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April 2011 Volume 52 Issue 4
It is the Vision of Christ Church to be an open, welcoming Episcopal congregation living the Gospel of Jesus Christ. In the power of the Holy Spirit, we seek to nurture our spiritual growth through worship and prayer, learning and teaching, support and service. We aspire to put God’s love into action within our own lives, in our congregation and in our world.
In This Issue
Holy Week Schedule p. 2
Benefit Concert for
Japan p.3
Update on Building
Project p. 4
Walk for Hunger p. 5
Run for the Roses Dinner
& Auction p. 7
Easter Memorial Flowers
& Music p. 9
From the Rector’s Desk
R eady for an adventure? Here we go! I think it’s appropriate that just after Easter – the season of New Life – we embark on a phase of new life at Christ Church. I say new life, because we’re going to see things
differently with the changes in our worship space. And sometimes when we break out of our time-tested ways of seeing and doing things, we find something fresh and new about this adventure in the life of faith. And I think that is going to be true for us here at Christ Church.
Beginning the Sunday after Easter, we will move our Sunday services into the Parish Hall as construction gets underway in the church. You might be wonder-ing what that’s going to be like! For several months now we have had a liturgical design team working to plan how the space will work. Some things about it will be familiar (yes, even some of our beloved pews!), and other things will be dif-ferent – like the fact that we’ll be seated in the round, with a central altar and ambo (the lectern for reading and preaching). The space is already being trans-formed with new colors and the addition of a beautiful new Steinway piano (a gift from Jeanne Gable in memory of her mother). And there’s more to come!
I would encourage us all – regardless of whether you love it or are a bit cool to the idea – to approach the whole experience with an open mind. Yes, it will be different. And yes, it just might help us understand what’s going on when we gather for worship from a little different perspective. I hope it will help us, for example, to think of ourselves less as spectators and more as participants; less as an audience, and more as a gathering of worshippers. We’ll be seated in a way that we’re not looking only at the backs of other people’s heads, but we’ll also see the faces of those across from us. We’ll hear each other better, and the ex-perience of hearing one another’s voices when we sing and pray just might en-
Continued on p. 7...
Baseball Tuesday
Night Supper
Tuesday, April 5th
at 6 p.m.
J oin the Men's Ministry for a fun Take Me Out to the Ballgame eve-ning as New England welcomes back
the Red Sox and baseball. The menu will include Fenway Franks, grilled sau-sages with peppers & onions and Green Monster salad. Please sign up on the bul-letin board, so we can properly plan this evening. The evening will feature Eagle Tribune sports writer Bill Burt. There will be children’s activities. In addition to a great time, this supper will also be a fundraiser for the J2A youth group's summer 2012 pilgrimage. Everyone is welcome!
Agape Supper
Maundy Thursday - April 21 at 6:00 p.m.
“Agape” is a Greek word referring to God’s unconditional love, a love which Christians strive for in our own lives. The early Christians had a simple feast coinciding with the ob-servance of Holy Thursday and other observances of the Lord’s Supper. This was “to dem-onstrate kindred love regardless of rank, scandal or offense.”
T he Last Supper was the origin of our celebration of the Eucharist every Sunday, and with our celebration of the Agape dinner we relive that mo-ment in the life of Christ and his disciples. The last three days of Lent
are the Sacred Triduum of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday,
Continued on p. 5...
The Prophet
Life at Christ Church
Page 2 Volume 52, Issue 4
Holy Week Schedule
The Sunday of the Passion: Palm Sunday – April 17
8:00 a.m. Blessing of the Palms, Passion Drama and Holy Eucharist
10:00 a.m. Blessing of the Palms, Passion Drama and Holy Eucharist
Procession begins at 9:45 a.m. in front of the Rectory.
Wednesday in Holy Week – April 20
7:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist with Healing in the North Chapel
Maundy Thursday – April 21
6:00 p.m. Agape supper in the Parish Hall
7:30 p.m. Holy Eucharist, with foot washing, stripping of the altar,
and reservation of the Sacrament. Vigil continues in the Moses Chapel until 6 a.m. Friday.
