CCALEX Rejoice July 2014 by SLHahn

Rejoice

July 2014

118 N. Washington St. ✠ Alexandria, VA 22314 www.HistoricChristChurch.org ✠ 703-549-1450

By Paul Currer

A Faith Journey at New Neighbors

ome years ago I attended a workshop by Jean Johnson, founder of the New Neighbors English Language Learning Program, one of Christ Church’s significant outreach ministries. This was a program I had long wanted to support. I finally found time to volunteer this past academic year. For me, the step would be a way to get some experience teaching English as a building block for undertaking mission work overseas. I thought it was a solid, rational plan. But God had some surprises in store for me. It wasn’t long before I learned that New Neighbors’ work goes far beyond teaching English. Using the gift of language, the program welcomes im-

migrants from around the world into the Alexandria community, helps students develop friendships here and ultimately assists them in becoming part of America. It would be difficult to be at New Neighbors Paul Currer with New Neighbors students at Christ Church without thinking about the Second Imagine coming to Alexandria from Great Commandment, “Thou shalt a place in the world where there are love thy neighbor as thyself,” which I few or no opportunities for education now know is at the heart of outreach. continued on page 6

HVAC System Operational in the Church; Work Set to Begin in Old Parish House Submitted by the HVAC Committee

he installation of the new heating and cooling system is proceeding according to plan. All of the new systems and controls are in place in the Church. The HVAC system is fully operational there, including the air conditioning! In June work began in the Memorial Parish House with the installation of the new hot water boiler. Holes were cut in the Memorial Parish House basement interior walls. This allowed for the beginning of the installation on new piping, ductwork and controls to service the Memorial Parish House. In July, work will continue in the Memorial Parish House with replacement of the roof top condensing unit

and testing of the air handling unit in the Crow’s Nest. Most importantly, construction will begin on the interior first and second floors of the Memorial Parish House. Offices and staff will have to be moved, perhaps more than once. Although we have planned for this temporary displacement, there is no denying that it will be disruptive to the workplace areas of the church. This disruption will last throughout the year as the contractor works through the Memorial Parish House and the Old Parish House. Parishioners are encouraged to contact the church to determine the location of the temporarily relocated offices.

Regarding financing, to date all costs have been covered by the reserves that were set aside initially and from early donations made to the Capital Campaign. Payment for future invoices will require drawing on the line of credit that Christ Church has with Burke & Herbert Bank, as well as later donations made to the Capital Campaign. While the HVAC Committee regrets the inconveniences that are necessary to accomplish this major construction project, we are encouraged by the solid progress that is being made. Thanks to all the parishioners for your patience and support during this project.

Rejoice is the official monthly publication of Christ Church, Alexandria, Virginia, an Episcopal church in the Diocese of Virginia. The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston Thirteenth Bishop of Virginia The Rt. Rev. Susan Ellyn Goff Suffragan Bishop The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. (Ted) Gulick, Jr. Assistant Bishop of Virginia Vestry Janet Osborn, Senior Warden Brian Shannon, Junior Warden Abigail Arms, Susan Davis Elizabeth Dakin, Geoffrey Giovanetti Susan Hahn, John Kennedy Betsy Powell Tykie Tobin, Treasurer Andrew Baird, Assistant Treasurer Clergy The Rev. Pierce Klemmt, Rector The Rev. Ann Gillespie, Senior Associate Rector The Rev. Heather VanDeventer, Associate Rector for Faith Formation and Evangelism The Rev. Dr. Diane Murphy, Priest Associate The Rev. Dr. Amelia J. Dyer, Director of Ministry Resident Program Director of Music M. Jason Abel Christ Church embodies God’s unbounded love by embracing, liberating, and empowering people, whoever you are and wherever you find yourself on your journey of faith. The Rejoice deadline is the third of the month preceding publication. Please email proposed articles to tknox@ccalex.org. Those accepted are subject to editing for length and content. Susan Hahn edits Rejoice while Craig Keith provides design and layout. Carol Donlan gives her time and talent as an advisor.

