IN THIS ISSUE Our Faith

We Celebrate

Our Life in Pictures

Our Youth

Our Programs

Our Outreach

Turning Points A central part of the journey of Lent is the concept of repent-ance. For some of us, repentance has become a dirty word, interchangeable with “feeling awful,” or “being ashamed.” In Hebrew the concept of repentance does have some sense

of feeling sorrowful for acts committed, but there is a greater emphasis on turning one’s heart and mind and actions into a dif-ferent direction. This turning is life-giving and grace-filled. Like a child who has run away from home in a huff, but then realizes that she can turn around and go back to the warmth and love of her family. In this sea-son we are given the chance to turn from the ways of fear and self-centeredness (the things that make us truly miserable), and turns toward God and our

community and the needs of the larger world. Below are some “turning points,” opportunities for us to head in new direction. February 22: Ash Wednesday Services: 7:30 a.m. – Traditional Service in the Chapel. Earlier for those heading into work. 5:30 p.m. – Family Service. Shorter service with children’s sermon. Imposition of Ashes. No Eucharist. Guest gospel choir from All People’s Lutheran Church. A simple meal will follow this service. No reservation necessary.   

Lenten Tuesdays: Practicing Our Faith & Kids Choir Throughout the Tuesdays of Lent, I will lead a study on the book, Practicing Our Faith: A Way of Life for a Searching People. The book provides ancient Christian practices that are relevant for our modern lives such as hospitality, for-giveness and healing. We will eat simple meal together, share the ups and downs of our lives together, and explore

CHRIST CHURCH

Messenger

A few scattered seeds...

February 12, 2012

We seek and serve Christ Winter 2012

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Christ Episcopal Church

5655 North Lake Drive

Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin 53217

414-964-3368

www.christchurchwfb.org

Our Faith told us about the extreme drought the country is expe-riencing and the water shortage in his village. Throughout the season of Lent we will be collecting funds for a clean water project for the people of Jean-nette Haiti. I look forward to traveling with you in the weeks ahead, as we intentionally turn and head even more deeply into the way of Christ: a way that frees us from shame and misery and nurtures a robust and eternal life.

Messenger Editors: Gretchen Mayo Beth Durant Cindy Gault Larry Moburg

ways to integrate our faith deeper into our lives. All are welcome. No cost (except for the book – please pur-chase on your own). Tuesday evenings starting Febru-ary 28th , five weeks, through March 27th. 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in the Great Hall. Bring a dish to pass (simple salads or soups or casseroles, no desserts please), or just bring yourself. To make your reserva-tion contact Kathy in the office at 414-964-3368 x224 or at Kathy@christchurchwfb.org. by Feb 23rd.

There will be a parallel choral program for kids ages roughly 7-12 led by Karol Rehm and Jenny Riggs. They will teach 2-3 hymns with gorgeous old anglican melodies (like Slane, Aberystwyth, and Weston) that are likely to ensconce themselves in the children's deep memories, and enrich and inspire their souls their whole lives. The children will probably learn a round to be introduce two-part singing. And they get started on an easy anthem for Mother's Day. If your children like to sing, this should be very fun, and they are likely to gain a bit of music theory and skill along the way. Contact Kathy in the office at 414-964-3368 x224 or at Kathy@christchurchwfb.org. by Feb 23rd.

Haiti: Water in the Wilderness For twenty-five year, the Diocese of Milwaukee has partnered with the Diocese of Haiti and particularly St. Marc’s parish, in the village of Jeannette. Fr. Wisnell Dejardin, from Jeannette, recently visited the U.S. and

IMPORTANT: March (Easter) MESSENGER deadline!

The submissions deadline for the next issue of the MESSENGER is Friday, March 2nd.

This issue, published before Easter Week and Easter (which falls on April 8, 2012), will be distributed to parishioners on Sunday, March 25.

Note: The last issue of the 2011-2012 school year will be published in

early June with a May deadline.

Christ Church

Seeking God's Grace; Sharing God's Joy

We worship together and we joyfully

welcome all people.

We embody Christ's love by serving others.

We nurture children in the knowledge and love of God.

We address today's concerns in the rich body of Christian tradition.

