THE CHRIST CHURCHER
April 2015
RECTOR’S NOTES
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he other day I heard the tragic story of Jeff Wilson and Tammy Baird. The year was 1984. Jeff was driving his car to High School one day when over the hood of his car flew Tammy, a classmate. He was sure he had killed her. Remarkably, Tammy lived. But it was Jeff who was the one truly scarred by the accident. He dreaded speaking to her father, as you might imagine a teenager might be after nearly killing his daughter. He summoned every ounce of courage to go to her father to apologize for what he had done.
woman whose life, literally, had been turned upside down? Anger at such a stupid mistake that had nearly taken her life? That would be what most of us would have expected. But Tammy reassured him that like her father, she too forgave Jeff, also refusing to hold a grudge. And not only did she forgive him, but she went on to face many other car accidents. She became a stunt woman in the film industry and became known for her car hits! As I listened to Jeff and Tammy’s story published on the web, I was reminded that life can turn out quite differently than we might have expected.
Of course he expected the ire and wrath of a distraught father whose little girl’s life had been marred by a careless teenage boy. But what came next he didn’t expect…
But I was also reminded that when forgiveness and love are at the heart of the story the ending need not be what we were expecting – one only tragedy and defeat and a cycle of endless violence.
It wasn’t anger, nor was it punishment, nor was it a lawsuit that Tammy’s father meted out to the hapless teen. The father took Jeff in and told him his own story about how he, too, had been in a similar accident when he was the same age. The forgiving words were a healing balm.
In the Easter season we tell our story once again – of how forgiveness and love have triumphed, leading us not to defeat, but into a new life and to a new community of believers.
Nonetheless, Jeff could not bring himself to face Tammy in the hallways in school. He would avoid her, not wanting to be reminded of what one act of careless endangerment had inflicted on the life of a beautiful young woman. It wasn’t until 30 years later someone encouraged Jeff to reach out to Tammy to recount the story of what had happened that tragic day.
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s we celebrate the good news of Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, we celebrate this surprising gift of divine love and forgiveness. And we remember that in a world with devils filled, God has triumphed, calling us to share in that victory. Let us spread the good news, living this example in the world. Alleluia. Christ is risen.
What might he have expected? Recrimination from a
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ASSOCIATE’S NOTES
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I suspect that for many military men, an insubordinate subordinate is felt even a challenge to the masculine ego—and perhaps, in fact, that was exactly what Chuckie generally was doing: challenging the power others had over him by the only means at his disposal, which was silent resistance.
ecently I was talking with Ann Platt, who is one of our more senior members. She was telling me all about growing up in Essington when it had an Episcopal Church (St Luke’s) and its own school, which she attended until she graduated. And about her family. Her mother died young, age 37, after her appendix ruptured—in those days there were no antibiotics— and her father had to work nights. She and her sister, ages 12 and 15, pretty much had to raise themselves, but they did a very good job of it—they were honor students and Ann was both an athlete and a cheerleader. They had an older brother, also an excellent student, but he graduated in the depths of the Depression, and after trying to find work for a few months, he gave up and enlisted in the Navy. Just as his four year enlistment was about to run out, World War Two came along, and he was in for the duration. Being very mechanically inclined, as well as highly intelligent, he worked in the engine room, and rose to a fairly high rank for an enlisted man, so that he had other men under him.
But Ann’s brother saw not a man he had to wrestle into submission, someone of lesser importance than himself, but a fellow human being, perhaps one of the “last, lost and least” to whom Christ came. Maybe words from the Bible came back –“Christ came not to be served, but to serve.” “Love one another as I have loved you.” “The last shall be first and the first shall be last.” Love and service and regard for the other as a full-fledged, fully human being are all tumbled together in those words. If service connects to love, then perhaps asking for help—operating out of a position of “weakness”, rather than power—would inspire in Chuckie a willingness to serve, out of love, and thus a willingness to stop engaging in his silent struggle with authority. And it worked. Because Chuckie was given back his full humanity, he could choose, and in choosing, do the right thing. The transformative thing. Even--the loving thing.
