++ The Newslet ter of Christ Church, St . Peter ’s Parish

CHRISTMAS/EPIPHANY

JANUARY 2017

Christ Church, St. Peter’s Parish ♦ 111 South Harrison Street, Easton, MD 21601 ♦ 410-822-2677 ♦ 410-822-0932 (fax) ♦ www.christchurcheaston.org

JANUARY WORSHIP SCHEDULE

Sunday Services

January 1 Note Schedule Change Today Only

8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I

10:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with Contemporary Music

January 8, 15, 22, 29 8:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite I

9:15 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with Contemporary Music

11:00 am Holy Eucharist Rite II with Traditional Music

Children’s Church at 9:15 am and 11:00 am

Children Join Parents at the Peace

No Children’s Church on January 1

Nursery available for all Sunday Services, beginning at 8:45 am, except for January 1.

Healing and Holy Eucharist Wednesdays 10:00 am

Christmas at Christ Church

“We believe the Holy Spirit is real and inspires us to be the light of Christ

in our community as a reflection of God’s love.”

Saturday Services

Alive At Five

January 7, 14, 21, 28

5:00 pm Holy Eucharist with Contemporary Music

Children’s Church - Children Join Parents at the Peace

Nursery available for all Saturday Services

beginning at 4:30 pm.

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Advent Angel Thank You Once again the generosity of the Christ Church community was evident in the

outpouring of gifts provided through the Advent Angel Tree. Thank you to all who

participated, bringing joy and delight on Christmas morning.

Christmas Thanks

We offer our profound gratitude and thanks to everyone who participated in the planning, preparation, support, and leading of our Christmas services. The entire experience – from the beautiful decorations of fragrant greens, poinsettias, and candles, to the vibrant and inspiring music, to the message of hope carried by our children in the pageant – all of it was a beautiful, joyous masterpiece befitting the King, our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. This effort truly involved a cast of many devoted individuals who carried out their tasks with cheer and good-will: “behind-the-scenes” organizers, decorators, and the Altar Guild who worked tirelessly to set-up, and then, after it was all done, returned for the breakdown and clean-up; leaders and parent volunteers who channeled the energy and excitement of our youngsters during weeks of afternoon rehearsals into a touching, meaningful choral presentation; those who were directly involved in the unique liturgies of

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day - the Choirs, Eucharistic Ministers, Lectors, Acolytes Musicians, Media Crew, and Ushers; and the Office and Ministry Staff who coordinated the various logistical tasks. Thank you to one and all for making Christmas at Christ Church a wonderful, joyful celebration.

Children’s Church Ready to Ring in the New Year

Christ Church Kids is ready to welcome the New Year with fun lessons, games and creative crafts to learn more about the Bible and God’s love for us. We will resume meeting the weekend of January 7 and January 8. Happy New Year!

Saturdays at 5:00 pm ● Sundays at 9:15 am ● Sundays at 11:00 am

A Message of Thanks from Talbot Interfaith Shelter

Dear Fr. Bill and the Vestry of Christ Church,

Thank you so much for your very generous gift of $2,500. Your faithful and robust support makes it possible for TIS to help families and individuals to move from despair to dignity and from self-doubt to self-sufficiency. You do awesome work in our community!

Gratefully,

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Call to Convention

The 149th Annual Convention of the Diocese of Easton will be held on Friday, February 24 and Saturday, February 25, 2016, at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Resort in Cambridge, Maryland.

In preparation for the Convention, there will be a Convocation Meeting for the Middle Convocation (includes Christ Church Easton) on February 8 at 7:00 pm at the Retreat

House-Hillsboro.

Information about the Diocesan Convention is available at www.dioceseofeaston.org.

YOU ARE INVITED

A Weekend Retreat in Lent With the Trappist Monks of

Holy Cross Abbey, Berryville, VA

Led by Fr. Scott Albergate

More Gratitude from the Women at Rising Against Disease

Beginning with the Alive at 5—Message of Hope Community Service and event on September 17th, Christ Church

has become an active supporter of Rising Against Disease, a local residential ministry for women in recovery. In addition to providing seed funding, Christ Church recently donated office and security equipment to help in setting up their residence. Here is their latest letter of thanks:

Dear Father Bill and Christ Church —

We would like to thank you for your constant prayers and generous support. The printer and lock boxes are a huge help for the house. We are beyond grateful!

With love,

The Women of RAD (Rising Against Disease)

Greetings! Although we just celebrated Christmas, the season of Lent will soon begin in March. Lent gives us the opportunity to make special time for personal reflection and prayer.

On the weekend of March 10-12, I have reserved rooms for six (6) parishioners to join me on a weekend re-treat at the beautiful Trappist monastery of Holy Cross Abbey in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia. There will be ample time for rest, for quiet time in beautiful surroundings, to join the monks in worship, and for retreat conferences that I will give.

Please contact me for further information and to reserve your place on this weekend retreat at father-scott@christchurcheaston.org or (610) 757-8456.

I invite you to have a look at the Abbey’s excellent web site that describes the life of these monks and for more information on retreats: www.virginiatrappists.org.

