 This
Sunday will be a red letter day at Christ Church. (By the way, "red letter day" is an expression that comes from the ecclesiastical
world. It refers to the way in which saints' days and holy days
were printed in red ink on calendars and most notably in the 1549
Book of Common Prayer). First, we will celebrate the Presentation
of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the Temple, transferred from February
2. This is the day, forty days after Christmas, when Jesus was brought
to the Temple in Jerusalem to complete Mary's purification and to
offer a sacrifice for the redemption of the first-born. The law
prescribed a lamb for the sacrifice, but Joseph and Mary took the
option allowed for the poor, "'a pair of turtledoves or two young
pigeons'" (Luke 2:24). The Presentation is a Feast of the Lord and
we celebrate it in conjunction with the title of our parish, Christ
Church. Part of the Presentation Gospel tells how the Holy Family
met the prophets Simeon and Anna and that Simeon predicted that
the Christ Child would be "a light to enlighten the nations," which
is a perfect Gospel for the second celebration this Sunday.
This Sunday we will also celebrate Diversity Sunday. Our theme
this year, based on our mission statement, is Celebrating
Diversity through Worship, Love, and Service. Members of
the congregation are encouraged to wear clothing reflective of their
ethnic heritage and to bring an ethnic dish to share. At the luncheon
following the 10:00 service, various members of the congregation
will share their talents reading poems, singing, dancing, playing
instruments, and the like.
Diversity Sunday is one of the highlights of the year at Christ
Church. You won't want to miss it, and it is a great Sunday to bring
a friend.
Fr. Chuck |
The following
individuals have requested our prayers: Robin Beveridge, Shirley
Black, Willie Black, Jr., Gene Braxton, Sr., Gregory Brown,
Patricia Brown-Prestia, Marguerite Bruce, Mary Clendenen, Marcia
Clendenen-Riley, Inez Colborne, Sylvanus Corneh, Dawn DeSilva,
Roseline Dundas, Marlene Elia, Hayley Filippini, Nellie Gibson,
Robert Granato, Colin Hay, Ellen Hudson, Cineal Jallah, Nellie
Johnson, Ravi Lambiase, Richard LeClair, Nancy LeClair, Kathleen
MacDonald, William Marcus, Donna & George Marlak, Hugo McIntosh,
Sr., Liam McCloskey, Paul Napolitano, Tom Pattison, Sam Pirozzolo,
John Rhoades, Elizabeth Roberts, Peter Roland, Meg Rowan, Gertrude
Schall, David Seeley, Mr. & Mrs. Seese, Kris Sheeler, Ann Sohm,
Sanjeet Veen, Irene Vito, Elise Weiser and Cletus Wortoson.
Give thanks to God for the following individuals
who are celebrating their Birthdays this
week: Ali Alfieri (5), Fr. John Walsted (5), Wolde Archer
(8), Hal Reiersen (11), Peter Sipp (11).
In the Anglican Cycle
of Prayer, we are asked to pray for the
Anglican Church of Canada, The Most Rev. Frederick Hiltz, Primate.
In the Diocese of
New York, we pray for Katharine our Presiding
Bishop, Mark, and Andrew our bishops and Andrew our bishop coadjutor-elect,
and The Church of the Heavenly Rest, Manhattan. We pray for
the continued growth of the Carpenter's Kids Program. |
 There is a new Feeding Ministry on
Staten Island which is both unique and grounded in the Episcopal
churches here. Christ Church, in conjunction with St John's and
All Saints', is lending support to a "Take Out" lunch and dinner
program established by the Rev. Beverly Neuhaus as part of her secular
position as head of Richmond Senior Services. Deacon Neuhaus, along
with a faith-based board of directors, including Deacon Swanson,
has received funding and from local foundations and support from
elected officials to establish a feeding ministry on Staten Island's
North Shore with a special eye to seniors.
 Twice a week, Wednesday afternoons and Thursday evenings, Deacon
Neuhaus and her staff are distributing "take out" meals to hungry
North Shore residents. The afternoon meal consists of a vegetarian,
chicken or tuna wrap sandwich, a piece of fruit, a small salad and
a juice box. The dinner is a hot serving of pasta, poultry or casserole
with salad, juice and dessert. If you are available even one Wednesday
afternoon or Thursday evening a month and are interested in helping
out, please see Deacon Swanson or contact her at deakswan@aol.com.
|
76 Franklin Avenue
The Rev. Canon Andrew Dietsche, our
Bishop Coadjutor-elect, will be consecrated bishop on March 10 at
the Cathedral of St. John the Divine. The Richmond Inter Parish
Council (IPC) has reserved two buses to take Staten Islanders to
the consecration. The buses will leave from Christ Church
promptly at 8:00 a.m., and we are requesting that everyone arrive
by 7:45 a.m. The cost is $15, which includes the gratuity. Funds
are available to defray the cost of the bus if needed, please speak
to Fr. Chuck.
Victor
Stanwick, John Watson, and Susan Fowler met 30 years ago at South
Street Seaport Museum as ship volunteers. The three friends stayed
in touch and even joined Christ Church together.