 Sometimes there are good secrets; things we can't share for a good reason. These past few months have held just such a good secret until last week. I think many of you know that I have served on the Board of Hospice of the Golden Isles for more than three years now. Fewer will know that I assumed the role of Chairman of the Board this past January. It is an honor and a privilege to serve such a fine institution, with such a long history of serving this community. I became involved with Hospice of the Golden Isles because of my personal experience with hospice care in my hometown, and because of my specific interactions with Hospice of the Golden Isles since I began my ministry at Christ Church. My secret involves Hospice of the Golden Isles. Before I share the secret, let me set the stage.
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| Worship This Week |
Please join us on Sunday, at 9:15 am, for online 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 Resumes on September 27, 2020 at 8:00 am |
Christ Church is returning to in-person, outdoor worship on Sunday, September 27 at 8:00 am. The service will be Holy Eucharist, Rite I. Communion will be distributed, bread only.
All worshippers must register in order to attend outdoor services. We are required to keep attendance below 50 persons in accordance with Diocese of Georgia guidelines. To do that, we need to know and approve who is coming to control the numbers.
To register, call the office (912-638-8683) Tuesday-Thursday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm, or on Fridays, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm.
You must speak with a staff member or volunteer in order to be registered. Registrations will start over each week on Tuesday for the following Sunday; we will not be registering anyone beyond the current, upcoming Sunday. You will need to call the church each week you intend to attend worship.
Please dress casually and comfortably for the weather.
All who attend worship will be screened before participating. We will make sure you don't have any COVID-19 symptoms, haven't been recently exposed, or haven't been recently tested. If you have any common COVID symptoms, we ask that you do not attend in-person worship. Such symptoms may include:
* Fever or chills
* Cough
* Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
* Fatigue
* Muscle or body aches
* Headache
* New loss of taste or smell
* Sore throat
* Congestion or runny nose
* Nausea or vomiting
* Diarrhea
* All who attend will be required to wear masks.
* All who attend are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs, however, we will have metal folding chairs on hand for those without.
* We will spray for bugs each week, but we encourage you to bring bug spray.
* We will provide hand fans to all who attend (the fans are yours to keep and reuse - we will not collect them).
* Please know that restrooms are only available for emergency use.
Further instructions and previews of the process will be shared later this week via video. We thank you in advance for following the protocols in place and approved by the Diocese of Georgia. As long as we all follow the guidelines we can continue to worship in person with reduced risk. Some risk will always remain until the pandemic is over. Those at high risk for severe symptoms are still encouraged to stay home and worship virtually.
If we quickly fill up the 8:00 am service, we will add a second service at an appropriate time.
The 9:15 am liturgy will continue to be streamed live from the church each week, with Drive- Through Communion to follow. Drive-Through Communion will continue to take place every Sunday.
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| Celebrate Communion with Us Via Drive-Through Every Sunday |
Join us for Drive-Through Communion at Christ Church each Sunday, following the live stream of the Eucharist, until 12:00 NOON. 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 will drive to the back gate, to exit onto Stevens Road.
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Drive-Through Blessing of the Animals -
October 4, 2020 |  |
Mark your calendar for Sunday, October 4, at 4:00 pm, and join us for the first drive-through Blessing of the Animals at Christ Church! Please load the important animals in your life into your car or truck and come to this wonderful celebration started by St. Francis many centuries ago. The drive-through will begin at the cemetery entrance near the Parish House, where drive-through communion takes place each Sunday. Clergy and staff will be on hand to help direct you. We encourage you to invite your two-legged friends and neighbors, too!
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Save the Date
 Our Bishop, the Right Rev. Frank Logue is doing virtual visits to churches across the Diocese in order to officiate and record Sunday worship. He will be visiting Christ Church, Frederica on October 11, 2020.
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| All Saints Sunday |
 All Saints Day will be celebrated on Sunday, November 1, 2020 this year. This is a time of reflection and celebration, as we remember those who have died. We will be collecting their names for the All Saints Book of Remembrance.
If you would like to have the name of someone who has died since last year's All Saints Day services, or the name of a loved one who died prior to last year, read during the November 1 service, please email us at [email protected] with the name of the person you wish to honor. Please have the names in by Friday, October 23, 2020.
