| Food collection for Christmas Baskets ends this Sunday, December 20, 2020. If you have non-perishable foods and/or monetary donations, please bring them by the Parish House this week, or to worship and drive-through Communion on Sunday. Thank you! |
 It has been interesting to follow the news about this season's shipping woes. Every article about FedEx or UPS takes me back to my days when I worked for Big Brown. The time between Thanksgiving and Christmas was always intense. We weren't allowed days off; we hired a ton of seasonal workers; our days stretched well beyond the hours the sun was up on both ends of the day. We did whatever it took to get the packages delivered or moved on to their next stop. Once in a while, we might fail with a few packages, or a trailer wouldn't pull out on time and would miss a connection, but those instances were rare when compared with the sheer volume of packages that moved through our center right on time.
It's mind-boggling to read that UPS (and other carriers) stopped picking up packages from some large retailers a few weeks ago. In anticipation of the pandemic-fueled explosion in online shopping, they had warned some customers that they would have to ration pickups and deliveries. Some companies were told that they could only ship so many packages a day or a week, because the systems simply couldn't handle any more. After Black Friday, a host of sellers found that the warning wasn't idle. Just this week I'm reading that there are so many parcels in the systems of our major carriers that it's almost like gridlock. Backups in one place cascade and affect others.
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| Worship This Week |
Please join us on Sunday, at 9:15 am, for online Rite II Holy Eucharist, which will be available on the Christ Church Facebook page here, on our YouTube page here, or the Christ Church website here.
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| Outdoor In-Person Worship - Every Sunday at 8:00 & 11:15 am |
Join us for outdoor Holy Eucharist every Sunday at 8:00 am (BCP 1928) or 11:15 am (Rite I) under the Christ Church tent. All worshipers must register in order to attend outdoor services by calling the office (912-638-8683) Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or on Fridays, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Please bring your mask and a comfortable chair.
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| Advent Family Worship |
During the Advent season, you and your family are invited to join us on Sunday mornings from 10:20-10:50 am for Family Worship outdoors. Call the church office at 912-638-8683, Tuesday - Thursday, 9:00 am-5:00 pm or Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm to reserve your spot. Bring lawn chairs, blankets, your rosaries, a doll or a stuffy! We will be following the guidelines for social distancing - 6 feet apart from others in your family unit, and masks will be worn at all times. We hope to see you at 10:20 am, under the tent, for all the Sundays during Advent. For questions, for contact Mtr. Katie at [email protected].
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| Special Music During Advent |  |
The next batch of Liturgies will offer a variety of music which will hopefully bring you joy, happiness, and peace. The Christ Church Brass Quintet, harp and violin, solo and small ensemble offerings from our Music Team, and a few surprises are all in store this Christmas Season. Our Lessons and Carols Service this Sunday will offer sounds from our Joyful Noise Handbell Ensemble, Gabriel's Oboe, and a rocking African Advent Carol featuring Michael Hulett among many other pieces all to the Glory of God.
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| Celebrate Communion with Us Via Drive-Through Every Sunday Until 11:15 am |
 Join us for Drive-Through Communion at Christ Church each Sunday, following the live stream of the Eucharist. There is no need to make a reservation. Cars will enter at the gate next to the mailbox on Frederica Road and drive down the path. Car windows should remain closed until directed to be lowered by the clergy. A member of the clergy will administer the Eucharist, after which parishioners may exit onto Stevens Road.
Communion will be served until 11:15 am each Sunday.
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| Evening Prayer |
If you enjoy hearing Evening Prayer read, please look for it at 5:00 pm on the Christ Church Facebook page here. The Rite I bulletin for evening prayer can be found here. The Rite II bulletin for evening prayer can be found here.
