Word made Flesh© Tim Jutsum 2005
Lamb of God ©David Jutsum 2017
And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth...No one has ever seen God. It is God the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known.
Baptism of Jesus © James He Qi http://www.heqiart.com
Editor note:
Sermon at Calvary Episcopal Church, January 8, 2017, baptism of Elijah James Marble
The Rev’d Steven T. Metcalfe
“And in the temple of the Lord, all are crying, ‘Glory’”. How could we help but sing “Glory” when we allow our true, God given selves to shine in the shadows of worldly ignorance? We cry “glory” today because here and throughout the Christian world we celebrate the “coming out”, so to speak, of the savior Jesus Christ. Following in the footsteps of his Messianic enlightenment in baptism, we celebrate the baptism of one more precious soul, and maybe thousands throughout the world. Here, Elijah James will be bound to Christ as a brother, an eternal child of God…..As have all of us. So many have sort of let their baptism lapse into routine religiosity-- at best. How perilous it is to let our baptism slip away, ending up as a crumpled slip of paper in the back of that old junk drawer holding its treasure of parking tickets not paid, apologies not sent, and half burned candle stubs. I can’t stress this enough: the world appears to be getting even murkier and more dangerous, signaling the time for this Body of Christ to wake up, “come out” of hiding, be the Glory which engulfs the forces of mayhem.
Inevitably, we think of ourselves as creatures of earth. The product of this reasonable ignorance is obsession with what happens here in our societies. Why would we imagine anything different? Ties to earth are extremely strong. Born into families with other human beings, growing older, having experiences, caring for our bodies, contributing to the goings on in our world, living as an individual being among millions of other beings, it’s difficult to remember we are citizens of heaven. We’re unconsciously taught that “me” is what can be seen, touched, heard, smelled, or tasted. Aren’t we defined mostly as a being “the person” who looks like this or that, thinks certain ways, seems to possess certain characteristics and qualities? Being formed of the earth, these bodies wear out or are damaged, peppering life with pain and loss, as attached as we are.
Life itself seems to chain us to this half-truth about who we are. You and I are more truly spiritual beings, sharing Universal Christ Consciousness, who have been baptized into the life of Christ, who is fully Love incarnate. If we don’t own that, don’t long to have our minds “renewed” in his, as St. Paul puts it, if we cannot pull away from this ego-driven world which unconsciously spawns animosity, hunger for power and treachery of every sort, then our ties to Christ will certainly atrophy.
Holy Baptism is, in earthly terms, quite simple. That’s because to the unopened eye it is only water, prayers, a little oil and a few snapshots. St. John says, “no one has ever seen God.” We cannot, in our physicality, experience The Holy One directly. Whoever surrenders her life to Spirit, which shows up in love, compassion, empathy, forgiveness and acceptance, is guided by the Spirit. God is spirit. Whoever sees Christ in human life has surrendered to the power of this Spirit and also seen God, “In whom we live and move and have our being.” Christ saves by revealing our shared life and welcoming us into eternal life with him in God. That’s what happens in baptism. Sort of. If anyone could adequately translate Spiritual truth into human language, then all the mystery of unseen realities would have long ago been articulated, logged and universally accepted. That has not and will not be possible. What we do have are stories, liturgical drama, prayer and sacraments—instruments of God’s grace.
So, Elijah, by the grace of God, we are given the power to open the door of the spiritual world to you. This is not really a place, but an attitude where love is all powerful. No one wants to hurt another, there are no traps for the unwary, no punishments for the lost. Come through the entrance of the life of grace which calls you to see yourself and others as God does. You will be free to let your heart soar with gratitude for whatever life brings as everything and everyone will be your teacher. You will know you are a precious, loved expression of the divine Self which creates, sustains and inspires. You will also be hungry for wisdom, discerning what is love, what is not empathy, what is compassion, what is forgiveness and what is not accepting. Help us as we will help you not to squander the person you are in a desperate struggle for approval, power over others, and the pitiful pleasure of indulging your whims.
My friends, this morning, pay close attention to the baptismal vows and the renewal of our baptismal covenant. These few words describe how citizens of heaven live in a world determined to lead us to destruction. You are evidence that God still creates human beings, not smart, biological machines. We all want a better world. I do not believe that can be accomplished politically. I know no other way than to intend and welcome personal transformation, to be the person who, for himself, embraces the baptismal covenant as the guide for his life. That is probably all any of us can do. All we can do? Love is the unfathomable creative power of God. That is what all of us can bring to our world to overwhelm the fury of human blindness.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near. Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, beloved, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is pleasing, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence and if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. Keep on doing the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, and the God of peace will be with you.
Philippians 4:8 ff
Wandering toward the Jordan River © V. Jutsum 2017
Baptism of Jesus- Icon
Angels proclaim- M.V. Hill © 1990
Rector's Notes
“For a star to be born, there is one thing that must happen: a gaseous nebula must collapse.
So collapse.
Crumble.
This is not your destruction.
This is your birth.”
Nikka Ursula
I feel so much compassion for the wise men who followed the star. When I was a child, my compassion surfaced as pity. No matter which crèche or nativity seen, I always read them the same: they were sad because the real king was this baby. And they had been told to give away the things that made them so kingly. To give them to the baby. Later in life my compassion surfaced as sympathy. They were the last to make it to the manger. The angels burst open the night sky with song and light for the shepherds, but not for the wise men. Far away from those angel lit skies, the wise men had to study and question all on their own the star that appeared. The slowness of their long journey seemed symbolic of the slowness of their understanding - punishment even, for living inside their heads as astrologers, as scholars.
Midlife opens a new perspective. They are wise because they don’t care about the knowledge they’ve amassed. Maybe at one point in their lives they did, but not now. These old men want to concede their power to the child – they don’t take it personally. They know that in every age there is an old order, and the old order must die to the new – they don’t take this personally, either.
They’ve lived long enough to know that true power is surrender. Surrender of possessions that otherwise possess us, whether those possessions are in our bank accounts or in our heads. They know that every beginning is preceded by an ending, and they are comfortable enough in their own skin to be known in their period of history as “the ending.”
And yet this changing of the guard at the manger will not mean a swift transition into the new order. Laying their crowns at the baby’s manger is not such a big deal. What makes them wise, what makes them stand apart from everyone else, what makes them fit to be kings is how they are willing to live out the rest of their lives as strangers instead of kings. Leaving their crowns with the baby is the easy part. The hard part, the part they came all this way for, is the return journey. They won’t be the same after the manger experience (no one ever is). They won’t fit in. And they probably know that no one back home will listen to them, let alone believe them. There are journeys we make that are the stuff of legends, that are even Biblical in proportion. The journey of the magi, led by the star, is one of them.
But it’s this other journey that fills me with compassion for the magi. It’s not so much that they won’t be the kings they once were but, (in the words of T.S. Elliot) they will live out the rest of their lives “no longer at ease in the old dispensation,” which is a hard way to live. And yet it’s the only life to live if you’ve seen and understood what the wise men have.
Maybe they’ll become prophets.