One of the sailors who served under him was a man called “Chuckie.” Chuckie was regarded by everyone on board ship as a very difficult man. He was deliberately slow-moving, resentful, and seemingly unmotivatable. But under Ann’s brother, Chuckie was a different sailor. He worked hard, did a good job, and never grumbled or shirked.
Judy Buck-Glenn
A senior officer was amazed at the transformation, and finally went to Ann’s brother and asked, “How on earth did you do it?” Ann’s brother replied, “I found out that Chuckie is not a guy who responds very well to being told what to do. So I never tell him what to do. I just ask him to help me.” When Ann told me that story, I was struck by how wise and Christian her brother’s attitude was— Christian at its best, without being overtly “religious”. Christian as it is meant to be lived out in this world. Because her brother looked at this man and saw him as a whole person—with eyes of great kindness. As one of superior rank, he could have tried to break or bully him into some kind of submission.
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Rev. Judy reported that she was contacted by a company who sells business discount cards to various businesses and restaurants in our area. This could be a possible fundraiser for us as we would receive 50% of the cost of the card for each card sold. Maripat King offered to call the company for additional information. She will report back to the Vestry regarding this idea at our next meeting.
VESTRY NOTES
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he Vestry of Christ Church met on March 19, 2015. Father Tompkins convened the meeting with prayer at 7:00 P.M. The February meeting minutes were approved as presented. FINANCIAL REPORT
Ken Mobley reported that the Diocese has events going on during the year that our youth may be able to take part in. Ken had looked into the “Nightwatch” program at the cathedral, but the next available sleepover program will be held during Advent. Ken is hoping to be able to take a group of our youth to this program.
Maripat King provided the financial highlights as of February 28, 2014. Total income for February was below budget by $4,677.00 (lower church attendance due to inclement weather is February is likely a factor for this variation); total expenses year to date are under budget by $1,151.00; year to date income is behind by $3,967. Additionally, we received $131.00 in prior year pledges. The Financial Report was approved as presented.
Andrew King brought up the idea of an intergenerational group trip or mission to help out those less fortunate in some way such as a rebuilding a house or other project (similar to Habitat for Humanity). This idea was well received but would need further research and discussion.
PROPERTY COMMITTEE REPORT Fr. Tompkins reported the following on behalf of the Property Committee: The Property Committee obtained three bids for the annual spring clean-up and mulching of the church grounds. The recommendation of the Property Committee was to award the contract to Mellandscaping & Tree Service, who provided us with the best quote. The Vestry approved this recommendation and we are hopeful that the work will be done by Palm Sunday.
FOR THE GOOD OF THE PARISH Ken Mobley spoke briefly about the untimely loss of Kara Barnard, wife of Vestry member Mike Barnard and mother of Sean, Sam and Steven. Ken expressed his appreciation to Fr. Tompkins, Rev. Judy, the Vestry, and other members of our parish who assisted with and attended her funeral on Wednesday, March 18th. Ken stated that the service was beautiful and was a lovely tribute to Kara. The thoughts and prayers of our entire parish are with the Barnard Family now and in the days ahead.
The sidewalk that was put in leading up to the Memorial Garden has several problems and needs to be repaired or replaced. The Property Committee has been looking into how the original work was done and what recourse we have regarding this problem being resolved. Fr. Tompkins will make some additional phone calls to ascertain the best way to have the sidewalk repaired or possibly replaced.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 7:55 p.m.
2015 VESTRY RETREAT FOLLOW-UP
Respectfully submitted,
The “What a Crock” tasting held after the 10:00 service on Sunday, March 22nd was a success. Those who tasted the crock pot meals and desserts agreed that the food was very good. Orders are now being taken by contacting “What a Crock” directly. Parishioners should mention that they are members of Christ Church and the church will receive a percentage from each order. Fr. Tompkins is working on an on line ordering system that will be linked to our website.
Joanne Daws Vestry Clerk
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MUSIC NOTES
Below are the students and the levels they are completing in the coming weeks.