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| Christmas Worship 2020 |
 This year, we are offering a number of services for the Christmas season at Christ Church. You must register for all services, and the limited seating for indoor services in Christ Church will only be made available via lottery. If you prefer to be in the church but are willing to worship outdoors in the tent, we recommend registering for a tent service when you place your name into the indoor lottery. We can release registrations for the tent if you are indeed chosen for the indoor lottery. Registrations may be made online via the links below. Registration and lottery entries can also be made by calling the office at 912-638-8683 during normal business hours (Office is closed on Mondays). Please do NOT leave a message to register for a service. You must speak with a staff member or volunteer to confirm availability. Online registrations are considered confirmed, if available. Once all spaces are full, online registration will not be possible. We will place names on a waitlist for any of our Christmas Eve services that fill up.
Please note: All plans are tentative during this pan-demic. If the case load and community spread index spike by late December, we may need to change plans and limit or eliminate in-person worship. At the very least, we will confirm our schedule on December 21 or 22 - all those who have registered before that date will be contacted via email or phone.
As of now, outdoor services are capped at 75 persons and indoor services are capped at 25 persons, including staff, per Diocese of Georgia guidelines. All worshippers will be masked, distanced, and will be assigned seats. Congregational singing will take place at outdoor services, but will not be a part of indoor services, again, per Diocese of Georgia guidelines. The tent is equipped with propane patio heaters to help offset cool temperatures. A second tent will be rented for Christmas Eve to allow for greater distancing to facilitate singing.
CHRISTMAS SCHEDULE:
Christmas Eve
3:00 PM: Families with Young Children
Eucharist in the Tent (NOT a pageant)^
FULL 4:00 PM: Families with Young Children
Eucharist in the Tent
5:00 PM: Christmas Eve Mass in the Tent^
6:00 PM: Christmas Eve Mass Livestream
from historic Christ Church*
7:00 PM: Christmas Eve Mass in the Tent^
8:00 PM: Christmas Eve Mass in the Tent^
11:00 PM: Christmas Eve Midnight Mass in historic
Christ Church* (Please call if you are interested in this service.)
^ Attendance capped at 75 total persons
(registration required)
*Attendance capped at 25 total persons
(lottery required)
Christmas Day
10:00 AM: Livestreamed service from St. Ignatius
(no congregation present)
1st Sunday after Christmas, December 27
9:15 AM: Livestreamed service from
historic Christ Church (no congregation present)
2nd Sunday after Christmas, January 3
8:00 AM: Holy Eucharist, 1928 BCP, in the Tent^
9:15 AM: Livestreamed Holy Eucharist
from historic Christ Churchº
10:20 AM: Drive through Communion
11:15 AM: Holy Eucharist, Rite I, in the Tent^
^ Attendance capped at 75 total persons
(registration required)
º Attendance capped at 12 total persons
(lottery required)
ONLINE REGISTRATION LINKS:
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| Share Your Advent Preparations With Us |  |
We would love to see how you're preparing for the birth of Christ during the Advent season and cordially invite you to share photos of your Christmas trees, Advent wreaths, indoor and outdoor decorations, and of course, your family, friends and even four-legged friends, too! Please send your images to [email protected] and look for them during our live-stream worship services in the weeks to come. |
Painted Prayers: Prayers During a Pandemic
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Renew Spirit, Inspire Hope, Take Positive Action
Journey through the holiday season feeling more hopeful about the future by participating in parishioner Randy Siegel's exhibition at Glynn Visual Arts: Painted Prayers: Prayers During a Pandemic. The exhibit explores three intentions: gratitude, trust, and service; each has been paired with an invitation for positive action. The current focus is on Service.
Service - December 10 through January 2
Bring non-perishable food to GVA, at 106 Island Drive, on Saint Simons Island to support Sparrow's Nest, which supplies food and financial assistance to those in crisis in our community.
Visit the Glynn Visual Art website HERE, for more details and to see the show on-line, or visit The Gallery at GVA, at 106 Island Drive, Tuesday - Saturday, from 10 am - 5 pm. Masks are required in The Gallery. Private in-person showings are also available by appointment by calling 912 638-8770.
