Week of Sunday, February 2nd, 2020

Wow! Can you believe we’re already entering into February?! There are many events to look forward to as we continue in Epiphanytide and begin preparing for the Lenten season.

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

  1. International Student Prayer
  2. Newcomer’s Lunch at the Campbell’s
  3. Diocesan Regional Retreat
  4. Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon
  5. Camp Booyah for Youth
  6. Discipleship Hour Volunteers Needed
  7. Youth Update
  8. Preparing for Lent
  9. MISSION Sunday
  10. NEST Outreach Opportunity

Events Happening this Weekend:

International Student Prayer

TOMORROW – CtR is hosting Global Student Friendship’s (GSF’s) monthly prayer gathering for international students on Saturday, February 1st, 8:30am- 10:00am. This is a great opportunity to pray intentionally for international students, connect with others who serve the international student community, and be encouraged by hearing testimonies of the Lord’s work amongst internationals.

Newcomer’s Lunch at the Campbell’s

SUNDAY – Father Brian and Janis Campbell are hosting a Newcomer’s Lunch for all newcomers and visitors to CtR on February 2nd at 12:30pm.  Their address is 7324 Elvin Court in Norfolk. A light lunch will be provided, and children are welcome!  Please RSVP today to Janis at janiscampbell58@gmail.com if you would like to come.

Register ASAP for the Following Events:

Diocesan Regional Retreat

This is the last DAY to sign up for the Southeast Regional Retreat, happening on February 13-15! Everyone in the congregation is invited to attend. Check out this video from Bishop Steve Breedlove for more information about the 2020 Regional Retreats. To register, click here (the registration is not full; the notice on the website is referring to the 2019 retreat).

Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon

Current and future supporters of Park Place School are invited to the “Friend-Raising” Luncheon next Thursday, February 6th, 11:30am – 1:30pm at First Presbyterian Church. Come and hear from the students, parents, and volunteers about how Park Place School is changing lives! Please RSVP TODAY to (757)624-3473 or bgarrett@parkplaceschool.org. When you RSVP, tell them you are coming from CtR. We will have a couple tables at the luncheon to represent our congregation! If you have any questions,  you can contact Fr. Brian, Rob Slaughter, or Dora Lee Taylor.

Camp Booyah for Youth

Parents of 6th-12th graders, registration for Camp Booyah is open and only 21 slots are left so now is the time to register! More information can be found on their website and you can contact David+ at revdavidwatts@gmail.com if you have any questions.


Discipleship Hour Volunteers Needed

There are several ministries at CtR that are looking for more volunteers who can serve on Sunday mornings. There is especially a need for Discipleship Hour childcare workers at this time. If you are able to be a helper in the upper elementary or lower elementary classrooms, or the nursery from 9:00am – 10:00am on a Sunday, please let Jennifer Brown know at brownie7506@yahoo.com. Thank you!

Youth Update

There won’t be any youth gatherings this Saturday, February 1st, or Sunday, February 2nd. Enjoy the super bowl with friends and family! We will have youth group at church on February 16th and a service outing at Five Loaves on Monday, the 17th. For more information on the service trip, look for the Evite going out today.

Preparing for Lent

We are approaching the Lenten season, which begins on February 26th with an Ash Wednesday service at 6:00pm. Begin to gather your palm crosses from last year’s Palm Sunday; we will be collecting them in the baptismal font. The palms will be burned on February 23rd (no Shrove Tuesday service this year), to use as ashes for Ash Wednesday.

Also, on that first Friday of Lent, February 28th, make sure to save the date for a Church-wide Evangelism Training with a potluck dinner starting at 6:00pm! We are encouraging all Life Groups to not meet that week, but instead come together as a congregation on Friday night to learn how we can grow into being a more “invitational” church. More details to come!

MISSION Sunday

Mark your calendars for “Mission Sunday” on February 16th! We will hear more about the recent Guatemala Trip, as well as the hopes and plans for our local and global mission efforts in 2020.