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Please congratulate them on their hard work!
s part of our youth choir program, choristers work through a series of workbooks with increasingly more complex exercises and puzzles relating to using the voice well, music theory and reading skills, following a choral music score, and questions about the meaning and use of music in our lives and the world around us.
White Book: Lindsay, Alex, Madison, Elise, and Mary Light Blue Book: Archie, Katie (Mason), Julia (Huppman), Gianna, and Erin Dark Blue Book: Harry
One of these questions we’ve discussed asks the singers to think of where they hear music in different places and how that music affects the experience of those events. We came up with, amongst others, in advertising, sports games, dance classes, TV and movies, and, of course, our worship services.
Janet Miller
One place where I confess I tend to largely forget about the presence of the music even though I know it’s extremely powerful is while watching a movie, despite the fact that I’ve known composers who have written movie scores and have an idea how complicated and involved the process is, especially if music that is so carefully composed to be timed with specific actions in the scenes is performed by a group of Real Live Human Musicians. When watching a movie, we get so caught up in the drama of the action that we hardly notice the one element that perhaps most makes a given moment so intense. Can you imagine a movie without that underlying sound track accentuating the moods portrayed by the action? Pretty hard, if you stop and think about it!
BOOK GROUP The book for April is Love in the Driest Season by Neely Tucker. It is subtitled “A Family Memoir”, because it is the true story of a couple who sought to become a family by adopting a little baby girl they first met when she was ill, and possibly dying, in an orphanage in Zimbabwe, where Neely Tucker, a journalist, was stationed at the time. The ups and downs in the story of their attempts to convince the Zimbabwean government that they should be able to adopt a child from Zimbabwe in the face of great resistance to any adoption by foreigners—even if the mother is African American--makes it almost a thriller. The Orlando Sential summed it up neatly: “…(A)n almost unbelievable tale of bureaucracy, lunacy, and love.”
Holy Week into Easter is the most dramatic time in the church’s liturgy. Notice this season how that backdrop of music supports the unfolding of the story, and the stark contrast between the moods on Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Easter Sunday. If you get caught up in the story and prayers and forget to notice this, you could also find it interesting to observe the flow of the liturgy on any random Sunday. Behind each celebration of the Eucharist there are different types of music at different parts of the service, planned to make each act of praise flow as seamlessly and beautifully as possible. Not too unlike a movie, very often the music is not meant to be the primary focus, but our experience would certainly be quite extremely different without it!
The Book Group meets every second Monday, usually at 7, in the Deppich Room. However, in May we will have our movie night on the second Monday, which means we meet at 6 and have pizza.
Back to our choristers, as they work through their various workbooks, they earn different colored ribbons for the crosses and medals that they wear with their robes.
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MITE BOX REMINDER
EASTER EGG HUNT
If your child made a Mite Box and has been putting a portion of any money received into it through Lent, to share with our two ChildFund children, Chanel and Jay-R, we will be collecting Mite Boxes at the 10 Am service on Sunday, April 12, the Sunday after Easter.
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very year we have an Easter Egg Hunt for children. The Hunt takes place between the 9:00 and the 11:00 service—and please don’t forget that because we have three services Easter morning, the service times are different! Children gather at 10:15 for the hunt. It is important to be there a little early, as the Hunt is over very quickly, and we don’t want any child to be disappointed. We need youth and/or adult volunteers to hide the eggs during the 9:00 service. The eggs are hidden on the lawn if the weather permits, and in Musselman Hall if need be. If you would like to help, you should come at 9:45, and please let Nancy Kenyon, Nancy Signor, Marge Shemeluk or Roberta Lunari (in the downstairs Sunday School rooms) know in advance that you would like to participate.
If your child cannot be there that Sunday, Mite boxes can be turned in to teachers or to Gerry Martz any Sunday after April 12. We invite you to encourage your child to share their gifts, not just through Lent but every Sunday in the Church School collection or in the special children’s pew envelopes. All money collected from the children (or from anyone in the children’s pew envelopes!) goes to ChildFund for Chanel and Jay-R.
