SUNDAY SERVICE INFORMATION 



Our current worship schedule is as follows:

8:00 AM Rite I Holy Eucharist Service

10:30 AM Rite II Holy Eucharist Service. This service will also be live streamed. 

Live Stream links can be found on our CEC Facebook Page and our CEC YouTube Page.

If you receive an email and/or text message from Fr. Richard or the Christ Episcopal Staff requesting money or gift cards please DO NOT RESPOND, instead, contact Fr. Richard or the staff directly. Thank you.

Disaster relief is a long marathon. Help will continue to be needed for a long time.

• To volunteer directly, Austin Disaster Relief Network is still asking for help. Website: adrn.org
• For Kerr County, you can fill out the Kerr County Volunteer Flood Relief Registration form or look for other ways to help at: https://www.stpeterskerrville.com/floodrelief.
• You can also continue to visit the Episcopal Diocese of Texas for resources HERE

Reminder - The Safeguarding session scheduled for September 27th, 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM has been postponed. We will notify everyone of the new date as soon as that information becomes available. Please continue your online application and video viewing in the meantime.

40th Anniversary Volunteer Opportunities



Saturday, September 27 - Three Opportunities

8:00 am - Garden Clean Up. Help clean out the flowerbeds behind the Rock Building and prepare it for replanting.

See Frederick Khoury for directions

9:00 AM - Outside Cleaning. Come with your power washers and other outdoor cleaning tools to clean the front of the Sanctuary and any other areas where needed. Members of the Vestry will be there to direct you.

See members of the vestry for directions.

10:00 AM to Noon - Create Displays. Meet up in the library on Saturday morning, Sept 27, from 10 to 12, and help create displays for the many artifacts that we have been collecting.

See Sarah Martinez for directions

Sign Up Sheet: https://evite.me/2GXxvhyMxZ

Saturday, October 11 - Set up. Set up the tables, chairs, and other items as needed to prepare for the Anniversary Celebration on Sunday. See Sarah Martinez for directions.

Sign Up Sheer: https://evite.me/s8vDHG5F7w

Sunday, October 12 - Two Opportunities

30 minute shifts between 1:00 and 3:00 PM - Hosting Video Conversations. Help by directing those being videoed to the correct location and reminding folks walking near the video locations to keep quiet enough so that their conversations don’t become part of the video. Sign up for a 30-minute shift, after lunch, (between 1and 3:00 p.m.) during the videoing of conversations in the sanctuary.

See Beth Sterling for directions

3:00 PM - Clean Up. Help clean up (pick up trash, bring things inside, general tidying up.).

See Beth Sterling for directions

Sign Up Sheet: https://evite.me/unYDZStzwD

Monday, October 13 - Break down: Take down and store the tables and chairs, and prepare for the Rock Academy on Tuesday.

See Linda Dozier for directions

Sign Up Sheet: https://evite.me/HbVGSfcZBk

Thank you for helping with this momentous and joyous occasion.

CAPTURING OUR HISTORY

We do not want to forget what CEC has done during its first 40 years. Because so much of that history is not captured in written records, we need to interview folks to gather it. And so that the information is available when CEC celebrates its next significant anniversary, we will video the interviews.

What you can do:

Let us know who has stories to tell. Think about:

• events that happened while you have been at CEC,
• ministries of CEC that we need to remember, and
• stories you would like others to know about.

Nominate someone to be interviewed and/or volunteer to be interviewed by talking to Beth Sterling or sending an email to CECReunion85@gmail.com

So that we can prepare for the interviews, please volunteer or nominate someone for an interview as soon as possible.

MEMORABILIA

We are looking for memorabilia to display at our 40th Anniversary celebration. Please check to see what we have that you could share. Some suggestions would be pictorial directories, and mugs, but don’t limit yourself to those.

We would like to display as many different CEC T-shirts as possible. Please look for those.

Once you find something, please email CECReunion85@gmail.com with your name and a description of what you found. From September 14 through October 5, we will have a table outside the church after the 10:30 service to collect your items.

Please mark everything you share with your name so that we can return it to you after the celebration.

We look forward to hearing what you may have.

CEC IN LOVING MEMORY

Use this QR Code to

upload a photo for this special

celebration.

As we receive communion that morning, we will see pictures of parishioners who have passed away, reminding us of the great cloud of witnesses who have come before us and celebrate with us in the communion of saints.

