Kat THE MESSENGER

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Christ Church Quaker Farms, 470 Quaker Farms Rd, Oxford, CT 06478 www.ccqf.org [email protected] (203)888-4936 The Rev. John Donnelly, Rector [email protected]

THE MESSENGER September 2015

Edi tor : Tammy Borkowski

SUNDAY SEPT. 13th 11:20 a.m.

****Sunday School Registration ****Ministry Fair

****Lunch & Fun for All

Page 2 The Messenger

\ Small Groups and Sermon SeriesBy Fr. John & Bob Knapp, Spiritual Growth Commission Chair

Something miraculous is happening in Christianity throughout the world. Millions of people are experiencing the touch of God’s love for them in a way which is meaningful and inspiring, as they join with others in Small Groups. Meeting in homes, in huts, or hidden in basements (in lands hostile of Christ) and in churches, people are encountering Jesus Christ in such a way, that he is impacting their daily lives. Indeed, these folks are joining millions of others who are “Walking with God” in everyday life. “Walking with God #2” is CCQF’s fourth annual small group ministry, beginning in late September, 2015. “Walking with God: The Incomparable Jesus” is also the title of a series of bible studies which will form the foundation of our discussions in the fall. As has been the case in the past, these studies are “practical, creative, and fun.” Many pastors and other experts believe that these are some of the most popular & dynamic bible studies to come out in recent years. Seventy adult parishioners and friends participated in our 2014 Fall Small Group Program. Some features about this year’s program include:

Learn more about the Bible Make new friendships Catch up on old friendships Groups for women, men, and combined – men & women Small Groups designed for 4 to 12 participants Child care provided for those groups meeting on Friday nights 7:00 – 9:00 p.m. (However, the

child care will be enriched this year, featuring a “Bible Action Hero’s” Program. This study is aimed for people who have a relationship with Jesus, who would like to grow to have a closer walk with Jesus in daily life. You will learn how to better hear him as YOU seek and receive His guidance. You will walk with him through His life, so that you can follow Him in your life.

SMALL GROUP KICK OFF DINNER WHO: For those wanting to learn more & those who have registered for Small Groups WHEN: Friday, Sept. 25. Come from 6:30 pm on. HOSTS: Fr. John & the Rev. Ellen Donnelly, Master Chef PLACE: .852 Bullet Hill Road, Southbury, CT. CHILD CARE: Child care, games, and kid dinner will be provided for the children of those attending at CCQF HOW TO SIGN UP? Check the blank on your Small Group Registration Card or contact Fr. John @ 862-226-9197 or @ <<[email protected]>>

Sign-ups need by no later than Sept. 18th

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Small Groups Beginning September 27th

Tuesday Men’s Group – 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at place to be announced. Leader Bob Knapp

Wednesday Women’s Group – 9:30 a.m. at church in the parish hall. Leader’s Marilyn Stebar and Renee Knapp

Wednesday Men & Women’s Group – 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the Church office. Leader’s Paul & Patti Doyle

Thursday Women’s Group – 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. in the church office or the church. Leader Sue Evancho

Friday (Sunday School) Couple’s Group – 7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. at a home to be announced. Leader’s Molly Turchuk & Carrie Stepeck.

Friday Sunday School Parents’ Group – 7:15 p.m. – 8:45 p.m. in the Church office. Leader’s Renee Knapp & Fr. John.

Friday Night Bible Boot Camp for Kids with parents attending Friday night groups 7 – 9 p.m. Leader’s to be announced. Free will donations will be accepted.

The book,

Incomparable Jesus by Don Cousins & Judson Polling,

may be purchased from the church office beginning in August.

New - $8.00 Used - $6.00

You may also purchase this on your own on Amazon.

PLUS ANOTHER OPPORTUTUNITYThe Men’s & Women’s Breakfast meets on the 2nd Saturday of each month for food, fellowship, and learning. This group will explore the related studies, which are different from the other Small Groups, but supplemental.

