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Clergy Corner
the Rev. Charles H. Howell
 Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about St. Paul’s metaphor of the body found in the twelfth chapter of First Corinthians.
You will recall that St. Paul compares the Church to the human body in which every part is necessary and has an important function. The metaphor of the body is really, of course, a plea for tolerance: Each part of the body ought to respect the other parts of the body and recognize their interdependence.
 The interdependence of the parts of the body was driven home to me with new force just about a year ago. Early last January I crashed into the coffee table in the middle of the night and broke the fourth toe on my left foot. Because that one little member was hurt, my whole body was thrown out of whack. I couldn’t wear my dress shoes for a couple of weeks; I couldn’t walk very far; and my stride was altered, which made my back sore. How much does a toe weigh? A few ounces, I suppose. Yet because that tiny toe was hurt, my whole 150 pound body was affected. Talk about the way the parts of the body are interdependent!
St. Paul’s image of the body takes on added significance as Christmas approaches. During Advent and Christmas we remember that in Jesus, God took on a human body -- real-life flesh and blood. Certainly during his life Jesus had a headache, a toothache, an upset stomach, caught the flu, or broke a toe. He knows that hurting one small part of your body affects your whole system.
Jesus is still affected every time even the smallest part of his body, the Church, is hurt or dishonored. When one part of the Church is hurt or dishonored, the whole body hurts and fails to function properly. When we fuss and fight and speak badly of others, we hurt not only that person but the whole Body of Christ. We would do well to follow St. Paul’s advice and treat with greater honor those parts of the body we find most dishonorable.
As we celebrate Christ’s incarnation over 2000 years ago in Bethlehem, we remember that he is living and active today. Jesus is incarnate in the people sitting next to us in the pew each Sunday. Each person in our parish is part of Christ’s body and dependent on us just as we are dependent on them. Just as we wouldn’t purposely break a toe, so too we wouldn’t purposely hurt another member of the Church. In fact, we don’t hurt our bodies; rather we care for and nurture them. This Christmas I invite you to care for and nurture the Body of Christ as it is incarnate in our fellow parishioners and to “love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10).
Faithfully yours,
Fr. Chuck |
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Sunday School News
On Sunday, December 16, the Sunday School will present the annual Christ Church Christmas pageant as part of the 10 a.m. service that morning.
Please join us as we learn about the symbolism of the candy cane.
We would also like to take this opportunity to thank all of you who participated in our Thanksgiving food drive with your generous donations of food.
Best wishes from the entire Sunday School for a joyous holiday season.
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Midnight Churches
Nick Dowen
Anke Michaelson is a professional photographer who had the unusual idea of photographing church interiors at night, using a camera on a tripod and a long film exposure.
The resulting remarkable exhibit of photographs, called Midnight Churches, is now on view through February 2008 in Marie’s Gourmet, an excellent new restaurant at 977 Victory Boulevard.
Included in the exhibit are Christ Church New Brighton, Calvary Presbyterian Church, St. Peter’s Roman Catholic Church, the Church of the Sacred Heart and St. John’s Episcopal Church.
Anke Michaelson is our neighbor. She lives just up the hill from Christ Church on Buchanan Street. In addition to fine art, she also makes portraits and wedding pictures. You can reach her at www.anke-michaelson.com or 718-815-6804.
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Parish Prayer List
Four times a year, we will publish the prayer list in the Tower Chimes for your review. If you would like a person’s name to remain on the prayer list – a name can stay on for as long as you wish – simply call the parish office (718) 727-6100 or send an email indicating that you would like the name to remain on the prayer list.
If a name is not renewed we will assume that person is no longer in need of the community’s prayers and they will be removed from the list. The deadline for updating the prayer list is December 17th.
