photo credit and animation- David CFC Jutsum©2017
CHRIST CHURCH Christmas and Epiphany 2017-2018
Rochester, NY The SONG vol. 3 issue 2
Ruth's column
The Feast of The Holy Name 2018
“She will bear a son,” the angel spoke from a dream to Joseph, “and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” As otherworldly as the announcement was, yet the naming itself is a very human moment, one bound up in the faithful religious practice of the parents, the name itself bound up with Jesus’ own human journey. The naming is also a divine moment, one that binds Jesus’ human identity with God, his name meaning, more or less, GOD saves. We call him Jesus in English by way of the Greek: Yeshuah, possibly Yehoshua. As the child derives his own being from the being of God, so His name derives in part from God’s name: ehyeh asher ehyeh, I am who am; I will be with you as who I am – as the child himself carries all the power and promise of Yahweh’s salvation, so the child’s name carries within it all of the power and the promise of the very Name of God. All that I AM meant to the people who waited for him, for Emmanuel, for God with us, the promise of that name fulfilled in the naming of the child.
His name was called Jesus. It was a common name in his day (not uncommon in our own). But unlike other names, the name was given him by the angel before He was conceived in the womb. Yeshuah was not merely a name Joseph and Mary gave to the child, but from all eternity this child was given the name Yeshuah, the child who is both God and man: the God who saves by becoming man. The name signifies not only who he is: the name from the moment of the Incarnation becomes holy because it is a name from the depths of God Himself.
If this strikes us as odd - the idea of the holiness of a NAME – it is probably because what really strikes us as odd is the very idea of the holy, period. We say the word easily enough - we confess one holy Catholic and apostolic Church: but what does the word really mean to us today? We can chalk it up to secularism, as always, but the loss of the holy is especially heightened in a culture of increasing narcissm. In a world where we see ourselves at the center – in all of the ways we do that- our righteous notions (guided and misguided) about human progress, consumption of self-help books, our designation of time off as “me time,” It is in true solitude (not me time) that we encounter the holy.
Holiness can exist only if we believe that we are not the center of being, only if we accept the possibility of something or someone extraordinary beyond our comprehension, only know at least a whiff of fear and trembling at the center of our lives. For the most part, a holy person today someone who does the right thing. The phrase: holier than thou, says it all. That’s the narcism, because holiness is not something we aspire to. The holy is so drastically different from us, outside of us, and wholly other. It’s easy to forget this, but when you remember, it hones your vision. [reference to Starbucks coffee cup on the altar]
In its orgins, the Eucharist was actually perceived as an an action rather than human words and human activity.. an intermingling of divine and human activity. There was a time when people were in awe, and waited and watched for the glimmers into the presence of the Divine that went beyond mere doctrine about the Real Presence. That is pretty much what we witness today on the Feast of the Holy Name: the intermingling of Divine and Human activity in such a way that something as simple as a name becomes sacramental. While the rest of the world hunkers in this morning to keep warm and recover from whatever bombastic New Year’s celebrations happened last night, here, in the quiet solitude of this little chapel we witness the turning of time and the waking of new life as we celebrate the naming of a newborn long ago..as we witness the holiness of that event that still surrounds us because the name from the moment of the Incarnation became holy...and like the Eucharist we celebrate in his name, it comes from the depths of God himself.
See you in church,
Ruth+
Did you know that Ruth has a blog? It's beautiful and you can find it here-
Notes from Stephen Kennedy
MUSIC NOTES FROM STEPHEN
The season of Advent is rich with music expressing longing, waiting, impending joy, and celebration. Below are a few examples of anthems and motets that will be performed within Sunday Eucharists by the Christ Church Choir and at Compline by the Schola Cantorum.
Oculi omnium Charles Wood (1866-1926)
Translation: The eyes of all wait upon thee, [O Lord]; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing. Alleluia.
For my flesh is meat indeed, and my blood is drink indeed.
He that eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, dwelleth in me, and I in him.Alleluia.
Tollite hostias Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Translation: Raise the hosts, and worship God in his holy court.
