Christ Church Chronicles, June, 2008

WORK DAY RESULTS

On Saturday morning, April 26, twenty-two parishioners gathered to do several physical tasks in and about the church compound. By noon the building and grounds had been given their spring refreshing.

Junior Warden Bill Daughton led the assault. His soldiers included Steve and Bette Shields, George and Judi Morawski, Bob and Joan Aronstam, Don and Linda Clift, Don and Patricia Oster, Father Larry Hooper, Bud Beechner, Pete Kinyon, Larry George, Don Siehr, Walt Eversman, Pat Stewart, Bill Silleck, Chuck Koerner, Virginia Lomax and John Carstens. The church Property Committee thanks all who worked.

GETTING TO KNOW OUR PARISH FAMILY

[Submitted by Judy Sandler, parish reporter]

The Gardner Family:

Mark, Tera, Carys and Lyla Gardner have been at Christ Church for only four months, but are already known to many other members. Mark and Tera are regular attendees at the Adult Forum, and we see all four in the 10 a.m. service every Sunday. The Army sent Mark, a Judge Advocate (attorney), to Fort Leonard Wood. That pleases the family because Tera's brother and family live not too far away, in Kansas City. They also consider themselves very fortunate to share a home with Tera's father, Bill Feldt. (Reporter's note: Bill's profile will appear in a future issue of the Chronicles.)

The University of Mississippi (better known as Ole Miss) is where Mark and Tera met. Tera earned her BSW (social work) there and Mark earned his BA in psychology and his JD (law). Tera's master's degree in Social Work comes from the University of Tennessee. Tera has worked in a variety of fields, ranging from psychiatric to hospice; she most enjoyed teaching undergraduate courses. Carys, age five, will begin kindergarten;

she is already busy taking swimming, cheerleading and ballet lessons. Lyla is deeply involved in being two. The fifth member of the family is an overly energetic Great Dane named Shiloh.

Tera loves to cook and Mark likes reading. He says that the favorite family reading material these days runs along the lines of Dr. Seuss and Fancy Nancy. They enjoy traveling, especially to the United Kingdom, home for Mark's family.

We are happy that the Gardners chose Christ Church as their place of worship and look forward to getting to know them (well, maybe not Shiloh) much better.

[Submitted by Linda Clift, parish reporter]

Linda Westmoreland and Lucas Westmoreland:

Linda Westmoreland came to Rolla from Springfield, Missouri nine years ago. She and her son Lucas, age seven, have been active members of Christ Church for the past two years; they say they feel very much at home here. They are both active in Sunday School and Wonderful Wednesdays. Linda has hosted coffee hour, and she has participated in ECW events. They have attended Hearth & Home gatherings.

Linda earned a Bachelor of Dental Hygiene degree from the University of Arkansas and the Doctor of Dentistry degree from the University of Missouri, Kansas City. She is a past president of the Rotary Club of Rolla. She has volunteered for dental missions in Venezuela and Honduras. Both Linda and Lucas enjoy traveling; they have been to many states as well as to Mexico and the Dominican Republic.

Lucas is active in soccer, gymnastics and basketball, and keeps busy loving and caring for the family's two pets, Baron, a miniature schnauzer, and Rogue, a long-haired cat. In her spare time Linda enjoys gardening and golfing.

JUNE BIRTHDAYS

June 1: Mary Wilkerson; June 2: Ethan Skyles; June 4: Jenni Erst; June 5: Catherine George; June 11: Marsha Ray, Rosalia Meusch; June 12: Jean McFarland; June 13: Jack McFarland; June 15: Hugh Stewart, Jared Schuman; June 16: John Winn; June 20: Ken Robertson, Lina Madison; June 25: David Fly; June 26: Jacob Siehr, If Orizu, Jr.; June 27: Brian Castle; June 30: John Meusch.

 PARISH PICNIC SUNDAY, JUNE 22

10 A.M. SERVICE TO BE HELD IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE PICNIC

The annual church picnic will be Sunday, June 22, at the Ber Juan Park shelter house near Splash Zone. The 10 a.m. church service will be held in the pavilion. (The 8. a.m. service will be held at the church.)

Please bring lawn chairs if you wish. The Parish Life Committee will provide the charcoal (and get the fire started), the plates and plastic ware, and canned drinks that will include soda, tea, lemonade and water. Attendees are asked to bring their own main dish ( hamburgers, hotdogs, whatever) and a large side dish, salad, dessert, to share. The Open Door people will be joining us. The plan is to eat about noon. Judi Morawski is in charge of games. Father Larry Hooper is bringing horse shoes to pitch. Linda Clift will take care of the table covers and the paper and plastic goods.

UNITED THANK OFFERING

JUNE 8

Dear Parishioners,

The semi-annual United Thank Offering Ingathering will be held on Sunday, June 8. You are invited to "count your blessings" in thanksgiving for large and small daily gifts from God that brighten your life and the lives of those around you. There will be special envelopes provided in the Sunday bulletin. If you cannot be there that Sunday, send it or bring it to the church so that it can be joined with the thank offerings of other Episcopalians. We had such a beautiful spring this year. The spring is just one of the many things I have to be thankful about.

The power of the UTO Blue Box is unlimited. Boxes are on the credenza in the Commons. Your prayers and offerings have built churches and schools, made needed renovations, fed the hungry, clothed the poor, provided shelter for the homeless, and provided care and support for those with physical, mental and emotional problems.

If you do not have a Blue Box to set aside coins whenever there is an occasion for thanking God, or you would like to know more about the United Thank Offering, please ask me. We need you! Regular, intentional thanksgiving can make a difference in your life as well as in the lives of those who receive your offering.

