Did You Know?

Did you know that Bananas are Radioactive?
The journey of science facts also leads us to one of our favorite fruits, banana but not in a very delicious way!! Have you ever thought that bananas can be an example of a natural radiation source ever while eating them? Probably, you didn't. But it is true. They contain high levels of potassium, wherein a small amount is radioactive. But it doesn't require you to quit your yummy banana smoothie as the content of radiation is extremely small.

Did you know that Animals Use Earth's Magnetic Field to Know Their Location?
Yes, among amazing facts in science, sea animals have the ability to sense the magnetic fields of the earth for their orientation. According to the U.S. Geological Study, "There are pieces of evidence showing that some animals, like sea turtles and salmon, can sense the earth's magnetic fields and use it for navigation." But is the earth a magnet? Yes. The earth is composed of layers having different chemical compositions and physical properties. The crust of the earth has some magnetization while its core generates its own magnetic field.

Did you know that Helium Works Against Gravity?
Till today, did you know that helium doesn't get affected by gravity? If you cool helium just a few degrees lower than its boiling point ie. 452 degrees Fahrenheit (–269 degrees Celsius), it becomes superfluid, which means it can move without friction. It can rise up and over the sides of a glass. Not only this, but it can also drain through molecule-thin cracks in a container. Among other amazing facts in science, helium is the second-most abundant element in the universe.

175th Anniversary Historical Exerpts From the Book
"Christ Church New Brighton"
by John B. Woodall

The Irving Years (1850-1875) Part One

Architect
No account of the service of May 5, 1850 and no contemporary description or likeness of the new church building is known to us. However, parish records show that it was designed by the fashionable architect James Renwick, and that it was equipped with furnace, carpets, cushions, a baptismal font made from the bowsprit of the frigate Constitution (the gift of Commodore John D. Stoat), a set of communion plate wrought by Ball and Black, and an organ housed along with the choir in the rear balcony and which was still unfinished when the church was opened for worship. ...

Pew Sales
Floor diagrams of 1850, 1852, and 1855 prepared for the sale of pews are our sole reference for the early church interior. One is struck by its plainness and by the bareness of the chancel. The chancel, however, embodied the latest ecclesiological development: it was recessed and elevated, and a communion table was centered at its rear and flanked forwards by pulpit and reading desk, thereby giving an unobstructed, unencumbered view of what was in those days invariably called the "Lord's Table." Such an arrangement had been considered *High Church" when it first began to displace the preceding style of chancel without recess or alcove and with pulpit placed Protestant wise at its rear center, with reading desk and communion table below.. Another interior fitting, first shown in the diagram of 1852, was the baptismal font placed centrally between the forward end of the main aisle and the steps leading to the chancel. Short, lateral pews ran almost into the chancel steps, tie crowding perhaps being explained by a stipulation in the deed of a church "capable of accommodating 300 sittings." A block of double pews stood on each side of the main aisle, each pew divided by a partition, the longer ones being entered from the center, the shorter from the sides. One fourth of them were free and distributed in regular order throughout the nave; the rest were valued at sums ranging from $100-$250 each, and subject to an annual ground rent set for the next five years at twenty percent of their value. Pews were periodically offered for sale and those not sold were rented at an addition to the annual tax of seven percent of their appraised value. Such rates were considered excessive at the time and aroused protest. ...

Paid Musicians
Music was by volunteers until May 1852, when Miss Lydia Jackson, daughter of pewholder Henry Jackson — and probably an organist began to be paid $100 annually "for her services in the choir. n In 1853, $25 was put at her disposal for the purchase of music. The choristers were "ladies and gentlemen* thus lauded in the vestry minutes of May 1, 1855: "The undeviating regularity of their attendance, the perfect harmony that has prevailed among them are almost unprecedented, and are entitled to our warmest acknowledgements." (In 1858, the choir was thanked for its "constant amenity.") Thomas Hobby, a carpenter living beside the church and a participant in incorporation, received $150 per annum as sexton and a percentage of the pew rents collected by him; his son James worked the organ bellows for $25 yearly. In 1852, Cox, a recent English immigrant to the island became sexton and served for the next decade.

Announcements

Coffee Hour

This week we will host a sponsored coffee hour! It will be held in the Guild Room, immediately following Sunday service.

Contributions

As an FYI - all people who pledged and have emails should have gotten an email with their quarterly statement. If you did not get your statement, please contact me at bethmclean475@gmail.com.

Spring Fair 2024

With our Spring Fair approaching on June 1st, 2024, we are requesting donations of raffle baskets, baked goods, white elephant table items, supplies, etc. Please bring any donations to the parish office or contact Sheila Hewitt at 718-447-8049.

FYI

We are excited to announce that Rev. Kirstin Swanson will be visiting us on Sunday, May 5th, 2024. Rev. Swanson will be both the preacher and celebrant at 8:00am, and the preacher at 10:00am worship. We warmly invite everyone to join us in welcoming and supporting her during her visit.

Volunteers Needed

We are looking for people to chair our Spring Fair, which will be held on Saturday, June 1st, 2024. For more details or information please contact Sheila Hewitt at 718-447-8049.