The following individuals have requested our prayers: Andre Adams, Joseph Ambroggi, Rose Bell, Robin Beveridge, Shirley Black, Willie Black, Jr., Verna Blair, Cynthia Braxton, Gregory Brown, Mary T. Bryant, Paul Caniglia, Florence Carlotti, Katherine Clarke, Rev. Canno Burgess Carr, Melodi Coleman, Carol Ann Corsica, Joseph Elliott, Anthony Gallucci, Bob Gross, Margaret Harris, David Holt, Howard Hudson, Kelli Kolin, Christopher Koster, Richard A. LeClair, William Marcus, Andrea McIntosh, Pam Miller, Anita Mitchell, William Murphy, Esq., Peter Parascandola, Virginia Peel, Marie Pirozzolo, Joseph Preston, Dorothy Rapp, Ed Riddick, Dorothy Rivera, Joan Rock, Joyce Rowan, Mae Seeley, Sarah W. Sherman, Karen Smith, Tara Smock, Jay Spadaro, Ann Sohm, Richard Stanwick, Ethel Thomas, Joseph Thompson, Phyllis Tortorice, Bertha Sherman-Walker. |
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Diocesan Convention
Nick Dowen
Values seem to be eroding all around us. Substance abuse rocks professional sports. Sexual abuse lawsuits decimate some church treasuries, not all of them Roman Catholic. Turmoil in our own Anglican Communion receives regular news coverage. How blessed we are then to recognize and hold on to the enduring values of the Episcopal Diocese of New York, which held its 231st Diocesan Convention at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on November 10, 2007.
Diocesan Convention was attended by our Rector, the Rev. Charles H. Howell, and by Churchwardens Lisa Rhoades and Nick Dowen. By longstanding custom, and now by resolution of the Vestry, our lay delegate is the Senior Warden. We voted on a $12 million balanced diocesan budget, which passed without a murmur of dissent. We elected four clergy and four laity as deputies to the Episcopal Church’s next General Convention, which will take place in July 2009 in Anaheim, California. We passed strong resolutions against torture and in favor of health care for the uninsured and underinsured.
Bishop Sisk shows strong leadership that is measured and moderate and that seems to enjoy firm and widespread support. I find the Diocese of New York to be a legitimate heir of the liberal Christian tradition that I was brought up in. This is to me "The Old-Time Religion." It is moderate, it is inclusive, it cares about the poor, and it strives for social justice. Feeding the hungry emerged as a major concern from all over the diocese. Soup kitchens are serving a record number of meals and the shelves of food pantries in many communities are empty.
For more reporting, look to the next Episcopal New Yorker. It was an honor to be a part of this unforgettable occasion. |
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Women of Christ Church
Martha Keucher
Shirley Elfers Notes in a Preamble to the Regular Women of Christ Church Section: The Women of Christ Church have again provided their annual gift of $300 worth of food gift cards to Father Chuck for presentation to needy families at Thanksgiving and Christmas. Shirley Elfers
The hardy souls who made time in their busy pre-Thanksgiving week for the
Women of Christ Church meeting were rewarded with an evening of forward-looking decisions.
First of all, our program of meeting with the residents of the Staten Island Care Center will begin in January, and a sharing of our Christmas pageant just before Christmas. We are grateful to Anne Devlin for arranging the details with her contagious enthusiasm. And Margaret Harris has already made a friend there who is eager for her to return to read to her.
The administration of the Center is quite pleased that we are interested, and we look forward to seeing our contacts develop.
NEW PLANS FOR THE CHRISTMAS MEETING AND DATE CHANGE: We will carry on the traditional Silver Tea in December, on the traditional date. Thursday, December 13 at 11 a.m. We will have a Eucharist and Healing
Service in the chapel, and then a carry-in lunch, each one bringing a dish to share. In the traditional silver bowl, we will place a Christmas offering which will be given to some good cause to be decided. This would be a good time to bring a guest, someone who is not acquainted with our group.
True to our mission of supporting Christ Church activities, we voted to take a full page ad in the Holly Ball journal, honoring three outstanding women who tirelessly serve our Church And many of us will be attending this
enjoyable event as well. And of course, we plan to do our part at the St. Nick's Fair the week before.
Watch the Sunday bulletins for reminders of our planned visitation to the residents of the Care Center on January 9, 2008, and the January meeting on the third Tuesday evening. Our meetings begin with the Eucharist and Healing Service, so we have changed the time to 7:00 p.m. Why don’t you make this your first entry on your new calendars: Tuesday, January 15. at 7 p.m. |
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Christmas Service Schedule
Sunday, December 23
8 a.m. – Holy Eucharist (Chapel)
10 a.m. – Festival of Lessons and Carols
(No Eucharist)
Christmas Eve
Monday, December 24
4 p.m. – Family Holy Eucharist
10 p.m. – Festive Choral Eucharist
Christmas Day
Tuesday, December 25
10 a.m. – Holy Eucharist
New Year’s Eve
Monday, December 31
Watch Night Service |
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Carpenter's Kids Update
 Last month, Christ Church began a partnership with a parish in Tanzania to continue the good works of the Carpenters Kids, a program developed in relationship with the Diocese of Central Tanganyika in support of AIDS orphans in Tanzania through parish to parish linkage.
