Category: Weekly Update

Here are some of the things you need to know about this week at Christ the Redeemer:

Maundy Thursday (April 2) begins at 6:00 pm with Dinner and the Foot Washing in the Fellowship Hall and then transitions into the Sanctuary for the Eucharist and the Stripping of the Chancel. Note, there will be child care provided for our youngest members during the Eucharist if needed. If you have not yet RSVP’ed for the dinner please do so TODAY (nilegomez@gmail.com).

Good Friday Service begins at 6:00 pm on April 3. We gather to reflect on the Seven Last Words from the Cross and to pray. Child Care for our youngest members will be provided during the service.

Holy Saturday: If you are able to help set up for Easter Sunday (putting up banners; arranging the lilies; rearranging the Fellowship Hall; etc.) then please come to the church at 10:00 am on April 4 and lend a hand.

Easter Day: Invite a friend to join you in worship on Easter. Plan to come early and to bring some cut flowers from your garden (if you have any growing!); the children will begin the service by using them to ‘Flower the Cross’. The day will include an Easter Egg Hunt after worship and a time to fellowship and celebrate together.

Tuesday of Easter Week (April 7) Jennifer Brown is organizing a group to meet at Five Loaves Food Pantry on Tuesday, April 7th at 9:30. All ages are welcome! We will be passing out food and helping to organize for their Tuesday night meal. We should be done by 1:00 and there is pizza afterward. Brother Tim has a mini lesson for the kids on God’s provision. The address is Olivet Christian Church, 14425 Old Courthouse Way, Newport News 23608. It would be great if we could get some kind of head count for who will be able to go. Please let Jennifer know if you can make it (brownie7506@yahoo.com). It will be a great time to bless others and be blessed in return.

New Members and/or Confirmation: If you are wanting to explore membership within Christ the Redeemer or become confirmed within the Anglican Communion please speak to Brian+ or email him (revbriancampbell@gmail.com).

Save the Date:

• Compassion Sunday is set for April 26.
• ‘Rwandan School Project’ Lunch and Information day is set for Sunday May 17 after worship.
• Vacation Bible School is set for June 29- July 3 this summer.

Looking forward to a great Holy Week.

Brian Campbell

Here are some things to be aware of this week:

Holy Week:

• The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday begins our Holy Week celebrations. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall for the Blessing of the Palms and then process together into the sanctuary joining our voices in singing ‘Hosanna’ to the King of Kings. This is not the week to be late for worship! Please plan on arriving by 9:45 am at the latest, prepared to enter into worship with joy and expectation.
• Maundy Thursday, April 2 begins with dinner in the ‘Upper Room’ (Fellowship Hall) promptly at 6:00 pm. If you have not yet RSVP’ed for the dinner please note that the deadline to do so is Tuesday evening. Please let Nile know at nilegomez@gmail.com
• Good Friday finds us focusing on the Seven Last Words from the Cross beginning at 6:00 pm.
• Easter Day, please bring some cut flowers from home to help the children ‘Flower the Cross’ and plan on arriving early to make sure you do not miss the glorious entry into the sanctuary. There will also be an Easter Egg Hunt for our younger members following the service.

Save the Date:

• ‘Rwandan School Project Presentation’ takes place after worship on Sunday May 17 over a catered lunch! Mark your calendars now and make sure you are there to hear about this exciting project.
• ‘Vacation Bible School’ takes place this summer from June 29- July 3. Again, please mark your calendars now and be praying as to whom you will invite to participate in this fun outreach event.

Membership and Confirmation: Bishop Steve Breedlove will be with us in September for our Ten Year Anniversary Celebration. If you are interested in exploring Membership within Christ the Redeemer and/or Confirmation within the Anglican Communion, then please speak with me at your convenience (revbriancampbell@gmail.com). We will be scheduling a ‘New Members/Confirmation Class’ sometime in May and June this spring.

Looking forward to a great Holy Week with all of you.

Brian Campbell

Rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Dear CTR family,

As I mentioned on Sunday, I am in the beginning stages of preparing for our VBS program this summer.  VBS will be held the week of June 29th through July 3rd from 9 until 12.  We will be registering kids from ages 3 through 5th grade.  I am looking for volunteers in all kinds of areas so you don’t have to be available during the VBS time frame to be of help.  I will also be putting up a bulletin board after Easter that will let the congregation know what items we need donated.  I have listed below the VBS committees that I have.  Please consider volunteering in some capacity and be prepared for a personal invitation from me.  You can email me or call me with any questions or to sign up.

