THE GOOD NEWS LETTER MARCH 2010

Dear friends in Christ:

Lent is upon us.  As you read this newsletter article we are moving closer to the middle of this forty day season of preparation for the mysteries of Holy Week and Easter.  What is essential for our souls’ health is that we properly utilize this time to direct ourselves to personal renewal.  The traditional disciplines for achieving this goal hinge on fostering a repentant spirit.  In order for God to transform us and make us a new people, more nearly reflecting the image of our Lord, we try during these Lenten days to create an interior space where we can quietly and intentionally abide in the healing presence of God.  We believe that this holy contact leads us into a deeper encounter with the crucified Christ, and then on to the glory of the risen Jesus whom we greet on Easter day.

Because we are all temperamentally different, it is only natural that we undertake the Lenten journey in different ways.  Whether we employ the traditional instruments of fasting, prayer, and self denial, or use other means to seek reconciliation with God and each other, it is essential that we "do something by intention" to open ourselves to the ministry of the Holy Spirit in seeking transformation and renewal.

The preface to the rite of Ash Wednesday invites us to observe Lent by prayer  and by "reading and meditating upon God’s holy Word."  For centuries now, these and other tools have been effective means for bringing us closer to our goal of reconciliation, forgiveness, and personal restoration.  In a mystery designed by God alone we sometimes discover that we encounter newness of life and resurrection only after we have embraced the cross of Jesus and exercised faith and courage by following his example of humility and self-surrender.

"Take up your cross, the Savior said                                                                                                                        if you would my disciple be                                                                                                                                  take up your cross with willing heart,                                                                                                                   and humbly follow after me."     

The Hymnal 675

Faithfully yours,

George, Vicar   (The Very Reverend George E. Hillman)

PLEASE NOTE

THERE WILL BE A SPEICAL PARISH MEETING ON TUESDAY 9 MARCH AT 6:00 p.m. AT CHRIST THE KING, STURGEON BAY.

THE PURPOSE OF THE MEETING WILL BE TO GARNER PARISHIONERS’ COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS AS THE BISHOP’S COMMITTEE APPROACHES  A DECISION TO INITIATE THE BUILDING PROGRAM AT HOLY NATIVITY, JACKSONPORT.

News from our Parish

Summary of monthly statistics for February 2010

Saturday/Sunday attendance:  

CTK :  101;  HN: 124

Plate and Pledge Income:   $7971 (Budget: $9375 per month)

Year-to-Date:   $23,951  (Budget: $18,750)

Please note:  these income figures include receipts for the Building Fund, Memorials, and other miscellaneous non-budgeted items.

THE VICAR’S SERMONS ON OUR PARISH WEBSITE (www.cckhn.org)

We have the technology now to have Father Hillman’s sermons on the church web page for listening.  All it takes is for someone to sit near the front of the church, either on Saturday evening at Holy Nativity or Sunday morning at Christ the King.
After the sermon is recorded, though, it must be uploaded to our Web page, and this requires a bit of technical knowledge.
If you have a PC with a fast internet connection (DSL or cable modem), and are willing to undertake this responsibility on an occasional basis, it would be great.  The "catch" is that the programs don’t like Windows System 7, so if you have a brand-new computer, it won’t work; but XP and Vista seem to work fine.
If you’d like to learn more, please contact Tim Graul, 743-6842.  I won’t be able to do the taping and uploading the last two weeks in March, so I hope someone will step up to do this.
Thanks!

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OFFERING ENVELOPES FOR GOOD FRIDAY AND EASTER FLOWERS

Printed Offering Envelopes will soon appear in the back of both of our churches.  As in past years, the offerings received on GOOD FRIDAY will be used to support the work of the Anglican Church in Jerusalem and its environs.

HOLY WEEK

ALL OF LENT IS A PREPARATION FOR A DEEPER ENTRY INTO THE MYSTERIES OF HOLY WEEK AS RELIVED IN THE ANCIENT RITES FOR THOSE DAYS.  Please mark the following dates and times on your calendars.

Thursday1 April 6:00 p.m.  Maundy Thursday at Christ the King, Sturgeon Bay

Friday 2 April at Noon  Good Friday at Holy Nativity, Jacksonport

Saturday 3 April  7:00 p.m. THE GREAT VIGIL AND FIRST MASS OF EASTER at Holy Nativity, Jacksonport

Sunday 4 April 9:30 a.m.  Easter Day Eucharist at Christ the King, Sturgeon Bay

As in past years, various volunteers will be needed to assist with various liturgical roles in the rites of Holy Week.  Specifically speaking, we will need...

A reader for the lessons at the Maundy Thursday liturgy

Volunteers (ideally 12) to share in the Foot Washing on Maundy Thursday

A reader for the lessons at the Good Friday liturgy

Four volunteer readers for the various Prophecies which are proclaimed as a part of the Saturday Evening Easter Vigil, as well as a reader for the lessons at the Eucharist for that liturgy.

PLEASE REMEMBER THE GREAT NOISE...

Those who will be attending the Easter Vigil at Holy Nativity on Saturday evening are reminded that you are invited to bring HAND BELLS which will be rung at the time of the announcement of our Lord’s resurrection with the words, "Alleluia.  Christ is risen.  The Lord is risen indeed.  Alleluia.  Please help us heighten the joy for this dramatic moment when our bells are heard for the first time since the Fifth and final Sunday in Lent.