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Our Faith Not once did I set foot inside the sacristy during my first 25 years at Christ Church. Although I was curious about what went on there, I was somewhat in awe of that long narrow room behind the high altar. I would occasionally sneak a quick peak inside. The sacristy certainly seemed to be the “Holy of Ho-lies,” a room which only the clergy and a few devout parishioners could enter. This was definitely not for me. I knew that I couldn’t measure up to the “devout” part, and I was quite sure that I wasn’t “holy” enough to pass through its sacred portals. Of course that was all before I joined the Altar Guild 31 years ago. Now I know that those who frequent the sacristy are ordinary mortals—our devoted clergy along with those dedicated women of the Altar Guild who are trained to pre-pare the sacred vessels and linens for the Eucharist. There is much more to the work of the Altar Guild than meets the eye. Immediate-ly, I became aware of the terminology. Words like cibo-rium, paten, chasuble and lavabo bowl are part of the language of the Eucharist and also of the sacristy. The-se are Latin terms for the various vessels, linens and vestments used in celebrating the Mass—words passed down to us from the ancient church. The word sacris-ty—defined as a room in the church where sacred ves-sels and vestments are kept—is derived from the word sacred, a Latin word meaning holy, consecrated, set apart from the secular. An Altar Guild member must learn all these terms in order to function effectively. In addition, Altar Guild members must learn how to vest a chalice (communion cup) and to set out the prop-er vessels and linens for each service, and learn the cor-rect method for cleansing them afterwards. Other duties of the Altar Guild include maintaining the clerical vest-ments, vessels and linens in good repair and replacing candle, wafer and wine supplies. Members must be fa-miliar with the various seasons of the church year and their corresponding colors. Procedures are important. There is a right way to do everything, but minor chang-es in procedure occur now and then. Different seasons of the year, different priests and new trends within the

church can all bring about changes in basic ways of doing things. Altar Guild members are constantly ques-tioning one another, “How are we doing this now? Has this procedure changed?” and “How many of these should we use today?” are questions one often hears in

the sacristy. Even the most seasoned members of the Altar Guild never stop learning. Church festivals and holy days call for special preparations in both the church and the sacristy, as do weddings, baptisms and funerals. A memorable wedding almost 20 years ago was the marriage of former Bishop Roger and Pru White’s daughter, Susan-nah. During the festive ceremony, for-mer Rector Fr. Doug Tompkins, along with two members of the Altar Guild, managed to turn the good bishop from the father of the bride, regal in white tie and tails, into the officiating clergyman, dressed in his full bishop’s regalia. This

transformation occurred in the sacristy, and it was ac-complished in the time it took for the congregation to sing a hymn! These days the Christ Church sacristy does not seem as formidable as it once did. Parishioners float in and out with a question or a message for Seth or possibly a con-cern about the upcoming service. Choir members, cru-cifer and acolytes make their way through a corner of the sacristy to form the procession. Still a holy place, the sacristy now seems more relaxed—a place where everyone can feel comfortable. Throughout the centu-ries, priests and monks have traditionally served the church as sacristans, but in more recent years members of the laity perform these duties. Currently only women serve in the Christ Church Altar Guild, but a few men, notably Bob Staeck and Roger Senn, serve unofficial-ly. Perhaps these men and others will become official members some day. And perhaps you who are reading this might one day belong to the Altar Guild. Then you, too, will learn all the “secrets of the sacristy.” You already know some of them!

Jeanne. Birch

SECRETS OF THE SACRISTY What Really Goes On Back There?

Pam Eversfield and Carol Crowley in the sacristy.

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We Celebrate Currently hanging in the Wisconsin Museum of Quilts and Fiber Arts is my interpretation of a Celtic bird, a re-sponse to a tri-annual quilting chal-lenge from the Milwaukee Art Quilt-ers. Our most recent quilting chal-lenge was to make a quilted wall hang-ing that required only red cording to enter and leave the quilt. The rest was up to the artist. Inspired by the Celtic belief that the peacock has the ability to transcend earth and carry messages to heaven and return to earth with heavenly news, I wanted to demonstrate that journey and highlight the peacock’s finer qualities of guidance, protec-tion and watchfulness (he has all those eyes in his feath-ers). Legend tells us he is destined to do good works, but experience tells me, even divine destiny can be complicat-ed sometimes, too.

My plan was to create a calm, fine feathered friend, but my preconceived notion was soon dashed. The red cord-ing had to play into the picture, and the journey began.

If the cording had to be in the picture, I thought it could be draped over his feath-ers, but the feathers became rumpled. If the feathers were rumpled, the peacock would certainly look angry, so his expres-sion changed from compassion to irate. If his expression changed, I thought he would be tempted to tug at the cord with

his beak, so the cord became wrapped around his neck. If it were around his neck, he would certainly grab at it with his tal-ons, so his feet became en-twined. Once his feet were entwined, he became something I had not set out to make.

