CHRIST CHURCH WEEKLY A Newsletter for Members and Friends Tacoma, Washington: Good Friday, April 10, 2020
CHRIST CHURCH OPERATIONS DURING THE PANDEMIC
ALL GATHERINGS AT CHRIST CHURCH, INCLUDING FOR WORSHIP, ARE SUSPENDED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
ALL BUILDINGS ARE CLOSED: DO NOT USE YOUR KEY TO ENTER CHURCH, WELLS HALL OR TRINITY HOUSE.
PARISH OFFICE IS CLOSED TO ALL VISITORS UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE.
OFFICE STAFF CAN BE REACHED BY EMAIL TUESDAY - FRIDAY 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
shannon@christchurchtacoma.org mary@christchurchtacoma.org
IN THIS ISSUE Financial Giving Survey Sustaining and Building Community in this time of Coronavirus Isolation Our Life of Worship and Prayer Includes Holy Week worship information
Our Life of Formation and Study
Our Life of Service and Advocacy Sign petition for persons at risk of homelessness. Reach out to service organizations needing help.
Christ Church Information
Links to Diocesan News and Informational Resources
FINANCIAL GIVING SURVEY
We understand the personal financial challenges of this time. We are also, of course, challenged as a parish. A short giving survey was emailed to all pledgers on Tuesday April 7. We simply need to know if you are able to continue your pledge at its current level, need to reduce or pause your pledge at this time, or are able to meet the needs of this time with an additional gift or by raising your pledge. This will help our leadership be good stewards of our resources. If you've already returned your survey, thank you! If you did not receive the survey, please check your spam or junk mail folders. If you don't find it there, please contact Shannon Farley: shannon@christchurchtacoma.org
More financial news below in Sustaining and Building Community.
SUSTAINING AND BUILDING COMMUNITY IN THIS TIME OF CORONAVIRUS ISOLATION
RESOURCES:
GO TO THE PARISH WEBSITE: christchurchtacoma.org
+ Click on Household Resources for Worship and Formation where you will find:
- Mother Janet's Letters to the parish
- Household Worship guides for Sundays and Feast Days
- Household Adult Formation Materials
- Links to Christ Church choir and organ recordings
Mother Campbell and Father Torvend are available for individual pastoral conversation by email, phone or Zoom. Contact them by email to set up a time:
janet@christchurchtacoma.org samuel@christchurchtacoma.org
Parish Practical Help Team: Need errands run, groceries, meals provided, medication pickup, etc.? contact Deacon Gen Grewell: ggrewell@ecww.org (email preferred) or call her cellphone 360-280-5593
Parish Telephone Check-in Team: Team members check in periodically with every parishioner, using the new 2020 Parish Contact Directory. We want to know how you are doing and if you have needs with which we can help.
To volunteer to help on either team, contact Deacon Gen Grewell, as above.
Our Ministry Continues + The buildings are cared for by Sexton Tim Williams
+ Office staff Shannon Farley and Mary Smiley continue to work from home
+ Mother Campbell, Father Torvend, Mark Brombaugh and Kathryn Nichols continue to work from home
+ Weekly Worship Resources are created and posted on the church website
+ Weekly Adult Formation Resources are created and posted on the parish website and Facebook page
+ Zoom gatherings are held for members and friends of the parish
+ Coordination of volunteers to assist members with errands continues
+ Formation for those to be baptized, received, or renewing Holy Baptism continues
+ Pastoral visits continue via telephone, email, and FaceTime or Zoom
+ Ways to help and serve are listed in this Weekly under Our Life of Service and Advocacy
+ Coordination with the Diocese of Olympia, Washington State and City of Tacoma offices continues
The Financial Challenge of this time
Giving declines when we are not meeting weekly for worship. Please keep your pledge and other regular giving current as you are able. If you have not filled out our short giving survey, please do so (see special panel above). If you have the capacity, this is the time to make a special gift to Christ Church. Use these ways to give to the ongoing work of Christ Church:
+ Online giving at christchurchtacoma.org
- Click on Give at the homepage
- Click on Give to Christ Church through Tithe.ly
- Follow the instructions and use either a credit card or bank transfer
- Questions? Contact Mark Brombuagh at mark@christchurchtacoma.org
+ Mail your weekly or monthly check to the parish office
+ We understand hardships. Please let us know if you are unable to meet your pledge. Contact Shannon Farley shannon@christchurchtacoma.org As always, thank you for your generosity and support of our common life and ministry.
