Keeping Connected April 12, 2024 | |
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Connect Virtually
We will continue using our new live streaming equipment. You may access our Sunday morning worship service via our YouTube Channel and our Facebook page.
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Dear Ones of Christ Church,
Continued Easter blessings to you! The season we are in is known as Eastertide, or the Great Fifty Days of Easter, marking the time after Jesus’s death and Resurrection and before his Ascension, a time when he made bodily appearances to his disciples, but in a resurrected and transformed body. Jesus eats, breathes, speaks, teaches, and walks with his disciples. This is a joyful time, and also a startling one. In the stories of his Resurrection appearances, the disciples often do not recognize Jesus until something happens—he says their names (John 20:1-18), he asks them to touch his hands and his side (John 20:19-31), he eats a piece of fish (Luke 24:36-48), he breaks bread (Luke 24:13-35), he tells them to cast their nets in a different place (John 21). This Eastertide, amid the changes, goodbyes, and celebrations we will experience at Christ Church, in our diocese, and in our personal, familial, and communal lives, we are invited to spend time with these stories. We might ask:
What resonates with us in these stories? What startles, [dis]comforts, or brings us joy or sorrow about Jesus’s Resurrection appearances?
How have we experienced, or how have we longed to experience, the Risen Christ in our own lives? In the world?
How do we recognize Jesus when he shows up? How do we respond to what he asks of us?
Last week while on retreat in Sewanee, Tennessee, I received the gift of Christ’s presence through friendship, silence, song, prayer, food, wildflowers, and rest. I’ll share more about this next week—for now, may the presence of the Risen Christ be with you in these Great Fifty Days of Easter.
With blessings,
Melissa+
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MANY thanks to all the students who made our Easter service so special:
Acolytes: Caleb Chin, Maya Chin, Emma Colby, June Manchester, Devon Peterson, Claire Thornton, Addie Tyler & Henry Tyler
CC Singers: Spencer Bullock, Maya Chin, Emma Colby, Devon Peterson, Claire Thornton, Wesley Thornton, Addie Tyler & Henry Tyler
Egg Hunt Helpers: Caleb Chin, Hannah Dolan, Hugh Godfrey, Paul Godfrey, Cole Peterson, Devon Peterson, Brooke Sauro & Addie Tyler
This month we start our third Love First unit: Love God. Please see the April schedule below:
Church School Schedule
April: Love First - Love God
14 Love God 2/Prepared Communion 10:30 AM
21 April Vacation—No regular Church School/YES Prepared Communion 9:30 AM
28 Love God 3/Prepared Communion 10:30 AM
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Join Our Church School Team!
We warmly welcome adults to become part of our Church School program! Alongside our dedicated teachers, we are in search of adults to partner with them, ensuring there are always two adults present in every class. Additionally, we need individuals who are willing to step in as substitutes when teachers are unavailable.
No prior experience is necessary as we provide all the information and materials needed for a fulfilling experience. Your enthusiasm and willingness to contribute are what truly matter!
If you're interested in making a meaningful difference in the lives of our children, please reach out to Donna Eby at donnaeby@rocketmail.com and education.christchurchplymouth@gmail.com for more information or to volunteer. Together, let's create a nurturing environment where our children can grow in faith and understanding. Thank you for considering this opportunity to serve!
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Finances
Last week we received in over $4384. When giving online, be sure to change the 'Fund' to 'Pledges' so your contribution goes toward your pledge.
Thank you for your loving support of Christ Church.
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Sunday, April 14th after the 10 AM service, all are invited to a brunch to celebrate and thank Elijah Langille for his service to the parish as Assistant Music Director. | |
The 2024 Bishops’ Annual Appeal | |
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We are reminded throughout Scripture that God has formed an everlasting covenant with us. This covenant is an invitation to enter into relationship with God and to act together in harmony with one another and all the earth. As we launch the 2024 Bishops’ Annual Appeal at Christ Church, we invite you to join us in deepening covenants we have formed as the Episcopal Diocese of Massachusetts.
In his sermon on March 10th, our deacon the Rev. James Thomas spoke about the importance of the Bishops’ Annual Appeal and our call to support the ministries of our diocese, our true “local church.” Our diocesan mission strategy is a covenant to become ever more faithful and generous disciples of Jesus. With your support, the Bishops’ Annual Appeal promotes this goal through lifelong Christian formation, youth and young adult ministries, racial justice and creation care initiatives, as well as multicultural and immigration outreach.
The appeal newsletter and donation envelope are available online, at each entrance to the church, or by contacting the parish office. Please place your gift in the Offering on “Ingathering Weekend,” May 4th and 5th. You may also mail it back directly to the diocesan office or donate online at https://www.diomass.org/bishops-appeal. Together, we are able to accomplish that which we cannot do alone!
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Celebration of a New Ministry | |
All are invited to the Celebration of a New Ministry for Christ Church Parish and our new Rector, The Rev. Melissa Howell. Thursday, May 2, 2024 at 7 PM. The Rt. Rev. Carol Gallagher presiding. | |
Christ Church Thrift Shoppe | |
Christ Church Thrift Shoppe Quarterly Report
It has been an unprecedented start to the year with generous donations, brisk sales and several community organizations requesting outreach help.