For More Information, Contact:
912-266-1970 or Randy Siegel, Artist - Painted Prayers, [email protected], 828- 301-0819
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| Wednesday Men's Study Group Meeting Remotely |
 The Men's Study Group meets via Zoom on Wednesdays, at 10:30 am. They are beginning an Advent study of Making Room: Share the Love of Christmas, by author Ed Robb.
If you'd like to join the group for this study, please contact Bill Abbate at [email protected] for the Zoom access information.
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| Advent Book Study | |
A blended group of in-person and on-line participants are invited to read Dr. Ed Robb's Making Room: Sharing the Love of Christmas. In this book and Advent study, Dr. Robb explores the importance and warmth of welcome at Christmas. A maximum of ten people will gather in the parish hall (masked and social distanced) for four weeks on Tuesdays, at 1:00 pm. An unlimited number may join via Zoom. Participants are asked to purchase copies of the book, which can be found HERE. Anyone needing assistance in obtaining the book should contact the church office. Let Mtr. Becky at [email protected] know if you'd like to join the group.
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| Advent Study - Arts and Faith Meditations |
Join Fr. Tom weekly on Wednesdays, at 7:00 pm for virtual meditative sessions during the season of Advent. The four weekly sessions will use works of sacred art inspired by the Sunday scripture to take a new look at the coming of Jesus. The meditation time is surrounded by prayer and music in the spirit of X Church. The Meditations will be streamed live on our Facebook and YouTube pages. A bulletin for the meditation services can be found HERE.
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| Women's Book Study |
The Women's Book Group will begin a new book on Thursdays during the Season of Epiphany. We will be reading Take This Bread by Sara Miles.
Take this Bread is a journey of person's faith and the impact of the Sacramental Faith. If you would like to be a part of this group discussion or have any questions, please contact Mother Ashton at [email protected].
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| Devotionals |
 If you are a regular reader of the Forward Day by Day devotionals that are typically available in the Christ Church office and would like to continue to have access to them, please contact Glenn Queener at [email protected]. Glenn would like to have your name and street address, so he can send you copies of the booklets. You can also find the devotionals online here.
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| Adult Sunday Class Continues Break |
The Adult Sunday Class, led by the Rev. Bob Brown continues to be on hiatus. For questions about the class and future studies, please contact Bob at [email protected].
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| Christmas Pageant - The Movie! |
 Even with social distancing guidelines keeping us from gathering all of our children together to retell the story of a Most Holy Night, we are still getting as many kids involved with the pageant this year as possible. We have been filming this week and t he Christmas Pageant movie will be shown at the 3:00 and 4:00 pm Christmas Eve services and will be available for viewing on YouTube after 3:00 pm on Christmas Eve.
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| Kidurgy |  |
Mother Katie continues to lead our children online, as well as in person, with Kidurgy, our Liturgy of the Word for Young Children each week. You can view the December 13, 2020 lesson HERE.
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| Christ Church Youth |
Youth Group
The Christ Church Youth will be gathering this coming Sunday, December 20, at 6:30 pm in the Parish House, to start organizing and arranging foods for Christmas Basket packing on Monday morning. Don't forget to bring your mask and a water bottle!
For more information about Youth Group, please contact Mtr. Katie at [email protected].
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| Christ Church Families on Facebook | |
 Families! Please join the Christ Church Families Facebook group to keep up with all the latest events and activities. Find us on Facebook here!
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Mission and Outreach  |
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| Christmas Baskets |  |
Our annual collection of food for Christmas food baskets concludes this Sunday, December 20. (The absolute final date for food collection is Monday, December 21, by 9:00 am.) Chair Jeannie Wade asks that you bring non-perishable food items to the Christ Church Parish House and leave them on the front porch, in the boxes marked "Christmas Baskets", this Thursday, Friday, or on Sunday morning. (The church office is closed on Mondays and Saturdays.)
Monetary donations are welcome, too, as they will help to purchase a ham for each basket. Make your check to Christ Church, Frederica and note that it is for Christmas baskets. Checks may be placed in the collection plates at our outdoor worship services and at Drive-through Communion, or mailed to Christ Church, at 6329 Frederica Road, St. Simons Island, GA 31522. Monetary funds may also be left in the church office during regular business hours.