It was at this point that I realized the art had overtaken the artist. My pre-conceived notion of creating a calm, fine feathered friend was transformed

from a noble, transcendent messenger into an angry bird, thrashing about to be freed, unable to carry out his mis-sion. Like us, if my bird could have stopped fighting and laughed at his predicament, he could have been freed from his hopeless battle with the cord.

As art sometimes overtakes the artist, the journey some-times overtakes our life, and well laid plans. We know our destiny, and nobly struggle to carry out good works, but we sometimes become entangled in the olio of life. Interruptions and unexpected events sometimes distract us from this divine destiny. Like the noble Celtic peacock, the more we struggle, the more entangled we become. The more entangled, the farther from our goal we move. We change our demeanor from one of love to anger and if we would only stop, relax, and laugh at ourselves, the red cord could fall away, and our destiny and our path would realign.

Sonja Pavlik

When Art Overtakes the Artist, and the Journey Overtakes Life

The Lenten Journey begins…

February 22

7:30 a.m. Traditional Service in the Chapel 5:30 p.m. Family Service. Children’s sermon.

Imposition of Ashes. No Eucharist. Gospel Choir from All People’s Lutheran Church

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We Celebrate At the end of any year, it is natural to look back and see how things changed, for better or worse, since the year began. At Christ Church, a look back at 2011 provides a dazzling and joyful view.

More than one person has said, in one way or another, “We at Christ Church are a family.” If 2011 can possibly be characterized by any simple means, perhaps it is to cel-ebrate that our Christ Church family is growing, happy, healthy, generous, faithful, welcoming and loving.

Our church family saw countless happy occa-sions in 2011. Baptisms, sometimes in dizzy-ing multiple numbers, allowed all of us to share in the joy of new life, new commit-ments, and new children of God. Some of our baptized babies were in our prayers even before their births, and some of them had fragile beginnings. We prayed for them be-fore we knew them. They are family.

Our children’s parade down the aisle grew long-er, louder and more animated. The rhythm in-strument collection needed a new load of noise-makers to accommodate all the children. Whether or not we know all the kids by name, we love seeing them dance and smile down the aisle. Each child is everyone’s child. They are family.

Babies and their sounds punctuated our worship. New parents probably worried about the noise, but the rest of us either didn’t even hear it, or felt it was the best sound in town. We love having babies worship with us, and we love whatever they do. They are family.

Countless small groups grew in faith and service, and added to their ranks in 2011. The women’s Tuesday morning Bible study welcomed newcomers, as did out-reach, the choir, and the newly formed men’s group, to name just a few. Acquaintances grew into friendships. We know each other better now than we did a year ago. Knowing became caring. Caring means family.

As with any family, the Christ Church family suffered heartbreaking loss in 2011. We lost matriarchs and patri-

archs, wives, husbands, sisters, brothers, sons, daughters and friends of Christ Church, and we felt enormous sadness. Through it all, we responded as any family would. Those who mourned welcomed us into their homes with our offerings of food, caring, companionship and prayer. They generously allowed us to share in their grief. We celebrated the lives

of those lost, while walking hand in hand with their surviving wives, husbands and children. Perhaps more than any other single moment or event of 2011, the way we gave to, and received from, each other at the times of loss proved it…we are family.

If you are new to Christ Church, or you attend irregularly, you might wonder, “Am I in this family? If not, when will I be? How will I know? How do I get invited?”

The answer is pretty simple. If you are here, you are part of the family. You don’t have to ask. You don’t have to join. Whether you think of us as family or not, we think of you that way. You’re in…all in. We share one Father. We share his Son. We are family.

We Are Family

Have you visited our website lately?  If not take a look.  It has been updated and completely redone.  

You can  keep up with all of our News in our News and Publica ons sec on—that’s where you will 

find the color version of the Messenger as well as where you can sign‐up for our weekly e‐newsle er, 

the Broadcast. 

