This Week at Christ Church

Christ Church in the City of New Brunswick

Worshiping God, Serving God's People

December 8, 2023 | Events for the week of December 10, 2023

Office Hours: Tuesday - Wednesday 9:00a.m. - 2:30p.m., & Friday 9:00a.m. - 12:30p.m.

The Second Sunday of Advent

Worship Services This Week

JOIN US IN PERSON OR ON ZOOM!

8:00 AM & 10:30AM

Eucharistic Service

Liturgical Ministers Needed!

See links below for sign-ups!

For those joining on Zoom

Click HERE to join the 10:30AM Service

Click HERE to watch the 10:30AM service live on YouTube, or HERE for Facebook, or watch anytime.

Find Sunday's worship service materials below:

8:00 AM & 10:30AM Parish Notes HERE

Follow along with the Book of Common Prayer HERE

Wednesday

Noonday Prayer-click HERE to join

Liturgical Ministers Sign Ups!

Please check your calendars

and sign up!!

December: Here

PARISH EVENTS THIS WEEK

SUNDAY

Holy Eucharist, 8:00AM

Advent Series, 9:15AM

Church School, 9:30AM

Choir Warmup, 9:30AM

Holy Eucharist, 10:30AM

Coffee Hour, 12:00PM

TUESDAY

Tuesdayers, 7:00PM via Zoom

WEDNESDAY

Noonday Prayer via Zoom

WomenSpirit, 7:30PM via Zoom

THURSDAY

Choir Rehearsal, 7:00PM

COVID GUIDELINES

Please review the most current COVID-19 guidelines from the

Diocesan Taskforce for Re-entering, Re-opening, and Re-imagining HERE

Christ Church Advent Series 2023

In much of the church the season of Advent is known for haunting melodies, apocalyptic imaginations, longing for change, and a whole lot of waiting. But what if Advent is more about a demand, an immediate and urgent call for something different?

Using Scripture texts from Isaiah and the Gospels, we will frame Advent differently, calling all into a provocative posture of seeing Jesus here and now. Using the traditional texts, the Advent wreath, and the deep blue color scheme, we will also join the imagination of our people, who are singing carols in their cars and in the malls, who are giving more and sharing more. We will expect Jesus to be in our midst, consistently demand God’s presence, and trust the Holy Spirit in our call, “Why Wait?!”

Join Rev. Joanna in person or on Zoom:

Week 1: Come Now; Ross Room and Zoom 9:15am-10:00am

Week 2: Comfort Now; Ross Room and Zoom 9:15am-10:00am

Week 3: Lament Now; Ross Room and Zoom 9:15am-10:00am

Week 4: Peace Now; Zoom ONLY 10:30am-11:15am (after our one 9:30am Zoom Morning Prayer)

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83944528112?pwd=dEtESlByM1BzdzU3QWlMbTB2SXBHQT09

Meeting ID: 839 4452 8112

Passcode: 195056

ADVENT SERIES RESOURCES GALOR!

NEW THIS YEAR: Weekly 5-9 minute at-home practice

videos!!!

https://vimeo.com/user/22210734/folder/18284251

The link for the Reflection and Activity Packet can be found in the weekly email and paper copies of them can be found in the back of the church!

There is also a book that you can use in your Advent practice: Ordinary Blessings for the Christmas Season: Prayers, Poems and Meditations . We have purchased 10 copies of the book for those for whom the cost of the book ($17-$18) may be difficult to come up with or who do not like to purchase things online. You can also purchase the book here https://tinyurl.com/2e389vb4 or here https://tinyurl.com/mw62apry.

Finally, there is a beautiful printable Advent Calendar that you may use with or without Ordinary Blessings. You will find the calendar HERE or there are copies in the back of the church.

Christ Church Annual Giving Tree

This year the Angel Gift Tree will focus on three

ministries: The Rector's Discretionary Fund; Laundry Love; and the Men's Rotating Shelter.

We are seeking donations of cash/check or gift cards to support these specific ministries. The Rector's Discretionary Fund can use cash or gift cards; Laundry Love- cash, and the Men's Shelter- cash or gift cards (Visa/etc).

Starting Dec. 3, through Dec. 31, you will find different colored angels on the tree in the back of the sanctuary; one for each ministry.

Presiding bishop invites applicants for 2024 UN Commission on the Status of Women delegation

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry invites applicants for Episcopal delegates ages 19 and up to represent The Episcopal Church in person and virtually at the 68th Session of the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women (UNCSW68) in New York City, March 11-22, 2024.

Applications are due by Dec. 15. Find all criteria and applications online in English and Spanish.

The 2024 UNCSW session lists its priority theme as “accelerating the achievement of gender equality and the empowerment of all women and girls by addressing poverty and strengthening institutions and financing with a gender perspective.”

Learn more HERE.

Beware: Scam Messages on the Rise:

Have you received any suspicious text messages or emails lately? Learn ways to protect yourself HER E

Return of Coffee Hour

Dear Christ Church members,

The Sign - Up sheet located on the notice board by the Nicholas Room, each host/hostess will be asked to bring some cookies or a comparable alternative as well as a juice item to be served for fellowship attendees. Thanks for your co-operation.