You may also donate by phone by texting "ccfssi basket" to 73256 on your mobile device. This number will never send unsolicited texts to you. To cancel further messages, text STOP. If you need assistance with text giving, text HELP. Standard text message and data rates may apply.
Contact Jeannie Wade at [email protected] to get more information or to volunteer to help collect, assemble or deliver the food baskets.
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| Backpack Buddies - There Are Lots of Opportunities to Help With This Ministry! |
 Our Backpack Buddies team is delighted to have a new school to our program - Glyndale Elementary - and would love to have some new sponsors for these children!
If you've thought about adopting a young buddy, or have had one in the past, this is a great time to think about doing it in honor of a friend or loved one for Christmas. A sponsorship for a child is $100, which will supply the youngster with weekend food bags for the entire school year. Just let us know who you'd like to honor.
You are welcome to donate by check (just mail it to Christ Church, at 6329 Frederica Road St. Simons Island, GA 31522 - check memo, Backpack Buddies) or give online HERE (choose Backpack Program).
We are always grateful for your help with the Backpack Buddies mission! If you have any items you'd like to donate this week, they may be dropped off on the front porch at the Christ Church Parish House. If you have any questions about the Backpack Buddies program, please contact Susan Shipman at [email protected].
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| Christmas at Sea for Our International Seafarers |
Every year during the season of Christmas, the International Seafarers' Center spreads the love of Christ through their Christmas at Sea program. About 1500 seafarers travel through the port of Brunswick from Thanksgiving to January 7 and the Center hopes to give every seafarer a Christmas present. If you'd like to be part of this ministry, it's as easy as filling a ditty bag with 12 - 15 item from the list found below and bringing it to either the Parish House, or to the International Seafarers Center, at 307 Newcastle Street in Brunswick.
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| Christ Church Comforters Gear Up for the Christmas Season |
 The Christ Church Comforters will once again be making warm knit watch caps that are suitable for the International Seafarers who visit Brunswick regularly. If you'd like to join this knitting/crochet project, please contact Gay Barron at [email protected] to get more information.
Group members who have already created caps are invited to drop them off at the Parish House during regular business hours (Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am - 5:00 pm and Friday, 9:00 am - 2:00 pm) where they will be blessed before distribution.
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| 2021 Vestry Nominations |
 Nominations are open for the 2021 vestry election. This year's nominating committee members are Rip Graham, Tisa O'Cain, Ellen Kuehm, Julianne Temple, Tony Kreimborg and Susan Shipman. With Fr. Tom, these six individuals will put together the slate of nominees for election at the annual meeting on Sunday, January 24, 2021. Nominations may be made to any member of the committee between now and December 20, 2020.
Election Day January 24, 2021
Voting for the Christ Church 2021 Vestry election will take place in person, after the outdoor worship services at 8:00 and 11:15 am on Jan. 24 and via drive-through that morning, following the 11:15 service. More details will be coming.
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| A Message from the Christ Church Wardens |
 Please consider a year-end donation to say thank you to our staff at Christ Church. They always work hard on our behalf, and this year has been no different. In fact, the pandemic has seen our staff work even harder to find ways to meet the ministry needs of the parish while navigating all the stresses and challenges of this year. We think they have done a phenomenal job, and we hope you will agree. Donations may be sent to Christ Church, with a memo for "Staff Appreciation". Monies collected will be evenly divided among the staff proportionally based on their status as PT or FT employees. Please note, Father Tom chooses not to participate in this process to ensure the rest of the staff is well taken care of. Please consider a Christmas gift to our wonderful staff!
