From the Rector:
 

   November is the month that our church year reaches completion. We often pay less attention to the ending of the year than its beginning, but actually there are two days at the end that are worth a little extra focus. Both have to do with the happy results of all that has come before. I refer to All Saints’ Day (November 1) and Christ the King Sunday (November 24).

   All Saints’ Day is sometimes considered a kind of harvest festival, celebrating the fruitful lives of all those who have been and are being transformed in Christ. The fruitful result of all Christ’s effort is a holy assembly—the saints of God. Some of those saints are at rest with God, and some saints are still alive on earth. These latter ones (including us!) are still ripening, as the fruits of the Spirit become more evident day by day in our lives. As for those who are at rest with God, well, what we know about them is expressed beautifully in various places in scripture. For example, “They are before the throne of God, and worship him day and night within his Temple.” (Rev 7:15) 

   We will actually celebrate these fruitful lives twice, first on Friday, November 1, at a midweek Eucharist at noon. All are invited! However, since many people cannot get to church at noon on a weekday, we will also observe the festival on the following Sunday, November 3. Both services that day will include remembering those dear to us, who have gone to be with God. We will thank thank God for their lives and ask God’s blessing on their continuing journey in Christ. You are invited to call or e-mail the office with any names you wish to have remembered. They do not need to be members of Christ Church, just people you love.

   The second day that has to do with the completion of all things is the final Sunday of the church year, usually called, Christ the King. It will be November 24 this year. Christ the King Sunday is especially important for a parish named Christ Church: it is our special day! Our worship will have some extra fanfare. The theme of the day is the ancient Christian certainty that Christ is become the ruler of all things. This “gracious rule” of Christ is also a fruit of Christ’s labors. Christ’s coming into the world, his struggles and resurrection, and the sending of the Holy Spirit all result in this mysterious reality, that Christ is Lord of all. It is the grand finale of the whole story of Jesus.

   So November is the month for reflecting on God’s splendid harvest, which—important to remember-- includes us!  It is appropriate then that in November we also take time to reflect on our personal stewardship of the many gifts of God. November 24 will be Stewardship Sunday this year. All are asked to make a pledge for next year’s giving, on cards you should be receiving on or before that date. These cards will be presented at the offertory along with our
other gifts. After the 10 AM service, the cards are burned, to symbolize that each pledge is a matter between God and the individual. We will not dun anyone for payment, trusting rather to the generosity that God stirs up in the hearts of our members—your support is greatly appreciated!

   Last but not least, greatly appreciated also is the work of our new newsletter editor, Eric Christiansen. Eric and his wife Deb started attending Christ Church earlier this year. Eric has impressive skills in graphic design, which he has volunteered to share. This issue is his first fruits. I look forward to more to come, a welcome harvest in its own right! Thank you, Eric.

Blessings too to all our friends and members, yours faithfully,

Donnel O’Flynn+

November  Vestry Minutes

Present:  Fr. Donnel O’Flynn, Jesse Newby, Julie Crandell, Colby Wood, Sam Detwiler, 
Don Amundson, Kurt Larson, Holly Ward, Kathy Larson, Nancy Faure, Larry Taylor.

Reflection:  Julie read from Sabbath.

Clerk Report:  Holly moved, Don seconded and minutes were accepted.

Treasurer Report:  Payroll reports have been submitted.  The YTD balance deficit of $1451.75 is better than last year!  Sam’s report was unanimously accepted.

Thanks were given to Colby for arranging our dinner.

Reflection:  Reading from Sabbath.

Worship Committee Notes

October 26, 2019 at 9am

Attending: Peg Stout, Nancy Faure, Lisa, Dan, and James Prickett, Fr. O’Flynn, Barb Myers.
 

The Prickett family discussed some of their experiences with liturgical planning, music direction, art with their previous Anglican communities, and their preference for Anglo-Catholic traditions. Welcome new members of our planning group! After an opening prayer, we reviewed the summer services and planned for the coming liturgical year.