Our website is a great source of informa on for everyone! 

www.christchurchw b.org

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We Celebrate

The wonders of winter give me an odd sense of warmth. I have been told that some people cherish church for cheers and tears. Things like weddings and funerals, Christmas and Easter; or in other words, those practical needs which a church building provides for us. While it is a gross over simplified use for this hallowed ground we call Christ Church, some of those times are the reason we rely on our church home. I love the change of seasons, and a church calendar helps move them right along. Advent is such a time of precious quiet. The darkness is more than the light, and the still landscape of a fresh snow-fall can heighten a mood, and bring us closer together around a crackling fire. Bishop Ed Leidel led an Advent retreat at St. Christopher’s Church in River Hills. Having spent years there, I am convinced it is one of the more amazing churches with its simple beauty of that New Eng-land style. Clear windows embrace the elements, and sea-son the mood on a crisp morning. Contrary to Christ Church Whitefish Bay, with its stained glass, flying but-tresses, and broad columns, it helped to establish a degree of calm and set a perfect tone for the morning retreat. The season brought an army together to fill toiletry bags for the Milwaukee Rescue Mission. Thanks go to both Dr. Scott Lewis, who was kind enough to add tooth brushes and tooth paste among items donated, and John Haydon who loaded them all for speedy delivery. It was an amazing show of force completing the task in half the time predict-ed. Christmas brought the children’s pageant led by Martha Morse, with Will Foote and Ella Dietrich as narrators,

Scott Riedel and Karol Rehm leading the music, and Roman Sevenich who filled in for a Joseph no-show. I watched the re-hearsals, and know exactly

why the church is busting at the seams on Christmas Eve afternoon. It was an amazing job by all who played the parts of a lifetime. The decorations in the church are such a valuable tradition as well. It was amazing to see generations traverse while attaching torches to the pews, greens to the altar and the columns, candles in the

windows, and everything else that trans-formed the nave into the magical place it became. Mary Meyers and Jane Reckmeyer, Cindy Davis, Bill McCown, Todd Riggs, Sandy Mueller, Chris Binder, Mike Pratscher, Sandy Dawson, Julie Ross and Rick Donner were among the

many hands that made light work. The choir was warned late on Christmas Eve that the greens had gotten particular-ly dry, and to watch how we wield our candles. We all

avoided disaster to achieve the perfect “Silent Night.” The music led by Scott Riedel was bountiful and joyous, tender and reverent. Joe Ketchum and his string quar-tet lent a hand with such artful expertise. Thanks to Jack Prince

who assisted as organ accompanist. The handbell choir, directed by Karol Rehm started the festivities, while Carol Crow-ley, Pam Eversfield, and Ann Hynek led the vocal choir, ringing in the new born king. “Once in Royal David’s City” signaled the Most High, when Libby Vogel started the service with her angelic annual a cappella solo. I love to embrace the twelve days of Christmas, using the Season of Advent to prepare, reflect, and welcome the warmth of the times together. The twelve days that follow bring the true celebration remembering the birth of Christ. Christ Church embraces the Twelfth Night with annual hi-jinks and merriment. Gone are the politically in-correct days of the serving wenches in drag, but bring on the Morris Men, cajoled by Chip Mor-ris to imbibe a bit before they serve with gusto. Making the Pipehorn Dance come alive to introduce the Serving of the Trifle were Tom Watson, Lars Olson, Dave Eurich, Chuck Cruse, Todd Riggs, Bill Foote, Chris Haines, Jim Benton, and Bruce Dunn. The tables were dressed in festive garb by Carmen McKinley and Penny Cruse, transforming the Great Hall into a Feast Hall, where the evening was capped off with the Mummers Play. This year the theme was heightened by a Batman genre. Directing the age-old drama were Pattie Beem and Julia

Musings of a Parishioner

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We Celebrate Olson. The roast beast and everything else edible was deliciously prepared with love and devotion by Chris Bind-er, Sonja Pavlik, and Barbara Lar-kin, among others. Thanks to all who made the festivities festive!

The New Year also brings a changing of the guard at Christ Church. The Pre-Annual Meeting gave Fr. Seth Dietrich, our Rector a chance to summarize the past year, praise those who made the wheels turn, and predict how it will all play out in the future. An incredible job by Kathy Pratscher and Bob Staeck preparing reports, compiling data, and with all of that happening… we launch a new website and logo? I’m exhausted imagining it all. With such bountiful talent at the helm, we are grateful to Mike

Pratscher who gave of himself all year as Senior Warden. From sweeping Ginko berries off the sidewalk to redeco-rating the Rectory, figuring the east wall re-build, and how to feed the hungry in Haiti, his leadership quietly perse-vered through his own personal job change. We welcome very capable Junior Warden, Susan Lovern to the Senior Warden position, while Bruce Dunn starts his turn as the Junior Warden for 2012. How do we keep from exhausting our church leaders? Give them praise at every turn, answer their calls when they ring, and look to the future with a new Priest Associ-ate! Stay tuned, another wonderful year at Christ Church is off to a great start. Let the cheers and tears continue to make our experience everything we hope it to be.

