Week of Sunday, December 22nd, 2019

In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):

  1. “The Longest Night” Service
  2. Christmas Season Schedule
  3. January Discipleship Hour Classes
  4. Youth New Years Eve Event
  5. Women’s Retreat
  6. Diocesan Retreat

“The Longest Night” Service

This Saturday, December 21st, 7:00pm. The Longest Night is a service which seeks to give voice in prayer to the pain, sorrow, loneliness, and grief that, for many, accompanies the Advent and Christmas season. May this evening be a time to pray, reflect, and quiet ourselves as we prepare for the coming Light of Christ which will shatter our darkness.

Christmas Season Schedule

  • Christmas Eve Service  – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating the Christmas tree) and 5:00pm (service begins). We will be having a special service with members of The Mission Church joining us to celebrate the birth of our Savior and King!
  • Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am
  • First Sunday of Christmas: Lessons and Carols: Sunday, December 29th, 10:15am (no Discipleship Hour or Children’s Chapel)

January Discipleship Hour Classes

Beginning on January 5th, the following Discipleship Hour classes will be offered at 9:00am, for the 8 weeks leading up to Lent:

Track 1. Anglican Ethos – led by Fr. Brian Campbell. This is part of our Membership Track at CtR, so if you are interested in exploring membership at Christ the Redeemer, this class is for you!

Track 2. “What Did You Expect?”, a Marriage Class – led by Janis Campbell & Matt and Jill Branch.  They are leading a marriage class by Paul Tripp called, “What Did You Expect?” (Redeeming the Realities of Marriage).  There will be a 20 minute video followed by discussion.  Participants are welcome to purchase the book on Amazon (but not required). There will be six commitments made in the class; the first being:  “We will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness.”

Track 3. Jesus on Every Page: Reading the Old Testament with the Church Fathers – led by A.J. Nolte. For the earliest Christians, the Old Testament wasn’t seen as an impediment to knowing Christ, but rather as proof of His divine, redemptive presence in history. This class will delve into the methods by which the church fathers read the Old Testament, preparing both their hearts and minds to find Jesus on every page.

**If you are interested in attending one of these classes, please sign up HERE ,  or on the sign-up sheet located on the whiteboard in Fellowship Hall, so the leaders know how many people to expect. Thank you!**

Youth New Year’s Eve Event

Save the date for a New Year’s Eve Bash with The Mission Church on January 5th, 6:00- 8:00pm. Plan to bring a friend and stay tuned for more details to come! Parents, there will be a quick meeting afterwards about Camp Booyah, from 8:00-8:15pm so please plan to stick around after you pick up your kids.

Women’s Retreat

All women are invited to CtR’s Annual Women’s Retreat on February 21st – February 23rd, 2020, at Chanco at the James Retreat Center! The registration form and $60 deposit were due last Sunday, but it is not too late to sign up! The registration form can be found in the Women’s Retreat brochures located at the Welcome Table and the Usher’s stand. Please return the form and your deposit as soon as possible.

Diocesan Retreat

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.


“Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among
us; and as we are sorely hindered by our sins from running the
race that is set before us, let your bountiful grace and mercy
speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to
whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now
and for ever. Amen.

– Collect for The Fourth Sunday in Advent, Annunciation (BCP 2019)

Week of Sunday, December 15th, 2019

In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):

  1. Advent & Christmas Season Schedule
  2. “Holy Land Tour” Info. Session
  3. Youth Group Events
  4. Women’s Retreat
  5. New Discipleship Hour Classes
  6. Diocesan Retreat

Advent & Christmas Season Schedule

  • “The Longest Night” Service – Saturday, December 21st, 7:00pm
  • Christmas Eve Service  – Tuesday, December 24th, 4:45pm (decorating the Christmas tree) and 5:00pm (service begins). We will be having a special service with members of The Mission Church joining us for the worship service!
  • Christmas Day Service – Wednesday, December 25th, 9:00am
  • First Sunday of Christmas: Lessons and Carols: Sunday, December 29th, 10:15am (no Discipleship Hour)

“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 this 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 by Friday if you plan to attend.

Youth Group Events

Save the date for the following youth events:

  • Youth Social this Saturday, December 14th2pm – 5pm. It will be a fun night of ice skating at MacArthur and then cookie decorating at the church! All youth in grades 5th-12th and their friends are invited and encouraged to attend. Parents, please respond to the Evite if you haven’t already.
  • New Year’s Eve Bash with The Mission Church on January 5th. More details to come soon!