• Decorating Committee
• Snack and Food Committee
• Teaching Committee
• Teacher’s Aid Committee
• Games/Recreation Committee
• Music Committee

I am also asking that everyone be praying for this week.

Thanks,

Jennifer

This Weekend at CTR:
Saturday:

• Men’s Group meets this week beginning at 8:30 am. Hank Thompson will lead us through a discussion of the 9th Chapter of Peter Walker’s book The Jesus Way. All are welcome!
• Wisdom and Wonder: concludes this Saturday, 10:00 – 11:30 am. The focus will be on the ‘Art’ and ‘Reflections’ being prepared for our Good Friday service.

Sunday:

• ‘Listening For God: Learning to Read and Meditate on Scripture’ concludes this Sunday beginning at 9:00 am

Holy Week Preparations:

• Maundy Thursday Service takes place on April 2 beginning with dinner at 6;00 pm. If you have not yet RSVP’ed for dinner (or have not had a chance to sign up to help in the preparation) please email Nile Gomez (nilegomez@gmail.com)

Mission Opportunities:

• ‘Eating Out for Education’ takes place on Tuesday, March 24 at participating restaurants. This is a great way to support the work and mission of Park Place School. Click here for more information.
• Ghent Area Ministry Clothes Drive is taking place during Lent. As you are cleaning out your wardrobe be sure to set aside gently used clothing and bring them to church. We will make sure they get to GAM.

Developmental News:

• Georgia Maas has become our new Administrative Assistant and will officially begin next week. This is a part-time position, and once Georgia and I establish our working routine we will post the new ‘office hours’ in the days ahead. Please pray for Georgia as she takes on this important task.
• Lauren Gyorfi has accepted my invitation to become our (volunteer) ‘Lay Ministry and Small Group Coordinator’. Lauren’s passion is helping to build Christian community and she will be looking to assist, develop, and multiply our existing groups as well as helping individuals find their ‘place’ for service and community. Please pray for Lauren as she takes on this vital task on our behalf.

Looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

Brian Campbell

Here are some of the things you need to know as we continue our Lenten Journey towards Easter:

‘Wisdom and Wonder: Exploring Beauty and Faith for Artists and Amateurs‘ continues this Saturday, March 14 from 10 – 11:30 am. If you need the readings for the session please email Emily at ’emilyzimbrickrogers@gmail.com’.

Lenten Ministry Opportunities:

Ghent Area Ministry is hosting a ‘Clothing Drive’ for their Clothes Closet. Gently used, clean clothing (especially for men) may be brought to the church throughout Lent (Collection box is near the coat racks in the hallway)
Park Place School is sponsoring a fundraiser on Tuesday, March 24 called ‘Eating Out for Education’. Plan now on eating out at one or more of the six participating restaurants that day and a portion of your bill will be donated to the school (see link or posters at church for further details).

Holy Week Preparations:

Holy Week Schedule – please check out our Calendar for dates and times for all the services for this week of weeks.
Palm/Passion Sunday – if you would like to participate in the Multi-voice Passion reading, please contact Nile Gomez (nilegomez@gmail.com)
Maundy Thursday Dinner – if you would like to help with the set-up, food prep, and clean-up for our dinner that night, please contact Nile Gomez (nilegomez@gmail.com)
Easter Lilies– if you would like to contribute towards the purchase of our Easter Lilies this year please make your checks out to CtR and put ‘Easter Lilies’ on the memo line.

Lectionary Readings for Fourth Sunday of Lent:

Numbers 21:4-9; Psalm 107:1-3,17-22; Ephesians 2:1-10; John 3:14-21

Looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

Dear Friends

As the next winter’s snow approaches, I remind us all that spring really is on the horizon! As we near the mid-part of Lent, I also remind us that Easter will soon be here! Let us all ‘run the race with endurance’ confident in the fulfillment of the promises of God.

Let me remind us of some things of note this week:

First, ‘Wisdom and Wonder: Exploring Beauty and Faith for Artists and Amateurs’ begins on Saturday, March 7 at the church beginning at 10:00 am. Please let Emily Zimbrick-Rogers know if you are planning on attending (emilyzimbrickrogers@gmail.com).