Andy Stillman

SeniorWarden

Susan E. Lovern

Junior Warden

Bruce Dunn

Vestry

Tim Brown

Vestry

Beth Durant

Vestry

Robert Mueller

Vestry

Kathy Eurich

Nominating Committee

Charlie Drake

Lisa Pietrowiak

Tom Watson

Diocesan Deputy 2013-2014

Pam Eversfield

2012 Leadership Voting Results

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Our Life St. Nick visits Worship Center

Gifts for Sojourner Truth Family Peace Center

St. Nick and Martha Morse

Choir Brunch Honoring Phyllis Babb Christine Mattsson and Phyllis Babb

Pam Eversfield tells the story in Worship Center The Nursery

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In Pictures Christmas Pageant

Sonja Pavlik and Barbara Larkin serve punch

Christmas Eve

Mummer’s Play

Jim Benton serves Mary Jones

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Our Youth

November and December were an exciting time in Chil-dren’s Formation. Advent is always such a good time with the children. We kicked it off with the Advent workshop on November 27th. Jenny Riggs and her family did a great job organiz-ing this wonderful activity. Most of the families made crèche scenes using shoe boxes and clothes pins. Some families made ornaments and packed bags with candy in them that were then given out with poinsettias and cookies to members of the congregation. There were also Advent books, as well as Advent Candles, that were available for the families to purchase to enhance their Advent season. In all, we had more than 27 families involved. It is always a great way to kick off the hectic holiday season. During the month of December, the K4 through 4th grade children studied the story of the first Christmas. They talked about what it might have been like to be the various people involved in the story. They also had a chance to see and smell frankincense and myrrh, something that doesn’t happen every day. We also worked toward presenting the story to the congre-gation on Christmas Eve. Chris Binder, Hillary McCown, Barbara Larkin, Karol Rehm, Ira Leidel, and Julia Courtright were instrumental in getting the

children focused and motivated to show what they had learned. Scott Riedel played the organ for the carols that helped get the congregation singing. As always, we had all of the characters involved in that first Christmas repre-sented along with the Wise Men and King Herod. The angels were all beautiful, and the sheep were as cute as could be. It was the highlight of Christmas for many peo-ple. There is nothing quite like seeing the Christmas story reenacted by a group of eager and excited children. The annual bake sale was held on Super Bowl Sunday, February 5th. Thanks to all of our bakers of tasty treats and to all of you who filled in your Super Bowl menus with baked goods! All of the proceeds will be donated to Kids for Kids this year. This February and March during Chapel we are going to be teaching the children about communion. We have done this in the past in workshops, but this year we are going to put it into our curriculum. We will teach this for six to eight weeks every few years so that all the children will get a chance to learn about communion. It is such an im-portant part of our faith, with so many mysteries involved, that it should be an interesting time for the children as well as the teachers.

Martha Morse, Children’s Ministries Leader

Children’s Formation Highlights

HIGH SCHOOL YOUTH GROUP...COMING EVENTS

Sunday, February 12 Matinee presentation of Grease starring our own Paige Dadmun

Meet at church at 1:30 p.m. for a 2 p.m. performance at Nicolet High School

Sunday, February 19 Serving at the Pancake Breakfast on Sunday morning Sunday, February 26 Spam & Sardines - 4 p.m. at church Saturday, March 3 Spam Night!

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Our Youth

The rite of confirmation is an ancient one in which the bishop lays hands on the candidate in the midst of a Eucharis-tic service. Being confirmed is a public affirmation that candidates wish to continue their spiritual journey within the Christian tradition. The class will explore this tradition: Christian history, Christian belief, and Christian practice. We will most likely branch out into other Christian traditions besides the Episcopal Church and into other religions as well. Fr. Seth, Deacon Tom Binder and Julia Mueller will be teaching a confirmation class for all those who are turning 16 by October 1, 2012, and for those older than this that have not yet been confirmed. The class will begin February 26, at 10:30 a.m. until 2:30pm and run on Sundays after the Service through March. The class will reconvene in Septem-ber, concluding with confirmation by the Bishop in late September. A separate class for adults who wish to be confirmed will be formed a bit later. If you are interested, contact Fr. Seth.