@historiccc

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Julian Wachner conducting the 250 conference attendees at Choral Evensong. The Association of Anglican Musicians Conference Choral Evensong took place at Christ Church on June 18. Julian Wachner, Director of Arts and Music at Trinity Church Wall Street, was the conductor. The Rt. Rev. Shannon Johnston, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, was the preacher. Our own Rev. Ann Gillespie served as the Officiant. Nicholas Bideler, the Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at The Church of St. Michael and St. George in Saint Louis, was the organist for the service.

Sunday Childcare Summer Nursery Hours: Open 7:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Qualified nursery staff caretakers will watch infants to five-year-olds in one of our two Parish House Nurseries, free of charge, while parents attend worship or other church events. Infant Caring Room: Open from 7:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. & 4:30 to 6:00 p.m.

Parents can tend to their child’s needs in this child-friendly space while watching the worship service live on the closed-circuit TV. This room is not staffed by caretakers, so parents are required to stay with their children.

Finance Committee 101

goal of the Christ Church strategic plan is to better inform the parish about the handling of money and general financial matters at the church. To that end, members of the Finance Committee have prepared information about the workings of the committee. This is the fifteenth in a series about the work of the committee to appear in Rejoice.

Audits often have taken far longer than is normal, but in recent years completion has been much quicker. After more than ten years of successful audits, it was decided to limit the scope of the examination to a review instead of an audit. The biggest difference between audits and reviews that have been completed here is the number of transactions that are reviewed in detail. This process continues to confirm that the church Are the CC financial statements does an excellent job of following audited? established and sound accounting and Submitted by the Finance Committee financial procedures, and reporting Christ Church financial statements the financial condition of the church have been audited for many years. clearly and accurately.

Senior Rector’s Last Day at Christ Church By The Rev. Pierce W. Klemmt

t the May Vestry meeting, we agreed to select November 23 as my last Sunday as your Rector and I will retire to pursuits yet to be discovered. Otherwise known as “Christ the King Sunday,” liturgically it retires the church’s rhythm of sacred time and season. The next Sunday launches the season of Advent and the hallowed rotation, like the celestial heavens, begins anew. Then you will enter a new season of ministry at the beginning of the liturgical year under interim pastoral leadership. It is a clarifying irony to understand that while I am leaving my spiritual and community home teeming with

a treasury of cherished memories; on that day I will begin searching for my next home, both spiritual and vocational. “What will I do?” many ask. My answer: “I haven’t a clue.” What I am focused on is leaving well and preparing the groundwork for a faithful and successful transition for the future. The Vestry has appointed a Transition Committee with Ann McMurray generously offering to chair the team. What will be next for me? Tuke and I will be searching for a new parish

home nearby in December. In time, I will look to search and find, what I have been counseling many here to do—my “encore” career. I plan to work for some kind of nonprofit “for cause” organization where my experience and skills may institutionally advance an organization that is devoted to helping others that this church has so finely sculpted with me. I am looking forward to having weekends and evenings available with my family. That will be totally different and wonderful. I will keep you posted.

How & Why to Start Donating Toward Your HVAC Pledge

e are all delighted and grateful that the Preserving our Legacy – Protecting our Future capital campaign to support the Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) project was a success and will result in contributions and pledges that will, when fulfilled, help complete the funding for the project, along with support from the Christ Church Foundation, and church reserves. Thank you to everyone who made a donation or a pledge to care for the church. If you pledged support for the project through the campaign, there are many ways to fulfill your pledge and we would like to help you get started. Your timely donations can minimize the need to use our line of credit to make payments for the project. This keeps associated interest payments down and makes your contribution even more effective for the church. Here are some things to keep in mind when making your donations toward your pledge:

• Your pledge contributions and pledge balance will be included on the quarterly contribution statements that are issued by the Accounting Office. • Your next quarterly statement (in mid-July) will also include an envelope to use for mailing HVAC donation checks. • Please write “HVAC” on the memo line of all pledge donations made by check and either mail to 118 N. Washington St., Alexandria, VA 22314 or drop in the offertory plate on Sundays. • Special envelopes are not necessary to identify your pledge donations, but if you would like a set of HVAC envelopes to use as reminders, please call or email Tara Knox

at tknox@ccalex.org or 703-7784928 or to request envelopes. • Regular pledge contributions may be made on a monthly, quarterly or annual basis by either credit card or by direct transfer from a bank account to the Christ Church account. Please contact Stephanie Kelly at skelly@ccalex.org or 703-7784933 in the Accounting Office to set up a schedule. • Donation of stock or securities may also be used to fulfill all or part of a pledge. Please contact Stephanie Kelly in the Accounting Office for account information.

