Lent 2006
From the Rector
Dear Friends in Christ,
As I write this we are in the middle of the biggest snowstorm of the year. Most of us remember the amazing fact that no two snowflakes are exactly alike--a great reminder of the creativity of God the creator. And God shows wonderful creativity in creating each of us as a unique person. And what is even more amazing than snowflakes is the fact that God offers His love to each of us over and over again. Sometimes it takes a blizzard to slow us down enough to remember that.
I wonder if you have ever thought about what Christ's death really means to your life today. Do you question whether Good Friday makes any difference to you now? During Lent we have the opportunity to explore such questions as these. We will be using the book, Six Hours One Friday, by Max Lucado, in which he addresses the meaning of Jesus? death on the cross with particular attention to our lives today.
The book is available at the church for $15 and a study guide is included in the back pages. We will also give you a schedule to keep track of where we are. The regular small groups (Wednesday morning, Thursday evening and Friday morning) will continue to meet during Lent, using this book. In addition, I will address some of the topics and issues during the Adult Education hour on Sunday mornings at9:00 a.m., and a Sunday evening group will meet at 7:00 p.m. Small group discussion can be extremely beneficial to our spiritual growth and in getting to know other parishioners. Why not try it for the six weeks of Lent?
During the past couple of weeks I have become aware of some exciting outreach mission possibilities. As I stated at the recent Annual Meeting, I believe God is expanding our horizons by calling us to become more actively involved in global missions. We are planning on a home-building project in Juarez, Mexico in August. The team will be led by Ben Roberts and is primarily intended for teenagers. Speak to Ben for more details.
The Solar Light for Africa ministry has begun the process of putting together a group of American high school and college students to go to Uganda this summer (late July). This group will be working with peers from Uganda installing solar panels for electricity in schools and hospitals. Speak to me for more information.
Five Talents International has recently published their schedule for mission trips. We have the opportunity to go to Uganda in May or August, as well as several other places. I would be delighted to talk with you about these possibilities.
From time to time, several people have mentioned the possibility of a group of us going to the Gulf Coast to help in the aftermath of hurricane Katrina. There are immense needs still facing many people. Perhaps you might be interested in participating in serving some of those people. Let me know of your interest.
And of course there are a number of ministries with which we can be involved closer to home. In each and all of them, we are seeking to build relationships that have eternal significance.
On a final note, Nina and I want to thank you for the many expressions of kindness and encouragement during the past few weeks while we have been dealing with the reality of her cancer. Kim Carlone has graciously agreed to coordinate meals and other means of help, so you may contact her (675-5533) if you would like to do something. And please don?t forget that there are a lot of things you could do around the church that would be very helpful too! Simply ask Dalia or me for some suggestions!
Blessings in Christ,
John Whitnah
From the Senior Warden
As I take the first tentative steps as your Senior Warden, I wish to first thank Stoddard for his fine work. I pray that I can do as well. I would ask that all of you take a moment and thank the Lord for the gifts He has given you. Christ Church needs all of those gifts and more. Together, we are one body. No one part is more or less important. So if you can help with the grounds, then when the call is made, please answer. If you can paint, teach, fold and collate, arrange flowers, evangelize--whatever your gift is, please use it.
We have a lot to offer people at Christ Church. We must continue to reach out and grow our parish. We will do that one new family at a time. We all know of someone who can use the Lord's help. Let us begin by asking them to join us at Christ Church.
In closing, I would ask you all to keep me in your prayers. There are many who are probably better qualified to be Senior Warden. I start this journey not knowing where it will lead, but having faith that the Lord has prepared me and will give me the needed tools to be successful as we move forward together.
God Bless You All,
Mike Wallace
From the Youth Pastor
Why Short-Term Missions?
One of the most basic concepts in the Christian faith is that of mission. God has always given his people a mission to fulfill as a part of his eternal plan. Adam and Eve were to "be fruitful and multiply," just as the disciples of Jesus were to "Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit..." From cover to cover the bible recounts the history of a chosen people, a peculiar people, that were partnered with God to fulfill His purposes.