Bishop Roskam was instrumental in the formation of this program, and when she visited Christ Church last month she shared a report that she recently received from the program director in Tanzania. We’ve reprinted this report for our readers, which appears below:
To: Bishop Roskam and our friends at Christ Church, Staten Island
Background:
As per the Parish Implementation report already provided to you, The Carpenter’s Kids Program was implemented at Ng’home parish on September 15, 2007. As per the Carpenter’s Kids policy, the Program Director, Rev. Noah Masima, with John Mattaya, Assistant to the Program Director, conducted a one-month review of the parish’s involvement in the program. They met with the Parish Committee, the Mama Lishes (who cook the breakfast for the Carpenter’s Kids), a few guardians of children who are involved in Carpenter’s Kids and with the Carpenter’s Kids themselves to discuss the program. Some of the comments are recorded below:
Parish Committee: The kids have shown changes in their health and at school. In the past the kids would have to work to get money to buy school materials. Now they have been served by the program, and it has been a big help. The only thing is the concern for the kids who were not selected.
Mama Lishes: They are very happy for the program. They have seen many changes in the children. They feel good to be like the parents of the children, since they are with them so many mornings a week.
Parents and Guardians: They thank the program for being kind to them, for taking the heavy load from them. One guardian cried, pouring her tears saying that her family has been saved from poverty because now her child receives breakfast each school day and the necessary materials for school. Some others said that they have no language to express their gratitude. “May God bless our friends.”
The Children: They are very happy for the program, for giving them uniforms, shoes and school materials. Now they are like the other children. They have promised to study hard, and use all their efforts. “May God bless our supporters.”
The Program Director: It is pleasing to see how well things are going in Ng’home parish. The kids are doing well. The Mama Lishes are enjoying all the work and effort they put in each day. The parish committee appreciates the hard work of the Mama Lishes, and also listens to the concerns of the parents and guardians. Everything seems to be going well in the parish.
Thank you again for your support of this program. We look forward to ongoing communion between your parish and Ng’home parish in the future. May God bless you all – Mungu awarbariki!
Rev. Noah Masima – Program Director |
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Memorial Flowers and Christmas Greens
Shirley Elfers
Those who would like to contribute to the Altar Memorial flowers and greens for Christmas should list names of those to be remembered and place envelopes containing donations in the offering plate on a Sunday. Flower fund envelopes will be found in the pews. Checks should be drawn to “Women of Christ Church.”
Names and donations may also be mailed directly to Mrs. Richard Elfers, 61 North Randall Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301. To be listed in the Christmas bulletin, all names must be received no later than Sunday, December 16.
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Serendipity Notes
Colin Reed
The German Dinner on November 3, which was attended by over 50 people, was also a surprise birthday party. The advertised Black Forest Apple Crumble was forsaken and replaced by an old German dish called birthday cake and ice cream.
 With assists from the Darcontes, Marlene Elia did a wonderful job of preparing the noodles, pot roast, gravy and carrots. Twenty-five of Vinny’s cucumbers were not quite enough for Colin’s salad.
The organizers were quite nervous about the event because so few came to last year’s pasta dinner. We needn’t have worried and we made a profit of over $1000. The other outstanding feature of the evening was that instead of hiring a professional company to do the serving and clearing, Wolde Archer, Matthew Ambroggi and Olisha James did a truly wonderful job as well as the professionals would have done, saving us lots of money.
At our November 12 meeting we approved dates for a variety of activities throughout 2008, including our usual lunches and dinners. We hope to organize the ninth May Ham Dinner on Saturday, May 17. And, though plans are still tentative, we are hoping to work with Shirley Black on a Fish Fry on April 29. This will be a cooperative effort between the Fund Raising Committee and Serendipity. We are also working
with Christina Mantz to try to revive the custom of having a non-profit parish bus trip, which was a very popular event in the past.
As has been our custom for many years, we voted to spend $250 on toys for the needy children of the Seaman’s Institute
So there will be no misunderstanding, through various fundraising activities during the last three years, Serendipity has saved enough money to recently invest in a $10,000 Certificate of Deposit, the money to be used for the improvement of upstairs bathroom and kitchen facilities when the Plant and Equipment Committee and the Vestry are ready with a master plan. |
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Parish Register
December Birthdays
3—Liam David Aleman; 4—Philip Aleman IV; 5—Victor Stanwick; 12—Linda McAndrew;
14—Ginny Spadaro; 17—Lester Blair; 18—Willie F Black, Jr., Tovin Epherim Hewitt; Iris Brown; 24 – Sunitha Massey;
25 – Nick Dowen; 28—Nathaniel Seeley II.
