From the Priest-in-Charge

Dear friends:

Late summer greetings to you! I hope this issue of the Chimes finds you refreshed and ready to continue to explore both the new and old ways God is calling our community to serve God’s people through our fellowship, education, outreach, and especially our common prayer and worship. Many new events will be taking place in the next months, and you will find news of some of them in the following pages. One very special and much-loved event will take place on Saturday, September 13 -- I am referring, of course, to our Harvest Festival! I do hope that each of you will be able to either help out or attend this wonderful event - it promises to be a glorious day!

I have shared with several people that one of the exciting things about the parish of Christ Church is the willingness of all of you to be flexible, ask questions, and remain open to new ways in which God may be at work. These are especially important qualities as we continue to explore together what the future of Christ Church will be, and how we might use the gift of community most effectively. Recently, I was reading the words of St. Paul in 1 Corinthians 12: “For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ.” And I was thinking about how precious is the gift of God which enables us all to bring our different selves together in th unity of the Body of Christ. With all our varied feelings, backgrounds, talents, opinions, and interests, still we are joined as one – in fact, our diversity is what helps us to work! I hope that we can continue to value this great diversity as we move through the next months and years together!

Acknowledging our unity in diversity is also important given the events of General Convention this year, particularly the affirmation of the Rev. Canon Gene Robinson to become the Bishop of New Hampshire – the first openly gay person to be thus affirmed. In this atmosphere of both excitement and anxiety, the task before us now is to acknowledge our diversity and ask God to show us how to use it to be drawn more closely in communion with one another. Our Presiding Bishop Frank Griswold writes: “We are members of one another, differentiated and yet one, not according to our notion of unity but one in the power of the Holy Spirit who binds us together. So, the fundamental question is not how do we create unity or overcome our differences, but rather how do we live into the communion into which God is always drawing us.” And this is the task for Christ Church, as it is for all who truly love Jesus Christ – to do our best to live and love together for the good of the whole Body, in all its great diversity! Part of this task means not only sharing our gifts with one another, but respecting each other, and being willing to talk and listen. Although there are many folks who are rejoicing in the affirmation of Canon Robinson, as a sign of the new work of God, there are members of the Anglican communion who are saddened and confused by it. In order to be sure that persons who are feeling disenfranchised have an opportunity to express themselves and to be heard, our bishops will be holding an evening of conversation for those who are saddened and angered by this decision, on Sunday September 14, from 6:00 to 8:00 P.M. at the Cathedral church of St. Paul in Boston. Please feel free to check the diocesan website or to let me know if you would like more information. Also, I would like to invite any of you who are having a difficult time with the decision of General Convention to feel free to speak to me – I will be more than happy to spend time with you in conversation. I will also be holding an evening seminar on the Anglican/Episcopal ethos of “Authority” for the Church – how we use the resources of Holy Scripture, Tradition, and Reason to find God’s dream for us. I invite all who would welcome dialogue on how to live into our diversity more faithfully to please join us! I am proud and grateful to be an Episcopalian because of our ability to live together in diversity, and I encourage you to come and learn more about this particular gift.

Finally, I continue to have great hopes for not only the whole Church of God, but for Christ Church as well. I experience God’s presence every time I engage with all of you, in worship, prayer, talk, work, or fellowship. Please pray for the Church, and for me; and know that I continue to keep you in my prayers.

Faithfully,

Beth+

Sometimes I wonder where is God? But every summer when Almeida’s stand on Rt. 6 in Swansea opens up I know where God is. All winter long I yearn for the fresh fruits and vegetables that their stand has to offer. Oh to taste a red, ripe juicy tomato and the snap of a cucumber. It always smells good. Sometimes I feel the coolness of the fresh picked green beans and notice the dew on the fresh picked vegetables. I enjoy shopping there.

I might not have a lot of time to browse or linger when I go there but there is always time for conversation with the help or perhaps I’ll bump into someone from town. I have even received lessons in how to pick out a melon. It always puts a smile upon my face to shop there. Vegetables fresh from the earth , fruits ripened on the trees, corn so sweet you don’t even need butter (O.K. just a little bit). The Mellos (yes I always thought the owners name would be Almeida) are the nicest people, always working and always to help the customers. You can see their pride in what they do. You need not look for the fruit or vegetables that aren’t blemished because each and every item is top quality.