Good Friday – April 22
8:15 a.m. Ecumenical walk starting at St. Augustine’s, Andover
7:30 p.m. Good Friday Liturgy with Holy Communion from the Reserved Sacrament
Holy Saturday – April 23
9:00 a.m. Liturgy for Holy Saturday in the North Chapel
Easter Eve – April 23
8:00 p.m. The Great Vigil of Easter with Baptism
Easter Day – April 24
9:00 a.m. Festal Holy Eucharist with Adult & Children’s Choirs
10:00 a.m. Easter Brunch
11:00 a.m. Festal Holy Eucharist with Adult Choir & Brass
Good Friday Prayer Walk
J oin others on this annual event praying for our town, its churches and other institutions. Coffee is available beginning at 8:15 a.m. at
St. Augustine’s Church on Good Friday, April 22nd. The walk begins at St. Augustine’s Church, continues to West Middle School along Stevens St., and travels back through the center of town stopping at several locations for prayer and reflections. Prayers will be led by the local clergy.
Habitat for Humanity
Opens a ―ReStore‖
T he Merrimack Valley Habitat for Humanity has opened a discount retail outlet called “ReStore”. Open to the public, the ReStore sells donated new
and gently used building materials, appliances, home im-provement items and furniture at greatly reduced prices. It's a great way to wisely dispose of unwanted home improve-ment items while promoting re-use of items that might oth-erwise end up in the trash or the dump. All of the profits from the ReStore are used to support Habitat for Humanity home building projects in the Merrimack Valley. Several Christ Church parishioners have worked on setting up the ReStore in recent weeks.
ReStore is located at 4 Union Street in South Lawrence (formerly All Things Sicilian). The store hours are Thurs. - Fri. 10 a.m.- 6 p.m., Sat. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. (Closed Sun. – W e d . ) C h e c k o u t t h e i r w e b s i t e a t www.merrimackvalleyhabitat.org/ReStore for more infor-mation about donating items and shopping there. Please note that the Duck Bridge in Lawrence is temporarily closed, so take the Rt. 28 or Parker St. bridges, turn right on Essex St., and then right on Union St. (park in the lot beside the building).
Holy Week and Easter
H oly Week invites us to walk the way of the cross, tomb and resurrection with Jesus. From his tri-umphal entry into Jerusalem, to his last supper
with the disciples, his betrayal and arrest, his crucifixion and burial, and finally the resurrection, we experience the events that bring us salvation. We will play all of this out in our liturgies for Holy Week once again this year. Come and share in the beauty and the mystery of it all!
Christ Church
Easter Brunch
J oin us for an Easter Brunch of pastries, appetizers, fruit and light sandwich plat-ters. The Easter Brunch is on Sunday,
April 24th after the 9 a.m. service or come early for the 11 a.m. service and celebrate the Risen Lord. If you can contribute to our table, please notify Marti Johnson at [email protected] or Debbie Moskal at [email protected]. See you at the Brunch!
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Page 3 Volume 52, Issue 4
Women’s Group
Monday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m.
Hats can be short, and hats can be tall.
You can wear them to the market, or you can wear them playing ball.
Some people wear their hats to block away the sun.
Some people wear their hats just because they think it’s fun.
But the best hats of all Are worth a proud display
Especially when designed at Women’s Group And worn on Easter Day!
C ome make a hat for yourself, your daughter, granddaugh-ter, niece, or just about anyone you would like. Don’t let your vanity or your sanity get in the way of making a
truly unique Easter bonnet! (Purchase an inexpensive spring hat and we will provide flowers, tulle, ribbons, etc. for the ultimate in decorative frippery.) Questions? Louise Valleau at 978-470-8065 or [email protected].
Japan Benefit Concert
Saturday, April 16 at 3:00 p.m.
Trinity Church, Copley Square,
Boston
Cantique de Jean Racine – Gabriel Fauré
When in the hour of utmost need, BWV 668 – J. S. Bach Barbara Bruns, organist
Requiem – Gabriel Fauré Jessica Cooper, soprano, Robert Honeysucker, baritone
Donald Teeters, conductor
T he Boston Cecilia comes together with voices from Boston's finest choruses, joined by instrumental-ists from the Boston Musician's Association, to sup-
port survivors of the recent earthquake and tsunami that struck Japan on March 11.
