Rejoice
June 2014
118 N. Washington St. ✠ Alexandria, VA 22314 www.HistoricChristChurch.org ✠ 703-549-1450
New Vestry Members & Leadership by Tara Knox
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Cailin Ramsey, youth Sunday preacher, and The Rev. Ann Gillespie.
t their May 27 meeting, the Vestry elected Janet Osborn to serve as Senior Warden, Brian Shannon as Junior Warden, and Janet Zavrel as Clerk. Tykie Tobin and Andrew Baird will continue as Treasurer and Assistant Treasurer, respectively. Congratulations and thanks to each of these dedicated Vestry members in their leadership roles! Four new members of the Vestry were elected on May 11 by the parish and were commissioned on May 18 at the 11:15 a.m. service. Each has an interesting history of service with the church and a variety of skills to offer. More in-depth bios are available on the website at www.ccalex.org. Click on About Us, Vestry, Nominees. Here are some interesting tidbits that may send you to the website looking for more.
Abigail Arms Abbie Arms has participated in the Covenant Class and Stewards of the Dirt (otherwise known as SOD whose members are caretakers of the gardens), as well as the Finance Committee, the Stewardship Committee and ushering. Abbie states that she felt rewarded through her support of our mission and outreach ministries including Our Little Roses, Sudan, and the Christ Child Project. Abbie believes, “Christ Church will turn its challenges into opportunities and will become a stronger institution, community and resource for those seeking greater spiritual or physical sustenance. As a church community, we are blessed with an internal strength that evidences our vibrant, caring, giving and welcoming
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June Brings HVAC Work to Memorial Parish House By Barry Stauffer
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s we enter into June, progress on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) system replacement remains on schedule. The church has operated for a month with scaffolding around the bell tower and in the balcony. The scaffolding will be taken down after the contractor completes the installation of the air handling unit in the bell tower and relocates the return air vent in the ceiling of the church. We will then begin start-up and testing of the new cooling system in the church, with a completion planned there by the middle of June.
Attention will then move to the Memorial Parish House, which unfortunately will involve serious disruption to the staff offices located there, a significant challenge to their important work. The contractor will demolish the existing boiler as well as the existing steam and condensate lines in the Memorial Parish House ceiling and set the new hot water boiler. The contractor will then prepare the interior walls for new ductwork and piping, and install that ductwork, piping, and controls for the new system in the parish house basement. The
prime contractor for the work is RM Thornton. The program management contractor is Faithful and Gould. The relocation committee continues to work with staff and clergy to minimize the impact of this relocation while this extensive work to the interior of the Memorial Parish House proceeds through October. Please check the Christ Church website: www.ccalex.org. Choose About Us, hvac, and weekly-summary. for regular updates on the construction project and the current temporary locations of church offices and activities.
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
Christ Church Hosts Anglican Musicians on June 18
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hrist Church is honored to be hosting attendees at this year’s Association of Anglican Musicians conference on Wednesday, June 18. Choral Evensong at 5:00 p.m. that
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
day will be sung in the church. The combined members of the conference, some 250-plus members, will be the choir for the service. Julian Wachner, director of the Grammy Award-winning Washington Chorus and also Director of Arts and Music at Trinity Church Wall Street, will be the conductor. The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, Bishop of the Diocese of Virginia, will preach, and our own Rev. Ann Gillespie will serve as the Officiant. Nicholas Bideler, the Assistant Organist and Choirmaster at The Church of St. Michael and St. George in Saint Louis, Missouri, will be the organist for the service. While seating may be limited, you’re invited to join and hear what promises to be a memorable and exhilarating sound and message!
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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The Canterbury Choir celebrates their last rehearsal with a trip to the yogurt shop.
Finance Committee 101 Who decides how we spend our Christ Church money?
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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 fourteenth in a series about the work of the committee to appear in Rejoice.
Submitted by The Finance Committee Money donated to the church is the responsibility of the vestry and it is the vestry that decides how that money will be spent. A budget is presented to the vestry by the finance committee each year after a careful process of requests, evaluation, and discussion. The final budget is passed by vestry vote each spring. Even designated donations are controlled to a certain extent by the vestry in that it is the vestry who decides if a designated donation can be accepted.
