The Chimes

The Newsletter of Christ Church

Swansea, Massachusetts

July 2006

From the Rector:

My dear friends:

I write this on the first full day of summer, and hope that you are as filled with as much thanksgiving for this season as I am. And I am – not only because of the beauty of God’s creation, which is so striking in June, but also for the sense of rest which seems to accompany the season. We all need rest and refreshment in our lives – it is why God created the Sabbath; for us to enjoy life, one another, and God.

And I simply want to say that I hope you can give thanks for the opportunities that summer offers for rest and refreshment – and then do it! Whether it means taking a real vacation, or simply setting part some time to read, walk, lie in the sun, or spend time with your children, take this God-given gift of summer and use it to feed your hearts and souls! I hope that you will find some ways of worship and formation that will help your refreshment in the pages of the newsletter, and also in your everyday activities.

I also hope that you will continue to attend church in the summer months, whenever you are home. And I encourage you to do so – taking a time of prayer and fellowship and communion with your family and your friends in Christ can be the perfect opportunity to slow down and remember who we are – and especially, whose we are. And to remember that the One to whom we belong loves us infinitely more than we can imagine, and desires us to have the gift of enjoyment of this life we have been given.

I will be spending a week at the Barbara C. Harris Camp again this summer as a Chaplain. I will be at Camp from July 9 – July 15, and look forward to it so much, as I always do. There is still some room at the Camp, so don’t hesitate to make plans for your children to attend if you have not already done so. You can check availability by calling the Camp – the phone number is included in this issue of the newsletter. I will also be spending a week of Continuing Education at Oxford University, where I will be participating in the Summer Program in Theology. After leaving Oxford, I will be going to London and then to Essex to spend some time with my family there. I ask your prayers during my time away, as you will all certainly have mine.

And you always have them. Please know that as I pray for you, I continue to give thanks to God for sending me to be in your midst.

All my blessings –

Beth+

Worship

Summer Schedule

During the month of August, and through Labor Day weekend, we will move to one service on Sundays. The service will be held at 9:00 am on the following Sundays: August 6, August 13, August 20, August 27, and September 3. We will also have several outdoor services on Saturday afternoons during this time. Our “Mass on the Grass” will take place on the following Saturdays at 5:00 pm: August 12, August 26, and September 2. On Saturday, August 19, we will also have “Mass on the Grass,” but it will be at 6:00 pm.

Commissions and Committees

New Opportunities for Ministry

We would like to develop the following ministry groups to both develop the gifts of ministry of our members, and also to further our mission here at Christ Church.

Worship and Liturgy Commission

This group will work with the Rector to learn about what liturgy means for us in today’s world, and to plan special liturgies around church seasons. We will also explore new ways of making worship relevant today, imagine how we might use our worship to invite people in, and support our music ministry.

Christian Formation and Education Commission

This group will work with the Rector and the Sunday School Coordinator to support Sunday morning activities and education for children. We will look at ways of expanding our program and inviting more people to be a part of it. We will also consider how we may best support and grow programs for young people and also for the adults in our church, as we are all called upon to make Christian education and formation part of our lives as Followers of Jesus Christ.

Flower Arranging Guild

Often our Sunday flowers are delivered as cut flowers that need to be arranged. This group will be responsible for using their artistic crafts to arrange our flowers for our worship. This will be a Saturday morning or afternoon activity.

If you have any interest in being a part of any of these new ministries, please contact the Rector. Thank you!

Summer Activities

Barbara C. Harris Camp

As of this writing, there are still openings for children at the Barbara C. Harris Camp in Greenfield, New Hampshire. Please call the Camp at 603-547-3400 for more information. There are also brochures at the back of the church; or you can get information and register online at www.bchcenter.org. Beth will be serving as a Chaplain at the Camp from July 9 – 15.

Sailing Program

This is a last call for a Sailing Program for Christ Church Youth that Rich Mezzanotti would like to sponsor. Please call Rich or Beth Grundy at if you would like more information. This could be a wonderful opportunity for children and young people!

Family Vacation Bible School

There will be an intergenerational Bible School held at the First Baptist Church in Swansea, on July 25, 26, and 27, from 6:30 – 8:30 pm. It will be coordinated by the Rev. Charlie Hartman, pastor at First Baptist. Charlie writes: “In a world that stresses families to the max, we offer an opportunity to do some fun learning about the critically important community that shapes each one of us: family. We will explore the Christian values that keep families healthy and growing. Intergenerational means that we learn experientially in family groups that include both adults and children. We invite parents, grandparents, kids, uncles, aunts, cousins and others to be a part of the learning family. Ecumenical means that we share in learning about the basics of our Christian faith across several communion s in a way that appreciates each tradition.

Please contact Charlie if you are interested or for more information.

Vestry Notes

Actions

Recent Vestry actions include the following:

· A discussion on “Vital Congregations” in preparation for the bishop’s visitation

· Approval to send a letter to the Hathaway Fund requesting a financial grant to assist with various capital improvements

· Approving and ordering a new sign for the front lawn of the church

· Final approval of the Rector’s Letter of Agreement

· Approval of the Parochial Report for 2005

· Participation in a Vestry Retreat Day of “Appreciative Inquiry” to begin looking at the particular gifts each person brings to the Vestry and the particular strengths of our parish

Case Trust Gift to Parish

On Tuesday, June 20, the Vestry was presented with a check for $9,000 from the Case Trust/Bristol County Fund! This trust was set up by the Case family for the purposes of expanding ministry in Bristol County. Recently the Case Fund Committee learned that there was a sizeable balance remaining in the Fund that could be used; and they received permission to make a one-time gift from the Fund to each Episcopal Congregation in Bristol County. We are encouraged to use this gift for a missionary task or program beyond our usual operating expenses, and that however we use it, that it be consistent with the Mission Strategy goals of the Diocese of Massachusetts.