If you have questions about your pledge or how to make contributions toward fulfilling your pledge, please contact Tara Knox at 703-778-4928 or tknox@ccalex.org.

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Mary Beth Abplanalp Relocates to Richmond & Accepts Call to St. James

hree years ago, the Holy Spirit put Mary Beth Baylor, now Abplanalp, and Rev. Ann Gillespie together at the right place and time—at Shrine Mont, of course. Encountering each other at a junction point on separate hikes, Ann learned that Mary Beth had just decided to leave teaching but was not sure what was next in her life. Christ Church was looking for a new person in children’s ministries and soon Pierce and Ann invited Mary Beth to interview. I was not officially on the staff as yet, Chris & Mary Beth Abplanalp with Lew & but came to the church to interview Mary Baylor, Mary Beth’s parents, on Youth Mary Beth for what became the posiSunday tion of Children and Youth Minister. Over these three years, Mary Beth Indeed, the Holy Spirit led us well. has expanded and deepened the scope of children and youth ministries at Christ Church. One small marker of this is that, when Mary Beth was hired, her job description listed only four points for youth ministry and the focus was on the Sunday School. Today, children’s and youth ministries are seen as equally important facets of formation and congregational life at Christ Church. During Mary Beth’s tenure, a new Sunday School curriculum for elementary ages, Workshop Cycles, was implemented, VacaWelcome our New tion Bible School has thrived, and Administrative Director guidelines for nursery care have been e are pleased to welcome established. Alecia Cooper Moroz to the In order to create a sustainable staff as Senior Administrative Direcyouth ministry—one which is truly tor, starting July 1. Alecia is a parisha ministry of the parish as a whole ioner at St. James Episcopal Church, and not just the work of the youth Leesburg, where she has served in minister—Christ Church brought many lay leadership roles since 1997, in Youth Ministry Architects last including as a facilitator in leading year to consult and help us establish the church’s visioning teams. Profesframework for vibrant youth ministry. sionally, Alecia will bring a strong As a result, the ministry has systems background in business development in place to ensure, for example, that and management, member services, marketing, and communication. Look youth group events, even major ones, can happen even if the youth minisfor an interview with Alecia in the ter were to have an emergency and August issue of Rejoice.

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could not be present. As Mary Beth departs, our youth ministry is in a strong position. The clergy, the Youth Ministry Renovation Team, and others in the lay leadership are delighted that the youth ministry is being handed over to the capable hands and loving heart of Anna Broadbent, our recently hired interim part-time youth minister. An extensive search for an interim part-time children’s ministry coordinator continues, yet we know that the Holy Spirit will guide us to the right person for this time.

ELIZABETH JEX PHOTO

By the Rev. Heather VanDeventer

Rev. Heather, Mary Beth, and Rev. Ann at Shrine Mont 2014

Mary Beth and her husband Chris will be moving to Richmond, Virginia this summer so that Chris can attend Virginia Commonwealth University to pursue a long-awaited career in nursing. Mary Beth has accepted the position of Director of Youth and Young Adults at St. James’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. We wish them both all the best and God’s blessings as they begin the next stage of their lives and vocations in Richmond.

A “Throw-Back Thursday” Look at Christ Church Vacation Bible School—1927 By Julia E. Randle

[Note: Our own Julia E. Randle, the registrar and historiographer for the Diocese of Virginia, served as the curator and archivist for Christ Church from 1987-1993. During that time she established our parish historical archives, created a permanent exhibit on the history of the congregations, developed historical literature for tourists and wrote a monthly historical column, Chronicles of Christ Church. Following is an excerpt from her August 1993 column about the history of Vacation Bible School in Alexandria and at Historic Christ Church. She noted in that article that existing records showed the tradition of Vacation Bible School began in Alexandria churches in the 1920s].

