Christ Church Rochester Michaelmas 2016 The Song vol. 1 issue 6

St. Michael guards the Earth © 2005 Tim Jutsum  (above) acrylic on canvas — St. Michael guards the Earth © 2005 Tim Jutsum (above) acrylic on canvas

Angels, help us to adore him;

ye behold him face to face;

sun and moon, bow down before him,

dwellers all in time and space.

Alleluia, alleluia!

Praise with us the God of grace.

Praise My Soul the King of Heaven

Hymn 410 The 1982 Episcopal Hymnal

Gloria © 1982 M.V. Hill    pastel on paper — Gloria © 1982 M.V. Hill pastel on paper

Editor note:

Michaelmas

Wow, what a summer, huh. Crazy hot. Lots of sun. The church had scaffolding stuffing the chancel and lining the narthex. The plaster in those two areas of the building got fixed. The narthex has been painted a deep rich color which was, as close as can be determined, its original hue over one hundred years ago. The windows pop out with a surprisingly fresh beauty, as though we never really saw them before. And the chancel, well, the chancel is breathtakingly beautiful. And, it’s not done, yet. All this happened as we celebrated the seemingly endless season of Pentecost/Trinity. And, that’s not done yet, either.

We have arrived at the feast of St. Michael and All Angels, the start of the Michaelmas term for students in England and the return of routine life in church, work, and school, here. ’Time like an ever rolling stream” and all of that sort of thing. Yet, there doesn’t appear to be anything ordinary about the events that surround us. God has blessed us with the gift of living in a time unlike any other. It can feel ordinary, only because it is ours. Some churches even call this season “Ordinary Time”. We are the feet on the pavement which is, by the way, spinning at about 750 mph while the planet is zooming through the galaxy. And, we know this as ordinary information. I’m guessing that there is no such thing as ordinary.

We are alive in Christ. We are moving and changing along with our building, our culture and our world, as we reach for light and beauty and the power of God’s Spirit. Light is what makes things beautiful. We will be adding light in creative ways to the narthex and chancel. This newsletter is digital and web-based and changed many times over the summer. Every time we had something new to see or a new event, I put it here in the Song. I will continue to do that. This publication is alive and changes all the time, not just on the day of publication. Check back often to see if you’re keeping up. Contribute to the Song anytime and it will show up here. John McCallum took pictures of the transformation to scaffolding and back which included the dusting party. It was here. The ROCO art installation and party was, also. There will be babies baptized on November 6 at the Feast of All Saints. They will be here, too. There’s a lot to do and see. And, we haven’t even talked about angels, yet.

Val Jutsum

Rector's Notes

Dear Christ Church,

We’ve been through a lot these past few months. You’ve worked with me to make our chancel beautiful and hoped with me that everyone will be delighted; you’ve advised me on how to finance the repairs of our historic landmark building, and you’ve put in endless hours on finance, property, grant writing, & models for a capital campaign. You’ve worked with me to find a new youth leader and Sunday School teacher, so we will welcome Emily Brennan! You’ve worked with me to find an office assistant to help Marianne, so we will welcome Kate Corbett!

You have shared your deeper concerns, and your deeper hopes, with me. You have wanted to be sure I know that we are, to a large extent, an aging congregation. On more than one occasion, you have expressed your hope that Christ Church will find ways to take care of its own, especially our aging and infirm. You have expressed a desire to pull everyone in to talk about how we can be even more active in driving, accompanying, including, and cooking for those of us who are not fully independent.

You have expressed concern for those of us who are without families.

You and I have prayed for your adult children with cancer. You and I have prayed about your own illnesses and the treatments you are seeking. (I am troubled by the complexities you face as you navigate hospice and home health aide systems. I carry your anxieties with you and offer them to God daily, as well as your gratitude for your families and friends.)

You have welcomed me at the side of your hospital beds; you have welcomed me at the side of your hospice beds; you have shared your prayer requests with me and one another.

You have welcomed one to the same places - into the places where you are vulnerable and need comfort.