Ruth+
Light of the Gentiles (Star of Bethlehem) ©T. Jutsum 2004
Gifts of the Magi wood carving- photo credit Stephen Kennedy
Christ Church Music Notes From Stephen
Program Report for Annual Meeting
Submitted to the parish by Stephen Kennedy January 13, 2017
Music Director
Christ Church Rochester
Goals from 2016 (ongoing in 2017)
1. Attract more people to Christ Church through our music program Goal on target
2. Raise the level of musicianship in CC ensembles Goal on target
3. Raise community awareness of our rich and diverse music program Goal on target
4. Foster the education and training of musicians in liturgical music skills Goal on target
5. Engage people from the larger community (non parishioners) to help fund
our music program Goal on target
6. Install professional microphones in the church to record CC Choir,
Youth Ensemble, Consort, CC liturgies, and concerts Not yet reached
7. Provide more opportunities for youth participation and involvement in
Liturgies through music Goal on target
8. Enhance the church’s acoustic in light of the Chancel repair and renovation Goal attained
9. Fundraising to support our parish music program Goal on target
10. Strengthen existing community collaborations and partnerships in music Goal on target
Opportunities for individuals to assist and contribute in our parish music program
1. Compline ushers and Candle-lighters
2. Greeters at Tuesday Pipes to represent the parish
3. Volunteers to help send publicity to media via e-mail
4. Additional Youth Ensemble members
5. Additional Christ Church Choir members
6. People to help set up for Compline following the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist
7. People to assist in searching for grants and grant writing
Detailed information on above stated music program goals:
1. Attract more people to Christ Church through our music program
We are preparing for the population increase of the East End and we want our new neighbors to find clear and irresistible reasons to call Christ Church home. We strive to attract these people through traditional as well as uncommon means. Obviously, music is traditionally integral to our liturgy. However, our program goes much further. It educates, captures the attention of the larger community, provides reasons for outsiders to donate funds to our parish, and collaborates with renowned institutions. Our musically rich and distinctive liturgies, ensembles for all ages, our building and acoustics, our partnership and collaboration with one of the world’s finest music schools, and Eastman’s two internationally significant pipe organs in our sanctuary are the major building blocks of this program.
Compline is perhaps the largest weekly congregation in the Diocese of Rochester. Compline attendance (October through April) from 2013-14 was 4,929. This number grew to 5,274 in 2015-16, and 2016-17 it is continuing the same trend in growth. Compline plate offering (marked for parish general operating income) from October 2015 to April 2016 was $3,630. Pru Kirkpatrick and Vicki McCutchon host fantastic Compline receptions each First Sunday of the month. These receptions provide a meeting place for newcomers, regulars, and musicians to interact and enjoy fellowship. Over the years, we have gained new parish members through their initial attraction to Compline.
Our Tuesday Pipes noon concert series collaboration with Eastman brings about 40-60 people into the Nave each week of the year. Many have become faithful followers of this concert series and some have been attending other parish events and liturgies. This group includes downtown office workers, students, retirees, and a regular contingent of disabled who find the organ and space to be a kind of necessary and uncommon therapy. This series provides an essential and important ingredient in the weekly lives of these attendees. David Hunt greets the public, hands out programs and parish information, schedules tours for groups, answers questions about the church and parish, and I give a welcome address on behalf of Christ Church.
We have also been enhancing avenues of communication with the parish, visitors, and the general public. Deb Vanderbilt and I designed a new “Welcome to Christ Church” flyer, and I designed a new “Christ Church Music” flyer. Both are in full color with lots of photos and information on how to become active in the parish. These flyers are available in the back of the church and in the hallways of the parish house. Vicki McCutchon, Val Jutsum and I have been working on the re-design of the church bulletin boards. You will see more development on these as time progresses. We have a Friends of Music email list with a subscription of 311 people, 540 likes on the Schola Cantorum Facebook site, and 309 likes on the Christ Church Facebook site. Thanks to Pat Kingsley, Deb Vanderbilt, and Val Jutsum, we also communicate with people about parish music activities through our church website and The SONG.
We greatly appreciate everyone’s participation in music at Christ Church. Whether singing a chant or hymn, listening to a prelude or postlude, or honing a motet, we are all celebrating something important together as a family. We are grateful for the support and work of our Rector Ruth Ferguson, Wardens Josephine Dewey and Deborah Vanderbilt, the Vestry, Marianne sickles and Moses Roland.
2. Raise the level of musicianship in CC ensembles
Raising the level of quality in our liturgical music ensembles benefits everyone. Striving to achieve this goal fosters interest and gives people a sense of accomplishment in doing what they love to do: making something beautiful for others. This is a precious gift to give and to receive. Progress and improvement are contagious whether engaging in music performance or through the action of listening. It is clear that the level of musicianship in all CC ensembles has increased over the past few years. This is essential to our education program for musicians, growing parish ensembles, and appropriately adorning our liturgies with the great music of our church traditions. We thank each member of our various parish ensembles for their dedication and commitment to their craft. Our program could not exist without their devotion to our cause and their contributions of time and talent. Beauty feeds the soul.
3. Raise community awareness of our rich and diverse music program
This goal is also important for parish growth. Compline and the Schola Cantorum are extremely popular in the Rochester Community. The Nave is nearly full each Sunday night with diverse people of all ages and faith backgrounds. Jeff Spevak, Arts and entertainment, Staff reporter from the D&C wrote about Compline in his “Resolutions for 2017.” Jeff stated that he is “going to visit places like the Memorial Art Gallery, Artisan Works, Christ Church for the Schola Cantorum Sunday-night Compline, and Kodak Hall at Eastman Theatre for a Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra show. Not because I’m writing a story. But because I just want to go.” Rochester Magazine named Candlelight Concerts & Compline the “coolest, most unusual experience in the city…” The Schola procures community interest for the parish through concerts, recordings, and radio broadcasts. Our Compline Usher and Candle-lighter team made up of: Lucy Alonzo, Patti Blaine, Bruce Blaine, Greg Hammonds, Emily Hammonds, Joan Hunt, Kathryn Jospe, Pru Kirkpatrick, Lydia Kirkpatrick, John Kirkpatrick, Kristy Liddell, Kyle Liddell, Mary Schultz, Sonja Shelton, and Marti St. George is organized by Christopher Huebner. Some of these people also set up for Compline following the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Eucharist. Christopher cares for all the candles and manages the Schola music library and music binders. All of these people are key to making Compline happen at Christ Church. The richness and diversity of our music program enriches our community in vital ways, grows our church, affects students from all over the world who come here to study, and impacts the quality of church music nationally.
4. Foster the education and training of musicians in liturgical music skills
Since about 2007, Christ Church has fostered ministry in liturgical music training. Our Liturgical Music Initiative provides our parish with opportunities to benefit from education grant money such as what we have received over the years from the Episcopal Diocese. In 2012, a bequest from Roy VanDelinder by way of the Rochester Community Foundation enabled us to establish our VanDelinder Fellows Program in collaboration with the Eastman School of Music. This program not only provides “on the job” training for future leaders in church music but also gives our parish unique and distinctive mission. Last year’s VanDelinder Prize winner was Jeremy Jelinek. Jeremy is currently studying in Paris at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse as well as being a student of the School of Gregorian Chant of Paris. He will return to ESM next fall to continue his studies. In the two years before that, Käthe Wright Kaufman was the VanDelinder Prize winner. Käthe is currently the Organ Scholar at Truro cathedral in Cornwall U.K. where she is furthering her studies in sacred music skills. Käthe will return to ESM in the fall. Current Fellows are Jiaqi Shao, Madeleine Woodworth, and Alden Wright. You may read more about them on the church website under VanDelinder Fellows. We can celebrate our parish’s commitment to liturgical music training because it creates lasting change for the betterment of people’s lives. This mission gives enrichment to parishioners and they are encouraged to become champions in providing formation to these young people in the Episcopal Church.
5. Engage people from the larger community (non parishioners) to help fund our music program
We are attracting donors from outside the parish to help fund program goals. In May of 2015, friends at Irondequoit United Church of Christ, who attend Compline faithfully, hosted a fundraiser concert for Christ Church’s Friends of Music Fund. In April of 2016, we collaborated with noted musicologist Kerala Snyder in a fundraiser concert at Christ Church by reenactment of a historic model of a liturgical concert. Professor Snyder and Eastman Organ Faculty: Edoardo Bellotti, David Higgs, William Porter, and Nathan Laube donated their professional skills for this event. In 2015, a donor outside of New York funded our purchased of a Renaissance sackbut and promises to fund another instrument this year. A donor has also come forward with a pledge to fund another recording of the Schola Cantorum. We thank everyone who has contributed to Christ Church’s Friends of Music fund. Such generosity allows our program to enrich the lives of countless people through music. These gifts also help build a music program in which people want to take part.
