glad tidings january 2010
TRANSCRIPT
GLAD TIDINGS No. 1. Vol 10 January 2010 christchurchguilford.org
Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant Tells the Story of the Birth of Jesus
The Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant, scheduled to be performed on the Last Sunday of Advent, December 20,th was postponed to Wednesday, Dec. 23,rd due to the “Blizzard
of 2009” that dumped up to two feet of snow on our region that weekend. Under the direction of Susan Jillson, the enthusiastic cast performed the traditional story of the birth of Jesus before an appreciative audience of over 130. The pageant was performed in front of a beautiful new set design on canvas in the sanctuary. Additional Pageant photos are posted on the parish website at christchurchguilford.org. Special thanks to Melissa Perez, Victoria Reeve, John Mayo, Richard Marvin, Linda Reich, Adam Pajan, and all those who helped make the post-performance party such fun. This year’s “Academy Awards” go to Zoe Lamoreaux who performed her role as the Virgin Mary immaculately and to Austin Lafata, who stole the show with his inspirational portrayal of the Baby Jesus, and to all the actors, in their roles as Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the innkeeper, announcing angels, the Angel Gabriel, the heavenly host of angels, sheep, shepherds, the star bearer, the narrators, the Magi, and the musical ensemble directed by Vicky Reeve; they were an inspiration to us all.
PARISH YOUTH GROUP TO PREPARE & SERVE SPAGHETTI
SUPPER
The 4th Annual Gourmet Spaghetti Supper, hosted and prepared by the Rite 13/Journey-to-Adulthood Youth Group of Christ Episcopal Church, will be served on Sunday, January 31, 2010, at 5 p.m. Youth members participate in every aspect: from making meatballs and their famous chunky basil sauce to preparing the fresh garden salad with “Dressing a la Diana” and freshly homemade desserts. The menu includes homemade meatballs and basil tomato sauce, pasta, grated cheese, freshly baked bread, and a beverage. Desserts include a wide assortment of cookies, tarts, and a chocolate roll cake. Youth members bake on Saturday, Jan. 30th, at the home of Rite 13/J2A Program Supervisor Susan Shackford. On Sunday, they prepare, serve, and clean up after the meal.
In the past, this important Rite 13/J2A annual fundraiser has supported a variety of critical outreach projects, including purchasing mosquito nets for Mozambique children, the Episcopal Church Women’s “Thanks-in-a-Bag” program for the military, and the SIFA African Orphan’s Choir supporting school and housing initiatives.
Dinner Ticket Cost: Adult – $9.50 per person or $21.00 for three or more.
Search Committee Activity
On December 1, The Rev.Erik Larsen, Canon for Transition Ministry for
the Diocese, presented us with the backgrounds of a large list of candidates interested in our open position. The committee spent nine evenings conducting phone interviews, with questions touching on the candidates’ professional development and reaction to our Profile’s goals for Stewardship, Outreach/Inreach, Christian Education, and Spiritual Growth.
The candidates also sent written answers to two questions and provided videos of their preaching for our review.
We have heard a multitude of perspectives on how our stated goals are intertwined , how our challenges are addressed in parishes elsewhere, and what each candidate feels they would bring to strengthen and grow our congregation.
The number of applicants involved in the next phase, face-to-face interviews here in Guilford, will be reduced by more than a half. 90% of those invited to continue in the process responded immediately and enthusiastically. The schedule for interviews in Guilford has been set and will be completed by the second week of February. The last committee interview step will be having two members of the committee visit churches of still a smaller set of semi-finalists. Then, the Vestry will be presented with finalists for interviews. The Vestry has the ultimate responsibility for the decisions on calling a Rector.
We appreciate your support and prayers as we continue in our discernment process.
By David Jones, Search Committee Chair
By Dirck Goss, Treasurer
I remember Christ Church when I was very young, attending with my grandmother, Estelle Farrel
Goss. She liked Brad Locke, and I remember Rev. Locke coming for lunch at her house with the Bishop of Hong Kong on Duck Holes Farm.
My father's name is on the honor roll of those who served in the Second World War on the north side of the Sanctuary. I roamed and played around Foote's Bridge, near which the sandstone was quarried for the current Christ Church under the direction of George Foote.
I am very proud of my children, who have attended junior choir, J2A, and are now members of the senior choir.
I pledge to Christ Church because of the fond memories and the many lessons that my children have learned through participation and worship at Christ Church.
By Bill Glover
Like most people, my mail box is filled with soliciations for many
worthy organizations. Long ago, I decided that my church is my favorite charity and the good that Christ Episcopal Church, Guilford, does signifi-cantly benefits the community and my fellow parishoners. My visible and transparent invest-ment at home does God’s work, uplifts our fine com-munity, and binds us together in Christian fellowship. It is well worth writing a substan-tial check and supporting our special place.