Beth Smith, Sr. Warden
David Blatchford, Jr. Warden
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| End of the Year Gifts |
 As we approach the final days of 2020, we'd like to extend an invitation for year-end gifts that would benefit Christ Church and may benefit you if you find yourself looking for additional annual deductions. If you would like to make a gift via stock transfer, or if you have any other questions about year-end giving, please contact our Financial Administrator, Stan Kyker or our Parish Administrator, Glenn Queener. They can both be reached at 912-638-8683. If a year-end gift fits into your plans, thank you!
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| Making a Charitable Distribution |
In this season of giving, and as we wrap up 2020, we've got some information to share about making charitable donations from the required distribution of your IRA, should it apply to you.
Did you know that you can make a donation of all or a portion of the Required Minimum Distribution from your retirement account to Christ Church, and your donation will be tax exempt? Here's how it works. If a person is at least age 70 and a half, they must take at least a minimum distribution from their IRA or incur a penalty equal to one half of the otherwise required minimum distribution amount. They may take more than the minimum at their discretion. These individuals may instruct their IRA account manager to distribute any amount of their choosing to one or more tax-exempt charities such as Christ Church.
When that is done, it is considered to be a tax exempt contribution. Christ Church would acknowledge to the giver the receipt of that contribution from their IRA. Also, this contribution is tax-exempt even if the individual does not itemize deductions for income tax purposes because the IRA account manager would not identify this to the IRS as reportable income in accordance with the tax code. For more information about Qualified Charitable Distributions, check out the Internal Revenue Service Publication 590-B, "Distributions from Individual Re-tirement Arrangements (IRAs)" or speak with your tax advisor.
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| Giving Made Easy | |
You may use the CCF website to make pledges, donations and payments for some activities. Just select "Giving" at the top of the CCF homepage. This brings you to the pay portal. The process is fast and easy and allows you to pay by credit or debit card or by electronic bank transfer. You may change or add new payment methods at any time. Contact: Stan Kyker, CCF financial administrator at 912-638-8683.
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Pastoral Care and Prayer List
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Pastoral Care
Your pastoral care team is here for you! If you have a pastoral concern, a blessing you'd like to share, want to arrange a hospital or home visit, and/or receive Holy Communion, please contact Mother Ashton Williston at 912-638-8683 or [email protected].
Prayer List
To amend our prayer list or to update the church on the condition of your loved one, please email Mtr. Ashton Williston at [email protected] or call the church office at 912-638-8683.
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Nancy Acree
Sam Barrick
Beryl Blatchford
David Blatchford
Tory Braden
Judy Bradford
Rowland Bradford
Andraus Brice, Sr.
Anne Brown
June Brown
Beverly Burns
Jackie Byrne
Colleen Cassidy
Zoann Covington
Jim Curran
Sarah Dance
Jackie Davis
Linda Davidson
Marie Dennard
Tom Dennard
Mary Lou Detwiler
Natalie Dixon
Jennie Doyle
Patricia J. Ellison
Dave Geiszler
Julie Hancock
Kim Harrison
Burgess Hartsell
Larry Hartsell
Andrew Hobbs
Carol Hoffine
Lise Hofmann
Angela Holland
Jessica Hope
Bob Huggins
Gordon Jackson
Mark Jicha
Sally Jones
Holly Lamb
Mary Landen
Bill Littleton
Dott Marler
Tom Martin
Kathy Marvel
Claire McCarty
Frank Owenby
Andy Padgett
Judy Paige
Pep Peppiatt
Dale Pierson
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Alison Quirk
Robert Quirk
Johnny Riddle
Julia Riddle
Terry Hall Robbins
Willou Smith
David Somerville
Sam Spak
Nancy Stamper
Mike Swindling
Edith Tayloe
Christina Taylor
Sarah Whitman
Jennifer Willingham
Royce Wood
Amy
Ava
Betty
Bob
Carol
Dale
Dave
Dick
Dr. Pep
Dorothy
Jack
Jake
Jim
Joanne
Jordan
Karen
Katherine
Larry
Maria
Marianne
Marjorie
Marla
Megan
Michael
Muriel
Pidge
Richard
Susan
Tom
Traci
Virginia
Walter
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