100% of proceeds go to Direct Relief International, a non-profit working with local organizations in Japan to provide emergency relief to disaster victims.
Tickets: $25 ($15 students) Tickets can be reserved at www.bostoncecilia.org or by calling 617-410-6487.
Supported by the generosity of Trinity Church, John O’Donne l l and Masumi Homma O’Don-nell, NonprofitDesign.com, 48HourPrint.com and other very generous donors of supplies and services.
Thank You
Dear Christ Church Parishioners,
It is always hard to say “goodbye.”
First of all, Courtney and I both want to express our thanks and gratitude for all the effort that was put into our farewell reception on the 20th of March. It was a wonderful day for us and we were so happy to be able to share it together (which is such a rarity for a clergy couple like us!). Thank you so much for all those of who contributed, in any way, to this memorable experi-ence whether it be through your supportive presence or whether it was through a contribution to either the very generous monetary gift or the wonderful scrapbook. I particularly want to thank Kelly Michaud who I know was very involved in putting that beautiful book to-gether. The pictures and letters in it are all wonderful reminders of my time at Christ Church. Thanks also to Marti Johnson for ordering the delicious cake and to those of you who decided that I needed my very own Red Sox hat. While I cannot promise that I’ll actually wear it, I appreciate feeling as though I have somehow become an honorary Sox fan during these last four years in Andover.
Most importantly, however, I cannot begin to express my thanks to the entire parish for helping to shape and form me into the priest that I am today. Christ Church is such a special place and I’ve felt so blessed to have had the chance to be a part of your lives. We’ve laughed and cried together and lived life together and found God’s loving presence in the midst of it all. I will not soon forget this place and will hold you all in my heart as I head to Burlington, North Carolina to begin my new ministry as rector of the Church of the Holy Comforter. If any of you are ever anywhere near the Raleigh/Durham area, please consider making the short trip to Burlington to stop by and say hello!
Finally, special thanks must go to Jeff and the amazing staff of the parish and to Christ Church’s children and youth and all their faithful mentors and teachers. They’ve all taught me so much and blessed me every-day.
Please know of my continued prayers for each of you and of how fondly I will continue to hold you all in my heart.
With my love,
Adam +
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Volume 52, Issue 4 Page 4
Vestry Notes
Update on Building Project
Alison Novello, Sr. Warden
O n Sunday, March 27th there was a meeting after church to give an update on our upcoming con-struction work. Jeff has explained the logistics of
how and where we will worship during this transition period in his article in this Prophet. This article will attempt to ex-plain what will be done in the church. Channel Construction Company has been contracted to do this work and they will be entering our spiritual space with the utmost respect. Tom Childs and Chris Huntress have had many meetings with Channel and multiple engineers and other specialists to design this area to create a balcony to house our organ. This is very much a work-in-progress as many details are being worked out each day. The balcony, being built at the back of the church, will house our new organ and choir. There will be a staircase up to the area in the tower narthex. Because of the historic structure, the Town has waived the requirement of handi-capped accessibility to the area. The steel-framed balcony will be supported on steel beams set on new footings through the undercroft (the basement of the church). The flooring of the balcony will be concrete. Neither the steel beams nor the concrete will be visible but will serve to sup-port the significant weight of the organ. The front of the balcony will be cantilevered out to create some additional space for the organ console and the choir. The balcony will extend out to the first bay of the ceiling with the cantilever-ing extending to about the middle of the windows in the next bay. If this is confusing, stand in the church and it will be clearer! The top of the back windows (which look out on Central Street) will be covered by the organ, but the win-dows will be back lit, so that from the street the stained glass will still be seen. The organ requires significant electri-cal, plumbing, heating and ventilating systems which will be housed in the undercroft. The balcony railing and millwork is being designed with the idea that this new addition will completely blend in with the old. The ceiling panels above the balcony (in the first bay) will have acoustic panels added to them; underneath what is seen on the church ceiling is an empty space of several inches which creates a place for the sound to disappear. By stiffening the boards and filling this void with foam insulation, the acoustics will signifi-cantly improve.