I look forward to the tomatoes sold by the crate to make spaghettis sauce with and I look forward to the Macouns, Macintosh, Braueburns and Granny Smith apples to make apple pie with. Delicous! I know where God is, in the labor of love you find at Almeida’s.

“ The peace of God,which passeth all understanding, keep your hearts and minds in the knowledge and love of God, and of his son Jesus Christ our Lord; and the blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost, be amongest you, and remain with you always.”

Every time I hear those words said at the end of the church service a feeling of calm comes over me and I feel ready to face the week. I feel energized with the spririt of God .To know God is in my life not just today but every day is a wonderful thing. I feel blessed to have the peace of God within me.

Sunday School at Christ Church will begin on Sunday, September 21^st, at 10:00 A.M. for all children from Pre-K through Grade 9. Registration for Sunday School will be on Sunday, September 14, from 9:00 until 9:45 in the Parish House, and you may also register your children on the first day of class. However, we encourage you to register as early as possible in order for our teachers to plan one week ahead for their classes. Once again, we will be using the Episcopal curriculum, Living the Good News, and this year, our children will be joining us more regularly for Holy Communion at the 10:00 service, coming in with their teachers during the Passing of the Peace. Please plan for your children to be a regular part of our Sunday School and worship at Christ Church, as we are looking forward to a wonderful year!

We are looking forward to having our magnificent Sunday School teachers back again this year! However, we could really use one or two folks who would be willing to offer some of their talents, gifts, and love for teaching and spending time with our 7^th and 8^th graders. If you enjoy young people this age, you are qualified to teach! The Priest-in-Charge and Director of Church School are also happy to do some planning and training with you. Please contact Beth Grundy or Lori-Ann Bernstein if you have any interest in this important ministry!

Confirmation Classes

Confirmation classes will begin in November in preparation for a deanery-wide service of Confirmation to be held on Saturday, May 15, 2004. If you or someone you know is interested in being confirmed at this time, please contact the Priest-in-Charge, the Rev. Beth Grundy. There will also be a sign-up sheet in the back of the church for this purpose.

Youth Cookout and Service

There will be a cookout and swim party for all young people entering grades 7-12 on Sunday, September 7 at 5:00 P.M. at the home of Brenda and Anthony Watkinson. We will also have a service of Holy Communion that is especially geared towards teens, with action-packed Gospel readings and fun and contemporary music! We will also spend some time planning how we can best implement some programs of worship, education, outreach, and worship that will be suited towards young people at Christ Church. Please come with any ideas you may have! Please come also with your bathing suit and anything you may wish to drink – we will provide the hot dogs, hamburgers, munchies, and dessert! You are also invited to bring a friend along!

If you have any questions, please contact Lori-Ann Bernstein or Beth Grundy. We would also appreciate it if you would RSVP to the church office to let us know is you are coming, so we can plan for food. The number at the office is 508-992-9274 – feel free to leave a message on the machine.

Ecumenical Youth Event

There will be a special service for young people of various faith backgrounds on Sunday, September 28 from 4:00 – 6:00 P.M.at the Church of the Ascension, 160 Rock Street, Fall River. It will b held in the late afternoon, and will feature music from the band “Dayspring.” This is a great opportunity to worship in a contemporary style, and also to meet other young people from various parishes and backgrounds in our area! The Priest-in-Charge, Beth Grundy, will be organizing a group of folks who are interested in attending; times for leaving and returning will be announced in church, or you can call Beth at 508-678-0923 for more information. Mark the afternoon of the 28^th on your calendars NOW!

Evening Seminar

Where does the Episcopal Church find its authority? How do we use Holy Scripture, our centuries-old tradition, and our ability to reason to help us discern where God is leading us? If you would like to spend some time learning, talking, and reflecting on these questions, then please join us on Monday, September 22, from 7:00 – 8:30 P.M. in the parish house for a seminar led by the Priest-in-Charge. Coffee, tea, and cookies will be available.

Inquirer’s Class

Beginning in October, there will be a class for all folks interested in finding out more about the Episcopal Church. This is ideal if you are interested in being received into the church, have a particular interest in some aspects of the church, or just are eager to know more! The class will be held on Wednesday evenings, October 1, October 8, October 15, October 22, and October 29. We will meet in the parish house at 7:00 P.M. Join us for any one, or for all five! Topics for each gathering will be published in the next issue of the Chimes.