Welcome Our New Ministry Resident
By The Rev. Pierce W. Klemmt
Leadership (FSL) when all of the students were under our roof. What will n July 1, we welcome Chris be different is that while Hamby to our second cohort of the Ministry Residency Program. Our each resident is tethered first cohort resident, Emily Lukanich, to a ‘home’ church, they will be able to see what is was called home by Bishop Mark best in six churches. Bourlakas to accept the position of What we learned from Curate at Christ Church, Blacksburg. 12 years of FSL and the Together Chris and Emily comresearch that Lilly Endowprised our full compliment at Christ Church. Joined by five other uniquely ment documented was gifted congregations in the Washing- that shifting the identity ton Metro area, and supervised by Dr. as a parish to a teaching congregation provides a Amy Dyer, faculty member at Virginia Theological Seminary, they will laboratory, like none other, for students to apply the theories begin their congregational rotations as a learning cohort visiting each par- of the academy to real life situations ish to explore and study best practices and learn at an accelerated rate. Lilly in pastoral leadership. This program is Endowment discovered that two years in a residency is equal to 10 years built on our recent resident program of experience for a priest in several known as Foundations for Spiritual
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congregations. We also learned the power of cohort learning. Immersed in the fountains of congregational energy and witness, they share surprises, insights and “Oh my God” moments. The best learning happens where there is an ingenious blend of challenge and support in each of their rotations. The promise we make to them is that we will immerse them in resources, coaching, and mentoring and create benchmarks for their leadership profiles against which they can monitor progress and maturity. Each of us has a role to teach, so let us put our best foot forward!
Greetings from Chris Hamby
y name is Chris Hamby and I will be starting at Christ Church in July as a new Ministry Resident, which is a two-year program for Virginia Theological Seminary students preparing for the priesthood. My wife Mandy and I are very excited to be joining the Christ Church family. I grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, in the Diocese of Lexington. My parents and younger brother along with my extended family still reside in Lexington. I received my undergraduate degree from Transylvania University, a small liberal arts school in Lexington. After graduation I joined the Young Adult Service Corps, which sends young adults throughout the world as missionaries to engage the wider church. Through the service corps I served for a year as a missionary in
Nagoya, Japan. As a missionary in Japan, I worked with the Diocese of Chubu, which ran a Filipino school for displaced children who were not allowed into Japanese schools. I also worked with Nagoya University, leading a group in the Philippines that was interested in non-governmental organization work, and helped run Japanese summer camps for children. During my time there, I was called to represent the Presiding Bishop at various events throughout Japan, from Tokyo to Okinawa, for the Episcopal Church. When I returned to the States I started the discernment process for the priesthood and came to Virginia Theological Seminary in the Fall of 2012. Christ Church is well-known in Episcopal circles as a place for learn-
ing. I am fortunate to be coming to a place where I will have the opportunity to learn in an environment that cultivates an enriching experience. My service as a missionary has increased my interest and curiosity about the success of Christ Church in its various mission activities in Alexandria and within the wider church. I look forward to meeting all of you and to continue my educational and formational experience. Peace Chris Hamby
Congratulations, Emily!
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mily Lukanich, our Ministry Resident for the past year, has been called home by Bishop Mark Bourlakas to accept the position of Curate at Christ Church, Blacksburg in the Diocese of Southwestern Virginia. Although we are sorry to lose Emily early, we are delighted for her and her new parish!
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Successful Youth Ministry Curriculum Workshop By the Youth Ministry Renovation Team
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s part of the process to develop a sustainable Youth Ministry for Christ Church, the Youth Ministry Renovation Team hosted a Curriculum Workshop on May 10. This was one step in meeting the “Framing” goal to create and implement a comprehensive seven-year framework of education, involvement, and service addressing spiritual, emotional, physical, social, and inter-faith issues aligned with our youth ministry values. The workshop—attended by Sunday School teachers, High School
Episcopal Social Media Sunday is June 29. Watch Parish Life and Facebook throughout the month for more information on how we will participate.
Forum facilitators, Confirmation Class teachers, Youth Group leaders, Clergy, the Renovation Team, and Mary Beth Abplanalp—spent several hours discussing learning objectives for 6th–12th graders during their seven years of participation in all aspects of the Christ Church Youth Ministry. These objectives were then grouped in four categories: church faith (beliefs, prayer, liturgy, history), knowledge and understanding of the Bible, service (mission and outreach), and personal faith (incorporating our faith and practices in our daily lives), and then associated with activities/
age groups. The synthesized version of this session will be used to help guide the selection of appropriate curriculum for our youth. Age groupings are still being reviewed by the teachers and staff. We want to thank all the workshop and workshop preparation participants, who helped to make the workshop successful, and hope that some of you reading this will be inspired to volunteer in some way to work with our youth. Please contact Lisa Tenore at LTenore@itr-llc.com or Kristi Thomas at kcthomas7@comcast.net for more information.
