Category: Weekly Update

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

1. Camp Booyah Registration
2. Little Free Food Pantry
3. Prayers for Guatemala Missions
4. Bulletin Insert
5. Financial Summary

Camp Booyah Registration

CtR Youth: registration for Camp Booyah ends TONIGHT! If you would like to attend this virtual camp, please sign up here on the camp website.

Little Free Food Pantry

As many of you might have seen, St. Paul’s Episcopal Church has set up a “Little Free Food Pantry” in the grass parking lot at Knox. Please feel free to take what you need or donate non-perishable food items. Spread the word and let this be a blessing to our community!

Prayer for Guatemala Missions

Please keep Christo Mi Rentor in your prayers as Fr. Dana and Damaris are prayerfully considering how the church should respond to food shortages in Guatemala. Below is a picture of Guatemalans requesting food using a white flag. This is becoming a common symbol to request food in Guatemala, and food shortages are becoming a common problem all over the world. Lord, in your mercy – hear our prayer.

Bulletin Insert

Below is the Prayers of the People and Daily Office section of our bulletin insert for this Sunday. We encourage you to be in prayer for those listed and participate in the Daily Office.

***If you have any new or updated prayer requests, please email ctrsec@gmail.com or contact Brian+ or David+ directly***

Financial Summary

Financial Summary for March 2020

	2020	2019
Operations: Revenue	$29, 335/month, 96.8% of March budget	$28, 713/month
Expenses	$25,660/month 89.8% of March budget	$27,597/month
Net	$3674/month
Year to Date:	$82,591 as of March 31 102.1% YTD budget income	$82,734
Bank Balance:	$209,171 ($55,613 temporarily restricted)	$167,417 ($27,134 temporarily restricted)

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“O God, whose Son Jesus Christ is the Good Shepherd of your people: Grant that, when we hear his voice, we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.“

– Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter (BCP 2019)

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

1. Pastoral Care and Prayer Requests
2. 2019 BCP
3. Bulletin Insert

Pastoral Care and Prayer Requests

Update on Rowen Reyes (as of Tuesday April 21st):

Rowen had a successful surgery and was recovering well. The tumor was sent off for a biopsy and Sharon and Ryan should have the results on Friday April 24th. Please continue to be in prayer for this child, his family, and his medical care team.

If you have any or know of any needs, please let our community support you! Talk to your Home Group, email ctrsec@gmail.com or our prayer team with your prayer requests, contact either Brian+ or David+ with your concerns. We are here to help!

2019 BCP and The Daily Office

As we have moved to a virtual practice of worshipping together with Sunday services and Evening Prayer, this is a great time for members of our congregation to get familiar with the new 2019 Book of Common Prayer. This book holds not only our liturgical traditions, but prayers and collects, the Daily Office, the Psalter, pastoral rites, episcopal services, special liturgies, and the documentary foundations of our faith (e.g. creeds) – it is a wonderful resource and the text that guides our worship. If you do not already have a copy of the BCP, click here to order one. If you are not ready to purchase your own copy, the ACNA has a PDF copy of the full text available to download for free.

The Daily Office can be found beginning on p. 734 of the BCP. The ACNA has created a website with the reading for all the different prayer times (morning, midday, evening, and compline) and another with the shorter form for family prayer. To access the standard version, click here. For the family prayer version, click here. Both the standard and family prayer versions includes the entire liturgy for that service along with the readings.

For those of you that may not know, the translation of the Bible the ACNA uses is the English Standard Version (ESV). Their website is also a great resource for those who do not already have an ESV Bible or who prefer to read online. There is also a free ESV app for iPhone and Android users.

Bulletin Insert

Below is the Prayers of the People and Daily Office section of our bulletin insert for this Sunday. We encourage you to be in prayer for those listed and participate in the Daily Office.

***If you have any new or updated prayer requests, please email ctrsec@gmail.com or contact Brian+ or David+ directly***

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“Almighty God, you gave your only Son to be for us both a sacrifice for sin and an example of godly living: Give us grace thankfully to receive his inestimable benefits, and daily to follow the blessed steps of his most holy life; 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 Third Sunday of Easter (BCP 2019)

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

1. Pastoral Care and Prayer Requests
2. Eastertide Home Communion Packages
3. Youth Group this Sunday
4. Bulletin Insert

Pastoral Care and Prayer Requests

Currently we have two urgent prayer requests in our congregation:

• Rowen Reyes – Sharon and Ryan Reyes’ son was seen by a pediatric oncologist this morning after having an ultrasound and a urology appointment earlier this week that determined he has a tumor in one of his testicles. They are still awaiting results from his blood work. He is scheduled for surgery next week to remove the tumor.