W orship

Morning Prayer is a special tradition here at Christ Church. However, many people have mentioned that they would like to receive Holy Communion more often in each month. As most of you know, it has been much more the norm in Episcopal Churches to celebrate Holy Communion every week, since the adaptation of the 1979 Book of Common Prayer. In order to preserve the tradition of Morning Prayer, and also to respond to people’s need for the sacrament, beginning in September, we are going to celebrate an additional Holy Communion on one Sunday of the month following Morning Prayer. This means that we will read the Office of Morning Prayer, and immediately following the Offeratory, we will say the Great

Thanksgiving and celebrate Communion, for those who wish to receive it. Morning prayer in this fashion is known as “ante-Communion,” and it is both an established tradition within the Aanglican tradition, dating from the 1549 Prayer Book, and quite a common practice. This is a wonderful way to experience the fullness of our Episcopal tradition in both Word and Sacrament, and I pray that it will enahance your worship at Christ Church.

Stewardship

Pledge Update

As often happens, we have fallen behind in our pledge income during the summer. At this time, we are nearly $8,000 behind in pledge payments. We know we can make this up, but we need all of you who have made a pledge to Christ Church to do your best to catch up as soon as possible, so that we can meet our financial obligations, and continue to serve God’s Church and God’s people. And, as always, many thanks to all of you for the blessing of your generosity!

Cemetery Committee

The Cemetery Committee would like to remind parishioners that grave lots are available for purchase. Each lot is $900.00, with a maximum of 4 lots to be sold to one family. This guarantees space for all parishioners. Also, when putting flowers on a grave, please remember that plastic and silk flowers are not allowed. Presently there are several graves with this type of adornment; they will be left until the Cemetery Commitee feels the flowers are faded and no longer attractive. We are planning a cleanup of the cemetery that will involve removal of unsightly shrubs, as well as bushes that have been planted in such a way that they are obscuring the gravestone. We have developed a mowing schedule that we feel will maintain our cemetery's beauty and upkeep, while keeping our costs reasonable.

We are in the process of planning a quiet garden in the new expansion, where you can come and have a quiet place to feel the presence of God and know that your loved one is in His hands. We hope to keep this cost to a minimum, but if anyone would like to make a special donation to help with this, we would be very appreciative.

If you have any questions or concerns about the cemetery, please call Pat Redfearn 678-6324 or call the church office and leave a message.

Volunteers Needed

Beacon Hospice is in need of kind, caring individuals to make a difference in the lives of terminally ill patients. If you have the gifts of comfort-giving, faith, and love, then this volunteer opportunity may be for you. Volunteers participate in a 21-hour training program, and continuing training, support, and education will be available for more specialized roles.

If you are interested, or for more information, please call Billie Baker at Beacon Hospice at 508-324-1900, or at soup_bearer@yahoo.com.

We are continuing to collect food for the Soup Kitchen of the Church of the Ascension in Fall River, and small,new stuffed toys for the Swansea Police to distribute to shildren who have suffered from trauma. There are boxes for both collections just inside the front door of the church, and a box for food collection inside the parish house near the stairs leading to the offices. Thanks for your help!

A community-wide Crop Walk is being held on Sunday, September 28, beginning at 12:00 noon, to raise money to alleviate hunger. It will step off from the Christian Congregational Church in Somerset. If you are interested in participating, please call the Christian Congregational Church Offfice at 508-673-6623.

General Announcements

Ø Remember - Sunday School Registration is September 14! Our Youth Cookout and Service is September 7! The Youth Service at Church of the Ascension is September 28!

Ø The Vestry continues to meet the second Tuesday of every month at 7:00 P.M.

Ø We are working on hiring a new Minister of Music - Choir rehearsals will begin shortly after the Harvest Festival! Details to follow. Newcomers welcome!

Ø There is still some interest in starting a Book Group here at Christ Church. Please contact the Priest-in-Charge if you have any interest!

The Reverend Beth Grundy, Ex-officio
Stephen K. Carvalho , Senior Warden
Diane Stains, Junior Warden
Alan R. Scott, Clerk
Carlton Yates, Treasurer
Gladys Shaw, Financial Secretary
Peggy Deston
Elaine Gray
Lorna Gregory
Robert Hawley
Susan McMullen
James Medeiros
Chris Munro
Charles Reed
Ted Yates