Church Calendars: 2010
It’s Backpack & School Supply Time!
Time to help local students prepare for success with school supplies
Beginning Sunday, August 1, you can help a local student get ready to go back to school. For many families in Howard County, purchasing basic school supplies for their children is an incredible challenge. You can help relieve the stress and support your neighbors in need when you:
- Take a student’s tag from the school bus sign in the Narthex, use the attached list to shop for necessary supplies & backpack. Firmly attach tag to filled backpack, return to the Elevator Room. Please return your filled backpack by August 15 so we have time to get the supplies to the family in need.
- Use an envelope available in the Narthex to place a cash/check donation (Payable to: Community Action Council/Prepare for Success) in collection plate.
- Sponsor 2 students for $25 at the Kits for Kidz website. There is no deadline for cash/web donations, but sooner is better than later. A special thanks those who have already donated!
Women of Christ Church: The Annual Flea Market
Mark your calendars for the Flea Market
This year, our annual Flea Market will be on September 18 , with a rain date of September 25. Clean out your unwanted treasures and turn them into cash by renting one or more spaces. The prices are: 1 space – $12; 2 spaces – $20; 3 spaces – $27 and 4 spaces – $32. Last year we sold out of spaces, so reserve yours early. Please complete the 2010 Flea Market Space Reservation Form and return it to us ASAP, as space is limited.
If you don’t want to rent a space but have items you would like to donate, the WOCC will gladly accept donations of books and the Spiritual Life Commission will accept your donations of “thrift store” items. Most of the money we earn goes for something needed at church.
All types of homemade baked goods are needed for the BAKE TABLE, including cakes, pies, cookies, brownies and breads. A signup sheet is posted in the Narthex.
We will be selling hamburgers, hotdogs and cold drinks. Whether you are selling or spending, it promises to be a great event – so note the date and come and join us.
In September we will have notices on where and when to drop off your items for these donations.
Questions? Please contact Suzanne.
Remember, Rejoice, Reveal: July 2010
REVEAL!
We now enter the final six months of this campaign and urge everyone to help us eradicate the mortgage by year’s end. Please try to let us know of your intended gift as soon as possible. August is our next designated month for the returning of Remember, Rejoice and Reveal Coin Jars. We are now over the $8,800 level of donations and every cent goes to the eradication of our mortgage.
With pledges, extra gifts, coin jars and hard work – we strive to eradicate the debt by year’s end so that we do not have to renegotiate with the bank.
Our “$10 in ‘10” box is in the Narthex and continues to receive weekly gifts from parishioners. Thank you!
WANTED
Person who has some experience selling items on E-Bay. The Remember, Rejoice and Reveal committee would love to talk with you about doing this for the remainder of the year for the mortgage reduction campaign. Please contact us if you can help.
Christ Church Link: July 2010
Resources for Tight Budgets
The helpful resources given by Christ Church Link helpline volunteers to our callers, can be useful for all of us in these tight economic times. A few examples:
Share Food Network
This co-op is a great way to stretch your limited food budget and help others do the same. In return for $20 and two volunteer hours, you get $40 to $45 dollars of fresh meat, seafood, vegetables, fruit, etc. Share is open to everyone; orders can be paid with cash, check, food stamps. Call the Columbia host location, Locust United Methodist Church at 301-596-3463, ask for Janet Williams. If you don’t want to order food, you can call to volunteer.
Discount Phone Service
If you get certain government benefits, i.e., Medicaid, Supplemental Security Income, or assistance (energy, medical, supplemental nutrition, temporary cash or temporary disability assistance), you’re eligible for one of two great programs (can’t have both):
- Verizon Tel-Life home phone: Basic plan costs eighty-four cents a month for 30 local calls, ten cents each after that. Enhanced plan costs $10.20 (with a 1-time $24 hookup fee) for unlimited local calls. 1-800-524-0145 or visit the Tel-Life website.
- Assurance Wireless (Virgin Mobile): Free cell phone and 200 minutes per month. 1-888-898-4888 or visit the Assurance Wireless website.
- Baby Needs Warehouse: Rockland Memorial Church, 410-465-1463, has diapers, wipes, formula, food, over-the-counter pediatric medicines for parents with limited budgets.