Fr. Scott

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Children’s Home Foundation Thanks

Our congregation responded generously to the Thanksgiving Ingathering for the Children’s Home Foundation, donating a total of $831.00 through the loose offering. There are also several in our parish who made direct contributions to CHF. We are grateful for them all.

Your gifts will continue the Children’s Home Foundation’s important ministry of helping students on the Eastern Shore to acquire career and technical training through vocational scholarships as well as provide

Emergency Aid and camperships to children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to attend summer camp.

Thank you again for supporting the good work of the Children’s Home Foundation. For more information about the Children’s Home Foundation, please contact Sally Akridge or the church office.

The Christ Church Concert Series Presents

Gordon Turk, Concert Organist

Sunday, January 29 ~ 4:00 pm

Critically acclaimed concert organist Gordon Turk was selected as one of the leading organists of the nation to play in the opening recitals for the inauguration of the new pipe organ at Philadelphia’s Kimmel Center in May 2006. He has performed in the legendary Bolshoi Philharmonic in St. Petersburg, Russia, and other cities of Russia, and in international organ festivals of Switzerland and the Ukraine. He has made two concert tours in

Japan, and recently returned from his second concert tour in the Ukraine, playing solo performances and also concertos with orchestra. Many enthusiasts know Dr. Turk as the resident organist of the Great Auditorium in Ocean Grove, New Jersey.

“Window with A View”

Bishop Marray’s 100 Day Pilgrimage

January 10, 2017 at 2:00 pm and at 7:00 pm

Parish Hall

Bishop Santosh Marray will be making a 100 Day Pilgrimage around the Diocese of Easton to meet, greet, and share time with the churches and the people of the Diocese. Please mark your calendar and plan to attend this time with Bishop Marray during his visit to Christ Church.

The Rt. Rev. Santosh K. Marray

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Michael Valliant Assistant for Small Groups and Adult Christian Education michael@christchurcheaston.org Small group study is coming back. I have been called to a new ministry at Christ Church as Assistant for Small Groups and Adult Christian Education. In concert with Father Bill, Father Scott, and a great team, we are working to re-establish this vital part of many walks of faith: dynamic, in-depth study and discussion of the Word. For more than 20 years I have been involved in reading, interpreting and discussing literature, philosophy, and theology and I am energized to be a part of a vibrant small group component to Christ Church. The first small group study opportunity will be a Lent-focused program starting in March. If you would like to be a part of the Lent small group, or have thoughts or ideas, or would like more information, please e-mail me. ~ Michael

Welcome New Staff

Fr. Bill recently announced the addition of Michael Valliant and Kelsey Spiker to our ministry team. In his role as Assistant for Small Groups and Adult Christian Education, Michael will begin the process of forming and building a regular and sustained program of adult Christian Education, faith development opportunities and small groups. As Assistant for Youth Ministry, Kelsey will work to develop a contemporary, real and relevant program for our young people in the exploration of their faith. As you can tell from their personal messages, both are excited to get to work!

Kelsey Spiker Assistant for Youth Ministry kelsey@christchurcheaston.org I am thrilled to be joining the Christ Church team as Assistant for Youth Ministry. I have big hopes and dreams for the Middle/High School youth program(s) and what we, as a church, can provide the youth of our congregation. I look forward to providing our children the opportunity: to connect to their faith, to build strong Christ-centered relationships and to better understand God’s love, hope and grace.

My family has been members of Christ Church since 2013. At the time we were “church-shopping” for our young family and Christ Church was first on the list. After one 9:15 service we walked out feeling like we were home and didn’t bother to visit any of the other churches on our list. Shortly after our first visit, my husband Matt and I were engaged and had the opportunity to go through premarital counseling with Fr. Bill. We received his blessing after finishing the course and he married us in September of 2014. Since then, both of my step-daughters have been through First Communion at Christ Church and my oldest step-daughter is an active Acolyte. I have had the wonderful opportunity to serve as Lector, to serve on the Newcomer Ministry and most recently as Eucharistic Minister. We are so grateful for the friends and family that we have at Christ Church and for the wonderful opportunities to serve and to grow in our faith. If you had told me at our first visit to Christ Church three years ago that I would one day be taking on the Youth Ministry program for the church, I would have thought you had the wrong person. However, when the position was brought up during announcements a couple of months ago, I couldn’t get it out of my head. I felt a strong sense of calling to be involved and to provide others the opportunity to grow in Christ, to give myself a new opportunity to grow in Christ, to help parents grow in Christ with their children and to help link our congregation and our youth together through Christ. As I write this introduction to you today I couldn’t feel more “right” in my involvement in this new journey and I can’t wait to get started. I look forward to having our first gathering in January to provide a “Meet and Greet” for the youth along with their parents. If you are interested in attending and are, or have a child who is of Middle School or High School age, please contact me. If you yourself have an interest in getting involved and volunteering your time to this passion, please reach out to me.

~ Kelsey

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News from Christ Church Day School

Meet Our CCDS Staff

This month we begin our “Meet the Teachers of CCDS” series to introduce you to our wonderful Day School teachers and staff. In this issue, our Two-Year-Old Classroom Teachers, Beth Trippe and Karen Shanahan, share their stories.

