 |
|
|
|||||||||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||||||||
|
|
|
 |
||
|
Christ Episcopal Church Newsletter At the moment, it looks like a quiet, peaceful summer here in Accokeek. The Camp Accokeek children run across the broad rolling lawns of the church grounds, playing in the shade of the great, old trees. The legal confrontation with the Diocese is behind us now, at last – the injunction has been "vacated." (Copies of the legal notice and a press release are available on the back table in church or on our web site.) So now we can get on with our life as a congregation without distractions. Or can we? The massive gathering of the national lay and ordained leaders of the Episcopal Church that happens every three years is about to take place at the end of this month in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Janet and I plan to be there. While most of the work of the Convention will not attract public notice, certain decisions around the subject of human sexuality will almost certainly get attention in the media. Underlying the sexuality issues are the broader questions about the authority of scripture and efforts to change basic Christian doctrine. These are serious issues, and whatever is decided will affect the whole Anglican Communion, and so, therefore, us as well. How are we to respond? Carefully and faithfully. Carefully, because whatever changes may lie ahead should be those that we ourselves choose to implement because they make sense to us, and because we know our choices will affect our children and our grandchildren. And faithfully, because we belong to the Lord Jesus, and our aim is simply to be obedient to him, knowing that all things are in his hands. He has already won the victory over human foolishness and rebellion, over all the forces that corrupt and destroy human life, and he invites us to share in his work in this world now – with confidence because he is here with us. PARISH NEWS Clergy Coverage During Convention While we’re away, on Sunday, August 3, a seminarian from Truro parish, Eric Hornbuckle, will take the services (Morning Prayer) and preach. During the Convention, if there is a pastoral emergency and a priest is required, you may contact The Rev. Joseph Trigg, Rector, Christ Church, La Plata. He has kindly agreed to be on call. Office: 301-932-1051; Home: 1-301-934-2932. Convention Reports For daily reports on the Convention proceedings, visit this web site: http://www.aplacetostand.org from July 28 onward. After the 9:00 o’clock service on Sunday, August 10, there will be a special Forum to talk about General Convention and what it means for Accokeek. The following Saturday, August 16, the Washington Chapter of the American Anglican Council will meet in our Parish Hall to discuss the Convention; and, of course, the meeting is open to everyone. Christian Education Adult Forum (after the nine o’clock service) continues through the summer on an “as needed” basis. Sunday School will resume on September 7, the Sunday after Labor Day.
As I write this letter it is raining again. No -- pouring! What a wet summer we have had so far. I hope all of you are able to take a little R&R this summer and enjoy what little bit of sunshine we are going to have. As most of you know the vestry also takes a little break in July and August unless there is an emergency and so far things have been quiet. Our Alpha course, which ran for the past 10 weeks, was a wonderful success. There were about thirty people who participated at one time or another. I would like to personally thank the entire vestry, who prepared the food on the different Sundays and a special thanks to Melinda Courtney for doing the childcare during the sessions. Without her, many moms and dads would not have been able to participate. She truly was a life-saver. We will be putting together an Alpha leadership team to get prepared for running a session in the winter after Christmas. We want to be completely prepared so we can do this right and offer it to friends and members of the community who might not have a church home. If anyone is interested in participating in the preparations or being a behind the scene participant, like food preparation or prayer groups, please contact Father Arpee or me. The General Convention of the Episcopal Church is happening at the end of July and the first part of August. There are some important issues and votes that will be taking place that may have a profound impact on the future existence of the Episcopal Church, as we know it today. The AAC, which we are affiliated with, will also be represented at Convention. Fr. Arpee and Janet as well as Melinda and Wes Courtney will be attending Convention and will get first hand information as it unfolds. After Convention we will have some type of forum or special meeting to inform any of the congregation, who might be interested, of the events that took place and how we as a congregation want to respond. Camp Accokeek is running in full force. There are about thirty campers on a daily basis attending the camp. Kelly Courtney, the director, has been very please with the attendance and also the wonderful group of counselors she has on staff this year. They take daily swims at the local pool (when it is not raining), weekly field trips and have a theme for each week. This has been a great financial asset to this church in the past several years and it looks like Kelly has everything right on course. Thank you Kelly! We have had new signs put up on different parts of the church grounds, and are also locking the side gate that leads down to the church hall at night and on weekends. We are trying to keep out individuals who choose to use our property for illegal drinking and a trash dump in off hours. We do have a great group of friends in the community who have repaired a basketball hoop and play basketball under our pavilion on a regular basis. We are not trying to keep them out, but there always seems to be a small group that likes to ruin things for everybody. I pray the remainder of everyone’s summer is restful and rejuvenating so that we can expect great enthusiasm and participation among all members of the congregation come September. WORKS IN PROGRESS Times of Service Change Possible in September: Please let me know if you have thoughts on this subject, one way or the other. We are considering changing the time of the main Sunday service in September -- to 9:30 AM, instead of 9:00, in order to allow more time for the preparation for this service. With the Coffee Hour from about 10:40 to 11:10, that would then mean that the Christian Education program, children and adults, would end at Noon. The change would go into effect the first Sunday of the month, September 7th. STA The Women's Reading Group is enjoying C.S. Lewis', MERE CHRISTIANITY; and plans to meet again on Tuesday, September 9. Thanks to Andy Samworth for getting the parish enrolled in the Adopt a Road program. Clean-up schedules are to be announced in the fall. A training program for Lay Readers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers is being planned for the year ahead. It will include seminars on worship principles and planning that will be open to all members of the congregation. The Men’s Breakfast Group hopes to begin various improvements in the Parish Hall in the year ahead, particularly in the kitchen. The Vestry is negotiating with an architectural firm for a survey that would enable us to see work on our buildings in the context of an overall plan. Other programs "in the works" are various approaches to marriage support and enrichment, an Alpha Course to start next January or February, and plans for a Vacation Bible School to run concurrently with Camp Accokeek next summer. We also expect "homeschoolers" to make use of the Parish Hall from time to time.
|
||
|
[Home]
[About Us]
[Events]
[News]
[Letters]
[Newsletter1102]
[Arpee091902]
[Arpee090102]
[easter2002]
[newyears2002]
[newsletter0103]
[newsletter0703] [Links]
[Resources]
[Worship]
[Location] |
||