December 2011 christchurchguilford.org
With the First Sunday of Advent, we begin a new year and a season of preparation.During Advent, our focus is on preparing for the
adventus
-- the coming – of Christ both to fulfill history and within history. At Christ Church, our preparations takeshape in our worship, outreach, stewardship and study.
Preparing in Worship
The Advent Wreath helps us count the four weeks before the coming the new light of Christ in history, at Christmas. We light an additional candle each week, as an in-your-face-gesture against the increasing darkness. The hangings switch to a deepindigo blue -- the color of the night sky just before dawn; the hangings symbolize our hope for new light in our midst. Our prayers, responses and hymns, will help us seek God’s gracious mercy for all our preparations.
Preparing in Outreach
We join our neighbors in celebrating the Tree-Lighting on the Green, by hosting the
Chili Supper, ECW cookiesale, Audrey Moore print sale, and Youth-decorated Wreath Sale
from 5-7p.m. on Friday, December 2. Our witness of hospitality through these events takes a lot of preparation; rather than being a burden, we get to enjoyeach other’s company while working together!The
Mitten Tree
is a way to provide a scarf, hat or mittens to help keep a neighbor warm when temperaturesfall. You may put them on the tree next to the pulpit through Sunday, December 18
th
. As this is written, we arelooking for an opportunity to continue our Angels-Under-the-Balcony tradition; information will beforthcoming in Sunday bulletins and my weekly letter.To prepare for the
Amahl & the Night Visitors
performance on Saturday, December 10 at 7:30pm, we need to
prepare the nave platform one week earlier than usual
. Richard Marvin is looking for able-bodied assistantsto help move and bolt the sections together following worship on December 4
th
. The platform will remain in place until after the Christmas Pageant on December 18
th
.
Preparing through Stewardship
During Advent we will prepare for our financial stewardship of Christ Church during 2012. I hope you havealready received the stewardship invitation to
Continue Building the Ministries of Christ Church,
and I hope
Advent: A Season of Preparation
1
you have begun to prayerfully consider your participation. We are preparing to fund our collective witness andministry primarily from your pledges; former sources from fairs and endowment principal are no longer available. A faithful response from all of us, based on our particular circumstances, is vital.
We hope toreceive pledge cards from as many of us as are able for Commitment Sunday, December 4
th
, and tocelebrate our stewardship preparations on Sunday, December 11
th
.
Of course, all our Advent preparations get caught up in …
Preparing for Christmas!
This year, to better accommodate all who want to celebrate with us, we are going to offer
t
hree services onChristmas Eve and one on Christmas Day.
On Christmas Eve, Saturday December 24th4p.m. – Carol Service
:
A new offering this year – an early service to tell the Christmas story, sing some carols andhave a brief communion. Designed for our youngest parishioners and their families.
5:30p.m.
– Nativity
Eucharist
:
Featuring the Christ Church Choristers, this service will include more carols,readings, a sermon and communion. Note the new time, thirty minutes later this year.
10:00p.m. – Festal Eucharist:
Featuring the Christ Church Choir, this service will include the full set of readings,Christmas hymns and carols, a sermon and Christmas communion.
Christmas Day, Sunday, December 25
th
… will follow the usual Christmas Day schedule: One full service at10a.m., with the choir participating. Given the lateness of the previous evening’s celebrations, an 8a.m. service will
not
be offered December 25th.I look forward to all of our preparations through worship, service and stewardship for our life together in the new light of Christ.A Blessed Advent to you and yours,Harrison+
Your Friendly Neighborhood Rector
2
News from the Finance Committee
As of the end of October, the finances at our church don’t look terribly grim, but we should be a bit concernedwith our status. While our pledge income has been exceeded year-to-date by $5,500, we are still showing a
striking deficit
in the amount that we had budgeted based upon historical income that we have received in the past
from “Non
-
Pledged Givers.”
These are members of the parish who have given financially to the parish but have decided not to complete a pledge card for the year.Our budget expectation year-to-date as of the end of October for this income was $46,085. So far we have onlyreceived $12,904, our deficit being $33,181!!! We have been very prudent in expenses, and, in spite of such alarge deficit in expected income, we are showing in our net income a loss of $8,462. Our volunteer bookkeeper has been very creative about paying out expenses, and for that we should be enormously grateful!However, the end of the year is fast approaching…Where your heart is, your treasure will be there also…If anyone has a specific question about our finances at Christ Church, please feel free to contact me at any time.--Bob Donahue,
Treasurer
So What’s With This So
-
called Funding Transition?
In the stewardship invitation, “Let’s Continue Building the Ministries of Christ Church,” and in other places,you have read that we are experiencing a transition in the sources for our funding. Former sources no longer provide what they once did; these sources include a parish fair, fundraisers, the endowment principal, specialappeals, and community group contributions for using our space. Some of these reflect our situation at ChristChurch: there is no unrestricted endowment left to draw upon, and two community groups – Tabor Arts andthe English as a Second Language program – have consolidated their offerings elsewhere. Oh, and then there’sthe fact that YFNR believes that special appeals should be limited to supporting Outreach and Youth activities.That said, every parish of which I have been a member has been experiencing this transition. It is part of thechanging roles of men and women in the Church. There was a time when parish vestries, composed only of men, generally raised the money for buildings, maintenance, and staff compensation. Women’s organizationstypically saw to the funding of programs and furnishings through bazaars, consignment and rummage sales,fairs, and thrift shops. To be candid, sometimes the efforts of the women’s groups were so successful that inone parish the rector-emeritus would say, “This church was built by women in hats carrying tuna-noodlecasseroles in gloved hands!” And in another, a rector regularly thanked the women of the parish for paying therectory’s mortgage. Now, the distinction between “women’s work” and the responsibilities of men has disappeared from parish life.Women and men serve together on vestries; we work together on issues of property, operations, staffing, and programming. Many parishes – including those referenced above – no longer have women’s groups. Wherethey remain, such as our own Episcopal Church Women, they have adopted a more specialized focus onfellowship, spiritual growth, service, and/or outreach.Yes, some congregations continue to have fund-raising events; these events are successful when they extendand reflect the character and ministries of the parish. One day that may happen again here, but my hunch isthat it would be dedicated to a particular ministry. So, the transition continues. That is why we need more of us who support the ministries of Christ Church to provide a pledge, and for all who pledge to prayerfullyconsider increasing their estimate of giving for 2012.It would help your Vestry prepare for 2012 to receive your pledge on or before Sunday, December 4. Together,let’s continue building the ministries of Christ Church!Harrison West+
3
Uganda Presentation
after co
f
ee hour on Sunday November 6.
Cindy McNamarapresents photos and information from her fellowship in Uganda. She was awarded a Scholarship totravel to Uganda and participate in medical education and patient care at Mulago Hospital.
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