Wendy Benjamin – on behalf of the Fellowship Committee.

Taking Faith Home is a resource that provides a weekly guide for faith-filled conversations and actions during the church year. Taking Faith Home for the month of November can be found below:

Forward Day by Day booklets (large and regular print) for November, December, and January have arrived. Please contact the office to have a copy mailed to your home.

There are so many other ways to be involved at Christ Church! Find your inspiration HERE with 101+ ways to be involved at Christ Church!

Finance Update October 2023

Finance Committee Invitation

The Finance Committee will be having conversations about increasing our parish income! Meetings are on the 4th Saturday of each month at 10a.m. You may join the meetings using this link HERE.

If you have any questions, please contact Bruce Anderson at aba18s@yahoo.com.

Vestry Corner:

Key Topics from the November 2023

Vestry Meeting

1) The Vestry spent much of our meeting discussing the results of the parishioners listening sessions about the future of our music ministry. The focus, so far, has been on inclusivity and creativity.

2 ) The Vestry had a robust conversation about the finances in preparation for the December budget meeting and the Annual Meeting in January.

3) The Annual Meeting Planning Committee has held its first meeting. They are seeking candidates for the next Vestry members chairing Finance & Stewardship, among other roles. Please reach out to Meegan Adames if you are interested, have questions or wish to nominate someone.

Minutes of the October 2023 meeting can be found HERE.

To help support those in the Middle East. Visit the link to donate HERE.

Bishop French's statement regarding the Gaza and Israel: HERE

Have you completed your online Pledge Certificate for 2024? You will find the link HERE

Thank you to those who have pledged $256,425 to date.

Mark McMahon

The Pullaro Family

Penelope Lattimer

H. Arthur Phills

John Ager

Meegan Adames

Barry Qualls

Nancy Lown

Monica Williams & Jeremiah Weston Kevin Stansbury

David Bell

Wendy Benjamin

Jo Duhr

Margaret Caroline Brown-Stansbury Mr. Ronald Stansbury

Gerri Callahan

Debra Lowe

Sandra Smithson

Jean Houvener

Renis and Mervis Johnson

Peggy Smith

David G, Briggs & Beverly B. Briggs

Beth Binde

Sheila Cooper

Penelope Gordon

The Rev. Joan E. Fleming

Towanda Stovall

Barbara Patricia (Pat) Lowe

Sarah Braun

Joan S Borden

Kenreic and Marva VanLoo

Jonathan Gloster

The Rev. Joanna Hollis

Jean Zimmerman

Margaret Hall

Zida & Allen Abbott, Sr.

Barry & Dawn Johnson

Elizabeth & Jonathan Clark

Paul & Catherine Ambos

Dale and Patricia Buckendahl

Tanya Penman-Sterling

Eugene Lisnay

Ashlinn Stansbury-Fields & Jeffrey Fields, Jr. Gordon Arsenoff

Rozanne Jhamb

Lori Covery and James Nichols

Gloria Peroune

Kelly-Jane Cotter & Stacy Bruden

Karen Bemis & Doug Bonar

John and Leticia Egekeze

Edna Pozo

Barbara Chludzinski

Louise F. Deis

Fernanda Perrone

Melbourne & Alice Garber

Nancy Walworth and Bob Chant

Robin Stephenson

Stephanie Elson

A. Bruce Anderson

Thelma Fergusson

Joanna & Stephen Greenwood

Winifred Connerton & Jennifer Ryan

Christopher & Isha Davies

Yvette Bailey

Vincent & Stephanie Ryan

Our work TOGETHER depends on your support.

We are looking for Advent Readers and Advent candles lighters starting next Sunday, December 3! We encourage individuals, families, friends, folks from various ministries to sign up! Please sign up HERE

Calling all Volunteers!

For the past many years, the Parish House and Choir Building windows have been sealed with plastic sheets to make the spaces more comfortable and reduce our energy consumption.

This year, the Auditorium is the first priority for our tenants and the men’s shelter, followed by the choir room. If time permits, the kitchen, Ross, and Nicholas Rooms will be completed as well.

John is generally available the week before and the week after Christmas. It would be great to have help to expedite the process.

Please reach out to John at jager@optonline.net if you have interest and have availability.

The Interfaith Rotating Shelter will host professional trainers from Prepare, Inc. to give us skills for de-escalation, defusing dangerous situations, and hands-on physical strategies to use when someone's safety is at risk. Anyone who plans to be involved in homeless ministries can sign up (regardless of church affiliation), but if the seats fill up (max. 20 participants) then preference will be given to shelter volunteers for the coming winter.

Foundational skills & verbal de-escalation, December 3 & 11

(same content; sign up for either day)

Sunday, December 3, 2PM, First Reformed Church fellowship hall

Monday, December 11, 6PM, Catholic Center (84 Somerset St)

Physical and advanced verbal skills, December 10

Sunday, December 10, 2PM, location TBD

You MUST be signed up for the Dec 3 or 11 session to join on December 10

Please RSVP to interfaithrotatingshelter@gmail.com or to Jason Kaelber (508 439 2806; jtk52@cornell.edu).