Summer and the Season of Creation:  Feedback received from members was positive about the move to one 9am service throughout June, July and August.  The music was enjoyed and missed when it was not available for the service. Fr. Donnel will discuss this with Craig Hodges, our music director.  Booklets for Alternate Service were used for 6 weeks ,with introduction to this by Fr. Donnel.  There were no complaints, and appreciation for the use of gender sensitive pronouns.  The Season of Creation focus was appreciated, beginning with the outside service, to the music for each service.  For Father Donnel, it made each week an interesting and special unique service. We agreed that the Basil Cross service is a great tradition to continue.  Next year, he will discuss planning for the Season of Creation with our new Bishop Marty, then “full speed ahead for 2020”.

Coming Season of Advent and Christmas:  Fr. Donnel met with Craig to discuss coming liturgical events and his work on the new organ.  It is hoped to bring the organ on line on the Feast of Christ the King on Nov. 24.  This Sunday is also Stewardship Sunday.  We will enter the church flying our banner behind the cross, and a trumpet may be used during the service.  Dan Prickett plays the trumpet and will work with Craig on planning for music. We will have a special cake for coffee hour (thanks Peg).
Advent season begins on December 1.  We will offer a Family Advent Evening at Christ Church on December 4 at 6pm.  Evening prayer and a soup supper will be followed by a special “make and take” family Advent activity. The Prickett family will lead the activity. 

Nightcap for the Soul is on December 8.  Christmas Caroling on the Trolley is planned for Thursday, December19.    Father Donnel may be in Haiti from December 11-21; Father John David will lead the services on December. 15

We will have a Quiet Day on Saturday, December 14 from 10-2pm and planning is in process.   The Greening of the Church will be completed on December 15, with preparations on Saturday, December 14.  Decorations will again focus on simple, but beautiful, as last year.  Peg and Nancy are working on this.

Christmas:  Services on Christmas Eve will be at 4pm for the Children’s Eucharist Service, and 10:30pm for Midnight Mass.  Music hopes to showcase the new organ, and we will not do Lessons and Carols for the service but use printed lessons in leaflets.  Improvements from last year include:  having a rehearsal for Midnight service with acolytes lighting candles,  a slower transition from Silent Night to ending/recessional song.  Acolytes will light candles from back to front for Silent Night.

12 Days of Christmas:  On December 29, there will be no 8am service, as it is a 5th Sunday and a pot luck brunch. January 5 will perhaps use a special service called the Star Mass, that Dan and Fr. Donnel will look at.  There will be an Epiphany Eucharist Service at Noon on January 6.

The Annual Meeting is on January 26.

We are working on offering another workshop on Hildegaard in February.

Next meeting of the Worship Committee is January 11, Saturday at 9am.

Submitted by:  Barb Myers

Youth Notes

October 26, 2019 at 9am
   Gods peace to you all!  
 

   Youth group has been going for two months now. It is a wonderful group of young people to work with!  We also have the BEST adult volunteers!!! I feel blessed to be your youth director!

   November brings us our first youth retreat with another group.  On Saturday, Nov. 2nd we are meeting other youth from Holy Spirit Missoula at Camp Marshall. Due to this retreat there is  NO youth group on Nov. 3rd.  We will have youth group at the normal time (5-7 pm) 
on Sunday, November 10th and Sunday, November 24th.  (No youth group on the 17th, as my family will be on vacation.).

   Every week we begin with sharing dinner together.  If you’d like to provide this meal for us the sign up sheet is in the Narthex or you contact me.

   Thank you again for your support of youth ministry.

   God bless!

   Janelle Fuller

November Birthdays & Anniversaries

  BIRTHDAYS

November

11 - 2  Monica Desjean
11 - 4  Camas Carlson
11 - 18  Max Hawley



ANNIVERSARIES

November

11 - 6  David and Sharyn Curtis

Special Events

Friday, November 1
 -  All Saints’ Day
 - Holy Eucharist 12:00 Noon.  
 - Preparation of Stewardship Mailing, 12:30 pm

Saturday, November 2
 -  Fall Clean-up Day
 - 9:00 am until finished.  

Sunday, November 3
 -  All Saints’ Sunday
 - Remember: Daylight Savings Time ends !!!

Sunday, November 10
 - Nightcap for the Soul,  8:00 pm

Sunday, November 17
 - Special Guest at coffee hour, Annie B.

Sunday, November 24
-  Christ the King Sunday