Beth Trippe

I teach the Two's at Christ Church Day School. This is my 5th year working at CCDS and it is my 19th year teaching preschool. I have a B.A. in Human Development from St. Mary's College of Maryland and studied Early Childhood Ed. at Towson University.

My husband, Rich, is a native of Easton and attended Christ Church Day school as a Kindergartner! Rich is the President/CEO of Avon Dixon Agency. We have 2 grown children. Our son, Rick, lives in Colorado. Our daughter, Abbie, and her husband, Dean, live in South Carolina.

I love teaching two-year-olds! They have such sweet innocence and tender hearts. They have amazing energy and joy! They impress me continually with how much they can do at a young age. Our job is to give them all the experiences possible to introduce them to the fun of school. The development that happens between September and May is significant. It's wonderful to watch them grow.

Karen Shanahan

My name is Karen Shanahan. My husband is Dr. Tim Shanahan, a local Cardiologist, and I have two lovely children. Both Cadyn, age 10 and Ivy, age 5 are alumni of CCDS, and they absolutely loved their time here! I am a graduate of Villanova University with a BS in Nursing. After working in hospitals for 9 years I "retired" to raise my two children. Over 6 years at CCDS I have been a Board member, volunteer, and last year a substitute, and I loved it so much, I came back this year as an assistant in the 2's classroom.

What I love about working with the two-year-olds is how diverse they are. Although only a few months apart in age, they each have varying degrees of skills, and it's phenomenal to watch them blossom in a very short period of time. We start with teaching them how to hold a brush and even what to do with the paint, and in a few months we have works of art! The older ones can even help "teach" the younger ones too! Everyday is a surprise!

CHRIST CHURCH DAY SCHOOL OPEN HOUSE

January 11, 2017 ~ 6:30 pm

And Introducing WALK-IN WEDNESDAYS

The First Wednesday of the month from 9:30 am to 10:30 am

Beginning in February and continuing through May

See the joyful process for yourself!

JANUARY BIRTHDAYS

1 Evan Alderfer

Vivian Banke

Ann Holladay

2 Sophie Elizabeth Leight

Norma Redele΄

3 Margaret Keswick

4 Sarah Akridge Knutson

Bunny Hall

Vernon J. Nily, Jr.

5 Betty Devers

Philip Foster

Casey Boyd

8 Connie Loveland

9 Dan Campbell

13 Betty Hartmeyer

George Scallion

Elizabeth Verteramo

16 Jason Faller

18 AK Leight

Abbie Keswick

19 Anne Kirby

Alice Rogers

20 Jane Brown

21 Taylor Rogers

Cara Murphy

Caroline Corson

22 Birch Bayh

Jana Leslie

Paige Southworth

23 James Reinhardt, Jr.

24 Steve Kinlock

25 Rebecca Gaffney

27 Tom Hollingshead

Floyd Devers

Brianna Brandow

28 Mark Soldano

Christy Gibson

29 Jake Satchell

Kurt Zuehlke

Ben Stagg

George Roberts

Mike Harding

30 Richard Murphy

Teagan Spies

31 Charles Wrightson

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Christ Church, St. Peter’s Parish

Founded in 1692

111 South Harrison Street, Easton, MD 21601

410-822-2677 ♦ 410-822-0932 (fax)

www.christchurcheaston.org christchurchdayschool.org

Office Hours

Monday through Thursday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Parish Staff

The Rev. Dr. William J. Ortt, Rector

The Rev. Dr. Scott Albergate, Priest Assistant

Susan Tiffany, Director of Day School and Children’s Ministries

The Vestry

Lea Ann Robinson, Rector’s Warden ● Karen Fisher, Vestry Warden Class of 2016: Mike Bickford, Rob Carroll, Jennifer Edgell, Paul Spies

Class of 2017: Karen Fisher, Cathy Hill, Marty Sikes, Brett Whitehead

Class of 2018: Nancy Hawkins, Antonio Parra, Lea Ann Robinson

Jana Leslie, Contemporary Music Minister

Michael Valliant, Asst. for Small Groups

Jason Faller, Minister of Children’s Christian Ed.

Alex Faller, Parish Secretary

Wes Lockfaw, Organist & Minister of Music

Kelsey Spiker, Asst. for Youth Ministry

Bill Mattimore, Finance Administrator

Lisa Hawkins, Parish Manager

Stay Connected

Visit our website at

www.christchurcheaston.org

Vestry Meeting Notes

At their November Meeting, the Vestry reviewed the preliminary

draft budget for 2017. The Vestry approved the request for the Children’s Home Foundation on November 19 and 20. All loose offerings from services that weekend were designated for CHF. Delegates to the Diocesan Convention were approved. They are: Barbara Hargroves, Cathy Hill, Lea Ann Robinson, and Susan Ortt.

Copies of Vestry Minutes may be requested from the church office. The Vestry meets the third Tuesday of the month at 7:00 pm in Parish Hall.

Remember to pick up your offering envelopes. They are located in

the foyer of the Parish Hall.

Non-Profit Org.

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111 South Harrison Street

Easton, MD 21601

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Christmas at Christ Church