May the heaven rejoice, and may the earth dance before the face of God, for He comes.
Hallelujah!
Veni redemptor gentium Jacob Handl (1550-1591)
Translation: Come, redeemer of the peoples, and show the birth from a Virgin; every age shall acclaimthat such a birth befits God.
The Lamb John Tavener (1944-2013)
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Gave thee life & bid thee feed.
By the stream & o'er the mead;
Gave thee clothing of delight,
Softest clothing wooly bright;
Gave thee such a tender voice,
Making all the vales rejoice!
Little Lamb who made thee
Dost thou know who made thee
Little Lamb I'll tell thee,
He is called by thy name,
For he calls himself a Lamb:
He is meek & he is mild,
He became a little child:
I a child & thou a lamb,
We are called by his name.
Little Lamb God bless thee.
Ave Maria Camille Saint-Saëns (1835-1921)
Translation: Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus.Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and in the hour of our death. Amen.
Stephen Kennedy
Music Director
Christ Church Rochester
Instructor of Sacred Music
Eastman School of Music
Bonus!
This improvisation attempts to reflect the bold themes of the Martin Luther’s text of “Nun comma, der Heiden Heiland” which is based on text of Ambrose of Milan (340-397). All verses of this hymn are not in our hymnal but are listed here as translated by William M. Reynolds.
1 Savior of the nations, come,
virgin's Son, make here Thy home!
Marvel now, O heav'n and earth,
that the Lord chose such a birth.
2 Not by human flesh and blood,
but the Spirit of our God,
was the Word of God made flesh--
woman's Offspring, pure and fresh.
3 Wondrous birth! O wondrous Child
Of the Virgin undefiled!
Though by all the world disowned,
still to be in heav'n enthroned.
4 From the Father forth He came
and returneth to the same,
captive leading death and hell--
high the song of triumph swell!
5 Thou the Father's only Son,
hast o'er sin the vict'ry won.
Boundless shall Thy kingdom be;
when shall we its glories see?
6 Brightly doth Thy manger shine,
glorious is its light divine.
Let not sin o'ercloud this light;
ever be our faith thus bright.
7 Praise to God the Father sing,
Praise to God the Son, our King,
Praise to God the Spirit be
Ever and eternally.
(I call it Awesome!)
EVENTS
EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS in This Issue
Capital Campaign Kickoff
Upcoming Music Event Poster
Third Sunday Lecture Series and Compline
Roger Freitas
The Counter Reformation and the Baroque Aesthetic
Latest Sunday Bulletin and Audio of the 11:00 am Eucharist
(when you click on an image below it will become full size and you can scroll through the pages)
12th NIGHT CELEBRATION- audio recording
(although it was the 26th night after Christmas)
Bulletin for the Solemnity of the Nativity 10:30 pm
audio of the Festal Eucharist
ANNUAL MEETING- January 28th, 2018
text of agenda
Minute Ministries
Candlelight Concert Schedule 2017-2018
The Care Team
GRANTS UPDATE
Vestry Minutes
Capital Campaign Kickoff
Third Sunday Lectures and Compline
Feast of Christmas Eve (Solemnity of the Nativity)
Christ Church Annual Parish Meeting January 28, 2018
Prayer and Rector’s Opening Remarks The Rev’d Ruth Ferguson
Updates/Greetings from Community Partners Bleu Cease, ROCO
Lois Jones, A Meal & More
Chef Alan Callerame & William Drayton
Emily Brennan
Nominations for Warden and Vestry Kyle Liddell
- Warden for 2-year term
- Three vestry persons for 3-year terms
- 1 Vestry person for 1-year fill-in term
- Open spot for 2-year fill-in term
Open Ballot
Voting members are 18 years or older, have been baptized for at least 12 months, are regular attendants at worship, and contribute to the support of the parish.
