September-October 2015 - Christ Church, Cooperstown
Transcription
September-October 2015 - Christ Church, Cooperstown
Christ Episcopal Church, Cooperstown Christ Church Chronicle September-October 2015 Volume XXIII Issue III Exciting Summer of Change and Ministry It was well attended, and well organized by Mike and Laura Page and their team of helpers, including a supply of great food provided by parish cooks! Fr. Matt leads VBS students and families in worship in St. Agnes’ Chapel. This summer has been an exciting time of both change and continued ministry here at Christ Church. While the departure of our well-loved rector was of course felt strongly by the whole parish, the faithful people of the church have come together to continue the work of the church to love and serve Christ and our neighbors. On June 14, we had a wonderful Youth Sunday with a play written by Marly Youmans Miller, “The Great Flood of All the World,” with excellent acting and elocution by our youth and our children dressed as adorable animals. Peg Odell, Derek Ratliff, and other Sunday School teachers and parents led this effort. Our Annual Church Picnic followed. During the picnic we honored Parish Administrator Linda Van Cleef, who has taken a leave of absence for up to a year. On June 22, April Stromberg and Shirley O’Shea stepped in to share Linda’s responsibilities. April is serving as Parish Administrator. Shirley is serving as Communications Director with responsibilities including the weekly bulletins and the Chronicle. April and Shirley have benefited from church volunteers’ help in cleaning and organizing the church, making phone calls, proofreading, printing and folding Sunday bulletins, and more. Two weeks after Linda Van Cleef departed, our rector Fr. Mark Michael celebrated his last service with us on June 29. He was honored with a Farewell Reception on July 1. Over 200 people came to honor Fr. Mark and thank him for his faithful ministry at Christ (Next Page) From the Curate’s Study By Fr. Matt Stromberg My first Sunday at Christ Church was June 1, 2014. On that day we celebrated the life and witness of our founder and first rector, Fr. Daniel Nash. That experience taught me how important understanding where we have come from is to discerning where God is calling us. Rereading my sermon from that day, I found these words, “In every age the task of the Church is to remain faithful to the faith entrusted to them, to cling to it as their one hope, and to point the world to the merit of our crucified savior, Jesus Christ, and the free grace of God to all who have faith in him. Fr. Nash was faithful to his charge…[We too] are called each in our own way to guard and protect this same faith, carrying the torch of the Gospel into the future.” Recently, I began reading a volume of sermons by the Rev. Ralph Birdsall, another former rector of this parish. In these sermons I’ve found a wise and pastoral voice all the more weighty for me because of his connection to our parish and village. Shortly afterwards I conceived the idea to preach those sermons from the pulpit of Christ Church on Friday evenings. I believe the experience of standing in Fr. Birdsall’s shoes has not only given me historical perspective but has also helped me to grow as a preacher and pastor. I’ve felt his presence with me as a kind of invisible companion and mentor. (Next Page) C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE PAGE 2 V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I Summer of Change, Ministry, continued Church. The reception was a outpouring of love and support from the community, with catered hors d’ouvres, gorgeous floral arrangements, and loving bulletin board displays from parish youth celebrating our life as a parish. Fr. Mark, Pr. Allison, Philip, and Peter were sent off with a signed copy of the Cooperstown photo book, a farewell purse, and many cards, letters, and fond wishes. While Fr. Mark has been greatly missed, the work of the gospel has gone on. On July 3, our parish held its Fourth of July outreach. A dozen youth and adult volunteers came to the church the day before to bake cookies and parish volunteers brought in homemade baked goods. Fr. Matt added face painting to our outreach. Over 100 cookies and at least 50 flyers and brochures were handed out to proclaim Christ’s love. ture, nearly 70 volunteers from Christ Church and other area churches were working diligently to create a memorable Vacation Bible School for the children. VBS was held from July 6-10, and 28 children and their families attended. Volunteers created lessons and decorations, hung flyers, cooked dinners, sang their hearts out and served heroically to teach our children that “God’s Plan 4U is Jesus.” On July 5 our church took responsibility for weekly services at the Otsego County Jail for the month. A small team of jail ministry volunteers visited inmates and shared with them the hope of the gospel. Our prayer table continued on Saturdays