November Message

November 2011 • Volume 13, Number 6

Children’s Ministry, 3-4 Youth Ministry, 5-6 Music Ministry, 7-8 Calendar of Events, 9

From

In this issue:

God Intrudes

Children’s Ministry............3-4

Last Christmas I came across this quotation from Peter Larson that I used on several occasions: “Despite our efforts to keep him out, God intrudes. The life of Jesus is bracketed by two impossibilities, ‘a virgin’s womb and an empty tomb.’ Jesus entered our world through a door marked ‘No entrance” and left through a door marked ‘No exit.’”

Youth Ministry....................5-6 Music Ministry....................7-8 Pastoral Care......................... 8 Calendar of Events............... 9

Cover photos Christmas Pageant 2010 by Susanna Kitayama

Sunday Service Times: 8:00 AM Spoken Communion Service 9:15 AM Adult/Youth/ Children Sunday school 10:15 AM Communion Service with music 6:00 PM Spoken Communion Service

I still like it, because, among other things, it speaks of God’s loving determination to rescue us. There can be little doubt that a number of elements in our culture are trying to keep God out.

In the media Santa Claus seems to have more to do with Christmas than Jesus, crèches and crosses have become causes for alarm and even lawsuits in many quarters, and the very notion that our universe has been designed and created by a loving and purposeful intelligence is ridiculed on a daily basis. Books by professional atheists make the Best-Seller lists. (I’m reminded of the line by the English playwright, Tom Stoppard, “Atheism is a crutch for those who

Christ Episcopal Church 510 Belknap Place San Antonio, TX 78212

can’t stand the presence of God.”) But the good news is that God cannot Bishop Bill Frey Interim Rector be thwarted plusbill@aol.com by such trivial barriers. And he will keep intruding, often in obscure and hidden fashion - visible to those who can perceive him in the beauty of his handiwork in creation, and in the lives of his present day saints, in those impulses that lead us to move beyond our own comfort zones and engage in deeds of lavish love and generosity to those in need. + Bill Frey

210-736-3132 office 210-733-1423 fax www.cecsa.org

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Children’s Ministry Hopes To Help Prepare A Manger In Your Heart This Advent Where The Christ Child Can Be Born!

We present the following Advent events for our parish family with that goal in mind.

“Hanging of the Greens” Potluck and Fellowship Sunday, November 27 after the 10:15 service in the Parish Hall Our Parish Hall will be more beautiful than ever for the holidays thanks to the gift of all new decorations provided by member Billinda Wikinson. Billinda is a gifted events planner and decorator by profession. She is generously giving of her talents this Advent as she provides decorations and direction for “Hanging of the Greens.” Your help will be needed to prepare the greens, decorate our parish Chrismons tree and decorate the exterior of Christ Church.

luck. You are needed to provide the side dishes, breads and desserts. The “Hearts and Hands” Women’s Ministry will receive your offerings of food before the 10:15 service in the kitchen. Please bring the following ready to serve, cold or room temperature dishes according to the first letter of your last name: A – C Breads and Rolls D – M Desserts N – Z Sides and Salads *Childcare will be provided in the church nursery for infants, toddlers and very young preschoolers.

SAMM Shelter Christmas Gift Project Sign up continues through December 11 in all Sunday school classes Christ Church is sponsoring eleven courageous SAMM

Christ Church will provide the main dish of ham for a lunch potAll Saints Celebration Photo by Halleta Heinrich

Shelter families once again this Advent. We will sign up to bring Christmas gifts for them as they transition from Halleta homelessness Heinrich to independent Director of living. Each Children’s Ministry Sunday School halletah@ class from prececsa.org school to Adult has been assigned one to three families. A sign up poster with information concerning the families and a wish list has been posted outside each class.

We are asking that each class pray for the members of their families during Advent and sign up to bring a gift.

Gifts need to be returned to the Guild/Capers Room of the church by Sunday, December 11, wrapped and tagged with recipient’s name. Gifts will be blessed at the Parish Christmas Dinner on December 14.

