Building our Future

  Jim Nichols

As the Rector announced at the Annual Parish Meeting, I have been asked to lead a task force to consider how the Christ Church properties can best support our mission in the coming years, called “Building Our Future”.

 

Task Force members will approach this question is two ways. 

 

One approach is to better understand the buildings themselves and what they cost to operate, maintain and improve. This will involve assembling the available existing information that will help the vestry and the entire parish to better understand these issues and make wise decisions.

 

The second is to quantify the facilities needs of the parish to support our mission and programs. We will also consider other possible uses and users for our buildings, both now and in the future, based on the accomplishments of Artie Phills in this area. 

Finally, in evaluating these two kinds of information, we hope to identify and evaluate options for the parish to consider and to develop a strategy for realizing them, including securing outside funding or partners.

 

We expect to meet monthly starting Feb 23 , after the 10:30 Service, between now and June 2020, in the hope of at least defining the task and reporting to the vestry and the parish at large.  There may be homework assignments. We invite anyone who is interested to join us on 2/23 in the Children’s Chapel to learn more.

Ring in Easter!

The music program is forming a group to play handbells at the 10:30 Easter service on April 12. Everyone is welcome to join the Easter handbell choir. No experience is needed. You do not need to know how to read music. The handbell choir will rehearse on the dates listed below, and we ask that you do your best to attend each rehearsal. No commitment required beyond Easter. Try it out and see if you enjoy it! Rehearsals will take place in the organ loft.

March 4 - 7-8:30

March 11 - 7-8:30

March 18 - 7-8:30

March 25 - 7-8:30

April 1 - 7-8:30

April 8 - 7-8:30

April 12 (Easter) arrival 9:00 for set-up; 9:30 rehearse with choir/orchestra

To register, or for further information, please contact Stephanie Cronenberg at 

[email protected] or John Sheridan at [email protected].

In the month of January the food pantry served

· 137 families (368 persons)

· 165 were under age 18

· 61 were seniors

· 81 of these families reported at least one working adult

· 54 of these families received TANF or Food Stamps

 

Our monthly delivery will arrive this Tuesday, February 11th at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers are always welcome and needed!

Women of the Woods 2020 Spring Retreat

Saturday, April 25, 2020 — 10:00am to 3:00pm

 

THE HEART:

WELLSPRING OF LIFE

The house Next Door & Labyrinth

Prince of Peace Lugheran Church

177 Princeton-Hightstown Rd.

Princeton Junction, NJ 08550

 

"God's love has been poured into our hearts

through the Holy Spirit." Romans 5:5

Symbol of love and source of life, our hearts beat to the

various rhythms of our days. Together we will practice ways to care for this life-giving gift, integrating body, mind, and spirit through movement, prayer, labyrinth, and conversation.

Presenters: Kelly Kenny, yoga and fitness instructor

Laurie Matarazzo and Dale Selover, retreat leaders

www.crossroadsretreat.com

“THE WAY TO TRUE LIFE”

Adult Forum Series on the Gospel of John 

We all long for a full, rich, satisfying life. How can we quench our thirst for something deeper, more lasting, more meaningful? Join us for a fresh look at Jesus as revealed to us through the Gospel of John. Here is the opportunity to establish—or renew—your faith in the One who offers true meaning, true belonging and true life. This series is inspired by the church-wide Good Book Club’s invitation to read the Gospel of John during Epiphany ( goodbookclub.org ). Please join us for the sessions below in the Ross Room, 9:15-10:15 am. 

February 16 : chapter 15, “The Secret of the Vine and the Cost of Friendship”

February 23 : chapter 17, “Jesus Prays for Us”

Our acolyte robes need some love!

Our acolyte robes are in need of laundering. I have offered to donate $5 to Laundry Love for each robe that a parishioner will take home to wash. Please take a few after service on Sunday and drop them back before 8:00 a.m. the following Sunday for use in worship. Tell me or leave me a note with the how many you cleaned and I will make the donation.

Robes are in the basement changing room, ask any acolyte, lay reader or me for direction.

Thanks,

Deacon Pete

Join us for a seven-week series on faith! Each session, presented by leading theologians in their own voices, will be on a different topic and will include lots of rich discussion and opportunities for reflection. Come, and let us continue to grow together!

Session Date

Topic and Presenter

Session 1: March 1

God: Faith Is a Quest (Brian McLaren)

 

Session 2: March 8

Religion: Spirituality Is Not Enough (Lillian Daniel)

 

Session 3: March 15

Jesus: The Revolution of Love (Mark Scandrette)

 

Session 4: March 22

Salvation: Abundant Life Now (Shane Hipps)

 

Session 5: March 29

Cross: Where God Is (Nadia Bolz-Weber)

 

Session 6: April 5

Bible: A Book Like No Other (Lauren Winner)

 

Session 7: *April 19*

Church: An Imperfect Family (Bruce Reyes-Chow)

Mark your calendar!

Celebrating Absalom Jones

Trinity Cathedral, Sunday, February 16, 2020

3:00 p.m.

The Pancakes are Coming! 

The Pancakes are Coming!  (So is the bacon!)

 

Shrove Tuesday Pancake Dinner

Tuesday, February 25, 2020 6:00-8:00 pm

 

Join us in the Auditorium for a delicious pancake buffet and toppings bar. And, of course, bacon.

The cost is $5.00 per person. All proceeds will support Laundry Love.

 

For information, please contact Sheila Cooper at 732-821-6333 or

[email protected] .

Lent begins with Ash Wednesday, February 26th

· Ashes-to-go at the New Brunswick Train Station beginning at 7:15 a.m.

· Ash Wednesday Service at noon in the sanctuary

· Combined Ash Wednesday Service at 7:30pm, Emmanuel Lutheran Church (3 Kirkpatrick St, New Brunswick) with Rev. Scott Russel preaching

IMPORTANT!

Groups that meet regularly MUST contact the parish office to request parking vouchers.  Sunday ushers are not permitted to provide vouchers for weekdays. Please don’t put your ushers in the awkward position of having to refuse your request.

Topics on the Minds of the Vestry

(from the February 8, 2020 meeting)

 

·  Recently elected members were introduced and welcomed

·  Members nominated and approved the election of John Ager as Treasurer and Mark McMahon as Clerk.

·  Funding of the air conditioning project was assigned to the appropriate committees for discussion.