The Vestry has applied for a loan through the Federal Government's Paycheck Protection Program. The loan will cover 2.5 months of payroll including benefits and utilities. If conditions of the loan are met (and they are easy for us to meet) the loan becomes a grant after 6 months. Our application was prepared by our COVID Financial Task Force (Christi McCarren, Gordon Craig, and Rod Blackburn) working with Treasurer Winfield Giddings, approved in a special Vestry meeting and submitted to Columbia Bank on Tuesday April 7, the very day the bank opened its application process.
The COVID Financial Task Force (see above) will continue to explore every opportunity to receive financial assistance from any quarter, including federal, state and local government, our diocese and the Episcopal Church.
Online Gatherings: Easy-to-use Zoom offers free online meetings of any length for computer, tablet and smartphone users. See and chat with Christ Church friends from your home. Go to Zoom.com to set up your free account.
2020 Parish Contact Directory: If you don't have a directory, contact Parish Coordinator Shannon Farley to receive one by email. If you aren't yet in the directory, let Shannon know. We will provide directory additions and updates in the Weekly as we receive them. shannon@christchurchtacoma.org
You can make additions and corrections in your .pdf copy of the directory by using the annotating tools which allow you to highlight, cross out and add text to the document.
HOUSEHOLD WORSHIP FOR EASTER SUNDAY: Find Easter Sunday's Household Worship booklet on our website here.
HOLY WEEK AND EASTER Worship in the Household for Good Friday and Holy Saturday and Easter Day are posted on our website.
Our Cathedral is live-streaming the Liturgies of Holy Week and Easter Day here: Good Friday 7:00 p.m. (April 10)
(and a simple service at noon) The Great Vigil of Easter 8:30 p.m (April 11) Easter Day 11:00 a.m. (April 12)
LITANY FOR ALL AFFECTED BY THE CORONAVIRUS on our website here.
SERMONS preached at Christ Church are posted on our website christchurchtacoma.org and can be accessed from the Worship page or by clicking this link on the homepage: SundaySermons Sermon posting will resume when liturgies resume.
THIS WEEK OUR PRAYERS ARE ASKED FOR: Members and Friends of our Community: Elin; Larry; Ross; Edie; Jannette; Dennie; Rob and Mel; Joanne; David and Lauren; Leslie; Lindsay; Ethan; Jan S; Barbara and Hank; Michael and Mary Kay Preparing for Baptism: James Tedrick and his sponsor Kevin Montgomery Those who have died:John Prine; Ellis Marsalis;The Rev. Susan O'Shea; The Rt. Rev. Barbara Clementine Harris; Jacqueline Farwell For all in need: For all affected by the novel coronavirus: for those treating the sick and those seeking to discover its cause and stop its spread. For all who risk their health to care for others by keeping essential businesses and resources open. For solutions for the crisis of homelessness. For progress in reversing global warming. For all affected by storms, flooding, wildfires and earthquakes. For all working to eliminate bigotry, racism and violence. For all serving in the military. Diocesan Prayer Cycle: St. James, Kent; St. Columba, Kent Anglican Prayer Cycle: Pray for the Peace of Jerusalem and the People of the Land of the Holy One. To request prayers in the prayers of the assembly e-mail mary@christchurchtacoma.org. If you are submitting a name other than your own, please ask permission from that person first. You must send the full name of the person in order for us to manage the prayer list, but first names only will be in the list of those in need. Last names will be used in the list of those who have died. Names remain on the list for four weeks, unless renewed by the one who submitted them.
OUR LIFE OF FORMATION AND STUDY
ADULT FORMATION
+ IT'S NOT ABOUT ME BUT ABOUT US: FRIDAYS DURING AND AFTER THE TIME OF PANDEMIC and
+ THE GIFTS OF ST. BENEDICT IN A TIME OF SOCIAL ISOLATION
both on our website here
MONDAY BIBLE STUDY - Contact Doug Dahlgren (habidoug@gmail.com) to see if the group is planning to meet by phone or internet.
THE MONTHLY READING GROUP - will meet on Sunday, April 26, at 6:30 p.m. on Zoom to discuss The Universal Christ by Richard Rohr. Everyone interested is welcome to attend. Contact Don Johnson at weddjohnson@msn.com for help with the Zoom connection.
CHILDREN’S FORMATION
SUNDAY SCHOOL is suspended until further notice.