Santa and his helpers will present the gifts to the families on Thursday, December 15 at the SAMM Christmas Party hosted by Christ Church.

We are setting a maximum limit of $50 for each gift, but

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Children’s Ministry continued... less is fine. Anything will be appreciated. We pray that this gift is one of the most important ones you buy this Christmas and brings you and your family a special blessing. The gratitude shown by the SAMM families is a wonderful occasion to behold!

The children of Christ Church invite our parish family to “The Bethlehem Trail” This Year’s Christmas Pageant Sunday, December 4 during the 10:15 service “Big Tex” and “Little Tex” will be gathering us all around the campfire on Sunday, December 4, during the 10:15 service to tell the tale of the first Christmas Texasstyle in “The Bethlehem Trail” Christmas Pageant.

Our fifth and sixth graders will star in this reenactment as the main Nativity Characters. Our preschoolers will be the animals who come to the manger to visit the newborn Christ Child including a few stray longhorns. Our fourth graders will be Wranglers who keep track of this menagerie of friendly beasts.

First and second grade boys and girls will be Cowboy Stars and Cowgirl Angels.

Third graders will be Texas Cowboys and Cowgirls on the trail. All will sing praises of celebration to the Christ

Child along with some congregational holiday hymns.

All of this is done to the glory of Christ and as a special Advent gift to our parish family from the children of Christ Church. A barbecue style reception will be held for all in the Parish Hall after the 10:15 service. Ya’ll Come!

Follow the Wise Men and the Star! Children’s Epiphany Celebration Sunday, January 8 During 10:15 Children’s Chapel Children will follow the three Wisemen and the Star in search of the Christ Child on Sunday, January 8 in Children’s Chapel as part of our annual Epiphany Celebration. Children will travel to Jerusalem, King Herod’s Palace, Bethlehem, and then out into the World on this journey. Children will take the most valuable gift they have – their hearts, on this journey. They will give their hearts to Baby Jesus in Bethlehem, then receive to Light of Christ in the form of a Star to take out with them into the World.

After this meaningful spiritual journey, the children will celebrate with King’s Cake and prizes for those who find the tiny Baby Jesus in their piece of cake. This

beloved ritual is carried out each year by the children of Christ Church as a conclusion of the Christmas season. Don’t miss and invite friends!

Children’s Nursery: Family Ministry Center (FMC) from 8:45 - 11:45 AM Infants-12 months: 104 & 105 Toddlers & Two’s: 106 Children’s Ministry Sunday Schedule: 10:15 - 10:45 AM: Children’s Chapel for three year olds through 5th graders, second floor Children’s Chapel Chapel Children will be brought into the church service to join parents for Communion at announcement time. *Age and grade levels for classes and chapel as of Sept. 1, 2011.

Sunday School Locations: 9:00 - 10:10 AM Good Shepherd Sunday School Preschool 3 year olds - graduating kindergarteners: rooms 201 and 204, Level I Atruim 1st and 2nd graders: room 208, Level II Atrium Village of God’s Children 3rd, 4th, 5th graders gathering: room 302; small groups: rooms 301, 302, 303 Questions? Contact Halleta Heinrich at halletah@cecsa.org, 736-3132 ex139.

Y outh

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Fun Nights and SNL “Fun Nights” for our B.A.S.I.C. (Brothers and Sisters in Christ) The first Wednesday of each month this fall, our Christ Church Youth are venturing out from the church with their Youth Ministry leaders for a special “Fun Night” of fellowship.

A “Fun Night” on the Ice – On October 5th, about a dozen of our Middle School and High School students met at The Carriage House to fortify themselves with “fun food” of pizza and soft drinks, with excitement and energy abounding.

The adventure began as the students traveled with their Christ Church Youth leaders and parent chaperones to the Northwoods Skating Park. It may still have been hot, summer-like weather in San Antonio that evening, but for a few brief hours, our students donned their long pants, sweaters and scarves for a night on the ice.

With Sam Roark, a new Christ Church Youth mem-

ber and experienced ice hockey player as inspiration, the students and Youth Leaders cut the ice with their skates…some fearlessly skating around the rink while others took a more conservative, tentative path. The visual metaphor for the life we envision for our young people was evident that night, as our students skated arm-

November 2nd, a post-Halloween “treat” for our Youth.