Crafts at VBS 2014

EMILY BRYAN PHOTOS

“The earliest known Alexandria Bible Schools were ecumenical, not congregational or denominational efforts. In 1925 the Alexandria Ministerial Association, the interdenominational organization of local clergy, decided to coordinate a Vacation Bible School among the various protestant churches. The Bible School of 200–300 children met daily from 9:30 a.m. until noon for

Friends at VBS 2014 Tribes at VBS 2014

the entire month of July and was open to all Alexandria children. The program consisted of ‘games, stories, Bible instructions, memory work, music, nature study, patriotic exercises, dramatization, object lessons, stereopticon and moving pictures, outings and contests.’ “In addition, girls were taught sewing and boys given instruction in woodworking. The teachers were volunteers from the various churches and the Alexandra Gazette ran incessant calls for more volunteers throughout each session. Instead of meeting at one church, however, the

school was divided by age, with different age groups meeting in different churches. The entire school would come together at the end at the Armory for a closing service where prizes for attendance and Bible memorization were awarded. “In 1927, Christ Church hosted part of the Vacation Bible School. It was the meeting place for the children over the age of eight, while younger children met at the Trinity Methodist Episcopal Church on South Washington Street. One of the highlights of the session was a program by the Garden Club of Alexandria. The children were told stories of flowers and the children were awarded prizes for naming flowers….”

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Lazarus Ministry This Summer is in short supply in the diets of many families, so please consider donating this item. You can drop your contributions in the white box outside of the church on Sunday mornings.

By Nancy Carson

s the Parish House main floor shuts down for the remodeling of our Heating, Ventilation & Air Conditioning (HVAC) system, Michelle Baize, our Administrative Assistant for Outreach & Missions and Pastoral Care, along with the energetic Lazarus counselors and helpers, has designed a way to assist guests and keep the ministry and food pantry open. The schedule for July to October will offer Lazarus guests financial assistance on Wednesdays, helped by our counselors who will be located at St. Paul’s Church. Christ Church welcomed the St. Paul’s Lazarus Ministry while they were undergoing a construction project in the past and our neighbor church has welcomed us in return. Lazarus guests can request financial assistance once every three months; most requests are for help with utility bills and rent. Other counseling is provided and counselors from Alexandria Social Services and Alex-

andria Redevelopment and Housing Authority are available to offer guidance and information. Our Lazarus ministry provided assistance more than 3200 times from July 2013 to June 2014. This is an average of 268 guest visits each month. From July to October, the popular food pantry will operate on Thursdays from the Meade Room. Food gleaned from Trader Joe’s and Panera Bread in Alexandria and food donations provided by the Parish, as well as food purchased at the Capital Area Food Bank, will be available. Parishioners can help by donating canned meat. Because no food storage is possible during this time, canned meat will be in high demand. Protein

New Neighbors

Welcome John Osborn

continued from page 1

and no roads, electricity, running water or other kinds of infrastructure we take for granted. Then walk through New Neighbors on a weekday morning. You’ll see students who are happy to be here, want to learn, and are truly diligent. It’s a use of the Fowler House’s facilities that’s an important gift from the people of Christ Church to the community. I am still working toward supporting mission overseas and will be studying Haitian Creole in Florida and Haiti this summer. How will that turn out? I’m not certain, but I do know this. Once the Holy Spirit is involved, watch out! The experience will be demanding and rewarding, but not necessarily what you thought it would be. Page 6 ✠ Rejoice ✠ July 2014

Produce, bread, and more from Trader Joe's Alexandria and Panera Bread on Duke Street

Additional ways to join in this ministry can be found on the Christ Church web site: www.ccalex.org/get-involved/outreach/ lazarus-ministry. All Lazarus guests are Alexandria residents with low incomes. First priority for help is given to guests who are new to the Lazarus Ministry.

ohn Osborn is a rising Sophomore at Elon University in North Carolina and is currently volunteering on weekdays as our receptionist at the front desk. He provides information on the church and the Lazarus Ministry, as well as directing phone calls for the clergy and staff. In June, you may have seen John participating in Vacation

John Osborn at front desk as our volunteer receptionist this summer and also appearing as Moses for VBS.

Bible School as Moses alongside his ‘sister’ Miriam. For the rest of the summer, you can find John at the front desk from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.— filing, transferring phone calls, and fielding parishioner questions.