Yours in thanksgiving,

Pat Oster, Chruch UTO Coordinator

5 Viburnum Lane

364-6580

poster@rollanet.org

DO YOU KNOW. . .

--that the spring graduates at Missouri University of Science & Technology included Taylor Bass? Mr. Bass received a degree in Architectural Engineering.

--that the 2008 graduates at Rolla High School included Geoffrey Brewer?

He is a recipient of the Phelps County Bar Scholarship.

--that Choir Director Clarissa White wishes to thank a member of the Choir for important behind-the-scenes service? Judi Morawski has placed labels on the church's sheet music folders and cataloged the music library and placed it on a disk. She has divided the music by season. And, just as importantly, she is filing new music and returning music to the proper files after it is used.

--that current "Getting To Know Our Parish Family" photos are posted on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall?

--that Brian and Debbie Castle's new granddaughter, Reese Noelle, was born May 12? Reese joins her sister Madeline. Their parents are James and Laura Michelle Castle of St. Charles.

--that the regular Adult Forum will resume September 7? Any special summer forums will be announced in advance.

--that on Saturday, May 24, at the church, Father Larry Hooper conducted the Celebration and Blessing of Marriage of Andrea Nicole Juneau and Cole Robert Drussa? Andrea is the granddaughter of Merle and Judy Southern.

--that the next Vestry meeting will be Thursday, June 20, at 6 p.m. in the Library? (The executive committee will meet on Monday evening, June 9, two weeks prior to the Vestry meeting.

--that Kate Watterson says that Liam Jennings would like to extend a very heartfelt and sincere "Thank you" to everyone who made a donation, had their car washed, and helped with the car wash on Sunday, May 18? Liam and his friends washed about twenty-five cars and raised $591 to help cover the cost of the tuition for Liam's and Nathan Kramme's People to People Student Ambassador trip to Hawaii. A huge thanks to the Fleck family and also to Stuart Meusch, Carl Fahrenholtz, Jared Schuman, Joey Fleck and Mike Jennings. All the boys worked really hard to help Liam and Nathan, and they also had some fun. ALOHA.

--that Jeff Jennings has been selected to serve on the Rector Search Committee? (He replaces Mary Kaye Kramme, who resigned because she could not devote sufficient time to the task.)

VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL JULY 13-17

[Submitted by Jill Fahrenholtz]

Vacation Bible School is again in partnership with the Methodist Church for ages pre-kindergarten through completed Sixth grade. The theme this year is "God's Big Backyard." The school will be from Sunday, July 13 through Thursday, July 17, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Methodist Church, with dinners nightly at 5:30 p.m. We will need volunteers in all areas: crafts, storytelling, games, mission, plus registration and food helpers. Please let the church office know if you are interested in helping, or sign up when the Vacation Bible School signups are on bulletin boards. Registration forms will be available in next month's Chronicles, or on the credenza in late June.

EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN (ECW)

[Submitted by Virginia Lomax, 2007-2008 ECW President]

The Spring Salad Luncheon was a success. The anticipated profit was almost $1,900. We served about two hundred and were pleased to have positive feedback (pardon the pun) from our diners.

We were also asked for the salad recipes, so please write up and drop by the office the recipe for the item you brought, or email vlomax@fidnet.com . We will compile the recipes and make them available next year.

We completed a very busy 2007-2008 year of activity. Our thanks to those who served. Officers elected for 2008-2009 are:

President: Margaret Cossette; Vice President: Boo Eversman; Secretary: Chili Allen; Treasurer: Frieda Carstens. Activity chairs include Oma Carnahan (Apple Pies); Judi Morawski (Cookie Walk); Kate Watterson (Spring Luncheon).

More details about summer activities will be forthcoming. They will include a carry-in luncheon hosted by Gina Draker and a daytime Bible study group.

DAYTIME BIBLE STUDY

Daytime Bible study, sponsored by Episcopal Church Women, will begin Friday, June 13 at 10 a.m. in the Library. Hugh Stewart will lead the group, using the material he presents at the Wednesday evening Seasons of the Spirit study. Individuals are invited to take advantage of an opportunity to read and discuss the lessons for the following Sunday. All that is required is interest. There is no advance study and there is much good fellowship in the process.

MAY 15 VESTRY MEETING

[The following is a partial rendering of the notes of Gina Draker, Recording Secretary of the Vestry, by the editor of this newsletter.]

Don Madison (church Treasurer) provided a line by line review of the monthly financial report. He noted that total income is at 95% of budget, which meets expectations. Pledge income received is at 93%, which is close to the national average, and income that was not pledged is well above expectations. Although individual line items are above or below budget in some areas, overall expenses are right on budget (a budget that included a $13,000 deficit).

Madison's review of the Building Fund income was very positive, The situation is better than he has ever seen. Pledged giving is $6,000 above budget, and giving outside of pledges is $12,000 above. The situation is very healthy with a view to paying down the loans.

Ralph Wilkerson, chair of the Rector Search Committee, with input from several committee members, presented the Vestry the results of the Parish Survey. Ralph started by thanking the committee staff for the long hours spent on collating the information. In order to dispel any concern within the congregation, Father Larry added that the committee is working deliberately, appropriately, and on task at a proper pace.

The task now is for the Vestry to examine the survey, which will be used to prepare the parish profile. It will involve hard work re-thinking priorities. The emphasis, as in previous searches, is to move from a pastoral size church to a program size church, which requires a great shift in planning. Father Larry passed out some literature to the members of both the Vestry and the Search Committee for study and to use when interpreting survey results.

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