Christ Church Episcopal

Sunday Summer Services

8:00 AM English Service
9:15 AM Education Hour
10:00 AM English Service
1:00 PM Spanish Service

Wednesday Service

12:00 Noon Healing in English

Welcome Message

Sermons

Children's Choir Video

Children's Chimers Video

Reservations for Caberet Night 8/14/2010

This Week at Christ Church
(News and Information)

Communique (Monthly Newsletter)

Christ Church Haiti Companions

This Week at Christ Church
For Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 1, 2010

Special Events for the Week of 8-1-10 through 8-8-10

Sun., 8-1;
1:00 pm Kids F.T. & H.K.L. Cabaret rehearsal in the Youth Center.

Mon., 8-2;
Administrative Planning Meeting; offices closed.
9:00 am Movie Madness Monday, Education Wing.
6:45 pm Intermediate Spanish Class, Rm. 104, Ed. Wing.

Tues., 8-3;
Administrative Planning Meeting; offices closed.
7:00 pm Beginners Spanish Class, Rm. 104, Ed. Wing.

Wed., 8-4;
10:00 am Wonderful Wacky Wednesday, Ed. Wing.
12:45 pm PrimeTimers Lunch, Parish Hall
5:45 pm Kids F.T. Cabaret rehearsal, Church Nave
5:45 pm Kids H.K.L. Cabaret rehearsal, Modular 1, Activity Room
6:00 pm St. Monica's Cabaret rehearsal,

Thurs., 8-5;
5:45 pm Kids F.T. Cabaret rehearsal, Church Nave
5:45 pm Kids H.K.L. Cabaret rehearsal, Mod. 1, Activity Room

Fri., 8-6;
5:45 pm Kids F.T. Cabaret rehearsal, Church Nave
5:45 pm Kids H.K.L. Cabaret rehearsal, Mod. 2, Rm. 406

Sat., 8-7;
10:00 am Grief Brunch, Rm. 107, Ed. Wing.

Sun., 8-8;
11:30 am Women's Group, Church Parlor
1:00 pm Kids F.T. & H.K.L. Cabaret rehearsal in Youth Center.

Please review the church website and calendar for regular meetings and additional information, as well as articles in this issue of This Week At Christ Church.

Altar Flower Dedications for August 1, 2010
The altar flowers are given to the Glory of God by Nora Cruz Diaz in loving memory of her father, Juan E. Cruz Olmo; and by Nancy and Craig Morrissey in loving memory of their husband and father, Robert M. Morrissey; and by Tracey and Mike Rice and the Christ Church Choir in thanksgiving for the birthday and service of Ron Rice; and by Luis Sánches and María Inés Teoyotl in celebration of the quinceañero of their daughter Aylin Pérez Teoyotl on Saturday, August 31, 2010.

Wednesday Bible Study & Creative Endeavors Suspended
Due to lack of participating at both the Wednesday morning Bible Study classes and the Wednesday evening suppers and Creative Endeavors, these events will be suspended until Wednesday, September 8, 2010.

Parish Retreat Weekend, October 1, 2, 3, 2010
As you all know by now, Christ Church will have our Parish Retreat from Friday evening to Sunday morning, October 1, 2, 3, 2010 at Camp Mikell in Toccoa, GA. We will all enjoy the cool, crisp, mountain air, surrounded by the glorious colors of God's Creation, the exuberance of shared activities with folks of all ages and a chance to relax among friends with whom you share Christ's companionship. In order to complete our registration requirements, including payments to Camp Mikell, we need to know by Monday, August 23, 2010, if you will be attending. At the same time, we will also need your checks. Your registration fee covers your room accommodation and all meals. Checks should be payable to Christ Church and be sure to put "Parish Retreat" on your memo line so it can be properly posted. The prices are as follows:

$195.00 per person for a private room at Retreat Village
$145.00 per person for a semi-private room at Retreat Village
$185.00 per person for a private room at Upper Cottage
$135.00 per person for a semi-private room at Upper Cottage
$85.00 per person for the Dormitory (Guests need to bring their own towels and bed linens)

Dinner on Friday night only will be served at 7:00 p.m.
Breakfast will be served at 8:00 a.m.
Lunch will be served at 12:00 p.m.
Dinner on Saturday night will be served at 6:00 p.m.

We have reserved 80 spaces, which will be on a first-come, first-serve basis. So please sign up as early as possible by contacting Beth Holland in the church office at 770/447-1166 ext. 222, or e-mail at office@ccnorcross.org. We look forward to seeing many of you there.