• Judy Wolfgang – Tisa Nolte’s grandmother and Joan Brant’s mother is entering the end of life stages. Tisa, Joan, and Reagan went to Ohio to be with her earlier this week. She has been taken off all medications, besides morphine, and is expected to pass in the near future. Please be in prayer for a peaceful passing for Judy and comfort for her family.

On a pastoral note: if you have any needs during this isolating time, please let our community support you! Talk to your Home Group, email ctrsec@gmail.com or our prayer team with your prayer requests, contact either Brian+ or David+ with your concerns. We are here to help! You do not have to suffer alone. You have a community of those who love you, who will surround you, come alongside you, and cover you in prayers.

Eastertide Home Communion Packages

To all of those who wished to receive a home communion package for Eastertide: David+ will be delivering packages to Home Group leaders tomorrow (Friday 4/17). Home Group leaders: please let your members know how/when they can pick up theirs from you or deliver it to them on Saturday (4/18). Those that are not in Home Groups who have elected to receive, David+ will be contacting you to coordinate drop off.

Youth Group This Sunday

David+ has set up a Zoom call for the youth group this Sunday, April 19th from 7:00-8:15pm. If you have not already received the link, please let David+ know and he will get it out to you.

Bulletin Insert

Below is the Prayers of the People and Daily Office section of our bulletin insert for this Sunday. We encourage you to be in prayer for those listed and participate in the Daily Office.

***If you have any new or updated prayer requests, please email ctrsec@gmail.com or contact Brian+ or David+ directly***

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“Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ’s Body nay show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; 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 Second Sunday of Easter (BCP 2019)

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

1. Virtual Holy Week Schedule
2. On Worshipping at Home
3. Bulletin Insert
4. Financial Giving Update

Virtual Holy Week Schedule

We will be celebrating Holy Week virtually as a community this year. Our Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services will be conducted on our Live+Stream. The schedule for services is:

• Maundy Thursday: 7:00-8:15pm (Holy Communion, in home)
• Good Friday: 6:00-7:30pm
• Easter Sunday: 10:15-11:30am (Holy Communion, in home)

On Worshipping at Home

Some suggestions from our clergy for making the most of Holy Week:

1. Create a “Sacred Worship Space” to participate in services
   • Have a small table, covered with a small white cloth on which the plate with the sacrament will rest.
   • Set up two candles (if desired) on the table and be ready to light and snuff them as appropriate.
2. Maundy Thursday
   • Participate in your own foot washing: have a basin ready with water, towels, and a washcloth.
   • Join us in the “stripping of the altar”: as the Chancel is stripped, snuff your candles, remove the candle stands, the plate, and the cloth; consider turning off the lights and ending in darkness.
   • Reflect and pray with us during the Tenebrae service immediately following the Maundy Thursday celebration:
     • on the hour (every hour between 9pm-midnight) there will be a 15 minute segment of readings and prayer, followed by 45 minutes of silence for personal prayer
3. Good Friday
   • Gather in your “Sacred Space” with your Bibles open to John 18 (or click link for web version).
   • If you have a BCP, turn to p. 565 and follow along (note: you may wish to follow the Solemn Collects from your prayer book – p.566ff as these will not be projected on the Live+Stream)
     • a downloadable copy of the BCP can be found here on the ACNA website
4. Easter Sunday
   • We will begin our service in “darkness” and join Mary as she goes to the tomb, rejoicing with her at the Angel’s news (symbolized by singing Hear the Bells Ringing).
   • Join in “dressing the Chancel” (return all the things stripped from your table on Maundy Thursday to their rightful place – cloth, plate, sacrament, candles) during the singing of Christ is Risen Today.
     • Consider adding a vase of flowers to enhance the table (as we would normally do by flowering the large cross in the sanctuary)
5. Create a video of you/your family passing the peace with this Easter greeting: “Peace from the [last name] family! Christ is risen indeed!“
   • email video to Lea Hanna at ctrsec@gmail.com by 12pm on Good Friday to have it included in our Easter service

Bulletin Insert

Below is the Prayers of the People and Daily Office section of our bulletin insert for Easter Sunday. We encourage you to be in prayer for those listed and participate in the Daily Office.