NEST Outreach Opportunity

We have the opportunity to help Crossroads Church with a ministry to homeless through the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) program the week of March 4th – 8th.  The homeless guests are picked up by buses and taken to area churches for a hot meal, housing for the night, a hot breakfast and a take-away lunch.  Crossroads has everything covered but the lunches.  We can help by assembling the bag lunches at CtR each afternoon during March 4th-8th and deliver them to Crossroads.  We will need funds to purchase the lunch foods and bags.  If you want to contribute to this outreach, send a check or money to CtR earmarked for NEST.  This could be an opportunity for families to volunteer together each afternoon to assemble the sandwiches and the bags.  We will post a sign-up sheet closer to March for families to sign up.  If you have any questions you can speak to Temple –  t.richardson@cox.net .


“O God, you know that we are set in the midst of many grave dangers, and because of the frailty of our nature we cannot always stand upright: Grant that your strength and protection may support us in all dangers and carry us through every temptation; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

– Collect for The Fourth Sunday of Epiphany (BCP 2019)

Week of Sunday, January 26th, 2020

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

  1. Discipleship Hour Volunteers
  2. New to Christ the Redeemer?
  3. Diocesan Regional Retreat
  4. Camp Booyah for Youth
  5. Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon
  6. International Student Prayer
  7. NEST Outreach Opportunity

Discipleship Hour Volunteers

There are several ministries at CtR that are looking for more volunteers who can serve on Sunday mornings. There is especially a need for Discipleship Hour childcare workers at this time. If you are able to be a helper in the upper elementary or lower elementary classrooms, or the nursery from 9:00am – 10:00am on a Sunday, please let Jennifer Brown know at brownie7506@yahoo.com. Thank you!

New to Christ the Redeemer?

Father Brian and Janis Campbell are hosting a Newcomer’s Lunch for all newcomers and visitors to CtR on February 2nd at 12:30pm.  Their address is 7324 Elvin Court in Norfolk. A light lunch will be provided, and children are welcome!  Please RSVP to Janis at janiscampbell58@gmail.com if you would like to come.

Diocesan Regional Retreat

This is the last week to sign up for the Southeast Regional Retreat, happening on February 13-15! Everyone in the congregation is invited to attend. Check out this video from Bishop Steve Breedlove for more information about the 2020 Regional Retreats. To register, click here (the registration is not full; the notice on the website is referring to the 2019 retreat).

Camp Booyah for Youth

Parents of 6th-12th graders, registration for Camp Booyah is open! More information can be found on their website and you can contact David+ at revdavidwatts@gmail.com if you have any questions.

Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon

Current and future supporters of Park Place School are invited to the “Friend-Raising” Luncheon on Thursday, February 6th, 11:30am – 1:30pm at First Presbyterian Church. Come and hear from the students, parents, and volunteers about how Park Place School is changing lives! Please RSVP by January 31st to (757)624-3473 or bgarrett@parkplaceschool.org. When you RSVP, tell them you are coming from CtR. We are hoping to have a couple tables at the luncheon to represent our congregation! If you have any questions,  you can contact Fr. Brian, Rob Slaughter, or Dora Lee Taylor.

International Student Prayer

CtR has the honor of hosting Global Student Friendship’s (GSF’s) monthly prayer gathering for international students on Saturday, February 1st, 8:30am- 10:00am. This is a great opportunity to pray intentionally for international students, connect with others who serve the international student community, and be encouraged by hearing testimonies of the Lord’s work amongst internationals.

NEST Outreach Opportunity

We also have the opportunity to help Crossroads Church with a ministry to homeless through the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) program the week of March 4th – 8th.  The homeless guests are picked up by buses and taken to area churches for a hot meal, housing for the night, a hot breakfast and a take-away lunch.  Crossroads has everything covered but the lunches.  We can help by assembling the bag lunches at CtR each afternoon during March 4th-8th and deliver them to Crossroads.  We will need funds to purchase the lunch foods and bags.  If you want to contribute to this outreach, send a check or money to CtR earmarked for NEST.  This could be an opportunity for families to volunteer together each afternoon to assemble the sandwiches and the bags.  We will post a sign-up sheet closer to March for families to sign up.  If you have any questions you can speak to Temple –  t.richardson@cox.net .


Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.Amen.

– Collect for The Third Sunday of Epiphany (BCP 2019)

Week of Sunday, January 19th, 2020

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

  1. Service Details for Ann McCord Harper’s Father
  2. Guatemala Trip
  3. Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon
  4. NEST Outreach Opportunity
  5. Diocesan Regional Retreat
  6. Camp Booyah for Youth

Service Details for Ann McCord Harper’s Father

Ann’s father William McCord passed away on Tuesday morning, peacefully, in his sleep. A celebration of his life will be held tomorrow, January 17th at 11:30 a.m. at All Saints’ Episcopal Church. Click the link below for more details, and to read about a “long life well-lived”: http://www.hdoliver.com/obituary/William-Harris-McCord-Sr./Virginia-Beach-Virginia/1866340.

