November 2013 message

NOVEMBER 2013 • VOLUME 15, NUMBER 6

The 2012 Christmas Pageant “La Posada”

What’s In Your Pack?: 2 The Color of Advent: 5, 8 Christmas Service Schedule: 7 Lessons and Carols: 10 Feeding Christ’s Flock: 13

FROM

In this issue:

The Things We Carry

World Missions....................... 6

C.S. Lewis wrote, ‘He (Jesus) came to this world and became a man in order to spread to other men the kind of life He has — by what I call “good infection.” Every Christian is to become a little Christ. The whole purpose of becoming a Christian is simply nothing else.’ 1 This is the third in a series of articles I offer on the subject of conforming our lives to the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The goal of our faith, as Lewis boldly states, is not a self-serving one to merely be saved, or to brush some of the dirt off of ourselves. No, the goal of our faith is to be transformed into the likeness of our Savior. Such a goal will take a lifetime from which there is no retirement.

Family Ministry .................... 8 Music Ministry.....................10 Our Church Life..................11 Planned Giving....................12 Youth Ministry ....................12

PATRICK GAHAN Rector patrickg@cecsa.org

1 C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity (New York: Harper Collins, 1952), 177.

Outreach...............................13 Pastoral Care.......................14 Calendar of Events ............15

Sunday Services: 7:30 a.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite 1 9:00 a.m.

Family-friendly Communion Service with Music 10:00 a.m.

Christian Education for Children, Youth, and Adults 11:00 a.m.

Choral Eucharist, Rite 2 6:00 p.m.

Holy Eucharist, Rite 2

Cover photo by Susanna Kitayama Back Cover photos by Susanna Kitayama 2

“Y

ou can always tell the rookies,” said a new friend and Bible study colleague of mine, who has served as an army lieutenant colonel on military deployments to Afghanistan. “The newbies either carry way too much or not enough. On the one hand, they may not be able to carry their overstuffed bags, but on the other they may not have packed what they need.”

Christians are on a lifelong deployment of our own, and the habits and spiritual disciplines we have taken on and carry with us matter considerably. Our enemy, the devil, ambushes us with wave after wave of temptations and misfortunes. Our long conditioned habits and spiritual disciplines are the weapons we use to effectively defeat him in one battle after another.

At the same time, those habits and disciplines will foster consistent growth within us, so that we become increasingly more mature in our life and witness in Christ. Homeostasis is a foe of the Christian very nearly as destructive as the devil himself. We cannot stay in the same place. We must remain nimble and flexible, while not carrying so much spiritual luggage that we are unable to engage with the real world and the everyday people where we live. The things we carry matter.

Most of us are “rookies” at this. The mere mention of habits and spiritual disciplines transports us into medieval

monasteries full of cloistered, silent, and – in our estimation – miserable monks. First of all, I have rarely known a miserable monk or nun. Secondly, holy habits and spiritual disciplines are necessary for all Christians. Monastics and mature Christians we know serve as role models for the rest of us as we serve in our various spiritual deployments. In fact, when Saints Anthony, Pachomius, and the first cadre of solitary monks trooped their way into the Egyptian wilderness in the third century, they made it clear that they were not going out to these remote desert venues to escape but “to do combat with the devil.” Armed with habits and spiritual disciplines, they intentionally fought the devil without the false props of the polite society they had left behind.

We Christians step out each day into a wilderness of our own. We troop out to law offices, classrooms, surgery centers, shops, playgrounds, nursing homes, restaurants, real estate showings, gyms, courtrooms, carpool lines, the HEB, and even the church. In each place, we find the devil poised to trip us up and bring us down to his level.

If we naively confront him unarmed, he will lay siege to us in that moment and capture our hearts for his dark designs.

On the other hand, if our packs have been filled with time-tested spiritual disciplines, he will cower back into his hole without firing a single shot. James was speaking from his own combat experience when he said, ‘Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil,

From our Rector... and he will flee from you’ (James 4:7).

We must carry the right things in order to thwart the evil one.

car. We cannot inherit them like we obedience became real the moment I would a family legacy. We cannot work received that Friday night phone call, for them like we would for a slimmer kissed my wife and child, and jumped waistline. We cannot earn them like we into my car. In much the same way, would for a military medal. my vow to Kay before the altar at All ...if our packs have been filled with No, the nine gifts of the Spirit Saints’ Episcopal Church in Birmingtime-tested spiritual disciplines, he are just that – “gifts.” Iron- ham, AL “to love and to cherish until the only way to begin death do us part” did not become real will cower back into his hole without ically, receiving them is to admit during our honeymoon. Heaven’s no, that we are “poor in spirit” it became real the moment life togethfiring a single shot and unable to pack any of er became strained and threatened to those things into our lives rend us apart. The baseline of duty and Ironically, I seem to be better armed in without the mercy of God (Matthew loyalty is obedience. the workplace and around town that 5:3). The day we admit that we really I am at home. If the devil wins a bat- do not have anything going for us other The fuel of obedience, however, is hutle against me, it is usually when I am than God loves us and can make us lov- mility, and that must become the first amongst those I know well and love able through Christ is the day we start and most important item we put in our most. I would imagine that’s because packing our bags for the great Christian backpacks.