***If you have any new or updated prayer requests, please email ctrsec@gmail.com or contact Brian+ or David+ directly***

Financial Giving Update

We have had several people ask about fees associated with PayPal and if there is a no fee way to give – there is! You can go through your bank’s “Bill Pay” system and send a payment directly to CtR, either automatically reoccurring or as a one time payment. The church’s phone number is (757) 226-8700 (this information might be required to set up the “bill pay”). If you have any further, or more personalized questions, please feel free to email our Treasurer, Janie Atwood, at maryjaneatwood@gmail.com. As always, you may mail a check to Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church, P.O. Box 9632, Norfolk, VA 23505 or give through our direct PayPal link.

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“Almighty God, who through your only-begotten Son Jesus Christ overcame death and opened to us the gate of everlasting life: Grant that we, who celebrate with joy the day of the Lord’s resurrection, may, by your life-giving Spirit be delivered from sin and raised from death; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”

– Collect for Easter Sunday (BCP 2019)

Protocol for worship on Palm Sunday!

Posted by Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church on Friday, April 3, 2020

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

1. Worship This Sunday
2. Children’s Chapel
3. Procedures for Holy Week
4. Financial Giving
5. Youth Netflix Watch Party
6. Bulletin Insert

Worship This Sunday

For Palm Sunday, we will continue with the Live+Stream of services on Facebook and through our website. After we gather virtually, we will have three stations set up to receive Holy Communion and pick up pre-consecrated communion packages for use during our Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday services. The first station will be in the grass parking lot at Knox from 11:45am-12:30pm. The Chesapeake station is at the Branch’s home from 12:15-12:45pm. The Virginia Beach station is at the Beers’ home from 1:00-1:30pm.

Children’s Chapel

Join us for a virtual Children’s Chapel on Sunday mornings! Jennifer has created videos for the CtR children to participate in during the sermon section of our worship service. These videos can be accessed through the CtR Facebook page (in the videos tab) and the direct links will also be posted in the comments section of our live stream just before the sermon. She also is emailing families activity materials to complement her lesson.

During the week, she has set up challenges for the children to participate in – when we are once again able to gather, there will be a party for all to celebrate their achievements! The challenges will be posted on the CtR Facebook page every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings. Just complete the challenges and email your responses to Jennifer! (brownie7506@yahoo.com)

Looking Ahead: Holy Week

We will be celebrating Holy Week virtually as a community this year. Our Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services will be conducted on our Live+Stream. The schedule for services is:

• Palm Sunday: 10:15-11:30am (Holy Communion, at stations)
• Maundy Thursday: 7:00-8:30pm (Holy Communion, in home)
• Good Friday: 6:00-7:30pm
• Easter Sunday: 10:15-11:30am (Holy Communion, in home)

The Bishop has allowed clergy members to pre-consecrate the sacraments for distribution to individuals/families to be self-administered during Maundy Thursday and Easter Sunday services. Please tune in to our Live+Stream to partake of this most holy meal together as one body. Most of you will have been contacted by your Home Group leaders or by Lea Hanna as to whether you would like to receive a home communion package. If you would like to participate and have not yet made that desire known, please contact the office at ctrsec@gmail.com by NOON FRIDAY (tomorrow, 4/3/2020) for us to put you on the list. Please include your name, how many in your home will be receiving, and where you would like to pick up your package from on Sunday after service. If you are unable to come pick up Sunday, but would still like to receive, we will work with you on a delivery option.

Financial Giving

May we encourage you – as you are able – to continue our financial commitments to the church. The best two ways to do so are through our direct PayPal link (or visit our webpage at https://christtheredeemer.org/home/giving/) or to mail in your tithe to: Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church P.O. Box 9632, Norfolk, VA 23505.

The Clergy and Leadership Council are continuing to work on ways we can support one another financially, spiritually, and physically in these troubled days. Please let Brian+ or the Leadership Council know if you have, or know of any, needs within the church.

Youth Netflix Watch Party – TONIGHT!!

Get your popcorn ready: tonight, April 2, David+ will be hosting a virtual movie night for the Youth Group! They will be watching Nacho Libre starting at 7:30pm. David+ sent out the information to parents via Groupme. If your children are interested in participating and you are not already on the Youth Group parents’ Groupme, please send David+ an email at revdavidwatts@gmail.com to be added.

Bulletin Insert

In order to add some normalcy to our Sunday/weekly routines, the Prayers of the People and Daily Office sections of our bulletin inserts will be included with the Weekly Update. Hopefully these help keep us diligent in praying for one another and reading the Word together.

If you have any new or updated prayer requests, please email ctrsec@gmail.com or contact Brian+ or David+ directly.