6. Install professional microphones in the church to record CC Choir, Youth Ensemble, Consort, CC liturgies, and concerts
This goal has yet to be reached but is on our “wish list” and we would like to develop a plan to raise funds for it. Once we are able to make this happen, we will be able to make recordings of liturgies, concerts, and all parish ensembles more easily and at a greatly reduced expense. A recording of congregational hymn singing in various historical styles would be wonderful and fitting given our distinctive instruments and position of being a liturgical music “laboratory.”
7. Provide more opportunities for youth participation and involvement in Liturgies through music
It is a continuing goal to expand the role of parish youth within our liturgies. Being that my position as music director is not a full-time position, I am not able to add the needed hours required for taking directorship of the Youth Ensemble. However, our VanDelinder Fellows program facilitates directorship of this ensemble under my supervision. The Youth Ensemble learns: traditional hymns and music of the church, music reading skills, and enjoys fellowship. The ensemble performs on third Sundays at the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist. On Advent IV of 2016, the youth of the parish participated in the first-ever dramatic interpretation of a Gospel within a Eucharist. A team made up of Ruth our Rector, Shirley Ricker, Marrlee Burgess, and I, worked to create a script, choreography, and music for this event. VanDelinder Fellows, Jiaqi Shao, Madeleine Woodworth, and Alden Wright rehearsed the youth in the music and the performance was deemed a great success based upon the positive feedback from members of the congregation. At the Christmas Eve 5:00 p.m. Eucharist, the Smith Family String Players: Benny, Reagan, Asa, Liam, and Clinton, played an arrangement of carols at the Communion and the Youth Ensemble (under the direction of Madeleine Woodworth) performed "Procession" and "This Little Babe" from "A Ceremony of Carols" by Benjamin Britten. Youth involved in this ensemble this liturgical year have been: Hope McGuckin, Hanna and Liza Sommers; Asa, Benny, Clinton, Liam, and Reagan Smith; and Alex and Eva Zanibbi.
8. Enhance the church’s acoustic in light of the Chancel repair and renovation
We thank Christ Church parishioners Jennifer Anstey, Josephine Dewey, Ruth Ferguson, David Higgs, Alan Jones, Valerie Jutsum, Hugh Kierig, William Porter, Deborah Vanderbilt and myself for being on this team. Also on this team was Cynthia Howk, Architectural Research Coordinator from the Landmark Society of Western New York. We all worked alongside Swiatek Studios to not only decorate the Chancel but to ensure that the acoustic was not compromised. A nationally prominent acoustician was consulted and the end result left the acoustic slightly more “alive” in the higher frequencies. This allows sung and spoken texts to be more prominent and clear.
9. Fundraising to support our parish music program
As stated under goal no. 5, fundraising concerts began in 2015 and will be an ongoing part of our fundraising for Friends of Music fund. We also receive income from the sale of Christ Church Schola and organ recordings. Since 2005, CD income is above $12,000. These recordings not only provide the parish with income but they generate distinction for Christ Church and allow us to fund future recordings. Tracks from these recordings are highlighted in national radio broadcasts such as “Pipedreams” and “With Heart and Voice. These recordings are sold all over the world under the NAXOS label. However, Christ Church benefits financially from only the CDs that we sell through the church. Please consider buying some of these recordings for your friends as gifts.
10. Strengthen existing community collaborations and partnerships in Music
Our collaborations and partnerships with the University of Rochester’s Eastman School of Music consist in part of:
A. Two distinctive pipe organs, one cabinet organ, and one portative organ: each used regularly in liturgies and concerts.
B. Tuesday Pipes (25-minute organ concert series) brings about 40-60 people into the church each week. Many of these people are faithful attendees and are beginning to view Christ Church as a necessary component in their lives.
C. The Christ Church Schola Cantorum is a course at the Eastman School of music. It may be an isolated situation for a parish ensemble to be a credited course at one of the world’s leading music schools.
D. Members of the Christ Church Choir participate as “lab choir” in one of Eastman’s Sacred Music Skills courses. They provide “real world” experience that is essential for contextual teaching.
Our collaborations and partnerships with the Rochester Area Community Foundation consists of The Roy E. VanDelinder, Jr. Fellowship Program at Christ Church Rochester
This exciting program offers vocational training and practical application in liturgical music skills for Eastman organ students who are pursuing a career in liturgical music. Fellows receive a scholarship for participating in this program, and a large cash prize is awarded each year to the Fellow who demonstrates the greatest diligence and achievement. Under the leadership of Music Director Stephen Kennedy, fellows receive training and experience in improvising, composing, arranging, hymn playing, anthem and motet accompaniment, chanting, conducting, and rehearsing choirs and instrumentalists. They also receive formation in the Episcopal Church, encouragement to be actively engaged in our parish community, and receive support from our church family.
Fellowship in Liturgical Organ Studies
The VanDelinder Committee selects the fellows based on their résumé, playing skills, and two letters of recommendation. Fellows receive a scholarship for the academic year. Fellows may participate in this program for up to three years but the VanDelinder Committee makes the selection of fellows each year.
Prize in Liturgical Organ Skills
Each year, the VanDelinder Committee selects one acting fellow to receive the Roy E. VanDelinder, Jr. Prize in Liturgical Organ Skills that includes a large cash prize above the scholarship.
DESCRIPTION OF PARISH ENSEMBLES:
Christ Church Choir: This ensemble’s principal function is to sing for the 11:00 a.m. Sunday Eucharist. This auditioned choir builds upon a tradition of musical quality through a broad variety of musical styles. Repertoire includes Gregorian Chant, Anglican Chant, and motets from the Renaissance to the 21st century. Membership is drawn from parishioners of Christ Church as well as individuals from the Rochester community. Fellowship is also an important aspect of the choir. We are all grateful to Carlos Mercado for his tireless and essential work as CC Choir Librarian over the past many years. Members names listed at the end of this document.
The Christ Church Youth Ensemble: This ensemble has grown to be larger than ever. The ensemble performs music in the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist on third Sundays of the month. Members learn traditional music of the Episcopal Church, sacred chant, hymns of the church, sacred motets, music reading skills, play instruments, and enjoy fellowship. VanDelinder Fellows direct the ensemble under the mentorship of the Music Director. Rehearsals are from 12:25 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. each Sunday. We thank all members and parents of this ensemble. Members are: Hope McGuckin, Hanna and Liza Sommers; Asa, Benny, Clinton, Liam, and Reagan Smith; and Alex and Eva Zanibbi.
The Christ Church Consort: Made up of parish members, Eastman School of Music students, RPO members, and professional musicians who play Renaissance and Baroque instruments. Instruments presently include gut-string violin, viola, violoncello, and sackbut (Renaissance trombone). Players are exposed to the traditions of the Episcopal Church and learn historic performance practice methods by performing early music repertoire with Christ Church ensembles and the Baroque organ. Players are: Aika Ito, Baroque Violin; Noah Fields, Baroque Viola, Ben David Aronson, Tenor Sackbut, and Glenna Curren, Baroque Cello.
Schola Cantorum: “The coolest, most unusual music experience in the city….” Rochester Magazine’s “Our Top Picks of 2014.” “The Christ Church Schola Cantorum … sings beautifully.” Fanfare, Jan/Feb 2010. The Christ Church Schola Cantorum was founded in 1997 by Stephen Kennedy for the purpose of performing the weekly Office of Compline at Christ Church. The intent was to provide a service to the community in which musical art and liturgy were seamlessly interwoven. Since its inception, the Schola has performed the Office of Compline each Sunday evening from October through April. This critically acclaimed ensemble also functions as an early music laboratory through engagement in known historic rehearsal and performance practices. The Schola specializes in Gregorian chant, choral music from the Renaissance and Baroque eras, and choral improvisation. Special thanks goes to Thatcher Lyman, Christ Church Music Scholar, for his assistant directorship, and to Christopher Huebner, Schola Librarian and Coordinator for the Schola. Members names listed at the end of this document.