Richmond IPC: Bus to the Ordination of Deacons

Saturday, May 18th. The service begins at 10:30 AM

Congratulations to Cindy McCloskey, Church of the Ascension, for her upcoming ordination as Deacon. The Richmond Inter-Parish Council has organized a bus to travel to the Cathedral of St. John the Divine on Saturday, May 18th for the Ordination.

The charter bus will leave from All Saints Church at 8:45 AM on 5/18.
The bus has 54 seats. Seats must be reserved and will be filled on a first come first serve basis.
The bus will depart from the Cathedral at 12:30 PM.

To reserve a seat on the bus please send an email to richmondipc@gmail.com, or text Cathy Carlson at 718.702.7192. Please include your cell phone number and email in your correspondence. To help offset the cost of the bus, there is a suggested donation of $25 per rider.

All registrants will receive a confirmation email.

Save the Date

Saturday, May 10th, 2024 – TRIVIA NIGHT at Christ Church. 6-9PM, $5 per person. This is a J2A Pilgrimage Fundraiser.
Saturday, May 18th, 2024 – New York Concert Opera Presents - "A TRIBUTE TO MARIA CALLAS" 100 Years a Legend. 7:00PM

Parish Prayer List

The following individuals have requested our prayers:
Fred Allen, Betty Babb, Elma Babb, Erma Babb, Marcella Babb, Jenny Badger, Ezekiel Bascombe, Richard Biada, Linda Blanchette, Chris Broderick, Deborah Broome, Brenda Brown, Frank Cangemi, Eva Charney, Tulin Cileli, David Clark, Marcia Clendenen, Sandra Cocks, Lisa Colli-Hogan, Iris Colbourne, Barbara Corregan, Laura Craig, Athelridge Cumberbatch, Gaynelle Cumberbatch, Presiding Bishop Michael Curry, Ira (Steve) Davis, Aria Durant, Marlene Elia, Garfield Evans, Tabitha Foxx, Sebastian Gattullo, Sandra Giambalvo, Steven Haley, Mary Hamblin, , Mary Haugen, Avion Hernandez-Elcock, Emilia, Jaime, Jan, Mark, & Tom, Michael Kelly, Erica Korzekwinski, Anthony Lamourt, Chloe Lee, Jenna Love, Willie Marcus, The McIntosh Family, Eva McClary, Mary Mcclellan Michael & Lois Moschella, Louise Nygard, Charles Price, T. Rauch, Ann Reilly, Olivia Rey, Eda Richardson, Christine Riola, Deborah Rollock, Leila Rollock, Pastor Junior Ross, Barnett Shepherd, Daphne, Joyce & Eric Smith, Tom Smith, Thomas Sox, Erma St. Louis, David Lloyd Stephens, Christopher Still, Sheila Swigert, Fred & Rob Tucher, Deborah Vurckio, Lucille Williams, Roger Williams, Marsha Wynter, Jan & Joan Yearwood, and the people of The Girls and Boys of Heartshare St. Vincent's Services.

Please Note: The Prayer List is intended to uphold and encourage those who need healing prayers. If persons have been fully recovered and no longer need to be lifted up in this way, please let us know so that we can make room for others. This list will be updated every three months unless otherwise notified. If you need a loved one or friend to remain on the list, please call the parish office. Thank you!

We pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, especially those whose death resulted from gun violence. May their souls rest in peace.

We pray for all the frontline and essential workers in our parish, and around S.I. and the world.

We pray for the hundreds of asylum seekers in New York City, and particularly on Staten Island and ask God's Holy Spirit to help us as citizens, civic organizations and religious institutions to respond with love and compassion.

We pray for comfort to the families and communities impacted by gun violence, and for the will and determination to enact appropriate gun control legislation and promote a culture of safety.

We pray for an end to armed conflict, and lift up the people of Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia and Sudan in the hopes that they can move towards peace and diplomacy.

We pray for all those negatively impacted by climate, environmental and naturally occurring disasters.

We pray for those who are suffering from the impacts of systemic racism, and for those who are committed and working towards change, unity, and equality for all peoples.

We pray for our young people and all those who have started a new academic year.

We give thanks to God for the following individuals who are celebrating their Birthdays this week. Eva Gross (29, Nancy Sherman (30), - MAY- Lindsay Kennedy (1), Jessica Szczepanik (4).

We give thanks to God for the individuals who are celebrating their wedding anniversaries this week: Daniel Mackta & Adrienne Abbate (2).

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for The Church of Bangladesh.

In the Episcopal Futures Prayer Cycle, we pray for all who seek God by strengthening their faith and serving their community.

In the Diocese of New York, we pray for +Michael our Presiding Bishop; +Matthew, +Allen, and +Mary, our Bishops; Trevor+ our Rector; Parish of Christ the Redeemer, Pelham; St. James' Church, Callicoon; St. Philip's Church, Manhattan; St. James the Less Church, Scarsdale; St. Philip's Church in-the-Highlands, Garrison; St. Stephen's Church, Armonk; and the New York Episcopal Cursillo.