Caritas 2016• Annual parish meeting

January 29th

• Christmas donation nearly $900

• Recycling, shredding January 14th

• Diocese of Virginia Convention January 26-28

• A Message from Hilary+

• Story time service Jan 8th with storyteller

• HoCo Evening Book Club new date

• January Men at the Movies

• CARITAS 2016, the reflection

• Bible Studies & Sunday Morning adult class

• Ladies Informal Gathering January 13th

• January 15th hear our parishioner and missionary in Haiti

• Getting ready for Food Pantry expansion

• Nearly full-house at pageant

• The Back Page

News of The Church of the Holy Comforterin the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia

Richmond, January 2017

See article page 5

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Annual parish meeting January 29thBy Bruce MacAlister, Editor

The annual meeting is important because we elect the people in charge of the money! The Episcopal church is a mix of a hierarchy of priests and bishops and a democracy of elected Vestries, Deputies, etc. The Vestry in every parish is responsible for the money. It is at the annual meeting where parish members elect vestry members, a group nine who each serve a rotating three year term. We elect three new vestry members each year. Besides the official authority over money, the lay vestry members share the general care of the parish with the Rector. There is more to the meeting than just the election. The

Treasurer covers the finances last year and the budget for this year. There are written annual reports by the heads of the ministries with the chance for parishioners to ask questions.

January29th just after the Sunday service the parish will have its annual

meeting. You need to be there for the health of the parish.

Christmas donation nearly $900By Helen Reese, Treasurer

We collected $892.27 for Side by Side! Your generosity will help this organization that we have supported since it started as ROSMY in 1991. You can learn more about them at www.sidebysideva.org.

Recycling, shredding January 14

Where: Boulevard & Robin Hood Road in Richmond (1710 Robin Hood Road)

What:• Christmas Tree Chipping• Shredding up to 5 boxes of outdated documents.• Electronics• Computer systems (hard drive, CPU, monitor) and TVs with $10 fee for old TVs.• Computer accessories (cables, wires, keyboards, mice, speakers, etc.).• Printers, scanners, copiers and fax machines.• VCRs, camcorders, stereos and all phones.• Christmas tree light strings.• Small Recycle Tubs (Clean up and drop off your old curbside recycling bins for reuse in the schools.)• Questions: Darlene.Mallory@Richmondgov.com or 646-8325.

What to do with the rest of your stuff? Check out the Recycling Wizard for guidelines to recycle other items: cvwma.com/recycling-wizard/

Diocese of Virginia Convention January 26-28Excerpted from www.thediocese.net

The Diocese of Virginia goes from the north bank of the James River to the border with Washington DC, east almost to Williamsburg and west to the mountains. The annual convention (formerly called the Council) does the legislative work of the diocese, kind of like a state assembly or national congress. All resident ordained clergy get to vote as do delegates elected by churches based on membership size. In 2017 it meets in Reston.

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A Message from Hilary+Dear Friends and Companions in

Ministry,

As we enter 2017, are you thinking of a resolution that you would like to adopt and put into practice? It is always noticeable that in the first few weeks of the New Year, my gym is more crowded than usual. We have the best intentions but maintaining that focus can be challenging.

This year, I’m taking a new approach, and I invite you to join me. I’m going to first spend some time pondering, “What is God’s resolution for me?” What is God’s New Year’s resolution for you? Our God, our Emmanuel, God who knows us and is

with us, wants the best for us. God of grace and glory has more compassion and love for us than we often have for ourselves. When you think of God as Love rather than judgment, what does God want for you and how might that be something of a resolution this year? Perhaps I will resolve to spend time in prayer specifically increasing my awareness of God with me. A resolution like this could be anything; you and God get to decide that together. And the blessing of this sort of resolution is that God never loses focus; we can connect with God’s resolve, God’s determination, so that our resolution is less self-improvement that we need to achieve and more an awareness of grace in our lives.

The season of Epiphany, which we enter on January 6th, also encourages us to notice how God is seeking us, connecting with us. The Wise Men have a series of “aha moments,” as they come to realize to whom they are being guided. A star, an angry king – the stuff of their lives reveals God to them and the ways of God. We can’t know when an epiphany will come, but leaving open the possibility that such a moment can happen for us, helps God reach us.

I’m blessed to be going to Cuba with my family during the first part of January. My stepmom and her family left Cuba in 1957 a year before the revolution. They were actually back visiting family in Cuba at the time of the revolution. More than vacation, I see this trip as a family pilgrimage, during which I hope to see the country through my stepmom Zita’s eyes. I wonder what epiphanies may come during this experience? I look forward to being back with you on Sunday January 15th.