But what about us? How do we as a church join in God's mission? Well, it probably won't involve exotic overgrown jungles or chilled monkey brains for desert. The fact is, we are all called to be missionaries (although not necessarily to the Amazon River Basin). For example, I believe that those brave souls in the nursery every week (dirty diapers might be more dangerous than piranhas!) are fulfilling a very real mission: serving the next generation of believers. Not only the nursery, but what about the whole gaggle of Sunday school volunteers? What about the ushers, coffee hour hosts, altar guild, and countless other servants? They can't be left out of our mission at Christ Church! It's obvious that we as a church are driven by something, and we're going somewhere. Let me propose a summation: we are chasing after God's calling on our lives as we look toward the coming of His Kingdom. God's calling is different in all of our lives, but no less important in any. Our goal and mission are the same, yet God's methods vary. All this to say, short-term missions is not a deviation or difference in the mission of Christ Church, but rather a new method. Same great taste, great new look.
Why Ciudad Juarez?
Participating in the mission of the local church is the foundation of Christian community. This being the case, however, even the best communities can become ingrown without communion with the wider Christian body. Short-term missions provide a platform for this communion, an opportunity for us to benefit from the gifts and diversity of another culture. In essence it gives us the opportunity to "get inside someone else's skin and walk around in it." As we see the differences in another culture, we realize new things about ourselves. When we hear and see God working and moving in different ways in a different culture, it expands our view of God and the world.
Not only do we benefit from a new perspective, but short-term missions can be a continuation of a whole new part of Jesus' mission, summed up nicely in Luke 4:18-19:
"The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because He has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom to the captives and the recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Do we at Christ Church dare to carry on this part of God's mission? I think the answer is yes, and that Juarez is a step of faithfulness in that direction. As we think about Juarez and meeting a tangible housing need for a family there, we joyfully join in God's work of preaching good news to the poor. The mission of Christ Church can be seen in nursery school on Sunday morning, it can be seen in Uganda in the work of Five Talents, and in August it will be seen in a poor barrio (neighborhood) in Juarez, Mexico. God has called each of us to mission, some in Avon, some in Hartford, and some to the rest of the world. May we be faithful to His calling.
Ben Roberts
Financial Update from the Treasurer
For the month ended January 31, 2006:
Income:
$22,939.55 versus Budget of $24,504
Expense:
$28,270.31 versus Budget of $25,802
Deficit:
($5,330.76) versus Budget of ($1,298)
The larger than expected loss for the month is due to (1) lower than anticipated income and parishioner gifts for the month, and (2) the timing of some expenses. We begin the year by covering some of our yearly costs in one month (e.g., website hosting fee). When budgeting, these are distributed over the entire year. Also, fluctuating costs, such as fuel, affect these results.
Tracy Wietsma
Christian Education
Lent
There are a number of things happening at Christ Church for both children and adults during Lent that will focus our attention on the meaning of the Lenten season.
· Ash Wednesday: There will be a number of services held on Ash Wednesday, March 1. Of particular interest to families will be the children's service at 4:00 p.m. We will talk through what this service means and will have the imposition of ashes for those that would like to take part in this tradition.
· Biblical Prayer Workshop: on Saturday, March 4 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. we will host a workshop based on Kay Arthur's book, Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days. See the article on this event!
· Adult Lenten Study: We will be studying Max Lucado's book, Six Hours One Friday during the six weeks of Lent. There will be many opportunities to join a small group (see article on this topic). Books are now available.
· Good Friday: We will soon be looking for a few good men and women to help out with our Good Friday drama. This is a wonderful and powerful service and is appropriate for children and adults of all ages.
Easter
There will be no Sunday School or Children's Chapel on Easter Sunday, April 16. This is a day when families worship together. There will be an Easter Egg Hunt following the 10:00 a.m. service for children through Grade 5. Meet in the garden following the service for more instructions. This event will be organized and run by our Rite-13 class.
Cyndy Bezz
Thoughts Shared at the Annual Meeting
When I agreed to become senior warden two years ago, it was not because I thought I was particularly qualified or because of any past leadership success. It was simply because I felt God's call and fervently hoped that He would provide me with the abilities that I would need when I needed them. I view my journey to faith as an adventure, a little like beginning a relationship (best as I can remember). I make a small tentative gesture in hopes of an affirmation, and when it comes, I feel a thrill which propels me to take another small step. Becoming senior warden was one such step that I made in faith, despite some trepidation, and God responded as I had hoped and prayed. As this pattern continues to repeat itself in my life, I realize more and more that it is safe to commit my heart and soul and mind to the care of our Lord.