Many other resources for food, medicine, transportation or financial assistance for evictions or utility turnoffs are available. Please feel free to call Christ Church Link at 410-309-9695 – for yourself, a friend or neighbor. Pass the word.
Or contact us if you’d like to learn more about joining the Link volunteer team to help our neighbors in need.
Women of Christ Church: July 2010
Springfield Picnic
The annual picnic for residents of Springfield Hospital was held on Saturday, June 12. Thanks to everyone who donated food or helped with this worthwhile event. Our Springfield guests always enjoy the picnic.
Toby’s Dinner Theatre
We have reserved a block of tickets for the musical NUNSENSE on Friday, August 20 at 6PM. The show is about a fund raiser put on by the Little Sisters of Hoboken to raise money to bury sisters accidentally poisoned by the convent cook. Don’t miss this fun evening. The price is $42.50 for adults and $33.50 for children 12 and under. The signup sheet for Toby’s will be in the Narthex. See Ronnie Ivy if you have any questions.
Annual Flea Market
The Flea Market will be on September18 with a rain date of September 25. Forms for renting a space are in the Narthex. The prices are: 1 space – $12; 2 spaces – $20; 3 spaces – $27 and 4 spaces – $32. Last year we sold out of spaces, so reserve yours early.
If you do not want a space of your own but have things you no longer need, the Spiritual Life Committee will be taking donations for the white elephant sale. The WOCC will also be taking books and will have the always popular bake sale table.
In September we will have notices on where and when to drop off your items for these donations.
Prayers: July 18, 2010
We lift up our hearts in prayer.
As we see in Christ the perfect living embodiment of the greatness and goodness of God the Father, we seek to learn how we can share the light and love of Christ with others in spite of our own imperfections. For this we ask your help, saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray that we may learn to replace our own self-centered worries and minor distractions with faith, humility and service. We ask for your guidance, saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We pray for mercy for those who live in areas stricken by violence, poverty or natural or manmade disasters. We ask for humility and wisdom for those in power that they may make choices to bring peace and comfort to those who suffer. Let us pray, saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
In the Anglican cycle of prayer, we give thanks for the Episcopal Church in the Philippines. In the Diocese of Maryland, we pray for St. Paul’s, Prince Frederick and St. Katherine of Alexandria, Baltimore. We give thanks for our many blessings, for the opportunity to worship together at Christ Church and to hear your Word. We give thanks for all of our ministries, for our Rector, for all who participate in the service today, including those who are new or visiting. Let us pray saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We raise up in prayer those who serve in the many aspects of Christian formation in our parish and especially all who will help and participate in Vacation Bible School this coming week. We pray saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We ask for compassion and mercy for those who are ill and for those caring for them. For those who are lonely or anxious, may they find comfort and peace. For this, we pray saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We remember those who have died and entered eternal life. We pray saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We give thanks for the joy of those in our congregation who celebrate anniversaries of their wedding, birth, baptism or other occasions. Our hearts are thankful for all those who worked and gave to our annual barbeque. Let us pray saying: Lord, hear our prayer.
We give this coming week into your hands, knowing that you will be with us in all that we do. Amen.
Prayers: July 11, 2010
Heavenly Father, as we go through our lives, help us to know and understand what you would have us do to share Your love in the world. Christ used the parable of the Good Samaritan to teach us to help others in need, putting aside worldly barriers to accept everyone as our neighbor. We ask that you give us the courage to help others in their time of need, so that we might be a means to answer another’s prayer, as we pray to you with the following petitions; “Lord, Hear Our Prayer.”
Help us to see the face of Christ in all our neighbors, to welcome our visitors and to treat everyone with love as Christ taught. We pray to the Lord: Lord, Hear Our Prayer.
Guide us as we make decisions that affect those around us. We pray especially for political leaders throughout the world. We offer our prayers and support to the people of the Gulf Coast. In our Christ Church family we pray for members of the new Sunday School Committee as they make decisions concerning sharing the teachings of Christ with our youngest members. We pray to the Lord: Lord, Hear Our Prayer.
