Week of Sunday, December 1st, 2019

I hope all of you had a restful Thanksgiving with your loved ones! In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):

  1. Advent Begins this Sunday!
  2. Advent Worship
  3. Youth Group Events
  4. Annual General Meeting
  5. Christmas Schedule
  6. Park Place School Funding
  7. “Holy Land Tour” Info. Session
  8. Diocesan Retreat in February

Advent Begins this Sunday!

Advent begins on Sunday! Plan to arrive early and attend the Advent-themed Discipleship Hour at 9:00am to learn ways to observe Advent. There will be materials provided for you to take home and use as an individual, or with your family. The combined Sunday School class will also be learning about Advent, and the Nursery will be open for the little ones ages four and under.

In addition to a special Discipleship Hour class, there will be a wreath-making time during Hospitality Hour where you can make your own Advent wreath to take home! Please plan to bring in greenery, and any Advent candles or candle holders you would like to use in your wreath.  We have also deemed this Sunday as “Leftover Pie Sunday” since it is right after Thanksgiving. So in addition to your wreath supplies, plan to bring and share your delicious leftovers with everyone. 🙂

Advent Worship

During each Sunday in Advent, it is very important to be seated in the Sanctuary by 10:15am. We will begin the service in the darkness and then have the  “Lighting of the Advent Wreath”. The doors to the Sanctuary will be closed at the start of the service and, for the sake of the liturgy, late-comers will be asked to wait in the Fellowship Hall and listen to the service until after the lighting is completed. Please plan to arrive early so that you are seated and prepared for worship by 10:15am.

Youth Group Events

Just a reminder to all those in the Youth ministry: Youth Group will be at the Embry’s house this Sunday night, 6:00pm. If you need the address, please contact Fr. David at revdavidwatts@gmail.com. Also, save the date for the next Youth Social on December 14th! It will be a fun night of ice skating at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex in Chesapeake. All youth in grades 5th-12th and their friends are invited and encouraged to attend!

Annual General Meeting

Everyone is invited to attend our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, December 8th, 12:00pm, over a potluck lunch. This meeting will include an update on local and global missions, as well as the election of three new Leadership Council members: one for a 1-year term, and two for a 3-year term. This is a very important meeting, especially for members and regular attenders. Please plan to attend!

Christmas Schedule

  • Christmas Eve Service  – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating) and 5:00pm (service begins)
  • Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am
  • First Sunday of Christmas: Lessons and Carols: Sunday, December 29th, 10:15am (no Discipleship Hour)

Park Place School Funding

For “Giving Tuesday” on December 3rd (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), Park Place School is asking that you consider making a monetary donation to help them sustain the for another year. By making a donation, you would be helping eighty-two wonderful children receive dynamic, inspired instruction from amazingly talented teachers! You can find more information on Park Place School’s “Giving Tuesday” event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1192591484464030/ or their homepage – there is a post w/ a link to give:  https://www.facebook.com/parkplaceschool/

“Holy Land Tour” Info. Session

Fr. Brian and Janis Campbell are organizing a trip to Israel in 2021 to tour the “Holy Land”! If anyone interested in learning more about the trip, there will be an informational meeting on Sunday, December 15th at the Campbell’s house (7324 Elvin Court, Norfolk). The meeting will be right after the worship service, over a light lunch. Please email Janis at janiscampbell58@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Diocesan Retreat in February

Everyone is invited to attend the Diocese of Christ Our Hope’s upcoming Regional Retreat! Our church is in the Southeast region of the Diocese, which means that the retreat will be on February 13-15. For more information and to register, click here.


“Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

– Collect for The First Sunday in Advent (BCP 2019)

Week of Sunday, November 24th, 2019

In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):
  1. Potential Delays on Sunday: Norfolk Harbor Half
  2. Advent Discipleship Hour
  3. Advent Worship
  4. Annual General Meeting
  5. Christmas Schedule
  6. Park Place School Funding
  7. “Holy Land Tour” Info. Session

Potential Delays on Sunday: Norfolk Harbor Half

Just a heads up to all who will be driving to church this Sunday: the Norfolk Harbor Half Marathon will be happening that morning from 7am to Noon, and will result in many road closures. Click here for a link to the course map, to see if the road closures will affect your commute. Either way, plan to provide extra time for travel this Sunday, since you may run into increased traffic, or have to find another route.