You have come together to memorialize and bury – and have offered to do so again – those who would otherwise not have had a proper service or burial.

You and I celebrated your wedding vows and blessed your rings!

You and I are excited about a youth retreat to the Abby of the Genesee on the week-end of January 13th!

You and I are talking about racism at our vestry meetings, and wondering how we can expand the conversation.

You and I are considering what a new Saturday week-night service might look like (Taize? Evening prayer? Said Compline?)

You and I are working on formalizing our partnerships with Eastman, The Father’s House, and Meal and More so that we are all working together more effectively. You and I continue to marvel at the different missions and ministries that happen on our grounds and in our building!

Together, we are learning how to be a community hub. Together, we are living out our call to be a mission hubto the glory of God. Together, we are reaching out to others who will support us and do God’s work with us.

You have told me that, even in this time of change, you feel the brightness God’s future for us. I do, too.

The gold shining from the chancel ceiling and from the quatrefoils set against the dark– these remind me of a new star from heaven. Guiding us.

Ruth+

Some of the Swiatek Team on the top of the giant scaffold at the completion of the ceiling.

MUSIC NOTES FROM STEPHEN

Art and Music are thriving at Christ Church. Parish and community musicians of all ages are learning to work together to develop skills of ensemble and solo performance for liturgical music. Through engagement in high-level process we learn great life lessons and become a repository of treasured timeless expression in art. For centuries, the church has been a special place for people to create great works of art as an expression or affirmation. It has also been a place where people are drawn to in order to be moved and transformed by art. It is wonderful to know that so many of the great artistic expressions from the past thrive in our parish. A similar thing has come to life in the visual arts within our Chancel. Looking at historical models of church art and architecture has led us to embark upon restoring the color palette and design that was typical to the Gothic revival in the 19th century.

The new season has begun for our music program. The 30-member Christ Church Choir has an extremely high-level of music making ability and we all have great fun working together. The Schola Cantorum of 36 singers and instrumentalists will begin our season of Compline on Sunday, October 2nd at 9:00 PM. Compline is sung each Sunday from October through April at 9:00 PM. Candlelight Concerts precede Compline on the first Sunday of each moth. Organist and harpsichordist Malcolm Matthews will perform this first concert with works by Bach, Buxtehuds, Bruhns, and Byrd. A reception will follow Compline on this evening in the Guild Room. The Christ Church Consort will perform within the 11:00 AM Sunday Eucharist on 4th Sundays and feast days. The Youth Ensemble has been rehearsing on Sundays following the Eucharist and will perform on Sunday, October 16 within the 11:00 AM Eucharist. Gwendelyn Hughes, Shirley Ricker, and I will be working together to develop some liturgical dramas for the youth to perform in this new season.

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.

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

News and Events

The Latest Pictures of the Christ Church Chancel

The image in the top left is the concept drawing from the Tiffany Studio made over a century ago. The other three photos show what our chancel looks like today. It is so beautiful, now, but anyone who wants the stonework can help to make that happen.

Cool News, Latest Happenings and Upcoming Events

I love Advent. At a time when the world we live in beckons us to rush into Christmas, with all of the wild rumpus frenzy the secular holiday has to offer, the church quietly and mysteriously begins a new year. In our home, as in many of yours, we shared the lighting of candles and the addition of the collect for the first Sunday in Advent to the beginning of our evening meal. It is blessed to say the prayer that begins with “give us grace to cast away the works of darkness and put upon us the armor of light”. One of the charming fashion accessories of the season is a wreath to surround the four candles marking the four weeks of the season. We will be building these wreaths together here at Christ Church on Saturday, November 26th, at 7pm. This is a dessert party rather than a dinner, which is a great way to polish off those last couple of slices of your award winning pie or whatever leftover you have from Thanksgiving. We will have warm cider, hot chocolate, evergreen branches, wreath frames, and wire. All you need to bring is a dessert to share, beads or ribbons or any other decoration (tiny toys?) of your choice. We will meet in Wilder Hall. This is an event for everybody, singles, families, couples, children, Everybody! It would be awesome if you were to r.s.v.p. I would prefer if you did so by going to the SONG website

http://songforchristchurch.org/contact/ and sending a message from the contact box. I will also put a signup sheet in the hall. I really hope to see you for a fun evening.

