Month: March 2016

Dear Friends,

Considering that the Season of Advent lasts 4 weeks, the Season of Lent 6, and the Season of Easter a full seven weeks, which ‘Season’ of the Church’s year do you think is the most important?

We come once again to Eastertide, to the season where we celebrate the birth of God’s New Creation through the resurrection of Jesus and solidify our commitment to live within it. We begin that joyful task this week with a number of baptisms- Eva Brown, Emma Mabrey, Lily Mabrey, and Amelia Mabrey will be sacramentally united with the Risen Jesus and become members of his Body, the Church. Please pray for these children and their families and sponsors as they prepare for this great day.

If you are seeking a way actualize your commitment to live the new life why not consider joining a study or community group. Our two Women Study groups both begin a new study this month, our Men’s group continues to meet on the first and third Saturday’s of each month (this Saturday being the ‘next’ time for gathering), and our home groups are always open to new members (ask Lauren Gyorfi for more information on these gatherings).

It takes time, effort and much support to learn to live within God’s new world. Thank God that he has given us all that we need to do so!

Alleluia! Christ is Risen
The Lord is Risen indeed, Alleluia!

The week we have been waiting for is finally here, and we begin our preparations for the Three Great Days of Holy Week leading to Easter. Here is what you need to know as we head into this great season:

MAUNDY THURSDAY

There will be three parts to the evening:

First: we will gather at 6:00 pm in the ‘Upper Room’ (the Fellowship Hall) to ‘remember’ and re-live those symbolic and intimate events of the last night of Jesus’ life. We will eat together (a ‘symbolic’ seder) and then experience the ‘Washing of our Feet’.

Second, we will then process into the sanctuary and celebrate the Institution of the Lord’s Supper and end the service by ‘Stripping the Chancel’ (our symbolic going to ‘Gethsemene’).

Third, the church will then be open through the night for a Prayer Vigil (beginning after the ‘Stripping’ and ending at 8:00 am on Good Friday). Feel free to stay after the service for as long as you like, or to return during the night or in the early morning “to watch and pray” with Jesus and the disciples.

(Please note that Knox will be holding a service this night as well. Please leave the street parking closest to the building on 37th St. as well as the parking slots closet to the church in the grass area for Knox’s parishioners).

GOOD FRIDAY

We gather at 6:00 pm on Friday for our Good Friday liturgy. We will hear John’s Passion read and listen to reflections on the ‘Seven Last Words from the Cross’, ending the service with the Solemn Collects.

HOLY SATURDAY

This typically is a day of quiet and preparation. We will not have a service this day but will gather at 10:00 am to re-set the sanctuary for worship on Easter Day. If you would like to assist in this ‘re-setting’ just show up at 10 and lend a hand.

EASTER DAY

We gather at 9:45 am (as an act of hospitality for any visitors we may have the honor of welcoming) to celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord and the birth of God’s new creation. Please remember to bring some cut flowers from your garden as your way of assisting the children in the ‘Flowering of the Cross’. We will also have an Easter Egg Hunt for the children immediately following worship.

I look forward to sharing this time of worship with you. I pray that God will use it both to strengthen our faith and to conform us more surely to the image of his Son.

Dear Friends

I was struck this morning by two of Jesus’ statements from the Gospel reading of the Daily Office: First, ‘How difficult it is to enter the kingdom of God”, the second, (in response to the horrified reaction of his disciples), “All things are possible with God.”  There you have it, the ‘difficulty’ and the ‘possibility’ of being drawn into life, the fulfillment of life as God will have it. That is what Holy Week is all about for us. Let us keep them in tension as we seek to be led by God this week deeper into the kingdom.

A number of things to note this week:

First, this Sunday we will begin promptly at 10 am with the ‘Blessing of the Palms’ and the ‘Procession’ into the Sanctuary from the Fellowship Hall. This is NOT the day you want to be late for worship.

Second, if you are planning on coming to dinner on  Maundy Thursday please RSVP by Sunday at the latest (either online via the evite or ‘in print’ by signing the sheet in the Fellowship Hall).  Please note that both Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services begin at 6:00 pm.