Recipients of assistance include Trinity Christian Church (Mission Stitchin’) Wareham, Help Thy Neighbor Plymouth, Anton’s Cleaners Belle of the Ball Event, Whitney Academy Residential Program Dighton, home fire victims clothing donations in Plymouth and Tiverton RI, Father Bill’s re-homing clients Plymouth and frequent clothing donations to immigrants and walk-in customers.
We are also pleased to announce that several new volunteers were welcomed this month from Community Connections in Plymouth. The vision of this statewide non-profit organization is to be a leader in providing services that promote community inclusion while improving the lives of young adults with disabilities. These enthusiastic and engaging volunteers arrive with a staff support person to assist with tasks that promote inclusion, confidence, independence, and personal self-value. We are grateful to have these young people from our community join our ministry.
Q1 (Jan-March) profits of $13,377 have been forwarded to CCP. The Food Pantry has been designated as our Q1 financial recipient.
Shoppe Hours
Thursday and Friday 10-4
Saturday 10-2
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Christ Church Food Pantry | |
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This week we are low on:
Canned peaches and fruit cocktail (mixed fruit)
Egg noodles
Crackers
Dried black or red beans
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All are welcome to the Christ Church Food Pantry!
We are open by appointment:
Tuesday 4:00-5:15
Thursday 12:00-1:15 and 4:00-5:15
Saturday 10:00-11:15.
Call the pantry message line: 508-746-4959, ext 6, BY 1 PM THE DAY BEFORE YOU WISH TO PICK UP YOUR ORDER. Our volunteers check messages and return your call from their homes to ask you what you need.
Leave a message if you wish to donate non-perishable food and household items, or you may leave your donations under the mailboxes outside the office or in the front entrance to the sanctuary. Squirrels like to get into any bags left on the porch of the food pantry!
If you wish to volunteer, contact Eileen Paris at eileenpca@aol.com
For more information, please contact Barbara Wojtklewicz at 617-291-4634, or by email at barbara.wojtklewicz@gmail.com
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Pastoral Care
For any pastoral care needs of Christ Church, please call Robin Nielsen (774-454-2776) or email robinmarianielsen@gmail.com ~ A home visit, a home visit with holy communion or a phone call can be arranged. Although a small group, our Pastoral Care Ministry team meets monthly in confidence.
For any pastoral emergencies, please call Rev. Melissa Howell 508-746-4959 ext 4, and follow the instructions in her voice message.
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Preliminary Bishop Nominee Slate Announced & Petition Period Opens
March 15, 2024
The Standing Committee of the Diocese of Massachusetts is pleased to announce that, after receiving the recommendations of the Bishop Nominating Committee, it has approved a preliminary slate of four nominees for election as the 17th bishop diocesan of the Diocese of Massachusetts. They are:
- The Rev. Dr. Brendan J. Barnicle,
Rector, St. Francis of Assisi Church, Wilsonville, OR
- The Rev. Canon Jean Baptiste Ntagengwa,
Canon for Immigration and Multicultural Ministries, Diocese of Massachusetts
- The Very Rev. Gideon L. K. Pollach,
Rector, St. John's Church, Cold Spring Harbor, NY
- The Rev. Julia E. Whitworth,
Rector, Trinity Church, Indianapolis, IN
More information about each nominee can be found at www.diomass.org/bishop-search/bishop-nominees.
A seven-day petition period begins, effective today, March 15, during which anyone who meets the canonical requirements may petition to be added to the slate of nominees. The deadline to submit nomination materials is March 22 at 11:59 p.m. Eastern. The requirements and procedure for nomination may be found here.
This announcement of our preliminary slate of nominees is a key milestone in our journey through the bishop search and transition process. We are deeply grateful to the Bishop Nominating Committee for the vigorous work they have undertaken since their formation in July of 2023.
Once the petition process has been completed, the Standing Committee will announce the final slate of nominees. Members of the diocese will have the opportunity to meet the nominees in a series of Meet and Greets that will take place May 7-11. Information about the times and locations of the Meet and Greets will be made available soon.
The election will take place on Saturday, May 18 at Trinity Church in Boston. All canonically resident clergy of the diocese and lay delegates (two elected from each of the diocese’s parishes and missions) vote separately as “orders”; a majority of votes on the same ballot from both the clergy and lay orders is required for election. (Find preliminary electing convention information at www.diomass.org/electing-convention-2024).
Please keep the nominees, the Nominating Committee, the Transition Committee and the people of our diocese in your prayers as we move into this next phase in the discernment of our 17th bishop diocesan.
The Rev. Dr. Karen Coleman, President, Standing Committee
Grace Knowles, Vice-President, Standing Committee
William Boyce, Co-Chair, Bishop Nominating Committee
The Rev. Diane Wong, Co-Chair, Bishop Nominating Committee
Linda Ouellette, Co-Chair, Bishop Nominating Committee
Visit www.diomass.org/bishop-search for more information and updates.
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We want to keep you in the loop regarding the happenings at Christ Church. Please send your announcements for the weekly bulletin and Keeping Connected, to the office by 12 Noon on Wednesday. They should include date, time, place, description of event, contact information and should be written exactly the way you want them to appear. | | | | |
