Week of October 28, 2018

This Week at Christ the Redeemer:

Here’s what you need to know this week:

For Parents, Families and Youth:

First, An Important Parent/Family Meeting for all parents of children under the age of 18 will take place immediately following worship this Sunday, October 28th.

Second, David Watts will present a proposal for our youth ministry formation Sunday, November 11th, from 12-12:30pm. Parents, youth and anyone interested in youth ministry are invited to participate.

Missional Matters:

First, the Thanksgiving Food Bags for our Ghent Area Ministry (GAM) collection, are due Sunday, November 4th. If you can help transport the food bags from the church to GAM Thursday, November 8th, text or call Anne Reed Harper (757-289-5181).

Second, we have an opportunity to partner with Park Place School as they host a Trunk or Treat for their students and families October 31st from 5:00-6:30 p. m.  If you would like to donate candy or help with this event, contact Diane Condron at (412) 799-4034.

A Pastoral Concern:

Temple Richardson has injured her back and meals are being scheduled for her, now through November 9th. Look for the “Take them a Meal” email in your inbox to sign up, and please keep Temple and her family in your prayers.

Two more things to note:

First, the next Men’s Meeting will take place at 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 30th at the Campbell’s home, 601 Pembroke Avenue, #308, Norfolk, 23507. Check your inbox and respond to the Evite; contact Steven Dickens with questions.

Second, beginning All Saints Day, November 1st, Morning Prayer will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00-8:30 a.m. in the CtR Sanctuary. Come ignite your day with the love of God in Morning Prayer.

Look forward to worshiping with you Sunday

Week of October 21, 2018

This Week at Christ the Redeemer
Here are a few things to be aware of:
First:
There will be an important Parent/Family Meeting Sunday, October 28th immediately following worship for all parents of children under the age of 18. Please mark your calendar and plan to stay for this meeting.
Second:
On October 31st from 5:00-6:30 p.m. Park Place School will host a Trunk or Treat for their students and families.  If you would like to donate candy or help with this event, please contact Diane Condron.
Third:
Morning Prayer will take place every Tuesday and Thursday from 8:00-8:30 a.m. beginning All Saints Day, November 1st, in the CtR Sanctuary. Come ignite your day with the love of God in Morning Prayer at CtR. Moreover, learn and be encouraged by the veterans of our faith as commemorations (short bio’s) will be said on Saint days.
Thomas Cranmer stated in his preface to the first Book of Common Prayer (1549), “…the people (by daily hearing of holy Scripture read in the Church) should continually profit more and more in the knowledge of God, and be the more inflamed with the love of his true religion.”
Fourth:
Please join us Sunday, November 11th, from 12-12:30pm, to discuss a proposal for youth formation at Christ the Redeemer. All youth, families, parents, and anyone interested in youth formation and involvement is encouraged to attend.
Fifth:
The Women’s Group which has been meeting Wednesday evenings will meet Tuesday evenings through the end of November. Contact Temple Richardson with questions.
Look forward to worshiping with you

 