from Memorial Day to Labor Day. Dozens of Cooperstown residents and visitors received prayer and shared concerns with our prayer warriors. Our tours went on in July and August, and an average of three people per weekend came to learn the church’s history. Our Christian Education programs continued, with our David study, “A Man After God’s Own Heart,” in July and August and a class on Invitation in August and September. Both classes have been well attended, as have Wednesday morning men’s Bible study and our study of the Acts of the Apostles at the Curate’s house. Around the time of Fr. Mark’s depar- During the Baseball Hall of Fame’s Induction Weekend, our volunteers again came out to support the church’s ministry by donating and selling hot dogs, chips and other goodies to some of the 45,000 fans in our town. Over $1,000 was raised to support the Dominican Republic missions trip in February 2016. On Sunday, Aug. 16 we celebrated the baptism of Aurora Chiodo, daughter of Francesco and Halley Chiodo. We also prayed for and honored our graduates as they prepared to head off to college. On Aug. 23, we hosted a “Music Together” preschool event, in which 18 attendees, mostly including visitors sang and danced, and got to know our church. Now preparations are underway for our Fall activities. Meetings are being held for Children and Youth Sunday School, choir rehearsals are starting again, and fall-related outreach events are being planned. None of this work is possible without the faithful ministry of the people of Christ Church who continue to love and serve the Lord here in Cooperstown. From the Curate’s Study, continued Those interested in local history will no doubt be familiar with Birdsall’s wonderful book, The Story of Cooperstown. Birdsall was rector here at Christ Church from January 1, 1902 until his death in September of 1918. Among his many achievements as rector was the founding of this very periodical, The Christ Church Chronicle, which began in the summer of 1905. James Fenimore Cooper, grandson of the novelist, in the forward to The Story of Cooperstown, described Birdsall’s contribution to the community this way, “Rarely does a man in fifteen years become so closely associated with a village and its people, as did Ralph Birdsall with this village and its inhabitants. He came here just at the threshold of the best years of his life, and took up the work of Christ Church parish with enthusiasm and great ability; he grew to love the church and its surroundings; the village, its people and its history and traditions; and in return he won the devoted affection of all those who knew him.” Birdsall was one of just many fine and distinguished men and women who helped to make Christ Church the community it is today. Among them is another rector, W.W. Lord who was an accomplished poet, and whose epic poem “Christ in Hades” is on my reading list with all those James Fenimore Cooper novels I’ve been meaning to get to. Others lived closer to our own day and are still remembered fondly by many members of our Congregation. They in- clude Fae Malania—author of the beautiful book The Quality of a Hazelnut and contributor to our current Book of Common Prayer—and of course Fr. George French who was rector from 1955-1988. Fr. French’s daughter Tiers is still involved in our parish and has kindly leant to me a whole box of her father’s sermons. I have enjoyed browsing through those as well. As we as a church community discern together who we are as a parish, let us remember those who came before us, and seek to be faithful to their legacy. My prayer is that our next rector will continue to feed and enrich this community and village with the everlasting gospel. V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE PAGE 3 Upcoming Events—A Season of Opportunities to Grow Fall Launch Worship Fall is coming to Central NY - mornings seem crisper and gold and crimson foliage will soon appear. Students and teachers are returning to school. It is also a time of new beginnings at Christ Church. The choir returns on Sept. 13. Our Sunday school and Youth Group will resume on Sept. 20 during Back to Church Sunday. I hope you will see our Fall Launch as an opportunity to share with others what excites you about belonging to our Christ Church community and to invite them to “come and see” (John 1:39). Please pray about who you know that you can invite to church. The fall months contain some of the most beautiful and mysterious feasts on the Church’s calendar. At our Sept. 9 Wednesday morning Eucharist we will observe the Nativity of the Virgin Mary. This feast originated in the 5th century to celebrate the Basilica of St. Anne, which was erected on the spot believed to be the home of Mary’s parents, who according to tradition were Sts. On Youth Sunday (June 14), children and young adults performed Marly Miller’s verse play “The Great Flood of All the Anne and Joachim. World,” a retelling of the story of Noah and the