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“Almighty and everlasting God, in your tender love for us you sent your Son our Savior Jesus Christ to take upon himself our nature, and to suffer death upon the Cross, giving us the example of his great humility: Mercifully grant that we may walk in the way of his suffering, and come to share in his resurrection; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

– Collect for Palm Sunday (BCP 2019)

Please watch Brian’s Weekly Update Intro Live+Stream video on Facebook!

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

1. Worship This Sunday
2. Procedures for Holy Week
3. Welcome Baby Seligman!
4. Financial Giving
5. Youth Netflix Watch Party

Worship This Sunday

Again this Sunday, we will continue with the Live+Stream of services on Facebook and through our website. After we gather virtually, we will have two stations set up to receive Holy Communion as we did last week. The first station will be in the grass parking lot at Knox from 11:30am -12:00pm. The second station will be in Chesapeake at the Branch’s home from 12:30 – 1:00pm.

***Brian+ will not be at church this week. David+ will be celebrating and A.J. Nolte will be preaching.***

Looking Ahead: Holy Week

We will be celebrating Holy Week virtually as a community this year. Our Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter services will be conducted on the Live+Stream. However, the bishop is allowing priests to pre-consecrate the sacraments to be distributed to individuals and families for them to self administer at the appropriate times during the Maundy Thursday and Easter services. We will provide more information concerning logistics next week. Please be preparing your hearts and minds for Holy Week and making a commitment to join in our communal life as much as you are able during this important season.

Welcome Baby Seligman!

Baby Joseph Walter Seligman was born on Friday March 20, 2020 at 7:00am. He is currently in the NICU at CHKD. He was able to move out of intensive care yesterday as his respiratory rate is becoming more stable. Please continue to be in prayer for this new member of our congregation and his family. If you would like to bless the Seligman’s with a meal, there is one date available on the Meal Train (Saturday April 18).

Financial Giving

Last week Brian+ asked us to continue to maintain – as we are able – our financial commitments to the church. The best two ways to do so are through our direct PayPal link (or visit our webpage at https://christtheredeemer.org/home/giving/) or to mail in your tithe to: Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church P.O. Box 9632, Norfolk, VA 23505.

The Clergy and Leadership Council are continuing to work on ways we can support one another financially, spiritually, and physically in these troubled days. Please let Brian+ or the Leadership Council know if you have, or know of any, needs within the church in the meantime. We will continue to update as methods and procedures are finalized.

Youth Netflix Watch Party

Get your popcorn ready: next Thursday, April 2, David+ will be hosting a virtual movie night for the Youth Group! They will be watching The Prince of Egypt starting at 7:30pm. David+ will send out the information to parents via Groupme. If your children are interested in participating and you are not already on the Youth Group parents’ Groupme, please send David+ an email at revdavidwatts@gmail.com to be added.

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“Almighty God, you alone can bring into order the unruly wills and affections of sinners: Grant your people grace to love what you command and desire what you promise; that, among the swift and varied changes of this world, our hearts may surely there be fixed where true joys are to be found; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.”

– Collect for The Fifth Sunday in Lent (BCP 2019)

Dear Friends,

In Psalm 42 the Psalmist, who himself is in exile, cries out:

“As a deer pants for flowing streams, so pants my soul for you, O God. My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God?”

One of the great and grave costs of the current situation is our inability to gather for worship. We too cry out, “When shall I come and appear before God?”  The good news is that while we can no longer gather ‘in person’ to worship, we can gather ‘on line’ (and safely ‘in person’) for worship

Sunday Worship

Here is how we shall proceed ON SUNDAYS for the next few weeks.

• First, we will Live Stream the service at our regular time with a minimal team (musicians, Booth person, clergy, and one lay assistant). NO ONE ELSE WILL BE ABLE TO JOIN US IN PERSON!
  • • Our communication team will strive to make access to the stream as easy as possible (especially for those like me who are tech-challenged!).
    • Simply go to our web site (christtheredeemer.org) and you will be able to ‘click on’ the latest recording of the service. They will be streamed “live” from Facebook and posted on our website.

• Second, as Anglicans, the reception of the sacrament is the apex of our worship. Quite literally, we need to receive the tangible grace of God to be nourished and sustained as gracious Sons and Daughters of God. Here is how we will receive the Sacrament on Sunday and I trust, thereafter).
  • • We will have two ‘Stations’ for Communion, one in Norfolk (the parking lot of Knox), the other in Virginia Beach (the home of the Beers).
    • One of the clergy and a lay Assistant will be present at each location to pray with you and your family and to distribute the bread (our bishop has asked us not to communicate in both kinds during the duration of the pandemic). Simply stay in your car and we will come to you.
    • As we anticipate more people to come to our Norfolk Station (and given we will already be present at Knox), the clergy and assistant will be present at the Station from 11:30 am – 1:00pm.
    • As it will take some time to travel to Virginia Beach, the Beers’ Station will be manned from 12:00 – 1:00pm.