The students gathered for pizza at the church and then loaded into their Youth Ministers’ vehicles for the ride to Malibu, where they played arcade games, miniature golf and rode go-karts for a mid-week break with friends.

Good old-fashioned fun was had by all!

Next “Fun Night”: Christmas Caroling the B.A.S.I.C. Way – December 7th Bring a friend and come lend your voice and good cheer as the Christ Church Youth Ministry praise band heads out for caroling. See you then for another mid-week B.A.S.I.C. break filled with worship, fun and fellowship!

in-arm, circling the rink over and over. With each lap the accomplished skaters could be seen holding up their less experienced friends when needed; reaching out a hand to help each other up when they fell. In keeping with their spirit of good fun, big smiles and laughter filled the Northwoods Skating Park as our Christ Church B.A.S.I.C. Youth members spent a night of fun and fellowship together on the ice.

“Fun and Games” at Malibu – A “Fun Night” at Malibu Castle was held on Wednesday,

“Live from TMI…IT’S SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE!” Youth Groups from across the Diocese gathered in All Saints Chapel at TMI-The Episcopal School of Texas on Sunday evening, October 16th for the first Sunday Night Live (SNL) worship service of the 2011-2012 school year. Organized by the Youth leaders of the Episcopal churches in the San Antonio area, including input from Christ Church Youth Ministry Consultant Clark Niles, Sunday Night Live combines praise music, spiritual mescontinued on p. 6

Youth Calendar Youth Ministry continued... sages from the area’s Youth leaders, and small group breakout sessions.

Christ Episcopal Church Youth Interns Eric and Jessica Lewis are leading the efforts for the SNL music. They worked to recruit the band’s musicians from the various churches, picked the music and arrangements, held rehearsals, and transported the amplifiers and other equipment to TMI. They also serve as musicians and vocalists during the praise music portion of the services.

Four of our Christ Church B.A.S.I.C. Youth are active members of the Sunday Night Live band: Griffin Kissling on guitar, and Kaitlyn Eberhardt, Katherine Norvell, and Susannah Wright as vocalists.

The second SNL was held on November 13th and the third for the Fall semester will be December 18th. As Father Nathan Bostian, TMI’s Chaplain, indicated “This is an incredible gathering of Middle School and High School students and their Youth Ministry leaders from across the diocese. I have rarely seen such a strong interchurch effort and applaud all

involved in making this event come to life. TMI looks forward to serving as the host for these special evenings.”

Middle School and High School students: Mark your calendar now to join in Sunday Night Live on December 18th…what better time to gather to worship than the Sunday after Christmas Break begins? Start your holidays right by being with your B.A.S.I.C. friends for “SUNDAY NIGHT LIVE AT TMI.” Meet in the Carriage House for B.A.S.I.C. worship and fellowship on Sundays at 9:15 AM and for B.A.S.I.C. Midweek on Wednesdays at 6:30 PM.

B.A.S.I.C. Digital Photography Contest Began at “Camp-In” on November 11th-12th, running through the end of the year. Take photos to capture the essence of the Christ Church campus – the best will be displayed in the Carriage House!

B.A.S.I.C. “Fun Night” Christmas caroling on Wednesday, December 7th Christ Church Hospitality Pantry Annual Christmas luncheon. We will assist with craft projects, painting children’s faces, etc. on Saturday, December 10th Happening a spiritual renewal weekends for high schoolers in grades 10 - 12. #120 - Nov 18-20 - St. Philip’s, Uvalde #121 - March 2-4 - St. David’s, San Antonio Mid winters at Camp Capers High School 9th - 12th grade Jan 6-8 Middle School 6th - 8th grade Jan 13-15 Sunday Night Live 5:30 at TMI Dec. 18

Over the holidays we will NOT have B.A.S.I.C. Midweek activities on Wednesday November 23rd due to the Thanksgiving holiday or on Wednesday December 14th due to final exams and the Parish Christmas Dinner. Also, there will be NO Sunday B.A.S.I.C. on Christmas Day, December 25th or on New Year’s Day, January 1st. All other Sundays and Wednesdays, come join your B.A.S.I.C. friends in the Carriage House.