ark. In anticipation of Back to Church Sunday, we will reach out to Cooperstown’s students, starting Saturday, Sept. 19, at 9am by bringing flowers to Bassett residents and inviting them to worship with us. If you would like to help us bless the residents please join us. Children and youth are encouraged to participate. We are seeking donations of flowers and vases. This year, in partnership with our Ecumenical Council, we also hope to host a welcoming dinner for the Cooperstown Graduate Program on Friday, Sept. 25 at 6pm. Succeeding Wednesday Eucharists feature other feast observances. Sept. 16 is Holy Cross Day. According to legend, the true Cross of Christ was uncovered by St. Helena and was brought for consecration to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on Sept. 14, 335 A.D. Holy Cross Day is a time to glorify the Cross by which Christ purchased our Salvation. Sept. 23 is the Feast of St. Matthew. Matthew, a tax collector named Levi, was called by Jesus to be one of His Twelve Apostles. Sacred tradition names him as author of the first Gospel. Sept. 30 is the Feast of St. Michael and All Angels. Falling near the equinox, this day is associated with the beginning of autumn and the shortening of days. St. Michael is the greatest of all Archangels (Jude 9) and is Ben Miller, Phillip Michael and Xander Dickey get ready to play honored for his balloon stomp at the Parish Picnic on June 14. role in defeating Lucifer during the War in Heaven (Rev. 12). On Oct. 28 are the Feasts of Saint Simon and Jude. Little is known about St. Simon the Zealot but he is named in all the synoptic Gospels as being among the 12 Apostles. St. Jude, also named among the 12 Apostles, is usually identified as the same person as Thaddeus and Jude the brother of the Lord and author of the Epistle that bears his name. Tradition suggests that Simon and Jude went together as missionaries to Persia and were martyred there. St. Francis of Assisi Sunday, Oct. 4 is the Feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, known as the patron saint of animals for the kindness and Please see page 5 PAGE 4 C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I From the Music Director’s Bench By John Cannon It has been a wonderful summer musically at Christ Church. We had excellent soloists from both the Glimmerglass Young Artists Program as well as members of the church and community. Also, in early August the church hosted Katie Lewek, one of the leads of the opera Candide, as she prepared for a performance of Berlioz’s Benvenuto Cellini this fall in Barcelona. This fall I will be travelling to both the east and west coasts for several concerts. Of particular note is a September 11 memorial organ recital at National City Christian Church in D.C. Our choir returns to sing beginning on September 13. On October 11, the choir will sing a service of Choral Evensong for the Feast of St. Luke’s. I hope to see you there! Music director and organist John Cannon with guest soloist Steve Carroll, who performed at 10 am worship on July 19. VBS focuses on wonders of creation and God’s love By Shirley O’Shea Christ Church hosted this year’s Cooperstown Ecumenical Vacation Bible School from July 6-10, with 28 children attending and 62 volunteers, including 11 teens, participating in the programming. The curriculum, “Son Spark Labs,” combined science investigations and principles with a survey of God’s creation of the universe and man, man- kind’s separation from God through disobedience and sin, and God’s redemption of humanity through the sacrifice of his Son. Children in grades K-6 observed science demonstrations, made crafts, and received instruction in God’s plan for the world and for them. Students and families ate dinners provided by participating churches before going to the chapel for an introduction by Fr. Matt. Then attendees enjoyed singing and entertaining instruction provided Paul Dickey and Becca Odell got big laughs in their wild and goofy science demonstrations at VBS. Helpers make VBS decorations with a science theme. by a wacky science professor, aka Paul Dickey, and his common sense assistant, our own Becca Odell. BOCES science educator Peter Pollock, aka Mr. Science, performed demonstrations which engaged the children. The natural world is filled with wonder, and a reflection of the nature of the Creator, and as one of the VBS teachers, I hoped to help the children make this connection. Children gave donations to support Holy Cross School in Grahamstown, South Africa, and a total of $169.69 was collected. Both children and their families seemed excited about the program, and the children seemed to be genuinely engaging with their faith. C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE PAGE 5 V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I Upcoming events, continued compassion he is known to have shown them. We will have a service at 2pm at the Susquehanna Animal Shelter, 4841 St. Hwy. 28. to