If you have a picture of a former CEC parishioner who has passed away, please share it with us so that we can display it during communion on October 12th.

Please use the QR code or the Form (click HERE) to submit your pictures.

If you only have hard copies, please bring your picture to church in September, and we will scan it for you.

The deadline for submitting pictures is October 5.

CEC's Annual Blessing of the Pets is coming up on October 5th at 4:00 PM! This year, in addition to bringing your pets, we will have a box in the narthex where we would like people to leave pictures of their pets so that we can put them on a bulletin board to bless at the pet blessing for those who can't bring their pets but also to have displayed at the 40th anniversary celebration coming up on October 12! Just a reminder, please bring your pets on leashes or contained for safety reasons and all pets will receive a treat bag and a Pet Blessing Certificate. We hope to see you, and your pets, there!

Intercessors will be at the back of the church in the narthex to pray with anyone who would like special prayers during communion on Sundays. Often people will ask for prayers for healing for themselves or others, but any prayer request is welcomed. If you would like to pray with one of our prayer partners, you are encouraged to come forward for communion and then make your way to the narthex for additional prayers. If you have any questions about this ministry or are interested in becoming a prayer partner to pray with others, please contact Cindy Gravis or Fr. Richard.

If you would like to learn about other ways to financially contribute to the life and work of our parish, please contact our Treasurer.

Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.

Ephesians 5:1-2, NRSV

THE SEASON OF TIME and TALENT - THANK YOU FOR SERVING!

Dear CEC Parishioners, 

The 2025 Time and Talent Campaign has come to a fruitful close. This season, we had many people volunteer to serve as Ministry Leads where we had a need. And last Sunday, September 21st, we recognized and honored our Ministry Leads. Fr. Richard bestowed blessings on them and all Ministry Team Members who will serve with them. He then read a prayer to commission everyone for the coming year.

We encourage everyone to always pray and discern where God is calling you to serve, no matter what time of year, and please, heed the calling of the Holy Spirit. You never know what wonderful things our God has in store for you.

There are updated Ministry Guides in the Narthex or you can access the new guide HERE. Also, we will begin to place Ministry Lead photos on our Bulletin Board in the Narthex to help you recognize who they are. 

Newcomers, please use this new guide and contact one of our wonderful Ministry Leads if you hear God's call on your life .. because 'Each person is given something to do that shows who God is'.

Thank you for serving as a Ministry Lead or a Ministry Team Member. We are grateful and appreciate everything you do for CEC.

See you this Sunday!

Blessings,

Your Stewardship Ministry 

CEC VESTRY MEETINGS

The Vestry usually meets on the third Monday of each month, at 7:00 p.m. Any congregant can attend a Vestry meeting and observe. Only Vestry members have voice and vote. Vestry meetings do become "closed" when discussing personnel issues or staff salaries. Vestry meets via Zoom. If you wish to attend, please notify Fr. Richard, and he will send you the Zoom link.

CEC Finances – Available in the Library

Quarterly financial statements are available on the bulletin board in the library following the vestry meeting.

Discipleship Group - This group meets the first and third Sunday of the month at 6:00 pm in the library. It includes study of the Sunday service gospel readings and is open to anyone wishing to participate. Please contact Bill Sterling at silverbillwes@gmail.com for more information.

The Senior Shepherds is a Service/Social organization at CEC. Anyone over the age of 50 in the church is welcome. We meet on the 3rd Wednesday of every month at 11:45 am in the Library for a delicious Potluck meal and lively conversation. A short program normally follows the meal. We do various interesting and creative service projects for the church children and the local community; host exciting outside speakers; visit unusual local places and have occasional seminars for better living. Contact: Fr. Richard at rector@cectx.org for more information. 

The Prayer Shawl Ministry meets on the 3rd Sunday of every month from 4-6pm in the library. We knit, crochet and do various other needlework and sewing crafts to meet a known need in the community such as providing pretty and comfortable caps for cancer patients, providing crocheted and knitted prayer shawls for those in need of comfort in our church community. These items are made with prayer and much interesting conversation. They are blessed by Father Richard before being distributed. Learn to knit or crochet at our meetings. Teens are welcome. Contact Mary Wybenga.