Report on Parish ministries
Music Program Lydia Kirkpatrick
Spiritual Formation Kyle Liddell
Outreach Lucie Parfitt
Finance Committee Meg Mackey and Norm Geil
Capital Campaign Lucie Parfitt
Warden’s Remarks Deb VanderBilt
Close Ballot The Rev’d Ruth Ferguson
Closing Prayer The Rev’d Ruth Ferguson
REPORT on the Music Program
Stephen Kennedy, Music Director
Christ Church Music Program
Special thanks and appreciation is due to each of you for your participation in music at Christ Church. Whether singing a chant or hymn, listening to a prelude or postlude, or honing a motet in a rehearsal, we are all celebrating something important together as a family through music and we do it with love. We are grateful for the support and work of our Rector Ruth Ferguson, Wardens Deborah Vanderbilt and Kyle Liddell, the Vestry, Pat Knapp, and Moses Roland. We also want to thank our Associate organists David Higgs and William Porter for contributing so generously of their time and talent. They also help with mentoring and teaching our parish musicians and VanDelinder Fellows. Our VanDelinder Fellows Joshua Ehlebracht, Henry Webb, and Alden Wright also deserve tremendous thanks for all their great work in our parish. Our Eastman-Christ Church Choral Scholar, Adam Sadberry; Choral Scholar, Evan Ritter; and Music Scholar, Thatcher Lyman (Assistant Director of the Schola Cantorum) also contribute greatly to music at Christ Church. It is so exciting to see such growth in liturgical music skills from these dedicated young musicians. We are also extremely grateful to Christopher Huebner, Schola librarian and coordinator, as well as our dedicated teem of Compline Ushers. Continued thanks and appreciation goes to the members of our parish ensembles as listed below:
Goals from 2017 – ongoing in 2018
- Attract more people to Christ Church through our music program Goal on target
- Raise the level of musicianship in CC ensembles Goal on target
- Raise community awareness of our rich and diverse music program Goal on target
- Foster the education and training of musicians in liturgical music skills Goal on target
- Engage people from the larger community (non parishioners) to help fund
our parish music program Goal on target
- Install professional recording equipment in the church to record CC Choir,
Youth Ensemble, Consort, CC liturgies, and concerts Working on installation date
7. Fundraising to support our parish music program Goal on target
8. Strengthen existing community collaborations and partnerships in music Goal on target
Opportunities for individuals to assist and contribute in our parish music program
- Compline ushers and Candle-lighters Team is in place, but more are welcome
- Greeters at Tuesday Pipes to represent the parish Alan Jones is our regular; others are welcome
- Volunteers to help send publicity to media via e-mail Help in this would be great
- People to help set up for Compline following the 11:00 CC Choir members could use assistance
Eucharist
- People to assist in searching for grants and grant writing Volunteers needed
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 have those needs in bold print, but all the groups welcome new volunteers. Please read the list and see what might match your interests and skills.
A MEAL AND MORE – Lois Jones
In order to sustain, A Meal and More, now beginning its 39th year, it takes the cooperation and effort of: Christ Church Rochester; A Meal and More, Inc. Board Members; Hundreds of Volunteers, from both Episcopal and non-Episcopal churches; an experienced and competent Chef; a pleasant and watchful Greeter and a germ conscious and helpful Dishwasher.
It is truly startling to find out that 1 out of every 6 people in the United States is considered food challenged. 8130 meals were served during 2017 by A Meal and More. The Elderly are a very consistent presence. Between 140 and 270 meals were served to them every month this year, as compared to between 150 and 200 meals per month last year. The number of meals to Children nearly doubled with 40 meals per month being served to Children compared to approximately 25 meals per month last year. Adults – make up the largest group we feed with approximately 500 meals served to this group each month which is down by about 100 meals per month from last year but those meals are now being served to the Elderly and Children.
The 3 men who faithfully feed our Urban poor are: Allen Callerame, Chef; William Drayton, Greeter and Nick Donofrio, Dishwasher.
We want to THANK all the members of Christ Church for your faithful and continued support of A Meal and More, Inc.’s Ministry. --Lois Jones, Vice President and Kristy Liddell, Volunteer Coordinator
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 20 minutes to wash communion vessels and put away vestments. We each serve one a week per month, but many of us also work together on Christmas and Easter to decorate the sanctuary. If you think you would enjoy serving God and our congregation in this quiet ministry, please contact Bill Soleim.
