Category: Weekly Update

Dear Friends

Just a few things to note before the holiday rush:

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. I pray that whether you are travelling or celebrating from home that this season will be blessed and safe for all. I pray that the ‘peace of God which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds (and your homes) in Christ Jesus.’

Advent begins on Sunday. We begin another year this week centering liturgically on the Gospel of Mark. As in the past, we begin our Advent services with the ‘Lighting of the Advent Candles’. Please do your best to be on time for worship, seated and centered in God’s presence prepared for the beginning of the service.

‘Park Place School Christmas Project’: Sunday, November 30 is the deadline for bringing the supplies for the students into the church. The Sunday School children will be organizing the ‘gift bags’ during the service and the bags delivered to the school shortly thereafter.

Pledges for 2015: In our Membership Covenant we commit to ‘give joyfully, sacrificially and proportionally, using the Biblical tithe as our standard’. I encourage all of us to be intentional in this endeavor and to honor our Leadership Council’s request to inform us of your ‘intentions’. Please return your Pledge Card by Sunday December 7.

God’s peace and grace be with us all.

—
Brian Campbell

Rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Here’s what’s going on at Christ the Redeemer this week:

PEARUSA’s NETWORK RETREAT near Harrisonburg  starts this evening and runs through Saturday. Please pray for the 8 members of CtR who will be attending the event and for Bishop Steve Woods who will be the guest speaker. This is a great chance to learn from and to network with others in our movement.
ADVENT INTER-GENERATIONAL FAMILY EVENT takes place on Saturday, November 22 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  Please bring something to share for dinner and a desire to have some fun while preparing for our Advent Season.
PARK PLACE SCHOOL CHRISTMAS GIFT – We have chosen to supply the 34 students at Park Place School with new school supplies for the next term. If you have not yet signed up to help, you can do so this Sunday (sheets are on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall). All supplies need to be dropped off at the church by Sunday November 30.
CtR’s ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING is scheduled for Sunday December 7 immediately following worship. We will begin with a Pot Luck Lunch and then celebrate what God has done for us and through us and in us in 2014 and look ahead with anticipation to 2015.  Please remember that if you wish to nominate someone for Leadership Council, the deadline is Sunday November 30 (Nomination must be in writing with the permission of the member being nominated).
NEW MEMBERS CLASS ‘Q & A’ takes place this Sunday, November 23 beginning at 8:45 am.
Have a great week.

Brian Campbell

Rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Dear Friends,

Here are some of the things you need to be aware of this week:

PEARUSA Mission Fund Offering: Every year PEARUSA (the Missionary Jurisdiction of the Anglican Church of Rwanda in the USA – our parent organization) asks all of its churches to take a one-time offering to support our efforts to extend church planting initiatives beyond the scope of our existing networks. This Sunday we will all have the chance to give to this effort for 2015. We will supply envelopes in the bulletin this week for this offering. Please prayerfully consider your response to this request and come joyfully this Sunday to fulfill it.

Annual General Meeting has been set for Sunday December 7 after worship. We will begin with a Pot Luck Lunch and then celebrate what God did through us and for us in 2014 and consider what God is asking of us in 2015. All are welcome and encouraged to come.

Nomination Process for Leadership Council. We have a six-member Leadership Council at CtR. Every year two members rotate off the council and two members are elected to serve a three year term on the council. Every year the Leadership Council proposes a slate of two members, and then the membership is invited to add to the list as they are led by God. This year Pete Fraser and Charles Zimbrick-Rogers have been nominated by the Leadership Council. If you would like to nominate someone in addition to these two, please do so in writing – with the person’s permission- by Sunday, November 30. Nominations can be sent to the office or handed to any of the existing Council members.

Advent Family Event takes place on Saturday, November 22 beginning at 6:00 pm. We gather 3 – 4 times a year as a ‘Family’ to have some fun together and prepare for the season at hand. Advent starts November 30 and this event will help all of us get ready for a wonderful season. Sign-up sheets for the meal can be found on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall.

Sunday School Christmas Project. This year the Sunday School has decided to serve Park Place School this Christmas by encouraging all of us to help fill ‘School-Supply Gift Bags’ for the 34 students. The list of supplies needed may be found on the bulletin board in the Fellowship Hall. The deadline for bringing the supplies into the church is Sunday, November 30. This will be a fun and easy way of supporting the ministry at the school.

Looking forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.

