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8:00 a.m. Service Moving to the Church
Last summer, Ventana School undertook renovations to the Chapel with the intention of our sharing the space more fully moving forward. Our 8:00 a.m. service met temporarily in the Church while the work was underway and returned to the space in the fall. Additionally, with the Chapel becoming more flexible, we have been able to hold a weekly contemplative prayer group there as well as our weekly Ventana Choirster rehearsals. After a few weeks living into worshipping in the Chapel, and much prayerful discernment on the part of Rev. Claire and those who regularly attend the 8:00 a.m. service, we will be holding both of our Sunday services in the Church this Sunday, January 6, and for the foreseeable future. A special thank you to Andrew Davis, Christopher Smith and Sara Boadwee who volunteered to be part of our Chapel transition team over the past several Sundays. If you have any questions about this or would like to discuss this decision, please reach out to Rev. Claire.
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This Sunday
- We welcome the Rev. Kacei Conyers as our celebrant at both services. Rev. Kacei was a classmate of Rev. Claire's at Yale Divinity School and was recently appointed as the Episcopal Chaplain to Stanford University.
- Sunday Worship: 8:00 a.m. Eucharist in the Church; 10:15 a.m. Choral Eucharist in the Church; Creative Holy Play for preschool through pre-teen during the 10:15 a.m. service; Youth Group meets after the 10:15 a.m. service.
- Choir Rehearsal: 9:00 a.m. in the Church
- The Forum: 9:00 a.m. in the Fireside Room. We continue with our exploration of spirituality and the brain through a wonderful Great Course, The Spiritual Brain: Science and Religious Experience. Last week's video reflected on faith development using James Fowler's Stages of Faith as a framework. If you're interested, we have this book available to borrow in the offices and you are welcome to come get a copy. In the conversation that followed, Rev. Claire made reference to a couple books -- My Stroke of Insight, by Jill Bolte Taylor, and This Is Your Brain on Music, by Daniel Levitin -- which some folks expressed interest in reading. This week's episode explores "The Myth-Making Brain." All are welcome!
- Coffee Hour: in the Parish Hall following the 10:15 service
- Convivium Rehearsal: 5:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall
- AA: 8:00 p.m. Co-Ed Step Study Group in the Fireside Room
- Sunday's lesson can be found online by clicking here.
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Upcoming Events
Twelfth Night Celebration -- Tomorrow!
 Contrary to popular beliefs, the Twelve Days of Christmas do not precede Christmas. In the liturgical season of Christmas, December 25, is the first day and the Twelfth Day of Christmas is January 5. It is an old English tradition to celebrate the Twelfth Night of Christmas with feasting and parties, including choosing a King and Queen to rule over the festivities. This is a tradition we have embraced and followed for many years at Christ Church. Please join us this Saturday, January 5, 6:00-8:00 p.m. to celebrate Twelfth Night. Bring your children and grandchildren, and a hearty appetizer or a dessert to share. We will drink wassail, sing carols, and reprise our medieval Herod Play. We then will follow the Magi into the church for a short candlelight service. Don’t miss this special evening!
Understanding and Recovering From Loss
Everyone experiences loss at some time in life. Whether you are grieving the loss of a spouse, family member, friend, job, or health, or are caring for someone who is, understanding your grief and your reactions to it is not easy on your own. The Rev. Jani Wild will be hosting a grief class at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in Saratoga (Room 40), Thursdays, January 10-February 28, 7:00-8:30 p.m. Together we will look at the steps of grieving and how to begin to move on beyond loss. We will use the book How To Recover from Loss: Understanding and Recovering from Grief by Robyn Ledwith Mar. Its message of survival, recovery, and hope for a new life will bring comfort to anyone who is grieving. It can help lift the burden of grieving for your loss. Please contact The Rev. Jani Wild at jwild@st-andrews.org if interested or if you would like more information.
Annual Parish Gathering to be held on January 27
Please mark your calendar for Christ Church's Annual Gathering immediately following the 10:15 a.m. service in the Parish Hall on Sunday, January 27. Every year in late January the entire parish is invited to come together to reflect on the year that has passed and look ahead to the year to come. This is an opportunity to hear from various parish leaders about our ministries, get an update on our finances, elect new vestry members and delegates to Diocesan gatherings, and - importantly - enjoy a delicious meal together. It is also a time to bring your own questions, hopes and dreams for discussion. Music and table conversation will be interspersed around the reports, though we intend to keep the meeting shorter this January than last. Also new this year: we intend to have the Annual Report prepared by Sunday, January 20, in the hopes that making this available to parishioners ahead of time will allow you to come prepared and informed to this important and inspiring gathering. Please feel free to reach out to Rev. Claire or any member of the vestry with questions.
Evensong Celebrating Those Married or Partnered 50+ Years
On Sunday afternoon, February 10, Grace Cathedral and The Rt. Rev. Marc Handley Andrus, Bishop of California, invite couples who have been married or partnered for 50 years or more to celebrate their years together. This festal Choral Evensong will be sung by the Cathedral Camerata. Couples are invited to renew their vows to each other during the service, and the bishop will pronounce God's blessing. For more information and to receive an invitation, please click here.
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Save The Date - Upcoming Events
Sunday, January 13: Vestry Meeting
Sunday, January 27: Parish Annual Meeting; Vestry Meeting following Parish Meeting
Sunday, February 3: Parish Dinner Potluck with speaker Sukey Bryan
Saturday, February 9: Rise Against Hunger Meal Packing Service Event
Sunday, February 10: Scout Sunday Pancake Breakfast; Ventana School Choristers since with the Parish Choir at the 10:15 a.m. service
Sunday, February 24: Vestry Meeting
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