Participating in God's plan to transform lives is the important work of our church both here in Avon, in our community, and in the world. Christ Church has touched my life in profound ways as well as the lives of my wife and my children and I know it has also for many of you. We are also helping to transform lives in far away places. Last summer, in Africa, Linda was present when a Rwandan woman had an epiphany. She had been looking at a picture of one of the ministry team's families. They were gathered around a shiny classic automobile and she, looking around at her own surroundings, made the comment that it was hard for her to believe that the same God had made both of them. After another hour or two of conversation, this woman said something in her native language and made the gesture of scratching on her arm as if she were using a pencil eraser. Linda asked Jonathan what she was saying. He said, "She is saying that underneath the skin we are really all the same." Wow! So Christianity is concerned with personal relationships; our relationship with God and our relationship with each other?not mankind in general but with other individuals. It is also about being transformed into the person you were meant to be?into the eternal, spiritual one, from the mortal, worldly one. As we make this transition we begin to look at ourselves and our world differently, and our priorities change.
So my vision and prayer for Christ Episcopal Church, Avon, is that this be a place where we share that adventure of transformation, individually and collectively with each other and our community and the world. A place where taking the next step is supported and encouraged. A place where we appreciate each others' gifts and where people feel it's safe to try something new. A place where we seek to serve God's will and each other. A place where we recognize and rejoice in every blessing that God sends our way. A place where we mature in our love for God and each other, as we grow in both the biblical and personal knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. As we do these things, God will bless us bountifully, and things we can only imagine now will come true. I can imagine a time when our church grows to 300 families. I can imagine 50 percent of our parish tithing and 50 percent of our budget going to outreach. I can imagine people who thought they had everything discovering that Jesus is the one thing they really needed. I can imagine people in other countries choosing to live in Christ because their lives were touched by someone from Christ Church.
I can imagine these things because I have seen what God has already done in our lives and in this church. So, as Mike and Alana and the new Vestry start their work, perhaps with some of the same trepidation I had, they may be confident that although God may do some or none of the things I have imagined, He will do things like those because that is the kind of God He is. Christian life is a grand adventure, and God is leading the way. I can hardly wait! Alleluia and Upward!
Stoddard Lane-Reticker
Parish News
Ash Wednesday
Wednesday, March 1, 2006
Noon - Rite I Service with Organ Music
4:00 p.m. - Children's Service
7:30 p.m. - Rite II Service
Ashes will be available at all services.
Biblical Prayer Workshop
When: Saturday, March 4th
Where: Christ Church
Who: Susan McCarron, a workshop leader for Precept Ministries International
The workshop runs from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Your $35 fee covers the workshop, lunch, and a copy of Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days by Kay Arthur. The morning will be devoted to learning simple study tools to help us fully appreciate some Old Testament prayers, as well as passages from Paul's epistles. After lunch, Susan will guide us through the beginning of Kay Arthur's book Lord, Teach Me to Pray in 28 Days.
Space is limited, so reserve your place by sending your check for $35 to the parish office. Please make checks payable to Christ Church, and clearly mark "March 4 Prayer Workshop" on your check. Also, please include your phone number.
If you have any questions, call the church office at 673-9630.
Lenten Study
Ash Wednesday is March 1, and marks the beginning date for our 2006 Lenten Study. This year we will read and study Max Lucado's Six Hours One Friday. Copies of the book (study guide included) are available in the parish hall for $15 each. Please follow the instructions there to pay for your book. Classes are scheduled as follows (in the parish library unless otherwise noted):
Wednesday: 9:30 a.m.
Thursday: 7:30 p.m. (women only)
Friday: 7:00 a.m. (men only) at Friendly's
Restaurant on Route 44 in Avon
Sunday: 9:00 a.m. in the parish hall
Sunday: 7:00 p.m.
When you purchase your book, pick up a schedule of classes and chapters to read each week. We are all looking forward to this opportunity to learn and grow spiritually.
