa” gift exchange game. There will be a lot of fun activities and snacks in between. Everyone who comes will need to bring one wrapped gift valued between $10-$15 for the “Secret Santa” exchange (NO gift cards).
The event is FREE to attend and friends are welcome to join. Please RSVP to Chris Whitaker by today at 2pm.
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Family Retreat at Cross Roads Camp
Friday, January 12-Saturday, January 13
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Mark your calendars for MLK weekend and join the clergy and other Christ Church families for a time of fun and fellowship at Cross Roads Camp. Programming for children will be provided and there will be free time to explore the camp, catch up with friends, and relax with a hot cup of cocoa. The weekend will conclude Saturday at 4pm with a time of worship and reflection at the camp.
There is an overnight and day retreat option available! Overnight accommodations in the Christ Center and 3 meals are $110 for adults (13+), $55 for children (6-12), and children under 6 are free. Interested in joining for the day? Day rates are $22 for adults and $11 for children. To RSVP contact Kevin Johnson.
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Flower Ministry Volunteers | The CCSH Flower Ministry is looking for one more person to join the team! Volunteers serve once a month for one hour to help rearrange the altar flowers after the 10am service. No experience necessary. Please contact the parish office if you are interested in volunteering. | |
The Parish Office will be closed between Christmas and New Year’s Day. The staff will be checking emails periodically throughout the week and available by appointment. The office will reopen with regular hours on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. | |
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Rev. Bowie's Sabbatical: Part II
June 1, 2023 marked Rev. Bowie’s seventh anniversary at Christ Church and the Vestry approved a 3-month sabbatical for her. She completed the first half of her sabbatical in July and August which included travel to Singapore, India and the UK. Rev. Bowie begins the second half of her sabbatical in January/February 2024, with a focus on writing and poetry as a spiritual discipline.
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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.
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Noonday Prayers
Thursdays at 12pm
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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
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It's Not Too Late to Make Your 2024 Pledge! | |
Thank you to those that have already completed your 2024 pledge cards. If you have not already done so, we invite you to prayerfully consider a gift or pledge to Christ Church this year. Pledging gives the church a chance to assess our priorities in a planned and thoughtful way. Your generosity directly impacts our ministry, new initiatives, and our outreach. Please take the time to complete your pledge card online or through the church office and know that we will be grateful for your support at whatever level you are able to provide. | |
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Worship Information for this Sunday | We look forward to seeing you at worship this Sunday! The 8:00am service will be in-person and on Zoom and the 10am service is in-person and live-streamed on our YouTube channel. | |
Christ Church Prayer List | |
Each week, we continue to remember those in need of prayer.
Special Prayers: Hilary S., Ruth G., Sen K., Leon S., Sol, Teresa K.
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, Doy, Katia G., Priscila F., Winnie, Joey P., Curtis F., Lupe V., Daniel P., Sandra, Donna N., and Elena B.
Diocesan Cycle of Prayer: We pray for St. Gabriel’s Church, Milton; St. John’s Church, Montclair; St. Luke’s Church, Montclair
Anglican Cycle of Prayer: We pray for the Anglican Church of Papua New Guinea
We pray for: For Peace in the world and an end to war, especially in Ukraine and Israel/Palestine.
Please contact the Rev. Paul Keene if you have any prayer requests or would like a pastoral visitation.
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