Crucial need: A partner for an altar guild member currently serving alone on SECOND and FOURTH Sundays of the month.
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 – Carolyn Mauro
A delightful task that we on the birthday card team have is to send greetings to every member of our parish family whose birthday we have on record at the parish office. This is a small but, we’ve heard, enjoyed yearly acknowledgment of your importance to our parish family—you’re all a vital part of us. We’re all grateful for your presence and giving of your talents to Christ Church’s mission, so the cards are a small but sincere reminder of that to you. Crucial Need: Several members have not shared their “special day” with us, and if you have chosen not to participate, we understand. However, if you have been with Christ Church for a while and have not been acknowledged, or if you are new to us, and would like to receive a yearly card, please notify the parish office at your earliest convenience. Thank you.
A GIFT AND A PROMISE CAPITAL CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE REPORT – Joe Schaller
The members of the committee are: The Rev. Ruth Ferguson; Gail Lynch; Lucy Parfitt; Joseph Schaller, chairperson; Bill Soleim; John Urban; and Deb Vanderbilt. The committee is grateful for the opportunity to serve Christ Church.
The Christ Church building needs repair. If we are to continue to worship and fulfill our great commission, as Christians, in this building, the repairs must be done as soon as possible. Because our operating funds are insufficient to pay for the capital improvements, the Christ Church Vestry decided to initiate a capital campaign. A campaign committee was formed, and the campaign was named A Gift and a Promise. Your Gift is for our near-term needs and it is also a Promise – because it secures our future. The campaign goal is $1 million. Demonstrating their commitment to the campaign each member of the vestry has pledged a gift.
In the spring of 2017 a capital campaign consultant was briefly retained. Dissatisfied with the consultant, the relationship was terminated, and the capital campaign committee assumed the responsibilities for the day-to-day operational management of the campaign. The committee has been meeting on a weekly basis since August 2017. Campaign polices, collateral materials and an administrative infrastructure were created. Fundraising plans were determined and initiated for parishioners, friends of Christ Church and external organizations.
To date the campaign has raised through gifts, pledges and grants… Apologies for the tease but to find out the amount raised and other important details of the campaign, and your vital role we cordially invite you to A Gift and a Promise kick-off celebration on Sunday, February 11 following the 11 AM service.
CARE TEAM – Norma Kurmis and Elizabeth Dugdale
The Meals Care Team has 8 active members. We have provided several meals to 4 families since the summer. The team will bring meals on a temporary basis to parishioners who have suffered bereavement, have a new baby or are home from the hospital, for example. If anyone knows of a family who could use a little extra help with a meal or two, please contact Ruth with your request. Sometimes the requests can come in quickly, so anyone who is willing to donate their time and meal-prep skills to the team would be welcomed! If you are interested in joining us, please let me know at lotusmom2000@hotmail.com.
Home Visits currently has 10 members who arrange amongst themselves to go a visit a fellow member of our church when notified who is in need of a little bit of society but cannot get to church! We have (luckily) only been called upon to arrange visits for a total of 3 fellow church members over the past year. I believe we have done a good job in dividing up the visits and find these interactions & chances to socialize highly rewarding, but as the head of this group, I confess: I have done a poor job in double checking in with my teammates and apologize...Sorry ya'll! We are always welcoming more people to add their name to the list to go visit a church family members when they are in need of some company so please email Elizabeth Dugdale at emother@gmail.com if you would like to join! (And/or if you have any suggestions). If you need a meal or a visit from the Care Team, call or email the Rector and she will let the Care Team know.
COMMUNICATION COMMITTEE – Kyle Liddell
The communications committee is composed of the maintainers of the CC website, The Song, the Facebook page, our paper brochures and advertisements, and other publicity efforts. Follow our church activities in The Song and on Facebook and share them with others.