remember God’s love and care for all his creatures. There will be free St. Francis collar medals for all pets and refreshments will follow for both twoand four-footed servants of God. Please bring a leash for your animal friends. If your pet is unable to attend, feel free to bring a picture. Sunday, Oct. 18 we will honor The Feast of St. Luke the Evangelist with an Evensong at 5pm. Tradition names him as the author of the third Gospel and the Acts of the Apostles. Scripture describes him as “the beloved physician” (Col. 4:14). His feast is an appropriate time to honor and bless our community’s medical professionals. This is a great opportunity to invite your own physician or friends in medical fields to come to church! This year our speaker will be Dr. Patricia Mower who will speak about the intersection between her Christian faith and vocation as a physician. Medical professionals are invited to bring their bags, badges, or other equipment for blessing. Saints, on which we honor the whole company of the great cloud of witnesses who inspire us with their heroic faith. The following day is All Souls Day in which we remember and pray for all the faithful departed. Former curate at Christ Church and Cannon, Fr. Paul Hunter, will join us for a Requiem mass at 5:30pm to remember and pray for those we love but see no longer and all who have departed this life. This is an especially appropriate time to reach out to family and friends who are grieving as well as a time to seek solace from our own grief. Adult Education Beginning Thursday, Sept. 24 we are excited to present the six-part documentary The History of Christianity: The First Three Thou- sand Years with acclaimed author and Oxford history professor Diarmaid MacCulloch. Bring a lunch and join us on a journey from the earliest days of the Christian Church to the present and into the future. MacCulloch paints a unique global vision of Christianity ranging from Jerusalem, Rome, Baghdad, and China. The series originally aired on the BBC in 2009 and received very positive reviews. We will meet in the Parish Hall on Thursdays at noon. A brief discussion period will follow. Invite your history buff friends and neighbors! - Fr. Matt Roxie Hansel and Kathy Lloyd offer compassionate concern and heartfelt prayers to passersby in front of the Parish Hall this summer. Sunday, Nov. 1 is the Feast of All Stephen Ministers: Support in life’s challenges By Anita High Why is Stephen Ministry a huge asset for Christ Church to have? Our pastor is often the first person someone calls when they suddenly are involved in one of life’s challenges (illness, hospitalization, divorce, loss of a job, death of a loved one, etc.). Considering the number of people in our congregation who might need care all at one time, our pastor cannot possibly provide ongoing quality care to each of these individuals. That is why a Stephen minister can be a wonderful solution. When our pastor must go on and help the next emergency, a Stephen Minister can walk along side a person after the crisis, giving Christ- centered care as long as needed. The relationship is male to male or female to female and is strictly confidential. The Stephen Minster listens, prays and cares for their care receiver, never making any judgments about the situation. It is a comforting thought to know that someone is waiting to care for you when one of life’s challenges hits. Another way Stephen Ministry is an asset to Christ Church is the opportunity for members of our congregation to train and become a Stephen Minister. A good candidate is emotionally stable, spiritual, dependable, trustworthy and has a caring attitude and manner. Once accepted as a trainee, you enter into an intense training program which in- cludes several books to read and fifty hours of classroom instruction. During this time you grow in your understanding of yourself, bond very closely with your fellow trainees and acquire the skills to give Christ-centered care to a care receiver. If Stephen Ministry sounds like something you might need in your life, please contact Fr. Matt, Mary Bellew, Anita High or David Vaules. If your need is help in dealing with one of life’s challenges, we are ready to offer care. If your need is to find a meaningful ministry to share your talents, we encourage you to join us in a new class that will begin this fall. V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE PAGE 6 Children and their families enjoyed music in fun new ways at the Preschool Music Together event Aug. 23. Fr. Matt performs the baptism of Aurora Chiordo, daughter of Francesco and Halley Chiordo, on Sunday, Aug. 16. New Consecration Sunday: It’s really about gratitude and faith By Stewardship Committee, Peggy Hymers, Chairwoman many things: enter into the joy of thy Lord.” As you probably know, our budget at Christ Church is based on the amount our people pledge to give. But congregations that approach financial stewardship from a biblical perspective