Advent Discipleship Hour

Advent begins next Sunday, December 1st! To prepare for Advent, youth and adults will gather together during Discipleship Hour at 9:00am, beginning December 1st, to learn ways to observe Advent both individually and as a family. The Sunday School classes will also be learning about Advent, and the Nursery will be open for the little ones ages four and under. The only Saturday evening service we will have during the four weeks of Advent will be on the last Saturday, December 21st. This “Longest Night” service will be a quiet night of prayer and reflection, starting at 7:00pm.

In addition to Discipleship Hour, on the first Sunday of Advent there will be a wreath-making time during Hospitality Hour where you can make your own Advent wreath to take home. Please plan to bring in greenery on December 1st to use for your own wreath, or to share with someone else! We have also deemed that Sunday as “Leftover Pie Sunday” since it is right after Thanksgiving. So in addition to your greenery, plan to bring and share your delicious leftovers with everyone.

Advent Worship

During each Sunday in Advent, it is very important to be seated in the Sanctuary by 10:15am. We will begin the service in the darkness and then have the  “Lighting of the Advent Wreath”. The doors to the Sanctuary will be closed at the start of the service and, for the sake of the liturgy, late-comers will be asked to wait in the Fellowship Hall and listen to the service until after the lighting is completed. Please plan to arrive early so that you are seated and prepared for worship by 10:15am.

Annual General Meeting

Everyone is invited to attend our Annual General Meeting on Sunday, December 8th, 12:00pm, over a potluck lunch. This meeting will include an update on local and global missions, as well as the election of three new Leadership Council members: one for a 1-year term, and two for a 3-year term. This is a very important meeting, especially for members and regular attenders. Please plan to attend!

Christmas Schedule

Christmas Eve Service  – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating) and 5:00pm (service begins)

Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am

First Sunday of Christmas: Lessons and Carols: Sunday, December 29th, 10:15am (no Discipleship Hour)

Park Place School Funding

Give to Park Place School for #givingtuesdayFor “Giving Tuesday” on December 3rd (the Tuesday after Thanksgiving), Park Place School is asking that you consider making a monetary donation to help them sustain the for another year. By making a donation, you would be helping eighty-two wonderful children receive dynamic, inspired instruction from amazingly talented teachers! You can find more information on Park Place School’s “Giving Tuesday” event page:  https://www.facebook.com/events/1192591484464030/ or their homepage – there is a post w/ a link to give:  https://www.facebook.com/parkplaceschool/

“Holy Land Tour” Info. Session

Fr. Brian and Janis Campbell are organizing a trip to Israel in 2021 to tour the “Holy Land”! If anyone interested in learning more about the trip, there will be an informational meeting on Sunday, December 15th at the Campbell’s house (7324 Elvin Court, Norfolk). The meeting will be right after the worship service, over a light lunch. Please email Janis at janiscampbell58@gmail.com if you plan to attend.

Safe travels to everyone next week, and Happy Thanksgiving!


“Most merciful Father, we humbly thank you for all your gifts so freely bestowed on us; for life and health and safety, for strength to work and leisure to rest, for all that is beautiful in creation and in human life; but above all we thank you for our spiritual mercies in Christ Jesus our Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
– Collect for Thanksgiving Day (p. 637, BCP 2019)

Week of Sunday, November 17th, 2019

In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):
    1. Preparing for Advent
    2. Turn in Your ‘Operation Christmas’ Boxes
    3. Save the Date!

Preparing for Advent

Advent begins on December 1st – just two weeks away from this Sunday! This year we will not be having Saturday evening services during the four weeks of Advent. Instead, youth and adults will gather together during Discipleship Hour at 9:00am to learn ways to observe Advent both individually and as a family. The Sunday School classes will also be learning about Advent, and the Nursery will be open for the little ones ages four and under.

In addition to Discipleship Hour, on the first Sunday of Advent there will be a wreath-making time during Hospitality Hour where you can make your own Advent wreath to take home. Please plan to bring in greenery on December 1st to use for your own wreath, or to share with someone else! We have also deemed that Sunday as “leftover pie” Sunday since it is right after Thanksgiving. So in addition to your greenery, plan to bring and share your delicious leftovers with everyone. 🙂

Turn in Your ‘Operation Christmas’ Boxes!

Now’s the time to finish filling up your box(es) for Operation Christmas Child  if you haven’t already because this Sunday is the deadline for turning them in. Make sure to include the $9 for shipping, and leave your box(es) at the small table in the Fellowship Hall.  You can give the $9 online or make your check payable to Samaratan’s Purse with a note in memo line: “for Operation Christmas Child”. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Brown at brownie7506@yahoo.com , who is graciously collecting all of these boxes for us.

