Page updated June 29, 2009
Christ Church on Capitol
Hill

620 G Street SE | Washington,
DC 20003 | fax 202.547.5098 | 202.547.9300
just 2.5 blocks south of Eastern Market Metro



Join us for the 4th of July Picnic in the Courtyard at 4 pm
 Join
in a relaxed picnic celebration of the Fourth with lots of good food
and fellowship. Then walk down to the Mall to enjoy the fireworks.
In case of
rain we will picnic in the parish hall. We will gather
in the courtyard beginning at 4 pm. You bring the Side Dishes and
Desserts. The church will provide the Hamburgers, Hot dogs, Veggie
Burgers and Drinks.
Kids, bring your swimsuit for the slip n
slide!

The Grammy-nominated Northwest Boychoir from Seattle will present a
public concert July 6 in Washington, DC as part of its two-week
Summer 2009 East Coast Concert
Tour.. This concert will feature the 40-member Northwest Boychoir
performing a program of classical choral works by Vivaldi, Mozart,
Mendelssohn, Casals as well as traditional American patriotic and
folk songs.
"This is truly one of the best American children’s choirs I’ve
heard."
-Martin Neary, Westminster Abbey, London
"It has been a great pleasure during my years as music
director of the Seattle Symphony to often work with the
Northwest Boychoir. They are a superb ensemble; wonderfully
trained by their extremely gifted music director, Joseph Crnko.
I actually go out of my way to try to find works that
incorporate a boys choir so that I can work with these talented
young men and they always have all of my support."
-Gerard Schwarz, Music Director, Seattle Symphony
The free public concert:
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7:30 pm, Monday, July
6 at Christ Church + Washington Parish
620 G St. SE on Capitol Hill.
Just steps from Eastern Market Metro and Barracks Row.
Free-will donations will be accepted to benefit the church's Organ
Fund.
NW Boychoir sound sample:
http://www.northwestchoirs.org/assets/media/sample/NorthwestBoychoirDemo.mp3

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click here for the daily office calendar















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Click here for the weekly schedule and announcements
Christ Church is on a pilgrimage
to become a welcoming, diverse, thankful, and joyous Episcopal community
of faith committed to nurturing its members and neighbors through
worship and service. Please join us.

Click here for a panoramic view of the interior of Christ Church
Christ Church + Washington Parish
is part of Region 1 of
the Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Cathedral Calendar Upcoming Events at Washington National Cathedral

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8:15 am |
Holy
Eucharist followed by Breakfast |
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9:45 am |
Adult Forum
(Parish Hall) |
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11:00 am |
The
Holy Eucharist Rite II --- Sunday School (Upper
Rooms) |
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12:00 pm |
Coffee hour
in the parish hall |
Staff
click on any of the names below to send an
e-mail