The maturing Christian I let my guard down around the house, deployment adventure. knows that she or he is incomplete and drop my backpack of holy habits, and woefully unprepared without the transfoolishly respond to others in old, Having served on two limited military formative strength God implants in us. tired, stuck-in-the-mud ways. The peo- deployments, I learned that obedience Thus, as long as we imagine we are fully ple I most love expect more of me, and was the key to my mission’s success. capable on our own to succeed on our they should, for I must carry the right Certainly obedience was “drilled” into life’s deployment, we will fail, and not things around the house, too. me at every stage of my Army training just fail, but crash (Matthew 7:24-27)!

– from Basic to my more specialized To walk in obedience is to first admit Admitting that you still get stuck and training in emergency deployment. our powerlessness to take on the devil end up in the enemy’s prison camp, is a Like most any soldier, the training re- on his own turf and second to become vital step toward gaining spiritual ma- mained mostly theory until I received receptive, fertile ground (humus), so turity. We are propelled to get strong that dreaded phone call at 7 PM on a that God will fill us with Himself. in our faith walk because we cannot Friday night. Obedience became painbear to foment another dramatic, dark fully real that night when I had to imme- Our model for Christian humility, as episode. G.K. Chesterton, the late Ro- diately leave my wife, who was holding with all aspects of the Christian life, man Catholic essayist, poet, journal- our one year-old is Jesus.

Our packs have been filled with ist, critic, and novelist, once said, “No son and peering Paul unman’s really any good till he knows how into a half-load- anger, resentment, greed, regret, envy, d e r s t o o d bad he is.” ed U-Haul Christ’s divisiveness, and wanton truck.

After demonOur deployments in Christ actually be- that stunned strated hudesire. We do not have nearly gin when we follow Chesterton’s exam- and teary goodmility as enough room for ‘love, joy, peace, the very ple and come “to know just how bad we bye, I would not are.” Our packs have been filled with hear Kay’s voice of patience, kindness, generosity, faith- linchpin anger, resentment, greed, regret, envy, again for forty the Gosdivisiveness, and wanton desire. We days. Only then fulness, gentleness, and self-control’. pel and do not have nearly enough room for would I learn therefore ‘love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, through that the foungenerosity, faithfulness, gentleness, three-minute overseas phone call how dational ingredient of the individual and self-control’ (Galatians 5:16-26). she and Clay were able to move into our Christian’s life: When Jesus says, ‘You can judge a tree new home without me. by its fruit,’ he was not talking about Let this same mind be in you that was the other guy. He was speaking directly When I stood before the flag in Mont- in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in to each one of us who have enlisted in gomery, AL with my right arm raised, the form of God, did not regard equality his fellowship (Matthew 7:16-20; Luke I vowed that I would be obedient to with God as something to be exploited, 6:44-45). “defend the United States of American but emptied himself, taking the form of against all enemies foreign and domes- a slave, being born in human likeness.

How do we pack those nine gifts of the tic.” The content of my promised fi- And being found in human form, he Spirit that Paul commends every Chris- delity did not become real during that humbled himself and became obedient tian “to not leave home without”? We heady moment when I was still dressed to the point of death – even death on cannot buy them like we would a new in civilian clothes. No, my promise of the cross. Philippians 2:5-8

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From our Rector...

Jesus “humbled himself and became obedient” and that humility prepared him to take the terrible walk up Calvary Hill, his ultimate deployment. Without humility carefully placed in the very bottom of our packs, we are incapable of taking serious steps on the up and down path of the Christian journey.

For me, the first three steps of Alcoholics Anonymous Twelve-Step Program are illustrative of the humility that all Christians must undertake in order to become obedient to Christ and refashioned to follow in his steps. We must “admit we are powerless; come to believe that we need a Power greater than ourselves; and make a decision to turn our lives over to that Power – God!”

right. We all feel robust, hale, and ready to conquer the world during those first heady days of faith. Then the trials beset us, the once open road narrows, and we are tempted to fall back into our old life. On those occasions, we are like our brothers the disciples when they completely gave out and fell asleep in the Garden of Gethsemane – the one time Jesus begged them to stay awake with him (Luke 22:39-46). Just when the Lord needs us, will we, too, cease to be faithful because we are tired or disillusioned or perhaps bored with life? No, our model of fidelity must be Jesus, who in that same garden, abandoned and overcome by fear, prayed, ‘Not my will, Father, but yours be done’ (Luke 22:42).

success. Our fidelity to Christ is a matter of whether we are “following” him rather than striding arrogantly out in front of him. To be faithful is to get situated in the right order.

That does not mean that fidelity to Christ is devoid of action. Our fidelity to Christ is best expressed, in fact, through our charity to others. Charity, therefore, is the third essential trait that we must place in our packs. Clarification is needed here. Charity, most often translated as “love” in our modern Bible translations, is the quintessential New Testament word because of its unique definition and purpose in God’s call to us. Curiously, the word does not occur in the New Testament writings until Once we turn our lives Paul’s Letter to the Romans. over to God and humbly Charity is best understood When we finally grow weary of our step out into the fray of through Paul’s 1st Letter self-serving and destructive antics, submit life possessed and directed to the Corinthians, where