OUR LIFE OF SERVICE AND ADVOCACY
IN COMMUNITY AND WORLD
THE ACTION NETWORK: PETITION TO ASSIST PERSONS WHO ARE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS
Our community is disproportionately out of work, with a stay at home order, panicking about looming rent/mortgages. We need Emergency Housing Protections NOW.
The Tacoma Tenants Organizing Committee along with the Washington State Tenants Union demand our representatives enact these policies now:
90-day Moratorium on Evictions, Foreclosures & Utility Shut-offs; Close the Loop-hole on Pay or Vacate Notices;
Three year Moratorium on Rent Increases;
Moratorium on Accumulation of Late Fees;
90-day Rent & Mortgage Freeze;
Protect the Safety of the Most Vulnerable, the Unhoused;
Push for statewide measures to uphold permanent protections of all tenants across Washington State:
Lifting the Constitutional Ban on Rent Control Enact statewide;
Rent Control similar to Oregon and California’s recent meas ;
SERVICE OPPORTUNITIES IN THIS TIME OF PANDEMIC Even with the Governor's stay at home order, there are many ways we can continue to serve the community around us by assisting organizations helping others: Food Banks, Homeless Shelters, Blood Banks, Animal Shelters. Donations and volunteers for various tasks (such as fostering a homeless pet in your home) are needed. Contact any service provider first by phone or website for guidance on the best ways to help and donate.
OUR LIFE CELEBRATING THE ARTS
THIRD FRIDAYS AT NOON CONCERTS - suspended until further notice. Please check our website for the latest updates.
CHRIST CHURCH INFORMATION
To subscribe to the Christ Church Weekly e-newsletter, fill out the Welcome Card in the pew back or contact the office at the address below. To submit an announcement for the worship bulletin or Weekly e-newsletter, send an electronic copy to Parish Coordinator Shannon Farley by TUESDAY NOON. Announcements may be edited for content or length.
Coronavirus Office Hours: Only for necessary business operations. Office staff available by email 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Tuesday-Friday.
VESTRY Mr. Dennis Johnson, Senior Warden; Ms. Linda Johnson, Junior Warden. Ms. Cynthia Anthony, Ms. Ciara Aylsworth, Mr. Eddie Bang, Ms. Susan Beer,
Mr. Rodney Blackburn, Mr. Tim Chen, Ms. Mary Hanneman, Mr. Robert Hicker,
Ms. Nancy Gow Knudsen, Ms.Vikke Pierson. Ex officio, non-voting: Winfield Giddings, Treasurer; Mary Smiley, Vestry Clerk
STAFF
The Rev. Janet Campbell, Priest in Charge janet@christchurchtacoma.org • 253-383-1569 ext 11 Usual office hours Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
The Rev. Samuel Torvend, Associate Priest for Adult Formation samuel@christchurchtacoma.org
The Rev. Robert Carver, Priest Associate;
The Rev. Bill Tudor, Priest Associate
The Ven. Gen Grewell, Deacon ggrewell@ecww.org
The Rev. Kathryn Nichols and Dr. Mark Brombaugh, Co-Directors of Music Ministries, music@christchurchtacoma.org
Mr. David Dahl, Director of Music Ministries Emeritus
Ms. Shannon Farley, Parish Coordinator shannon@christchurchtacoma.org • 253-383-1569 ext 18
Ms. Mary Smiley, Secretary/Receptionist
mary@christchurchtacoma.org • 253-383-1569 ext 10
Mr. Tim Williams, Sexton tim@christchurchtacoma.org • 253-310-5178
Ms. Emily Verdonk, Accountant accountant@christchurchtacoma.org Usual office hoursThursdays: 10:00 – 12:30
Ms. Karen Jeffery, Lead Nursery Attendant
Ms. Mary Smiley, Nursery Assistant
To report a pastoral emergency (a serious diagnosis, an accident, hospitalization, a death) please contact Mother Campbell as soon as possible. During office hours, call the office. If the emergency occurs after 2:00 p.m. on a weekday, or on a weekend or holiday, email Mother Campbell janet@christchurchtacoma.org and she will respond as soon as possible.
LINKS TO DIOCESAN NEWS AND INFORMATIONAL RESOURCES: Episcopal News Service (ENS): https://www.episcopalnewsservice.org/ -- electronic newspaper delivered to your inbox with news stories, responses to social and political events, and links to posts from various Episcopal bishops and leaders and from the broader church. Episcopal Church on Facebook: www.facebook.com/episcopal-news-service-260131260715544/
The Diocese of Olympia: www.ecww.org The Diocesan website.
Bishop Rickel’s Blog: www.bishoprickel.com