The
Reverend Martha E. Wallace,
Interim Rector
The
Reverend
Doctor Bill Doggett, Associate Rector
Richard Thibadeau, Director of
Music Ministries
Charlotte Cantrell Doran, Coordinator for Sunday School and Nursery
Programs
Gerry Connolly, webmaster
Elizabeth Eby and Vera Phillips,
Nursery Workers
The Kevin Lindsay Family,
Sextons
Christ Church
Vestry Information
The Final Version of the Vestry's five
year strategic plan for Christ Church is now
available. The plan's purpose is
to provide a vision for what we hope Christ Church will
be and become by the end of 2012 - and to set out a road
map for realizing that vision. The plan is available in two formats:
MSWord and
Adobe pdf.
Vestry minutes
for
2008 are available online
click here for a single pdf file with all of the posted 2008 minutes
bookmarked inside, so it is easy to get to any particular
month.
The minutes
for
January
2009 click here.
February 2009 Vestry minutes click here.
March 2009 Vestry minutes click here.
April 2009 Vestry minutes click here.
May 2009 Vestry minutes click here.
Click here for the "Norms of Vestry
Membership"
Vestry liaison assignments to activities and committees
can be read by clicking here.
Click here for Vestry responsibility for
Parish events.
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Special
links of interest to members and visitors of the Parish
Sid Neely took some photos at the Vestry Retreat
Sign up for Sunday ministries
The Search Committee
thanks all who attended the two Open Space meetings.
Our
facilitators were impressed with the energy at the meetings and the
obvious interest everyone is taking in the future of our parish. |
The Monday Night class is next venturing into the world of the Bible.
We are now beginning to read
'The Bible: A Biography'
by Karen Armstrong.
(click here to read an excerpt) The Bible is the most widely circulated book in history and
one of the most influential texts of all time. Over
centuries, the text has been revised, translated,
interpreted and re-interpreted. Today, the Bible's origins
remain uncertain, and its meaning is still debated.
In the latest in the Grove/Atlantic series,
Books
That Changed the World, religious affairs expert and
author Karen Armstrong weighs in on the text that became a
spiritual roadmap to billions.
Armstrong says that today scripture "has a bad name." She
writes, "If religion preaches compassion, why is there so
much hatred in sacred texts? Is it possible to be a
'believer' today when science has undermined so many
biblical teachings?"
Armstrong's previous books include
Muhammad: A Prophet for Our Time,
A History of God, and
Buddha.
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Volunteers needed to purchase groceries
for making homeless lunches for summer and subsequent months.
Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board. Cost is
reimbursable up to $100. Groceries usually cost a bit more than that. Linda Mellgren will provide you with the list and answer any questions. Questions? Contact Linda through the Church office.
Click
anywhere in the above text to get more information |
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The Gospel for
4th Pentecost
Mark 5:21-43
When Jesus had crossed
again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered around him; and he
was by the sea. Then one of the leaders of the synagogue named Jairus came and,
when he saw him, fell at his feet and begged him repeatedly, "My little daughter
is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be
made well, and live." He went with him.
And a large crowd followed him and pressed in
on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve
years. She had endured much under many physicians, and had spent all that she
had; and she was no better, but rather grew worse. She had heard
about
Jesus, and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak, for she said,
"If I but touch his clothes, I will be made well." Immediately her hemorrhage
stopped; and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.
Immediately aware that power had gone forth from him, Jesus turned about in the
crowd and said, "Who touched my clothes?" And his disciples said to him, "You
see the crowd pressing in on you; how can you say, `Who touched me?'" He looked
all around to see who had done it. But the woman, knowing what had happened to
her, came in fear and trembling, fell down before him, and told him the whole
truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and
be healed of your disease."
While he was still speaking, some people came
from the leader's house to say, "Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the teacher
any further?" But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the leader of the
synagogue, "Do not fear, only believe." He allowed no one to follow him except
Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they came to the house of the
leader of the synagogue, he saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly.
When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and weep? The
child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him. Then he put them all
outside, and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him, and
went in where the child was. He took her by the hand and said to her, "Talitha
cum," which means, "Little girl, get up!" And immediately the girl got up and
began to walk about (she was twelve years of age). At this they were overcome
with amazement. He strictly ordered them that no one should know this, and told
them to give her something to eat. |

A
Sophistication Gap
When he had entered, he said to them, "Why do you make a commotion and
weep? The child is not dead but sleeping." And they laughed at him.
Mark 5:39-40