by Him, we can finally live in Chapter 13, Paul uses it to God, and are filled by His presence, faithfully. The great paranine times in quick succeswe are equipped to faithfully serve Him. dox of the Christian life is sion. (It should be noted that we cannot live in conthat the word is only used formity with God’s desires unless He Recently, Bishop Lillibridge greatly sixteen additional times in the New Tesfirst inhabits us. My favorite collect in helped my understanding of how we tament canon.) The careful editors of the Book of Common Prayer poetically undertake a life of Christian fidelity. the King James translation of the Bible acknowledges this fact: Teaching all the priests of the diocese recognized the distinct meaning of this during our Annual Clergy Conference Greek word “agape”, and therefore desO God, for as much as without Thee we in October, he used Matthew 16:21-23 ignated the English word “charity” for are not able to please Thee, to make his point about our own call of its use, instead of the much broader Mercifully grant that the Holy Spirit radical fidelity to the Lord. The bishop term – “love.” may in all things direct and rule our noted that after Jesus tells the disciples hearts; that he must go to Jerusalem, suffer According to David Reagan of Learn Through Jesus Christ our Lord… Col- at the hands of the religious leaders, the Bible, charity is the epitome of lect for Proper 19, BCP, p.182) and die – Peter objects. The blustery perfection in the Christian life. Refisherman erupts, ‘God forbid it, Lord! call that Paul called it “the greatest of Placed just above humility in our back- That must never happen to you.’ Jesus the three abiding virtues” (1 Corinthipacks is fidelity. When we finally grow then turns on Peter and issues his most ans 13:13); “the bond of perfection” weary of our self-serving and destruc- scathing and sobering correction, ‘Get (Colossians 3:14); and “the end of the tive antics, submit to God, and are behind me Satan!’ commandments” (1 Timothy 1:5). Paul filled by His presence, we are equipped considered our Christian deployment to faithfully serve Him. Make no mis- What’s more sobering according to the rather hollow without the exercise of take; there are countless up-hill climbs bishop, is the actual Greek used in this charity. Who could forget his ringing to undertake in the course of our memorable admonition: ‘Get back after indictment, “without charity, I am nothChristian deployment. Jesus was not me, Adversary,’ declares Jesus. In oth- ing but a clanging bell” (1 Corinthians kidding when he repeated, ‘If anyone er words, Jesus is telling Peter that it is 13:1)? Our Christian witness must be would follow me, let him deny himself, not so much his words that are out of bathed in charity or we will be just one take up his cross and follow me’ (Luke order, but where he has dared to place more empty, clattering voice amongst 9:23). himself. Peter has stepped in front of the cacophony of so many others.

Jesus to instruct and lead him. In so Reflecting on Jesus’ words, I recall many words, Jesus reminds Peter of What makes the virtue of charity ring coaching high school football with a his first call to him there on the shore truer than the battalions of voices vying former NFL player who routinely chid- of the Galilean Lake, ‘Follow me’ (Mat- for our attention and allegiance? Chared our team, “Fatigue makes cowards thew 4:19). Our fidelity to Christ is not ity directs its energies to others. Chariof us all.” That old crusty coach was a matter of our creativity, charisma, or ty, the outward distinguishing attribute

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From our Rector... of the Christian, is always visibly and concretely focused on another human being. This is where we see the shallowness of the often-issued statement, “I’m spiritual but not religious.” While not always the case, the statement confesses a life tied up in luminous private notions about God devoid of any outward expression. James tersely dismisses this aberrant, self-serving notion of the Christian life by asserting, ‘Faith without works is dead’ (James 2:14-26).

My own military deployments may shed some light on this perceptible notion of Christian charity. My battalion’s orders were to reinforce a British unit situated at a particularly vulnerable area of what was then the border between West and East Germany. In the case of any perceived Soviet mobilization along that

portion of the border, my unit was immediately deployed. I knew the mission well, for I was to be the first soldier on the ground when the aggression began.

One of my jobs was to assure our British counterparts that we were standing beside them come what may. Because we calculated that our two units were outnumbered four to one in numbers of tanks, armored personnel carriers, and troops, the sincerity of our sacrificial commitment was essential to our brothers in arms.

Christian charity operates in that way.

We know from our own experience that a battle is raging amongst the people around us. Our enemy, the devil, is intent upon distorting and diminishing human life. We are being attacked on every front. Christians cannot crawl

into a hole and request to “call me when it’s over.” Indeed not! We are in the trenches of life, offering our very best gifts to strengthen others and fortify their flagging faith. That’s what it means to serve on Christian deployment.

Our packing list is complete. Humility, the most essential virtue, is our complete dependence on Christ. Fidelity is our resolute devotion to the Lord.

Charity is the outward exercise of that devotion in loving service to others.

Without each one of these virtues, our backpacks are incomplete, and we are unprepared for our grand deployment with Christ.

Your brother,

Patrick U

Come Thou Long Expected Jesus

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ur Church will be adorned in blue this Advent. Blue is the primary color of Advent, and thanks to a generous gift from T.R. and Lillian Fehrenbach, we will have bright new blue vestments this season.

The Rev. Eric Liles, Rector of St. Paul’s Church in Ivy, Virginia explains the importance of the color blue for Advent in this way, “Blue represents hope, expectation, and heaven. It is also the color associated with the Blessed Virgin Mary in art and iconography.

Deep blue is the color of the clear, pre-dawn sky, the color that covers the earth in the hours before the sun rises in the east. Most of us are not looking at the sky at that hour – perhaps we’re still asleep, or too weary to notice it as we get into our car for our commute. Nonetheless, a deep, dark blue is the color that covers us in the dark, cold hours before the dawn.

Thus we use deep blue for Advent to shade the season with a hint of expectation and anticipation of the dawn of Christ.