The cost of this work ($663,300) plus the cost of the acous-tic improvement of the first roof bay, is $687,000. This leaves a remaining figure of approximately $100,000 to do the remaining work currently planned. We hope to be able to build out the chancel area to move the altar forward, improve lighting, improve the sound sys-tem, restore the original five windows in the apse, and open up the area where the organ pipes are currently located in order to create an improved access to the hall by creating a more welcoming area. In addition the existing organ con-sole and pipes need to be removed. Our original project also included opening up the Moses Chapel, and adding six dormer windows for additional light, and acoustical treat-ment for the entire ceiling. Consequently, the Building Committee and the Vestry have some very tough decisions to make in the coming weeks. Lighting is estimated at about $50,000. The chancel work is estimated at about $30-50,000. The opening of the apse windows would be about $10,000. The cost figure for re-moval of the organ is as follows: this past week, a represen-tative from the National Organ Clearing House took a look at our organ; after playing the console and taking a look at the pipes, he said that the best location is in a dumpster. There currently is a glut of not-as-old organs that are part of this clearing house. Tom negotiated to have this gentleman remove both the console and the pipes for any pieces of it that he thought he could use. He will dismantle the organ and place it in our dumpster. Kudos to Tom for this nego-tiation, which amounts to a considerable savings. A new sound system, including recording capability, is also an im-portant element in this project and an estimate for this is unknown at this writing. In addition to removing the pipes, the electrical panel needs to be moved, the walls removed, floor leveled, ceiling covered, etc. so this area is of signifi-cant cost. Clearly this list is considerably more than the $100,000 that is currently available. We welcome input on the priorities listed above prior to the next Vestry Meeting on April 12th where we will be ordering the priorities. Please send any input you may have to Alison Novello at [email protected] or call at 978-683-0988. Both the Building Committee and the Vestry ask for your prayers in their discernment of these very tough choices as we make the best financial decisions with our existing funds. Addi-tional gifts or pledges will bring us closer to completing our vision of Renew & Rejoice, but time is of the essence, so we ask that these be received by May 1st to get incorporated into the current project scope.
Continued...
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Page 5 Volume 52, Issue 4
The Thrift Shop
The Thrift Shop Board
T he Thrift Shop has been a whirl-wind of activity in the last few weeks. Spring weather is finally
bringing shoppers out of hibernation once again.
Volunteers filled eight bags of clothing for the Confirma-tion Class mission trip to CityReach, an Episcopal ministry to the homeless which holds worship services every Sunday on Boston Common. (You can read more about their ex-periences elsewhere in this edition of The Prophet).
Someone recently donated a very snappy and colorful Car-men Miranda dress. Now you may well ask, who in the world would buy such an outfit? Within a couple of days this dress was sold to a customer involved in the upcoming Merrimack College production of “Guys and Dolls” – re-member, Sky Masterson sweeps Sister Sarah off to Havana! Need we say more!
We were curious about what keeps our volunteers coming back. A regular on Thursday mornings, Doris (not a parish-ioner) was recently asked what brought her to the Shop in the first place and what keeps her coming back. She told a friend when she first moved to Andover that she was look-ing for something to do that would be a “service to the community.” This friend (a longtime volunteer) suggested the Thrift Shop - and four years later Doris is still with us and thinking seriously about increasing to twice a week! She says she finds it fun, meets interesting people, finds lots of bargains and shares a lot of laughs!
Join the fun…drop in and say hello – we’re open Monday-Friday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. and the first three Saturdays of the month from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. We still need help in the back room with computer pricing, and out front with sales!
and are the three most sacred days of the Christian year. If you are looking for more meaning in your faith journey, come experience the mystery and beauty of the Sacred Trid-uum services at Christ Church, beginning with the Agape meal.