All Saints Day at Christ Church

This was a fabulous celebration with the baptism of four babies! They are Alaina Noelle Beighley Pack, daughter of Vicki Beighley and Brian Pack; Margaret Elizabeth Vogt, daughter of Carl and Sarah Vogt; Thomas Gibson Dugdale, son of Elizabeth and James Dugdale; and Kenneth James Purvis, son of Lauren and Jim Purvis. The pictures begin with baptism prep at the rector's house. The event was followed by cake at coffee hour. [photo credit- John McCallum]

MOST RECENT NEWS

Episcopal Relief and Development will be working through its local partners in Haiti, the Caribbean, and the US to provide assistance to people put out of their homes by the hurricane. Here are the contacts for making donations. Specify the hurricane fund.

Episcopal Relief & Development • 815 Second Avenue, New York, NY 10017

1-855-312-HEAL (4325) • www.episcopalrelief.org •

You can also contribute to ERD when you shop at Amazon if you start at smile.amazon.com and choose ERD as your preferred charity. A small percentage of your purchase price will be donated to ERD.

Pray for peace. Pray for the safety of those in peril. Pray for prosperity for all those in need. Pray to be folded into the heart and mind of God.

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

EVENTS

Here at the EVENTS pages you will find some of the rich threads that make up the complicated and beautiful fabric of our lives here at Christ Church.

Christ Church is famous for world class music and upcoming music events are displayed both in this section and in the MUSIC GALLERY.

The GALLERY is designed to be a prayer and meditation aid. It is the quiet envelope of Christ Church chapel. Set it to run during your times of praying the hours or when you want focus.

EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS in This Issue

1. Candlelight Concert

2. Food Cupboard

3. R.A.I.H.N.

4. School #9

5. Financial News and Report

6. Vestry Minutes

7. Meet the VanDelinder Fellows

8. From the Archives

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 Rochester zip codes. There are 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 found in the back of the church every Sunday.

R.A.I.H.N.

News:

· SAVE THE DATE for two upcoming events: (1) Shop Til You Drop & dining at Benucci’s - mark your calendars for Tuesday, December 6th, 5 – 9pm at Pittsford Plaza. Benucci’s will again donate 20% of your dining check to RAIHN – reservations recommended #264-1300. (2) Car City 2017 - Saturday, May 6th – Sunday, May 7th at Asbury First United Methodist Church.

· Car City Logo Contest - In honor of the 5th Annual Car City, we are holding a LOGO CONTEST! Here are the details:

- All entries must be received by Monday, October 31st via mail to 34 Meigs St., Rochester, 14607 or via email to raihncarcity@gmail.

- All entries must be created by youth ages 18 years old or younger.

- All entries must fit on an 8 ½ x 11 inch sheet of paper/document.

- Entries may be hand drawn or designed using computer software. (All entries will be converted to .pdf documents.)

- Entries must include the words “Car City 2017.”

- Entries can use multiple colors, but will only be reprinted in one color.

- All entries become the property of RAIHN and will not be returned.

- Please include the artist’s name, phone number, email address, and congregation so that we may contact them if they are the winning entry.

The winning logo will be featured on the upcoming Car City T-shirt, website and other publications, and the winning artist will receive two complimentary registrations to Car City 2017, along with a prize to be determined. Show us how creative you are!

2016 Volunteer Trainings

· Tuesday, October 18th, 2016, 6:30 pm - Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints, 460 Kreag Rd., Pittsford

Tuesday, October25th, 2016, 6:30 pm - Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4115 Dewey Ave., Rochester

· 2nd LEVEL TRAINING- Wednesday, November 16th, 2016, 7:00 - 8:30 pm - Church of the Assumption, 20 East Ave., Fairport (please note time)

(The 2nd Level Training is for volunteers who have attended our Volunteer Orientation. This training discusses issues our families are facing that shape their experiences, such as culture, trauma and poverty, in an interactive presentation with input from RAIHN volunteers.)