Advent is a time to recommit to our faith and to our God – no matter the color. The deep blue of Advent is meant to inspire in us the hope of faith, and to encourage us to keep watch for the promised light of Christ to break over the horizon, changing night into day, darkness into light, and filling our lives and our world with a holy and righteous splendor.”

Let’s greet Advent with great expectation in the belief that Christ will be reborn in us!

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MISSIONS

Sharing Christ With the World Making Mission Work (What I’ve learned the hard way, in 15 years of mission work)

By Terry Koehler

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am one of those people who got “hooked” on mission work after my very first mission trip. I know that is part of my personality type, a tendency to “jump in with all fours.” Although my enthusiasm was a good thing, my wisdom certainly was lacking. It took us a number of years, and numerous trips to begin to “work smart,” be wise, and realize what was really important in mission. I can tell you that I’m still learning, even after going to the same country to work for 15 years. Our favorite saying is, “If you think you have it figured out, YOU DON’T!” North Americans tend to have a sense that we know best, and we can fix anything. Once, we were asked to provide Sunday School materials to a deanery.

No problem. We knew best! We bought lovely and expensive Bible flip charts with excellent pictures and narrations, only to discover that the lay leaders didn’t know how to read. Oops! Back to square one! The next year we started a literary education program for adults!

Threads of Blessing embroidery The most important element in good mission work is building RELATIONSHIPS over time, in the same place instead of one-time visits to many places.

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We once visited an orphanage in El Sal- me. You taught me that, to help those vador. A little boy sat down nearby and in need.” That is us sharing Christ stared at me. After a few minutes, he with the world, and the people sharing said in perfect English, “What did you Christ with each other. bring me?” I can picture in my mind the endless groups who had come to So what are good guidelines for misvisit and give the children stuff. Yes, sion work? the orphans loved the toys, and the tennis shoes, but if a group had built reGo to the same place for several lationships over time, they would have years and watch, listen, ask, and discovered that the orphanage was uslearn. I know a lady who taught ing newswomen to make paper bebathroom rugs and cause they “...I’ve also helped others for free, toilet seat covers to had no toisell. They then disbecause they had no money to covered the ladies let paper. pay me. You taught me that, to had no bathrooms or A 67-year toilet seats! old Hondu- help those in need.” That is us ran named Make Jesus the most P o r f i r i o sharing Christ with the world, important member taught us and the people sharing Christ of your team and best about be humble brothers with each other. relationand sisters in Christ ships in to those you serve.

Christ. We were the first North AmerPerhaps the most important thing icans to ever visit his remote village. you can do is smile, hug, encourage Porfirio said to us, “I know you are here (instead of handing out stuff). because we are all brothers and sisters in Christ. You let us know that we are And pray, for them and with them, not alone.” YES! What a wise man! Porand ask them to pray for you. firio entered our education project, and learned to read, so that he could share I began a new venture (always learnthe Bible with his village. ing!) in November through a San Antonio ministry with deep roots in Christ Working in partnership with people Church. Threads of Blessing ministry builds relationships. We once painted a teaches ladies (primarily in Uganda) church, inside and out, in a small village to do embroidery that can be sold to in Honduras. I stepped outside to take supplement family income.

Threads a photo and I saw the North Americans of Blessing teaches not only a skill, painting away in the intense heat. They but also self-esteem, creativity, group were sweating but happy. The Hon- dynamics, and principles of micro-endurans were all standing in the shade, terprise. Threads of Blessing began its arms folded, watching. There was defi- work years ago in Honduras, and my nitely something wrong with that pic- goal is to re-establish it there among ture! We now send word ahead about ladies with whom we’ve already built our plans and needs, and we enlist local a relationship of trust. It is a “teach a help and support for every project. No man (or woman) to fish” plan. spectators! Without partnership, there is no local ownership.

Mission work begins with people who want to go, and do, and give. That is The most wonderful thing that has ever vitally important. Good mission work been said to me by a Honduran was continues with people who are sensithis, “I have been using the welding ma- tive to building relationships, caring chine you gave me to help support my enough to listen and learn, and being family. But I’ve also helped others for willing to grow with whom they serve. free, because they had no money to pay

World Missions..

With a Spirit of Thankfulness... in Israel has easily doubled, I would think, and God has been glorified. A new generation of leaders who have been trained in outreach to Muslims is taking the reins slowly.

And so, we leave the seminary there in good hands. And we enter a new stage of our own ministry. We will continue on as your missionaries, working with Anglican Frontier Missions as before, based out of San Antonio. As it became clear that staying in Israel was not an option, we looked around the Middle East. The bishop in Egypt invited me to teach there, some others invited us to work in Turkey. Cairo is not very safe right now, though, and learning a whole new language (Turkish) did not seem desirable. So when AFM proposed a position doing training, discipling and mobilization, we prayed about it and felt this was the Lord’s calling.

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t is about 6 AM right now, we just arrived in San Antonio last night after about 24 hours of straight travel. I am awake, still wearing my travel clothes, and David Julian (age 9) is awake too. He asks me to play chess with him and I say I will, but first I need to write something to our home church here in San Antonio. I ask him, what should I say? He thinks, and he says, tell them thanks, that they are a good church and thanks for making it possible to live in Nazareth while we did.