This year the Agape supper begins at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, followed by the Maundy Thursday service with foot washing and the stripping of the altar. The Agape supper, open to all ages, offers a reflective time for those who would like to share in a simple and symbolic meal to begin the three days leading to Easter. If you come, please con-tribute to the dinner by bringing items reflective of those simple foods at the Last Supper, using our guide based on the first letter of your last name.
You do not need to sign up, but we will post a list on the bulletin board by the Parish Hall as a reminder of what to bring. There is no charge for this supper. We look forward to seeing all of you there.
Please bring the following “in the spirit” of Agape. No meats. Wine and Juices provided.
Last Names: A – L Pita Bread, Humus, Taboule, and related condiments M – R Fruit (all types), including raisins and dried fruit S – Z Nuts, sunflower seeds, cheese, crackers, etc.
Maundy Thursday continued from p. 1.
43rd Annual Walk for Hunger
Molly Lennon
I n Massachusetts alone, there are over 660,000 people who do not have enough food to eat. Project Bread is trying to lower that number by holding the 43rd
Annual Walk for Hunger on Sunday, May 1st. Last year, more than 40,000 walkers participated in this fundraiser, raising over $3.8 million! The Walk is a 20-mile loop through parts of Boston and surrounding towns. All of your pledges will help provide food to men, women, and children through food pantries and soup kitchens.
If you would like to walk, you can sign up at www.projectbread.org/walk where you can join the Christ Church Andover team. You can also support our team by donating online or at church during coffee hour. If you have any questions, you can contact Molly Lennon at [email protected]. Thank you!
New England Classical
Singers Spring Concert
T hree Christ Church members, Barbara Kilduff-O’Farrell, Wendy Heckman, and Meredith Price will perform Hayden’s Mass in D Minor with the New
England Classical Singers and the Lawrence High School Girls and Boys Ensemble on Sunday, May 1st at 4 p.m. Ms. Kilduff will be the soprano soloist. The concert, sponsored by the McCarthy Foundation, will be at Corpus Christi Par-ish at Holy Rosary Church in Lawrence. Admission is free.
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Volume 52, Issue 4 Page 6
Christ Church Teens
Participate in CityReach
E leven Christ Church teens headed in to Boston af-ter school on Friday, March 11th. They chose to participate in the Ecclesia Ministries CityReach pro-
ject, an urban awareness program that would educate them on the plight of the homeless.
Preparations for the trip included gathering donations from our parishioners, family and friends. Boy oh boy did we get donations! Mrs. Bates, who offered to help with driv-ing, had no kids in her SUV, just donations piled high and there was not an extra inch of space. Mrs. Donovan’s car was filled with food to feed 40.
On Friday night we arrived at St. Paul’s Cathedral full of anticipation. Our donations and belongings were whisked inside where we met up with six other church groups. Our sleeping bags were delivered to the pews we would be sleep-ing in, our food donations went to the kitchen and clothing and other items on the stage next to it. We then gathered in a very large circle (~90 people) and listened to our guests. We were surprised at the open and honest stories. We learned how these kind folks became homeless, where they are today and the love and spirit that carries them through each day. We learned about their community, much like ours where we support one another. At the end, about 10:00 p.m., we were assigned two guests, Ken and Brenda, who took us out into their community. We saw and heard about what it’s like to be homeless in Boston. Did you know the reason many people don’t go to shelters is be-cause they are not safe? There are drugs and often violent people there. The street is their home and they stay there to be safe. No one wants to be homeless; there were so many different stories of how people became homeless. It made us realize it could happen to anyone. Ken and Brenda could be people you see every day, beautiful, kind and lov-ing.
When we went to the sanctuary to sleep, there was a lot to think about. It’s fun to sleep in a church with 80 other peo-ple! Early the next morning we got up, made sandwiches and sorted clothing; today we would be serving a commu-nity we now felt part of. When the doors opened I can’t even tell you how many people there were. As our guests came in we served them a nutritious lunch, with drinks and coffee. We talked and waited with so many people as they had their turn to select from the donations everyone had brought for them.
When everything was gone, the food, donations and guests, we were able to reflect on our experience. We, the Christ Church teens, gathered to create our banner. We decided the biggest impact CityReach had on us was that the home-less community was not “them”, it is people. The people we met, learned from and shared stories with. You can see their names on our banner; we became closer to each and every one of them in our 20-hour experience.