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| Prayer in the Church |
 Christ Church is now open for limited private prayer time by appointment. To sign up you must call the office during regular business hours (912-638-8683), we will not take reservations via email. You will be scheduled for your time only after speaking with Glenn Queener or another staff member who can confirm the reservation. We ask that those who come in for prayers wear masks while in the church and wipe down the pew they sit in and anything they touch with provided cleaning materials as they leave. A staff member will meet those with reservations to allow them access to the church, as our buildings are still closed to the public. That staff member will screen for COVID symptoms including taking your temperature and recording names in our contact tracing log book. |
| 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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| Celebrate All Saints' Day with the Diocesan Choir |
From The Rev. Joshua Varner: All Saints' Day is one of the Principal Feasts of the Church. On this day we remember all the saints, known and unknown, and we are reminded of our own participation in the Communion of Saints.
This year, we will be celebrating our connections with all the saints through music. As we did for Bishop Logue's Ordination, we will be creating a Virtual Choir. This time we will sing Hymn 287, "For All the Saints." This hymn has options to sing harmony on some of the verses but all are welcome to sing melody for the entire song if preferred. In order to sing in this choir, all you need is a pair of earbuds, a computer, and a smartphone that can record video. You will download the appropriate guide track and then sing along with the guide track in your earbuds while you video yourself using your phone. We need your submission no later than Sunday night, October 18 in order to incorporate it into the final choir. In order to participate, you need the full instructions, which can be found here: http://bit.ly/ForAllTheSaintsChoir. The instructions include links to guide tracks, rehearsal tracks, an example video, and instructions on how to submit your video once you're done. Many thanks to Kathleen Turner, Organist and Choirmaster at Christ Church, Frederica, for creating these tracks. Please read the instructions carefully before you record anything! Contact Canon Varner at [email protected] with your questions. Please note that while singers sometimes feel like they are singing a solo during this process, and therefore choose not to participate, your offering will be mixed with others, creating the sound of many voices singing together through the miracle of technology. So go ahead and sing and submit your music. Your song will join with everyone else's offerings to create something glorious!
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| Joyful Noise Ensembles |
 A NEW form of music program is blossoming that will get us sharing non-singing musical fellowship. There will be elements of sacred music and of course fellowship is a key asset. (Please note, if things change and stricter orders are issued the program will go on hold immediately.)
Here is the scoop for each 30-45-minute non-singing rehearsal in the Choir Room:
Tuesday
2:00 Team 1 Adult Handbell Ensemble
4:30 Team 2 Children Grades K-5 Orff Schulwerk Ensemble
Wednesday
4:00 Team 3 X(Choir) Ensemble
5:15 Team 4 Adult (Choir) Ensemble
Thursday
2:00 Team 5 Adult Handbell Ensemble
4:30 Team 6 World Music Ensemble (Keyboard, Drumming and percussion)
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Miss Kathleen has been working hard to create the safest set-up possible for the ensembles to meet.
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Participation Log and Temperature Check will take place at the start of each rehearsal and spacing will follow indoor social distancing guidelines.
Masks will be required. Ensemble Participants will have their own set of gloves, mallets, etc. stored in separate containers. Thorough wipe down of instruments will start the rehearsal and finish the rehearsal. Each person in the ensemble will each have their own Handbell Table on wheels.
Once an ensemble has prepared a piece we will video their work for our online services and offer their work during an outside service when able.
Everyone is invited to participate. Our goal is to get folks together safely, make music, and share fellowship.
If you'd like to get involved with these ensembles, please contact Organist and Choirmaster Kathleen Turner at [email protected].
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| Join Our Online Contemplative Group |  |
Parishioners from Christ Church Frederica have been meeting regularly online with a group of parishioners from Trinity Episcopal Church, in Asheville, North Carolina for an hour of prayer, reflection, and contemplation on Wednesday mornings, from 11:00 am through 12:00 pm.
The group is going strong and would be happy to welcome any new participants. Email Randy Siegel at [email protected] if you'd like to join us!
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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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| Wednesday Men's Study Group Meeting Remotely |
 The Men's Study Group meets on Wednesdays, at 10:30 am. For the next few weeks, they will be exploring some curious observations they found in their readings of the Book of Acts. They have discovered that there are "blendings" of different styles from a variety of sources within several of the chapters in our New Testament. Example: A portion of Acts has some passages in which the pronoun "We" is used. So what do abrupt, but (sometimes) smoothly woven-in style changes like this suggest? What does it tell us about the early church?