Associate Organists
We are grateful to David Higgs and William Porter for contributing so generously of their talent and support to our parish and its music program. They also help with mentoring and teaching our parish musicians and VanDelinder Fellows. We thank them for their ongoing support.
Members of the Christ Church Choir
Soprano
Pru Kirkpatrick
Kristy Liddell
Carol Manuel
Lisa Pigut
Hanna Sommers
Liza Sommers
Mary Anne Wickett
Madeleine Woodworth
Alto
Joan Hunt
Schultz Mary
Eleanor Peet
Jiaqi Shao
Sonja Shelton
Lydia Worboys
Tenor
David Kirkpatrick
Bruce Manuel
Benjamin Henderson
Thatcher Lyman
Carlos Mercado
Alden Wright
Bass
Benjamin Doane
John Kirkpatrick
Kyle Liddell
Steven Metcalfe
Evan Ritter
Adam Sadberry
Members of the Schola Cantorum
Soprano
Ava D'Agostino
Lydia Becker
Hana J. Cai
Glenna Curren
Meg Cutting
Kat Ekaterina Gorlova
Katie Harmer
Sarah McConnell
Amanda Mole
Jiaqi Shao (portative organ)
Amy Steinberg
Madeleine Woodworth
Alto/Countertenor
Daniel Guerola Benito
Nick Bulgarino (alto sackbut)
Naomi Gregory (organ)
Aika ito (historic violin)
Marc Laroussini
Professor Honey Meconi
Julian Petrallia
Owen Reid
Lydia Worboys
Tenor
Ben David Aronson (Tenor sackbut)
Daniel Chang
Benjamin Henderson
Chase Loomer
Thatcher Lyman (Assistant director
David Marshall
Chris Petit
Alden Wright
Bass
Lisa Albrecht (bass sackbut)
Mark Ballard
Oliver Brett (organ)
Noah Fields (and historic Viola)
Carl Galland
Aaron James
Benjamin Johns
John Kirkpatrick
Professor Michael E Ruhling
Christopher Huebner (Librarian and coordinator)
For more information about concerts and music events, please visit the Christ Church website: http://christchurchrochester.org/index.html.
Here are just a few ways in which Christ Church members and friends may participate in our initiative:
• Becoming an Usher/Candle-lighter for Compline on Sunday Nights
• Make contributions to our Friends of Music Fund. This fund supports music at Christ Church. It also enables us to provide musical outreach to the Rochester community through music training programs, concerts, and enables us to enhance our liturgies with music.
• Purchase our various CD recordings for friends and family members as gifts.
• Assist in publicizing music at Christ Church by helping sending emails to the local media
Please contact me if you are interested in participating in any aspect of our music program at Christ Church. Stephen Kennedy, Music Director stephenk@rochester.rr.com
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“Tuesday Pipes” at Christ Church: Every Tuesday, Eastman performers, faculty, and alumni will present a 25-minute lunchtime concert at Christ Church. Performances showcase the Craighead-Saunders Organ and Hook & Hastings Organ. Events begin at 12:10pm and are free and open to the public. For more information on the Tuesday Pipes series, please visit http://www.esm.rochester.edu/organ/events/
For more information about concerts and music events, please visit the Christ Church website:
http://www.christchurchrochester.org/
You can also find the billboard of ongoing and special future events by going to the top of this section and clicking on the link "MUSIC GALLERY".
Here are just a few ways in which Christ Church members and friends may participate in our program:
• Becoming an Usher/Candle-lighter for Compline
• Make contributions to our Friends of Music Fund. This fund supports music at Christ Church. It also enables us to provide musical outreach to the Rochester community through music-training programs, concerts, and enables us to enhance our liturgies with music.
• Purchase our various CD recordings for friends and family members as gifts.
• Assist in publicizing music at Christ Church by helping sending emails to the local media
Please contact me if you are interested in participating in any aspect of our music program at Christ Church. Stephen Kennedy, Music Director stephenk@rochester.rr.com
You may also support our music education and enrichment opportunities for young musicians who are dedicating their lives to the field of sacred music by contributing to Christ Church’s "Friends of Music" fund.
Please continue to follow the musical life of our parish by reading the monthly Music Notes and Calendar that are emailed from my address via MailChimp.
-Click on the posters below for a full page view.
<img src="https://static1.squarespace.com/static/563e5edae4b08370349673aa/t/5887ced39f74566f92a1b53c/1485295326160/" />
The music sound files contained here are from the new CD recordings that have just been released. These recordings are available for purchase by clicking the link below. The music used in this publication is edited.
http://www.christchurchrochester.org/recordings-cd-shop
Other links of interest are:
https://www.facebook.com/ccscholacantorum/?fref=ts
https://www.facebook.com/ChristChurchRochester/?fref=ts
http://www.christchurchrochester.org
Please click on the word "TOP" just below. It will take you back to the top of the opening page. From there please click on the words in the upper right side of the page to explore additional articles, news and events. There is also a photo gallery and many other wonderful things to see. The links are called:
"SONG" "NEWS & EVENTS" CHAPEL GALLERY" MUSIC EVENT GALLERY" "CONTACT" "ARCHIVE"
The "CONTACT" page is also a place to leave comments or requests. The "ARCHIVE" page will show you past issues.
Trevor Eckart © 2017
Renate Eckart won a juror award from the Rochester Art Club for her painting, "A quiet afternoon".
EVENTS
EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS in This Issue
Candlelight Concert with Compline
a Memory of Michelle Stanley by her daughter Alexandra
R.A.I.H.N.
Pittsford Food Cupboard
ANNUAL MEETING from January 23, 2017
From the Archives
a Memory of Michelle Stanley by her daughter Alexandra
Shared by Mary Schultz, Michelle's mother
20 years ago I entered this world into the arms of my mom, my dad, and all the amazing family that surrounded me then and still surrounds me now, especially today. But never did I know the abundance of love I would receive, and the person that I would become because of that love and all else that my mom taught me.
You fought a long, hard battle Mom, but you always managed to have a smile on your face. It was never about you, only about making sure that everyone else was taken care of before yourself. You held on for so long, and we know that it was just because you were worried about leaving us behind. But we will be ok because of the person you were and the people you helped us all to become. You gave everyone such special memories and pieces of you to hold onto. You gave me the best 5 siblings, an amazing dad, and the rest of your family and friends to remember you, love you, and laugh with forever. And I know you'll be up there watching us all grow up into the people you showed us, with your love, how to become.
This isn't easy, and it never will be. But Mom, the person you were and the friendships you created for yourself and for all of us are what makes it a little easier. There are endless stories to share and happy memories to dwell on. You were full of so much love and had such a strong faith, and every person that you touched in your 44 years could feel it. There will be hard times for sure. I will miss waking up to the smell of pancakes and blueberry sauce cooking, and I'll miss sending you pictures of my outfit so you can tell me how to make it better. And I'll think of you every time I smell lavender lotion, the leaves candle, when I'm sitting on the beach and it's just the perfect weather, when "My Wish" comes on the radio, or when someone talks about why dunkin' donuts coffee is the best. But there will be good times too. Like when I get to tell people where I learned to cook so well, when I get to tell my kids why I love birthdays so much, and when I get to tell my kids, and everyone, that everything I do right with them is because of you.
The past few years have been hard, and I know they were much harder for you than you let yourself show. You're the strongest person I know, and we all have peace of mind knowing that you are in a much better place and painless now. You used to always say to me, "you'll be all grown up and I'll still be worrying about you, I'll still be watching over you." I'm holding you to that one now mom!! I love you to the moon and back!!
Alexandra Stanley, Mary Schultz's granddaughter, wrote this on her Facebook page on the evening after her mother died.
R.A.I.H.N.