July 2014 Forums By the Rev. Heather VanDeventer Deep Transformative Mission

The Sunday forums in the month of July will focus on the long-term mission experience, drawing on the experiences of two pairs of parishioners. Join us in the Meade Room at 9:00 a.m. Note the new start time, please, for these conversations. July 13–The Role of Missions in Parish Ministry, a South African Experience Tom and Dorothy Linthicum invite you to share a conversation about the role of missions in parish ministry. They will draw from their experiences in South Africa, where they spent a year teaching, preaching, and listening primarily at the College of the Transfiguration in Grahamstown. Christ Church has a long history of working with churches, people, and institutions throughout the world and nearby community. We will explore ways that mission work can be a vital part of our church’s life, always mindful of the context of other cultures and practices of communities both near and far. July 20 and 27—The Mission Work of Abiding, Living in a Cross-Cultural Context Ron and Linda Hoekstra will share their year-long experiences as missionaries in Honduras (on July 20) and Indonesia (on July 27). While in Honduras, they were based at Tegucigalpa in 2009–2010 and in San Pedro Sula for 2010–2011. Our Little Roses, the same orphanage and school where Christ Church’s mission team will visit July 19–28, is also in San Pedro Sula. From 2012 to 2013, the Hoekstras ministry was based at St. Andrew’s Pre-school/ Primary School in Batan, Indonesia. Come share your ideas about missions with us!

Rites of Passage Births • Benjamin Abbott Maloney, son of Joanna & Mike Maloney • Sophie Ann Speck, daughter of Vanessa & Robert Speck • Theodore Albert Constantine, son of Sarah & Derek Constantine • Sylvianne Louise Dalton, daughter of Kathryn & Sean Dalton Baptisms • William Stack Bowers • Emma Jane Bronder • Rhonda Sue Degen • Thomas Carlos Daniel Duffy • Elena Soledad Duffy • Emma Madeleine Handy • Derek Makoto Honda • Norman Philip Medford • Elliana Marie Pantano • Aurora Evelyn Schertel • Thomas Francis Watkins • Walter Benedict Watkins Confirmations • Robert Benjamin Andrews • Emily Elizabeth Boehm • Michael John Brown • Kristofer Lee Harrison • Jackson McCoy Lawson • Thaddeus John Lawson • Natalie Ivette Madrid • Charles E. McNeill III • Anna Dean Millikan • Sally Pope Netter • Sandra Lou Pickett • Kaitlin Anne Boyd Ply • Ethan Lee Quill • Nels Peter Rasmussen • Paige Francesca Reese • Stephanie Christine Roberts • Peter Thomas Schertel Jr.

• Jenny Amber Sokatch • Amanda Carruth Kualani St. Claire • Paige Elizabeth St. John • Rebecca Ann Shannon • Madeline Olivia Waldhoff • Steven Duane Weber • Jeremy Michael Windus • Meghan Rose Wommack • Jason Richard Woods • Olivia Grace Zavrel Reaffirmations • Christopher John Abplanalp • Mary Elizabeth Abplanalp • Patricia Ann Barbarowicz Receptions • Brenda Bernardi • Cynthia Ann Drag • Diana Katherine Flynn • Christine Countryman Harrison • Constance Rae Heiss • Susan Koscis • Joann Sharp • Alexandra Sukalo • Charles W. Thomas • Elizabeth Ann Witt Weddings • Carrie Elizabeth Rafer & Mark William Libell • Martene Amelia Bryan & Ryan Nathaniel Rhed Deaths • Jean Hilty Reid • Billy Jean Baker • Eugenia Bell • Larry Browning • Jan Foray • Ginny Renshaw • Claudia Ruland

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Christ Church to Continue Summer Service Schedule in the Fall

he Rev. Ann Gillespie reported feedback from recent listening sessions on keeping three services through the coming program year to the Vestry at its June meeting. Based on the feedback, the Vestry concurred with the Clergy and Liturgy Guild recommendation that we continue our summer schedule of three Sunday worship services, at 8:00 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 5:00 p.m., through the coming program year. This service schedule trial period will run from September 14, 2014 and end May 24, 2015. At the end of the program year, a re-evaluation will be made. New listening sessions will be conducted to share what we have learned, review how the schedule has worked during the regular program year and decide whether the following program year should continue with three services. We will conduct the trial service schedule through an entire program year so that the rhythm of Sunday School, youth and adult faith formation opportunities is consistent and uninterrupted. Following are some of the most common Q & As from recent listening sessions:

Why is this change being made?