I think we know what kind of laughter that was. It wasn't happy laughter,
the laughter of friends. It was bitter, this laughter. Sarcastic, bitter and
hopeless.
It's hard to come back to a place of trust once you've ventured into the
place of sarcasm, isn't it? Once you've activated your cynicism, it bleeds
quickly into every other part of you, including your heart, which promptly
snaps shut. You don't want to be caught trusting in anything too completely.
Don't want to look like a fool. Hah! you say, dripping derision from
the single syllable. Hah! you say again. Oh, puh-leeze! you
say, trying that one on for size. And it fits: you feel a little better
about your hopeless situation, a little more in control. At least you still
have your sophistication.
Jesus seems not to set much store by sophistication. He leaves all those
people outside, still laughing at him. He brings only those who are prepared
to love the bereaved parents and the little girl. In her room, a miracle
happens. And the only people there to see it are those who are willing to
look like fools because their longing is so intense they don't care how they
look.
It costs to keep your heart open. You look like a fool sometimes. People
think you don't know how the world works. They may feel sorry for you for
being such a bumpkin.
But there will be things you see that the sophisticates will miss. Grace can
be subtle, a matter of interpretation. Just imagine the people outside when
the little girl emerged, well and happy and hungry for her supper: Raised
from the dead? Oh, puh-leeze! I knew all the time that she was just asleep!
+
Copyright © 2009 Barbara
Crafton |
To the members
of our diocese: Due to the
outbreak of swine flu, the diocese would like to provide some
information that we hope will be helpful. We are not making specific
recommendations, and ask only that our parishes use their best
judgment as this situation develops.
Click here to read the
memo
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If
you would like to receive e-mail communications from Christ Church +
Washington Parish mailing list, please enter your email address below. We
look forward to keeping you informed of the activities and interests most
important to you. You may change your subscription or unsubscribe at any
time by following the link found at the bottom of every e-mail
communication.
Please enter your email address below to sign up for our mailing list.