It is that spirit of thankfulness that I want to make sure comes through loud and clear, first and foremost. And it has been a fruitful five years in Nazareth. Men have become pastors and deacons, the intellectual depth of the evangelicals

We have accepted this new position for the period of two years. We will be getting settled in here in November and December—we need to buy a car, find a house and navigate the esoteric regulations of Obamacare! And so, beginning in January, we will be starting our new work in earnest. E-mail updates will be forthcoming, so if you don’t get those please let us know. And as soon as we have a phone number and transportation here, we’ll let you know.

And let us pray that God would bless us and you as together we engage in this new phase of our mission, and the accomplishment of our goal to see the Kingdom of God expanding and advancing, especially among Muslims.

Duane and Sharon Miller (xphilosopherking@yahoo.com)

Christmas Services

Annual Parish Christmas Dinner Wed., December 11

6 PM RSVP at www.cecsa.org or by calling the church office at 736-3132

December 24 3 PM Child Friendly Communion Celebration 5 PM Family Service with Junior Choirs 8 & 10 PM Rite II Eucharist with Brass and Choir

December 25 10 AM Blessing of the Toys

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MINISTRY I’ll Have a Blue Christmas....

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base from past years. t’s Going to Be a BLUE Advent!

Come to the Family Advent Event Sunday, December 1 At 10 AM in the Parish Hall

HALLETA HEINRICH Director of Family Ministries halletah@cecsa.org

Come join your Christ Church Parish Family on Sunday, December 1, the first Sunday of Advent, as we make our Advent Wreaths togeth-

Our Rector, Patrick Gahan, and Associate Rector, Brien Koehler, will be on hand to teach us about the meaning of Advent and explain our new Advent color –Blue! Also available will be a booklet containing prayers for lighting the candles at home each Sunday of Advent, an Advent Activity Calendar for families, and a special children’s Advent Calendar activity for each Sunday of Advent with devotionals.

Refreshments will be served.

Please bring a dozen of your favorite Christmas cookies to share with our Parish Family! A serving table will be present at the opening of the Parish Hall containing platters on which to place your cookies. They were a hit last year!

er, light the first candle on our Advent Wreath, and learn about our new Advent color – BLUE! This event is for all Christ church families, large and small, old or young and will be an All Sunday School Intergenerational occasion.

All materials for your Advent Wreath will be provided including a brass Advent Wreath base, fresh greenery, fine wire for wrapping, candles, and a limited number of snippers for wire and greenery. Bring your own snippers if you have! An offering is asked of $15 per family to help pay the cost of materials or $10 per family if you have your Advent Wreath

Contact Family Advent Event Team: Pam and Bob Broadnax and Family, Liecie Hollis, and Robin Crowe or Halleta Heinrich if you would like to help or have questions.

Come Follow the Star Children’s All Sunday School Epiphany Celebration Sunday, January 5 10 AM in Children’s Chapel Followed By King’s Cake, Punch, and Prizes in the FMC Tomlin Room

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hildren will follow the Star and the Wise Kings on the journey to find the Christ Child this Epiphany Sunday, January 5 at 10 am. The journey will begin in the second floor FMC Children’s Chapel where the children will bring the greatest gift they can offer to God – their Hearts. They will venture with the Wise Kings, following the Star to Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and finally out into the World. They will offer their Hearts to Baby Jesus in

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Bethlehem and receive in return the Star representing the Light, Hope, and Love of Christ to follow always. They will then carry this Star into the World where they can share the Light of Christ with all.

King’s Cakes and punch will be served in the Tomlin Room after the journey.

A prize representing the Truth of Christ will be won by the child in each Sunday School class who finds the Baby Jesus in their piece of Cake. Winning children will be asked to share their gift with their class.

This is a great Sunday to invite a friend to Sunday School. This event is fun and spiritually meaningful, so don’t miss. It’s a wonderful way to start the new year off right with Christ at its center.

Family Ministry...

The Donkey’s Dream The Children of Christ Church Invite You To “The Donkey’s Dream” This Year’s Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 8 During the 11:00 Service

desert as a symbol of the unending and life giving water Christ brings. First and second grade boys will be Sailors accompanying a ship which represents the Ark which holds Jesus. First and

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ome receive the best Advent gift ever by witnessing our children’s presentation of “The Donkey’s Dream,” this year’s Children’s Christmas pageant, on Sunday, December 8 during the 11:00 am church service. “The Donkey’s Dream” is the story of the first Christmas as seen through the eyes of the little donkey who accompanied Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem for the birth of the Christ Child. “The Donkey’s Dream” is based on the beautifully written and illustrated children’s book of the same title, written and illustrated in the early Renaissance style

by Barbara Helen Berger.

Each children’s Sunday School class and age level will play a special role in the pageant, leading a song which moves the nativity story along. Our fifth graders will be the Stars of the pageant, playing the leading roles of the nativity. Preschool 3 year olds will portray the Sheep, shepherded by their fourth grade Shepherds as they visit the newborn Jesus. Preschool PreK’s and Kindergarteners will serve as the Garden and Water bringing life to the

place as well as costume fittings and lunch in the Tomlin Room FMC. All Cast Practice, Saturday, December 7, from 10 am – 12 noon in the church.

Younger children should be finished by 11 am. Fifth graders are asked to stay until 12 noon. Parents and teachers are encouraged to stay and help. This will be our only practice in the church, so all children should attend.