—
Brian Campbell

Rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Dear Friends

The Church’s year is fast coming to a close (Advent begins on November 30!) and there is much happening within and around the church. Let me bring some to your attention:

Home & Study Group Leaders meet after worship on Sunday, November 9. I mention this for two reasons; one, to remind all leaders of the meeting and two, to remind all of us that we have nine groups meeting at different times and for a variety of reasons that are open for more members. If you have not yet found a ‘family’ at CtR – that group of 12 that will live life with you- then please ask for help and we will gladly find one for you.

Visit to ‘Five Loaves Food Pantry’ in Newport News. Jennifer Brown is leading this venture of ministry and service on Tuesday, November 11 from 9:30 am to 1;00 pm. Brother Tim runs this ministry that feeds the homeless and we will have the chance to learn about his work while participating in it. Lunch will be provided. We gather at the Food Pantry at 9:30 am (housed in Olivet Christian Church, 14425 Old Courthouse Way, Newport News, VA 23608).

Men’s Group meets again on Saturday November 15 at 8:30 am. This group is open to all men associated with the church. Even though we are working our way though a book (Peter Walker’s The Jesus Way) we encourage to come as you are able (We meet on the 1st and 3rd Saturdays of each month).

PEARUSA Mission Sunday takes place on Sunday November 16. Each year, on one Sunday of the year, all PEARUSA churches are invited to participate in an offering for PEARUSA’s National Church Planting Reserve. The funds raised will be used for the expansion of the church beyond the capacities of our networks and regions. More information will be found in the bulletin this week.

Advent Community Event takes place on Saturday, November 22 beginning at 6:00 pm. Three to four times a year we gather as an extended family for food, fun and fellowship centered on the Seasons of the Church’s year. Advent begins on Sunday November 30 and this event will help us all – singles and families- prepare ourselves for it.

Annual General Meeting has been set for Sunday December 7 immediately after worship. We will begin with lunch and then celebrate what God did in and through us in 2014 and anticipate where God will lead us in 2015. All are welcome.

Looking forward to worshiping with you all on Sunday.

Peace be with you.
—
Brian Campbell

Rector of Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Dear Friends

Here is what you need to know this week:

Dear Friends

Dear Friends

On this first day of the month we look forward to a great weekend together. Here is what you need to know (and to respond to as needed) this week:

Exploring Membership at CtR:   Our New Members’ Class begins this Sunday with dinner at our home (1019 Manchester, Norfolk VA 23508 from 5;00 pm to 8;00 pm). If you have not yet responded to the invitation and would like to participate in the class (and the dinner!) would you kindly RSVP by Friday afternoon at the latest (just ‘respond’ to this email).

Men’s Group this Saturday (8:30 – 10:00 am):  Our Men’s group begins again this Saturday and we plan on meeting on the First and Third Saturdays of the month through December. Our focus will be on Peter Walker’s book, The Jesus Way (but you do not need to have the book to come on Saturday).

Ministry Fair on Sunday after Worship:  All of us have been gifted by God and designed to ‘serve’ for the ‘common good’.  If you have not yet found your place of service within Christ the Redeemer you will have a chance to speak with the various ministry leaders among us during coffee hour after worship.

Network Retreat (November 20-22): Just a reminder that if you are considering attending our Network retreat in November (outside of Harrisonburg, VA) the deadline for the ‘early bird’ price is October 15. Pick up a brochure on Sunday or contact Cheryl in the office (ctrsec@gmail.com or 757-226-8700).

Sermon Series on Philippians:  We continue with our study of Philippians this week by looking at one of the greatest sections of the New Testament – Philippians 2:5-11. Take a moment this week and read prayerfully this powerful text and come prepared to engage with it in worship on Sunday.

Have a great and glorious week.
Brian Campbell

Dear Friends

I have some good news and another prayer request for you tonight. First, the good news is that Mia Mabrey went home to day with her mother and father (Mike and Allison). Thank you for praying for her these past few days. Give thanks to the Father for his grace towards this beautiful young child and family.

The prayer request is for Charles Jenkins. Charles has been working hard on his recovery from major surgery last month but has now developed many blood clots in his left leg. He will undergo a procedure tomorrow morning to counteract the clots.  The surgeons have high hopes for the procedure but know that every one has its downside. Please pray that God’s will be done for Charles in and through the medical action; and that he and Carolyn know the gracious presence of God in and through it all.

Can I also ask that those who are contemplating participating in our New Members’ Exploration Class inform me by Sunday of their intentions. We begin with dinner at our home on Sunday October 5.

Looking forward to worshiping with you on Sunday.

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

Brian+