FIRST QUARTER OUTREACH TARGET                                                     

THE BISHOP’S COMMITTEE has designated HAITI RELIEF as our first quarter outreach target.  Although an initial check has been sent to Episcopal Relief and Development for this purpose, we will continue to gather funds for this emergency cause through the end of March.  If you contribute by check, please be sure to mark your check memo with the designation "Haiti Relief"."

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REMAINING SESSIONS OF THE 2010 PARISH LENTEN PROGRAM

Wednesdays 3, 10, 17 and 24 March

 Again this year, our Parish Lenten Program will follow the same format as we have used over the last couple of years. We will assemble on the Wednesdays noted above according to the following schedule:

Liturgy in the church      6:00 p.m.

Simple Soup and Bread Meal 6:30 p.m.  Study and Conversation 7:00 – 8:00 p.m.

With respect to the content of the Program, we will be utilizing portions of a longer study series entitled, "Living in Authentic Community:  Practicing the one another commands."  Our focus will be on the biblical characteristics which define our life together in terms of the attitudes, commitments, and actions which are relative to being a Christian disciple rooted in the community we call the Church, the Body of Christ.

Each of our five study sessions will focus on a unique quality of what it means to be a Christian in today’s church.  The sessions are "free standing" meaning that attendance at a previous meeting is not necessary to grasp the meaning of any given topic.  That way, those who must miss a week will not feel lost when we assemble again.  Also, please feel free to attend any or all parts of each week’s gathering.  Coming together as a community during Lent involves worship, fellowship, and learning, each experienced according to the needs and availability of the participant.

THE EASTER FLOWER ENVELOPES are available for those who would like to contribute to the cost of decorating our churches for our Easter celebrations.  Please be sure to indicate any special memorial or thank-offering intentions of which your donation might be emblematic.

March Birthdays and Anniversaries

4        Morag Hornsby and John Witteborg

6        Pat Rondeau

7        Mildred Lauder

8        Kay and Doug Lindemann

11       JoAnn and Dan Lauder

          Ceceila Carolyn Schnorr

12      Nancy Fisher

14      Paul Filar

16      Alexander Ethan Kuehn

17      Brad Andreae, Sr.

          Lynne Burkhardt

          Morag Hornsby

          Patsy Stierna

18      Kate Wulle-Dugan

19      Mary and Ron Boston

22      Joan Eaton

24      Vicki Kuehn

NAME TAGS

When you attend church, please wear your name tag so that you can be more easily identified and known by name.  Since we seem to enjoy a constant flow of visitors and newcomers, even during the winter month, these nametags can play a pivotal role in our desire to know those who gather with us.

MONTHLY COLLECTION FOR THE VICAR’S DSICRETIONARY FUND

The loose (undesignated) offerings received at our Eucharists on the first Sunday of each month are given to the Vicar’s Discretionary Fund.  These donations are used to support the Vicar’s ministry both inside and outside our immediate parish family.  As you know, there are often unexpected, emergency needs which arise and this Fund can offer important assistance in such instances.

If you choose to contribute, at any time, via check, please be sure to mark your check memo with the notation "Vicar’s Discretionary Fund."  Thanks!

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CAP (Community Action Programs) food pantry

Thank you everyone for your continued support of this important ministry!  As you know from the recent article in the Door County Advocate, all the food pantries in Door County are feeling the consequences of the area’s layoffs and reduced working hours. Our church supports one of these pantries, CAP, with food and financial donations. Although located in Sturgeon Bay on Third Ave., it serves individuals from throughout the county.  If possible when shopping, remember those who have difficulty meeting their food needs on their current income.  Any donation is welcome, but if you need a trigger think soups, peanut butter or cereal.  Always needed are soap and personal products, which cannot be purchased with food stamps.

A church member, Susan Serrahn, is a volunteer at the pantry.  If you have questions about donations or current needs, she is the person to contact!

JUNE ANNUAL PARISH MEETING

June is still quite far away, but you know how time flies.  Challoner Brown, retiring Treasurer, and John Ingrisano, former Bishop’s Committee member, have already expressed interest in standing for nomination to become new Bishop’s Committee members.  I suspect that there may be others with similar interests.  If this includes you, please make yourself know to either Fr.  Hillman, Vicar, or Donna Domencich, Sr. Warden.

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Loaves and Fishes

The February 19 cherry dessert was a hit!  Thank you everyone for giving so generously of your time, talent and dollars to provide the dessert for the 3rd Friday meal.  That night we served 92 individuals and put together more than 50 carry out dinners. 

An increasing number of individuals and families are enjoying the Loaves and Fishes community meals.  If you know of people who are finding it a challenge to stretch their monthly food dollars, please share with them the good news of Loaves and Fishes.  Meals are served the 1st, 3rd, and 4th Fridays of each month at NWTC.  

Volunteers are needed for food prep (usually 1:30-3:30) and to help clean up the kitchen at the end of the evening (arrive at 6-6:15 until about 7:30).  Because volunteers sometimes have to cancel, there is a need for a list of people who are able to substitute on short notice.  If you want to volunteer contact Jan Evers at 823-2575