We are getting new flooring installed in the second floor of the rectory this week. (Photo is NOT the Rectory.) The existing floors were covered with the original carpeting, which was contractor grade when it was installed some dozen plus years ago. The Vestry was kind enough to approve a replacement floor, which will now be a durable hard surface floor, suitable for pets and kids; it's a tossup which is harder on floors! I love home improvement projects because when I'm done, I can actually see the thing that I did. Ministry is not like that most days, so it's very rewarding. And I get to play with tools. Consequently, I volunteered to remove the old carpeting, padding, tack strips, and base molding before the professional installation began today.  

 

The process was not difficult. I've done floors before (although it was decided that I shouldn't be the installer on this one), so the process was not new to me. In fact, demolition is one of my favorite parts of a project. It's very cathartic to tear something up and whack away at things with a pry bar and a hammer, as I did when I removed a section of the tile floor upstairs where it didn't belong. Long story short, one of the upstairs bathrooms was redesigned after the floors were installed, meaning there was an odd corner of tile in a bedroom where it didn't belong. The tile is staying in the bathroom, but now the corner will match the rest of the room. I was kind of sad when I pried up the last section of cement board. Although my back didn't enjoy the process, the rest of me did!

Christ Church's 2019 trip to the Holy Lands was featured in a Brunswick News article this past weekend. If you've been on the fence about traveling, now is the time to sign up!  The trip is definitely taking place and will soon approach the maximum number of travelers. The price has dropped to less than $3000 per person (not including airfare) and it will drop again as more people sign up. 

You can read the Brunswick News article here. 

Worship is at the heart of all we do in the Episcopal Church. We gather to be renewed in our faith and formed in our life. We take great care with worship, seeking to make it our most excellent offering. But what is it we do when we celebrate the Holy Eucharist and how does it contribute to our spiritual growth? The Eucharist is one of the key catalysts helping people to move into deeper relationship with God and neighbor. We are fed and we grow. Join Father Tom on Wednesday, September 5, 12, 19 and 26, at 5:30 pm in the church to explore this mysterious, holy meal and how we receive strength for the spiritual journey. Please contact Father Tom at [email protected] for more information.

Cursillo is a Spanish word which means "a short course in Christianity." Twice each year, the Diocese of Georgia holds a Cursillo at Honey Creek. Beginning on Thursday evening, October 11, 2018, you can experience a weekend of resting in God's reassuring love and peace which passes all understanding. You will hear talks from clergy and lay people in the diocese, attend services in the beautiful chapel at Honey Creek, and enjoy fellowship and meaningful conversations with other participants throughout the diocese. 

If you are interested in attending the October 11-14 Cursillo at Honey Creek, please contact Mtr. Ashton at [email protected] or at 912-638-8683. If you would like to be part of the Cursillo team, please call Rita Spalding at 912-270-2725. More information about Cursillo and the registration forms for both participants and team members can be found here.

On August 31, our EYC will take a trip to Jacksonville to see a Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball game. The crew will meet in the Harris-Teeter parking lot at 5:30 pm and carpool down. The tickets are free, but bring money for snacks. Please contact Laura Ann Harrell at [email protected] to RSVP.

On September 9, Sunday, immediately after the 11:15 am service, children and youth from grades 3 - 12 will gather for lunch in the Parish Hall. After lunch, we'll head over to the Pinball Palace in Brunswick, for an afternoon of old-fashioned fun! Christ Church will pay for admission. Just bring money for snacks. Pick-up will be at 3:30 pm at the Parish House. RSVP to Laura Ann at  [email protected]

On Tuesday, September 11, at 11:00 am, the Chairs and Co-Chairs of 2019 Tour of Homes will meet in the Christ Church Parish Hall to begin planning the 66th Annual Tour, which will take place on March 16, 2019. 

We are excited about the upcoming tour and know it will be the best one yet, especially if we ALL get involved! Everybody is invited to participate and no gift of time, talent or treasure you can share is too small!  Please contact Tour of Homes Chairman Charlotte Graham at [email protected]  or Co-Chair Susie Henning at [email protected] to find out how you can get involved. 

Have you ever thought about being a missionary but do not want to leave the Country? LIVE LOCAL - REACH NATIONS by becoming a volunteer at the International Seafarers' Center. Reach men and women from 70 different nations that visit our ports yearly, without ever leaving Brunswick! Go aboard the big ships, visit with our seafaring friends through hospitality or be a driver. For more information about how you can get involved, please call 912 267-0631. 

The next meeting of the O(utrageously) M(ature) G(roup) will be on Friday, September 7, from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm, in the Parish House. Even if you're not into games, come for the fun, fellowship and good food and invite your friends. Please contact the church office at 912-638-8683 or [email protected] to RSVP by Wednesday, September 5 and place your lunch order. Lunch choices include ham and cheese, chicken salad or turkey and cheese. Hope to see you on September 7th!

FaithWorks invites you to join our annual celebration of service on September 13, at 5:30 pm, at Gruber Aviation, on St. Simons. The theme this year is "Grace & Glory." Invite your friends and become part of this event! Although there is no charge for the banquet, your gifts are always appreciated. You'll hear stories of FaithWorks' success over the past year with cameos from staff, volunteers and clients. The evening has a local flair with music from Owen Plant, local food from Halyards/Dave Snyder and tons of great silent auction items including an oil painting by local artist Cathie Parmalee. Her painting, "As Above, So Down Below," to be offered at the silent auction, perfectly captures the spirit of this year's event: praying hands receiving God's grace from above that translates into glory in the here and now. To sign up, contact Melissa Stroud at 912-261-8512 x105 or email [email protected]. You can sign up on your own, or host a table or two for your group.

The 18th Annual International Night Celebration benefitting the International Seafarers' Center will take place on Friday, September 28, 2018, at the Morgan Center, on Jekyll Island. There will be fine cuisine from around the world and a wide assortment of international wines and beers will be served. Entertainment will be provided by Stan Walker and the Coastal Empire Orchestra and live and silent auctions will take place throughout the evening. Tickets are $110 and all proceeds go to support the mission of the International Seafarers' Center in Brunswick, Georgia. To purchase tickets or get more information, please contact Sherry at 912-267-0631 or at  [email protected]

Families! Please join the Christ Church Families Facebook group to keep up with all the latest events and activities. Find us on Facebook here !