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Parish Life

PARISH NOTES for February 5, 2012:
A warm welcome to all who worship with us this morning. You bless us with your presence! If you are new to our church, we invite you to fill out the Welcome card on the back of the pew in front of you. Please include your children and their ages. After the liturgy, please join us downstairs for coffee and fellowship.

Childcare for children from birth to 4 years is available Sundays in the Nursery. Please ask one of the ushers or greeters for directions.

Please remember to turn off cell phones while in church.
If one moves in and out of the nave of the church, we invite you to move during the singing of a hymn.

WORSHIP MINISTRY
Sunday Service Schedule: 8:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist, Rite I; 9:15 a.m., Family Eucharist; 11:15 a.m., Sung Eucharist
Morning Prayer: 9:00 a.m., Monday-Friday (Chapel)
Wednesdays in the Chapel: 7:00 a.m., Holy Eucharist; 9:00 a.m., Morning Prayer; 12:00 noon, Holy Eucharist with Laying on of Hands and Healing

FAITH IN ACTION
Souper Bowl Sunday Today: The youth are collecting dollars and soup cans to help fight hunger. Churches and youth groups across the country will participate in this Souper Bowl. Thank you for supporting this outreach project!



Did You Know? According to the Connecticut Food Bank, 1 in 7 people in Connecticut cannot afford to buy the food they need. The Connecticut Food Bank distributes food and other resources to approximately 600 local emergency food assistance programs in six of Connecticut’s eight counties: Fairfield, Litchfield, Middlesex, New Haven, New London and Windham.

What You Can Do: Join us on Wednesday, February 8, at 10:00 a.m. for a tour of the Food Bank to learn more about local needs and operations. The Fairfield Warehouse is located at 74 Linwood Avenue, Fairfield. Contact Wynne Abrams or 203/227.9210, with any questions.

And please join us for our next Faith in Action Steering Committee meeting: Monday, February 20, 7:00 p.m., Brandon Room. Contact: Dawn Sullivan, Rod Rodriguez, or Ann Marshman.

EDUCATION
Church School and Middle School Discussion Group: Parents are encouraged to walk their children to and from Church School classes. Age 4-Kindergarten meet in the Servery Classroom, Grades 1-3 in the Undercroft, Grades 4 and 5 in the Tower Classroom. Middle School Discussion Group is in the Brandon Room. Please head to class immediately after the 9:15 service so that Church School can start on time.

Kerygma Bible Study with the Rector: Fridays, 9:30 a.m. in the Tower Classroom/Vestry Room. This is for all wanting to learn and grow in the life of the Spirit. No previous Bible study is required.

PARISH LIFE
Copies of the Annual Report and the Rector’s Annual Address are available at the rear of the church.

Please pick up your pledge envelopes from the cloisterway (door on the right facing the chancel) to save mailing costs.

High School Youth Group: Curling with Robert Kwan, February 12, 4:30 p.m. Email Kimberly or call 203/ 858.9323.

Valentine Tea for All: Tuesday, February 14, 3:30-5:00 p.m., in the Servery. Please drop in for fellowship offered by the Pastoral Care Committee! Saugatuck Church members have been invited to join us. RSVP to the church office if you wish or to request a ride. 203/227.0827 or Marilyn.




Foundations Class: Adults who would like to know more about “the meaning of being a Christian,” of being part of a church, of being a member of the Episcopal Church, and of being a member of Christ & Holy Trinity are welcome to join a new class of seekers called “Foundations.” In preparation for Confirmation and Reception into the Episcopal Church (and for those interested in learning more about Christianity, the Church and faith), this class provides important information and the experience of being in community. If interested, please speak with the Rector.

Openings for Board Members and Host Families in the ABC Program: A Better Chance of Westport, the local chapter of a national program bringing underserved scholars to live in prep schools or communities with nationally ranked high schools, is developing its Board of Directors for 2012-2013. There are a number of positions available that can be handled on your own schedule, and monthly Board meetings are in the evenings which is helpful for those who work full time. If you are curious about what positions are available, please email Catherine Davis. Host Families include a scholar in their family life each Sunday and one weekend a month. If you would like more information on this program or to talk to a current host family, please email Nancy Yates. Learn more about us on our website.

Camp Washington, a unique ministry of our Diocese, is set in Litchfield County on 300 acres of woods, pond and open areas. It offers camp experiences including teen, performing arts, camping skills, outreach leadership, mini camp and general camp programs and horseback riding lessons for ages 5-17. For more information, please visit their website.
 



MUSIC MINISTRY
The Communion Anthem at the 9:15 a.m. service this morning, Jesus, Lamb of God, was composed by Gerre Hancock, one of America’s most distinguished sacred musicians. Dr. Hancock, known for his artistry, optimism and love of people, passed away peacefully on January 21, 2012 in Austin, Texas. From 1971 to 2004, Dr. Hancock was the beloved Organist and Master of the Choristers at St. Thomas Church Fifth Avenue, New York City, where a memorial Choral Requiem Eucharist was celebrated yesterday. The Parish Choir sings Dr. Hancock’s setting of the Agnus Dei text this day in his memory and in thanksgiving for his significant contribution to 20th and 21st-century American sacred music. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine [Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord].