How does the Book of Acts end? Does it appear to be complete, or does it look like an unfinished work in progress?
The men's group consensus has led to their decision to use Heaven and Hell: a History of the AfterLife by Bart D. Ehrman to uncover the processes by which, and how, the New Testament came to be. If you'd like to join the group for this Bible study or upcoming studies, please contact Te Turner at [email protected] or Fr. David Somerville at [email protected] for the Zoom access information.
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| Women's Book Study |
 The Women's Book Study is meeting via ZOOM at 1:00 pm on Thursdays. They are reading White Fragility: Why It's So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism, by Robin DiAngelo. Please contact Mother Ashton at [email protected] if you'd like more information about this book.
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| Adult Sunday Class Continues Break |
The Adult Sunday Class, led by the Rev. Bob Brown continues to be on hiatus. Plans for the fall are evolving. For questions about the class and future studies, please contact Bob at [email protected].
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| Virtual Sunday School for Children |  |
Until we can gather back in our classrooms in the Parish House, Christ Church is dedicated to providing Christian Education for the school program year!
Here is what it will look like:
Worship: Hear the Bible story for the week in the Kidurgy service! - available by 8:00 am on Sunday Morning.
Share: At 10:20 am, sign on to our Zoom Sunday School class and listen with Mr. and Mrs. Turner for the PreK-2nd Grade, or Mr. Lenon and Mother Katie for the 3rd-5th grade class! These sessions will be about 15-20 minutes sessions maximum, so you can get to drive-thru communion if you need! Use the Zoom link here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84574938145
Learn: Take advantage of further learning with the lesson leaflet (that will be passed out at the drive-thru or delivered to your door!) and an On Demand lesson to accompany that weeks lesson, available by Monday morning to do at your leisure that week!
Participate in all or one offering to help form your child in the Christian Faith!
The zoom meeting especially, is an opportunity for your child to have shared experience with their peers in learning about the Bible, Jesus and themselves! Building those relationships with their peers and their teachers is the key to allowing faith to develop! So we hope to see you Sunday! If you'd like more details about the upcoming Sunday school classes please contact Mtr. Katie at [email protected].
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| Youth Group - September 27! | |
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We are excited to announce our youth will be meeting again, outdoors on the lawn, on September 27, from 6:30 - 7:15 pm. All in grades 6 - 12 are invited to join the fun!
We'll play games and hang out together while following some guidelines: wearing masks, staying 6 feet apart; also go to bathroom before you come and bring a water bottle! We will have pre-packaged snacks!
For more information about Youth Group, please contact Mtr. Katie at [email protected].
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| Please Update Your Contact Information! |
 We would really like to update our information on each child at Christ Church and our parents. We want to make sure we are communicating as effectively as possible! So when you get a chance, please text, call or email Mother Katie and let her know your child's name, grade, cell phone # (if they have one), email address (if they have one) and double check that we have correct parent contact info, as well. Thank you! [email protected], 913-396-2922
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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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| Help Burroughs Molette Elementary School Whenever You Shop at Harris Teeter |
 You can help Burroughs Molette Elementary School every time you shop at Harris Teeter. Simply tell your cashier (during check-out) that you want Burroughs Molette's account number (6700) linked to your Harris Teeter VIC card. Once the account number is linked, every time you shop during the program, 2% of your Harris Teeter brand purchases will be contributed by Harris Teeter to the school. It's that easy!
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| Still Looking for Some Big Buddies for Our Little Buddies |
If you've thought about adopting a young buddy, or have had one in the past, this is a great time to begin a new sponsorship for 2020-2021. You can "adopt" a child for the upcoming year for $100, which will supply the youngster with weekend food bags for the entire school year. 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).
Foods We Need This Week
We have a few items that we'd love to add to our assembly line this week. In addition to the sorely needed juice boxes, we could definitely use some fruit for our buddies.
* JUICE BOXES!
* Fruit Cups (any kind)
* Packs of Oatmeal
Also, our friends at the St. Athanasius Feed My Sheep Food Pantry, in Brunswick, definitely need a few items for the folks who are served there. This week's wish list for St. Athanasius includes:
* Full Size Boxes of Cereal
* Canned Beans (green, black, pinto, kidney)
* Canned Meals like Raviolios,
Chicken & Dumplings,
Spaghetti & Meatballs
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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| Diocesan Convention - November 6-7, 2020 |
 This year, our Diocese has decided to hold our annual convention completely virtual. In order to make this possible, we needed to find a virtual venue that will provide a safe, clear and simple way to interact and allow the body to conduct all the business that needs to be done.