Going through the Red Sea on dry land at VBS 2014 Page 8 ✠ Rejoice ✠ July 2014

The education time will take place from 9:00 to 9:45 a.m. This includes Sunday School, Youth and Adult Faith Formation options, and it also allows the 8:00 a.m. congregation to participate in these education and faith formation opportunities.

What about coffee hours?

Coffee hour will continue in the Library following the 8:00 a.m. service. There will also be a coffee hour following the 10:00 a.m. service, outside when the weather is nice.

Will this help us as our congregation grows?

Congregational research shows there is a ‘sweet spot’ of perceived church capacity that is most welcoming to visitors and newcomers. When a church is thought to be between 50 to 80 percent full, it is perceived as a desirable church. When a church appears to be less than 50 percent full, it is perceived to be similar to the restaurant with only one table seated during the dinner rush—that’s a place that new attendees are not likely to try. When a church appears to be more than 80 percent full, it is perceived in a similar way as the restaurant that has a 45 minute wait – and that church feels like it might be good but that there is not room for the newcomer. With a combined mid-morning 10:00 a.m. service, Christ Church attendance currently falls into that sweet spot of a desirable church. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact, The Rev. Ann Gillespie at agillespie@ccalex.org, Senior Warden Janet Osborn at janet.osborn@aonhewitt.com or Junior Warden Brian Shannon at brian.p.shannon@gmail.com.

EMILY BRYAN PHOTOS

A combined 10:00 a.m. service allows for the church to be a more vibrant and joyous worship experience for all. During the transition of Pierce’s retiring and our move forward with an interim rector, there is a significant benefit and desire to worship as one church family. Three services also will reduce the strain on the stretched human resources of our volunteer lay worship ministry participants as well as clergy. All three services will now be able to enjoy music, a significant part of a joyous worship experience together. Some cost savings and efficiency benefits will be realized in having three more full services, but that’s not a primary reason for this change.

How will this affect time for Sunday School and Forums?

Helping at VBS

Ready for a journey at VBS 2014

Historic Christ Church is a Popular National Capital Area Tourist Destination

CRAIG KEITH PHOTO

e proudly proclaim on our World Wide Web page presence, that our parish is older than the nation. It’s a neighborhood church that many parishioners enjoy being able to walk to attend. It’s also a regional church that parishioners are drawn to travel to attend on at least a weekly basis from around the Beltway. But wait, there’s more! Historic Christ Church is a national treasure. Officially declared a National Historic Landmark in 1970, it’s a popular tourist ‘must see’ stop. The City of Alexandria promotes the church as a visitor attraction on its website, as well as the churchyard and the Wilkes Street Cemetery. Trip Advisor ranks Christ Church

as number 3 of 37 destinations to see in Alexandria, including it as an historic site as well as a religious site. You’ll find great reviews of Christ Church on many other popular on-line tourist research sites including expedia.com, virtualtourist.com, www.10best.com/destinations, and planetware.com. This Spring the Virginia Center for Architecture in Richmond announced Christ Church was chosen in a public poll as one of the top ten structures that are part of Virginia’s Favorite Architecture. The center currently is running an exhibit of same name to highlight each of the 100 structures identified as Virginia’s most beloved pieces of architecture to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the Virginia Society of the American Institute of Architects. The exhibition runs through October 19. Travelers from around the nation and the world, sometimes by tour bus loads full, stop to stand in the historic parish home to feel the Holy Spirit and a connection with our historic national leaders who stood there for the same purpose in past centuries. One docent reported that during the government shutdown last summer, Christ Church became even more popular than usual as a stop on the road returning from a visit to George Washington’s Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens—two of the American history landmarks that are privately run in the national capital region that remained open when most other sites, that were government-run or

The Rev. Heather VanDeventer with our Washington family Bible which was in the church for the Fourth of July and for all services on Sunday, July 6. The Bible was presented to Christ Church in 1804 by George Washington Parke Custis, the adopted son of President George Washington, and father-in-law of Robert E. Lee. For more on Christ Church history during that era, visit www.ccalex.org/about-us/history/1801-1850/

funded, had been temporarily closed. This June a couple who are parishioners, and who had wed at Christ Church, marked their wedding anniversary by including a visit to the sanctuary as part of their celebration. They added a photo of the visit on a popular social media site. One of the repliers said he had been to the church as a visitor and was very moved by being in the sanctuary with its rich history. If you haven’t taken a tour of your own historic parish with a docent lately, be a tourist! Nearly every U.S. President has visited. You might be surprised how inspiring it is to see and hear about your church with the eyes of a tourist. Bring your summertime visitors here first.