Third, as we prepare to celebrate Easter please help us help the children ‘Flower the Cross’ by bringing in some cut flowers from your garden.

Fourth, if you are looking for a way of serving our Lord through serving the wider community, Park Place School is seeking some volunteers to help in their classrooms between now and the end of term.  For more information, please contact Karen Upton at ‘tupton1@cox.net‘.

Fifth, please note that our Sunday morning book study on the Glittering Vices will not meet on Palm Sunday or Easter Day. We will take up the study the week after Easter.

Looking forward to a wonderful Holy Week with all of you.

Dear Friends,

As the weather warms we near the end of our Lenten journey–the climactic end of Holy Week! Pray that all of our intentions, practices, and actions may be used by God to conform us more surely to the image of his Son.

Let me remind you of some of the things you need to know this week:

First, the clocks change this weekend! Remember to ‘spring ahead’ and be on time for worship on Sunday.

Second, if you have not yet done so, please RSVP for our Maundy Thursday dinner ( March 24 beginning at 6:00 pm). You can do so through the Evite that was sent out last week (you can also access the Evite here) or by signing up on Sunday (sheet is in the Fellowship Hall). The church will provide the chicken, we all are asked to bring a side. The important thing is to come and join in on this important night in the life of Jesus and of his church.

Third, be sure to mark your calendars with all of the dates and service times for Holy Week (you can find the schedule on our web site: christtheredeemer.org or in the bulletin on Sunday).

Fourth, Jennifer Brown reminds the children to persevere in their service this week in order to raise the funds for a chicken or goat to be given to a needy family in Rwanda.

Fifth, please think of signing up for Hospitality.  You can bring a little or a lot to share for Fellowship, and this is an easy and enjoyable way to serve.

Lastly, if you would like to contribute to the purchase of Easter Lilies for the Sanctuary, please make checks payable to Christ the Redeemer, memo ‘Easter Lilies’.  If you would like to contribute “in Memory of” or “in Honor of” a loved one, please use one of the envelopes located on the table in the Narthex.   Contributions can be placed in the offering baskets or mailed to the church.

Looking forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.

Dear Friends,

Here are some goings on here at Christ the Redeemer:

Firstly, a reminder that the Global Student Fellowship Dinner and Game Night is this Friday, March, 4th beginning at 6:00 PM at Crossroads Church in Norfolk.  Christ the Redeemer has signed up to provide the food for the event, so if you’re looking for an easy way to minister on an international level and a fun night of fellowship, please click here to sign up and bring a dish.  Contact Hank Thompson at hthompjr@gmail.com for more details.

Secondly, we would like to remind those who are involved in the Confirmation process (youth and mentors) that the next group gathering with Brian+ will be this coming Tuesday, March 8th beginning at 6:00 PM.  Dinner will be provided.

CtR wants to welcome our newest little one, Samantha Shellock, born to Dave and Natalie Shellock on March 2, 2016!  Please pray that Dave, Natalie, and Callie transition smoothly into having a new little one in the house and for God’s guidance in raising baby Samantha.

Holy Week will be upon us soon.  We will be having the usual Dinner and Foot-washing before the Eucharist for Maundy Thursday.  CtR will be providing the main dish of chicken for the dinner, but we are asking that if you plan to attend, please go to perfectpotluck.com to sign up and bring a side-dish or drink.  An Evite will be going out as well with the link to the potluck page.  Please RSVP to the evite when you receive it so we will know how many to expect.

Here is the schedule for Holy Week:

Palm/Passion Sunday

Sunday, March 20, 2016

9:45 Palm Procession; 10:00 Eucharist

Maundy Thursday

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Dinner, Foot-washing, Eucharist and Stripping of the Altar

Beginning with dinner at 6:00 PM

Good Friday

Reflections of the Cross

Friday, March 25, 2016 at 6:00 PM

Easter Day

Day of the Resurrection

Sunday, March 27, 2016

9:45 Flowering of the Cross; 10:00 Festival Eucharist

God’s blessings be upon you all this week.