do not view the money Christians give to their church merely as a way to pay its bills and fund its programs. Rather, such congregations see financial contributions as a way to help people grow spiritually in their relationship with God by supporting their church’s mission and ministry with a percentage of their incomes. New Consecration Sunday is based on the biblical philosophy of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual development, rather than on the need of the church to receive. Instead of treating people like members of a social club who should pay dues, we will treat people like followers of Jesus Christ who want to give unselfishly as an act of discipleship. Looking at our giving to the Church in terms of the needs of the church, parish, or congregation, we short-change ourselves. We fail to give, do, and be all that we can. If we see stewardship as a thank offering similar to prayer for the great mercy and bounty poured forth by the Almighty into each of our lives, and that all that we have and all that we are comes from Him, in stewardship we are being a conduit for those gifts given to us. Stewardship allows us to share our good fortune with our neighbors. In Matthew 25:21 we are told, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over New Consecration Sunday encourages people toward proportionate and systematic giving in response to the question, “What percentage of my income is God calling me to give?” During morning worship on Consecration Sunday, we are asking our attendees and members to make their financial commitments to our church’s missionary, benevolent, and educational ministries in this community and around the world. Every attendee and member who completes an Estimate of Giving Card does so voluntarily by attending morning worship on Consecration Sunday, 25 October 2015. We urge people to attend who feel strongly opposed to completing a card. The procedure is done in such a way that no one feels personal embarrassment if he or she chooses not to fill out a card. We will do no home solicitation to ask people to complete cards. We will conduct a brief period of instruction and inspiration, climaxed by members making their commitments as a confidential act of worship. We urge you as you consider your gift this year to think not in terms of the parish’s need for funding, but in terms of our own need to make a thank offering to Him who has given each of us so much. Thanks in advance for your enthusiastic participation in Consecration Sunday events. PAGE 7 V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE Vestry seeks diligently for Christ Church’s new rector The Vestry would like to report to you on the progress being made in the search for our new Rector. Firstly and most importantly, we wish each of you to know that while we cannot tell you the names or details of the persons under consideration (we are prohibited by the diocese from divulging their names or any other information that could identify them), we welcome and encourage your questions, comments, and concerns on this and all other aspects of parish life. The past few months have been extremely busy for your wardens and vestry. We have met on two occasions with Beth Strickland, Director of the Diocesan Office of Clergy Deployment. Fr. Mark’s announcement was surprising and distressing to most of us, but as a husband and father he must consider the needs of his family. We are all grateful to the Almighty for the joy and growth he brought to each and every one of us. We expect, based on the average length of the search process for a search and call to require 12 to 14 months. We have had two members of the vestry resign to answer other calls on their time, and we remain grateful to them for their service and efforts on the parish’s behalf. Fr. Matt has grown and blossomed during the past two months. By God’s grace, he has grown to fill the need presented. Fr. Matt has agreed to remain and will be assuming many more duties and responsibilities. We are extremely blessed in that there are no divisions within the parish to heal. Fr. Mark left the congregation whole, strong, and unified. The vestry has unanimously chosen to skip the process of calling an interim rector and concentrate our efforts on the search and call for a new permanent rector. We pray that the Holy Spirit will guide the thoughts and actions of each of us. In the coming months you will be asked to help us by completing a survey similar to the survey you completed in 2006, during the search that called Fr. Mark. We will also be completing a parish profile to inform prospective candidates of who we are and what we desire of them. This will be sent to priests who express an interest in being considered for the post of rector. Adult Education to focus on the Trinity Rose Craig and Kathy Jagels sell hot dogs and other delicacies to passersby for the Baseball Fall of Fame Induction weekend fundraiser. A new class “Three Persons, One