Second, our Men’s group meets once again on Saturday (March 7 from 8:30-10:00 am). We will be discussing the eighth chapter of Peter Walker’s book The Jesus Way.

Third, the time changes this weekend! Please remember to set your clocks ahead this Saturday so you can be on time for worship on Sunday.

Lessons for Sunday: Speaking of worship, since we are no longer using iContact for my Reflections, let me tell you what the readings are for this upcoming Sunday, the Third Sunday of Lent.  (Exodus 20:1-17; Psalm 19; 1 Corinthians 1:18-25; John 2:13-22).

Looking forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday. Keep safe and warm this weekend.

Brian Campbell

Dear Friends,

I trust you are having a great Lent so far (the slower pace caused by the snow has been a help to me in this). Here are a few reminders about what is happening this week:

Women’s Retreat takes place this weekend, beginning tonight and running through Sunday morning at Chanco on the James. Please pray for safe travel for the 30+ women who will be attending and for God’s favor and blessing to be upon them (especially Janie Atwood who will be speaking!).

Lenten Helps:
Lenten Resource Table is in the Fellowship Hall. Daily Office, ‘Help’ in crafting your ‘Lenten Discipline’ (never too late to start!); Annotated suggestions for a Lenten book; invitations to the two class offerings.’Listening for God: Learning to Read and Meditate on the Scriptures’ continues this Sunday morning beginning at 9:00 am in the Christian Education Room. All are welcome.

‘Wisdom and Wonder: Exploring Beauty and Faith for Artists and Amateurs’ begins next Saturday, March 7 at the church starting at 10:30 am.

Looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

Brian Campbell

Coming up: March 7 and 14

Have you ever wondered how your Christian walk could be strengthened, deepened, and enriched by spiritual reflection through artistic mediums such as visual art, music, creative writing, or film?

Anyone interested in exploring the relationship between art and faith is invited to participate in two Saturday conversations in March. Those interested may also participate in an optional practical component of creating new art for Good Friday’s meditation on Jesus’ 7 Last Words.

Individuals will read and discuss a few sections from Christine Valters Paintner’s book, The Artist’s Rule: Nurturing your creative soul with monastic wisdom, and Cecilia González-Andrieu’s book, Bridge to Wonder: Art as Gospel of Beauty. Those individuals who are creative artists will be invited to share some of their art with the group. You need not be a visual artist to join us!

You can order the book through Amazon.com using our affiliate link. Visit our Recommended Reading page for more information.

March 7 and 14, 10-11:30 AM; Optional March 21 for collaborative sharing of artwork in progress.

Please RSVP to Emily Zimbrick-Rogers at emilyzimbrickrogers@gmail.com or 312-505-6880.

Please let Emily know if childcare is needed.

Hey Guys

We meet once again on Saturday, February 21. Hank Thompson will share his life story and Michael Stultz will facilitate our discussion on chapter 7 of Peter Walker’s book The Jesus Way: The Essential Christian Starter Kit.

This will be great way to make Lent even better, so plan on joining in the fun and fellowship.

Brian Campbell

Dear Friends

ASH WEDNESDAY: We come at last to the beginning of Lent! For those who can make it safely to church this evening, we will join together in our Ash Wednesday Service beginning at 6:00 pm. (I am at church today and the main roads were decent and the secondary roads passable – at least for this former Canuck). If you cannot be present this evening, I encourage you to take some time at home to consider the great Lenten Invitation:

I invite you, therefore, in the name of the Church, to the observance of a holy Lent, by self-examination and repentance, by prayer, fasting, and self-denial; and by reading and meditating on God’s holy Word.

Ask yourself how you will respond to that invitation this year, and do so prayerfully, intentionally, and expectantly.

LENTEN FAMILY EVENT: We gather as a church family on Saturday, February 21 from 4:00 – 7:00 pm for a time of fun, fellowship and preparation. Bring something to share with others for the pot luck.

LISTENING FOR GOD: Learning to Read and Meditate on the Scriptures’ begins this Sunday morning (and continues for the next 5 Sundays) from 9:00-9:45 am. If you are wanting to learn a simple way of embracing the DailyOffice while ‘listening’ to and for God, then join us in the Christian Ed space next to the Women’s Rest room.

Let’s look forward to a wonderful ‘observance of a holy Lent’, and let’s do so together!

Peace and grace be with us all.

Brian Campbell