It's the giving season and time to reflect on why we give. Please let us remind you of all the wonderful reasons to choose RAIHN as the recipient of your end-of-year generosity:
- I love the bus drivers. They are really nice! (2016 family)
- I loved the RAIHN program. I just loved the staff and volunteers, as they really helped my family stay together during this tough time. (2016 family)
- I learned to save more money, share with others, and communicate. (2016 family)
- It is a great program. I like the fact that we were welcomed. We felt at home. (2016 family)
- RAIHN is here to help you, not carry you. (2015 family)
- You were the light at one of the darkest chapters of my family's life. Your kindness and encouragement has stayed with us to this day. (email received in 2016 from a 2012 family)
- Getting into RAIHN is like getting the golden ticket! (community case worker)
Please check your mail for the Annual Appeal letter. This is scheduled to hit mailboxes shortly after Thanksgiving. We truly appreciate your support as we assist homeless families to achieve sustainable independence by supporting them with tailored services, including shelter, food, personalized case management and a diverse network of caring volunteers.
BTW - doing the dinner on Sunday was such an enjoyable time. These families are a joy to be with! (email from First Universalist meal coordinator)
Please remember RAIHN when doing your holiday shopping! Click on the images above for AmazonSmile or GoodShop. By linking your accounts and selecting RAIHN as your chosen recipient, a portion of your purchase will be donated to RAIHN!
RAIHN 34 Meigs St.
Rochester, NY 14607
585-506-9050
Baptism ©2005 T. Jutsum
PLEASE HELP FILL THE FOOD CUPBOARD BASKET
The Pittsford Food Cupboard supplies over 4,000 households totaling over 9,400 people. They provide food and other items to 6 different zip codes: E Rochester, Pittsford, Brighton and 3 in Rochester. Some items they are always in need of:
- Pasta and pasta sauce
- Canned fruits and vegetables
- Hearty soups and tuna
- Cereals
The items are dropped off to the food cupboard once a month. The volunteers are always so appreciative. Thank you Christ Church for helping to fill the basket that is in the back of the church every Sunday.
Christ Church Annual Meeting Reports
REPORTS on Christ Church Programs and Volunteer Opportunities
Along with pledging, the donation of one’s time to parish organizations and working groups has a tremendous impact on the vitality of the church. Below you’ll see a list of all the groups and tasks working at Christ Church. Groups with a crucial need are listed first, but all the groups welcome new volunteers. Please read the list and see what might match your interests and skills!
CHANCEL CREW – Acolyte, Crucifer, Subdeacon, Thurifer, Verger
At all celebrations of the Liturgy, it is fitting that the principal celebrant, whether bishop or priest, be assisted by other priests, and by deacons and lay persons.” (BCP, 322 & 354). When serving at the altar, members of the chancel team are fulfilling those directions of the Book of Common Prayer. We are aware that the purpose of assisting at the altar is “that God may be glorified.” We currently have twelve member to cover seventeen assignments each month. Although we would like each person to only have to serve once a month, several members are doing double and triple duty. Training as to what to do as well as why we do it will be provided at your convenience. Please contact me or the Rector if you wish to explore this service to our parish and to God. --Jim Bement, 585.734.5756, jhbement@rochester.rr.com
CRUCIAL NEED: help on altar crew on 2nd, 3rd, or 4th Sundays
THE SONG - Christ Church newsletter- Val Jutsum
The SONG is the Christ Church digital newsletter, has just had it’s first anniversary, and is available to view at songforchristchurch.org . The SONG publishes a new issue corresponding with the Seasons of the church year, rather than monthly, but, due to its online nature, is updated frequently during the time each issue is current. Typically, each issue features articles by Ruth, our rector, and Stephen Kennedy, our music director, highlighting relevant topics and events, parish and music, activities taking place at Christ Church, financial and vestry news, messages from parishioners, as well as, original art. The SONG has past issues available to view in the archive section, a place to contact us, and a way to pay your pledge or simply donate using a credit card. The number of people, who have looked at some or all of the SONG, can be seen below. Feb 2016- Jan. 2017
Total: Visits Page Views Audience Size
1,510 3,273 1,121
avg 125 monthly avg 272 monthly avg 93 monthly
My crucial need right now is for those numbers to be higher by having more people visit the site more often, for more people to submit things to share with the parish, and for 1 volunteer to help make a text only issue, monthly, if a significant number of things have been added or subtracted, to send to the office for printing and mailing for those parishioners who do not own a computer.
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE
CRUCIAL NEED: This committee doesn’t yet exist and this is our greatest current need at Christ Church. We don’t have an official group that plans and monitors our communications about the church. Activities this group might undertake include regularly reviewing flyers, contacting media or issuing press releases for special events, tracking hits and monitoring content on our website, reviewing our FB page and developing a presence on other social media, and in general work on making sure the Rochester community is aware of our activities, and that our communications about our activities are up to date and accurate.
FOYERS – Deb VanderBilt
Foyers is a national initiative of the Episcopal church that gives congregations a way to gather in small groups for fellowship. Groups of 3-4 “units” (6-8 people if couples sign up) are set up in March and meet from April – October, meeting in each group member’s home once for a simple dinner. It’s a wonderful way to meet new people in the church.
CRUCIAL NEED: I’ve been setting up the Foyers groups for 7 years, and with my position as Warden I would like someone else to take over the coordinating of the groups. It takes about 4 hours of time in the month of March, and all you need is a computer.
RAIHN (Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network) – Beatrice Deshommes
RAIHN in an interfaith organization. Its mission is to help homeless families become independent by providing shelter, food and case management. Community churches provide housing and/or volunteers to support this ministry. Christ Church doesn’t host directly, but we help staff the weeks that our fellow downtown church St. Luke’s and St. Simon’s hosts the guests. Christ Church currently has six active volunteers participating in RAIHN. There are three times to volunteer: cooking dinner (5-7), hospitality (7-9:30), overnight (9:30 p.m. to when guests leave the next morning, usually around 7 a.m.).
Please go to www.raihn.org for more information and contact Beatrice at 585-880-7029 for information on becoming a Christ Church RAIHN volunteer.
CRUCIAL NEED: RAIHN is in need of more volunteers to help sustain this ministry: the need is greatest in hospitality (7-9:30 p.m.) RAIHN weeks occur quarterly (every 13 weeks or so).
MUSIC PROGRAM – Stephen Kennedy ( complete report is in Stephen's Music Notes )
Goals from 2016 (ongoing in 2017)
1. Attract more people to Christ Church through our music program Goal on target
2. Raise the level of musicianship in CC ensembles Goal on target
3. Raise community awareness of our rich and diverse music program Goal on target
4. Foster the education and training of musicians in liturgical music skills Goal on target
5. Engage people from the larger community (non parishioners) to help fund
our music program Goal on target
6. Install professional microphones in the church to record CC Choir,
Youth Ensemble, Consort, CC liturgies, and concerts Not yet reached
7. Provide more opportunities for youth participation and involvement in
Liturgies through music Goal on target
8. Enhance the church’s acoustic in light of the Chancel repair & renovation Goal attained
9. Fundraising to support our parish music program Goal on target
10. Strengthen existing community collaborations and partnerships in Music Goal on target
Opportunities for individuals to assist and contribute in our parish music program:
1. Compline ushers and Candle-lighters
2. Greeters at Tuesday Pipes to represent the parish
3. Volunteers to help send publicity to media via e-mail
4. Additional Youth Ensemble members
5. Additional Christ Church Choir members
6. People to help set up for Compline following the 11:00 a.m. Eucharist
7. People to assist in grant writing
A MEAL AND MORE Annual Report 2017- Lois Jones
A Meal and More served its first meals in 1979 and has continually feed the Downtown Rochester community for 37 years. Originally our mission was to serve our new senior citizen neighbors at Manhattan Square and people from the neighborhood by inviting them to Sunday lunch. However, we quickly realized the amount of Urban hunger far outweighed Christ Church’s monetary and people resources, necessitating developing with the Bishop and other Downtown parishes a sustainable feeding mission for our Downtown community. In 1984, Meal and More was incorporated as a Type B Not for Profit Corporation which provided it two very important tax considerations: exemption from federal income taxes and tax deductibility for contributions. Lunch on Wednesday was added and for the last 6 years, 85 – 100 (+ or -) meals each day have been served.