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Historic Christ Church Trivia Quiz

articipants at this year’s Christ Church Parish Retreat at Shrine Mont enjoyed a trivia quiz game related to historic and current facts about our church. See if you know the answers. (Check how you did with the correct answers on the back page). Many thanks to Julia E. Randle for construction of the questions related to church history. 1. Who presented the Washington Bible to Christ Church and when? (a) George Washington in 1799 (b) Martha Washington in 1801 (c) George Washington Parke Custis in 1804 (d) Robert E Lee in 1857 2. The first diary entry that George Washington attended a service at Christ Church shows July 25 of which year? a) 1799 b) 1773 c) 1779 d) 1770 3. Construction of the building which became Christ Church was commenced in what year? (a) 1607 (b) 1749 (c) 1767 (d) 1773 4. What was Robert E Lee’s favorite hymn? (a) “Amazing Grace” (b) “Oh! Zion Haste!” (c) “How Firm a Foundation” (d) “The Battle Hymn of the Republic” (e) “Jesus Loves Me”

Trivia Quiz Answers: 1-c, 2-b, 3-c, 4-c, 5-d, 6-b, 7-d, 8-c. Page 10 ✠ Rejoice ✠ July 2014

5. What woman is honored with the name of the Christ Church Chapter of Daughters of the King? (a) Martha Washington (b) Mary Custis Lee (c) Martha Horne (d) Sallie Stuart 6. When did President Franklin Roosevelt and British Prime Minister Winston Churchill worship together at Christ Church? (a) June 10, 1939, with King George V during his visit to the United States. (b) January 1, 1942 for Day of Prayer

(c) June 6, 1944, prayers for the D-Day Invasion (d) May 8, 1945, VE-Day 7. Who was the first woman elected to the Christ Church vestry? (a) Martha Washington (b) Mary Custis Lee (c) Martha Park Custis (d) Marguerite Moncure Lamond 8. Who was the first ordained woman on the Christ Church staff? (a) Martha Washington (b) Mary Custis Lee (c) Martha Horne (d) Mary Cushman

#Episcopal Social Media Sunday Hit #1 on Twitter

n Sunday, June 29, our parish participated in Episcopal Social Media Sunday. The National Church and the Diocese of Virginia encourage all parishes to include use of social media (for example, Facebook, Twitter, texts, and Instagram) to draw in newcomers and to communicate effectively with parishioners. Those attending services were good natured about sharing the Peace with friends by text or checking in on Facebook or posting a ‘selfie’ from the churchyard or a Tweet after the service about a memorable moment from the sermon. These are all ways to share with others that it’s great to be at Christ Church on a Sunday morning! We saw some immediate results throughout Social Media Sunday with engagement on our own social media platforms spiking. The organizers of #Episcopal Social Media Sunday released a statement on Monday, June 30, that “at about 10:00a.m. EST time, #Episcopal hit the top of the US trends on Twitter, meaning it was the most active topic across the US at that time. We also know that there were more than 3,000 posts with the #Episcopal tag yesterday.”

We provided tips on quick and easy ways you can help share all the amazing things about the Episcopal Church and our parish by participating with us on social media. Here is a link to that information: ccalex.org/ files/2414/0492/4471/social_media_vocab or ccalex.org/files/2114/0492/4780/ socmedwhyhow.pdf. If you have questions, please contact Tara Knox at tknox@ccalex.org

Sunday service ‘selfie’ with the congregation

Pentecost

Worship, music, wearing red, welcoming newcomers, and sharing a parish picnic to celebrate Pentecost on June 8

Shrine Mont Beautiful weather, fun, reflection, friendship, and a chance to worship God under the highest ceiling of any cathedral in the world were all enjoyed by parishioners who participated in the 2014 Parish Weekend at Shrine Mont on June 13 to 15.

(above) Fathers’ Day at Shrine Mont (right) Compline by candlelight (far right) Hayriders ready to go

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