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Friends of Music Fall Schedule 2011 In Episcopal ministry we often hear the question, what does Anglican mean? My first response usually goes something like this: To be Anglican is to observe a distinct historical approach to scripture, liturgy and catechism as outlined in the Book of Common Prayer (BCP). If that answer doesn’t satisfy the asker I send them to see Bishop Frey.

Another way of being Anglican is to worship God as a community in very special ways such as Evensongs and festival liturgies.

In this article I would like to focus on our annual Advent Lessons and Carols service, one of the most Anglican of all services in which we engage. Let me begin with a prayer from the prayer book.

O God, whom saints and angels delight to worship in heaven: Be ever present with your servants who seek through art and music to perfect the praises offered by your people on earth; and grant to them even now

glimpses of your beauty, and make them worthy at length to behold it unveiled for evermore; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (BCP 819) At Christ Church, Lessons and Carols falls on the third Sunday of Advent, traditionally known as ‘Gaudete Sunday’ or ‘Sunday of Joy’. Positioned about half way between the start of Advent and Christmas Eve, it is a moment to offer our best to God as worshipers and celebrate the coming of Christ. In the planning of this service we often think of Psalm 33:1-3.

“Sing joyfully to the LORD . . . Praise the LORD with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. . . . play skillfully, and shout for joy.”

As we strive to ‘perfect our praises’ we employ some of the city’s finest musicians and rehearse our youth and adult volunteers for many weeks.

The service revolves around a scriptural narrative, one of the fall of man through sin, foreshadowen duggan Minister of Music owing of the owend@cecsa.org Messiah and culmination in the nativity of God’s Son for the purpose of the ultimate redemption of the world.

Both Advent and Christjosh benninger Organist mas carols are joshb@cecsa.org featured; but since the carol repertoire is so vast, there are always new ones to be found and old ones to be rediscovered. This year we will hear ancient music such as “Hodie”, a unison, treble-voice procession based on a Gregorian antiphon for Christmas. This hauntingly beautiful chant was collected and arranged for voices and harp by English composer Benjamin Britten. It will be followed by the breathlessly exciting (and difficult), “Wolcum Yole” or “Welcome Yule”, not welcome y’all, although it could be.

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Music Ministry continued...

Other early music includes the well known French processional, “O come, O come Emmanuel.”

Modern carols to be sung include, “Once in royal David’s City”, which is begun by a solo treble voice, followed by a cast of thousands—well, lots of people singing and playing. “Come ye lofty, come ye lowly” is sung by the youth and directed by Ruth Berg. Also new this year is, “Jesus Christ the Apple Tree”, and a repeat from last year, “Carol of the Magi”, will be offered. It is a moving

story told by one of the wise men, whose ‘voice’ is accompanied by a solo cello played

by Ken Freudigman. Excerpts from Handel’s Messiah add drama and bring the sacred texts in like a home run hit.

Especially fun and lively this year will be a traditional Spanish carol, “Esta Noche”, arranged by favorite composer John Rutter. Soprano soloist Virginia Peche will sing this joyful dance-like carol with the choir. And as always there will be one or two surprises.

much loved, “This Christmastide” which features a teen soloist, and “Hark the Herold Angels Sing” complete with timpani drums that will make you feel the earth move. Okay it really is ‘Herald Angels.’ Just seeing if you were paying attention.

Hope to see you and your friends there!

The service ends with the

CAre

Life After Loss A Six Weeks Program for Those Who Are Grieving Hosted by Christ Episcopal Church & Porter Loring Family Care Services Invite you to join us & understand the process of grief, assess where you are in this process, discover how your loss can transform you into becoming a better person, plan for how you will continue to heal and live a good life.

Facilitator: Celeste Miller Bereavement Associate with Porter Loring Christ Episcopal Church Conference Room Wednesdays, January 11 - February 8, 2012 12:30-2:00 P.M. You do not need to register for this program. If you would like more information please contact Carol Miller, 736-3132 ex 123 or carolm@cecsa.org.