Wishing you the Blessing of God and Peace for 2017,

Hilary+

Story time service Jan 8th with storytellerBy the Rev Dr Hilary Smith, Rector

I’m so excited that Rhona Baker will be leading our Story Time service on Sunday Januray 8th, at 4:30pm. Rhonda is an accomplished storyteller. She will be telling the story “The Flight into

Eygpt - a Refugee Story.” We don’t always hear this story at Christmas time, but Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus had to flee from Herod, becoming refugees. This story will be for children, but may also speak to many of you who are concerned about the refugees of our world today.

The Rev. Rhonda W. Baker has been a Priest in the Episcopal Church for 21 years. She loves telling stories and has written and widely performed a program of women’s stories from scripture in storytelling and song called From Behind the Veil: Women’s stories you won’t hear read on Sunday Morning. She enjoys writing poetry, having published several poems in the Chesapeake Bay Poets publication Skipping Stones vol VI and a “Litany for Women who are Torn” which was published in the Morehouse book Lifting Women’s Voices: Prayers to change the world. She has been married for 42 years to her husband Bob, a software designer and author. They have a blended family of 5 children and 8 grandchildren. She currently serves as Priest in Charge at Grace Memorial Church in Port Republic, VA.

Photography - David Smith-Soto

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HoCo Evening Book Club new dateBy Megan Graber

Happy Holidays! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Our evening book club will now meet the 2nd Tuesday of the month in 2017, the first being January 10th at 6:30 pm.

In January, we encourage you to invite a fellow reader to attend the gathering too. I will bring a

Christian’s cheese pizza and soda pop to the gathering. January’s book is Woman of God by James Patterson & Maxine Paetro. The discussion will be held on Jan. 10th from 6:30 pm to 8 pm in the Parlour at Holy Comforter Episcopal Church at Monument Ave. and Staples Mill Rd.

Look forward to seeing you in January!

January Men at the Movies By Steve Van Voorhees

Men at the Movies Tuesday January 24, 2017 features Tampopo—a Japanese classic with English subtitles. Think of it as a Japanese “And now for something completely different.” or Monty Python meets John Wayne in Japan, and they make a movie.

Tampopo is the title character’s name—Daisy. This movie is from the eighties and is described in many ways—spaghetti eastern, ramen western, a Japanese version of ‘Shane,’ a foodie movie, an erotic movie, a laugh out loud movie. As one reviewer put it, “There is not the faintest trace

of meanness or cynicism in this movie.” There are English subtitles, but you will understand this movie anyway because it is a down-to-earth human story, like a classic western.

Popcorn will be available as usual, but this might be the night to stop at the Willow Lawn Noodles and bring your dinner—this movie will make you hungry! Gather at

6:00pm, movie and discussion start at 6:30pm.

Contact me for more information.

CARITAS 2016, the reflectionInterview of the Rev Joe Klensman,

Deacon, by Bruce MacAlister“In talking to our guests, they were very, very

happy. They spoke about the community supper we served. They wanted the leftovers at 10 o’clock at night! Especially to be homeless at this time of Christmas they felt like they were coming home. I heard that several different times. That was the main theme I felt this year, we welcomed them into our home during the holiday season as though they were family visiting.”

Asked about the process of preparing and executing the week Joe said “We started early this year by getting parishioners to fill key positions like someone to arrange for the meals, someone to arrange for transportation to the showers, someone to arrange for laundry services, all of the things we provide; entertainment at night, we got those key folk in place early. We asked them to champion the effort to find the volunteers. So it’s not a one-person ministry at all here, it’s kind of an all hands on deck type of thing.

“I have the hours. The heart-shaped symbol (right) has all the names of all of the people who served. Some

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January 15th hear our parishioner and missionary in Haiti

By Bruce MacAlisterIn the November and December Messengers

you read of the work of parishioner Dawn Colapietro and her medical mission in Haiti. Those articles were based on messages to her friends following the devastation of Hurricane Mathew. Now you get to hear Dawn in person at an Adult Forum on January 15th immediately after the Sunday service.

And you, her fellow parishioners gave $700 to her work through a special call for contributions in December. Those contributions go to the Sisters of Charity for Haiti who, Dawn assures us, make sure that it all goes to the people needing the help and not for administrative overhead.