RSVP to Jen Canning RAIHN Coordinator of Volunteer services at coordinator@raihn.org or 585-506-9050

School #9

During the summer, Christ Church parishioners gathered crayons, pencils, erasers, scissors, pencil bags, etc. to make homework toolkits for 1st graders at School #9. Your contributions provided 48 kits (enough for two of the five classrooms), with several items leftover for teachers to provide homework toolkits to any students who join their classrooms later in the year. Christ Church/Pittsford and St. Thomas' Churches made kits for the other three classrooms. Attached are some of the faces of the happy recipients!

Thank you for your gifts, and for continuing to support the education of students at School #9!

--Vicki McCutchon & Patti Blaine

(photo credit: Paula Valeri, City School Outreach Coordinator for St. Paul's Episcopal Church)

In an effort to bring you up to the minute news, this section will be updated frequently with the latest financial news. ed. note

Christ Church Finance Report

NEW NEWS-

Bulletin Insert from Finance Committee (beginning 11/13)

From the Finance Committee

Updated financial information is shown below, and always available via The Song and the bulletin board!

October YTD

Income: $248,684

Expenses: $293,681

Deficit YTD: ($44,997)

Account Balances

Checking: $53,000

Fidelity: $378,150

Amsden Trust: $225,000

Flower Fund: $11,000

October News

The Grant Committee is thrilled to announce that Christ Church has been awarded $4,000 as the recipient of a Consulting Grant from the Sacred Sites Fund under the New York State Landmarks Conservancy. These funds will go toward engineering consulting to address issues with the Lawn Street façade. In January 2017 we will apply for a Sacred Sites Challenge Grant to help with the costs of the work associated with repairing the façade. Go Christ Church! (Still waiting to hear on our larger grant application to the NYS Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation … go light a candle!)

YAY!

update 10/21/2016-

From the Finance Committee

Updated financial information is shown below, and always available via The Song and the Christ Church bulletin board.

September YTD

Income: $216,450

Expenses: $266,231

Deficit YTD: ($49,781)

September News

In response to a question from last month … inquiring about how we deal with the deficit … we lean on our reserves or “savings” account (just like at home!).

Work on the protective glass behind the Tiffany Chancel windows will begin the week of 10/24 and is sponsored, in part, by a grant from The Farash Foundation, for which we are very grateful. We are still waiting to hear on our grant applications to Sacred Sites and the NYS Office of Parks and Historic Preservation – watch this space!

The first of three grant applications has been approved!

Christ Church was notified that we won an Emergency Repair grant of $4,500 from the Farash Foundation for repairs to the protective glass covering our Tiffany windows in the chancel. Thank you to the Property and Grant Committees for your hard work, and THANK YOU to the Farash Foundation! Grant 1 successful, 3 more TBA!

Christ Church Finance 101

Welcome to the new school year from your Christ Church Finance Committee. Didn’t realize you’d signed up for the class this year? No problem, we’ll make it easy for you to get your homework in on time and to keep up with the class!

Let’s begin with a little bit of history, so we’re all reading from the same text (or singing from the same hymnal). J

Financial State of Affairs

Do you ever sit in our beautiful sanctuary and wonder where your weekly contributions go? If not, take a quiet moment to look around and consider all that goes into keeping our doors open and the building sound. It’s a big place! And it’s aging! We offer tremendous programs to parishioners and guests alike. Just as you have bills and expenses at home, we have them here at Christ Church – heat, water, electricity, staff, programs, insurance – it all adds up.

Over the course of the past two years we’ve lost a number of significant contributors who have either passed on or moved away, and that has had a very direct impact on our financial health. As of August 31, 2016 we had a deficit of $48,500, and it is growing.