God” will begin on September 20th at our 9am Sunday school class will explore the absolute uniqueness of the God we worship as Christians. Too often Christians see the Trinity as a kind of mind-puzzle or merely as an obscure topic for theologians, but this profound mystery is at the very heart and soul of what it means to be a Christian. What does it mean to say that God is Father, Son, and Holy Spirit? Do Christians worship three Gods? How does knowing God as Trinity impact our spiritual life? These questions and more will be ad- Once vetted by Bishop Bill Love, we will review the resumes of these candidates and compile a short list of three to five candidates. Please be patient with us and with the process, as all of this will take time. The Vestry is not saying to you to sit back and be quiet. On the contrary, please ask questions and voice your concerns to us. As in previous searches, other than the names of the candidates and where they now serve, we will share with you all that we can. Your input is of paramount importance to this process. We will make this choice together. Each of us asks for your prayers for Fr. Matt, the wardens, vestry, congregation, our families and Fr. Mark in his new ministry. May the abounding love that flows forth from the Throne of the Almighty wash over each of us, aid us to set aside our prejudices and preconceptions; fill us with His abiding love; and guide us to discern His will and find the priest whom He has planned to shepherd us. Thank you, Your vestry dressed as we explore the Biblical, spiritual, historical, and theological bases for the Doctrine of the Trinity. All are welcome. Photograph of St. Agnes Chapel’s steeple courtesy of Annadale Farms Photography. C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE PAGE 8 Above: Ivy Bischof makes cookies for our July 4th outreach. Right: Kamryn, Juliet, Nicole, and Emily bag the cookies. V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I Opposite page: Father Mark poses with Avery Koffer and Clayton Carpenter on their baptism day. To the right Linda Van Cleef smiles at her going away party. From Father Matt’s Bookshelf Mindscape: What to Think About Instead of Worrying is a wonderful book written by Professor of Practical Theology at Westminster Theological Seminary Dr. Timothy Z. Witmer, which explores the ways in which our habitual patterns of thoughts impact our spiritual and emotional well being. It is not a tome on cognitive or behavioral theory, nor is it self-help pop psychology, but rather a biblical and practical guide for everyday people struggling with the anxieties of life. Dr. Witmer brings his more than 37 years of pastoral ministry—as well as his expertise as a seminary professor teaching the art of pastoral care to others—to guiding his readers, chapter by chapter, through a real world application of Phillipians 4:8, “Brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.” Along the way he offers helpful illustrations and case studies from his life in ministry. Dr. Witmer, or “Pastor Tim,” as I know him, served as the pastor of Crossroads Community Church (PCA), the church where I grew up, and where my family still worships today. I always found him to be a warm and generous person as well as a gentle shepherd of souls. Reading this book, I felt as if I was having a personal conversation with him in his study. I believe you all will find it as helpful and edifying as I did! St. Michael Vanquishing Satan is a painting by the Italian High Renaissance painter Raphael. Completed in 1518 PAGE 9 C HR I S T C HU R C H C HR O NI C LE V O LU M E X X I I I I S S U E II I An Excerpt from The Protoevangelium of James ( About AD 145) And gazing towards the heaven, Ana saw a sparrow's nest in the laurel, and made a lamentation in herself, saying: Alas! who begot me? and what womb produced me? because I have become a curse in the presence of the sons of Israel, and I have been reproached, and they have driven me in derision out of the temple of the Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not like the fowls of the heaven, because even the fowls of the heaven are productive before Thee, O Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not like the beasts of the earth, because even the beasts of the earth are productive before Thee, O Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not like these waters, because even these waters are productive before Thee, O Lord. Alas! to what have I been likened? I am not like this earth, because even the earth bringeth forth its fruits in season, and blesseth Thee, O Lord. And, behold, an angel of the Lord stood by, saying: Anna, Anna, the Lord hath heard thy prayer, and thou shalt conceive, and shall bring forth; and thy seed shall be spoken of in all the world. And Anna said: As the Lord my God liveth, if I beget either male or female, I will bring it as a gift to the Lord my God; and it shall minister to Him in holy things all the days of its