Leader: Bob Thiel Dates: Sept. 12th, Oct. 10th, Nov. 7th – 8:00

a.m. Breakfast provided. Free will donations

accepted. Both men and women are invited to join this

study. This group is open to EVERYBODY. Feel free

to come once or more. Bring family and friends.

Wish to share in the leadership? There are two possibilities:

1. Speak to Fr. John or your Small Group Leader if you wish to lead or serve as a assistant.

2. UNOFFICAL SMALL GROUP. If the timing of our small groups does not work for you, maybe you want to start an “unofficial” small group. Want to use this material to discuss with your spouse and/or with a friend or two? Speak to Fr. John so that he can give you the Leader Guide to “The Incomparable Jesus”


Christ Church Quaker Farms

SMALL GROUPS Sept.27 - Nov.8, 2015

Check here ____if you will attend the Small Group dinner at the Donnelly’s 7PM/Sept. 25th Check here ____if you want child care at the Church during the dinner. (Please print and complete the entire card. Couples attending together need only complete one card.) FIRST NAME(s)____________________________ LAST NAME __________________________________ E-MAIL__________________________________________________________________________ STREET ADDRESS ____________________________________________________________________ City___________________________ Zip___________ Home Phone (_____)__________________ Cell Phone

(____)__________________ PLEASE RETURN COMPLETED CARDS AND MAIL OR DROP OFF AT OFFICE, PLACE IN OFFERING PLATE, or mail to Christ Church Quaker farms, 470

Quaker farms Road, Oxford, CT 06478, BY Sept 24

I / We want to join one of the following groups: DAY OF WEEK TIME & PLACE LEADER(S) FOR Tuesday 7 pm at Place TBD Bob Knapp Men Wednesdays 9:30 am at Church Marilyn Stebar & Renee Knapp Women Wednesdays 7:00pm at Church Patti & Paul Doyle Women & Men Thursdays 7:00 pm at Church Susan Evancho Women Fridays 7:00 pm at Home

Child Care Provided Molly Turchuk&Carrie Stepeck Sunday School Parent

Fridays 7:00 – 9:00pm @ Church

Kids Bible Boot Camp Kids w/parent attending Fri Sm Gp

Saturdays 8:00am at Church on Sept. 12Oct. 10 & Nov. 7 only

Bob Thiel Men & Women

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SMALL GROUPS FALL 2015 - PUTTING TO ACTION LOVING YOUR NEIGHBOR - SMALL GROUPS FALL 2015 By Amy Sarris, Chair of the Vestry Mission & Outreach Commission

This fall, we are again challenging our Small Groups (have your kids participate with you) to take on a Micah 6:8 project to spread the love of God to your neighbors. Put your faith into action. If you are not able to commit to a Small Group Bible Study, please consider joining with a Small Group for a Micah Project. Please contact either Father John or me and we will get you connected.

Here are some ideas for a Micah Project:

1. Provide lunch or afternoon tea at the Oxford Senior Center. 2. Have your group assist with the Blessings of the Animals at CCQF, 4pm, Oct 4. 3. Spend a morning or afternoon helping to clean up the St. Peter’s cemetery on Governor’s Hill Road 4. Spend a morning or afternoon helping to do chores around the house for an elderly neighbor. 5. Bake some loaves of bread. Write notes saying, “God & Christ Church loves You.” Place at the front doors of CCQF’s neighbors on Rt. 67. Do as many or as few as you choose. 6. Provide snacks for a Cub Scout meeting or for our own Christ Church Pre-School. 7. Make a basket of treats for the Quaker Farms Volunteer Fire Company to thank them for their service. 8. Organize a prayer meeting to pray for the needs of our country and the world. 9. Collect old clothes from parishioners for people in need. Give to Goodwill. 10. Write an online review for CCQF’s online patch page. 11. Attend one of the monthly nursing home communion services, held one Friday am, each month, in Seymour. Hosted by the CCQF Lay Eucharistic Visitors. 12. Visit someone who is homebound or in a nursing home. 13. Send a care package to a missionary or solider.

Please let Father John and I know what Micah Project your group decides to do and also give us updates so that your experiences can be shared with the church.

