Therefore encourage one another with these words.
1 Thessalonians 4:18
Moving from Worry to Encouragement
St. Paul didn’t invent letter writing, but his letters form the backbone of the New Testament. The fact that we even have his letters is astonishing. Imagine Paul receiving word of struggles and worries among a small group of believers he evangelized and organized. Imagine papyrus pages carried by someone to be read to a congregation. Imagine what happened next to the papyrus and how other groups might have learned about the letter. We know that the letters were shared, Paul instructs that they are to be read to everyone in the community (1 Thess 5:27) and to be shared with other communities (Col 4:16).
Today I want to focus on Paul’s word “encourage”. In the earliest days, Christians were actively awaiting Jesus’ imminent return. As months turned to years, the fear arose that those who had died would not participate in the joy of Jesus’ return. This first letter of Paul (that we know of) was written, in part, to assure the congregation that God would not leave them divided in the end.
Paul describes a future triumphal moment when a great cry and a trumpet call will rouse the dead. “Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up in the clouds together with them to meet the Lord in the air; and so we will be with the Lord forever.” It must have been a great comfort to this small band of believers to know that no one would be cast aside.
Two millennia later, it is hard to picture the countless number of souls who await the Second Coming. The physics of it all is overwhelming. But Paul is less interested in “air traffic control” and more focused God’s ingathering of us all.
Perhaps, like me, you’ve felt a little scattered in this time. Pandemic, politics, even the changing of the seasons can be unsettling. To this, Paul says, “encourage one another”. At the root of this word is our heart. In Latin it is related to “credo”, I believe. Paul asks us to help each other move in faith.
No one of us has all the heart or all the faith, for these days. If I help strengthen you, and you help strengthen another in faith, then the encouragement becomes part of the community. Paul asserts that none of us will be excluded. All of us will be together in the end.
So encourage one another! Whether we live or we die, we are the Lord’s possession. Until then, we simply need to encourage each other!
Peace,
Mark +
O God, whose blessed Son came into the world that he might destroy the works of the devil and make us children of God and heirs of eternal life: Grant that, having this hope, we may purify ourselves as he is pure; that, when he comes again with power and great glory, we may be made like him in his eternal and glorious kingdom; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
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Christian Formation
Are you ready? I bet you are asking ready for what? Well ready for whatever is coming next in our life. We all need to be prepared for each and every day. Winnie shows us what she needs to be prepared on her video “Wednesdays with Winnie”. She really has such a nice life but knows it always good to be prepared. Follow the rest of the story on Lessons with Lisa as we learn the importance of being ready and how that can help us live the life that Jesus wants for all of us.
Please let me know if you would like to be included on the Christian Formation email list. You can do this by sending an email to [email protected] . We will be doing some fun things for advent and I want to be prepared to include all the families that would like to join in. Peace, Miss Lisa O
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Please pray for: Lorraine Aaron, Angela & Trent, Baby girl Claibaugh, Peggy Brengle, Lynda Brody, Camp Wright, Chris, Connie Clark, Scott & Lynn Clark, Jane Coppage, Wendy Costello, Corie Davis, Bryan Dalheim (RIP), Bob & Laura Dean, Deny, Paul Dorr, Jim Ewing, Susan Fralic, Jim Gallagher, Dave Grapes, Rick H (RIP) & Family, Anne Habberton, Rita Hadlock, Melanie Hallowell (RIP), Liza Hamill, Ronald Hartman, Carol Holland, Jim Hoverman, Clint Hoxter, Charles Jewell, Anne Jones, Josette, Rowan & Lyla, Albie Kimbel, Jeff Kolbeins, Mike Kratzer & Family, Olivia Marguerite, Sharon McCain, Toinette McDowell, Doug McMillan & Family, Bob Meile, Greg Middleton (RIP), Faith Miller, Renee O’Rourke, Camilla Parrott, Al Peppel, John Perkins, Gail Renborg, Rick & Christina, John Riley, Jeff Rouse, Adele & David Sadiq, Judy Schubrook, Kirsten Shelek (RIP), Donna & Rob Sherwood, Anna Sisson, Ian Vansant & Family, Kathy & Roger Whitehead, Larry Wilkens, Candace Williams, Bob Willis, Lee Wilson (RIP), Jack Wright
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This Sunday's Worship Service
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The Sounds of Christmas
For many people the music of Christmas is their favorite part of the season. At Christ Church, we celebrate the Feast of Christmas with some of the most festive music of the year. The choir begins preparing months in advance. Although things are a little different this year, because of the pandemic, we will still celebrate the birth of Jesus with wonderful music. More details will be coming out soon about how to access these opportunities, but please mark your calendars now for the following special musical events!
