Christ Church is open for worship at 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. on Sundays. The live stream of the 10:00 a.m. service can be found on our You Tube channel! You can watch it in real time or at your convenience. Find it here. | |
|
Dear family and friends of Christ Church,
Last week I celebrated my birthday. I’m grateful for the kind notes from several of you and for the generous gifts from family. But if I’m being honest with myself, I have to admit that birthdays are a bit of a mixed bag for me. Rather than using the occasion to reflect on the blessings of the year that has past, I increasingly find myself distracted by the number of candles on the cake. Perhaps you can relate.
As we continue to walk through our season of stewardship here at Christ Church, I am grateful for its intersecting with my birthday – a reminder of the primary faith tenet that all things, including each of the 365 days since I last blew out some candles, has been an intentional, gracious gift from God.
Tomorrow evening our family will go trick-or-treating for the first time in our new neighborhood. The kids have picked Winnie the Pooh characters for each of us: Jonathan is Winnie; Abigail is Piglet; Jenny is Tigger; I am Eeyore. While I’m thrilled to put on a donkey costume for a day, he is not the character I look to for spiritual guidance! The famous exchange between Piglet and Pooh comes to mind this week:
“What day is it?’
“It’s today,” squeaked Piglet.
“My favorite day,” said Pooh.
Whether a birthday day, or Halloween Day, or just another Thursday, each day affords us the opportunity and joy to discover God’s dream for us again. Where will today take you?
See you in church! Blessings and peace,
Chris
| |
Annual Giving at Christ Church
As we live into our annual season of stewardship, we give thanks to God for the blessing of our parish and reflect on how we can support this community in the coming year. Pledge materials were distributed in person and by mail. Additional copies are available in the Stewardship basket in the rear of the church and can also be found on our website.
Thank you to the many parishioners who have already returned their pledge cards!
| | | |
|
Thursday Morning Worship
Need to re-charge your spiritual battery mid-week? Join the Reverend Chris Streeter in the sanctuary on Thursday mornings for worship, discussion, and fellowship, 10:00 a.m.
| | |
Join Us for Evensong
On Sunday, November 5th at 4:00 p.m., Christ Church will present a service of Evensong to observe All Souls’ Day. Evensong is the Anglican service of Evening Prayer that is sung. The service hails from the Book of Common Prayer when it was first established in 1549 by Archbishop of Canterbury Thomas Cranmer.
The Christ Church Choir will lead the service which will feature the Evening Service by John Merbecke, Magnificat and Nunc dimittis in F by Harold W. Friedell, and the anthem Requiem, by Eliza Gilkyson, as arranged for choir by Craig Hella Johnson. Four congregational hymns will also be sung. The public is invited and a free-will offering will be received.
| | | |
|
Celebrate with Us!
Celebrate the blessings of this parish family by attending our annual Stewardship Dinner, Friday, November 10th, 6:00 p.m. You are invited to bring a dish to share representing your cultural heritage - or the cultural heritage you wish was yours!
Be sure to check out the Silent Auction featuring handcrafted items created by our very own Christ Church in Stitches group! All proceeds will benefit parish outreach programs.
| | |
Church Breakfast this Month
Join your Christ Church family for our monthly breakfast on Sunday, November 12th, 8:45 - 9:30 a.m.
We hope you will join us!
| |
| |
Thanksgiving Service
Holy Eucharist will be celebrated on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 23rd, 10:00 a.m.
| | |
Christian Education for All Ages on Sundays! | |
Adult Bible Study with Father Chris, 9:00 a.m.
Want to reflect more on the day’s scripture lessons? Join Chris and others in Holley Hall at 9:00 a.m. every Sunday – we’d love to see you!
Journey Youth Group, 9:00 - 9:45 a.m.
Students in grades 6 - 12 are invited to participate in the Journey Youth Group! Contact Randy Parks, 862-266-0513 or [email protected], with questions.
Sunday School, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m.