“The Donkey’s Dream” Christmas Pageant will be presented during the 11:00 service on Sunday, December 8. Children should report to their Sunday School classes at 10 am to get dressed in their costumes, have last minute practice, and line up in order for pageant procession. Please be on time! We begin lining up at 10:40 am.

second grade girls will be Rose Angels who sing a lullaby to the Christ Child – the rose being a symbol for Mary and Jesus. Third graders will play the roles of the Citizens of Heaven and Doves who introduce the story and express the hope Christ brings.

Parents please note the following important pageant dates:

“The Donkey’s Dream” songs CD, Song Sheets, and copies of Parent Letters will be available in the FMC Tomlin Room on first floor for parents to pick up beginning November 3. I hear that practicing in the car really helps and gets everyone in the Christmas spirit!

Contact Halleta at the church at 7363132 or halletah@cecsa.org for further information.

Fifth Grade Practice and Lunch – Sunday, November 17 from 11 am – 2:00pm.

A read through of the pageant will take

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MINISTRY LESSONS AND CAROLS ~ December 15 Sure on this Shining Night And there were shepherds living

OWEN DUGGAN Director of Music and Worship owend@cecsa.org

out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.”

Luke 2:8-11

T he stories of the shepherds, as well as the star that brought the sages to Bethlehem, portray the birth of

which will take place on “Rejoice” Sunday, Advent 3.

This year, placed among the old favorites like “This Christmastide” and Handel’s “Hallelujah Chorus”, we have chosen an extraordinary new piece, a setting of the poem, “Sure on this Shining Night.” The words evoke the same sentiments described above while underscoring the healing and restoration that can only come from the holy babe in the person of Jesus Christ at his nativity. The author, Pulitzer Prize winner James Agee (1909-1955), was educated by Episcopal monks at the St. Andrews School for Mountain Boys in Sewanee, Tennessee, not far from where he grew up. Coincidentally our esteemed rector Patrick is a graduate of the same school.

Christ as a nighttime event. Poignant and mystical, they ignite our most child-like imagination and bring us to ‘that Christmas feeling.’ Once the children are snug and nestled in their beds, there comes that inevitable moment when we gaze at the angel at the top of the tree, or the crèche at the front of the church, or that picture of a departed loved one who once was a part of the festivities at home, and we pause, lost in wonder, cognizant of an indescribable grace in our lives and in the universe that brings us closer to the creator and to each other, present and departed.

Sensitive to the simplicity as well as the spiritual depth of the poem, Morten Lauridsen, one of my favorite contemporary choral composers and recipient of the National Medal of Arts, set it to music. Some of you may know the piece from a wonderful documentary about the composer entitled, “Shining Night,” while others will become acquainted with it for the first time at Lessons and Carols. Come and worship with us and invite your friends to this special Anglican observance of the Advent season at one of two worship times, 9:00 and 11:00 a.m. on December 15.

I am writing this as I listen to the children learning their songs for this year’s Lessons and Carols service,

Owen Duggan

Sure on this shining night Of star made shadows round, Kindness must watch for me This side the ground.

The late year lies down the north.

All is healed, all is health.

High summer holds the earth.

Hearts all whole.

Sure on this shining night I weep for wonder wand’ring far alone Of shadows on the stars.

James Agee, 1934 Morten Lauridsen photo courtesy of mortenlauridsen.net

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Advent - Epiphany 2013-2014: Come to Know Christ...

Christ Church Bible Study & Preaching Series

T

he Bible puts great stock in knowing. The Hebrew word for “know” is yada, which Jerry Seinfeld made hilariously famous during one of his sitcom episodes. The word, however, is not a laughing matter, for it means “deep intimate knowing”, as in a long, abiding romantic relationship. Thus, it is far more than surface knowing when the Psalmist sings: Be still and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10).

Or the prophet Jeremiah declares for God: For I know the plans that I have for you (Jeremiah 29:11).

Or Solomon prays before the Temple altar: So that people of the earth may know that the LORD is God and there is no other (1 Kings 8:60).

The Greek word for “know”, ginosko, is equally strong and signifies knowing through personal experience. Young Mary expresses this existential knowing clearly when she questions the angel Gabriel regarding his announcement that she soon will be pregnant: How will this be since I do not know a man (Luke 1:34).

Jesus himself promises: You shall know the truth, and the

truth shall set you free (John 8:34).

Or as Saint John wrote: I write these things to you who believe in the Name of the Son of God, so that you may know that you have eternal life (1 John 5:13).

This upcoming 15-week series is all about coming to know Christ – from his own peculiar words and examples and through the words and examples of others. The goal is to delve deeply beneath the shallow surface of our lives to discover a richer, more substantial faith – one that knows Christ and knows how to surrender to his love and serve him.

Date Day Scripture We come to know Christ...

Sunday, December 1

Advent 1

Matthew 24:36-44

…by staying awake

Sunday, December 8

Advent 2

Matthew 3:1-12

…by the voice crying

Sunday, December 15

Advent 3

Matthew 11:2-11

…because he’s the one

Sunday, December 22

Advent 4

Matthew 1:18-25

…because he is Emmanuel

Tuesday, December 24

Christmas

Luke 2:1-20

…by the sign

Sunday, December 29

Christmas 1

John 1:1-18

…for he is the Word

Sunday, January 5

Epiphany

Matthew 2:1-12

…by the star

Sunday, January 12

Baptism of Jesus

Matthew 3:13-17

…for he will fulfill righteousness

Sunday, January 19

Epiphany 2

John 1:29-42

…because he is the Lamb of God

Sunday, January 26

Epiphany 3

Matthew 4:12-23

…because he makes something of us

Sunday, February 2

Presentation of Jesus

Luke 2:22-40

…because of the promise

Sunday, February 9

Epiphany 5

Matthew 5:13-20

…because he fulfills the Law

Sunday, February 16

Epiphany 6

Matthew 5:21-37

…by what he commands

Sunday, February 23

Epiphany 7

Matthew 5:38-48

…the ones he loves

Sunday, March 2

Last Epiphany

Matthew 17:1-9

…by Who he really is

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Our Church Life...