These aren’t new expenses every month, just our cumulative income and expenses month-to-month.

Simply put, there’s more going out than coming in.

Taking Care of Our Home

Certainly one of our largest expenses is the physical plant, and the Property Committee has done a heroic job of prioritizing, negotiating and managing the significant repairs that are already underway. You know that from reading last week’s Bulletin Insert, right? The Vestry approved about $170,000 in repairs to cover this work, but the list of other, needed repairs continues to grow.

So, how do we, as a small parish, care for our historic space? In a few ways, actually. Read on …

Grants

A small group of parishioners came together in late spring to brainstorm and pursue grant monies. To-date we have submitted three (3) applications:

1. NYS Landmarks Conservancy/Sacred Sites Consulting Grant: an application for $5,250 to fund architectural consulting services for repairs to the Lawn Street façade, including a structural engineering review, solutions for permanent repair or rebuilding, and work with the State Historic Preservation Office. The Sacred Sites grant is a 50% match grant. A decision is expected in October.

2. NYS Environmental Preservation Grant: an application for $326,500 for additional repairs to the roof, window sills, repair of three clerestory windows, plaster repairs and completion of interior painting. The Preservation grant is a 75% match grant. A decision is expected in November.

3. Farash Foundation/Emergency Repair Grant: an application for $7,400 for repair of protective glass covering the Chancel Tiffany windows. Farash Emergency grants fund 100% of the repair. A decision is expected soon.

Next up for the Committee will be an application for Sacred Sites for the work to fix the Lawn Street wall (50% of cost can be requested), as well as review of the potential for us to apply for a NYS “Main Street” grant.

Stewardship and Capital Campaigns

In addition to seeking financial support from funding agencies, we need to ask ourselves if we are doing everything we can to sustain our parish in our own giving.

A Stewardship Campaign will begin soon, and is especially important this year as we continue to seek grants. Erasing our deficit and achieving a balanced budget is attractive to grant organizations, and helps us to stretch our own funds.

Beyond the Stewardship Campaign, another group of parishioners has begun work on a Capital Campaign. This Campaign will solicit financial support from both our own parish as well as the broader community in which we will live and serve.

Homework Assignment

We will be including a brief financial “snapshot” in the Bulletin from now on, so you’ll know how we’re doing. Your assignment is to stay up-do-date by reading the Bulletin and participating in the Stewardship and Capital Campaigns as they are launched.

Please feel free to contact a committee member for more information and/or feedback.

The Christ Church Finance Committee

Jeremy Cooney

Josie Dewey

Norm Geil

Meg Mackey

Ron Vukman

Christ Church Vestry Meeting: May 17, 2016

Warden's Report - Deb VanderBilt

• The Vestry discussed openings in Diocesan Council and Delegates to Convention. We hope parish members will be interested in filling these positions. It is very useful to have Christ Church members on these positions since initiatives that help the church (youth group grants, e.g.) often start from Council.

• The Vestry submitted the audit to the diocese for 2014 and 2015.

• Deb met with Blu Cease (ROCO) and the vestry reviewed the legal partnership agreement with ROCO for our art on Christ Church lawn collaboration. In summary, ROCO is responsible for everything and the Church is not liable for anything associated with the outdoor exhibit in the Church gardens.

Property and Finance committee report - Hugh Kiereg and Meg Mackey

• Plaster damage in the church was largely due to the roof problems so the committee made a comprehensive list of all the areas that need repair. John Fields did a great job of creating this list. Also Alan Jones and Tony Kingsley were very helpful talking to contractors. The property committee created a spread sheet of items needing repair.

• Property Committee met with the architects to discuss the roof repair and asked them to create a list of work tasks that they can do to assist us and their cost ($13,000) for an alternate roof replacement system, etc. They will assist with contract and bid administration. The Committee recommends we engage Bero Associates to do this work.