Getting ready for Food Pantry expansionBy Brian Davis

As you might know, our food pantry usage has been growing by leaps and bounds. In order to better accommodate our increased crowds and offerings, the pantry will be expanded to the rear of its current boundary. This will require clearing out of the various items stored in that area, both used and unused. In order to help those volunteers that will be doing the heavy lifting, please note:

• Any items stored in this room that are not food pantry-pantry related must either be claimed and removed, or tagged as being needed, no later than January 31, 2017• Those items tagged but not moved will be relocated to another area of the Parish Hall. (Indicate on your tag a ministry contact so we can let you know where it is going).• Those items not removed or tagged will be disposed of in a manner determined by those doing the clearing. (Unless it is determined there is a value to keeping such items).Thanks in advance for helping us grow in our

important outreach ministry. Contact Brian Davis or Phoebe Winter with any questions or concerns.

of the volunteering started two months ago with gathering food and donations, five of six trips to the different stores and the [Central Virginia] Food Bank, to get everything that we need.

“Hundreds of meals were made, hundreds of sandwiches for lunches; it can’t be done by just a few key people. We had outside executives come in, we had the Muslim group who have been serving here for years and years. I think this speaks to how broad is the need to serve and help. It crosses all generations, all ethnicities, all religions”

Bible Studies & Sunday Morning adult classBy Peggy Hombs, Adult Formation

chair

Bible Study Groups Resume: Wednesday morning group with the Rev. Bambi Willis on January 4th at 11am, the Monday evening group with the Rev. Bruce Birdsey on January 9th at 7pm. Consider a New Year’s practice of Bible study—explore your faith, learn more about scripture, enjoy some fellowship!

Sunday Morning Adult Formation will resume its DVD-based study and discussion of How Jesus Became God on Sunday, January 8th, in the Parlor, 8:45-9:45am.

These groups are open to everyone—bring a friend! Contact me for more information.

Ladies Informal Gathering January 13th

The Ladies Informal Gathering will be starting up again, Friday, January 13, 2017 @ 6:00 p.m.

Please come and join us. Bring a snack and something to drink if you want. Reported by Darlene Klenzmann

News of the Church of the Holy Comforter - Richmond, Virginia - 6

Nearly full-house at pageantPhotos by Caroline Nichols & George Collier, text by Bruce MacAlister

The pews in the church Nave holds 200 or so people. The 4pm Christmas Eve service had 172 in the pews. With hymns, actors’ lines and a narrator the service featured the parish children doing the day’s Gospel as a pageant.

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Church of the Holy Comforter, Richmonda parish in the Diocese of Virginia under the Episcopal Church in the USA

which is part of the worldwide Anglican CommunionMonument Avenue at Staples Mill Road

web - www.hoco.org; e-mail - office@hoco.org; phone 804-355-3251; fax 804-355-0049

Holy Comforter is a Christian community,engaging diversity, empowering through worship, and embracing the spiritual journey,

in our church and in our community and in the world,that all may be made whole and fully alive.

• Sundays, 8:45am, Adult Formation, Hayward Parlor • Sundays, Choral Eucharist, 10am• Sundays, about 10:15am, Children’s Chapel, starts in the Church, moves to Parish House Children’s Chapel• Sunday January 8th, Story Time, 4:30pm

Food Pantry Hours:• First and third Saturdays, 11:00am to noon • First and third Tuesdays, 5:30 to 6:30pm

Side By Side Meal Preparation• Fourth Thursdays, beginning at 4pm, depart for delivery at 5:15pm• Veterans shelter dinner, Fourth Thursdays, beginning at 5pm, depart for delivery at 6pm

Editing of the Messenger is done by Bruce MacAlister, the layout by George Collier.

The next Messenger will be available Sunday, February 5th, 2017.The deadline for that edition is Friday, January 20th, 201 (but earlier submission is encouraged).

Please send your submissions to editor@hoco.orgA full color (and much more attractive)

version of the Messenger is available on our web site - www.hoco.org

Our current calendar is available on the web site - http://www.hoco.org/calendar.htm

Coming Events at the Church of the Holy ComforterSee the Hoco web site calendar page for detailed calendar and rota

Hoco Birthdays for the month of January: Andrew Kunz, 1st; Maxwell Hawes, 3rd; Jean Redford, 4th; Maria Hayman, 10th;

Noah Sanderson, 10th; James Moon, 16th; Norman Marshall, 17th; Bonnie Steffey, 20th; Mary Moon, 21st; Jay Deane, 22nd; David Lehman, 22nd; Phyllis Dawson, 23rd;

John Vandervelde, 23rd; D. Craig Anderson, 26th; Hilary Raymond, 28th; Dominique Vines, 28th; Tobias Ball, 30th; Abie Richardson, 30th