Choir Warm-ups Next Sunday:
8:30 a.m. Elementary Choristers, Middle Choristers
10:30 a.m. Senior Choristers, Parish Choir

Voces8, March 4 at 4:00 p.m. The slick London-based a cappella octet, described as “two parts King’s Singers, three parts Swingle Singers, a dash of Bobby McFerrin and California sunshine,” sings repertoire ranging from 13th-century polyphony to unique jazz and popular songs. Tickets ($35 preferred seating; $25 general adult; $10 general child under 18) are available in the office during the week or on the website. Tickets at the door are $5 more. After the concert, all are welcome to a reception in the Great Hall hosted by Women’s Spirituality and the Vestry.

HEALTH MINISTRY
Zumba Gold continues February 13 with Elin! Back by popular demand, Elin will be with us in the Great Hall Mondays, 10:30-11:30 a.m. Fun and jazzy, this form of dance exercise is geared for the young at heart who might like a slightly slower pace to their workout. We welcome those new to Zumba and those who are returning. $10.00 fee per class. Please email Debbie Thomas, if you plan to attend.

IN SERVICE TODAY:
Hospitality: 
   Susan Bartlett, High School Youth Group
Greeters:  
   8:00 a.m. 
   9:15 a.m.  Halle Foster, Mary Foster
   11:15 a.m.  Susan Marshall
Minister of Communion:  
   8:00 a.m.  Maribeth Payne
   9:15 a.m.  Fiona Hodgson, Ralph Yearwood, Sylvia Corrigan, Ann Marshman
   11:15 a.m.  Joyce Mueller, Trish Maskell
Reader:
   9:15 a.m.  Seth Woodhouse
Acolytes:  
   8:00 a.m.  Cappy Kuhn
   9:15 a.m.  Sierra Andrews, Sydney Andrews, Shane Cooper
   11:15 a.m.  Chris Mombello, Harry Graham
Ushers:  
   8:00 a.m.  Bruce Gaylord
   9:15 a.m.  Keleigh Brockman, Jennifer Brockman, Howard Barlow, Diane DiCunto
   11:15 a.m.  Julie Mombello, Michael Mombello
Music:  
   9:15 a.m.  Parish Choir
   11:15 a.m.  Section Leaders
Altar Guild:  Kathy Balas, Cheryl Buck, Lica Cole, Betty Ann Jones, Pamela Miano, Darcy Sledge, Janet Wolgast, Mami Varghese

THE FLOWERS
The altar flowers are given to the glory of God and in loving memory of my parents, Isabella and H. Edward Tyers, as they celebrate their wedding anniversary in God’s care, from Dorothy McAteer; and in loving memory of my father, Wilfred Oscar Viery, from Kathleen Viery.

Collect
Traditional
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins and give us, we beseech thee, the liberty of that abundant life which thou hast manifested to us in thy Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Contemporary
Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 40:21-31
Have you not known? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? Have you not understood from the foundations of the earth? It is he who sits above the circle of the earth, and its inhabitants are like grasshoppers; who stretches out the heavens like a curtain, and spreads them like a tent to live in; who brings princes to naught, and makes the rulers of the earth as nothing. Scarcely are they planted, scarcely sown, scarcely has their stem taken root in the earth, when he blows upon them, and they wither, and the tempest carries them off like stubble. To whom then will you compare me, or who is my equal? says the Holy One. Lift up your eyes on high and see: Who created these? He who brings out their host and numbers them, calling them all by name; because he is great in strength, mighty in power, not one is missing. Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel, “My way is hidden from the Lord, and my right is disregarded by my God”? Have you not known? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

Psalm 147:1-12, 20c
1 Hallelujah!
How good it is to sing praises to our God! *
how pleasant it is to honor him with praise!
2 The Lord rebuilds Jerusalem; *
he gathers the exiles of Israel.
3 He heals the brokenhearted *
and binds up their wounds.
4 He counts the number of the stars *
and calls them all by their names.
5 Great is our Lord and mighty in power; *
there is no limit to his wisdom.
6 The Lord lifts up the lowly, *
but casts the wicked to the ground.
7 Sing to the Lord with thanksgiving; *
make music to our God upon the harp.
8 He covers the heavens with clouds *
and prepares rain for the earth;
9 He makes grass to grow upon the mountains *
and green plants to serve mankind.
10 He provides food for flocks and herds *
and for the young ravens when they cry.
11 He is not impressed by the might of a horse; *
he has no pleasure in the strength of a man;
12 But the Lord has pleasure in those who fear him, *
in those who await his gracious favor.
Hallelujah!

Epistle: 1 Corinthians 9:16-23
If I proclaim the gospel, this gives me no ground for boasting, for an obligation is laid on me, and woe to me if I do not proclaim the gospel! For if I do this of my own will, I have a reward; but if not of my own will, I am entrusted with a commission. What then is my reward? Just this: that in my proclamation I may make the gospel free of charge, so as not to make full use of my rights in the gospel. For though I am free with respect to all, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I might win more of them. To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though I myself am not under the law) so that I might win those under the law. To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law) so that I might win those outside the law. To the weak I became weak, so that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that I might by all means save some. I do it all for the sake of the gospel, so that I may share in its blessings.

Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
Jesus left the synagogue, they entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law was in bed with a fever, and they told him about her at once. He came and took her by the hand and lifted her up. Then the fever left her, and she began to serve them. That evening, at sundown, they brought to him all who were sick or possessed with demons. And the whole city was gathered around the door. And he cured many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons; and he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him. In the morning, while it was still very dark, he got up and went out to a deserted place, and there he prayed. And Simon and his companions hunted for him. When they found him, they said to him, “Everyone is searching for you.” He answered, “Let us go on to the neighboring towns, so that I may proclaim the message there also; for that is what I came out to do.” And he went throughout Galilee, proclaiming the message in their synagogues and casting out demons.