FORUM – Mary Vukman
The Forum is a study and discussion group that meets on Sunday mornings. Most recently, we have been reading the Letter of James slowly and inquisitively. We ask a lot of questions and toss around a lot of maybe's, hoping to better understand our our Christian heritage and calling. Watch the bulletin for a new topic coming soon. Then join us any Sunday 9:45 -10:45 am in the Guild Room.
FOYERS – Val Jutsum
Foyers is our name for small informal groups of Christ Church parishioners who meet for a meal. They are a wonderful way, whether you are relatively new to the church or a long-time member, to meet and get to know other Christ Church members.
Foyers groups are composed of 6-8 people who meet once a month in each others’ homes for a simple dinner. Each person hosts one dinner during the “season,” and it is a simple dinner (not potluck) lasting from about 6 to 9 p.m. There is no agenda, just fun and fellowship! Because of Rochester weather, the “Foyers season” at Christ Church is April to October.
Do you have small children? In the past, we have offered the choice to specify if you would like to be in a group with others with small children. Please note your choice about that when signing up below.
Are you thinking “I don’t have space for 8-10 people to sit around a dining table”? Don't let that stop you! Dinners can be informal--we can balance plates on our laps! We can picnic! All who want to be part of Foyers are welcome.
This past Foyer Season didn’t occur. The number of interested participants wasn’t enough to make a group(s).
Crucial need: Interested people to eat a meal and have fun.
CHANCEL TEAM: Acolyte, Crucifer, Subdeacon, Thurifer, Verger – Jim Bement
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.” Since last year’s report, we have added 5 members to the Team including 1 youth. To reinitiate the position of Verger in our services we will need two or three additional members. 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
JAZZ FESTIVAL – Carlos Mercado
Each June, our parish welcomes over 6,000 music lovers to our building to enjoy what has become one of the four top jazz festivals in the world and the largest gathering of British Isles musicians outside of England. This was the tenth year that we have hosted the “Made In the UK” Series, and it is possible only because of a group of dedicated parish and community volunteers. Having been designed as a Community Outreach event, it covers our out-of-pocket costs and affords an opportunity to showcase our historic building. As a result of the festival and press coverage, the name “Christ Church Rochester, NY” is well known in UK jazz circles, and we enjoy an excellent reputation for our hospitality and the quality of our facilities. We look forward to our 11th year in just a few months. Team: Carlos Mercado. Joe and Vicki McCutcheon
COFFEE HOUR, SCHOOL 9, MEALS for NEW PARENTS, WEDDINGS & SPECIAL EVENTS [phew!] – Vicki McCutchon
Coffee hour is a well- oiled machine. We have a great crew that continue to provide tasty and quenching treats and bring us all together to catch up with one another.
This is a fun year for weddings and Meals for New Parents, because we have sisters having babies within weeks of one another and we have two parishioner weddings this summer. In addition to our two parishioner weddings there are 4 other weddings on the books. The goal is eight weddings a year and I do believe we will make our goal. The church hosted 8 weddings in 2017.
I am happy to say that School #9 has quite a few churches helping them out. My contact still wants us to stay on board for school supplies which I do in conjunction with Christ Church Pittsford. I always enjoy working with the ladies from CCP as we put the school bags and uniform items together for the excited students. School #9 knows though they can always contact us if there is a need.
We continue to host our annual events of the Antiphon celebration in December and 12th Night or in this year’s case our Epiphany Celebration and the Annual Meeting Luncheon held in January. A wedding reception and dinner was held after a small wedding service this past November and was very well received. Three funeral receptions were held also this past year. We also had a going away luncheon for Marianne this past summer.
GARDEN – Deb VanderBilt
The garden group—Kitty Jospe, Lois & Alan Jones, Deb VanderBilt, Tom Foster, Joe McCutchon and other parish members and Sagamore residents—had a good year in the garden due to plentiful rain. Many neighbors and visitors are in our garden on a daily basis, and we get appreciative comments about its beauty all the time. We love sharing the garden with ROCO art as well. We dealt with vandalism to the center urn by strengthening its core, and believe it is more immune from efforts to push it over now. We can always use more hands during the early summer weeding season and the fall leaf-raking season. Contributions that go primarily toward mulching costs (about $2,000/year) are always welcome.