Sunday, December 6th at 3 p.m.: Virtual Christmas Carol Sing. Request your favorite carols in real-time! Gary & Emily Van Essen will lead the singing. We'll be separate, but we will join our voices together.
Saturday, December 12th at 7 p.m.: Westminster Ringers Virtual Concert. Our annual tradition will go on! The Ringers will present a virtual concert this year to get the church and community in the Christmas spirit.
Thursday, December 24th: We will have three different Christmas Eve worship opportunities. Each with different music. Our online service will feature the choir, traditional carols, and special organ music by Dave Hasek. Our 4 p.m. outdoor service will include familiar carols in a family-friendly environment. Our 8 p.m. service will feature a soloist, familiar carols, and festive organ music for the season.
I am looking forward to sharing new ways to worship and sing with you this Christmas season!
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Pause, Ponder and Pray Returns
Tuesday Night Bible Study
Ever wonder who picks the Scriptures we read on Sundays? Ever thought about where a sermon comes from? Ever wished you felt more comfortable with your bible? Pause, Ponder and Pray is for you.
We have begun gathering around our screens and looking at the Sunday Scriptures. We talk about who wrote them down, why we read them, what they meant to the first hearers and what they mean to us. Along the way we share stories from the lives of God’s people and our own stories of doubt and faith.
Come as often as you like. Bring your questions, and an open heart and mind. If getting on to Zoom is an issue, call or email the church and one of our tech team will assist you. You can invite friends to join in. It’s an interactive learning experience!
Tuesdays 7:00 to 8:00 PM.
**Watch for an email invitation via Constant Contact or you may contact the parish office for the Zoom link.
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Daily Evening Prayer with Fr. Mark
For more than 30 years I have marked the end of my workday with Evening Prayer. During COVID, I went back to praying alone; but I now believe I can safely offer prayer in church again. We’ll meet in the Narthex (the gathering space just inside the church doors.) Come in through the Shand Hall doors. Sign in, Masks and Hand sanitizing will be required.
If you have a smart phone, please go wherever you get your apps. Download the free app from Mission St Clare. It’s really easy and will allow us to share prayer without books. If you prefer, bring your own BCP or I can loan you one of ours to carry. I hope to share the service on Facebook Live in the coming weeks, but first I need to get my rhythm back.
Join us any day Monday to Thursday at 5:00 pm for Daily Evening Prayer.
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Ways to Support Christ Church
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Electronic Giving: Click Here
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Text to Give by texting CCPKI to 73256
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Bank: Have your bank send a check or make an ACH transfer
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By Check: CCPKI 830 Romancoke Rd. Stevensville MD 21666
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Haven Ministries has announced it will be hosting a Harvest of Hope Online Auction between November 12 and November 14 to benefit its essential services. Participants will be able to purchase one-of-a-kind art, jewelry, accessories, dining options, indoor and outdoor experiences like wine tastings and spa treatments, and sports memorabilia.
There is something for everyone in the online auction with items ranging in price from $30 to $1000. Special items include sporting clay lessons for two at The Point at Pintail, a half-day light tackle or fly fishing experience with up to three anglers on the Chesapeake Bay with Anglers Connection Guide Services, Raven’s sports swag, and a romantic get-a-way for two at the Kent Manor Inn and diamond stud earrings from TNT Jewelers. Proceeds from the Harvest of Hope event will provide HOPE through shelter, food, clothing, and support to area residents.
According to Taryn Chase, Haven Ministries Business and Marketing Development Director, “This event is in response to the cancellation this year of both our Best Girlfriend Night Out and Beef, Bonfires and Cigars annual events. Both were extremely important to funding the services we provide, which have continued to grow during the pandemic.”
“The community has stepped up to help us meet this increased demand for services. We are especially appreciative of the generosity of our business partners and local businesses.”
The Harvest of Hope Auction Preview opens November 1. Participants can register online at Haven-Ministries.org. Winning auction items can be picked up after the auction by contacting Taryn Chase at 410-490-0925.
Love shapes the ministry, love transforms people, and hope prevails at Haven Ministries. Haven Ministries operates a seasonal Homeless Shelter, a Resource Center and Food Pantry at 206 Del Rhodes Avenue in Queenstown, Our Daily Thread Thrift Store in Stevensville, Hope Warehouse in Queenstown, and a Resource Center at Fisher Manor.
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