A special and sincere thank you to the Christ Church pa-
rishioners, the Andover Thrift Shop, and our chaperones.
We couldn’t have gone to CityReach without the community
we come from – Christ Church Andover. Continued…
CityReach continued...
Esperanza is turning 5!!
C an you believe that the Esperanza Academy is hav-ing its Five-Year Anniversary?! This marks a very significant milestone in the life of a school that has
not only changed the lives of young girls and their families in Lawrence – but also of all of us who have been a part of it. We’ll celebrate this milestone here at Christ Church on June 5th when some of the graduating students will be with us at Christ Church, along with Dr. Laurie Bottiger, Head of School, and member of Christ Church. Laurie will be leaving Esperanza this summer as she transitions to a new school in Connecticut, so we will be thanking her for her outstanding leadership in bringing Esperanza to where it is today. Over the summer we will be welcoming Chris Wil-son, the newly appointed Head of School, to oversee this next phase of Esperanza’s life. Mark June 5 on your calen-dar now for our celebration of HOPE with members of the Esperanza community!
Confirmation is Coming!
O n April 30, Bishop Cederholm will confirm 14 youth from Christ Church and one adult in a ser-vice at St. Anne’s Church in Lowell. Everyone is
welcome to the service, which will take place at 10 a.m. that Saturday. We’ll have a special celebration of thanksgiving for these people at our service on May 1, with a reception to follow. Please keep the following young people in your prayers as they continue their preparation during the month of April: Ian Bates, Bethany Hunt, Abbie Pustis, Janelle Yull, Phil Igoe, Emily Ishihara, Elise Krekorian, Ashley La-montagne, Molly Lennon, Peter Novello, Ed Romagnoli, Heather Youngman, Sarah Blasi, and Haley Gugger.
We also have one adult, Virginia McLeod, being con-firmed. Please extend your congratulations to all of our soon-to-be confirmed members of the Episcopal Church!
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Page 7 Volume 52, Issue 4
May Prophet Article Deadline
T he deadline for the May Prophet is Wednes-day, April 19th. By this date, parishioners are encouraged to submit articles about the life of the
congregation, events or committees to Debbie Moskal, ([email protected]) Director of Commu-nications.
Please Help
Communities Together
Lenten Underwear &
Diaper Drive
T his will be the 14th year Communities Together (formerly Greater Lawrence Council of Churches) has collected diapers, pull-ups and small children’s
underwear during Lent. Nearly 20,000 items were collected last year alone. The collection is shared between eight and 12 social service agencies able to reach those most in need. Food stamps and WIC vouchers cannot be used to pur-chase diapers. Unfortunately, the need never goes away and, in fact, seems to increase during periods when our economy is struggling. Poverty in Lawrence is still a significant prob-lem, especially for young families with small children.
Please join the Wednesday morning worship group that supports this worthwhile mission. Just one package will make a difference to a youngster in need. Collection boxes are in the Parish Hall, well-marked for diapers, pull-ups and undies. Please leave any size for diapers and pull-ups and age 2/3 to 10/12 for boys and girls undies.
Join us
Saturday, May 7th
for our
Run for the Roses
delicious gourmet dinner
silent and live auction
The evening starts with cocktails at 6:30 p.m., dinner fol-lows at 7:30 p.m. The live auction begins at 8:30 p.m.
Please purchase your tickets at coffee hour or from a
member of the Vestry.
courage more active engagement on all of our parts.
Maybe that will even carry over when we’re back in our newly renovated space in the church next fall. I hope so.
On the Second Sunday of Easter (May 1st) we’ll begin our Sunday services in the church with the liturgy of the Word, followed by a brief liturgy for the “Dedication of Sabbath Time for Christ Church.” We’ll then form a procession to the Parish Hall for our celebration of the Eucharist in the round.
Right now we expect that we will be in the Parish Hall throughout the summer months and into the fall – perhaps as late as November. We have every expectation that we’ll be back in the church before Advent.