Father John can be reached at [email protected] or 203-888-4936 (office) or 862-226-9197 (cell). I can be reached at [email protected] or 203-449-3471 (cell).

Sunday Sermons at 8:00 a.m. & 10:00 a.m. September 27th through October 24th

Sunday morning sermons will complement the Small Group Bible Studies as we explore Jesus as

1. Savior of the World 2. Son of God

3. Man of Sorrows and Lamb of God


Healing Ministry

Patti & Paul Doyle, Healing Ministry Coordinators, plan on attending this conference on Friday & Saturday. This will be an awesome time to learn about prayer and healing. Come join us. Contact Patti, Paul, Fr. John, or the church office (203-888-4936)

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ANNOUNCING THE NEW CCQF PRAYER CHAIN By Paul &Patti Doyle, CCQF Healing Ministry Coordinators

CCQF will be starting an Email Prayer Chain. We are inviting any of you that are interested in praying for others to become part of a wonderful ministry. The CCQF Healing Ministry will receive prayer requests and send them to members of our Email Prayer Chain via email so that they can pray for those in need. All prayer requests will be handled in strict confidentiality.

Members of the prayer chain team must keep the email prayer requests confidential - email requests must not be forwarded or discussed with others. It is vitally important that those asking for prayer have the confidence that their requests will not be shared outside of the Prayer Chain members. The team coordinator will send a weekly email with updated prayer requests. Prayer chain team members will be asked to pray at least once a week at a time that is convenient for them. Emergency prayer requests will be sent out as needed for more immediate prayer response. Contact Patti or Paul (at [email protected]) for more information or to join. God bless.

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." John 15:13, NIV

We love others who meet our needs, whom we get along with, who make us feel good, who do things for

us, whom we like.

In essence, our first concern is for our own well-being and having our own needs met, and we love others

in proportion to the extent they fulfill those purposes. Our second concern is that others respond

positively to our overtures; if they don’t, we refuse to continue to love them. But Jesus outlined a radically

different kind of love – a love that puts the needs and well-being of others before our own to the extent

we would sacrifice our time, our energy, our money, and our thoughts in order to demonstrate it. We are

to demonstrate it to others whom we may not like or with whom we may be incompatible or who respond

negatively or who may never do anything for us in return! Now that’s radical!

Blessings,

Anne Graham Lotz


Music News

MUSIC NOTES By Fr. John

A. GOD BLESS YOU, RALENE. By now you may have heard that our Minister of Music, Ralene Goff has resigned her position at CCQF to accept a similar position at Zion Episcopal Church, North Branford, CT. All of us will truly miss Ralene, and her husband Fred. Ralene joined us two years ago, first as Director of Contemporary Music, and then as our Minister of Music in November of 2014. Her professional skills, her loving heart, gracious smile, and joyful faith will be missed by us all. Under her direction, our choir and music ministry has expanded in many ways. We wish her and Fred “Godspeed” as you begin this next phase of your vocational and spiritual lives.

In her letter of resignation to me, she said the following (shared with permission): This has been a very difficult decision because I truly love serving CCQF and working with you. This new position will allow me to continue to use my gifts in music as I have a CCQF, and it pays more than double what I am making now. …This whole process has happened very quickly… I appreciate your support, friendship, prayers, and laughter over the past two years. You have been such a blessing in our life, and we will miss you and CCQF as we move on to serve another part of the body. In Christ, Ralene

One of the challenges of our CCQF music ministry is that we all want excellent professional musicians, but locally they are in high demand, mostly receiving higher compensation than what we are able to pay at current budget levels. It is our hope and prayer that as our stewardship, numbers, and faithfulness grows, that we will continue to attract strong music professionals as we go forward. Our Music Committee (Michael Bawlick, Chair) will meet later this month to begin the process for securing new music leadership.

B. WELCOME, POLINA AS OUR INTERIM MINISTER OOF MUSIC. As you may know, Polina will bring excellent skills and training to her new ministry. She has earned: a BA in Music: a Masters of Music in Performance Practice & Music History; and a Certificate in Music Education. During the week, she is a music teacher & director at the St. Thomas Episcopal Day School, New Haven, CT. Please welcome her in the Name of Christ.