Week of October 14, 2018

Update for Christ the Redeemer
Reflection on our Bishop’s Visit:
We enjoyed a wonderful time with our Suffragan Bishop, Quigg Lawrence, and his wife Annette this past weekend. Wonderful fellowship, wonderful worship, and very helpful coaching and mentoring. In fact, I can honestly say that our annual bishop’s visits over the past three years have done more to help catalyze the articulation and development of our renewed vision than anything else!
So, what was helpful this past weekend?
 I, personally, came away from our Leadership Council and staff’s morning spent with the bishop convinced that we needed to develop a double-sided missional strategy:  An ‘Evangelistic Strategy’ among people who are ‘more-like-us’ (that is, those whom we know, those already in our sphere-of-influence), while, at the same time, continue seeking a ‘Kingdom Strategy’ (potentially, and realistically) among those who are ‘less-like-us’ (that is, the surrounding neighborhoods around our gathering place). With this insight, many of the loose ends of thought, developed over the past few years of reflection, crystalized and galvanized in my own thinking. Exciting times.
I will have more on these developments in the weeks and months ahead. But for now, give thanks for the past weekend, and continue to ask for God’s favor to be poured out upon our community.
Here are some of the (other) things you need to know this week:
First, An Evangelistic Training Opportunity:  Cross cultural evangelism training will be held at CtR this Saturday, October 13th, from 9am-12pm! Come be equipped by Kurnia and his GSF team to speak our faith to those who are culturally different than us. Cost of under $10 for materials, child care is not provided, we’ll have snacks. See you there!
Second, Our Men’s Group kicks off the Fall Season this Tuesday Evening, October 16 from 7:00-8:30 pm at Taste Unlimited (407 West 21st Street, Norfolk, 23517).  If you are looking for an opportunity to get to know some other men, while spending some quality time reflecting on how the Scriptures impact our lives, then this group is for you. If you have any questions, please contact Steven Dickens
Third, Park Place School is having a Trunk or Treat Wednesday, October 31st from 5:00-6:30 p.m. If you would like to help with this event, or donate candy, contact Diane Condron.
Fourth, A few things from our Children’s and Family Ministry:
Our important Parents Meeting has been changed to Sunday, October 28th immediately following worship. Contact Jennifer Brown with questions.
Our annual Inter-generational Advent event is being planned for Saturday, December 1st. Please save the date on your calendar and plan to participate in what has always been a fun and educational time for all ages.
Looking forward to worshiping with you this Sunday.

Week of October 7, 2018

This Week at Christ the Redeemer
When the calendar changes to October, even if the temperatures have not dropped, Fall is definitely here! Let me share with you what is happening this month around Christ the Redeemer:
First, Our Annual Episcopal Visit takes place this weekend, October 5-7.  Bishop Quigg and Annette Lawrence arrive Friday afternoon for a full weekend of activities. Janis and I will host them for dinner Friday night, then on Saturday morning the bishop will lead our Leadership Council and Staff in a discussion centered on the question-‘How do we best organized and staff for growth (in order to fulfill the vision God has given to us)?’. Saturday afternoon Bishop Quigg will meet individually with members of the clergy team (as pastor-to-the-pastors) and then with the families of those being baptized on Sunday (the Adams’, the Embry’s, the Thomas’) and with our confirmand, Olivia O’byrne. We will then host a ‘Wine and Cheese/Meet and Greet’ at our home Saturday evening (please RSVP to Janis-janiscampbell58@gmail.com). Sunday will climax the weekend with our worship (including the baptisms and confirmation) and conclude with a reception immediately following the service.
Please pray for God’s blessing on the weekend.
Second, A Training Opportunity:  On Saturday, October 13 from 9 am to noon, Kurnia Foe (Global Student Fellowship) will lead a workshop on cross-cultural conversations (that hopefully may lead to the sharing of the gospel). Kurnia is a gifted evangelist and communicator who excels in helping Christians gain confidence in sharing their faith. If you have a heart to see your neighbors come to faith, plan now on attending the workshop.
Third, A Missional Opportunity: It is time for Ghent Area Ministry’s Thanksgiving Food Baskets!  GAM is asking each sponsoring church to provide 20 baskets this year. We are asking each home group to pledge to provide 2 baskets each (Deadline for making the pledge is October 14, deadline for fulfilling the pledge is November 4). Details concerning the ‘baskets’ are available on the Missions table in the Fellowship Hall.
If you are not in a home group, or if your family would like to provide one of these baskets by yourselves, please pick up a flyer and inform Anne R. Harper of your decision.
Fourth, Notice of a Parent’s Meeting: On Sunday, October 21, immediately following worship Jennifer will convene a meeting for all parents of children under the age of 18. Please mark this day and time on your calendar and make every effort to be present.
Fifth, Men’s Group Organizational Meeting takes place on Tuesday, October 16, from 7:00-8:30 pm at Taste Unlimited (407 W. 21st St Norfolk). We’ll have a chance to catch up with one another and then make plans for meeting for the rest of the fall.
Let us continue to pray that the Lord will ‘establish the work of our hands’ and bless us with his presence and his power in all that we do.
Looking forward to worshiping with you all on Sundayl