Come with an open heart and an open mind. We’ll all need some patience and perhaps even a little forgiveness as we work out the details. I’ve already noticed a desire on the part of many to pitch in and help in a new way as we pre-pare for this adventure.
In the meantime, we continue through this season of Lent – an appropriate time to cultivate that spirit of patience and forgiveness. And soon Holy Week and the Triduum will be upon us – and then Easter Day. You’ll read more about that in this edition of The Prophet. I hope you’ll be part of as much of this most important time of the church year as you can possibly be. If you must be away during school vacation week, I hope you’ll find a church wherever you are to be part of the experience of Holy Week. And on Easter Day here at Christ Church, we’ll be making the church-as-we-have-known-it ring with joy one final time! It’s going to be a wonderful April! See you in church!
Rector’s desk continued from p. 1.
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Volume 52, Issue 4 Page 8
New Steinway
Grand Piano for
Christ Church
T hrough the generosity of Jeanne and Bob Gable, a 7-foot Steinway grand piano
has been given to Christ Church in loving memory of Jeanne’s mother, Marie Robinson. The piano arrived on March 16, carefully delivered from a private home in Wickford, Rhode Island by Death Wish piano movers. The piano is 30 years old, and has been owned and played by a single individual who took impeccable care of the instru-ment. Following the death of the owner, the piano was put on the market by the owner’s nephew, and came to the at-tention of Barbara Bruns through Craig’s List. Through careful negotiations over several weeks, and the gracious support of Jeanne and Bob Gable, Christ Church won the bid to take possession of this beautiful “new” instrument. The piano is currently housed in the Parish Hall and will be dedicated during the 10:00 a.m. service on May 8 (Mother’s Day). Christ Church parishioners and visitors will surely enjoy the sounds of this gorgeous new instrument for gen-erations to come. THANK YOU, Jeanne and Bob!
A Message from Sojourners: An
Urgent Call to Pray and Fast
F or the past month, Sojourners activists have spoken out against a harmful budget plan in Congress -- a plan that would hurt the most vulnerable in our soci-
ety while increasing funding for military projects and con-tinuing corporate subsidies and tax loopholes.
But we can’t stop now, because it is getting even worse.
In addition to cuts to many critical programs that directly impact the lives, and even survival, of the poorest people -- in the U.S. and around the world -- there are now plans to single out the programs that help low-income people and cut them the most.
As Congress continues the budget debate into April, they are moving from the neglect of the poor to the targeting of the poor. Theologically, this is an assault against the very people whom God specifically instructs us to protect, and whose well-being is the biblical test of a nation’s righteousness.
People of faith across the country must speak out against these harmful budget proposals -- loudly and persistently, until the final votes are taken. Therefore we’re asking you to join us in a month-long campaign of prayer, fasting and action.
In response to these budget battles in Congress, starting this Monday we’re joining Bread for the World, ONE, Ameri-can Jewish World Service, Meals on Wheels, Islamic Relief, The Alliance to End Hunger, the UN World Food Pro-gram, Feeding America, and many more in praying that God would change the hearts and minds of those in Con-gress.
In the book of Esther we see an example of fasting, prayer, and the petitioning of political powers to change unjust ac-tions by the government. We want to follow that model.
The concept is simple: We’re asking folks to abstain from lunch on Mondays during April and use that time to pray and take action. Or, choose another kind of fast that is meaningful to you.
Sign up to join us, and every Monday in April we will send you an email asking you to fast, pray, and take action.
Fasting is our way of disciplining ourselves in prayer on this issue, while the action is to seek the kind of fast Isaiah de-scribes: “Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of injus-tice, to undo the thongs of the yoke, to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke?” (Isaiah 58:6).
People of faith, united in prayer and committed to action, need to speak out for vulnerable people. By joining this month-long campaign to pray, fast, and take action, you are committing to this fight at a crucial time in our political his-tory.
We believe that the God who can change the hearts of kings c a n c h a n g e t h e h e a r t s o f C o n g r e s s .