Children ages preschool through sixth grade are invited to participate in engaging experiences, spiritual practices, and opportunities for reflection by following the Celebrate Wonder curriculum on Sundays, 9:30 - 10:30 a.m. on the playground or in the Sunday School rooms downstairs. Contact Susie Mittelstadt at 973-600-7725 or email [email protected] with questions.
| | | |
|
The monthly meeting and potluck lunch will be held on Thursday, November 16th, 11:30 a.m., in Holley Hall.
For more information, or to volunteer to help coordinate an additional activity, contact Diana Greene at [email protected].
| |
|
The Christ Church Book Club will meet to discuss "To Be One with God: Seven Journeys to the Meaning of Life" by Shafeen Ali, Wednesday, November 29th, 7:00 p.m. via Zoom.
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/82899899702?pwd=RERWbFhveGczYlVKeGtBZzRpbjBnQT09
Meeting ID: 828 9989 9702
Passcode: 958760
For more information, please contact Lori Parks at 862-266-3059 or [email protected].
| |
Those who have volunteered to serve as Ushers, Acolytes, Crucifers, Altar Guild members, Coffee Hour Hosts, or Brunch in a Bag Sandwich Slingers can check their schedule on the Christ Church website. | |
Christ Church provides volunteers to Manna House at the First Presbyterian Church of Newton on the 4th Wednesday of each month. The next volunteer opportunity is November 22nd. Those interested in volunteering are invited to call Laura Booker, 973-383-7635 or email [email protected]. | |
Christ Church in Stitches | |
The Christ Church in Stitches group meets on the second Thursday of each month; the next gathering will take place on Thursday, November 9th, 11:30 a.m. All those who enjoy crocheting or knitting are invited to join our merry tribe.
Christ Church in Stitches is organizing a Prayer Shawl Ministry. We will be working with Beth Batastini, Faith Community Nurse, for distribution to parishioners, friends, family, and others who are experiencing physical or mental trauma. Shawls will be blessed by the Reverend Chris Streeter and a Blessing Card will be given with each shawl. Please contact Johanna Osborne 201-788-6361 or at [email protected] if you have any questions or know of someone in need.
| |
|
Commemorative Altar Flowers
Parishioners are encouraged to contribute toward the purchase of the flowers on the altar in order to commemorate a special occasion or loved one; Sanctuary Lights or Candles, $20; Altar Flowers, $50. Contact Alex Zander at [email protected] or contact the church office to offer flowers or to make a monetary donation.
| | |
Faith Community Nurse Available | |
Did you know that Christ Church has its very own Faith Community Nurse? Beth Batastini is available to assist you with healthcare issues, personal visits, and other concerns.
Call the church office or contact Beth at [email protected] or 973-876-5579.
| |
Well Done, Good & Faithful Servants! |
- All those who have pledged their commitment to Christ Church for 2024.
- The parishioners who shared their reflections about the importance of their relationship with Christ Church as part of our Stewardship campaign.
- Randy Parks and all those who donated, packed, and wrote cards to our college students as part of the college care package initiative, including Joe and Debbie Mello, Patricia Taggart, Lisa Pachnos, Jenna Garno, Jim and Christina Furgeson, Jim and Johanna Osborne, Maureen Slamer, Kim Genung, and Liz Milano.
- The members of the Youth Group who helped clean up a park in Paterson in October.
- Our faithful scribes who write and mail cards as part of the "Keeping in Touch" card ministry.
| |
Atlantic Health Series about Grief & Holidays
Join an experienced grief counselor to learn coping skills and discover new options for carrying on while remembering your loved ones during the holiday season.
Held in person or via Zoom on Tuesday, November 14th, 6:30 p.m.
To register, call 908-522-2844 or email [email protected].
| |
|
-
First Sunday of Advent, December 3rd.
-
Lessons & Carols, Sunday, December 17th.
-
CCW Retreat, "When Life Gives You Lemons," facilitated by the Reverend Jenny Streeter, will be held at the Crossroads Camp & Retreat Center, Saturday, March 9th, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
| |
Stay up-to-date with the events at Christ Church by checking out the calendar on our website .
| | | | |