• Swiatek Studios gave us an estimate of $177,000 for the whole church; the committee has narrowed the scope of their work to the chancel and narthex as well as fixing the ceiling in time for the Jazz Fest. Eastman will use Parsons to cover the organ. There was discussion about the paint color designed by Tiffany. If we choose historical colors it will help us with the historic preservation status and getting grants. Swiatek can help us research color.

• The grants committee is optimistic we will receive some of the grants we have applied for. But the majority of the paint and plaster needs to be paid for now before we know about the grants.

• Motion to spend approve $170,665 for chancel, narthex and roof repairs & painting. MSP

• There was discussion about fixing the Lawn Street wall that is ready to tumble into the street. Hugh responded that Jennifer from Bero Associates says the wall is stable and the bracing has stabilized the wall and will not fall over. Hugh will ask Jennifer to write a letter or an affidavit. Vestry passed a resolution to pay for this letter.

Meal and More report: Bill Soleim and Lois Jones

Meal and More Board and Christ Church sub-committee on Meal and Mores will meet on June 21st. The group will try to model a partnership agreement on the Eastman partnership with a written agreement about what each other’s responsibilities are.

Submitted by Clerk Gale Lynch

Christ Church Vestry Meeting - June 21, 2016

Patti Blaine met with the Vestry, requesting nomination for candidacy for ordination to the diaconate. Vestry listened to an update on Patti’s activities since her last visit, and had an opportunity to ask questions of Patti regarding her experiences and her sense of strengths and weaknesses.

Patti’s nomination for candidacy was passed unanimously.

Warden’s Report – Josie

Vestry members were assigned as liaisons to various parish groups and will check in with parish leaders twice a year.

Reporting on Finances: We will have a quarterly summary in The Song: Feb, May, Sept, Nov.

Include a “budget snapshot” in the Bulletin (monthly stats). It’s important to keep the parish informed, especially as we are in a deficit budget and the deficit is growing. Meg will draft it for September.

Reports

Meal & More: Bill and Lois reported that the CC/M&M joint committee met: Norm, Lois, Bill and from M&M: Ken, Patti, Jeffrey. Topics included the need to refine role/responsibilities of the sexton; Insurance – need to look into this, e.g., fire using their equipment. One more meeting will follow.

Property: Hugh presented a report from the Property Committee. Kevin Finnegan moved to approve an expense of $520 for a letter from Bero/Jensen detailing the condition/status of the Lawn Street wall. MSP. The Property Committee had a very collaborative meeting with ESM regarding acoustics. Acoustician offered to evaluate all of the ceiling areas should a lift be available ($3K). Temporary repair to North Aisle was completed in less than 2 days. Hugh will write up a bulletin blurb “What to Expect” for the restoration work.

Respectfully submitted, Meg Mackey, Clerk pro tem

Christ Church Vestry Meeting August 23, 2016

Rector’s Report – Ruth Ferguson

There was general discussion on the book “Uprooting Racism” with the emphasis on current events and racial tensions. Ruth lead the Vestry in a discussion on the introduction of the book and the nature of racism. The Vestry members discussed their experiences with racism.

Warden’s Report – Deb, Josie

Amsden Expenditures (Deb)

- The Vestry received recommendations for using the Amsden funds to support three functions – financial support for Patric Collins and Patti Blaine; spring semester support for Eastman organ students, and; funding for a part-time Sunday School coordinator / teacher.

- There was discussion regarding the use of these funds based on the direction of Ms. Amsden. Lois agree to research how the funds bequest could be modified. There were also questions regarding the newly formed Men’s Club support Sunday School activities. Ruth will discuss with the Amsden Committee the use of future fund dispersements.

- Motion for the use of the funds for tuition reimbursement for Paddy and Patti. Eastman organ student and Sunday School coordinator funding was deferred to next month. MSP

Wedding Fees (Josie)

Wedding fees were presented for Vestry approval. While all were in agreement to the new rate schedule, there was agreement that the rates should be reviewed after the church renovations were complete. MSP

Committee Updates

Property Committee Report was presented by Hugh.