Guatemala Trip

Fr. David, Brad, Dory, and Mark left for Guatemala this morning at 5:00am! The latest news is that they have arrived in Miami and will be on their next leg to Guatemala shortly. Please continue to pray for safety and guidance for this team, as well as for the congregation of Cristo Mi Redentor (Christ My Redeemer), who they will be meeting and serving while in Guatemala.

Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon

Current and future supporters and volunteers of Park Place School are invited to a “Friend-Raising” Luncheon on Thursday, February 6th, 11:30am – 1:30pm at First Presbyterian Church. Come and hear from the students, parents, and volunteers about how Park Place School is changing lives! Please RSVP by January 31st to (757)624-3473 or bgarrett@parkplaceschool.org. When you RSVP, tell them you are coming from CtR. We are hoping to have a couple tables at the luncheon to represent our congregation! If you have any questions, contact Fr. Brian, Rob Slaughter, or Dora Lee Taylor.

NEST Outreach Opportunity

CtR has the opportunity to help Crossroads Church with a ministry to homeless through the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) program the week of March 4th – 8th.  The homeless guests are picked up by buses and taken to area churches for a hot meal, housing for the night, a hot breakfast and a take-away lunch.  Crossroads has everything covered but the lunches.  We can help by assembling the bag lunches at CtR each afternoon during March 4th-8th and deliver them to Crossroads.  We will need funds to purchase the lunch foods and bags.  If you want to contribute to this outreach, send a check or money to CtR earmarked for NEST.  This is also an opportunity for families to volunteer together each afternoon to assemble the sandwiches and the bags.  We will post a sign-up sheet closer to March for families to sign up.  If you have any questions you can speak to Temple –  t.richardson@cox.net .

Diocesan Regional Retreat

The Southeast Regional Retreat is coming up on February 13-15! Everyone in the congregation is invited to attend. Check out this video from Bishop Steve Breedlove for more information about the 2020 Regional Retreats. And to register, click here.

Camp Booyah for Youth

Parents of 6th-12th graders, registration for Camp Booyah is open! More information can be found on their website and you can contact David+ at revdavidwatts@gmail.com if you have any questions.


“Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ’s glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever.” Amen.

– Collect for The Second Sunday of Epiphany (BCP 2019, p. 602)

Week of Sunday, January 12th, 2020

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

  1. Discipleship Hour Reminder
  2. Guatemala Mission Trip
  3. Seeking Administrative Help
  4. Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon
  5. Women’s Retreat
  6. Diocesan Regional Retreat
  7. NEST Outreach Opportunity
  8. Camp Booyah for Youth

Discipleship Hour Reminder

It’s not too late to sign up and attend one of the Discipleship Hour classes, meeting at 9:00am every Sunday before worship. Click HERE  to sign up for  if you haven’t already! Here are the classes being offered:

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, we highly encourage you to attend!

Track 2. “What Did You Expect?”, a Marriage Class – led by Janis Campbell & Matt and Jill Branch.  They will be going through a study 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.

Guatemala Mission Trip

On January 16th – January 19th a small team from CtR will be working with an Anglican church by the same name in Guatemala. Christ the Redeemer Guatemala is a church which serves a population with severe material and spiritual needs both at their city dump village church and at their suburban church. Fr. David Watts, Dory Zimermann, Mark Beers, and Brad Embry will be going to CtR Guatemala to make this initial trip and hopefully begin to establish an ongoing relationship between our two congregations. Please pray for their preparations over the next two weeks!

Seeking Administrative Help

Our Administrative Assistant, Sydney Seligman, and her family are looking forward to the the birth of a baby boy in March! We are looking for someone to fulfill her maternity leave from mid-March to mid-June (and maybe beyond). Please email us at ctrsec@gmail.com if you, or someone you know, might be interested in helping out during this time.  Thank you.

