February 2015

CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL

The youth choir went on a mission trip re-

cently to Epiphany Episcopal Church in Fairfax,

VA. I’m in the choir, and our mission was to help

their church launch a children’s choir. We arrived

on Saturday and spent the afternoon with the chil-

dren getting to know them and making them feel

comfortable and willing to sing with us. Around

10-15 kids came, and we had a great time be-

friending them. They were all happy, friendly, and

eager to learn—just a blessing to guide. We taught

them several short songs with hand motions that

went along with each one, and they sang them

with us at Sunday’s service.

Saturday night, I remember, we ate dinner

at the church. There were several round tables

but that was simply not fun, so we managed to fit

everyone (and their pizza) around one table. As

everyone was getting full, Owen, one of the chil-

dren of Epiphany, declared that he was a fifth

grader, and therefore knew everything about

math. Adam Compton immediately began drawing

on his napkin, and then tossed Owen a pen and the

napkin which now contained an intricate trig

problem. Owen stared blankly at it for a few mo-

ments before the rest of us came to his defense

claiming that no one wants to do math on Saturday

and that he would certainly be able to do it during

the week. Everyone laughed and the napkin lay

forgotten until I, unable to resist a challenge, did

the problem myself. It is said that events are only

as a good as the company you share them with,

and I was in excellent company all weekend long.

Sunday’s service was especially meaning-

ful to me as I could see our singing impact chil-

dren and adults alike. Our service had, I believe,

the most music they’ve ever experienced at their

church, and I could see the music enhance their

relationship with God that morning. The service

was an amazing conclusion to an equally amaz-

ing and rewarding weekend that I am so glad to

have participated in.

I love being in the youth choir at Christ

Church—I love to sing and I love the reason and

meaning behind our singing. But there are mo-

ments, many of which I experienced that week-

end, where I am simply so grateful for what I am

a part of. Our choir (under Keith’s leadership,

always) is on a constant mission to do good eve-

rywhere we can, and our mission at Epiphany

showed me, once again, the incredible people I

get to spend every week with. — Casey Duby

Casey Duby (second from left) is 15 years old. In

addition to singing in the CCE Youth Choir, she

loves dogs; to read, write, and play basketball.

A Mission to Do Good Everywhere We Can A Witness by Casey Duby

A Reflection on Time by the Brothers of the Society of St. John the Evangelist (SSJE) The SSJE is a monastic community of men giving their whole selves over to living the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

The monastic day is full of starts and stops as we navigate the many

elements of this life: we take time to work and to play, time to be alone and to

be together, time to study and time to pray. These activities are woven

throughout each day, individual threads that make up the whole, the fabric of

our days.

When we first arrive at the monastery, it can be hard to imagine that

these diverse strands of experience will come together to form a beautiful

tapestry. For many of us, our early days at the monastery felt more like a tangle

of individual threads. Time seemed to slow to a crawl some days, and on other

days it sped past! Despite all our expectations and preparations, it took time –

and our intentional cooperation with God and one another – for the threads of

this life to begin to come together.

Perhaps you know something of this challenge of bringing the various

elements of your life into a harmonious whole. Whether you feel a sense of

having too little time for all the demands of life, or whether you feel lonely

amidst too much time, God is calling you to connection. God wants us to use our

time not just wisely, but sacredly, in order to thrive. Learning to use our time

well, as God intended, does require us to be intentional about how we approach

our life, with all its diverse components. An important part of that intention is

being willing to be changed, by allowing God to select and weave together the

various threads of our lives.

Each new season of our lives will require us to adapt. Becoming a monk

means laying aside certain tasks or opportunities we had previously enjoyed

and picking up others. In the same way, becoming a parent alters what day-to-

day life looks like compared to the freedom of being a young adult. A new job

might require a new outlook or schedule. Retirement is another phase that

brings changes, including a new sense of identity. Each new stage of life closes

some doors and opens others. No matter what stage of life we are in, God’s

invitation is that we be intentional in how we use our time in order to discover

the abundance of life God desires for each of us. — SSJE

CHRIST CHURCH EPISCOPAL

Join our study on Sundays at 10:15 AM or visit

www.SSJE.org/time each day during Lent for videos

and reflections from the Brothers of SSJE.

Lent

Jesus is Nailed to the Cross By Kaitlin Bucci, 2013

SHARING OUR FAITH

A PRAISE FOR LENT

Jesus, like a mother you gather your people to you;

you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.

Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;

through your gentleness we find comfort in fear.

Your warmth gives life to the dead,

your touch makes sinners righteous.

Lord Jesus, in your mercy heal us;

in your love and tenderness remake us.

In your compassion bring grace and forgiveness,

for the beauty of heaven may your love prepare us.

- Anselm of Canterbury, 1109

Jesus Takes Up His Cross By Meg Gravely, 2013

The Body of Jesus is Placed in the Arms of His Mother By Claire Kepley, 2013

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Sharing Our Faith Christ Church Episcopal

Christ Church Episcopal * 5000 Pouncey Tract Rd * Glen Allen, VA 23059 * (804) 364-0394 www.christchurchrichmond.com

Sharing Our Faith

A Publication Dedicated to the Celebrations,

Successes and Gratitude of Christ Church Episcopal

The Circus Train Comes to Town

“For just a few minutes I wanted to feel like a child watching a circus train go by. I wanted to feel

the magic and wonder of that, and I think I wanted to feel like somebody big was holding my hand

right then and that I was being taken care of like a child….somehow.” — The Rev. Jan Walker

Do you remember Jan Walker’s Circus Train sermon? Or perhaps you are new to Christ Church and never heard it. Jan embodies the practice of speaking powerful and moving words. Softly. As our Assisting Priest (or “retired-priest-in-residence”), she often serves Christ Church from the pulpit, delivering her special brand of wisdom through stories filled with grace and humor. And now, our most modest parishioner has taken a very public step and published her first book! My Circus Train and other Stories and Reflections from Sermons was just released last December. Along with her circus train parable, Jan’s book is filled with many stories from her perspective of wife, mother, grandmother, friend and priest. She shares modern-day “once upon a time” vignettes that enlighten our lives and lighten our burdens. They are so filled with God’s grace and Jan’s quiet manner that you can actually hear her words as you read her prose. Jan’s first book- signing event will take place on Sunday, February 22, 3:00-5:00 PM at Short Pump Barnes and Noble. The store has ordered extra copies of her book to make sure they are enough for everyone. Jan will be there to autograph a special copy for all who come. Perhaps she will read this story as well:

It was a dark and stormy night. We were flying to Washington DC, and in the midst of the shaking and bumps, the captain came on the intercom and said, “We just shut off the number-four engine because we’ve been having some mechanical problems, but there’s nothing to worry about. This plane can fly with three engines safely. But you might feel reassured to know that one of your flight attendants told me that we have four bishops on board.”