For A Meal and More to have provided a sustained feeding mission for 37 years has taken commitment, cooperation and effort on the part of:
Christ Church – provides “In Kind Services”: kitchen, Wilder Hall, the utilities (lights, heat, water) and Sexton and Secretarial services
A Meal and More Board -coordinates everything, seeks funds, files reports, identifies volunteers and coordinates volunteer efforts, hires staff, keeps accurate records for government agencies
Volunteers -- serve meals, contribute food stuffs, clean up, help prepare meals, perform special projects (Christmas Bags)
Chef – creates menus, orders from FoodLink, prepares meals, maintains Kitchen, etc.
Set Up/Break Down/Dishwasher – sets up & breaks down, does all the dishes, etc.
Greeter and Security – maintains records, maintains decorum, maintains safety, etc.
9134 meals were served by Meal and More during 2016
The Elderly are a very consistent presence between 150 and 200 meals are served to them every month.
Approximately 25 meals per month are served to Children with more being served in the summer
Adults – make up our largest group with approximately 650 meals are served to this group each month.
This year, including Christmas Day, our Mission has been carried out by:
Allen Callarame – Chef, Dave Jencek – Set up/Break Down/Dish Washer,
William Drayton – Greeter/Security
CRUCIAL NEED: Desserts, Dressings and Donations.
To volunteer contact Kristy Liddell at kristy.m.liddell@gmail.com or see her at church.
“1 in 6 Americans is food insecure” Howard Buffett, 40 Ways to Feed a Hungry World
GARDEN – Deb VanderBilt
Our garden is a jewel in the East End. Many people hang out there, walk their dogs, or play with their kids there and when we are working we always get complements on it. For a big place, it does not take that much work. There is a garden committee of Christ Church members and Sagamore (the building across the street) residents who plans and fundraises for the garden. We schedule “big” work days in Spring and Fall—for spring cleanup and fall leaf raking, and in the summer we depend on volunteer gardeners to stay on top of the weeds.
CRUCIAL NEED: We do need more people to volunteer to work in the garden. In the summer we try to assign a small portion to each person to be responsible for—half of one bed, for example, and ask that you weed it every 2 weeks. If we have a lot of volunteers, it’s very manageable, but becomes overwhelming when we have too few. So can you count you in as a caretaker for a small portion of the garden in Summer 2017?
USHERS – Hugh Kierig
The Usher Program at Christ Church is a vital part of the Sunday service experience by assisting both clergy and congregants. Just as important, Ushers serve as the welcoming face to both parishioners and visitors at our services. Each Usher is asked to serve one Sunday service per month and one fifth Sunday per year. Additionally, Ushers serve at special services such as funerals, ordinations, 12th Night, and other major events. If you would like to be an Usher, please let one of the other Ushers know.
CRUCIAL NEED: We are always looking for volunteers to serve in this vital position, but it is especially important to have four ushers on each Sunday, 16 total so no one has to usher more than once a month. As the list of current ushers shows, we are three ushers short.
8 am service: Ron Vukman, Alan & Lois Jones, Norm Geil
11 am service:
Doris Bailey-Gordon Cecilia Brereton Renate Eckart Tom Foster
Monae Howard Hugh Kierig Tony Kingsley Spencer Koehl
Bill Soleim Joe McCutchon Spenser McGuckin Shirley Ricker
Carl Vogt
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ALTAR GUILD – Bill Soleim
The Altar Guild is a group of men and women who works mostly behind the scenes to prepare for services on Sunday. Our ministry involves caring for the vestments, vessels, and altar linens of Christ Church. We usually work in pairs to set up for Sunday’s services at 9:30 on Saturday morning (for about 1 hour). After the 11:00 service, we take about 15 minutes to wash and put away vestments and communion vessels. We each serve one a week per month, but many of us also work together on Christmas and Easter to decorate the sanctuary. We are always looking for volunteers, since a larger team means each person does less work. If you think you would enjoy serving God and our congregation in this quiet ministry, please contact Bill Soleim (482-8745)
ANGEL TREES – Eleanor Peet
This outreach program is the collection of Christmas gifts for the women clients, and their families, of the Willow Domestic Violence Center (formerly known as Alternatives for Battered Women). The Center provides us with a wish list. Paper Angels with suggestions written on them decorate two trees that are placed in the sanctuary and the Guild Room each December. Parishioners take an angel or two and bring their gifts unwrapped back to church to be brought to the Center mid-December. Willow Center says: “over 70% of domestic violence crimes are witnessed by children. A simple gesture of providing new toys during their stay can give a child in crisis a sense of normalcy and hope.”
BIRTHDAY CARDS - Lois Jones
Each of us has one day during the year which we call our own and celebrate in special ways. It is our BIRTHDAY. Your Christ Church Family wants each of us to know how unique, special and valued you are, not only on your birthday but every day. So we send you a birthday card to remind you we are thinking of you and wishing you God’s blessings. “God danced the day you were born”
Please make sure your birth month and day are listed in the Church Office.
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN REPORT – Joe Schaller
A steering committee of vestry members, including the rector, was formed in September, 2016 to determine if there is a need for a capital campaign, and if so, to recommend to the Vestry the next steps. A capital campaign is not limited to raising money for capital projects/repair. It would include, at minimum, the establishment of a capital reserve fund, debt reduction, planned giving, grants and a fund for mission outreach. Furthermore, it has a great spiritual value as it will sharpen the focus of our members on the Christian ideals and principles, including stewardship, which enriches our lives and which brings the light of Christ into a troubled world.
The committee met several times, including conducting interviews with 4 consulting firms. In addition, there were numerous follow-up phone calls and email correspondence with all the candidates. Based on the information gathering and interviews the committee determined that a campaign would benefit Christ Church and for it to be successful a consulting firm should be hired. The committee recommend, and the Vestry approved, at their January 17, 2017 meeting that James D. Klote & Associates, a nationwide consulting firm, be contracted to assist us to conduct a feasibility study and capital campaign with a fee of $56,000. Klote and Associates has an outstanding track record of fundraising successes with many Episcopal churches including recently in Rochester, Ithaca and Cortland.
More details on a campaign are too numerous for the purposes of this report, but will be shared with the congregation over the next few months. Please know that it would fully engage each of us and would be conducted in a prayerful and completely open and transparent manner.
CARE TEAM – Kevin Finnigan
The Care Team is on “life support” due to the fact that many of the volunteers listed are no longer available. Several attempts to bring this situation to the attention of the congregation have been unsuccessful. It is the hope that the new year will see a revitalization of this ministry.
COFFEE HOUR – Vicki McCutchon
Coffee hour allows for people to mingle and catch up with one another and to also meet and greet visitors. Our team is made up of Meg Mackey, Elizabeth Dugdale, The McCallums, Christine Hill and myself. During coffee hour people visit, but they are also able to take part in other efforts that groups are working at CC. Gifts can be put under the tree for the Giving Tree, items for School #9 can be dropped off, and Sanctuary Movement opportunities are highlighted by Lucie. It is also just a nice time to enjoy some tasty treats! The coffee hour crew also helps out with the Annual Meeting lunch and we helped with the reception between RoCo and the art installation in memory of Sarah Collins.