Why We Give to Christ Church
2010 Nominating Committee Announces Slate of Officers to Be Proposed at the
Annual Meeting Members of the 2010 Nominating Committee, elected at last year’s Annual Meeting, announced the following slate to stand for election at the 266th Annual Meeting of Christ Episcopal Church. The Annual Meeting will be convened at 11:45 a.m. on the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, February 7th. The nominees are: Sr. Warden Edward Seibert Jr. Warden David Kish Treasurer Dirck Goss Parish Clerk Pat DaunicVestry – 3 yrs. Kay Claiborn, Martha Maxwell, Carol (Grant) IovannaVestry – 1 yr. Diana Stovall (filling an unexpired term)Delegate to Diocesan Convention Rhoda Whitman, Kay ClaibornAlternate Delegate Jean ValentineDeanery Representatives Cindy Smith, Kay ClaibornNominating Committee for 2011 Rhoda Whitman, David Moore, Ted Ervin
HAVE YOU MADE YOUR 2010 PLEDGE?
GLAD TIDINGSFirst Community Thanksgiving DinnerSucceeds with Outpouring of Support
Thank you to all who helped make our first Christ Church Community Thanksgiving Dinner a successful
Outreach event. We received an outpouring of support from parishioners in all aspects of this wonderful effort, from food donors who cooked and delivered roasted turkeys, stuffing, gravy and pies, to donations of vegetables, whipped cream, butter, cream, dinner rolls, salads, and festive decorations. The fellowship and camaraderie shared by those who volunteered to work on Wednesday and Thursday was wonderful. Our dinner guests came from
Guilford and surrounding communities. Although they represented all walks of life, they were united by a spirit of thankfulness for the sense of sharing, community, and warmth on a day that can be so full for some, but quite lonely for others. Even with the modest attendance of a “first-time event,” we know that our hospitality provided a warm and welcoming atmosphere to all our guests. All of the delicious Thanksgiving leftovers were delivered to the Community Dining Room, where they were gratefully received and where the fruits of our collective labors continued to provide nourishment throughout the next few days. “From a small acorn can grow a mighty oak tree...” We feel this Community Thanksgiving Dinner has great potential to impact many lives and provide an important ministry of hospitality to our Shoreline community. There are so many ways to grow this outreach both in size and scope. We welcome your feedback and give thanks again for your continuing support. Lisa Ste. Marie, Dinner Chairperson
Five-Day Part-time Sexton Position
EliminatedDue to unavoidable but over-due budget cuts, the 5-day, part-time position of Sexton has been eliminated. Our part-time parish sexton, Pete Cedeno, faithfully and cheerfully completed his last day of work here at Christ Episcopal Church at the very beginning of December. Pete came to work at the parish at the beginning of the tenure of the former Rector in the late 1990s and was a cheerful presence, a helping hand, and always generous with his time. However, it should be made clear that Pete didn’t retire or quit, nor was he fired or terminated. The five-day, part-time position had to be eliminated. Personally, this was a difficult decision to make. However, pledge and other income has not met parish operating expenses for many years, but in the past, unrestricted endowment funds were used liberally (to exhaustion) to bridge that gap.
MEET SHEWARD HAGERTY Sheward Hagerty of Guilford has been hired by our Interim Rector, Father Tony, to attend to some of the duties of Sexton. At present Sheward will be on the premises only on Wednesday and Saturday mornings and then only for three hours each day. This arrangement represents a significant reduction in hours and budget expense. With everyone’s help, we can continue to keep our property, buildings, and worship space in good order by taking individual responsibility for picking up after ourselves, pitching in when needed, and by contacting the parish office to volunteer to help with specific extra cleaning and clean-up needs.
Christ Episcopal Church P. O. Box 574 Guilford, Connecticut 06437
GLAD TIDINGSa publication of
Christ Episcopal Church 11 Park Street
Guilford, Connecticut 06437
The Rev’d. Anthony C. DinotoInterim Rector
203-453-2279
Edward Seibert Senior Warden
Pat WakefieldParish Administrator
William D. GloverManaging Editor
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PAIDGuilford, Connecticut
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EpiphanyNOTICE: ANNUAL PARISH MEETING IS
FEBRUARY 7
The 266th Annual Meeting of the Parish of Christ Episcopal Church, Guilford, Connecticut, will be called to order at 11:45 a.m. on Sunday, February 7, 2010, the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. The agenda of this year’s Annual Meeting includes presentation of the operating budget for 2010 approved by the Vestry, reports of standing committees of the parish; the election of a Senior and Junior Warden; election of Vestry members, Diocesan Delegates to the Convention, representatives to the New Haven Deanery, and members of the 2011 Nominating Committee. The Annual Parish Meeting is required by parish by-laws to be conducted on or before February 8th and annually by Canon Law of the Episcopal Church, USA. Childcare will be available for children of the parish in the undercroft. This will be an important meeting in the life of the parish. All parishioners are urged to attend this meeting.
There will be one celebration of Holy Eucharist on February 7th at 10 a.m. There will be no Holy Eucharist celebrated at 8 a.m.