December Anniversaries
10—Laraine & David Holt; Ronald & Sunitha Massey; 13—Karen & Paul Smith; 27 – Albert & Laura Patrick; Shirley & Willie Black, Jr; Robert & Linda McAndrew
If your special day is not in our records, call the ParishOffice at 718-727-6100 so it can be added. |
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Christ Church Website: New and Improved
Christ Church has been fortunate to have one of the best websites on Staten Island – and perhaps, within the Diocese of New York. This is due in large part to our talented webmaster, Victor Stanwick.
This is an invitation to visit our new and improved website, which has been “redesigned” to allow visitors to quickly navigate between the many new features: spectacular new photos of the stained glass windows, a special section featuring Fr. Chuck’s sermons, and links that feature the many different committees and organizations in our busy parish. There is also a section for News and Upcoming Events, which currently features some wonderful photographs from Bishop Roskam’s November 25 visit to Christ Church.
It’s a proven fact that many visitors to Christ Church have been drawn here by what they’ve seen on our website. One can only imagine how many more will come after they’ve seen the new and improved version! Be sure to check it out at www.christchurchnbrighton.org. |
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Coffee Hour Schedule
Lisa RHoades
The following people have signed up to host Coffee Hour in December:
December 2 - Nancy and Nick Lettiere
December 9 - Susan Fowler and Victor Stanwick
December 16 - Elaine and George Smith
December 30 – Women of Christ Church. |
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Around the Parish
Nancy Reiersen
Tis the season to be joyful, and thankful for the many blessings that we’ve received this year. Here at Christ Church there is so much to celebrate this season – the first anniversary of the Installation of our rector, Fr. Chuck, on November 25; a slow, but steady, increase in membership; new and active committees and ministries in our church, and many other blessings that have been bestowed upon us.
November was a very joyful and busy month, notably because of the increased number of baptisms on Sunday morning. Congratulations to all of the baptismal candidates and their families: On November 4 (All Saints’ Sunday) we welcomed Richard Jackson and Troy Richards (the sons of Troy Richards), and Tamara Christopher (the daughter of Samara Christopher.)
 The following Sunday, November 18, we welcomed Chases E. Rogers, the son of Sangra Doe. And that afternoon we celebrated the baptism of Luke Robert Smock, the son of Robert and Tara Smock. This was a very special day for little Luke; not only is he the first grandchild of Ellen and Ron Mazzucco, but he also wore a christening gown which was handmade by Ellen’s aunt many years ago. This gown was worn by Ellen when she was baptized, her sister, and all of the Mazzucco children – Tara, Laura Jean and Peter.
And on November 25, we celebrated the baptisms of Jabari and Malik Archer, the nephews of Hugo and Andrea McIntosh, when Bishop Roskam performed the honors here at Christ Church.
Last month we mentioned the tireless efforts of the workers who helped to “spruce up and clean up” the Sunday School rooms in October. We’d like thank one additional worker, Sheila Swigert, whose name was inadvertently omitted from our article.
Congratulations to John Szczepanik who was recently appointed Chairman of the Board for the Council for Unity and Anti-Violence in the New York City school system.
Condolences to Laura Craig on the passing of her brother last month.
And let us take this opportunity to recognize three of our parishioners who are spending this Christmas in their respective assignments with the armed services. Best wishes and thanks to 1st Lieutenant Andrew Schneider, who is currently stationed in Iraq; to Edward (Ted) Schneider, who joined the Air Force on December 2; and to Brianne (Brie) Pineiro who entered basic training in Chicago for the Navy in November. You are all in our thoughts and prayers this holiday season.
And on behalf of the entire staff of the Tower Chimes, we wish you, our readers and parishioners, a blessed, joyful and meaningful holiday season. See you all in 2008! |
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Final Notes
The January Tower Chimes will be devoted entirely to the Parish Annual Meeting. Our regular format returns in February. There is no online version of the Tower Chimes in January.
The Altar Guild is pleased to welcome Andrew Hardin as our newest member. In addition his altar guild duties, Andrew is also a member of the tenor section of the Christ Church Choir.
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