FINANCE – Norm Geil
The Christ Church Finance Committee has the responsibility in conjunction with the Vestry, Treasurer and Rector, to oversee the financial condition and well-being of the parish. It makes recommendations to the Vestry on all financial matters deemed appropriate by the Committee or requested by the Vestry including among other activities: preparing an annual budget; monitoring investments and operating expenses and income; arranging for audits; and providing a report for the annual parish meeting. At present the Committee’s members include Meg Mackey, Josie Dewey, Kathy Brennan, Ron Vukman and Norm Geil.
FORUM (Sunday mornings) – Mary Vukman
The Forum is a small, informal discussion group that meets on Sunday mornings 9:45-10:45 in the Guild Room. The Forum began the year reading the Acts of the Apostles and doing a few short topics, but for most of the year we have been studying the "Farewell Discourse" in John's gospel, in which Jesus tries to prepare his disciples for what lies ahead for them when he is gone. We are currently in John Chapter 17. For upcoming topics, we are considering a book about Revelation or the Dead Sea Scrolls or the Qumran community or a book by John Lennox (Oxford mathematician, philosopher of science, and Christian apologist) or a book by Rodney Stark (an American sociologist who analyzes the interactions between the Church and society in historical settings). Feel free to drop in now and then or to join us every week.
JAZZ FESTIVAL – Carlos Mercado
2016 was the eighth year that Christ Church was a venue for the Xerox International Jazz Festival, and the seventh year that we hosted the Made in the UK Series in cooperation with the UK Arts Council. With some 7,000 people passing through our doors over nine days, this is perhaps the largest community activity of the parish each year. Over these years we have become the largest gathering of British jazz musicians in the world outside of the UK itself, and Christ Church has earned a golden reputation in British jazz circles and among local jazz fans for its hospitality, the quality of this venue, and the good spirit of the event. It is one of the most significant opportunities for Christ Church to showcase its building and the hospitality of its people to an international crowd. This year we mourn the untimely death of our wonderful liaison from London, John Elson, who died of a heart attack only a few weeks after we bid him good bye “until next year.” Our committee sent a donation in his name to the British Heart Fund. While 2017 will not be the same without him, we look forward to another successful year as one of Rochester’s great jazz hotspots! Jazz Fest team: Bruce & Patti Blaine, Vickie & Joe McCutchon, Carlos Mercado.
LECTORS AND INTERCESSORS (PRAYERS OF THE PEOPLE) – Kevin Finnigan
Lectors read the lessons on Sundays, and Intercessors read the prayers on Sundays when they are not sung. We have added new lectors and intercessors to the roster since last year. In addition, lectors are receiving a reminder the week prior to the Sunday they are to read reminding them to arrange for a substitute, if need be, and informing them of the reading that they are to read. Intercessors are likewise being notified prior to the Sunday they are to lead the Prayers of the People.
MEALS FOR NEW MOMS AND DADS – Vicki McCutchon
This outreach is near and dear to me. It was over 25 years ago that Mary Vuckman presented us with a delicious meal that fed us for 2 days. A smiling face, tasty food and a feeling of belonging was wonderful and that is why we continue to do this for new parents. This has been a busy year for meals, which is AWESOME! Everyone so enjoys putting a meal together for new parents, because we all know how it is to be tired, thrilled, but a bit overwhelmed…..a home cooked meal is just the ticket!
PARISH LIFE – Kevin Finnigan
This has been a very busy year for the Parish Life Team. Salient events include Twelfth Night Service, Shrove Tuesday meal, various weddings, Jazz Festival, and Advent Lessons and Carols. Christ Church members also take on the responsibility of writing personal notes to parishioners who are celebrating their birthdays and to those who are ill and/or in the hospital and to tending to the needs of the bereaved.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Hugh Kierig
The Property Committee is charged with the responsibility of maintaining the buildings that comprise our Church. As Church is made up of buildings that are over 125 years old, this can be quite a challenge. With the assistance of our valued Sexton, Moses Roland, and the good work of the Finance Committee in preparing and receiving outside capital grants, the Committee has been very busy this past year. Major activities of the Committee have included:
• Repair to the cages that protect our beautiful Tiffany windows;
• A major repair to the roof over the north aisle that will prevent future snow melt infiltration into the Nave and better roof drainage;
• Repair of the fallen ceiling over the north aisle;
• Repair of the roof over the sacristy;
• Replacement of lights in the Nave and Narthex chandeliers;
• And in case you didn’t notice, plaster repair and repainting of the Narthex and Chancel.
Additionally, to make these repair work and not disrupt activities within the Church, the Committee coordinated work with the clergy, Eastman School of Music administration, our architect at Bero Architecture, and various contractors. The Committee held coordinating meetings weekly with these stakeholders. The Committee also coordinated meetings with two local architects to look at possible repurposing of our buildings and worked with Bero Architects on the planning and construction documents for the repair to the Lawn Street façade. Finally, the Committee is working to prioritize future general maintenance needs of the Church. Property Committee Members – Josie Dewey, Alan Jones, John Fields, Hugh Kierig, Tony Kingsley.
QUILTERS – Ann Piato
We have presented 26 handmade quilts to newly baptized members as they join Christ Church, 24 for infants and 2 for adults. We also made the quilt hanging in the hallway in honor of the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Church. Lucy Alonzo and Marianne Sickles received quilts in honor of their service to Christ Church, and we made a quilt for Ruth Ferguson to honor her first year as our rector (with pieces of fabric donated by the congregation). The quilters of Christ Church are Eleanor Peet, Ann Piato and Pat Kingsley
SANCTUARY AT CHRIST CHURCH – Lucie Parfitt
Sanctuary at Christ Church is a new Outreach effort at Christ Church. Our mission is to share ways that Christ Church and its parishioners can act and engage in the community and the world. Initially, we hope to partner with local organizations to provide vital support to vulnerable groups, such as immigrants, migrant workers, and those who may be at risk of deportation. Long term, the Sanctuary group at Christ Church would like to provide shelter for any and all who feel unsafe or at risk of deportation in the coming years. For now, we hope to build our community at Christ Church and offer a platform to volunteer and work together. We invite everyone in the parish to get involved and join our Google Group and Facebook group for updates.
SCHOOL #9 – Vicki McCutchon
School #9 is the largest bilingual elementary school in the RCSD and it continues to grow on a daily basis. Many of its students are new to the USA and are not equipped or do not understand the ways of the school. By helping out with some of the schools programs, we try to help the student have a pleasant experience at their new school. Patti Blaine and Vicki McCutchon have helped organize school kit, coat, children’s underclothing and uniform drives. The outpouring of donations from CC is overwhelming and #9 counselors cannot thank us enough. Patti also coordinates a volunteer program to help with the reading program at #9 and she is also involved in a mentor program for the older students at the school who are getting ready to move onto middle school.
STEWARDSHIP – Gale Lynch
The Stewardship Committee just completed the 2016 campaign which focused on having small group, in-home dinner discussions. We disseminated the information we collected via the Sunday service bulletin as well as a display on the bulletin board by the drinking fountain. The number of pledge cards submitted will be announced at the Annual Meeting.
SUNDAY SCHOOL & YOUTH GROUP – Gale Lynch
Since October, St. John Fisher freshman Emily Brennan has been working in the Sunday School room presenting Bible-based lessons, activities and crafts to the kids. Attendance ranges from two to six kids. Please help spread the word that we are back to offering Sunday School of substance! Youth Group continues to meet once a month on Friday nights from 6:30 - 9:00 p.m. Emily Brennan leads Youth Group as well, and Gale Lynch arranges parents to volunteer as the "adult on call". This is a small critical mass of youth who get together for fun each month
TELLERS – Deb VanderBilt
The tellers count the money received from the offering every week. No math skills needed—we use calculators. What you need is the ability to stay after the service until 1:30 or 2:00 without dying of hunger. At present tellers are fully staffed.
