Christ Church Weekly Newsletter
This Sunday - The Third Sunday after Pentecost 2021
"It is a good thing to give thanks to the Lord,
and to sing praises to your Name, O Most High."

~ Psalm 92:1 ~
Friends,

Good morning and God's peace be with you!

As you can see below, I will take two weeks off, starting on June 14. I will return on
June 29. To say I am looking forward to it would be an understatement. It will be a time of fishing, family, friends, reading, writing, movies, and reflection. I also plan on doing a whole lot of nothing.

All of us can admit that this past year and a half has been exhausting; if there were such things as fumes of fumes, I think many of us are running on them. However, it has also been transformative. It has challenged us to rethink how we live, interact, and adapt to situations that are far beyond our control. I know I am not the same person I was before the pandemic, not the same priest for sure. And now, as we move back into normalcy, I almost have to imagine what being a priest in a non-pandemic time looks like. I was a priest for six months before the pandemic hit. It's strange to think about that. So, I guess I'll take some quiet time to think about that. We Dominicans say that we are active contemplatives and are called to bring others the fruits of our contemplation. We'll see what fruits emerge from this time off.

While I am away, Deacon Margaret will take care of any pastoral issues that might arise. You can reach her at margarethaight78@gmail.com. Our Sr. Warden Connie Hockaday will also be available to address any questions and/or concerns regarding the day-to-day operations of the church. You can reach her at cnb@bulldogtools.net.

Thank you all for your support, patience, and understanding over the past 15 months. It is a blessing to be your rector and brother in Christ.

Fr. Daniel, O.P.A.

For the Diversity of Races and Cultures (BCP, 840)

O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you
for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world.
Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and
show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until
our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all
your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

Sunday Worship

To attend services online use the link below:

Meeting ID: 995 3025 3205
Passcode: 004955

Through the month of June we will continue with our one service at 10:30 a.m.. In July we will return to our full Sunday service schedule with services at both 8:00 a.m. (Rite I) and 10:30 a.m. (Rite II).

Readings for this Sunday (Track 2)

  • Ezekiel 17:22-24
  • 2 Corinthians 5:6-17
  • Mark 4:26-34
  • Psalm 92:1-4,11-14

Hymns for this Sunday

  • Prelude: Hymnal 623 - O What Their Joy and Their Glory Must Be
  • Opening Hymn: Hymnal 524 - I Love Thy Kingdom, Lord
  • Sequence Hymn: Hymnal 615 - Thy Kingdom Come!
  • Choir Anthem: Take Now My Voice by Douglas Nolan
  • Communion Hymns: LEVAS 165 - I'm Pressing On; LEVAS 20 - Sing the Wonderous Love of Jesus
  • Closing Hymn: Hymnal 525 - The Church's One Foundation

Weekday Worship

During the Summer we will adjust our schedule for the Daily Office. We will say the Daily Office, including Centering Prayer, on Wednesdays using the schedule below:


Centering Prayer is a method of silent prayer that prepares us to receive the gift of contemplative prayer, prayer in which we experience God's presence within us, closer than breathing, closer than thinking, closer than consciousness itself. This method of prayer is both a relationship with God and a discipline to foster that relationship. (from  Contemplative Outreach).

PLEASE take a few moments to read the announcements below. 
Those celebrating birthdays this month. Stephanie Cronin 06/21; Jane Davis 06/30; Claudia DePollo 06/20; Heather Amy Doud 06/15; Johnathan Preston Doud 06/19; Ethan Goldberg 06/18; Marilyn Judith Greene 06/02; Kalissa Faith Houck 06/22; Joseph Ilk 06/06; Olivia Johnson 06/05; Shannon Johnson 06/15; Larry Klipp 06/18; Penny Knepp 06/05; Tracy Magin 06/22; Julia Midland 06/21; Jane Schultz 06/20; Jim Settles 06/25 (if your birthday is missing from the list please email rector@christchurchspotsy.com) 

It's backpack time again! We have started signing people up receive their backpacks through our food pantry. I need your help! Donation envelopes will be available this Sunday, if that is what you prefer to do. (Then I get to do the shopping) Adoptions will begin later this month, if that is what you prefer. Thank you in advance for any help you can give.

The Thrift Shop will reopen on July 1. Needless to say we are very excited to move back to the shop and resume operations. If you would like to volunteer at the Thrift Shop please contact Michelle Spina at MichelleSpina2@gmail.com. Any kind of help you can provide would be greatly appreciated.

Chalice Bearer (now known as Eucharist Minister). Now that we are returning to church worship services, a training for Eucharistic Ministers (EM) will be offered. An EM is licensed for three years by the bishop to administer the consecrated elements at a Holy Eucharist service. The EM is “a confirmed communicant in good standing, faithful in worship and in stewardship, mature in faith, and of good repute in the congregation.” If you have any questions and/or feel God is calling you to this ministry, please email Deacon Margaret at margarethaight78@gmail.com.

Acolyte Training for all ages. The acolyte ministry is one of service for our Lord. Acolytes help serve on the altar and lead the processional and recessional by carrying the cross and candles. If you feel called into this ministry or have any questions, please email Deacon Margaret at margarethaight78@gmail.com. A convenient training date will be set for the those interested.

Education Sunday will be held THIS Sunday June 13 during our regular worship service. We will be honoring our 2020 and 2021 graduates. Please fill out the form by clicking here  or contact Jill Bates at wenger1986@msn.com. We want to celebrate you!  

Rector's Vacation. Fr. Daniel will be taking some time off in June. He will be off from June 14 - June 29. If you have any pastoral issues please contact The Rev Deacon Margaret Haight at margarethaight78@gmail.com.