Confirmation at Christ Church

Today we packed the bags. The bags are for the poor people who do not have enough money. The bags have a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, a granola bar and an orange. And a napkin. Oh yeah, the napkin.

The poor people might be poor because they don’t have money. Or because they don’t have a job. Or they might be sick. Or somebody in their family might have died and they, ac-tually he or she, might have been the one who did have a job. There aren’t enough jobs for all the people who need them. So we serve soup to them and they can have the bags, too.

We don’t serve foods that aren’t healthy. And we don’t use things that melt, like ice cream. Or doughnuts. The doughnuts are for

us. Are there any more?

This was fun. It is fun to help. It makes me feel good that I can help people and I do help people. We do other things, too. If your coat doesn’t fit anymore, you can give it to a winter gear drive. Or you can throw it on the floor. Or you can hide under it in the closet. You can also serve soup at that place I forget the name of. You can put cans of food in the food drive.

God would be happy at what we did today. So would Isaiah’s Dad.

The End.

FAMILY OUTREACH SATURDAYS

Every third Saturday of 2012, Christ Church Outreach will celebrate Third Saturday with a family outreach project. Often it will be making and packing dinner bags to be distributed at the Gathering that day. We did this project on January 21, with about 20 kids and adults. This article was written by Sam and Ruby Donner, Jack and Ellie Riggs, Tori Kobussen and her friend William Kenealey, and Isaiah Dietrich, with very little help (as you may conclude!) from Meredie Scrivner.

The Kobussens with friend William

The Riggs Family

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Our Programs CHOIR NEWS

During Epiphany, we end our Prayers of the People with the petition “Guide us with thy Grace”. In the late 1700s, an English poet and clergyman wrote the lyrics to a hymn which has since been performed about 10 million times annually. According to one gospel singer, this is a “song that gets to everybody”. It was also sung at the end of a rock concert for Nelson Mandela’s 70th birthday party. The poet endured many trials in his life and eventually found God’s Grace to lead him home. Be sure to be present during our church service on the Sunday before Ash Wednesday, Mardi Gras Sunday, as the choir sings “Amazing Grace” with the New Orleans Jazz Band. Max Day, a jazz trombone professor at the Wisconsin Conservatory, will conduct the jazz band.

Willette Knopp

Experience the Joy of Piping! FAITH AND SCIENCE PROGRAM

In January, 2004, a small group of people gathered together in the Great Hall for the start of something new - - a bag-pipe band! Several of the original members are still at it, and others have joined us over the last eight years. What is the value of learning to play bagpipes? How about the fun of learning something new and somewhat unique? Or maybe it's the fun of hanging out with people who have a lot of hot air! And while we are not a religious bunch, we often consider the ways that God blesses those who gather to play the bagpipes. How about you? Would you like to learn to play the bagpipe? You are welcome to come to one of our prac-tice sessions to see what piping is all about. Call Jay Mueller or Chuck Cruse for more infor-mation or email ccruse377@gmail.com.

Chuck Cruse

How do recent scientific advances and discoveries affect our faith?

Does our faith inform our quest for knowledge and

its uses? What can science tell us about the nature of faith

itself? The upcoming adult forum series "Faith and Science" will address some of these questions - - and raise more! The short, powerful series, funded by the Meachem Grant, will feature provocative speakers on Sunday, Feb 26, March 3rd, and March 11th . Join us in the Great Hall for our Adult Forum after the 9:15 Service. Grab a cup of coffee, catch up with a friend and then settle in for a wonderful presentation and discussion on Faith and Science.

Julia Mueller

Ann Hynek and Joan Schimmels

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Our Outreach Haiti: Two Years After The Earthquake

Christ Church joined the many Episcopalians and others around the world with an outpouring of support after the devastating earthquake in January, 2010. The world watched and attempted to help, while stoic Haitians worked to pull themselves and each other from the depth of destruction.

News reports at the two-year anni-versary likened the recovery to that of Germany and the rest of Europe after World War ll. It took ten years to work through those horrendous times. Haiti has much to rebuild on top of an infrastructure that was al-ready sorely lacking. Being the first nation born out of a slave rebellion, Haiti was shunned from world eco-nomic life for many years and has never fully recovered.