M

y older daughter was hoping to further her education. With a young family, she also wanted to be sure that they would be financially secure while she was not working and that she could pay her tuition. On the very evening she discussed the possibility of my helping her pay for her schooling, my sister died. My daughter, her sister, and her two cousins were beneficiaries of my sister’s estate.

Though modest, the inheritance she left my daughter allowed her to move confidently toward her new schooling while not compromising her fam-

The Great Commission Planned Giving ily’s lifestyle.

Each of the nieces and nephew were blessed in different and dynamic ways that would have made my sister very happy. She had made her first will just two years before her death; and in doing so, she guaranteed that her wishes would be carried out.

Those first fruits into the storehouse, and the cup overflowing are absolute realities to me. While continuing to tithe, I realize that giving from an insurance policy, a retirement account, or from securities is an absolutely painless way to continue giving.

Knowing the blessing that an estate inheritance can have on those who are left behind is the reason I have named Christ Episcopal Church in my estate.

It is not in my will, but in my retirement account. Having experienced the pain of deciding what to do with an inherited retirement account, I have found that leaving it to an entity such as a church is a much easier thing to do, at least as the law governing it is now. My hope is that fund will continue to grow and become a blessing to all I love. It seems that my blessings have grown once I committed to tithing at Christ Church.

My direction is that Christ Church will receive a double tithe out of this account. And, the blessings will at least partly ensure that the beautiful ministries of this church will continue without concerns for where the funds will come from. So many lives have been changed within those 100 yearold walls. I know that funds are used wisely and well, and I want to support the church even after my death.

Ferne Burney

MINISTRY

Christ Church 2.0 for Youth

A

ll Christ Church youth and their friends are invited to take part in a new class being offered this coming spring semester. We are starting the 2.0 series written by CLARK NILES our rector, Patrick Director of Gahan, and speYouth Ministry cially adapted for clarkn@cecsa.org youth. The goal of this series is to come to know the Gospel and conform our lives to it. We will be using the Bible and Book of Common Prayer to guide us, as we delve into our main worship celebration, the Holy Eucharist. Through this study our Sunday worship experience will become more meaningful and alive. We will be processing and sharing what we learn in small discussion groups, and will

12

strive to “Keep it Real”. What I mean We hope you are as excited as we are to by that is we will only ask questions offer this new class to our young peothat deserve real answers. We are all in ple and will be praying faithfully for different places on this faith journey, a great turnout. Come join us on our and we value and celebrate everyone journey together this spring. right where they are. It is our goal to continually challenge our youth to stay In Christ, “Open, Honest, and Willing” as we jour- Clark ney together, with our Lord leading us as we go. (“Christ Church 2.0 Introducark your calendars for the SAMM Christmas tion”, Gahan) Dinner on December 8. This outreach event is our opportunity to show Christ’s love.

The 2.0 series is a perfect fit for the Wednesday December 4th we will be wrapping gifts young people who for these families from 6:30-8:00 PM. are preparing for confirmation this Sunday, December 8th – We need to arrive at 4:30 spring. The confirPM for set up. We will then help serve, meet and greet mation class will be the families. Clean up afterwards will last until 7:00 joining us on SunPM. This was awesome last year! Don’t miss out. Come day mornings at whenever you get free from school stuff.

9:45 AM.

M

Feeding Christ’s Flock Then Jesus said to his host, “When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous.”

Luke 14: 12-14

T

he Hospitality Food Pantry will be holding its 13th annual Christmas luncheon for our guests on Saturday,

December 7th, 2013 from 11:00 - 1:00 p.m. We are inviting Christ Church parishioners to join us in volunteering to serve our guests and to provide holiday homebaked desserts such as cookies, brownies, etc. We are also asking members to assist with various crafts for the children.

Parishioners are encouraged to sit down with our guests and to enjoy a meal with them. Come and be blessed!

For information, please call Tina Honsaker at 859-5062 or Rita Millwater at 534-7042.

2012 Food Pantry Luncheon

SAMM Christmas Celebration

S

ave the Date!

Our annual SAMM Christmas Celebration will be on Sunday, December 8th at 5pm. We need your help!

Here’s how you can get involved: 1. Sign up to be a “SAMM Family Shepherd” 2. Sign up to purchase a gift or gifts for family members 3. Donate money for the Gift Card fund You can sign up on Sundays after the 9:00 and 11:00 services or in the Parish Hall after Sunday School.

Contact Julie Zacher (210) 396-6615, jmzacher@sbcglobal. net or Laura Heinrich (210) 315-2288, lauraandkatetoo@ aol.com, for more information on how you can help!

C

alling all Jr. Daughters of the King for caroling on Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 2:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

Please bring one dozen cookies to give as gifts. We’ll gather at the Parish

Hall, go caroling, & then have a Christmas party. Bring a friend!