life. And, behold, two angels came, saying to her: Behold, Joachim thy husband is coming with his flocks. For an angel of the Lord went down to him, saying: Joachim, Joachim, the Lord God hath heard thy prayer Go down hence; for, behold, thy wife Anna shall conceive. And Joachim went down and called his shepherds, saying: Bring me hither ten she-lambs without spot or blemish, and they shall be for the Lord my God; and bring me twelve tender calves, and they shall be for the priests and the elders; and a hundred goats for all the people. And, behold, Joachim came with his flocks; and Anna stood by the gate, and saw Joachim coming, and she ran and hung upon his neck, saying: Now I know that the Lord God hath blessed me exceedingly; for, behold the widow no longer a widow, and I the childless shall conceive. And Joachim rested the first day in his house. And on the following day he brought his offerings, saying in himself: If the Lord God has been rendered gracious to me, the plate on the priest's forehead will make it manifest to me. And Joachim brought his offerings, and observed attentively the priest's plate when he went up to the altar of the Lord, and he saw no sin in himself. And Joachim said: Now I know that the Lord has been gracious unto me, and has remitted all my sins. And he went down from the temple of the Lord justified, and departed to his own house. And her months were fulfilled, and in the ninth month Anna brought forth. And she said to the midwife: What have I brought forth? and she said: A girl. And said Anna: My soul has been magnified this day. And she laid her down. And the days having been fulfilled, Anna was purified, and gave the breast to the child, and called her name Mary. (Roberts-Donaldson translation) 4:45-Evng Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, Curate’s House 1 8-Morning Prayer Tue 2 Martyrs New Guinea 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer Wed 24 8-Morning Prayer 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Bible Study 1 8-Morning Prayer 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Bible Study 23 St. Matthew Obsvd 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 4:45-Evening Prayer 10-Sisters in Christ 7:30-Vestry Meeting 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Pray- 8-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer er 7-Choir Rehearsal 30 St. Michael and All Angels Observed 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 10-SIC, 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 7-Choir Rehearsal 28 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 12-Eucharist 4:45-Evng Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, Curate’s House 27Pentecost XVIII 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 9-Adult Sunday School 10-Eucharist 10 Children-Youth Sunday School 29 8-Morning Prayer 4-The Lord’s Table 4:45-Evening Prayer 8-AA Meeting 22 8-Morning Prayer 21 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 12-Eucharist 20Pentecost XVII “Back to Church” 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 9-Adult SS, 10Eucharist , 10 Youth Sun School, 12-Potluck, 6-Yth Grp 16 Holy Cross Day Observed 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 7-Choir Rehearsal 15 8-Morning Prayer 4-The Lord’s Table 4:45-Evening Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, 4:45-Evening Pray- Curate’s House 8-AA Meeting er 7:30-AA Meeting 9-Building and Grounds Comm. 5 Sat 12 7:30-AA Meeting 7:00 Youth Ministry Brainstorming 9:00-3:00 Jail Ministry 4:45-Evening Pray- Workshop er 11 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Pray- 10-Prayer Table er 4 8-Morning Prayer Fri 3 7:30-AA Meeting 26 7:30-AA Meeting Fall Rummage Sale 4:45-Evening Pray- Fall Rummage Sale er 2 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer 25 8-Morning Prayer 17 8-Morning Prayer 18 19 7:30-AA Meeting 8-Morning Prayer 12-Invitation Class 9:00 Flowers for Bas1:30 - Women’s Bible sett Residents Study 4:45-Evening Pray7-Stephen Ministers er 8-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 14 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 10 8-Morning Prayer 12-Invitation Class 13 Pentecost XVI 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 9-Invitation Class 10-Choral Eucharist 8 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer 12-Invitation Class 3 8-Morning Prayer Thu 7 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 9 Nativity of Mary Observed 6-Men’s Bible Study 4:45-Evening Prayer 8-Morning Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, 8:30 Eucharist Curate’s House 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Pray4:45-Evening Prayer er 8-AA Meeting Mon 6 Pentecost XV 7:30-MP, 8-Eucharist 10-Choral Eucharist Sun Sept-Oct 2015 19 8-Morning Pray- 20 8-Morning Prayer er 4-The Lord’s Table 12-AA Meeting 12 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 13 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, Curate’s