christ church eureka january chronicle 2016

7/21/2019 Christ Church Eureka January Chronicle 2016

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Mission Statement of Christ Church

To the glory of God, the mission of Christ Church Parish is to serve Jesus Christ and all the people of God; to

encourage and facilitate spiritual development for people of all ages; to grow as Christians in a loving and forgiving fellowship, thereby confirming, witnessing, and leading others to the faith by the power of the Holy

Spirit.



Dear Friends:

The nave and altar on Christmas Eve were breathtaking in their

beauty. Even more beautiful were the faces and voices of the choir,

and the glorious music from the organ! The whole event was a

transcendent experience for me. What a beautiful church we have.

On Sunday, January 24, we will gather for our Annual Meeting

at 10:30 a.m. (No 8:00 a.m. service that day). We have four

candidates for the Vestry who need your consideration, and four candidates for the next Convention

in November 2016. Please give your prayerful consideration prior to voting.

I am thankful to the lay people from the 8:00 a.m. service for their leading our Bible Study fo

the last few months: David Toy, Marty Vega, and Sanford Pyron. We use N.T. Wright's study guide

Our discussions are lively, and we welcome those who would like to join as a leader or participant.

Our "Come and See" service has been a wonderful addition to our Sunday services. At

present it is offered once a month on the first Sunday at 4:00 p.m. The candlelight service is aroun

forty-five minutes. This last Sunday the focus was on "What Star Do you Follow?"

Please join us and bring a friend!

May this new year be one of God's new blessings for you.

Faithfully,



The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome

it. John 1:5

The December 27, 2015 Day by Day meditation written byLelanda Lee is based on this part of John’s Gospel, one of my favor-

ites in the Bible. Ms. Lee reminds us that receiving bad news in any

manner can make us feel like darkness has overtaken light. But, she

says, “In fact, there is so much more good news in the world that is

never spoken aloud or reported by the talking heads. Good or happy

news simply doesn’t pay the bills the way bad news does.”

She says, “Jesus comes to be the light of the world. As followers of Jesus, we have opportu

ties to share the light of Christ – the best news – with our neighbors. It begins with developing an

nurturing a worldview centered on love and kindness.”

Ms. Lee reminds us of the wise old saying: “If you can’t say anything good about somebody

don’t say anything at all.” She says that, “The wisdom of that proverb can be realized by teaching

ourselves…to look for beauty, love, and kindness in our daily lives, rather than focusing on the bad

things that happen and the mean things we can do to each other.”

What is Christ Church doing to bring more light to our relationships with each other and thecommunity? Some things that come to my mind are the foster family respite for local foster

families, the Sundays at 4:00 p.m. service offered on the first Sunday of each month, and the recen

check given to Betty Quan Chinn’s Foundation to help homeless families. Let us continue to

“nurture the Christ-light inside each of us to keep it shining brightly.”

Lyn Klay, Senior Warden



I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas and are looking

forward to 2016. I frequently think I am stuck in the 20th century,

but I don't think I can really do that, so onward.

A couple of small projects have been completed since my last

report. Part of the fence around the Smullin building has been re-

paired. The gutters on all of the church buildings have been profes-

sionally cleaned.

We are working with a new contractor on the ADA compliant

restrooms. We are going to have subterranean termite infestation

controlled by injection of chemicals around the chapel. This has been delayed due to rain. The

ground is really wet.

More to come next year.

Happy New Year,

Beth Powell



Why we at Christ Church support The Forgotten Initiative in

Humboldt County …

On December 18, Christ Church held its sixth Friday evening Mu-

sic & Arts 4 Foster Kids event that brought in 23 children of foster fami-lies for pizza, music and art projects, and gave their parents a welcome

respite to finish their Christmas shopping. Christ Church has also been

generous this year in providing Christmas stocking stuffers and fleece

blankets to foster families in Humboldt County (see this month’s article by

Peg Gardner). The “thank you” post below from a foster mother in Mary-

land speaks to the gratitude that foster parents experience when they feel the solidarity of others in

their calling to love and care for the children they foster. It was posted at The Forgotten Initiative

Humboldt County Facebook page by Janelle Harris, whose children attend our foster events, and

who said about the post: “I could have written it—it really expresses how foster parents feel." Rea

it all the way through, please. Not only will it warm your heart, but you will learn some things abo

foster parenting that you may not have known before.