Iconography in the Orthodox Church. Come and join us on June 12 at 10:00 a.m. as we learn about the history, styles, and usages of icons in the Orthodox Church. Our presenter is Fr. John C. Katsoulis, the priest and pastor at Nativity of the Theotokos Greek Orthodox Church. Fr. John will walk us through the importance of icons in Orthodox spirituality and how icons are used to help one attain a closer relationship with God. Fr. John will live stream his presentation from inside Nativity of the Theotokos so you will get to see an example of how icons are displayed in an Orthodox Church and their importance in worship. Click here to register. We look forward to seeing you at this online event!

Altar Flowers. Due to COVID many florists are having trouble getting reliable shipments of flowers. Because of this, many florists are hesitant to take special orders and, at times, the flowers received are not in great shape when they arrive. Our Altar Guild will try to accommodate all altar flower requests but because these circumstances are out of our control we might not be able to accommodate every request. Thank you for your understanding!

Flower Chart. A new flower chart is now in All Saints Hall. If you would like to donate flowers in memory of someone you can sign up to donate flowers for a specific Sunday. Because of flower supply shortages and price increases, donations are $30.

Forward Day by Day is available in the Communications Center. If you would like to a copy, either small or large print, grab one after service; or, if you need one brought to you let Fr. Daniel know at rector@christchurchspotsy.com.

Signup for Diocesan E-news. The Diocese of Virginia invites our parishioners to signup for diocesan e-news. The diocesan e-news has taken on even greater importance since the diocese discontinued the printing of the Virginia Episcopalian. For many parishioners, the quarterly magazine was their primary way to hear news of the larger church and to experience their connection to other churches in the diocese. 

In the newly redesigned e-Communiqué, some of the storytelling and features that parishioners enjoyed in the magazine will still be incorporated, but without the lag time and the hefty price tag that comes with traditional print publications.

Traveling Cross. Christ Church now has a traveling cross. We are re-purposing a cross found outside the Great Hall leaning against the steps. It was first used as one of the Stations of the Cross at Easter. What we would like to do is take the cross to different settings around the community to photograph it with people or people and their pets. If you would like to have your photo taken with the cross, please contact Donna Hockaday at hockaday1@comcast.net. After I gather a few photos I will post them on the Church Facebook page as well as the Spirituality Center Facebook page and will continue to do so as long as people want to be photographed. Perhaps when we are able to return to gather in person in the Great Hall we can have a display of the photos.

As a people of prayer, we ask your prayers for David Alexick, Pam Alsop, Julie Barlow, Wes Bell, Mike, Kara, Tyler, Carson, and Berkeley Ayres, Chris, Alissa, and Emilia Bledsoe, Grace Brooks, Elizabeth Britt, Robin Bruckner, Amy Bumgardner, Jennifer Campbell, Christopher, Danny Clark, Martha and Patrick Clark, Rob Clark, Dale Cochran, Sarah Consolati, Jennifer Coppola, Marc Curto, Marilyn Dodson, Jim Drake, Bernice and John Easley, Staci Erwin, Bill Evans, Karen Ford, Joan Gere, Mark Gianfelice, Maryann Gianfelice, Brenda Grady, Bob Gregory, Jon Gross, Delma Gonzalez, Christian Hall, Bruce Hopkins, Lindsey Huddle, Rodney Jackson, Rochelle Kincade, April Knaus, Cliff Knepp, Nick Knepp, Mable Lacy, Jenny LeBlanc and family, Cora Lunsford, Daniel Moran, Charlene Makovski, Beverly McNeill, John Miller, Devan Moran, Nodie Murphy, Adam Murray, Ed O'Connor, Judi Oliver, Heather O'Neill, Joan Palmer, Missy Pixton, Carson Linda Rooney, Harry Ruth, Liduino Santos, Clyde Shipp, Daisy Shirley, Corrie, Jane Shumaker, Nancy Sloan, Mark Smith, Emmalie Spina, T.C. Spwell, Von Staiger, Carol Stanlye, Linda Stastny and family, Jeanette Stewart, Christine Strait, Mary Ann Svare, Diane Tanner, Barbara Thacker, Sheila Tiffany, Sue Ann Thomas, Barbara Ulrich, Hazel Vance, Mary Walkowiak, Noah White, Sarah White, Sandra Williams, Elaine Wyant, Tim Zafrano. (New names added are bolded.)

If you would like to have your name or the somebody else's name added to our published Prayer List or to our unpublished Prayer Wheel please contact The Rev. Deacon Margaret Haight at margarethaight78@gmail.com.  

Amazon Smile. Remember you can donate to Christ Church by shopping on Amazon Smile. When you make eligible purchases on Amazon Smile 0.5% will be donated to Christ Church. Thank you! 

To set Christ Church as your charity:
  1. Sign in to smile.amazon.com on your desktop or mobile phone browser.
  2. From your desktop, go to Your Account from the navigation at the top of any page, and then select the option to Change your Charity. Or, from your mobile browser, select Change your Charity from the options at the bottom of the page.
  3. Select Christ Episcopal Church.

You can also support Christ Church in the Amazon shopping app on iOS and Android mobile phones. To do so:

  1. Open the Amazon Shopping app on your device
  2. Go into the main menu of the Amazon Shopping app and tap into 'Settings'
  3. Tap 'AmazonSmile' and follow the on-screen instructions to complete the process
The beginning of love is the will to let those we love be perfectly themselves, the resolution not to twist them to fit our own image.

Thomas Merton
Christ Episcopal Church
8951 Courthouse Road
Spotsylvania, VA 22553