Thank You to the Thrift Shop & John Freeman
We are pleased to inform the parish that through the wonderful generosity of the Thrift Shop, two (2) Automated External Defibrillators (AED's) have been purchased for use by Christ Church. We also want to thank John Freeman who researched, purchased and installed them-one (1) in the Parish Hall next to the fire extinguisher and one (1) in the Youth Center to the right of the front door. We hope we don't have to use them any time in the near future, but should the need arise, they are here and we have several parishioners who are qualified and trained to use them. As indicated in previous publications, if you are trained in CPR, or the use of an AED or are a qualified first responder in case of emergencies, we would like your contact information, including name, phone numbers and e-mail addresses. Please call Beth Holland in the church office or send her an e-mail to office@ccnorcross.org and provide her with this information. Again, our sincere thanks to the generosity bestowed on us by the Thrift Shop.

Administrative Planning Meeting
In preparation for the coming year of Christian Formation and Liturgy at Christ Church, the clergy and staff will be out of the office August 2-3 for a planning retreat at Camp Mikell.

Welcome Ron Rice and Beth Holland
Christ Church welcomes Ron Rice as our new Organist and Choirmaster, and Beth Holland as our full-time Parish Administrator. Both Ron and Beth responded quickly to a pressing need, volunteering their services at first in order to keep in balance our current budget. Beth joined us in November, 2009, and Ron in January, 2010. Ron and Beth's work is exemplary. Their adaptability has made difficult transitions nearly seamless.

Ron looks forward to further developing a music program that includes a variety of music for all ages. He is especially grateful for the work of Glenn Gordon, David Duke, and Carol Brocksmith who assist with the children's music ministry. Ron is also pleased to have an opportunity to direct a choir that is rich in talent and spirit.

By now, many of you have experienced first hand Beth's remarkable efficiency and good cheer. She is diligent in her management of the church calendar and thorough in her support of the work of the staff. Her dedication and hard work are making quite a difference in the day-to-day operation of the church.

Let us give thanks to God for blessing us with such fine and reliable leaders.

Grief and Healing Brunch
Ceci Duke and Sharon Pitman will lead a grief and healing brunch in the conference classroom the first Saturday of each month from 10:00-12:00. All are welcome to attend. Our next brunch is scheduled for Saturday, August 7, 2010. Talk to Ceci or Sharon for more information.

CONFIRMACIÓN EN ESPAñOL
Saturday, August 28, 2010, at 4:00 p.m. at St. Philip's Cathedral. Several persons from the Hispanic community at Christ Church will be confirmed in the first Spanish language confirmation service to be held at the Cathedral. We will be joined by members of each of the seven Hispanic congregations of the Diocese--in Roswell, Marietta, Austell, East Point and two in Atlanta. The gift of the Holy Spirit is language neutral, and speaks many languages simultaneously, as at the first Pentecost. So, if you are considering being confirmed, and would like to have this happen soon, you are invited to be with us on this occasion. Speak to Fr. Jeffrey Cave at 404/775-6621 (jeffreycave@hotmail.com) about being included, and he will see that you receive appropriate preparation for this sacrament. If you would like to be "received" into the Episcopal church, or make your "reaffirmation" (having already been confirmed, and feeling desirous of another opportunity to profess your faith publicly), you are invited as well, whatever your native language. ¡Todos están invitados!

Christ Church Needs a Creation Keeper!!!
Each parish in the Diocese has a person designated as a Creation Keeper. The role of the Creation Keeper is to stay attuned to environmental innovations and practices that encourage responsible care for God's creation. If you have a passion for the work of preserving the health of our natural environment, we need your help. Please contact Beth Holland, our parish administrator, for more information about this important ministry of the parish.

Episcopal Charities Foundation
Episcopal Charities Foundation, a ministry that gives support to the outreach ministries of our Diocese, would like each parish to have a designated representative who is willing to support the important work that they do. If you feel called to the work of Diocesan Outreach through the Episcopal Charities Foundation, please contact Beth Holland, our Parish Administrator for more information.

Summer Vacations & Continuing Pledges
While many parishioners have the opportunity to leave for extended periods of time during the summer for vacations to get revitalized and refreshed, the church continues to operate on a daily basis. Please remember to stay current with your pledges or "pay it forward." To help with this effort, remember that you have access to PayPal through the church website. As you all know, we are still short on our 2010 budget. Our current deficit amount is $9,456.00. Please prayerfully consider making a pledge or a one-time gift so that we can eliminate this deficit in a timely manner.

Summer Offerings for Adult Education
During the summer months, from 9:00-9:45 a.m., we will have informal theological conversations over a cup of coffee in the parish hall. All are welcome. Our summer topics include:

August 1, 8, 15, 22-"The Mayberry Bible Study"-What The Andy Griffith Show has to say about Service, Peace, Mercy, and Commitment.