Pam Gossard and Timber making candy canes at the Foster Kids evening



“To the person who donated gifts to my foster kids:

I don't know if you donated at church, or at Social Services, or through work. I can't tell you

directly because I don't know how your generosity found its way to my living room. But maybe

someone will share this, and you'll see it, and you'll know:

Thank you. I appreciate your thoughtfulness more than you can comprehend.

I can't tell you directly that when I put on the jammies you bought, he smiled a little—

something I rarely see—as he looked at himself in the mirror. I can't send you a photo of how prou

he looked and tell you how he said, "Momma, I look kinda cute!"

I wish I could post the shot I just took when I went in to pull that fleece blanket up around hi

shoulders. You would see that he is still clutching the stuffed dinosaur you wrapped, and that he

made sure your handmade blanket covered both of them.

I wish you could know that your gift of suitcases has already imparted a dignity to my son th

many foster children do not have. You can't know that none of my fostered children ever leave my

home with their possessions in trash bags because I buy suitcases at every yard sale and Goodwill

store I see. But you thought of that indignity nevertheless, and you provided brand new bags for h

precious belongings.

'd love for you to know how I teared up as my new son let me hold him on my lap to read the book

you sent. It was about trucks- his favorite. Was that a lucky guess, or did his caseworker tell

you? Either way, it was the Best Book Ever and he let me read it, holding him and restoring neural

pathways all the while, three whole times. And because of your book, he can now recognize the le

er T for truck.

So the teacher in me thanks you as well as the mom in me.

You also can't know that my first reaction when the worker brought your gifts was to feel a b

offended—that I resented the implication that I needed help to provide this precious child with all

he deserved—and I'm glad for that lack of your knowledge. See, you most likely aren't a foster pa

ent, and you don't know the number of times I have actually had near strangers ask me—In. Front.

Of. My. Children—how much I "get paid for them." You don't know how it rankles to smile and sa

hat I am paid immeasurably in kisses and blessings when I want to say, "Ninety seven CENTS an

hour, and daycare costs come out of that. Now tell me again how foster parents are in it for the mo

ey."

You can't know that I have learned to document every time my three year old barks his shin

because that is what healthy, running-and- jumping preschoolers do) for fear that someone who

would never call to report a bruise on a biological child will feel it's her civic duty to tattle about

mine. You don't understand that when I do not react to his sixteenth meltdown of the morning it is

not because I am an inattentive and uncaring person, but that I am using a carefully constructed be-



havior plan that will help my son in the long run, despite hurting your ears in the grocery store. Y

don't understand that his cruddy shirt, worn twice in a row, reminds him of the "real" Momma who

hurt him badly, but he still misses desperately, and that it helps him feel some control to be able to

choose his clothes- not that I don't adequately clothe my kid. You don't grasp that bath time terrifi

him because of what was done to him there, so that tattoo is still on his arm for a darned good reaso

and not because I am lazy.

So you don't understand that I questioned even your pure and anonymous generosity, becaus

so many people question my motivations and actions as well.

I'm glad you won't know that ugly side of this life. I'm glad that, for whatever reason, you

gave... not because my children would not have enough to meet their needs without you, but becau

you met MY need- the need to know that I am not in this alone. Your gift reminded me that not ev

ryone is called to adoption, but that everyone is called to care for widows and orphans, and that you

took time and money in this insane pressure we call "the holidays" and you did exactly that. And in

doing that, you cared for me, and that little bit of care gives me just enough oil to keep my lampburning one more day.

Which will be enough to keep my child warm.

Thank you for being part of his flame.”

Alaina Beth Young Haerbig, Westminster, Maryland Foster Parent

(most of this submission is reprinted from https://www.facebook.com/alaina.haerbig)

Thank You for Supporting Foster Children

A huge thank you to all of you who generously support Foster Children from newborns to 18

year olds in our community! Most recently, we contributed small gifts that the children and youth

could select to help stuff their new, handmade stockings at their Christmas gathering. Many have

nated to underwrite the cost of pizza suppers for Foster Friday events. The Quilters Plus! have ma

well over 125 fleece blankets for the new Foster Resource Center across from the downtown post

office. Others have helped with the purchase of fleece. And we have a wonderful group of foodpreparers, shepherds, and leaders who share their time and talent and caring at Foster Friday event

Clean, gently used clothing is always welcome, too. Again, thank you for your prayers, interest an

commitment!