1. A Farash grant will be submitted for protective glass for the Tiffany windows in the chancel.

2. On the north aisle roof, our contractor wants to pull up a section to see what has been done with the roof there over the last 40 years or so. The roof ultimately needs to be integrated with the flashing on sills to be effective. In the meantime, we will get storm windows for the clerestory windows, which will be adequate protection for this year. The water infiltration isn’t from the roof itself but from the roof/sill intersections. The main part of the roof may still be good for about 10 years.

3. Lawn St. Wall: An email from the contractor who will report on the adequacy of the bracing for safety confirmed we will get that report in September. In October, we should hear if Sacred Sites approved our grant request for 50% of the repair consulting fee with Bero.

4. There are bees in the tower. Estimate on eradication is being prepared. Lois suggested bee rescuers be contacted if the bees are honeybees or other useful pollinators, instead of killing them.

5. The property committee will be sure downspouts are cleaned out. Some of the roof issues are because the downspouts seem to be blocked.

6. Property Committee will create a priority list of projects and cost estimates for the October Vestry meeting. This will be useful for the Capital Campaign as well.

Finance Committee. Meg Mackey reported on the status of the grants submitted. Also discussed was the current financial situation of the operating accounts.

Capital Campaign Committee. The report was presented by Ruth. Two brainstorming sessions have been held. The next meeting will be August 29th. There was discussion regarding the use of a facilitator to assist with developing and guiding the campaign.

Stewardship Committee. Joe reported that the Stewardship Committee will be meeting to discuss the approach this year’s campaign. There was general discussion regarding in-home meetings over a meal hosted by members of parish who volunteer to do that.

Liturgy Committee. Ruth reported that she is suspending the use of Vergers in the service until more can be recruited. (One verger has gone off to college, one is now working Sundays.)

Respectfully submitted, Hugh E. Kierig, Clerk pro tem

Meet the VanDerlinder Fellows

Madeleine Woodworth

I’m thrilled to be serving as one of this year’s three VanDelinder Fellows. In the fall of 2014, I came to Eastman to study organ with Nathan Laube, and I was fortunate enough to join Schola Cantorum as a freshman. Working under the direction of Stephen Kennedy inspired me to participate as a choir member at Christ Church starting in February 2015. I grew up singing in choirs at Grace Episcopal Church in Oak Park, IL, so my passion for singing and conducting has been well nourished from an early age. Watching everyone work together here, I’ve truly fallen in love with what this music program has to offer. I’m constantly realizing the profound joys of sacred music and hope that this path makes itself present in my future. Sacred music brings so much spiritual balance and peace to my life, and the quality of musicianship at Christ Church continually serves to nurture my soul. I’m so grateful for this unique opportunity, and I look forward to serving this community in what I know will be a wonderful year.

My name is Alden Wright and I am honored to serve as a VanDelinder Fellow in your parish! I am a freshman here at Eastman, where I study with Nathan Laube. I am a native of Salisbury, NC and I am truly excited to be living in Rochester. In Salisbury, I served as music director and organist at Milford Hills United Methodist Church from January 2015 – June 2016. Now, of course, I will continue my experience in church music in your parish. Though only a freshman, I have visited your sanctuary on several occasions, the first being during last summer’s High School Organ Week, a program of the ‘Summer at Eastman’ series. I will always remember the day that I first heard the two fabulous instruments at Christ Church. I did not imagine at the time that I would have the opportunity in my first year to serve the parish on those instruments and study with your wonderful music director, Stephen Kennedy. I am truly looking forward to serving God and this parish while furthering my knowledge of the timeless liturgy of the Church.

I am Jiaqi Shao, a sophomore pursuing my BM in Organ Performance in the studio of Professor David Higgs at Eastman School of Music. I was born in 1997 in Shanghai, China, and began studying piano at the age of four. As a pianist, I won the second prize in the 16th Annual Music Open Competition in the United States (2008). I studied in the Music Middle School (affiliated with the Shanghai Conservatory of Music) from 2009-2015. I have studied organ since 2011, and was the winner of the teenage group in the Second International Electronic Organ Competition in Beijing, China in 2011. Now being an organ student at Eastman School of Music, I performed in “Pipedreams Organ Concerts” in Rochester this April and played in student improvisation concerts at Christ Church. I sang in Christ Church Choir last year and am very much looking forward to being with you as a VanDelinder Fellow this year.