Support us as a church family as we gather to hear the Word of the Lord and celebrate in community. We pray especially in our Diocese for Resurrection, Joppa and Redemption, Locust Point. In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we give thanks for the Anglican Church of Papua, New Guinea. We welcome Katrina back to our community and pray for her parish, Holy Apostles. Help us to speak a language of love and acceptance rather than division within the greater community of Christians. We pray to the Lord: Lord, Hear Our Prayer.
Be with us when we find ourselves in difficult situations that we can not handle alone, or are asked to help others in their time of need. We pray for those who cannot find shelter or are in need of food, medicine, or other physical necessities. We pray for those who are sick in mind, body, or spirit, and in need of your comfort. May all who are suffering find comfort in Your love and the love of friend and neighbor. We pray to the Lord: Lord, Hear Our Prayer.
Grieve with us as we pray for all the departed. Comfort those who mourn today. We pray to the Lord: Lord, Hear Our Prayer.
Rejoice with us as we recognize those who have celebrations of joy and happiness, including birthdays, wedding and baptismal anniversaries. Be with us as we gather as a community next weekend for the annual Texas BBQ dinner. May our rejoicing be an opportunity to share our gifts with others. We pray to the Lord: Lord, Hear Our Prayer.
Heavenly Father, you gave us the gift of Your Son, whose teachings we use to lead us through our lives. You know that the way forward is often difficult, yet you call on us to move ahead. Be with us when darkness threatens to overcome us, and help us to use our gifts to share Your love with everyone we may encounter. Amen.
Spiritual Life Update: July 2010
Members of the Spiritual Life Commission held a half-day retreat in the Parish Hall on June 5. Following morning prayers and meditation on a reading from Acts 3, the participants selected a theme for the 2010-2011 ministry year: “What I have I give you.” We believe this theme evokes the many gifts that members of our Christ Church family are called to share with each other and with the wider community. We pray that we will remain mindful of our theme and of the needs and wishes of our parish as we develop our programs for the coming year.
If you would like to share your gifts with the Commission as we plan events such as the Parish Retreat at the Beach (see back of monthly calendar insert) and Wednesday Evenings in Lent, please come to our Commission meetings on the second Tuesday of each month. Our summer month meetings will be at 7:30 on July 13 and August 10. Our goals for 2010-2011 are to provide opportunities for substantive spiritual nourishment and fellowship as members of our church family.
Other activities this summer include two more “Pizza and Prayers” at 7:30 on July 21 and August 18. We invite you to share some pizza and fellowship followed by a short Evening Prayer service. If you are not able to come but wish to have the participants offer prayers of intercession or thanksgiving, you may use the Prayer Request box on the Narthex information table or the Christ Church office email address
Prayers: July 4, 2010
Bearing another’s burden is an important way to fulfill the law of Christ. On the anniversary of the birth of our nation, may we show our appreciation to those who serve our country, that our freedom will be preserved and that we may realize our God given rights. Given the opportunity let us work for the good of all, saying In Christ’s name we pray.
As Jesus instructed His disciples, may we ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His fields. We are grateful for the worldwide Church bringing the Kingdom of God close to many. In our own diocese, we give thanks for St. John’s, Kingsville and in the Anglican Cycle of Prayer we pray this morning for the Church of Pakistan. We are blessed to have dedicated leaders within our congregation. We welcome those who are new to us or visiting Christ Church. We praise God for uniting us today in worship, saying: In Christ’s name we pray.
For all who are ill in body, mind or spirit, may the Lord restore health and wholeness. May all of us receive God’s joy and comfort. May our fears be vanquished and hope reside in our souls, saying: In Christ’s name we pray.
As God holds our souls in life and will not allow our feet to slip, may we realize that the hand of the Lord is with his servants in life and in death. We lift up the souls of the departed. We also ask the Lord to be close to those who grieve. May His comfort and deep love heal our Spirits, saying: In Christ’s name we pray.
Let us be joyful sharing in the celebrations of birthdays, baptismal and wedding anniversaries among our church family. Today we give thanks for these special times in the lives of. May we all marvel at the gift of life and God’s amazing grace, saying: In Christ’s name we pray.
Let us praise God and see the wonderful works He is doing towards all people. We ask that the Lord will use us for His purposes and that our words and actions may reflect His will, saying: In Christ’s name we pray. Amen.
Connect with Us!