Please call Tina Bigley @ 2153435 or Elizabeth Martinez @ 736-3132 / 393-6456 for more details.

JDOK Caroling at Chandler Center Dec. 2012

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CARE A Support Group

H CAROL MILLER Pastoral Care Administrator carolm@cecsa.org

ow do you cope with grief?

Some people act as if life should be “back to normal” within weeks or months following a death.

That doesn’t always happen. The first thing you need to remember is that your grief journey is your own unique process, and you will experience it in your own way. Grief counselor Robert Zucker said, “remember to gently care for yourself through the pain and

for

Those

Life After Loss Who Have Experienced

loneliness that grief brings because that will be one of the most important parts of your healing.”

I would like to invite you to attend a six weeks support group sponsored by Christ Church Pastoral Care and Porter Loring Family Care Services. This program is designed by the American Cancer Society to help bereaved people better understand the process of grief and how to live through it in a way that transforms them. It also provides a place for people to share their experiences and support each other in their grief. The program will take place

the

Loss

Loved One

at Christ Episcopal Church, beginning January 15th and continuing through February 19th at 12:30 in our Conference Room. The group will be facilitated by Celeste Miller from Porter Loring Family Care Services and include a combination of teaching, discussion, and learning activities. Any one who has experienced the loss of a loved one is welcome. There is no charge for the program.

For more information or to register, you may call Carol Miller, Pastoral Care Administrator at 736-3132.

Christ Episcopal Church Community of Hope invites you to a

Quiet Day Sylvia Maddox

with Author, Retreat Leader, Professor of Spirituality, UIW

The Gift of a Listening Heart

Advent is a time of expectation and hope. In all the voices of this world, we often miss the mystery of God speaking to us. In this Quiet Day, we will have the gift of silence and blessing as we listen together with an open heart.

Bishop Jones Center, Cathedral House 111 Torcido Rd., San Antonio, TX 78209

Saturday, December 14, 2013 9:00 AM - 12:00 PM 12:15 Communion Service

RSVP by Dec. 11 to Carol Miller 736-3132 or carolm@cecsa.org

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of a

OF EVENTS Christ Church Staff: November 22-24: Happening #126 in Corpus Christi November 24: Christ the King Sunday Thanksgiving Celebration November 28: Thanksgiving Church Offices closed

The Rev. Patrick Gahan, Rector patrickg@cecsa.org The Rev. Scott Kitayama, Associate Rector, scottk@cecsa.org

November 29: Church Offices closed

The Rev. Brien Koehler, Associate Rector for Mission and Formation, brienk@cecsa.org

December 1:

First Sunday in Advent Advent Wreath Making Event 10AM Christ Church 1.0 at the Gahan’s home. Contact Anna Jewell

Carol Miller, Pastoral Care Administrator, carolm@cecsa.org

December 3:

Musical Offerings 30th Anniversary Concert 7:30 PM at CEC

Halleta Heinrich, Director of Family Ministry, halletah@cecsa.org

December 7:

Food Pantry Christmas Luncheon 11 AM - 1 PM JDOK Christmas Caroling 3 PM

December 8:

Second Sunday in Advent Children’s Christmas Pageant “Donkey’s Dream” 11 AM SAMM Christmas Dinner 5 PM

December 11: Parish Christmas Dinner 6 PM

Clark Niles, Director of Youth Ministry clarkniles82@gmail.com Dr. Owen Duggan, Music Minister owend@cecsa.org Joshua Benninger, Organist joshb@cecsa.org

December 13: Church Offices close at noon

December 14: Quiet Day sponsored by CEC Community of Hope - Bishop Jones

Center. Contact Carol Miller

Youth Christmas Caroling Party 3 PM

Ruth Berg, Director of Children’s Music, ruthb@cecsa.org

December 15: Third Sunday in Advent

Lessons and Carols 9 AM and 11 AM

Darla Nelson, Office Manager darlan@cecsa.org

December 22: Fourth Sunday in Advent

Donna Shreve, Financial Manager donnas@cecsa.org

December 24: Christmas Eve

Church Offices close at noon

Services at 3 PM, 5 PM, 8 PM and 10 PM December 25: Christmas Day

Christmas Service 10 AM

Church Offices closed December 26: Church Offices closed December 31: Church Offices close at noon January 1:

Church Offices closed

January 5: Epiphany January 15: Life After Loss begins (six-week program) 12:30 - 2:00 PM contact Carol Miller January 26:

Annual Parish Meeting

Robert Hanley, Parish Administrator robert@hanleypmservices.com

Gretchen Comuzzi Duggan, Director of Communications, gretchend@cecsa.org Anna Jewell, Executive Assistant to the Rector, annaj@cecsa.org Donnis Carpenter, Receptionist donnisc@cecsa.org Elizabeth Martinez, Kitchen Manager elizabethm@cecsa.org Robert Vallejo, Facilities Manager robertv@cecsa.org Rudy Segovia, Hospitality Manager rudys@cecsa.org Joe Garcia, Sexton joeg@cecsa.org

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Christ Church Trunk or Treat October 31, 2013

The Message (USPS 471-710) is published bi-monthly by Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Periodical postage paid in San Antonio, TX. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Volume 15, Number 6.

Periodical Postage PAID San Antonio, TX Christ Episcopal Church 510 Belknap Place San Antonio, TX 78212 www.cecsa.org