More about the Roy E. VanDelinder, Jr. Fellowship Program at Christ Church Rochester.

Through the combined resources of Christ Church’s Liturgical Music Program and the Eastman School of Music’s Organ Department, 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 will 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 will receive training and experience in improvising, composing, arranging, hymn playing, anthem and motet accompaniment, chanting, conducting, and rehearsing choirs and instrumentalists as well as other components within a church music program. This program is made possible by a generous gift from the Roy E. VanDelinder, Jr. Fund of Rochester Area Community Foundation.

Fellowship in Liturgical Organ Studies

Fellows will be selected by the VanDelinder Committee. This committee will base their decision on the student’s résumé, playing skills, and two letters of recommendation. Fellows will receive a scholarship of around $4,700 for the academic year. This amount will be re-figured this year, so it may be slightly more than this amount. 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 will select one acting Fellow to receive the Roy E. VanDelinder, Jr. Prize in Liturgical Organ Skills that includes a cash prize of $8,000 above the scholarship. This prize will be awarded to the VanDelinder Fellow that demonstrates the greatest diligence and achievement. The prizewinner will be expected to remain in active duty as Fellow for a negotiated number of Sundays beyond the school term. Fellows who do not win the prize will be excused at the end of the school term.

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 III This month: Who was on the first Vestry of Christ Church? Spoiler alert: it was all men.

1) Silas Smith came to Rochester in 1810 and had 3 copies of the Book of Common Prayer with him. He held worship services in his house before there was a church. He built the first store in Rochester and bought the land that St. Luke’s stands on now. He was warden from 1855 to 1863.

2) David Hoyt, junior warden, was a bookseller & publisher with a store on State Street.

3) Dellon Dewey was also a bookseller and art dealer with a store in Reynold’s Arcade. He was on the vestry for 24 years. He lived on East and Chestnut.

4) Andrew Brackett was a crockery merchant with a shop on Buffalo St, but he lived on East & Chestnut.

5) Delos Wentworth was an attorney who lived around the corner at 11 William St. (now Broadway). He was a warden for 18 years.

6) Edward Meigs Smith was cashier of the Rochester Bank and lived on Fitzhugh St.

He was mayor of Rochester from 1869-1870.

7) Charles Babbitt was a civil engineer and lived at 170 East Ave.

8) Daniel Beach was an attorney and he lived at 2 Galusha St. (now Lawn St.).

9) John Fairbanks was a miller and owned Frankfort Mills. They lived at Chestnut and Elm. The first rector lived with the Fairbanks when he came to Rochester. John and his wife Charlotte were the first communicants listed in the register.

10) John Winslow was a pharmacist and city alderman, with a store on Main St.

In the first year, the vestry met weekly. The first building was not intended for permanent use as a church; the founders assumed it would one day become an annex to a larger church facing East Avenue. They thought it would happen in a year or two but it took 30 years for that to come to pass. The first building cost $5,535 and the parish was $4,000 in debt for it when they began services there. They tried hard to be frugal—a sexton was employed only in winter when there were “fires and walks to tend” (18).

James Hendryx writes, “What a revelation a visit to Christ Church circa 1855 would be. For unadorned as was the church, the service was more so. Preaching and congregational singing were the chief elements of worship, the worshippers remaining rooted to their pews even at the presentation of the alms. Propriety required that the preacher wear no other vestment in the pulpit than a long black gown with the white linen bands representing the tablets of the law. …The short surplice was considered ‘Romish’” (20). Communion was celebrated only 12 times a year, a custom that persisted until Dr. Doty became the rector in 1877. And the choir sang “huddled about the harmonium” (20).

Next edition: What about the women in the early days of Christ Church?