Youth Sunday Youth Verger.
Congratulations to our graduating high school seniors, pictured here with their youth group leaders.
Congratulations to our graduating high school seniors, pictured here with
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Wear Red on Pentecost
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Everyone who is new to Christ Church during the past year is invited to sign the Membership Book after Pentecost service.
ach year on the feast of Pentecost, we celebrate the birth of the Church and the gift of the Holy Spirit that enabled all to hear God’s word in their own languages. The liturgical color of the Holy Spirit is red, which is why wearing red on Pentecost, June 8, is encouraged. We warmly invite you to come, bring your neighbor to our services, and enjoy the brass music at the 10:00 a.m. service. We will offer a special blessing for those who have made Christ Church their spiritual home during the past year and invite them to sign the membership book. We hope you come and meet some new folks and reconnect with friends. Following the
10:00 a.m. Pentecost service, we will have an All-Parish Potluck Picnic in the churchyard. Everyone is encouraged to bring a dish to share. So that we have a variety of dishes, we are dividing up picnic food by last name: Last name A–G: cold fried chicken and other main dishes; H–K: picnic side dishes such as coleslaw, potato salad, baked beans, etc.; L–O: green salads and fruit salads; P–S: desserts; T–Z: chips & dips, and veggie trays. Bring dishes to the Meade Room kitchen. If in doubt about what to bring, make it fried chicken—it goes fast. Want to volunteer? Contact Tom and Donna Sheridan, oldtownwalkers@gmail.com.
Finding God in Your Body: Weekend Retreat June 20–22
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he Rev. Ann Gillespie will be offering her well-received weekend retreat course, Finding God in Your Body, June 20–22, at Adelynrood Retreat and Conference Center, an Episcopal women’s retreat center in Byfield, Massachusetts. Sessions during the weekend retreat will include basic yoga postures, guided meditation and intellectual inquiry. Find the complete course description here: http://www.episcopalchurch.org/events/finding-god-your-body. Pre-registration is required, available here: http://www.adelynrood.org/conferences_and_retreats.php For additional information or questions, contact Ann at agillespie@ccalex.org or 703-778-4943.
Melissa Capers
Shrine Mont Weekend Preacher
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any of us will have headed off to the countryside, but for those who will be staying in town, on Sunday, June 15, we will have a delightful guest preacher, Melissa Capers, while our staff clergy are on retreat with the parish at Shrine Mont. Melissa is a member of this parish, a postulant for the priesthood in the Diocese of Virginia, and has just completed her first year of seminary at the Virginia Theological Seminary.
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Two More Listening Sessions about the Sunday Morning Schedule Sunday, June 15 at the Shrine Mont Parish Weekend Sunday, June 22 at 11:00 a.m. in the Meade Room
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ince 2010, when Christ Church began holding a combined 10:00 a.m. service in the summer, many have noted what a joy it is to worship with friends from across the parish. As such a large and busy congregation, often those who primarily attend one service—be it at 8:00, 9:00, 11:15 a.m. or 5:00 p.m.—do not know those who attend another service, even if they have worshipped at Christ Church for decades. People have also noted how the church feels much fuller, more vibrant and that we sing and pray with
greater depth at the combined 10:00 a.m. service. With these thoughts in mind, last Fall the Liturgy Guild began to discuss moving to two morning services. The Liturgy Guild includes worship leaders representing chalice bearers, Chancel Chapter, choirs, lay readers, ushers and vergers, who attend any of our four current worship services. The clergy and senior staff also have discussed the possibility of combining services. These conversations have included discussions of the pressure on existing and future volunteers, being responsive to a leaner program budget, the kind of music that a united choir can create, nursery care availability, more robust opportunities for fellowship,
and the community feel of the combined 10:00 a.m. service. During the month of June, there are two additional opportunities to join in listening and discussion about making the program year Sunday morning schedule mirror what is done in the summer. The proposed new Sunday schedule is worship at 8:00 and 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Formation time—Sunday School, youth Sunday School and adult forum—would be at 9:00 a.m. and coffee hour fellowship would follow the 10:00 a.m. service. We hope that you will come to one of the remaining listening sessions. Please also be in contact with one of the clergy or wardens to share your thoughts on making this change.