Crucial Need: We announce our garden work days in advance in the bulletin and responses to those work days are what would be most helpful for this group.
LECTORS AND INTERCESSORS – Kevin Finnigan
The Lectors and Intercessors are responsible for reading the lessons and Prayers of the People at services throughout the year. Parishioners who are interested and not yet members of “the team” are encouraged to join us. Lectors read about 4-5 times a year, and Intercessors about once a month.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE – Kyle Liddell
The Property Committee monitors the status of the building and property, and works with external organizations for larger repair efforts. Over the past year, we have been working towards our Lawn Street Wall repair (which will happen this summer!), coordinating with the Campaign Committee in planning for the remaining work in the nave, investigating lighting improvements, and managing roof and other building maintenance.
QUILTERS – Ann Piato
We have presented 36 handmade quilts to newly baptized members as they join Christ Church, 31 for infants and 5 for adults (3 for staff). 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.
RAIHN – Beatrice Deshommes
Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN) helps homeless families become independent by providing shelter, food and case management. Community churches provide housing and/or volunteers to support this work. We are in need of more volunteers to help sustain this ministry.
Go to www.raihn.org for more information. Contact Beatrice Deshommes 585-880-7029 for information on becoming a Christ Church RAIHN volunteer
SANCTUARY AT CHRIST CHURCH – Lucie Parfitt and Rev. Ruth Ferguson
“Sanctuary at Christ Church” is an outreach support team, with “sanctuary” being a symbolic term for how we serve Christ with our building and with our hearts. In addition to supporting A Meal and More, RAIHN, and the Angel Tree, we invited parishioners to participate in “Walk for Water” for Sudan; an interfaith gathering at Temple B’rith Kodesh to support Project Homeless Connect; a harvest dinner to honor farm workers, and hosted the Drawdown Series (climate advocacy)in the Guild Room. [Outreach Team: the Rev’d Ruth Ferguson, Lucie Parfitt, and Sue Hughes Smith]
SONG – Val Jutsum
The SONG is the newsletter for Christ Church Rochester. It is a digital publication that changes themes with the seasons of the liturgical year. The actual content changes frequently, as often as daily, sometimes. It includes eight distinct sections. They are the cover section (Song) which has an editor’s note, Ruth’s essay, and Stephen Kennedy’s music notes. The next section is a blog of Ruth’s sermons in audio form. The section called News and Events has activities and things parishioners wish to share with the other members of the parish and due to the world wide audience of the internet, the world. The music event gallery shows the ongoing music activities and contributors and the chapel gallery is a collection of photographs of the Mary Chapel intended for the private reflection of our visitors as an aid to prayer and meditation. There is a contact page where anyone can leave a message, suggestion, or comment. The archive section has all of the back issues, but because it is set up like a blog post, the most recent issue is on top and the previous issues are below in chronological order going back to the very first issue. There is also a donate section. This is set up to take credit card donations. Anyone, parishioner or casual visitor can make a donation, by credit card from this page.
We also send out a small number of paper printed copies for those parishioners who have requested it, typically people who do not have access to a computer, tablet, smartphone, or internet.
The SONG also contains in every section, lots of music and art, much of it original. It can’t be seen anywhere but here. The music is taken from our service recordings as well as professionally made recordings of the Schola Cantorum. It is world class.
Below is a breakdown of the number of visits the SONG had last year and last month.
My hope for the SONG is that people would enjoy reading it, share it with their friends, both in the parish and outside it, and invest themselves creatively by submitting items for publication. We have a very talented and dedicated group of people. I want them to use their voices. I want them to be seen and heard.