C. THANK YOU, HANNAH. For the past 3 years, Hannah Mc Donnell has faithfully served as our Contempory Music Intern. During that time, she has grown in her skills as a musician, vocalist, and worship leader. Now that she is off to college, we pray for her future success; and look forward to her return on vacations.

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ECW NEWS

Fourth Annual CCQF Fishing Trip When: Saturday August 29th.

Time: 4:30 pm

Where: Middlebank 2 Captains Cove, 1 Bostwick Ave. Bridgeport, CT

Cost: $50.00/person, rods if needed $5.00., pool $5.00

Target Species: porgy, sea bass, by catch fluke and blue fish

Arrival time: Be at the dock no later than 4:00 pm.

Return: Boat returns to dock at 8:30 pm.

Bring: snacks, drinks, sun screen, non-slip shoes, cooler

Don't Bring: BANANAS (you will not be allowed on board if you are in possession of a banana!) Call Don or Carol at (203) 888-4142 to sign up.

General Information: We will need an approximate count of those attending 48 hours prior to sailing. You pay at the boat day of the trip.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES NEEDED- Please help us provide a great start this school year for the children at Spooner House. The ECW is collecting Back to School items such as notebooks, pens, pencils, crayons, markers, notebook paper, scissors. glue sticks, folders, binders, backpacks, juice boxes, and snacks. There is a donation box in the Parish Hall. Please leave your items before August 24. Thanks for your support!

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED & CCQF By Kim Keenan, Chair of the Vestry's Cheerful Service Commission

As the Chairman of the Cheerful Service Committee I would like to invite all members, old timers and newcomers, to explore the many opportunities CCQF’s has to offer so you may find a way to serve Our Lord Jesus Christ.

I would like you to know what a blessing, an honor, and a privilege it is to serve Our Lord and you. There are many ministries here at CCQF’s and we will be hosting a ”Ministry Fair” on September 13th , 11:20 am, to let you know about some of them. We ask you to start thinking, considering and praying about which ministry God is calling you to do. Christ will never ask you to do something that He has not prepared you to do. Contact information: Kim Keenan Home: (203)264-2157; Email [email protected]; Texting: (203)232-3132


he

What is coffee hour? Coffee hour is a time to catch up with one another, talk about the past week, make plans for the coming week. It’s a time to socialize and have fellowship. Here at Christ Church, church members take turns hosting coffee hour. You and your family can host coffee hour alone, or even better, host with a friend. Hosting coffee hour is an easy way to participate in church without having to make a commitment to a large block of time or money. Coffee hour can be as formal or informal as you would like. Whatever your serving style might be, here are a few basic instructions for hosting:

Before the 10: a.m. service The coffee is usually set up by John Carson. If for some reason he can’t do it, the directions for the

coffee are near the coffee pots. Try to use the pass-thru to the left of the kitchen doors for setting up food. Napkins, paper plates, and cups can be found in the cabinets under the coffee pots. Prepare the coffee counter. Sugar, sweetener, tea bags, etc. can be found under the counter. Please

set out hot chocolate and tea. Prepare any goodies that will be served, but please do not put them out on the table until later. Keep any food items covered. Put out any utensils if needed.

After the service (most hosts leave the sanctuary after receiving communion) Put out any goodies that will be served. Put out milk and /or creamer. (The host provides this) Put out any other cold beverages you might have brought or that might be in the refrigerator.

Please make sure anything from the refrigerator is not marked for the pre-school.

After coffee hour is over Pick up and throw away any trash that others might have forgotten. Dump out any extra coffee or water from the pts, and rinse the pots. Clear off any leftover refreshments. Please take home any leftovers. Wipe down the tables in the Parish hall, and wipe down the big prep table in the kitchen. Wash and put away any utensils and platters that were used. Take the garbage bags out to the dumpster and replace new liners (found in the back room) in the

cans. Please clean up any obvious messes in the Parish hall, and sweep the tiled floor if needed.