Home Groups

What about our gatherings during the week?

• Our Leadership Council met on Monday night and prayerfully discerned that our Home Groups (and study groups) should NOT meet officially for the next two weeks (March 18-April 1).
• Our Home/Study group leaders met last night on Zoom and discussed ways that we can stay connected (even physically connected) safely and helpfully in the days and weeks ahead. We are committed to ‘be the church’ for and with one another.

Financial Giving

Can I also make an appeal for all of us to maintain- as we are able- our financial commitments to the church?

• Again, our communication team will make access to our PayPal account as accessible as possible (https://christtheredeemer.org/home/giving/). For those who wish to mail your tithe, please use our P.O. Box 9632, Norfolk, VA 23505 address.
• The Leadership Council is crafting ways we can support one another financially (as well as physically and spiritually) in the days ahead. Once those ‘ways’ as clear, we will let you know. If you have a financial need in the meantime, please do not hesitate to make it known (to me, or to any of the Council members).

Please be diligent in checking the web site for the latest information. We will endeavor to communicate as clearly and as frequently as needed.

May God’s peace and grace be with us all.

Brian+

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

1. Concerning the Coronavirus
2. Welcome Baby Reyes!
3. Memorial for Albert Duckworth
4. Anchor Fund Offering Continues

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Concerning the Coronavirus

The CtR Clergy, Staff, and Leadership Council are asking God for wisdom, and working through what precautionary measures need to be in place regarding the coronavirus. Here are the ways that CtR, week by week, is adjusting to the coronavirus :

• Hand sanitizer will be located at the front and back of the Sanctuary, as well as all of the Sunday School rooms
• Substitute ‘fist bumps’ for handshakes (and definitely forgo the ‘holy kiss’) during the ‘Passing of the Peace’
• In place of passing the Offering baskets around, the baskets will be located at both entryways to the Sanctuary at the beginning and the end of the service. If you are more comfortable with giving online, just click on this donate link to give safely and securely through PayPal.
• When receiving Communion, come up as normal in our two lines. The Chalice Bearer will be standing next to the Priest/Deacon, and the Priest/Deacon will break off a piece of the bread and dip it into the cup and then place it on your outstretched hands.

And a few general reminders: be prayerful about the spread of this virus; wash your hands frequently; cough/sneeze in your inner elbow instead of your hands; and if you’re experiencing symptoms of a cough, disease, or fever, please isolate yourself and rest (for the sake of others, do not ‘push through it’).

Welcome Baby Reyes!

Baby Rowen David Reyes was born to Sharon and Ryan Reyes on Saturday, March 7th at 2:30am! He is a healthy baby boy at 7 pounds 9 ounces and 21.5 inches. If you would like to help support the Reyes’ as they adjust to being a family of three, please sign up to bring a meal through this link: https://www.mealtrain.com/trains/l19wz6
Join us as we rejoice over the gift of this precious new life, and as we pray for strength and rest for the new parents.

Memorial for Albert Duckworth

There will be a Memorial Gathering this Saturday, March 14th, 4:30pm – 7:00pm at Virginia Beach Community Chapel (1261 Laskin Rd., Virginia Beach) to remember Albert Duckworth. Please come if you can to support Robin and the kids in an informal atmosphere with light hors d’oeuvres. There will be a time of sharing and remembering Albert at 5pm, followed by play time for the kids at the church playground. Even if you can’t come, please be praying for the Duckworth family as they continue to mourn the loss of a great husband and father.

Anchor Fund Continues

We will continue taking up donations for the Diocese of Christ Our Hope’s “Anchor Fund” offering  this Sunday and next Sunday. If you haven’t already, please take a few minutes to learn about the offering through this page: https://www.adhope.org/anchorfund. There is a helpful video with Bishop Steve, as well as an option to give online if that is your preference. If you plan to give at church over the next three Sundays, be sure to write “Anchor Fund” in the memo line of your check. 

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“Heavenly Father, you have made us for yourself, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you: Look with compassion upon the heartfelt desires of your servants, and purify our disordered affections, that we may behold your eternal glory in the face of Christ Jesus; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.”

– Collect for The Third Sunday in Lent (BCP 2019)