Our selection, Hopin, allows us to create a custom, virtual stage to allow attendees to watch speeches and attend events. This will include pre-recorded material, speeches, live sessions and break-out meetings. In addition, there are features that allow for more social interactions such as booths and expos for groups within the convention. We chose Hopin because it is easy to navigate: allowing users to see a full calendar and join sessions with the click of a button. If you have used Zoom, Teams or any other teleconference software, many of Hopin's features should be familiar to you. There will be more updates about Hopin and other details about our virtual venue in the weeks to come.
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| Registration for the 2020 Georgia Diocesan Convention Is Now Open | |
 Registration for delegates and guests is now available! To register, click here. There is a registration fee of $25. A portion of this fee will help cover the cost of the technology needed for Convention, and a portion will be donated to Honey Creek.
Convention will take place November 6-7, 2020. An initial session will take place on Friday evening, beginning at 6 p.m., with additional sessions on Saturday. In addition, a service of Holy Eucharist will take place on Saturday morning. The hope is that this schedule will permit the participation of delegates whose work requirements may have precluded serving in this role in the past.
There are several canonical eligibility requirements that must be met by those who serve as delegates to the Diocesan Convention. Click here to read the Canons of the Diocese that pertain to Clergy and Lay Delegates.
In addition to the Canonical requirements for Delegates, the following list of items will allow delegates to participate fully and as easily as possible:
- Strong internet access: This can take place from diverse locations including your home, work, or church.
- Internet capable device: If a delegate does not have an internet capable device, we encourage the congregation to work with them to enable access.
- Local WiFi Connection: We strongly encourage a connection to a local wifi network, rather than the use of a cell phone data plan. The Diocese cannot reimburse any costs incurred by cell phone data usage.
- Audio and visual connection
- In order to participate fully in large and small group discussions, a computer camera and microphone (built in to many laptops and newer desktops but available separately) are strongly recommended.
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| Celebrating Our Friends at Christ Church |
Art Show - Featuring Christ Church Friends
On Thursday, October 1, 2020, from 10:00 am - 8:00 pm, you are invited to "Makers On The Marsh" a pop-up show at Village Creek Landing, organized by Julia Lawing, daughter of Christ Church parishioner Bonnie Chandler. The participants are: Julia Lawing - fine art original oil paintings in a variety of prices and sizes; Ben Galland - photography and books; Heather Shadron - pottery; Wired Collaborative - Turkish rugs etc; Timucua Outdoors - handmade saltwater fishing lures; Gracefull Goods - handmade unique jewelry; Merci Bouquet flower truck. There will also be live music from 5:00 - 8:00 pm and food trucks. All are welcome at this free event! (Please wear your masks!)
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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
Bill Bartlett
Tory Braden
Judy Bradford
Rowland Bradford
Anne Brown
Bob Dart Brown
June Brown
Beverly Burns
Jackie Byrne
Colleen Cassidy
Zoann Covington
Jim Curran
Sarah Dance
Jackie Davis
Linda Davidson
Mary Lou Detwiler
Natalie Dixon
Dave Geiszler
Julie Hancock
Kim Harrison
Burgess Hartsell
Larry Hartsell
Andrew Hobbs
Angela Holland
Jessica Hope
Bob Huggins
Gordon Jackson
Holly Lamb
Mary Landen
Bill Littleton
Dorothy Lowery
Dott Marler
Tom Martin
Kathy Marvel
Claire McCarty
Frank Owenby
Andy Padgett
Pep Peppiat
Dale Pierson
Heath Power
Johnny Riddle
Julia Riddle
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Willou Smith
David Somerville
Sam Spak
Nancy Stamper
Mike Swindling
Edith Tayloe
Christina Taylor
Sam Ward
Sarah Whitman
Jennifer Willingham
Ava
Betty
Bob
Carol
Dale
Dave
Dick
Fran
Gail
Hugh
Jack
Jake
Joanne
Jordan
Larry
Maria
Marianne
Marjorie
Marla
Megan
Muriel
Pidge
Richard
Susan
Traci
Virginia
Walter
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