The Diocese of Milwaukee has had a 25-year relationship with Haiti, and Christ Church has participated in this sup-port over the years. Currently, we use The Singing Rooster Coffee at coffee hour, and sell it to raise funds for Haiti. The most recent contribution of funds was for a new gener-ator for St. Marc’s, Jeannette, at the request of Bishop Miller.

Also, many Christ Church members have sent food to Haiti during the last year by participating in the food packs done through Worldwide Hunger Relief. The meals we packed have gone to or-phanages and feeding centers in Port au Prince. Another food pack will be done at our Church this April 27 and 28 (mark your calen-dar!) and we will talk with World-wide Hunger Relief to determine if the food can be sent to St. Marc's in Jeannette. We are truly blessed to have a chance to care for God's children in this effort. From January 8-January 13, Pere Wisnel Dejardin, Priest-in-Charge of St. Marc’s Parish in Jeannette, Haiti, visited the Diocese of Milwaukee. Chuck Cruse and Ira Leidel were able to meet Pere Wisnel on our first real day of snow on Jan 12. We heard about his ministry, his parish …and

his dreams for the future.

Wisnel, as he repeatedly asked to be addressed, attended seminary in Haiti. After seminary, his bishop sent him to

Virginia Theological Seminary for a degree in Old Testament. Since his return to Haiti, he has been teaching at the local Haitian Seminary as well as being Priest In Charge of St. Marc’s, Jeannette.

This is his first parish and Wisnel ad-mitted that he is at times over-whelmed by the immensity of the needs at the school and surrounding community. St. Marc’s is a school of some 500 students, with a well-respected staff of teachers plus a clinic.

The continuing needs, as always, are spiritual and educa-tional. Now, two years after the earthquake, the immediate need has shifted to food and water.

For some time Jeannette received food via Catholic World Relief, but that has stopped with no clear explanation. (A possible explanation is that places to serve are rotated sev-eral years on and then off to be able to serve others.) Water at the school has become an ever more scarce resource. Three of the five cisterns at the school that collect rainwater

were damaged by the earthquake. As time passed it became clear that the remaining two cisterns were also dam-aged. They are cracked and cannot hold water above those cracks.

This is coupled with a very dry rainy season last year, and again now. St. Marc’s is not a residential school and students who attend now need to bring their own food and water. Some stu-dents have miles to walk to get water and then carry their daily rations to school in water jugs. The school is in

a mountainous area with inadequate roads.

During his meeting with churches in Madison, St. Marc’s was gifted with $3,000 and other funds. This will enable Pere Wisnel to purchase one month’s food for the school. Ways to solve the water problem are being researched. A

Ira Leidel, Pere Wisnel, and Ellen Donahy

Children fed with Christ Church Food Packs

continued on page 15

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Our Outreach OUTREACH 2011 – VALUE ADDED

Christ Church Outreach chairs in 2011 set a major goal of increasing hands-on involvement by both new and seasoned volunteers, as well as a goal of strategically using our financial resources in ways that would give us “greater bang for the buck.” In simplest financial terms, our outreach money in 2011 included approximately $26,000 of operational and endowment giving. That tells only a fraction of the story. To better understand the real value of outreach giving at Christ Church in 2011, the following “value added” must be celebrated. The diocesan assessment includes approximately $20,000 for direct charitable efforts such as Episcopal Relief and Development, work in Haiti, and other emer-gency relief throughout the country and the world. The high school Appalachia Service Project week, at a cost of approximately $15,000 of funds raised outside the parish, repaired houses for 5 families. Over 600 direct person-hours were worked by our group that week, at a value of perhaps $12,000 if the homeowners were paying the going rate of labor for that work. Actual value: priceless. By purchasing groceries very frugally and using volunteers to cook and serve the needy at the Homework Club, Sojourner Family Peace Center and All People’s Church, we spent less than $1,000 in budget money to serve a total of 500 meals. Every meal included meat, fresh fruit and vegetables, milk and homemade desserts. If purchased at even the simplest restaurant, the cost would have been in the range of $8,000. For $1,200, we purchased 2 shares of organic produce from Springdale Farm. Volunteers distributed the pro-duce throughout the growing season, primarily to Feeding America. We estimate that over 1,000 pounds of produce was donated, at a value of at least $3,000.