You are done. Thank you very much for volunteering to host coffee hour.

September 6th Tylinski November 1st Gibbons Purcella 13th Covino Katrenya 8th Knapp Lee 20th McCallister Hines 15th Falconer Brolet 27th Nash Osborne 22nd Sarris Brooks

October 4th Sharron Evon 29th Garcia Lima 11th Zimmel Capodagli December 6th Cookie Walk 18th Glasow Bredenberg 13th Olsen Pallman 25th Wentz Tilki 20th Stebar McDonnell

27th Bottone Mays

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SUNDAY SCHOOL NEWS

Christ Church Quaker Farms Is Kid & Family Friendly

Sunday School Grades Pre K – 5

“All Together Now” New Year/New Program More Fun This year’s Sunday School will include:

More one to one attention Fast paced activities Singing each week Engaging skits, dramas &

interactive learning Teen involvement Each week will be an

independent learning experience so that if your child misses a Sunday or two he or she will not feel behind.

Christ Church is Blessed By Molly Turchuk

Christ Church is Blessed With a congregation of parents who love and care for

their children and often extend that to children that are not their own.

We are blessed with people that may not be parents, find a passion in guiding our children in their journey towards Jesus Christ.

I have been a member of CCQF since 1999 and only now have felt the calling to be more fully involved with our children’s faithful growth. I am thankful to have learned from some of the best mentors – Jackie McDonnell, Don Peck, and Sue Gibbons. Their dedication and passion is awe inspiring and motivates me daily.

With these gifts I am pleased to announce the 2015 Sunday School Program

All Together Now!

“For where two or three are gathered in my Name, there am I among them.” Matthew 18:20

When a parent is asked “What is most important to you?”

. . . the answer if inevitably “MY CHILDREN.”

When a Sunday School Coach is asked, “What is most important to you?

. . . the answer is “ALL THE CHILDREN.”

Sundays at the 10:00 a.m. Service beginning

Sept. 13th, 2015


nda

Calling All Parents to be a Part of Their

Children’s Growth.

Whether you have minutes or hours to

spare, we need you! It takes a village to ensure our children are raised in a

faithful way and on a positive spiritual path.

To learn more, speak to Molly Turchuk or Fr. John.

What is All Together Now?By Molly Turchuk The All Together Now program is a life changing adventure for kindergarten through 5th grade. We will bring the book of Exodus to life in a way that engages kids ages 4 through 12, even when they’re all in the same room. These 13 interactive lessons will teach them unforgettable lessons such as:

When God gives us a job, he’ll always five us the help we need. God wants us to be connected to him and trust him for our daily needs. God lights up our lives and saves us. And many more.

Each Sunday our children will sit side by side and be transported to biblical times and learn the journey of Christ and those who he touched. Our time together will start with song and dance to get all the kids energy going. The lessons will be taught in a lively manner (similar to VBS). At the conclusion of the lesson the children will be released to their coaches who will bring them to their own space to learn an age appropriate way to connect their learning’s with their day to day life.

I am so excited about the lesson plan. Both for its richness in the Word and closeness to Christ but also for the ease of administering! We are all so busy these days. I was looking for a way to bring the Lord to our children but needed it to fit the small amount of free time I have on a weekly basis.

Sunday School Structure SS Captains – Molly Turchuk & Lee Ann Speer (will provide administrative oversight.) Lead Teachers – serve when scheduled Coaches – will serve from Sept – Nov, 2015, or Jan – May, 2016, or both. Coaches will lead one or two activities (20 minutes worth). One minute of advance preparations is all that is needed. Substitute Coaches – will serve when available Fall, 2015 – Spring, 2016.

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As I reflect on this year’s Vacation Bible School I feel blessed in more ways that I can count. Spending time with the children and seeing them, firsthand, grow in their relationship with God is a gift. As the week brought on God Sighting after God Sighting the children and volunteers transformed and melded together in the journey. I want to take the opportunity to recognize my very special God Sightings. Without them VBS would not have been able to happen. We had approximately 40 campers this year and just as many volunteers. This was truly a gift. In the past we have had a more difficult time recruiting and this year was different. While I was concerned that most of the volunteers were teens my worry was for naught. The way the teens connected with the campers enabled both to learn from each other and ultimately reinforce the messages from Christ.