Christmas Eve

Morning Prayer, Advent 4, 9:30 a.m.

Family Eucharist & Christmas Pageant, 4:00 p.m.

Special Christmas Music, 8:45 p.m.

Celebratory Choral Eucharist, 9:00 p.m.

Christmas Day

Holy Eucharist, 9:30 a.m.

Christmas 2023 Flower Memorials and Gifts

Each Christmas our Church is beautified with flowers memorializing departed loved ones, commemorating anniversaries or representing thank offerings. Flower memorials and gifts may also be provided throughout the year. The cost for each Christmas donation or a single date in 2023 is $50. A perpetual memorial may be established with a one-time contribution of $500.

To be included in the printed Christmas leaflets, we must receive your request no later than Tuesday, December 19.

Christmas 2023 Flower Memorials and Gift

Christmas Music 2023

Support our special music during the 9:00pm Festive Eucharist on Christmas Eve. We will have delightful musical offerings, and your favorite Christmas music. Just as flowers, plants, and other decorations adorn our worship space on festive occasions, special music also add to the beauty of our Christmas liturgies.

Will you consider a donation to our Christmas music? Donations may be given as memorials or thanksgivings. Please make checks payable to Christ Church, and mark the memo line “Christmas Music.” Gifts may be mailed to the Parish Office or put in the collection plate. To be included in the printed Christmas leaflets, we must receive your request no later than Tuesday, December 19.

Christmas Music 2023

NOTICE OF APPOINTMENT OF ANNUAL MEETING COMMITTEE

PLEASE TAKE NOTICE that the following parishioners have been

appointed to the Annual Meeting Committee of Christ Church for the

February 4, 2024 Annual Meeting of the parish:

Meegan Adames, Chair

Paul Ambos, Parliamentarian

Arnold Bruce Anderson

Margaret Brown-Stansbury

H. Arthur Phills

Shannon Pullaro

The offices to be filled at the meeting are:

People's Warden (one-year term) (one to be elected)

Vestrymember (three-year term) (two to be elected)

Diocesan Convention Deputies (one-year term) (three to be elected) (1 meeting + associated costs)

Diocesan Convention Alternate Deputies (one-year term) (three to be elected) (1 meeting + associated costs)

Delegate to Northern Convocation (one-year term) (six to be

elected)

Nominations for the offices to be voted on should be made through the Committee by completing and signing a nomination form and submitting it to the parish office or giving it in person to any member of the

Committee.

Would you like to join the Vestry or become a Diocesan Convention Deputy or Alternate? Know someone who may be great for the

position?

If yes, please fill out the nomination form HERE or

in-person

on the table in the back of the church.

Prayers requested for:

Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Arnold, Christine, Dale, Danielle, Doreen, Dorothy, Eleanor, Isobel, Jacqueline, Jim, Joy, Karl, Lenora, Larry, Mary, Matthew, Sarah, Shawn, Tabby, Timothy, Vivian, and Winston.

Christ Church Ministry: Acolytes and Servers

Anglican Cycle of Prayer: The Church of Pakistan (United)

Diocesan Cycle Prayer: The Revs: Dr. Henry A Chan, Joanna P. Hollis, Harry Mazujian, Canon Arthur P. Powell, Elizabeth Rauen Sciaino, Ricardo W. Sheppard, John V. Zamboni

Birthdays this week: Graciela Adames, Jordan Davis, Ashley Johnson, Wayne McKenzie, Stephen Pemberton, Bruce Rydel, Florence Rydel, Charlie Scott, The Rev. James Walworth, Nancy Walworth, Robin Zdanowicz

Memorial Flowers: are given by the late Mr. James Deschler, II in loving memory of Diane and James Deshler, III.

Faith Formation Newsletter

Thank you for your generous giving to support the Mission and Ministry of Christ Church!

We encourage you to send your pledges and donations to Christ Church in a variety of ways:

Go to the Donate/Pledge page on our website and give through PayPal
Schedule payments through your bank to Christ Church directly
Zelle to admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org
Mail in a check to Christ Church

News and Events from Diocesan Offices & Committees

Click HERE for Diocesan News and to subscribe to the Diocesan weekly newsletter, Good News in the Garden State

Opportunities to share your time, talent, and treasure

Secure donations for Laundry Love, RaiseRight, as well as General Donations or Pledge contributions can be made on our website by clicking HERE. You can also donate through the bill pay app at your bank, or by using Zelle. Zelle payments may be sent through your bank and directly deposited to the church via email to admin@christchurchnewbrunswick.org
You can still purchase your RaiseRight cards to support the church! You can pay through Zelle or PayPal and designate that payment to RaiseRight, Payments received will be reported to Paul Ambos. Please contact Paul by phone (732) 572-2067 or email HERE to place your order.
LAUNDRY LOVE is back to doing Laundry Love in-person at the Handy Street Laundromat, 314 Handy Street, New Brunswick, on the second Monday of every month from 5:00p.m. to 7:30 p.m. Parish volunteers to assist are always welcome. Email Catherine Ambos, msambos@gmail.com to volunteer. You can donate to Laundry Love through the DONATE tab on our web site HERE .