The Tuesday Book Club is reading The Book of Joy: Lasting Happiness in a Changing World by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. They survived more than 50 years of exile and the soul-crushing violence of oppression. Despite their hardships or, as they would say, because of them, they are two of the most joyful people on the planet. Currently, we will be meeting from 10:30-12:00 in the Outreach Room. We have about 12 regulars that come and go as their schedules permit. All are welcome: men and women, younger and older adults, introverts and extroverts and everyone in between. We enjoy seeing new faces and hearing differing thoughts.

Questions, please contact Mary Wybenga at EJayW@msn.com or at 303-587-2373.

Choir Practice is held every Thursday at 2:30 PM in the sanctuary. Anyone who is interested in joining, or getting more information on our choir, is invited to attend a practice. Questions? Contact Dave Gravis.

Ministry to and with Infants/Toddlers and their Families.

We have three spaces available to minister to our youngest members and their families on Sunday mornings.



1. Our church nursery is open from 9:00 am to noon. The nursery is located in the Family Life Center. The nursery serves children through the age of 4 and is open every Sunday morning.
2. A “soft” play space is located in the back of the sanctuary where children will find a small selection of toys and parents will find rocking chairs.
3. A “cry room” is located above the sanctuary and accessed by the stairs in the narthex/lobby of the church. The cry room contains comfortable seats, toys, and a changing table.

Children who are attending the 10:30 service participate in the service with their parents until after the Collect (the Prayer of the Day). After the Collect, the officiant calls all the children to the altar. The Children’s minister will select one of the children to come forward to be the children’s crucifer, who will lead, and the others will follow the cross out of the church to the Family Life Center. Children return at approximately The Peace in time for the Communion Service. Lessons will focus on learning about either the Gospel or Epistle or one of the Prophets or Kings.

Volunteers assist with the crafts, songs, prayers, or playing Bible games. Once a month or quarter, the children will ‘perform’ a song, recite a prayer or Bible verse, or act out a Bible story for the congregation at the end of the announcements.

If you are one of the volunteers for this ministry, you will be asked to help once a month or once every other month on the same Sunday of the month so that it is easier to remember when your commitment is. Swapping is, of course, allowed. Please join us in our fun way of learning about our belief, our faith practices, and Bible stories that we all remember from our youth!

If you can volunteer, please contact Lea Melvin.

During youth group meetings, Roots teens discuss Christian educational topics. Teens have input into the selection of topics. Teens also participate in Service Projects such as Trunk or Treat and the Easter Egg Hunt in Spring. Teens also vote on Social activities/outings. Events in the past have included visiting a hay maze, meeting at movie theaters, ice skating, touring Main Street Bethlehem, having parties, swimming, hiking, etc. Join us!

Contacts: Ruth Sobieralski and Fr. Richard

Let us know if you're having a birthday or anniversary this month so we can celebrate with you. Be sure to come to church and get your birthday / anniversary blessing!

Birthdays: Ben Sterling, Nathan Giard, Penny Powhatan, Beth Sterling, David Humphries, Weston Warner, Sarah Sheppard, Brie Pommier, Linda Dozier

Anniversaries: Rev. Tom and Chris Rardin, Ruth and Keith Sobieralski

• Thanks to everyone who is helping to prepare for the 40th Anniversary Celebration.
• Karen Willbanks for locating a new credenza for the Narthex.
• Karen and John Willbanks for installing new drapes in the library.
• Brad Powell and the Scouts for clearing tape from the back patio concrete.
• Patty McDaneld for helping to prepare for the Scout project.
• Lea Melvin for her perseverance and determination into getting the Children’s Chapel processional together.
• Dan Giard, Tony Alvarez, Dale Sanders and Richard Wallstrom for heavy lifting - moving furniture.
• Frederick Khoury with help from Josiah Macfoy for new landscaping donation and installation.
• Josiah Macfoy for trimming tree limbs over outreach parking spaces.
• Delinda Woltring for cleaning and organizing the kitchen and pantry.
• Thanks to Martha Burnett and her son, Nick, for assembly and delivery of the new table for the library.

All third party events held at the church are listed here. For parents, if at the church campus while the event(s) is taking place, children should be supervised by a trusted individual, as Safeguarded personnel / volunteers will not be present.

Upcoming Third Party Events:

AA Meeting - Wednesdays at 6:30 PM in the Library, Stone Building

ROCK Enrichment Academy - Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM, FLC and Grounds; Tuesdays and Thursdays, 8:00-12:30 PM, Stone Building

PEACE Homeschool Village - Fridays, 8:00 AM - 4:30, PM, FLC and Grounds