Reservations for Cabaret Night & Matinee, 8-14 & 8-15-10
All available seating for the first Cabaret Night in the Youth Center for Saturday, August 14, 2010, is now filled, with more people calling and emailing to register -- but we have good news! Our performers are going to present a special matinee on Sunday afternoon, August 15th, from 4:00-6:30 p.m.

So as not to overburden our food and beverage volunteers two days in a row, we will not serve food and drink at the matinee. However, there is some lively talk about a bring-your-own picnic right after the performance, weather permitting.

To reserve your place for the Sunday matinee, sign up through the website, call Beth Holland at the church office at 770/447-1166 x 222 or send an e-mail to office@ccnorcross.org with your name, the number attending, your phone number and an e-mail address. Please let us know as soon as possible if you will be able to attend the matinee. We can't wait to see you there, because we know you don't want to miss this event!

Desserts Needed for Cabaret Night, August 14, 2010
We are in need of finger food desserts for the August 14th Cabaret Night. If you would like to contribute something, please contact Dana Wall at dana.s.wall@gmail.com or Misty Wilson at mistyden@comcast.net. Thanks for your help.

Pack a picnic and come to the Sunday Cabaret!
Every weekend, the park by the Chattahoochee River near our house comes to life. That's when the music and feasting begin. On Saturdays and Sundays, the pavilions are bursting with huge extended families celebrating with food, music and dancing. They fill the air with the jubilant raucousness of boom boxes and with the intoxicating mingling of wonderful aromas from the tables. When they dance, sing, play and eat together, they are a community.

The Christ Church Players are happy to invite you to just such a celebration. On Sunday, August 15, we will present a matinee performance of Cabaret from 4:00-6:00 in the Youth Center. The event will be followed by a bring-your-own picnic on the church lawn. Come and enjoy your fill of dramatic love songs, lively show tunes, stirring dance routines, zany comedy sketches and more! After the performance, spread out your blanket and share a meal with the "stars."

At the start of a new school year, we will join together in jubilant song and dance, gathering as a church family to celebrate the joys of the summer and to fuel ourselves for the journey ahead. Pack a picnic and come to the Cabaret!

Jennifer Jordan

EFM - Education for Ministry, This Fall at Christ Church
Every baptized person is called to ministry. The Education for Ministry (EfM) program provides people with the education to carry out that ministry. During the Service of Confirmation we ask God to "Renew in these your servants the covenant you made with them at Baptism. Send them forth in the power of the Spirit to perform the service you set before them." EfM offers an opportunity to discover how to respond to the call to Christian service.

The class sign-up meeting will take place on August 22nd, after the 10:00 a.m. service, with classes beginning on September 14th. The cost of the program, which is designed and coordinated by the School of Theology, The University of the South, in Sewanee Tennessee is $350.00 per person. Scholarships are available. Please contact EFM mentors, Carolyn Collins at cmc707@comcast.net, 770-851-4705, or Gretchen Creel at gcreel@ccnorcross.org, 770-447-1166 of your interest and questions.

Children and Youth Ministry Teachers' Training Meetings
There will be a meeting for all Youth Ministry Team Members on Sunday, August 21st. The meeting will be held in the Library of Modular 1. We will be going over the calendar for the year and having our annual "Safeguarding God's Children" Training which is required by the Diocese for youth leaders who work with youth four or more times per year. We will begin at 11:30pm and should be done by 1:30pm - 2:00pm.

On Sunday, August 28 the Children's Department will have its Sunday School Teachers' Meeting. This meeting will also be in the Library of Modular 1. We will be going over the calendar for the year and having our annual "Safeguarding God's Children" Training which is required by the Diocese of all teachers who work with children four or more times per year. This would include our Godly Play teachers and Workshop Cycles Shepherds for this meeting. Any Workshop Leader (3 week teachers) who sign up for more than one workshop will need to take this training also. We will begin at 11:30pm and should be done by 1:30pm - 2:00pm.

Sunday School Registration
It's time to register your families for Sunday School! Family registration forms are available in the Education office, the Narthex, and at http://www.ccnorcross.org/Forms/SunSchool_Reg_form.pdf. Please complete this form to help the Education Department keep the database up-to-date and make sure that your family is registered in the classes that are best for them.

Teachers Needed
The Children of Christ Church need you! Our Workshop Cycle classes are in need of some volunteers. We need parishioners who are expert in being themselves and caring about the children of Christ Church to come lead our workshops. Each class lasts 3 weeks and are guaranteed to be fun for you and our youngsters. So please, prayerfully consider helping out in the Children's Department this year. For lots more information, please contact Gretchen Creel in the church office.