SPIRITUAL FORMATION – Kyle Liddell and Rev. Ruth Ferguson
This year we have a “formation team” planning and creating programs for study, prayer, and faith sharing throughout the 2017-2018 academic year. In October/November we held book study on NT Wright’s “Surprised by Hope: Rethinking Heaven, the Resurrection, and the Mission of the Church.” In November/December, we welcomed the Rev’d Bill Peterson to three lunch studies to present on the history and theology of Advent and its liturgies from his book, “What are We Waiting For? Re-imagining Advent for Time to Come.” In January / February, the Rector will lead an Inquirer’s Class for those new to the Episcopal Church and/or seeking baptism, confirmation or reception into the church. In February/ March, the Formation Team will lead a contemplative prayer and study program, and Dr. Mark Brummit will lead a Lenten academic study on the book of Amos. Adults and youth welcome to any and all. [Formation Team: The Rev’d Ruth Ferguson, Kyle Liddell, Kristy Liddell, Jennifer Anstey, John Urban]
STEWARDSHIP – Pru Kirkpatrick
Stewardship is the ongoing exercise of discernment for individuals and for our parish. The Stewardship Committee specifically plans and organizes the kick-off of the fall campaign. How do we best use the resources we are given? Programs, ongoing expenses, outreach, to name a few, require dollars. The Stewardship Team works with church leaders to make our parish’s mission possible. The group begins its work in late summer to plan Stewardship events for September through November. More volunteers for this committee are very welcome! If you would like to join us, please contact Pru Kirkpatrick (585) 442-7224.
SUNDAY SCHOOL – Emily Brennan
Sunday School is comprised of two separate components, nursery for younger children, and a lesson for the older kids. Nursery, essentially, keeps younger kids entertained via toys or crafts to better allow their parents to enjoy the service. The lesson for the older kids, is made up of three parts. First, we have five to ten minutes of free time for play and socialization. Then we read one (sometimes both) of that week’s readings from The Children’s Illustrated Bible, and we finish with a craft or activity related to the reading. For questions or more information, feel free to email Emily Brennan at eeb02971@sjfc.edu.
Crucial Need: Craft supplies, excluding crayons and colored pencils
TUESDAY BOOK GROUP – Shirley Ricker
The Tuesday morning book group reads widely, this year especially so. We explored David Brooks’ thoughts on “an older moral ecology” in his The Road to Character. In Raymond E. Brown’s The Churches the Apostles Left Behind we read how seven apostolic communities uniquely adapted the Christian message. We learned how being late in a fast-paced technological world that could be a blessing in Tom Friedman’s Thank You For Being Late. Most recently we discovered how the biographer A.N. Wilson views the apostle Paul in his Paul: the Mind of an Apostle. Everyone is welcome (drop-ins included) to our worship service at 9 (Eucharist the first two Tuesdays of the month, Morning Prayer the rest of the month) and to the book discussion, coffee, and treats that follow. Special thanks to Mary Anne Wickett for giving us Morning Prayer, and to Ruth for giving us Eucharist.
USHERS – Joe McCutchon
The Ushers have gone through a couple of minor changes to make the offertory more inclusive of the congregation at the 11am service. Thus, the plate collection is more interactive, and the elements of bread and wine are presented by someone from the pews other than an usher. Also, it is always helpful to have new volunteers especially for holy days and evening services.
Finance Report to Christ Church Rochester
28 January 2017
Finance Committee
Norm Geil, Co-Chair
Meg Mackey, Co-Chair
Kathy Brennan
Ron Vukman
Committee Responsibilities
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.
2018 Budget
Understanding how The Church’s funds are applied – and managing them responsibly – is an important part of the Committee’s charter.
2018 Annual Pledges … Good News!
When we presented the 2017 Budget, it reflected a projected deficit of $63,500. Thanks to YOUR generosity, we reduced that amount by 60%!!!
And that generosity has continued into 2018. As of 1/22/18, we are down just one pledging unit (household), and the amount of annual pledges has grown, notably in higher amount pledge groups. Our projected “envelopes” income for 2018 is up as well, from $194,000 in 2017, to $206,000 in 2018. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Grant Status
While not part of the Finance Committee, the Committee supports the efforts of a small but mighty team, led by Warden Deb Vanderbilt, with support from Tom Foster, Peg Britt, Meg Mackey, and Hugh Kierig (member emeritus).