Dear Friends,

Please join us on Sunday, September 18th, for a Rite I service at 8 am with Holy Eucharist, and/or for the Rite II service at 10 am with Holy Eucharist and Music. If you cannot attend the 10 am service, join us virtually on Facebook Live as it is live-streamed. Those that do not have a Facebook can find the services on the Christ Church's website at www.christspringfield.org. All of Christ Church's media links are above on the right-hand side. 

Note From Sr. Warden

Things are looking up, and people are more optimistic and feeling better. The Search Committee is hard at work finding us a new Rector. It takes longer in today’s environment, but we will get there.

Pantry people are working hard doing God’s Work every month. It is fun and personally very rewarding. Please contact Ann Randolph at annejrand@aol.com to participate in helping with the pantry. You will enjoy it!

It was great seeing more people in church last Sunday. There were 11 at the 8:00 service and 39 at the 10:00 Service. It is very nice to hear the choir again! I always feel better after attending church and I hope you do too. I look forward to seeing all of you there.

Scott Yeazell

The Rector Search

There has been interest in the Rector's position at Christ Church, and we will keep the position announcements open until the end of September. Our announcements for the rector position can be seen in the Episcopal News Service 

Rector, Christ Church, Springfield – Episcopalians in Connection and The Living Church.

The Living Church is the only independent magazine that serves the clergy and people of the Episcopal and Anglican Church, giving us access to many qualified candidates and an extensive readership from across the country. The link to the Christ Church ad is https://livingchurch.org/.

Additionally, Canon Michael will be attending The Transition Ministry Conference in September, and he will be sharing our position opening with his colleagues.

Please keep the search process and committee in prayer. 

Denise Sharp

African Bible Study Tuesdays at 12 pm!

African Bible Study or Sacred Reading (Lectio Divina) will begin again Tuesday, September 6th at 12 PM. We will meet each week at noon using this Zoom link: 

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85856795275pwd=NHRBQlZvRU9PL1h3dWFuMmJBa2NHdz09

This Bible study is a structured, meditative approach to learning about our Christian faith from scripture. It not only discourages but also disallows crosstalk during the collective reading. It encourages self-reflection as well as listening to others. 

We hope people who are interested will join us in this empowering group study of scripture. If you have questions, write Pat Cary at sisterpcocd2@hotmail.com or Keith Doubt at kdoubt@gmail.com. Each week we will read the Lectionary reading for the forthcoming Sunday.  We hope you consider joining us at the following Zoom link starting Tuesday, September 6th, at 12 PM.

Outline of African Bible Study or Lectio Divna 

Opening Prayer: O Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scripture to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that we may embrace and hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our savior Jesus Christ, Amen.

Procedure:

1.     One person reads a passage slowly.

2.     Each person identifies the word or phrase that catches their attention. (1 minute)

3.     Each shares the word or phrase with the group. (3-5 minutes, NO DISCUSSION)

4.     Another person reads the passage slowly (from a different translation, if possible.)

5.     Each person identifies where this passage touches their life today. (1 minute)

6.     Each share. (3-5 minutes, NO DISCUSSION)

7.     Passage is read a third time (another reader and translation, if possible.)

8.     Each person names or writes: “From what I’ve heard and shared, what do I believe God wants me to do or be? Is God inviting me to change in any way?” (5 minutes)

9.     Each shares their answer. (5-10 minutes, NO DISCUSSION)

10.  Each prays for another person in the group, naming what was shared in other steps. (5 minutes)

Closing: The Lord’s Prayer

Food Pantry Chairman

We are searching for a Leader for the Food Pantry program. Ann Chitkara is stepping down as chairman, and we need to give her a well-deserved break. We are very, very thankful for her many years of service to the parish and the community running the main Outreach program of our parish. If you feel a calling for the Pantry Program, please call or email Kelly at zellerk0611@gmail.com or Scott at scott@triec.com.

Many heartfelt thanks to Ann Chitkara and also to whoever steps up to do God’s work feeding the hungry of our community.

Christ Church Food Panty~September 21st!

Thank you to all that volunteered for August's Food Pantry! The September Drive-thru Food Pantry will be on September 21st, 2022, starting at 10:30 am. Volunteers are needed to help unload food, pack food and help with customer service. Please contact either Ann Chitkara at annnovaswim@gmail.com or Anne Randolph at annejrand@aol.comto volunteer.

Plastic Bottle Caps

Joy Meyers is the music teacher at Fulton Elementary School in Springfield. Fulton Elementary is collecting clean plastic caps, for example, water bottle caps or laundry detergent caps, or even toothpaste caps. They are collecting the plastic caps for a second bench to be made in honor of one of their students who died. There is a box by the elevator, or you can drop them off at the Parish office.

Diana Devoe

Diana Devoe, a homebound parishioner, will be turning 100 years young on September 30. If you could send a card or flowers that would be wonderful! Diana's address is 1500 Villa rd., Room 14, Springfield, Ohio 45503.

A thank you from Rev. Eileen

Just a short note to thank all of you for the privilege of serving you during the month of August. Our time together was grace-filled and I thank you for the blessings of your generosity, hospitality, and kindness. As you continue on your journey to call a new priest and grow the parish, I would leave you with some ancient wise words of Teilhard de Chardin:

“Above all, trust in the slow work of God. We are quite naturally impatient in everything to reach the end without delay. We should like to skip the intermediate stages. We are impatient of being on the way to something unknown, something new. And yet it is the law of all progress that it is made by passing through some states of instability— and that it may take a very long time. And so you think it is with you; your ideas mature gradually — let them grow, let them shape themselves, without undue haste. Don’t try to force them on, as though you could be today what time (that is to say, grace and circumstances acting on your own good will) will make you tomorrow. Only God could say what this new spirit gradually forming with you will be.”

The Rev. Eileen O’Reilly

SOUP!!

If you like to make soup and nurture others, this is the ministry for you! We need homemade soup brought to the church in a disposable container with the type of soup and date written on the lid, and placed in the church refrigerator. Then, let Kelly Zeller know that you have dropped off the soup. The soup will be used for people in the parish needing a little TLC. If you have any questions, please contact Kelly Zeller at zellerk0611@gmail.com. Thank you so much for considering helping with this ministry!

Wednesday Chapel Service

Just in case you missed Judy Johnson's Wednesday Noonday Prayer service this past Wednesday, here it is! Join Judy Johnson on Wednesday, September 21st, at noon on Facebook.