The Herald
News and Events at Christ Episcopal Church - Somers Point, New Jersey

June 28, 2020
In This Issue
Office Hours

Church office hours are Monday through Thursday from 1pm to 4pm.  Our part-time parish secretary is Cathy Bauer.  Any questions concerning Service times, special events or need of church records, you may stop by or call the office number at 609-927-6262. 
Sunday Bulletin with Readings & Hymn Numbers

 
 

Message from our Rector
One Bread, One Body, One Parish!

Dear Parishioners and friends,

I t is my prayer that you are all having a safe Summer. During this time many have asked the question, when will our parish resume in-person worship? It may seem like we are progressing slowly, however, with the love we have for our neighbor and each other, we are preparing in accordance with the best health precautions and guidelines from the diocese and state as possible.

Last month I appointed a Parish Health and Safety Committee to review health guidelines and to begin a process for reopening, to be approved by the Diocesan COVID-19 Task Force. Our committee team is Cherry Biacan, Ellen Wolownik, Joyce and Wally Welliver. Their goal is to present a plan to the diocese in the beginning of July with the goal for reopening the Sunday after Labor Day, September 13. Once approved, guidelines and other directives will be mailed to all parishioners. These guidelines will also be provided on our website and posted on Facebook.

I am including in this newsletter my report to vestry from our Zoom meeting on Sunday, June 21. I hope this will be informative to some of the business that has been taking place over the past few months.

Please note, Facebook live-stream Evening Prayer and Parish Connection will not take place during the upcoming weekdays, from Monday, June 29 to Saturday, July 4. Live-stream worship will resume on Sunday, July 5, at 10am as will our regular live-stream schedule for the following week days.

I thank our vestry, worship team, and Doug Murdock our Music Director in providing the leadership and talent for our parishes mission and live-stream worship! May you all be blessed and I look forward to seeing you soon!


  Blessings in Christ our Lord,

Fr. Justin Falciani
 

From Sunday, June 14
 
On-line Service Times via Facebook live

Sunday- 10am Sunday Service with Spiritual Communion; Sunday School 11am by Zoom 

Monday-Saturday-5:30pm Evening Prayer (Except June 29-July 4)

Wednesday- 10:30am- Parish Connection (Parish Updates and Adult Christian Education) (Except July 1)
 
Face Masks available in the Parish office

Parishioners who are in need of face masks are welcome to pick them up in the parish office, Monday thru Thursday 1pm to 4pm.

 
Flower Memorials

If you would like to have a flower memorial at the altar for a loved one or in thanksgiving, you may contact our secretary, Kathy, in the office to order flowers and select a date for the Mass.  The office number is 609-927-6262.
 
Prayer List

Healing prayers offered for :
Anna Livia, Jennifer, Charlie, Jill, Edward, Ruth Ann, Rich, Christine, Ryan, Jaclyn, Donna, Michelle, Jeanette, Harry, Brittany, Brandon, Loretta, Dave, Edythe, Adrian, Beth, Warren, Ann, Martin, Bill, Bobby, MaryAnn, Jessica, Mike , Ron, Judy, Harlan, Marty, Father Julian, Mark, Heather, Jim, Anne, Wilson, Colleen, Troy, Trayce, Marilyn, Elaine, Rachel, James, Shirley, Chalie, Mark, Brandon, Amanda.
  
Prayers for the Homebound are offered for Dorothy, Jean, Elsie, Sally
   
For First Responders everywhere, especially for those in our parish family serving our local communities:
 
Linwood, Mark, Michelle, Jim, Anthony, Stephen, Wally, Stephanie, Ward, Rachel, Charles, 
 
Rob, Catelyn, Michael
 
Prayers for all those in the Armed Forces and especially our parish family : 
Anthony, Glenn, Evelyn, Charles, Dominick, Morgan, Nicholas, Jessica, Jesse, Keith, Andrew

 
Rector's Report to Vestry

Rector's Report to Vestry
Sunday, June 21, 2020
12noon, Zoom Meeting
 
Thanks be to God, we have made much progress during the past several months. Services have been live-streamed daily along with adult education and Sunday School. This report will highlight what has been accomplished and plans for the immediate future.
 
Since our closing in March we have at 11,606 views on Facebook that includes weekday Evening Prayer at 5:30pm, Parish Connection Wednesdays at 10:30am, and Mass on Sundays at 10:00am. Adult Education has been included during Parish Connection with a focus on the Creed. Amy Seaman has completed Sunday School this month with classes taught on Sundays at 11:00am by Zoom.
 
I have been keeping in contact with parishioners by phone and parish newsletter. There is an eagerness for us to reopen. I provided one graveside funeral service for a former member of Epiphany Parish. At this time, I am working out a plan for Marilyn Anderson's funeral with her children so we can have something at the church.
 
Due to a high church water bill during the months of closing, I contacted a plumber, and with vestry approval old leaking toilets (2 in the women's room) have been replaced with new ones and two other toilets (sacristy and parish hall Women's Room) was fixed. Two old leaking faucets in parish house bathroom were fixed. As a result, our new water bill for this month was $25.00 compared to $200.00 + in previous months.
 
I was appointed by the bishop to be on his COVID-19 Task Force for Learnings and Breakthroughs in which we are working on a diocesan wide survey for all parishes to participate.
 
As a response to the need for our parish to be a safe environment and to eventually reopen, I created the Parish Health and Safety Committee with Cherry Biacon as chair with Ellen Wolownik, Joyce and Wally Welliver as members. Cherry, Joyce and Wally are RNs and Ellen is an administrator within the healthcare industry (Atlantic Care).
 
We held our first Zoom meeting Thursday, June 11, at 10am. The committee received the guidelines from the diocese on reopening and is working on a plan to reopen. I will be meeting with the committee by Zoom conference on Thursday June 25 at 9:00am. Once a plan is in place it will be presented to the vestry then to the Diocesan Task Force for approval.
 
I have also appointed Joyce Welliver as our parish nurse. Joyce is a certified parish nurse and will be able to give advice to parishioners regarding health practices during this time.
 
As part of the Health and Safety of the Parish I hired Carlos Torres as our parish Sexton. He is cleaning the church (all buildings) every Tuesday at $11 an hour as approved by vestry.
 
I have worked with Diane McKeefery on transferring our funds from TD Bank to Republic Bank. That is now complete! We no longer will be paying monthly fees and all accounts are interest bearing.
 
I recommend that the vestry approve that we move to online giving. Vancoonlinegiving.com is what most parishes in our diocese use. During this time of limited in-person worship I believe it is necessary for this update.
 
Also, we now have our own Zoom account for vestry meeting, other church business, and ministry planning.
 
A further update will be a need for the continued use of online streaming for parish worship. As I reported we have received over 11,000 views since March. I recommend we implement cameras for online worship as soon as possible. We are currently using my cell phone which is not suitable for long term use. Mevo Camera has been recommended to me by other clergy for online worship.
 
 
Respectfully Submitted.
 
Fr. Justin Falciani