Mardi Gras Dinner
Join us on Tuesday, February 28 (Fat Tuesday!) for a Mardi Gras celebration. Beginning at 5:30 p.m., we'll have a craft for the little ones, a festive parade, and a potluck dinner. We'll be wrapped up by 7:00 p.m. so the children will make their bedtimes. See the sign-up sheet in the parish hall to reserve your spot!
Avon Interfaith Brunch
This annual event is hosted this year by Avon Congregational Church. On Sunday, March 5, at 11:45 a.m. at Avon Middle School, Nora Howard, executive director of the Avon Historical Society, will do a presentation on the history of the churches in Avon. Tickets are available from Bill Ferrigno.
Save the Date
Our next Newcomers' Brunch will be held on Sunday, April 9 (Palm Sunday) at the home of Bill & Pam Ferrigno. If you are new to Christ Church, please save the date now?we will contact you by invitation in March. This is a wonderful way to find out more about Christ Church, in a lovely social setting. Children are welcome!
Directory Changes/Additions
Please make these updates to your pictorial directory. (If you need a directory, they are available in the parish hall.)
New:
Berling, Andy & Jane
Margaret
11 Morgan Road
Canton CT 06019
693-4591
Bongiorno, Anna
590 Huckleberry Hill Road
Avon CT 06001
675-5249
Galli, Michael & Debrah
Sofia, Stella
75 Juniper Drive
Avon CT 06001
255-7129
Levey, Chuck & Jerri
Ryan, Taylor, Carly
5 Grosvenor Place
Farmington CT 06032
674-8842
Rahardjo, Buddy & Kay
Jonathan, Will, Micah
34 Meadow Ridge
Avon CT 06001
673-5236
Ben & Karyn Roberts
broberts@snet.net
63 Wheeler Street
Winsted, CT 06098
860-379-2716
Address changes:
Block, Bryan & Jennifer
Bria
54 Highwood Drive
Avon, CT 06001
Unlisted Phone
McClintock, Peter & Dalia
p.mcclintock@comcast.net
13 Garden Path
Farmington, CT 06032
(effective 3/25/2006)
Christ Church Vestry
At the Annual Meeting on January 29, new Vestry members and Officers were elected. Please pray for these folks as they enter into these leadership positions. And, feel free to contact anyone with any questions you may have! Vestry meetings are open to all; we meet generally on the third Tuesday of every month, at 7:30 p.m. in the parish hall.
(Those elected this year to a new position are listed in italics.)
Senior Warden: Mike Wallace Junior Warden: Alana Seddon
Treasurer: Tracy Wietsma Assistant Treasurer: Jim Vallee
Clerk: Kathy Bullard
Vestry Members: Dave Barros, Chip Chamberlain, Bob Coloske, Pam Ferrigno, Marge Griffin, Greg Henke, Gabriela Henry, Linda Lane-Reticker, Stuart Noyes
Diocesan Delegates: Al Ferrer, Linda Lane-Reticker
Diocesan Alternates: Peter McClintock, Kathy Zirolli
Book Corner
Golfing with God by Roland Merullo (Algonquin Books of Chapel Hill, 2005)
Next to the GI Joe Super Tank Set I got when I was eight years old, this book is the best Christmas present I have ever received (no offense, Mom!) You don't have to be a golfer to benefit from the message in this wonderful tale of a former golf pro enlisted to help God with His golf game. The prologue begins "This is a story of some time I spent in heaven, then on earth, in the company of God" and then you begin a journey exploring the opportunities that being in His presence provides each of us.
The spiritual journey of Herman Fins-Winston, a former golf professional, takes place on some of the most beautiful golf courses in heaven and on earth. Fins-Winston plays with Christ, Mary, Moses, and others?what a line-up! Imagine the crowds at the GHO in Cromwell for that group! Along the way he gains much insight about himself and the person God made him to be.
This is a feel-good book that conjures up warm weather, green manicured fairways, perfectly raked sand traps and the promise of God's enduring love. Even if you don't know the difference between the shanks and the yips you will find this book an enjoyable read. If you know someone who, like me, doesn't see anything unusual about standing in the rain hitting golf balls, buy them this book! Ultimately, this book is about the burst-at-the-seams, jump-up-and-down joy that comes with a healthy growing relationship with God.
Bill Church
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Newsletter Epiphany 2007