Park Place “Friend-Raising” Luncheon

Current and future supporters and volunteers of Park Place School are invited to a “Friend-Raising” Luncheon on Thursday, February 6th, 11:30am – 1:30pm at First Presbyterian Church. Come and hear from the students, parents, and volunteers about how Park Place School is changing lives! There will also be a violin performance and a delicious meal provided. Please RSVP by January 31st to (757)624-3473 or bgarrett@parkplaceschool.org.

Women’s Retreat

Just a reminder that the Annual Women’s Retreat is coming up on February 21st – February 23rd, 2020, at Chanco on the James. It is not too late to sign up! Click HERE for the registration form. Please return the form and your $60 deposit as soon as possible. For those of you that have already signed up, be on the lookout for an email from Janie Atwood providing more information about the retreat and any remaining registration balances.

Diocesan Regional Retreat

The Diocese of Christ Our Hope’s 2020 Regional Retreat is fast approaching! Check out this video from Bishop Steve Breedlove for more information about the 2020 Regional Retreats. Just FYI, our church is in the Southeast region of the Diocese, which means that the retreat will be on February 13-15. To register, click here.

NEST Outreach Opportunity

CtR has the opportunity to help Crossroads Church with a ministry to homeless through the Norfolk Emergency Shelter Team (NEST) program the week of March 4th – 8th.  The homeless guests are picked up by buses and taken to area churches for a hot meal, housing for the night, a hot breakfast and a take-away lunch.  Crossroads has everything covered but the lunches.  We can help by assembling the bag lunches at CtR each afternoon during March 4th-8th and deliver them to Crossroads.  We will need funds to purchase the lunch foods and bags.  If you want to contribute to this outreach, send a check or money to CtR earmarked for NEST.  This is also an opportunity for families to volunteer together each afternoon to assemble the sandwiches and the bags.  We will post a sign-up sheet closer to March for families to sign up.  If you have any questions you can speak to Temple –  t.richardson@cox.net .

Camp Booyah for Youth

Parents, registrar for Camp Booyah on their website and speak with David+ if you have any questions!


“Eternal Father, at the baptism of Jesus you revealed him to be your Son, and your Holy Spirit descended upon him like a dove: Grant that we, who are born again by water and the Spirit, may be faithful as your adopted children; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.” Amen.

– Collect for The First Sunday of Epiphany, The Baptism of Our Lord (BCP 2019, p. 601)

Week of Sunday, January 5th, 2020

Happy New Year to you all! In this week’s Update you will find information on the following (more details on each of these below):

  1. Discipleship Hour Classes Begin Sunday!
  2. Youth New Years Event
  3. Women’s Retreat in February
  4. Guatemala Mission Trip
  5. Diocesan Regional Retreat

Discipleship Hour Classes Begin Sunday!

Beginning this Sunday, January 5th, the following Discipleship Hour classes will be offered at 9:00am, for the 8 weeks leading up to Lent. Click HERE  to sign up for a class if you haven’t already!

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, we highly encourage you to attend!

Track 2. “What Did You Expect?”, a Marriage Class – led by Janis Campbell & Matt and Jill Branch.  They will be going through a study 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 Event

Youth, save the date for a New Year’s Bash with The Mission Church this Sunday evening, 6:00- 8:00pm. Plan to bring a friend! Parents, there will be a quick meeting afterwards about Camp Booyah, from 8:00-8:15pm so please stick around after you pick up your kids.

Women’s Retreat in February

All women are invited to CtR’s Annual Women’s Retreat happening February 21st – February 23rd, 2020, at Chanco at the James Retreat Center! 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 $60 deposit as soon as possible!

Guatemala Mission Trip

CtR will be sending out a small team from January 16th to 19th to work with an Anglican church by the same name in Guatemala! Christ the Redeemer Guatemala is a church which serves a population with severe material and spiritual needs both at their city dump village church and at their suburban church. Fr. David Watts, Dory Zimermann, Mark Beers, and Brad Embry will be going to CtR Guatemala to make this initial trip and hopefully begin to establish an ongoing relationship between our two congregations. Please pray for their preparations over the next two weeks!

Diocesan Regional Retreat

The Diocese of Christ Our Hope’s 2020 Regional Retreat is fast approaching! Check out this video from Bishop Steve Breedlove for more information about the 2020 Regional Retreats. Just FYI, our church is in the Southeast region of the Diocese, which means that the retreat will be on February 13-15. To register, click here.


“Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, kindled in our hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

– Collect for The First Sunday of Christmas (BCP 2019)