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)