Home Energy Workshop Forum Set for June 29 By Jim Cannon, Environmental Stewardship Committee Chairman
“And God saw everything that he had made, and behold, it was very good.” Genesis 1:31a od has made us stewards of his good creation on our planet home. For each of us personally, that means a responsibility to see how our actions help or harm the world he has made. A large part of the electricity in our homes comes from the burning of fossil fuels, a major driver of the climate change that threatens both people and God’s other living beings. How can we lower our usage of electricity to protect what the Lord has made? Learn more about the importance of this question and ways to answer it
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during the 11:15 a.m. forum on Sunday, June 29 in the Meade Room of the Parish Hall. This will be a home energy workshop conducted by the Local Energy Alliance Program (LEAP), a non-profit organization which helps homeowners save energy), and Interfaith Power & Light, a national religious organization responding to global warming by promoting energy conservation and efficiency, as well as renewable energy. We will learn how electricity is produced and practical steps to conserve energy at home. Find out how we can reduce our carbon footprint, help create green jobs, and quite probably conserve our own financial resources in the process. Most importantly, we will be honoring God’s handiwork and helping to preserve it.
Youth Sunday officiant
Special Gifts Available from the Christ Church Gift Shop
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ummer brings tourists and parishioners alike to Historic Christ Church and to its ministry- and mission-supporting Gift Shop which is run by special volunteers. A unique gift from Christ Church is a treat for the recipient and gives back to the community as well. After a tour of your historic parish home, direct your out-of-town guests this summer to your church gift shop for a wide variety of items perfect for weddings, birthdays, graduation, anniversaries, and holidays. There is also a great selection of Bibles, prayer books, crosses and other religious jewelry as well as Episcopal ties and even whimsical toys and special books for children. An historic picture gallery of famous visitors to the church leads to the shop.
Gift Shop History & Purpose
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he Gift Shop is dedicated to supporting Outreach & Mission at Christ Church. Volunteers work to keep the shop well stocked, clean, and inviting. The first gift shop at Christ Church, created in 1915, was strictly for souvenir sales. It took on a new life in November 1987, coinciding with the building of the new parish house. Twice a year volunteers attend the Philadelphia Show to buy for the shop. For two days, after visiting more than 1,000 vendors, they decide on new merchandise. Books in the Gift Shop are specially selected by an
experienced Gift Shop volunteer. The Gift Shop proceeds are returned to the community through these local Outreach & Christ Church Mission organizations and programs: ALIVE!; ARHA Senior Services—Podiatrist; The Campagna CenterYouth Services; Carpenter’s Shelter; our Christ Child Project; Community Lodgings; Episcopal Relief Fund; Lazarus Ministry; Meals on Wheels; and Our Little Roses. Shop Location: The Gift Shop is located on the west side of the church campus, at 121 N. Columbus St. Phone number: 703-836-5258 Hours: Sundays from 8:45 a.m.– noon; Tuesday–Saturday from 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Summer Worship Schedule Sunday 8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Sermon 5:00 p.m. Holy Eucharist for Healing with Laying on of Hands Wednesday In the Chapel (Parish House) 12:05 p.m.
Rites of Passage Births • Everett James Montgomery Bentz, son of Shellie & Andrew Bentz • Charles Duane Mills son of Angela & Ed Mills • Aurora Evelyn Schertel daughter of Connie Heiss and Pete Schertel • Peyton Graham Sandefur, son of Christine Wasilewski &Ryan Sandefur, grandson of Nick Wasilewski & Trish Fineran Weddings • Ellen Kathryn Fulco and Peter Martin Cosier • Alexandra Lauren Carver Sukalo and Steven Duane Weber Marriage Blessing • Natalie Fajardo and Christopher Madrid Deaths • John Morgan Jex • Georgianna Greely • Maxwell Mitchell • Rev. Kenneth Hulme • Douglas Collins • Peter Hallock • Scotty Bates • John Geary • Kimberly Minor • Jane Dillon • Charlie Price
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New Vestry