—Peg Gardner



Lay Ministries

As we give thanks for the blessings of the year just ended, we also look with joy and hope into the

year ahead – 2016. What better time than now to consider sharing your talents in one of these Lay

Ministry areas? In 2015 we had approximately 114 worship services, plus weddings, memorials, an

baptisms. Your help for making all of our 2016 services inviting and special is needed.

Acolytes and Eucharistic Ministers

Announcers

Ushers and Greeters

Eucharistic Visitors

Nursery and Sunday School

Coffee Hour Hosts

Contribution Counters

Jill Maples and Peg Gardner with blankets for the Forgotten Initiative



Madelon Moore January 8 Bill and Barbara Walser January 11

Evan Smithler January 17 Doug and Nellie Thompson January 21

For more details about each mission you’re interested in, contact:

Marty Vega Lectors and Intercessors 443-9782

Anne Pierson Acolytes and Eucharistic Ministers 442-2025

Sanford Pyron Announcers 444-0968

Susan Whaley Ushers and Greeters 445-2924

Elizabeth Harper -Lawson

Eucharistic Visitors

445

-1726

Vickie Patton Nursery and Sunday School 443-1825

Lynne Bean Coffee Hour 822-6086

Bob Hines Contribution Counters 445-8974



During Advent, a small group of us came together on

Tuesday evenings to enjoy a simple meal and to explore the

millennia-old questions of appropriate Christian responses to

violence. In three short conversations, we started to touch on just

a few facets of this complex issue.

The first week, we looked at the implications for

responses to violence found in the vows we made in Baptism –

vows we renew each time we have the privilege to witness a

baptism or confirmation. As Christians faced with violence,

what does it mean when we “renounce the evil powers of this

world which corrupt and destroy the creatures of God”? What does it mean to “renounce all sinfuldesires that draw you from the love of God”? What do our promises to “seek and serve Christ in al

persons” and “strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every huma

being” tell us about how God might want us to respond to the violence in our world? (See pages 30

– 306 in the Book of Common Prayer.)

The second week we explored the sort of violence which can tempt even the most peaceful

and loving among us. It may not seem like violence when compared to terrorist bombings and mas

shootings, but snarky comments, gossip, even indulging in the delights of mentally picking anothe

person apart can dull our love, blind us to the pain or struggles of another, and come between us an

our sacred commitment to respect the dignity of every human being. We explored the verbal

violence we hear in the political arena and experience on social media, and the difficulties we have

in not responding in kind and escalating it. What are our responsibilities in this as Christians?

The third week we asked “What can we do to respond, as a congregation, to the violence in

the world? How can we help?” I have long wished that we could work with other faith groups in th

area to sponsor a refugee family – to help them come safely from the violence and chaos of war an

refugee camps and to start a new life in this area. This may or may not be a realistic dream, but it i

one that started a lively and challenging conversation. One concern raised is the fear that this area

might be too white and too insular to be a welcoming environment at this time. Another is that we

need to put our energies and resources toward helping those who are homeless and displaced in ou

own community. Another is that if we welcome a Muslim family, they would be isolated due to lac

of Islamic community in this area. Another concern was that we are too small to make a difference



and could easily get in over our heads. These are a few of the many questions that need to be

explored prayerfully.

Thoughts raised by the discussions so far include:

It is essential that we all, individually and together, pray for guidance; asking God if

it is part of our current call to service to take on some sort of congregational response

to the wide-spread and diverse violence in the world. Pray for wisdom and direction.

We need to know more. What do we really know about the causes of homelessness, the

ancient roots of current conflicts, the realities of the lives of refugees, the psychology of

violence, of forgiveness? What do we know about the different faith traditions involved?

What do we know about how various Christian groups have thought about violence and non

violence over the centuries? What should we be reading and exploring together? How can w

learn more?

What resources are available? What is The Episcopal Church doing and how might we

be part of that effort? How about other churches and faith communities? What other

organizations offer information and guidance that might help with our discernment and spar

us trying to “reinvent the wheel”?

Ask around. Talk to people. See where, if anywhere, this might go. If we are dealing

with a call from God, the guidance and resources will be available. If we are dealing with

mere fantasy by a dewy-eyed idealist, that will become clear, too.

