This just in...

2010-05-12T13:25:00.001-04:00

In the gospel of John, Jesus said “By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (Jn 13:34-35).

The Pastoral Care Team has identified several areas of ministry that need your immediate help! Pastoral Care here at Christ Church is an important ministry with overwhelming need. Jesus established the Church as His own Body. And He organized His own Body in a way that it would be able to minister one to another in love by serving as the hands and feet of Jesus to meet the needs of each individual; spirit, soul, and body. Each of us is gifted and talented by our Lord Jesus through the anointing of the Holy Spirit to serve. I pray that you will read about the areas identified below and pray for the leading of the Holy Spirit to learn how you can become part of the pastoral care in our parish.

Eucharistic Visitation. Christ Church includes among its parishioners, numerous brothers and sisters who can no longer attend worship services on a temporary or even permanent basis. It is important that we leave no one behind as they experience changes in their life’s journey, our parish must reach out and embrace especially those who need us. Eucharistic Visitors are commissioned to bring Holy Communion on a regular and recurring basis to a brother or sister who is shut-in. A typical visit will last about 15 minutes. Our needs are growing as we currently have 7 additional members in need of Eucharistic Visitation.

Sunday Shuttle. Christ Church has several members who can no longer drive, and therefore they are unable to come to church on Sundays. If you have room in your car for one or more additional people, and you would enjoy bringing people to church and back home again after church, this ministry is for you. You will only be asked to bring someone to church who would match your preference for Sunday mornings (i.e., service time, Sunday School, Coffee hour, etc).

Healing Prayer. This is a new ministry at Christ Church. By now I hope you are aware that healing prayer is offered in the chapel beginning about 10am and lasting until 10:50am. We anticipate this to be an important ministry that many will begin to incorporate into their own lives. That being the case, there is a need for additional prayERS who will make themselves available to pray for our brothers and sisters who are in need. Those who serve in this ministry are asked to reserve one recurring Sunday per month to serve.

Three simple, yet urgent ways you can serve in Christ Church beginning right now. If you discern the Holy Spirit leading you to become part of any of these ministries, please contact the church offices (747-3709) and speak to either Maryam or Fr Eric.

Serving in love together,
Fr Eric

Holy Lent...It's time to show up!

2010-01-27T07:30:00.001-05:00

“For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation…truly, my hope is in him.” (from ps 62)

I have a question for you to consider as we approach and enter into the Lenten season. The question is this: Do you wait upon God? Do you? I struggle with this concept. Often times I find myself quite too busy to sit down and wait…to sit down and be silent. Perhaps you are blessed and this is not a struggle for you, but it is for me…and I believe for many others too.

To respond to this dilemma, I want to quote a great mystic theologian. Well, actually not a mystic theologian at all, just Woody Allen who said “90% of life is just showing up”. That may sound irreverent at first glance, but indulge me for a moment.

It isn’t easy you know, just showing up. When I come to prayer each morning, is it important that I say all the right things, or make all the right gestures? I’m not so sure, I think what is really important is that I come to morning prayer. God delights in spending time with us…time that we have set aside, purposed for one reason, and one reason only, and that reason is to talk to our Father. And so, it really is most important that I show up. For God alone my soul in silence waits

While stationed in Germany I had a wonderful chaplain friend who, like me, was an Episcopal priest. We were reflecting on the topic of prayer, and my friend in all seriousness stated that he began each day by having his coffee with the Lord during Morning Prayer. You see, he set that time aside, showed up each morning with his coffee to pray the morning office and talk with our Father. For God alone my soul in silence waits

My encouragement to you this Lenten season is to resolve yourself to meet God each day. Set aside a time each day and wait for God. Select a time and place where there is silence, and you can hear the still small whisper that is the voice of the Holy Spirit speaking to you. Just show up! For God alone my soul in silence waits

Speaking of showing up. To better help each of us regain our focus on Jesus and observe a Holy Lent, I encourage everyone to make it a priority to participate in our Lenten program this year. Here are the important dates and times:

On Ash Wednesday, 17 Feb, Holy Communion and Imposition of Ashes will take place at 7:00am, 12:00 noon and 6:30pm.

On each Wednesday evening in Lent (excluding Ash Wednesday), we will gather for dinner in the parish hall at 5:30pm. Holy Communion and Anointing for Healing will be offered in the church at 6:30pm. At 7:15pm Fr Eric will lead our Lenten study in the Gospel of St John

Thursday mornings in Lent, Holy Communion will be offered at 7am followed by breakfast in the parish hall. Thursday noon-time organ recitals will take place in the church.

“For God alone my soul in silence waits; from him comes my salvation…truly, my hope is in him.”

Praying you have a Holy Lent,
Fr Eric

From Father Eric

This just in...

Holy Lent...It's time to show up!