It is also important to note that the Congregation donated many supplies saving over $1,000! Thank the Lord!! Please join me in Thanking the following volunteers

Co Director & Celebration (and my personal God sighting) – Amy Cote Photography and Organization (and another surprise God Sighting!) – Cheril Ramos Adult Volunteers: Preparations/Decorations Lee Ann Speer Sue Gibbons Pat Barb Taylor Karendale Kim Keenan Father John – Counselor – Yellow Group Amy Sarris – Registration Paula Keller – Crafts Blaze Fabry and Cathy – Games Anne Marie Sharron - Snacks Bob Thiel –Storytelling and Snack prayer Everywhere help – Kaitlyn Remond Sydney Borkowski

Teen Volunteers Stations Daniel and Anna Maria - Games Maddie Sastram – Crafts Jenna Ward –Crafts Abby Remond -Crafts Joey Hines – Games Bobby Lee - Games Kyle Sharron and Lisa - Snacks Ariana Keller and Lea Reynolds – Storytelling Shannon Searles and Emma Turchuk – Bible Challenge Counselors Blue/purple – Tarin Keller, Erin Cote, Morgan Hines and Emma Yellow – Father John, Molly Sastram, Andrew Peck, James Ward, Sage Borkowski Red/Green – Dana Cote, Steven Kudej, Nathan Riddle and Erin Burnett Rainbow – Julia Sharron , Victoria Kummer


Sunday School beginsGrades 6 – 12

Sunday, Sept. 13th 10:00 a.m.

Youth Group Returns Wednesday,

September 18th, 2015 7:00 p.m. – 8:15 p.m.

On, Wednesday, September 16th from 7:00-8:15pm, we will be having a meeting, for the Youth Group kids & Parents, to discuss the upcoming youth group year. Youth Group is offered to youths entering 6th grade and up and we meet on Wednesday's from 7:00-8:15.

Our, Youth Group “Kick Off”, Camping Trip, will be

held on, Saturday, September 19th. All Youth Group aged children are invited to join us at Kettletown State Park. There will be more information on the trip as the date draws closer. Don Peck will be organizing the trip for any questions.

LETTER from the TREASURER

I hope everyone is enjoying this great summer! Understandably, because of this great weather, the summer church attendance drops due to vacations, yard work and time with family and friends. As treasurer, I must pay our monthly operating bills and payroll, and sadly, I have been short the last two months. Like you at home, paying the bills is easy when there is enough money in the bank to cover all your expenses. I can assure you that I scrutinize every bill and expense as if it was my own and stretch our CCQF dollars to the max. Please help me make our church financially sound by catching up on your pledge or pre paying your pledge. If you are unable to make church, kindly mail a check to: CCQF - Attn: David Stepeck, 470 Quaker Farms Road, Oxford, CT 06478 If you can help, it would mean so much to me and our church.

Thank you and kindest regards, David Stepeck - Treasurer

Any questions? My cell is 203-394-1951...call or text

We’re on the Web!

Visit us at: www.ccqf.org

Christ Church Quaker Farms 470 Quaker Farms Rd Oxford, CT 06478

BLESSING OF THE ANIMALS Sunday, Oct. 4, Rain or shine

4:00 to 4:35 pm @ CCQF

Bring your pets, your farm animals,

stuffed animals and friends Snacks provided for cats, dogs, & humans

Hosted by ETO— Episcopalians Together in Oxford: St. Peter's, Oxford Center & CCQF

Sunday Services 8:00 a.m. – Traditional

10:00 a.m. – Contemporary 9:00 a.m. only from July 5th – Sept 6th

CCQF CHILI COOK OFF Friday, Oct. 9th

Come help with the planning. Bring your chili to enter the

contest. For more info contact John Garcia [email protected].

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Kat THE MESSENGER