More information will be forthcoming as we determine the best way to make a decision on the use of this gift. In the meantime, let us give great thanks for the Case family, and this opportunity for us to move deeper into God’s dream for us!

Outreach News

By Marsha Gauthier

We are planning a "Sing a Long" at the Somerset Ridge Nursing Home on Tuesday July 11th at 2:30. Martha Fournier will accompany us on the organ. Many thanks to Martha. Please notify Marsha Gauthier if you would care to accompany us.

The Outreach Group is planning to send items of cheer to our servicemen and women in Brooke Army Medical Center in Texas and to 2 service people from the Swansea/Somerset area serving in Iraq. (If you know of anyone in either of these locations we will be glad to send items to them as well. Please submit their name and address to Nancy Teasdale, Peggy Deston, or Marsha Gauthier.

We invite the members of our congregation, who wish to participate, to bring in any of the items listed below throughout the summer and place them in the red, white and blue basket provided at the bottom of the office stairs in the Parish House.

The items desired for the Medical Center where they have patients from all branches of the service are: Model kits, (Cars, Planes and Ships), microwave popcorn, DVD's, new or gently used. (No horrific war movies please. Comedies are best.) Phone cards that can be used within the Continental USA.

Items for Iraq: Chapstick, eye drops, gum, toothpaste, toothbrushes, dog flea collars (these are worn around ankles to stop flea bites), suntan lotion and baby wipes.

Letters and cards are welcome at both the medical center and overseas.

Please address them to dear "Serviceperson" and place in the red, white and blue basket.

We will be hosting a Blood Drive for the American Red Cross. It will be held in the Parish House the first week in October. Last year we collected an amazing 55 pints of blood! Let's do it again!

We are planning a meat pie supper in October to raise money for the Honduran church that Rev Beth and Caitlin Scott visited. (Possibly to be a shared donation for Katrina victims) It will be held on a Friday evening towards the middle of the month. Take outs will again be available. We have tentative plans to have a gift basket auction for the benefit of the Jubilee Ministry for African orphans.

Please continue to bring non-perishables to church for our Food Bank/Soup Kitchen mission.

We are always open to new ideas. Please let any member of the group know if you have a suggestion. As always thank you for your support.

Harvest Festival Update

On May 30th, the chairpeople and volunteers for the harvest festival met to share discussion and new ideas for this year’s festival. Every committee has a chairman and new ideas were suggested. In addition to our existing areas, there will be an ice cream stand. A photo booth was suggested and a social hour for the workers will take place on Friday evening before the festival begins on Saturday. Wine and cheese will be offered, and for $5 you can sneak preview and shop the white elephant tables! Lengthy discussion took place regarding the advertising aspect of the festival. Although advertising generates a large sum of money, it was decided that perhaps we should work this area in a different manner. The focus of the harvest festival should not be money. It is the coming together of our parish family where we share our willingness to work together and realize the real purpose of this day-- a willingness to serve God. Therefore, we hope to involve the entire parish with advertising this year. It won’t be difficult. More information about this will be forthcoming. Pam Kirkpatrick will coordinate this committee. Until July 1st. items for the auction and white elephant will continue to be stored in Ester Mello’s garage. Call Diane Stains at for pickup and drop off of your items. After July1st. items may be taken to the parish house and placed in the appropriate areas which will be tagged with signs. Bob and Libby Hawley will be at the parish house on Saturdays from 10 to 12. On Monday evenings, Sherry Shea will be there from 6 to 8pm. A list of all the committees and the chairmen will be available and kept at the back of the church. Please take one and call a chairperson to volunteer. The festival is a church family day and we hope you will all want to be part of it. We continue to hope for new ideas, new helpers, and good weather for a fabulous day!

Harvest Festival Boosters

Each year for fifty-three years Christ Church has held a fair called The Harvest Festival on the second Saturday in September. It is not only a major fund raising activity for the parish, but it also provides a vehicle for members of the parish to work together as a family, each member doing his or her part, to welcome the greater community into the life of the parish.

Leading up to the Harvest Festival a newspaper aptly named The Harvester is published and distributed throughout Swansea and Somerset and among parish members and friends wherever they may be. The Harvester is an advertising tool for the Harvest Festival and throughout its history has presented many articles concerning the history of the area and of Christ Church. The Harvester has always been supported by local businesses that purchase ads that are included in the paper and for at least the past twenty-five years, individual parish members and families have been asked to add their financial support as sponsors known as Harvest Festival Boosters. The names of all of the Boosters are published in the Harvester.

In past years there have been four categories of boosters ranging from $10 to $100 or more. Because we are all equals in the eyes of God, this year donor’s names will be listed alphabetically without regard to the amount of their donation. Please give as much as you can to help make this year’s Harvest Festival a huge success.

Harvest Festival

Boosters Association

Yes, I want to be a Harvest Festival Booster. Please add my name to the membership roster.

Name: ________________________________

Address: ________________________________

________________________________

Phone _______________________________

Donation _______________________________

Thank you for your contribution to the success of the 54^th annual Harvest Festival.

Christ Church, Swansea, Massachusetts