SEAMAN’S INSTITUTE DITTY BAGS Seaman’s Ditty Bag collection for MARCH - For the 2015 Christmas Ditty Bag delivery, we need men’s disposable razors, small sewing kits (readily available at dollar stores) and FULLSized bars of WRAPPED soap. There is a bin for the Seaman’s Institute Ditty Bag collections under the shelf in the vestibule with the green doors.
CONFIRMATION CLASS THIS SUMMER
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outh who are at least 12 are invited to attend the Confirmation class this summer. The bishop will be coming in the fall to confirm. The class will be held July 27-30, Mon-Thurs, from 9:30 AM-1:30 PM. Bring a lunch! There is a sign-up sheet on Judy Buck-Glenn’s door.
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COMMUNION CLASS
FLOWERING HANGING BASKETS COMING IN MAY!
There is a signup sheet on Judy Buck-Glenn’s door for children who wish to attend the Holy Communion Class on Wednesday April 29 and Wednesday May 6.
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Children attending can be of any age from 5 and up. They should be able to sit for an hour and to read on a second grade level. Because baptized persons of any age, even toddlers, are welcome to receive Communion in the Episcopal Church, the purpose of class is to instruct children more fully about the sacrament, if they are already receiving Communion, as well as to prepare those who have not yet received the sacrament for the experience.
athways will again be selling hanging baskets this May. They will be available for purchase at the 5:30 service on Saturday May 2 and on Sunday May 3 at both services and at the services on Saturday May 10 and Sunday May 11, which is Mother’s Day Weekend. There will also be order forms available in the back of church if you would like to preorder a particular kind of hanging basket. You can also speak to Kathy Okarski about preordering a basket or baskets. Pre-ordered baskets can be picked up from Thursday, April 30 onward.
In the May 6 session the children will be instructed in what to do at the altar. They will also be invited to taste unconsecrated bread and wine. If your child has never taken Communion, it is important not to miss this class.
Both 10 and 12 inch baskets will be available. 10 inch baskets have one kind of flower; 12 inch baskets have three. Baskets will include ones with flowers suitable for shade, baskets for part sun and baskets for full sun conditions.
Children in the class are the first to come to the altar to receive the sacrament on Mother’s Day Sunday at the 10:00 service. This year Mother’s Day falls on May 10. Family members and godparents are also welcome to come up with the child.
A beautiful hanging basket makes a great (and lasting) Mother’s Day gift! Please help support Pathways by buying a basket!
We will make other arrangements for your child if you are unable to attend that service. GLUTEN FREE: We have gluten free wafers. If you or anyone in your family needs this option for yourselves, please let us know. We have a system to make sure this option is available as needed. Holy Communion class begins at 4 PM and ends at 5:15.
ITEM NEEDS FOR VACATION CHURCH SCHOOL
It will be led by Judy Buck-Glenn and Cheryl Huber.
Vacation Church School will be held this year from July 22-15. We will be learning about St Francis. We need shoe boxes and toilet paper tubes. If you can give us these items, we would be most appreciative. You can leave them at Judy Buck-Glenn’s office door. Thank you!
There is a signup sheet on Judy Buck-Glenn’s office door for those who might be interested, some sunny Sunday after church in the spring, in exploring Laurel Hill Cemetery. No date has been chosen yet—we are just collecting names of those who would like to be included.