House 4:45-Evening Pray- 8-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, Curate’s House 6 8-Morning Prayer Tue 26 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 27 8-Morning Prayer 7 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 10-Sisters in Christ 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 7-Choir Rehearsal 14 Sml Isaac Jsph Scherereschewsky 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 10-Sisters in Christ 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 21 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 10-Sisters in Christ 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 7-Choir Rehearsal 28 Saints Simon and Jude Observed 6-Men’s Bible Study 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 10-Sisters in Christ 12-AA Meeting Wed 4:45-Evening Prayer 4:45-Evening Pray- 7:30-Acts Study, Curate’s House er 8-AA Meeting 4 3 2All Souls Day 1All Saints Day 6-Men’s Bible Study 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 8-Morning Prayer 8-Morning Prayer 8-MP 8:30-Eucharist 9-Adult Sunday School 12-AA Meeting 4:45-Evening Prayer 10-Sisters in Christ 10-Eucharist, 10-Children-Youth SS 4:45-Evening Pray- 7:30-Vestry Meeting 12-AA Meeting 8-AA Meeting er 4:45-Evening Prayer 5-Requiem Mass 7-Choir Rehearsal 25 Pentecost XXII “New Consecration Sunday” 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 9-Adult Sunday School 10-Eucharist, 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 9-SS, 10-Eucharist, 10-Children-Youth SS, 4:45-Evening Pray- 4:45-Evening Prayer 7:30-Acts Study, 5-St. Luke Evensong er Curate’s House 11 Pentecost XX 7:30–MP, 8-Eucharist 9-Adult Sunday School 10-Eucharist 10-Children-Youth SS, 4-Healing Service 6-Youth Grp 18 Pentecost XXI 5 8-Morning Prayer 12-AA Meeting 4 Pentecost IXX 7:30–MP 8-Eucharist 9-Adult Sunday School 10-Eucharist 10Children-Youth SS, 2-Blessing of Animals 4:45-Evening Pray- Mon Sun 5 8-Morning Prayer 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Bible Study 29 8-Morning Prayer 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Bible Study 15 8-Morning Prayer 10-Blood Mobile 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Study 4:45-Evening Prayer 22 8-Morning Prayer 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Bible Study 9 8-Morning Prayer 8 8-Morning Prayer 12-Church History Class 1:30 - Women’s Bible Study 4:45-Evening Prayer 6 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer 30 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer 23 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer 16 8-Morning Prayer 4:45-Evening Prayer Fri Thu Oct-Nov 2015 7 7:30-AA Meeting 31 7:30-AA Meeting 24 7:30-AA Meeting 17 7:30-AA Meeting 10 7:30-AA Meeting Sat CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 69 Fair Street Cooperstown, New York 13326 Phone: 607-547-9555 E-mail: [email protected] Web: www.christchurchcooperstown.org Curate: Revd. Fr. Matthew R. Stromberg Senior Warden: Peggy Hymers Junior Warden: Paul Hager Clerk: Carolyn Elwell Treasurer: Laura Page Vestry: Antoine Bourbon-Parme, Ed Craig, Bruce Harris, Ron Johnson, Laurie Kearns, Georgia Meeter, David Meves, John Odell, Dick Woodhouse. Nonprofit Organization U.S. Postage Paid Cooperstown, NY Permit No. 34 CURRENT RESIDENT or: On the web: www.christchurchcooperstown.org Thank You! David and Martha Vaules for serving as our delegates at Diocesan Convention. Ted Spencer for taking photos of the building for inBill Waller and Gigi Viek for transporting our visiting surance purposes. bishop Fanuel Manganani. Mike Miller for his help with our display case. All who helped with Youth Sunday, especially Marly Miller for writing our script, and Sunday School Those who volunteered their time at the Lord’s Table teachers Peg Odell, Derek Ratliff, and April Strom- in Oneonta. berg. Those who assisted with services at the county Jail,. All who helped to make our church picnic a success All who contributed food or helped to staff the table at including Mike and Laura Page with set up, Steve the Induction Weekend fundraiser. Ziglar for the many photos, and all who helped with Georgia Meeter, Kristin Ratliff, Julie Ratliff, Carrie set up and food preparation. Southworth, Amanda Lionetti, Nicole Lionetti, and All who helped with Father Mark’s Farewell Party, Linda Lionetti for working to organize our Sunday especially the planning committee Antoine Bourbon- School supply room. Parme, Carol Waller, Laura Page, Georgia Meeter, and Pam Scurry. Pat Spencer, Ed Craig, Nathan Dickey, Irene Parker, and other office volunteers this summer. All who helped with our July Fourth Outreach including Irene Parker, Anita Born, Kamryn Koffer, and the Steve and Sandy Gothard for donating kitchen applimany parishioners who contributed baked goods. ances to the church and to Oaks of Righteousness. Those who staffed the Prayer Table this summer. The countless volunteers who made VBS such a success. All of our summer music soloists.