Carol Miller Pastoral Care Administrator carolm@cecsa.org

alender oF eveNTS

Nov 20: Chapel Boychoir of San Antonio presents a “Christ

the King” Evensong service at 6:00 PM Nov 27: Hanging of the Greens & Pot Luck Lunch 11:30 AM Dec. 4: Children’s Christmas Pageant at 10:15 service Dec 10: The Hospitality Pantry’s 11th Annual Christmas Dinner for

from 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM.

Dec. 11: Lessons and Carols service at both the 8:00 AM and

10:15 AM services.

Dec. 11: Camerata San Antonio presents An English

Christmas at 3:00 PM Dec. 14: Parish Christmas Dinner at 6:00 PM Dec. 15: SAMM Christmas Party Dec. 26 - 30: The Church offices will be closed

Christ Church Ministry Staff: The Rt. Rev. Bill Frey, Interim Rector plusbill@aol.com The Rev. John Barrett, Asst. Rector johnb@cecsa.org The Rev. Scott Kitayama, Asst. Priest, scottk@cecsa.org Carol Miller, Pastoral Care, carolm@cecsa.org Halleta Heinrich, Director of Children’s Ministry, halletah@cecsa.org Dr. Owen Duggan, Music Minister, owend@cecsa.org Joshua Benninger, Organist, joshb@cecsa.org Ruth Berg, Director of Children’s Music, ruthaberg@gmail.com

Christ Church Support Staff: Darla Nelson, Office Mananger, darlan@cecsa.org Donna Shreve, Financial Manager, donnas@cecsa.org Bianca Leonard, Director of Communications, biancal@cecsa.org Anna Jewell, Executive Asst. to the Rector, annaj@cecsa.org Pat Wilson, Receptionist., patw@cecsa.org Elizabeth Martinez, Kitchen Manager, elizabethm@cecsa.org Robert Vallejo, Facilities Manager, robertv@cecsa.org

2011 Giving and Important Tax Information 2011 Contributions: Parishioners must deliver checks by Friday, Dec. 31, 2011 in order to claim a charitable contribution for 2011. (Note: the church office will be closed from Monday, December 26 through Friday, December 30. The last Sunday service in 2011 is on Dec. 25). Checks that are placed in the church offering on the 1st Sunday in 2012 (Jan. 1, 2012) will not qualify for a charitable contribution deduction in 2011, even if the check is predated to 2011 or was actually written in 2011.

However, checks that are written, postmarked, and mailed in 2011 will be deductible in 2011 though the church may not receive them until 2012. If you have a stock donation, please contact Donna at the church office by Dec. 23 (736-3132 ex. 146 or donnas@cecsa.org).

Rudy Segovia, Hospitality Manager, rudys@cecsa.org Joe Garcia, Sexton, joeg@cecsa.org

Christmas at Christ Church bianca leonard Director of Communications biancal@cecsa.org

Send submissions for The Message, website, email newsletter, and Sunday announcements to Bianca Leonard, phone: 210.736.3132, fax 210.733.1423, email: biancal@cecsa.org.

Material is published according to timeliness and relevance to the vision of the church.

Deadlines for submissions are as follows: January 3 December 13 deadline Ministry info: January 14 - March 16

Nov. 27 Hanging of the Greens in the Parish Hall, following the 10:15 AM service with pot-luck lunch Dec. 4 Children’s Christmas Pageant at the 10:15 AM service Dec. 11 Lessons & Carols at the 8:00 and 10:15 AM services Dec. 24 Christmas Eve 5:00, 8:00, and 10:30 PM Services Dec. 25 Christmas Day 10:15 AM Service (There will be no 8:00 AM or 6:00 PM services)

The Message (USPS 471-710) is published bi-monthly by Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Periodical postage paid at San Antonio, TX. Postmaster: Please send address changes to Christ Episcopal Church, 510 Belknap Place, San Antonio, TX 78212. Volume 13, Number 5.

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