Laurel Hill
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APRIL BIRTHDAYS 3
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Rohan Bordas Abigail Chappelle Melissa McQuade Paul Watkins Jimmy Modesti Ethel Ross
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Natalia Kunze Bill Whaley
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Rosalie Hayes
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Bill Cousin Pamela Smith
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John Shemeluk
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Thomas Blake Kenneth Clark Eleanor Humes
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Nancy Cannon Dean DiFilippo Savannah Roney
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Ann Bonner Elijah Chappelle Dee Elliott
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Patrick O’Neill
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Jeff DiBlasi Matthew Stretch
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Jan Iannacci
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Candice Lunari Heather Watkins
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Erik Cline Wayne Fletcher Meghan Geiser Milena Myro
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James Gilson
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Judy Wagner
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Rodger Abrams Kathy Klee
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Claire Webber Kerri Whitaker
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Gerry Martz
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Janis Conner Walter Stretch
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Adam Cline Cheri Gilson Matthew Malone Lucille Shannon Rose Winstanley-Trefz
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Alex Hollar Al Humes Alex Shannon
BABYMANNA COLLECTION ON MOTHER’S DAY
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nce again this on Mother’s Day, members of Christ Church are invited to participate in the BabyManna project sponsored by Philabundance. Philabundance strives to eradicate hunger in the entire fivecounty Greater Philadelphia region, and the BabyManna project targets infants and young children because their growing bodies and brains are most at risk for malnutrition. Thousands of babies are born into poverty in the Delaware Valley every year. Malnutrition can cause anemia, weakened immune systems, depression, anxiety, aggression and increased childhood mortality. Because formula is so expensive, families will often water it down formula or put infants and toddlers onto cow’s milk and adult foods too early. BabyManna provides formula and nutritious food to provide the healthiest possible start in life for infants and toddlers born to poor families. Envelopes will be available in your bulletin on Mother’s Day, which is Sunday May 10, as well as in the back of church the Sunday before and after Mother’s Day. All parish donations made to BabyManna will be matched dollar for dollar by your Outreach Committee.
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April Calendar
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April Schedule
Mission Statement The mission of Christ Church is to be a caring community of individuals seeking to be better persons and followers of our Lord Jesus Christ within the Episcopal Tradition. We share the Gospel: 1) through meaningful and joyful worship; 2) through educating and nurturing the youth of our congregation; 3) through a family spirit of loving fellowship and acceptance; 4) and through welcoming support groups and community organizations to use our facilities.
CHRIST CHURCH OFFICE 610-521-1626 The Rev. Douglas Tompkins, Rector ext. 22 The Rev. Judith Buck-Glenn, Associate Rector ext. 24 The Rev. Wm. Musselman, Rector Emeritus Janet Miller, Organist ext. 23 Mary Lou Patton, Secretary/Admin Assistant ext. 21 Kathy Okarski, Pathways ext. 25 Robert & Lynn White, Property Managers ext. 26 Gerry Martz, Financial Secretary ext. 28 Church Office Hours: M-F, 9—1:30 www.ChristChurchRidleyPark.org
Bill Graham 302-475-9429 Michael Huppman 534-1292 Betsy Kirkpatrick 362-0442 John Rubillo
Ken Mobley Carol King Mike Barnard Cheryl Huber Judy Yorke
610- 543-7314 610- 461-1262 610-521-1311 610 522-0732 610-521-3022
Marlene Nickerson 610-633-6368 Ollie Rhine 610-534-9621 Jack Signor III 484-442-8179 Barbara Torrens 610-532-7758
Horace B. Griffith, III
Griffith Funeral Chapel Serving the community since 1898
520 Chester Pike Norwood, PA 19074 610-586-2142
F. KIRK ADAMS ATTORNEY AT LAW Six East Hinckley Avenue Suite 201 Ridley Park, Pennsylvania 19078 Phone: (610) 521-8800 Fax: (610) 521-5868 Cell Phone: (610) 476-6918 E-Mail:
[email protected] Michael Capozzoli
Capozzoli Catering 801 Morton Ave. Folsom, PA 19033 610-532-5704 1-800 .643-8981 fax: 610-532-2590 For over 60 years, serving the Tri-state area
YI CLEANERS & ALTERATIONS 610-521-1483 LISA YI
121 SELLERS AVENUE RIDLEY PARK, PA 19078
INTERESTED IN LISTING YOUR BUSINESS HERE? CALL THE CHURCH OFFICE AT (610) 521-1626
(610) 521‐9977 (610) 521‐5455 Fax (610) 521‐9541 Bill Graham, owner
CHRIST CHURCH Episcopal 104 Nevin Street Ridley Park, PA 19078
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