TUESDAY BOOK GROUP – Ron Hilton
The Tuesday morning worship and study group is one of the older functions of Christ Church, having been begun by Fr. Bud Thurston. After years of meeting at 7:30 am, we chose in March to shift to 9:00 a.m. We have added two new members and are eager to welcome a few more. On first and second Tuesdays Ruth celebrates Holy Communion for us, and on the other Tuesdays, Mary Ann Wickett provides Morning Prayer. We tend to study fairly serious books, but have been known to read a novel occasionally. The criterion seems to be that of religion or spirituality, although we are now nearing the end of Yuval Noah Harari's Sapiens: A Brief history of Humankind. I should add that we always have treats after the worship service as we begin the study activity.
WEDDINGS – Vicki McCutchon
2016 CC hosted fewer weddings than in the past two years--4 weddings, due to the incredible interior painting that was happening in Summer 2016. In 2015 there were 11 weddings and in 2014 there were 14 weddings. For 2017 we already have 7 weddings booked and we are hoping to cap off at 12. This is a significant source of revenue for the church: 7 weddings will bring in $11,900 in 2017. All these weddings could not take place and run smoothly without the great team of Marianne, Moses, Stephen and Lydia [and Vicki! –editor’s note!]. Thank you to all for all of your time, energy and expertise.
The top three ways couples find us are by coming to Compline, Jazz Fest or attending a friend or relative’s wedding at CC. People love how accommodating we are, the incredible music and our beautiful garden and interior for their wedding photos.
REPORT ON DIOCESAN ANNUAL CONVENTION - Mary Pietrzykowski
It was still dark as Deb Vanderbilt and I set out on what felt to me like a pilgrimage to our Diocesan Convention. Pilgrimage is defined as a journey or search of moral or spiritual significance, and for me, as a former Catholic, preparing for, and participating in dialogue and decision making regarding the life of our church, is indeed a sacred experience. I was eager to attend the liturgy at Trinity Church and to see and hear Michael Curry, our Presiding Bishop.
Extending the pilgrimage metaphor, we gathered at Hobart Smith and then walked to Trinity Church for the liturgy. Our theme for song and praise was "Seeing the Face of God in Each Other." We were a joyful, expectant group, on a journey toward celebration of our identity as the Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement.
Michael Curry is a powerful speaker. His voice is deep and rich and his preaching style is reminiscent of the Southern Baptist tradition. He is deeply serious about communicating our responsibility to love and care for our brothers and sisters. He is deeply serious, but never overbearing. As we listened, he eloquently laced his message with humor. He demonstrated that he understands the way to hearts as well as minds requires a varied approach.
After the service, the convention got down to business. The main items were Grace Church Lyons changing from a parish to a mission church which will partner with Rural & Migrant Ministry; dissolving St. Paul’s, Montour Falls as a parish and having St. James Watkins Glen take over administration of its parish hall; passing the proposed diocesan budget with the addition of a $900 HRA for retirees; and some minor canon revisions, including shortening the time before convention when diocesan committee nominees have to send in (shortened because of email making it easier to do).
As Deb and I drove home in the early evening, talking about the day, our families and books we were reading, I was reminded that this pilgrimage wasn't over. If the day meant anything, it meant continuing to step out each morning, looking for, and finding, the face of God in each other.
Christ Church Vestry Minutes
December Vestry Minutes
Rector’s Report: Ruth reflected that the past month has been full of all things liturgical, spiritual, and political. We celebrated another Advent Lessons and Carols under Kevin Finnegan’s leadership and the Youth Ensemble gave us a glorious dramatic interpretation of the Gospel the last Sunday in Advent. The formation of Sanctuary at Christ Church has become a venue for parishioners to engage at the local and global level to help the vulnerable as Church. Ruth feels new sense of clarity as priest, perhaps even urgency: the atmosphere of hatred combined with fears for the economic, social, and even physical security of certain individuals and groups in our nation has drawn her into a more active engagement with social and climate justice issues. She emphasized that when we work for justice, we work not as Republicans or Democrats but as Christians.
She also thanked everyone who donated to Standing Rock through St. Luke’s Episcopal Church in Fort Yates, ND. Christ Church gave just under $500.00, and the money has been used primarily for firewood, propane and gas, but other things as well. Firewood is extremely important not only in the cold of winter but also the sacred fires of Oceti Sakowin and the other camps must not burn out. Buying firewood is difficult and expensive because locals (racists, pro-DAPL, or both) do not like to sell to natives, so one must travel far and long to buy it. Fr. Floberg makes sure he always brings firewood to the camps. Fr. Floberg told us that our monies would be used also to fund the annual Christmas Dinner that his three mission churches cook for the residents of the three camps on the Standing Rock Reservation. They will feed 600 people in a giant room at the casino in Fort Yates.
Vote on Ordination to the Diaconate: The Vestry voted on the motion that we approve Patti Blaine to Bishop Singh to holy ordination of the vocational diaconate. The vote was a UNANIMOUS yes!
Capital Campaign Report
The Capital Campaign committee has been interviewing firms who submitted proposals. Some things the committee is thinking about and wants the Vestry and church to be aware of:
- A Christ Church capital campaign is a spiritual journey requiring of us much prayer and work.
- A capital campaign to be successful requires a significant commitment of time by the church leadership and others.
- The consultant does not do the gift ask. We do it directly with the potential donor
- Capital campaign is not limited to raising money for capital projects/repair. It would include the establishment of a capital reserve fund, a mechanism for planned giving, and a fund for mission outreach.
Finance Report
There was discussion about the budget and the need to add line items for a Sunday School teacher/youth and an additional $500 for the garden for mulch.
December monthly summary: December income includes $14,370 in pledges that were pre-paid in December 2015 resulting in a total income of about $313,350. Expenses were about $351,400 resulting in a 2016 deficit of about $38,000. In December income increased by about $44,200 and expenses increased by about $22,900. There were no extraordinary items of income or expenses, although Pledge Envelope income increased by about $19,000.
Property Report:
Ongoing projects include:
· North Aisle Roof repair – CSTM Roofing will complete the replacement of the roof over the north aisle of the Church and install new flashing along the area of façade. CSTM has also provided a painted sealer over the roof above the Church entrance on East Avenue. Bero Architects was hired to serve as the project manager and has provided a post construction report. This work is substantially complete with a sealer to be applied next spring.
· Sacristy Roof Leak – CSTM Roofing investigated the source of the leak in the roof over the Sacristy and applied a sealer in the area where it was leaking. The leak has stopped and the work is complete.
· Lawn Street Façade Study – Christ Church was awarded a $4,000 grant for Sacred Sites to cover the cost of an architectural study for the repair of the façade.
· Chancel Lighting – We are working with Newton Lighting Enterprises on options for improving the lighting in the Chancel, Nave and Narthex areas. They have provided a report for our review that would change current lighting to LED bulbs. There are no savings for RG&E incentives with this proposal. A report on the lighting proposal will be submitted in January.
Warden’s report
The Executive Committee met with members of the Meal and More board. Their board has been reduced to 5 people from 8 and they are spread very thin. Christ Church supports A Meal and More and wants to help. Their biggest need is more members on the board. The executive team from Meal and More was given an open invitation to meet with the CC Executive Committee every month so that we can be in communication. Lois Jones will serve as a liaison if they have questions about Christ Church.
Vestry on Call reports
Why have lectors’ names stopped appearing in the bulletin? Response: There are too many times that the readers change at the last minute. There is a lot of prep for the bulletins and they need to go to print by Thursday morning. It ends up working against our goal of knowing each others’ names if the names and readers don’t match.
From the Archives
Thanks to the loan of books from Christ Church archivist Mary Schultz, The Song will be highlighting some excerpts about Christ Church history in this and future issues. We are fortunate to have two history books that were written about the church, Christ Church: A Story-Chronological, by Jane Marsh Parker, covering the years 1854-1905, andChrist Church Rochester: The First Hundred Years 1855-1955, by James Demcey Hendryx.
Part V Please watch this space: we are looking into the histories of some of the donated items in Christ Church such as the angel where the lectors read, the statue of Mary, and other beautiful items.