Women’s Retreat

All women are invited to CtR’s Annual Women’s Retreat on February 21st – February 23rd, 2020, at Chanco at the James Retreat Center! The registration form and $60 deposit are due this Sunday, December 15th, and can be placed in the offering basket. The registration form is found in the Women’s Retreat brochures located at the Welcome Table and the Usher’s stand.

New Discipleship Hour Classes

Beginning on January 5th, the following Discipleship Hour classes will be offered at 9:00am, for the 8 weeks leading up to Lent:

Track 1. Anglican Ethos – led by Fr. Brian Campbell. This class is for anyone interested in exploring membership at Christ the Redeemer!

Track 2. “What Did You Expect?” Marriage Class – led by Janis Campbell & Matt and Jill Branch.  They are leading a marriage class by Paul Tripp called, “What Did You Expect?” (Redeeming the Realities of Marriage).  There will be a 20 minute video followed by discussion.  Participants are welcome to purchase the book on Amazon (but not required). There will be six commitments made in the class; the first being:  “We will give ourselves to a regular lifestyle of confession and forgiveness.”

Track 3. Jesus on Every Page: Reading the Old Testament with the Church Fathers – led by A.J. Nolte. For the earliest Christians, the Old Testament wasn’t seen as an impediment to knowing Christ, but rather as proof of His divine, redemptive presence in history. This class will delve into the methods by which the church fathers read the Old Testament, preparing both their hearts and minds to find Jesus on every page.

If you are interested in attending one of these classes, please sign up HERE ,  or on the sign-up sheet located on the whiteboard in Fellowship Hall. Thank you!

Diocesan Retreat

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.


“O Lord Jesus Christ, you sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Grant that the ministers and stewards of your mysteries may likewise make ready your way by turning the hearts of the disobedient toward the wisdom of the just, that at your second coming to judge the world, we may be found a people acceptable in your sight; for with the Father and the Holy Spirit you live and reign one God, now and for ever. Amen.

– Collect for The Third Sunday in Advent (BCP 2019, p. 599)

Week of December 8th, 2019

In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):

  1. Annual General Meeting
  2. Discipleship Hour Change
  3. Advent Worship
  4. Youth Group Events
  5. Women’s Retreat
  6. “Holy Land Tour” Info. Session
  7. Advent & Christmas Season Schedule

Annual General Meeting

The congregation is invited and encouraged to attend our Annual Congregational Meeting this Sunday, in the Fellowship Hall, right after the worship service. It will be a covered dish lunch, so please bring a dish to share. This will be a time to reflect on all that God has done at CtR in 2019, and prepare for what’s to come in 2020. It 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!

Discipleship Hour Change

To help prepare for our Annual Meeting, we have moved this Sunday’s Discipleship Hour class into the main office space, instead of the Fellowship Hall. All are welcome to attend this special Advent-themed class at 9:00am! There will be materials provided for you to take home and use as an individual, or with your family.

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”. Please plan to arrive early so that you are seated and prepared for worship by 10:15am.

Youth Group Events

Save the date for the following youth events:

  • Youth Social on December 14th2pm – 5pm. It will be a fun night of ice skating at Chilled Ponds Ice Sports Complex in Chesapeake, and then cookie decorating at the church! All youth in grades 5th-12th and their friends are invited and encouraged to attend. Parents, look for an Evite by the end of the week.
  • New Year’s Eve Bash with The Mission Church on January 5th. More details to come soon!

Women’s Retreat

CtR’s Annual Women’s Retreat is coming up on February 21st – February 23rd, 2020, at Chanco at the James Retreat Center. Grab a brochure from the Welcome Table for more information, and to register. The registration form and $60 deposit is due next Sunday, December 15th, and can be placed in the offering basket.

“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.

Advent & Christmas Season Schedule

  • “The Longest Night” Service – Saturday, December 21st, 7:00pm
  • 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)

“Blessed Lord, who caused all Holy Scriptures to be written for our learning: Grant us so to hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that by patience and the comfort of your holy Word we may embrace and ever hold fast the blessed hope of everlasting life, which you have given us in our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

– Collect for The Second Sunday in Advent (BCP 2019, p. 598)