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Click here for information for all CHGM events
Capitol Hill Group Ministry is beginning its
annual Backpack and School Supplies Drive.
This
year they are supplying lists of needed supplies and
asking that you volunteer to either fill or sponsor
a backpack. Information, supply lists and donor
forms are posted on the bulletin board by the office
door.
Join the Capitol Hill Group Ministry for the
All-Stars Party Night fundraiser at the Nationals
Park Diamond Club and support their efforts to
help the homeless on Capitol Hill. Tuesday, July 14,
7:00pm - 10:00pm (During the All-Star Game). Enjoy
batting cages with professional pitchers, tours of
Nationals Park and a chance to run the bases. Watch
the All-Star Baseball game in Hi-Definition.
Admission includes a delicious high-end baseball
dinner and two drink tickets. Tickets: $50 per
person / $25 per child (under 12) For more
information contact
Bruce Degn
or 202-486-8822
The Christ Church Profile, a descriptive booklet
about the parish and our community, has been
approved by Bishop Chane. The Diocesan
Deployment Office will now begin the process of
seeking resumes from those interested in becoming
our next rector. The Search Committee will be
working throughout summer and asks for your
continuing prayers for the committee and for our
parish.
The Search Committee reports that the raw data and
summaries of the Survey and the Open Space Meetings are
available on the website, and the Parish Profile will be posted
very soon. Click
here to keep track of the progress of the search.
The Outreach Committee has learned that local food banks are in urgent
need of donations.
Please bring canned vegetables and other suitable
non-perishable food products with you to church on Sunday. There will be
collection boxes in the Parish Hall and Narthex (near the G Street
entrance)
the Christ Church Men's Spirituality Group meets every
Saturday morning at 9:00 am
in the Christ Church kitchen. Calling all men: come and meet around the
kitchen table for fellowship, coffee (or beverage of choice), and light
breakfast. A great way to start the day and share your experience,
Christ Church gardeners are looking for tomato cage donations. If you
have a spare cage, please contact Robin Blackwood or through the Church
office. We have roto-tilled a nice size vegetable garden next to the
rectory. Volunteers are welcome. We want to remind everyone of the story
of the "Little Red Hen." A copy of the fable will be available on the
bulletin board somewhere near the sign up sheets.
Quilting is back every Monday night
at 7:30 pm
in the Upper Rooms. All are welcome.
Contact Linda Mellgren or Andrea Harles through the Church office.
Capitol Hill Group Ministry's Social Service Office
has been consolidated with
the Potomac Garden Office. Their address is 1227 G Street SE and
their new phone is 202.548.0548.
Christ
Church + Washington Parish presents the Northwest Boychoir in a Concert to
benefit the Christ Church Organ Fund, Monday, July 6 at 7:30 p.m. in the
Sanctuary. Admission is free. A Free-Will Offering will be taken.
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The
Annual Christ Church 4th of July Picnic begins at 4 pm in the Courtyard.
Burgers, Hot Dogs, Veggie Burgers, Buns and Drinks will be provided. Please
bring a side dish to share. Bring a swimsuit if you want to use the
Slip-N-Slide.
The Monday Night class is next venturing into the world of the Bible.
We are now beginning to read
'The Bible: A Biography'
by Karen Armstrong.
(click here to read an excerpt)
In the latest in the Grove/Atlantic series,
Books
That Changed the World, religious affairs expert and
author Karen Armstrong weighs in on the text that became a
spiritual roadmap to billions. Armstrong says that today scripture "has a bad name." She
writes, "If religion preaches compassion, why is there so
much hatred in sacred texts? Is it possible to be a
'believer' today when science has undermined so many
biblical teachings?"
Sunday School is at 8:15am and 11am.
All 8:15 students will meet in the first nursery room.
The Preschool Sunday School Class will continue with the
story of Daniel and the lions' den. Painting and
coloring will be done of the lions and the den. The
children will learn "Jesus Loves the Little Children".
Volunteers needed to purchase groceries
for making homeless lunches for summer and subsequent months
Sign-up sheet is on the bulletin board. Cost is
reimbursable up to $100. Groceries usually cost a bit more than that. Linda Mellgren will provide you with the list and answer any questions.
Questions? Contact Linda through the Church office.
Click
anywhere in the above text to get more information
The Parish and Rector's Discretionary Fund is used by Bill and Martha to
help people who come to us with needs
- like utility shut-off notices, to help with transportation, to prevent
eviction of families with children, etc. With many job losses, some
families' resources are no longer able to meet their needs. Increased
demands have drained the Discretionary Fund. People still need help, but
the clergy are having use their own funds or turn people away. If you
are able to help with a donation to the discretionary fund, Bill and
Martha would be most grateful, as they are grateful to all of you who
have donated to the discretionary fund in the past. Thanks you for your
generosity.
We give thanks for the following who celebrate their
birthdays in June: Jesse Carr, Connie Citro, Zach Denton, Laurie Gethin, Sarah Hatch,
Shannon Hembree, Jennifer Baker Howard, Pat Lusk, Lydia O'Brien, Coco
Provance, Charles Rubio and Isabel Walston.
We may not have your birthday on file. Please let the office know.
$1,600 is the cost per day to operate Christ Church.
Dollars & Cents (Plate & Pledge Offerings YTD):
Budgeted YTD: $132,500
Received YTD: $120,468 Received 6/21: $3,272
The Outreach Committee wishes to thank the parish for its recent
upsurge in weekly donations of canned vegetables and other suitable
non- perishable food products for local food banks. Please keep it up!
Also, please consider donating bars of soap, tooth brushes, toothpaste &
other toiletries. All donations are urgently needed and will be put to
good use. There are collection boxes in the Parish Hall and Narthex
(near the G Street entrance).
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Christ Church Prayer List
(click here)
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Click here to go to the
Prayer List |
Click here to send
an email to request your intercessions be added to or deleted from the Prayer
List.
The auto generation only works if you are using a program like Outlook, Windows
Live Mail, or Windows Mail
If you are using a web based email like gmail or hotmail you need to
add the following to your address line
christchurch@washingtonparish.org
and add this to your subject line Prayer List: Addition or Deletion
Prayer requests will be deleted after 4 weeks unless a request is made to
continue on the list longer.
A prayer of Thomas Merton - My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going.
I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end.
Nor do I really know my self, and the fact that I think I am following you does
not mean that I am actually doing so. I believe the desire to please
you does in fact please you. And I hope that I have that desire in all that I am
doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire.
And I know that if I do this, you will lead me by the right road, though I may
know nothing about it. Therefore, I will trust you always though I may seem to
be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me,
and you will never leave me to face my perils alone. " Amen
Thoughts in Solitude, New York: Farrar, Straus & Cudahy, 1958, p. 83
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ye olde web guy, Gerry Connolly,
click here to send him an email
Page updated June 29, 2009
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