July 21 & July 25, 2010 Attendance & Offerings
Wednesday, 12:00 pm (English) 8
Sunday, 8:00 am (English) 33
Sunday, 10:00 am (English) 113
Sunday, 1:00 pm (Hispanic) 92
General offering $5,615.00
Hispanic Offering $ 134.00
Total Offering $5,749.00

Mammogram Screening Offered at Belk
The St. Joseph Mobile Mammography Coach is offering digital mammograms at Belk's at the Forum on Saturday, August 7, 2010. Pre-registration must be processed on-line by July 27th at www.stjosephsatlanta.org. Customers/Patients will be provided with an e-mail confirmation number from St. Joseph Hospital. A photo ID and insurance card will be required at the time of appointment. The screenings will be read on Monday, August 9th and the results will be faxed to the patient's doctor. Space is limited, so early registration is recommended.

Sunday Morning Coffee Hour Hosts Needed
Thank you to all who have volunteered to cover the Sunday morning coffee hours this Summer. We only have one remaining date to cover--September 5, 2010. If a group or a couple of friends or families would like to host this Sunday, please contact Beth Holland at office@ccnorcross.org or 770/447-1166.

picture of church

Apriete el botón para ver en el español

Sundays at Christ Church are simply a wonderful place to be!

You will find God’s joyful, living presence in a parish large enough to offer you an array of services yet small enough to know your name.

We offer a variety of programs for spiritual development for adults and children. We encourage fellowship and provide social gatherings to nurture families and friendships.

In our last few years, our church members have begun a greater focus on service work for the homeless and the hungry in our area. We have an annual mission project in Mexico, and we are now considering other international missions.

Christ Church offers spiritual direction and pastoral counseling. We have church members who are Stephen Ministers available for lay caring ministry, and we have a women’s group, the Daughters of the King, who participate in prayer, bible study and service.

We have an 8:00 am service with no music and a 10:30 am service with choir on Sunday. We also have a healing service at noon every Wednesday.

We are an accepting and diverse group. Please feel free to come as you are, whether you are wearing a suit or jeans!

Newcomers Guide

We are always delighted to have visitors at Christ Church. Let us know how we can help you be comfortable here.

How We Worship

Our visitors often have diverse denominational backgrounds. Some visitors are familiar with our services, and some are not. Please do not worry if you do not do something at the right time! Follow along with what your neighbors are doing, and you will be fine.

As Episcopalians, we use the Book of Common Prayer for our liturgy, a word that means a body of rites used for public worship. To follow the service, our ushers provide everyone with a booklet that outlines the service and lists the hymns. A copy of the hymnal and the Book of Common Prayer are in the shelves in each pew.

Generally, we stand to sing, to read the Nicene Creed (in the Book of Common Prayer) and to hear the Gospel reading. We kneel for our confession and absolution, and we sit for the Bible readings and sermon.

We celebrate Holy Communion almost every Sunday. All baptized Christians are invited to receive the bread and wine. Please don’t worry about the process. Just go to the rail with the others in your pew and do more or less what they do. If you do not want to receive Communion, there is no pressure to do so. You may stay in your seat for prayer. If you have taken your children to the nursery, you may want to go get them during the Announcements so they can receive Communion or a blessing. The choice is yours.

Making New Friends

Christ Church provides us with a great opportunity to greet our old friends and meet our new ones. We have a coffee break after the first service and before Sunday school. We serve coffee and pastries in our parish hall. Linger and enjoy coffee and fellowship or try one of our Sunday school classes. And feel free to ask us questions!

We do not embarrass our guests. We want you to respect your privacy and yet welcome you into the community that is Christ Church.

Feel free to call our church office or contact our vestry members for more information about the church.

Our Parish Family

Christ Church has an attendance of about 150-180 people every Sunday. Our membership includes families, senior citizens, and some singles. We are a small but diverse group.

Christ Church began over twenty five years ago in Norcross. Reverend Joel Hudson, now retired, started with a small group of church members and led the church to its current location on Holcomb Bridge Road. Currently our members live in Gwinnett and even border counties such as Fulton and DeKalb.

The church provides facilities for the Regina Caeli Academy which is a hy-bred home-school of about 140 students from kindergarten to High School. We have spacious grounds, a playground, and a separate building for many of our youth classes.

We have other groups that meet at our church, including the Boy Scouts, AA, NA, and others.

Wednesday Service

This Week at Christ Church For Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 1, 2010

Sermons

This Week at Christ Church
For Tenth Sunday after Pentecost, August 1, 2010