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spirit and our deeply rooted faith that are critical in addressing our current and future challenges.” Geoffrey Giovanetti Geoff Giovanetti is faithfully dedicated to the church’s goals of welcoming everyone, providing all a trusted house of worship, and serving outreach ministries here and overseas. Geoff has taught our Kindergarten Sunday School, ushers monthly and on Easter and Christmas Eve, participates in the Thursday morning Men’s Group, and served as one of Christ Church’s delegates to the Region IV Council. Geoff states, “A principal focus of a vestry person is to synthesize the congregation’s various viewpoints into concrete actions that inspire the church’s direction. I believe my ministries at Christ Church will aid me in this process.” Susan Hahn Susan Hahn was a Children of Chernobyl host, has helped organize children’s activities at Shrine Mont parish retreats, found joy as a Sunday School teacher and shepherd, and is serving on the Sunday School Curriculum Team, which is developing a unit on What’s Special About My Church. She chairs the Communications Committee and was selected recently as one of our representatives to the Region IV Council. Last Fall, Susan and other parents launched the Sunday morning High School Forum to offer students, adults and clergy interactive youth service projects, complementing existing programs. Susan believes, “…Youth programs are critical to our successful future as a parish.” Betsy Powell Betsy Powell believes her service in ministries here reflects her faith: Choir, Sunday School teacher, Page 8 ✠ Rejoice ✠ June 2014
Christmas Shop, Acolyte Master, Chancel Chapter, Counting Team, delegate to Diocesen Council, Middler Lay committee and Docent, as well as being a member of the Daughters of the King, a prayerbased ministry of women. She considers one way to serve is to promote, to the community as well as witnessing to non-parishioners, the power of faith that exists at Christ Church. Betsy states, “Our church is a shining beacon of Christ’s love for us. Each member brings a fresh talent to fulfill and encourage the spreading of the Gospel ... There is an openness and inclusion at this church that at times leaves me breathless.”
(clockwise from upper left) Geoffrey Giovanetti, Betsy Powell, Abigail Arms, Susan Hahn
Rector Transition & Search Committee Update
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t their May 27 meeting, the Vestry formally approved the members of the Rector Transition Committee, which will be chaired by Ann McMurray. That group will begin meeting in June. Regular updates on their work will be forthcoming. Transition Committee members include: Ann McMurray as Chair, Ken Barry, Cindi Bartol, Janet Beckmann, Kevin Metz, Anne Ramsey, Bob Ramsey, Russ Randle, Anne Reed, Carla Rosati, Julie Wilmer Zahn, and Matt Zahn. Susan Davis and John Kennedy will also sit on the committee as vestry liaisons. In a letter to the parish this week, the new Senior and Junior Wardens, Janet Osborn and Brian Shannon, outlined the responsibilities of the Transition and Search Committees, as well as recent activity regarding the transition period: “On Wednesday, May 21, the Rev. Canon Pat Wingo, the Canon to the Ordinary (which means special assistant to the Bishop) and Ms. Lindsay Ryland, the Transition Ministry Director for the Diocese of Virginia, briefed the Clergy, Vestry, and mem-
bers of the Transition Committee on church policy and best practices for Rector transitions. Rev. Wingo and Ms. Ryland clarified the Transition Committee and Search Committees responsibilities and also discussed the process and timing to call an interim Rector. The Transition Committee will have primary responsibility in two areas: planning the good-bye activities for Pierce and his family, and identifying and evaluating the interim Rector candidates. The Transition Committee will work closely with the Vestry, and the Vestry will officially hire the Interim. Rev. Wingo and Ms. Ryland were confident that a strong set of candidates for the interim role would emerge for Christ Church. The Search Committee will be appointed by the Vestry and will be focused on calling the new settled (not interim) Rector. Rev. Wingo and Ms. Ryland indicated that many search committees engage consulting support to assist in managing the process and identifying candidates. They also noted that they and the Bishop would continued on page 9
Bishop Johnston’s June 1 Visit
The Rt. Rev. Shannon S. Johnston, Diocesan Bishop, attended the 10:00 a.m. service Sunday, June 1, 2014 for baptism, confirmation, reception, and reaffirmation. It was a glorious day at Christ Church with over 50 babies, children, youth and adults being baptized, confirmed, received or reaffirmed. Enjoy all the photos of the day.
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serve as our partners throughout the process. Although a great deal of work remains, the Clergy and Vestry were encouraged by the substance of this meeting and believe that we are laying the foundation for a seamless transition. Rev. Wingo also informed us that policy regarding continuing staff has changed in recent years. In the past, it was required that all staff submit their resignations upon the calling of a new settled Rector. That policy made it difficult for Rectors coming into large, complex parishes like ours to function without experienced staff and, also, created significant stress for the staff. There had been confusion on this point, so this was a helpful clarification.”
Our special thanks go to Kate Ballard and Michael J. Brown for photos from the Bishop’s visit. See more on our Facebook page.
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