Meanwhile, here are a few initial resources.

To read:

Allah: A Christian Response, by Miroslav Volf – available in hardback, paperback and for

e-readers. Volf tackles the question of whether Christians and Muslims worship the same G

Though Volf is an amazing scholar and theologian, he writes in a way that can be understood

and engaged.

Not in God’s Name: Confronting Religious Violence, by Rabbi Jonathon Sacks – available in

hardback and for e-readers. Sacks looks at the roots of religious violence which can be trace

to misreading sacred scripture by all three of the Abrahamic faiths.

Other resources:

Episcopal Migration Ministries www.episcopalmigrationministries.org EMM is the refugee

resettlement program of the Episcopal Church. Their website offers a good deal of valuable

information and links to others doing this essential, difficult work.



Charter for Compassion www.charterforcompassion.org CFC is an organization working to

build on the belief that “all human beings are born with the capacity for compassion, and tha

it must be cultivated for human beings to survive and thrive”.

Next steps?

Please pray about this. Think about it. Talk about it. Share your thoughts. Explore your own

experiences with violence – physical, emotional and spiritual. How might God’s committed peoplehave better helped you in the past – and how might you find healing in the present?

Educate yourselves.

Talk to me, to Mother Susan or Mother Lesley, or to members of the Vestry about what you

are thinking and where you think we might go. Keep on praying, asking, thinking.

May Peace be with us all,

Sr. Diana

Singers on Christmas Eve



“Sing, Choirs of Angels”

Happy new year, dear people of Christ Church! With 2016

approaching, many of us are thinking about resolutions that involve

making some kind of change or changes in our lives. Whether or not

you are a person who believes in making resolutions, just the thought

of a “new” year brings to mind opportunities for new beginnings, for

change, and of celebrations of the past, present and future.

Christmas was a culmination of much hard work by many: the

church was beautifully decorated, the altar prepared many times over

with loving care, inspired sermons written, bulletins edited and proofed,

and, of course, much music prepared and offered to the glory of God. I confess, for a good part of

December my frame of mind was “I just need to get through this.” And I know I wasn’t alone in e

periencing that sentiment. I found myself thinking (sadly), “some day, I’d like to enjoy Christmas,

and not just ‘get through it’.”

I’m pleased to say that through our shared corporate worship during Advent and Christmas,

felt transformed and I can only hope that many of you experienced the same. Hearing Christ Chur

filled with “choirs of angels,” singing the hymns and carols of the season, brought joy to my heart.

Thank you – choir members and all who participated in making our services such wonderful and

joyful celebrations of the season!

The Royal School of Church Music choristers have a special prayer that I shared with thechoir on Christmas Eve. Whether or not you sing in the choir, or the congregational choir, or simp

listen to others sing, it is a fitting prayer for all of us:

Bless, O Lord, us Thy servants who minister in Thy temple.

Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts,

and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives.

Through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

I’m not sure yet if I will make any resolutions for the new year, except to say that as we go

forth together in the church, celebrating the cycle of the church year, I will focus my heart more on

the “choirs of angels” and less on my “to do” list.

Blessings and wishes for a very happy new year to all,

Merry Phillips



Christmas 2015



The Rt. Rev. Barry L. Beisner Bishop, Diocese of Northern California

Staff

The Rev. Dr. Susan J. Armstrong

Priest in Charge

The Rev. Lesley McCloghrie

Resident Associate Priest

The Rev. Nancy Streufert

Associate Priest

The Rev. Sister Diana Doncaster

Associate Priest

Merry Phillips

Organist and Music Director

Dr. Douglas Moorehead, Organist Emeritus

John Hammond, Sexton

Barry Ross, Administrative Assistant

Vestry

Lyn Klay, Senior Warden

Beth Powell, Junior Warden

Bob Rex, Barry Ross, Lynne Bean, Lin Chase,

Helen Taylor, Elizabeth Harper -Lawson, Belinda Zander,

Rex White, Katherine Clague, Gail Freeman

Bob Hines, Treasurer, Peg Gardner, Clerk

625 15th Street

P.O. Box 861

Eureka, California 95502

Phone (707) 442-1797

Fax (707) 442-5647

christ church eureka january chronicle 2016

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