Peace, Elizabeth, Hannah, Julie, Tim, and the team at Sojourners
Sojourners is a progressive evangelical ministry challenging Christians to put basic Christian values at the heart of their engagement in public life. Find out more about Sojourners at www.sojo.net.
Continued...
Sojourners continued.
Life at Christ Church
The Prophet Page 9 Volume 52, Issue 4
Easter Memorial Flowers & Music
In memory of
________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In honor of ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ In thanksgiving for ______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________
Check all that apply. Memorial Flowers Memorial Music
Given by______________________________________________ Offering$______________Telephone __________________
Please return to the Parish Office at the Glebe House or in the plate by April 20th.
Memorial
Decorations &
Music for Easter
O ur parish is blessed with a talented and hard-working Flower Guild, Minister of
Music, and choirs who are already making plans and preparations for Palm Sunday and Easter at Christ Church. If you would like to give memorial decorations or music for Easter, please send the names with your donations to the Glebe House, 25 Central Street. Mark your check pay-able to Christ Church with a memo notation on the enve-lope marked “Easter memorials.” A coupon is available on the bottom of this page of The Prophet. The deadline to have names printed in the Easter order of worship is Wednesday, April 20th.
Summer 2011
Youth Mission Trip
A ll Christ Church teens are invited to participate in a mission trip to Washington, DC this August 7-13.
We will be working with homeless and disadvan-taged people at soup kitchens, clothing banks, and drop-in centers in inner city Washington. This program is organ-ized by Youth Service Opportunities Project - check out their web site for more information: http://www.ysop.org/weeklong.htm.
We will work hard during the week, but we will also have fun! Washington, DC is a great city with tons of cool things to do. We will be staying at the Church of the Epiphany just 3 blocks from the White House, so we’ll be a short walk from the Mall, museums, monuments, and other great stuff.
A $75 deposit is required to reserve your spot soon. Please make the check out to “Christ Church” with the memo “Youth Mission Trip”. You can either send this check to the church office, or stop by the mission trip sign-up table during coffee hour after church.
You must be at least 13 to go on this trip.
Questions? Ask Matt Lennon ([email protected]).
JEFFREY SHILLING GILL — [email protected]
BARBARA A. BRUNS — [email protected]
CATHERINE ROSEN
MARIA L. CHAN — [email protected]
DEBORAH K. MOSKAL -- [email protected]
MARY ANN LENNON — [email protected]
LIZ DIETZ
CHRISTY HARVEY— [email protected]
FRANCES J. DODSON- [email protected]
MARK POMERLEAU — [email protected]
IAN BATES, PETER NOVELLO
978/475-0529 - Hours 9 AM - 3 PM
978/475-9707
978/475-9557
978/475-0957
978/475-4037
978/807-4687
Rector
Minister of Music
Head Verger
Business Manager
Director of communications
Asst. for Membership Development
Sunday Church School Coordinator
Director of the Children’s Center
Head Manager, Thrift Shop
Sexton
Sunday Sextons
Parish Office (Glebe House) - Tuesdays— Fridays
Parish Hall
Fax Number
Andover Thrift Shop
Christ Church Children’s Center
Emergency Pastoral Calls
The Parish of Christ Church - 25 Central Street - Andover, MA 01810-3780
Web Site Address – www.christchurchandover.org
Diocese of Massachusetts - Web Site Address - www.diomass.org
The Episcopal Church - www.episcopalchurch.org
The Prophet The Parish of Christ Church 25 Central Street Andover, MA 01810-3780 www.christchurchandover.org
Periodic
al
The Prophet (604-860) is published monthly except for Janu-
ary, July and August by the Parish of Christ Church, 25
Central Street, Andover, MA 01810-3780. Periodicals postage
paid at Andover, MA. Postmaster. Send address change to
THE PROPHET, 25 Central Street, Andover, MA 01810-3780.
Page 10 The Prophet Volume 52, Issue 4
Life at Christ Church
Worship Schedule
Sundays
8:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist 10:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist
Wednesdays 7:00 a.m. Holy Eucharist in the
North Chapel followed by breakfast in the Parish Hall
The Holy Week schedule is on page 2 of the Prophet.