Save the Date!

Annual General Meeting – Sunday, December 8th, 12:00pm, over a potluck lunch. This meeting will include electing three new Leadership Council members: one for a 1-year term, and two for a 3-year term. If you would like to nominate someone for the Council, please send an email to ctrsec@gmail.com. The requirement is that they must be a confirmed member at CtR.

Preschool Parents (P2) – Tuesday, December 10th, 10:00am

Christmas Eve Service  – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating) and 5:00pm (service begins)

Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am

Annual Women’s Retreat – February 21st – February 23rd, 2020. Grab a brochure from the Welcome Table for more information, and to register.


“Stir up, O Lord, the wills of your faithful people, that bringing forth in abundance the fruit of good works, they may be abundantly rewarded when our Savior Jesus Christ comes to restore all things; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever Amen.
– Collect for Proper 28, Week of November 17 (p. 622, BCP 2019)

Week of Sunday, November 10th, 2019

In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):
  1. Pray for Convocation and Synod
  2. Special Request for Sunday
  3. Preparing for Advent
  4. Final Week for Operation Christmas Child
  5. Save the Date!

Pray for Convocation and Synod

Please keep our clergy and members of the congregation (Sharon, Ryan, and Jordan) in your prayers as they attend the Diocese of Christ our Hope’s annual Convocation and Synod this Thursday through Saturday. The Convocation topic is “the worship of the church”, and it will be a time of worship and fellowship as they celebrate what God has done and where he is leading the Diocese. Please also pray for Bishop Steve’s granddaughter Beatrice Rose who will be having open heart surgery today.

And just FYI, Sharon Reyes will be “retiring” from the Diocesan Council. She was one of three elected members representing the Southeast Region on the Council. Thank you, Sharon, for your service to the Diocese!

Special Request for Sunday

Knox is having their annual “Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan” service this Sunday. Since this is a very special service for Knox, and usually their largest attended service of the year, we will be making the following two changes this Sunday:

  1. The two discipleship hour classes that were meeting downstairs are moving upstairs. The “Daily Office Space” class will be in Fellowship Hall, and “Stewardship” will meet in Fr. Brian’s office.
  2.  Try to avoid parking in the grass parking lot (if possible). Instead, plan to park on 36th street or one of the other side streets.

Thank you for helping us show love to the Knox congregation by respecting their requests for this special Sunday!

Preparing for Advent

The wonderful season of Advent is just around the corner! This year we will not be having Saturday evening services during Advent. Instead we will all gather during Discipleship Hour at 9:00am to learn how to observe Advent both individually and as a family. Plan to attend this four week class, beginning December 1st (the Sunday after Thanksgiving!).

Speaking of Thanksgiving, for hospitality hour on December 1st we will be having a “leftover pie” Sunday! Which means there will not be a group of people assigned to bring the food that day, instead we are asking that you bring any of your delicious Thanksgiving leftovers that you would like to share. 🙂 

Final Week for Operation Christmas Child

Don’t forget to fill up your boxes for Operation Christmas Child because this is the last week to do so! All of the information is in Fellowship Hall for you to take home and fill a box together with your family. The boxes, along with $9 for shipping, will need to be returned by next Sunday, November 17th.  You can give the $9 online or make your check payable to Samaratan’s Purse with a note in memo line: “for Operation Christmas Child”. If you have any questions, please contact Jennifer Brown at brownie7506@yahoo.com .

Save the Date!

Preschool Parents (P2) – Tuesday, November 12th and Tuesday, December 10th, 10:00am

Annual General Meeting – Sunday, December 8th, 12:00pm. This meeting will include electing three new Leadership Council members: one for a 1-year term, and two for a 3-year term. If you would like to nominate someone for the Council, please send an email to ctrsec@gmail.com. The requirement is that they must be confirmed and a member of CtR. 

Christmas Eve Service  – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating) and 5:00pm (service begins)

Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am 


“Gracious and everliving Father, you have given the Holy Spirit to abide with us for ever: Bless, we pray, with the Holy Spirit’s grace and presence, the Bishop(s), Priests, Deacons, and all the Laity who assemble in your Name; that your Church, being preserved in true faith and godly discipline, may fulfill the will of him who loved her and gave himself for her, your Son Jesus Christ our Savior; who now lives and reigns with you and the same Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
 
– Prayer for a Provincial or Diocesan Convention or Synod (p. 647, BCP 2019)