The Middle and High School Youth Groups collected 4,000 pounds of food for Feeding America. If purchased, this might have a value in the range of $6,000. We collected donated gifts for a variety of needy recipients: 100 gifts for Sojourner Family Peace Center at a value of approximately $2,000, 250 men’s toiletry bags for the Milwaukee Rescue Mission at a value of $4,000, winter coats and children’s books for Our Next Generation at a value of $500. We made and delivered 1000 dinner bags to Gathering guests, at a value, if purchased, of $5,000. Habitat for Humanity volunteers worked 250 people-hours. At minimum wage, this would be $1750 in labor. Seth contributed $7,500 in gifts to the poor from his dis-cretionary fund. The income source for this fund is pri-marily contributions from individuals, as well as funeral, wedding and other such clergy donations. World Wide Hunger Relief volunteers packed approxi-mately 57,024 meals for starving Haitians, at an incalcula-ble value. All this, conservatively, puts the value of our outreach efforts well above an additional $63,000, on top of the $27,000 in cash gifts. However, this tells only part of the story. There were additional efforts on many fronts, and it is not possible to list or value them all. Most important is the value of raising and growing a congregation of those who help others. Every person, particularly every child, who serves those in need through church programs, will almost certainly grow as a helper and giver. That person will see other ways to serve and will inspire and encourage others. That value, of course, is priceless.

Meredie Scrivner and Mitzi Roy, Outreach Co-chairs

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Our Outreach At our winter church, Trinity Cathedral in Phoenix, a guest preacher was the Rev. John Kitagawa from Tucson who is, among other things, president of the American Committee for K.E.E.P., the Kiyosato Educational Experi-ment Project. We spoke to him briefly about K.E.E.P., with which Christ Church was very involved in the 1950’s and 1960’s, but about which we had heard nothing since. We then looked it up on the Internet and found that K.E.E.P. is still going strong. (www.ackeep.org). The founder of K.E.E.P., Paul Rusch, was a professor in Japan before the war who later took part in the U.S. occupation. He started K.E.E.P. in an impoverished mountain area in Japan, for one thing - - introducing some Jersey cows to help the people economically. Paul Rusch

visited Christ Church and talked up his project, leading three of our young people to make summer trips there to help out. We also gave mon-ey for a small chapel in the mountains called Christ Church Whitefish Bay Japan. (See “Christ Church 75 Years.”) Fr. Kitagawa said that K.E.E.P. is more focused on envi-ronmental issues, and international understanding. They now have “sister” relationships with an area in Kentucky and with one in the Philippines.

Martha and Jack Prince

K.E.E.P. REVISITED

new well was just dug in a nearby community. There is hope that a well could be dug for St. Marc’s also. In the meantime, there is very limited water. Where does Christ Church see itself in this picture? Are we called to hear these voices asking for help? Ed and Ira Leidel joined with people of the Diocese of Eau Claire and Milwaukee last year when they signed up to sponsor a student who is now a third grader. They are committed to following him though his school years.

The needs of Haiti will be discussed at the next outreach meeting. Let the committee know your thoughts. There are many ways to help.

Check out the mission of the Diocese of Milwaukee’s web site www.haitiproject.org and The Diocese of Eau Claire http://www.eauclairehaitipartnership.org.

Chuck Cruse and Ira Leidel

ATTENTION ACTORS, SINGERS, DANCERS, JUGGLERS Presenting our own version of American Idol......

THE STARS UNITE ON SPAM NITE

STARRING: YOU! MEMBERS AND FRIENDS OF CHRIST CHURCH

Spam Nite is a production of the Christ Church Youth Group. Join us Saturday, March 3rd at 6 p.m.

When you will experience the joy of seeing your neighbors and friends perform live and on stage. A dinner of Italian cuisine will be included with your admission.

All proceeds will go toward the youth mission trip to Appalachia.

YOUR SUPPORT IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!

from page 13

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Sunday, Feb. 12 “Sensing the Sacred: Christianity, the World Religions, and Our Wounded Planet” – Adult Forum 10:30, Great Hall  Saturday, Feb 18 Dinner bags for the Gathering, Christ Church,

kitchen –8:30 am Sunday, Feb. 20 Pancake Breakfast! 10:30, Great Hall Wednesday, Feb, 22 Ash Wednesday Services: Chapel 7:30 am &

Church 5:30 pm Sunday, Feb 26 Faith and Science, Part 1 of three part series – Adult Ed 10:30, Great Hall Tuesday, Feb 28th Lenten Tuesdays: Practicing Our Faith & Kids Choir – 6 – 7:30 pm, Great Hall

Saturday, March 3 ASP SPAM Night! An Entertaining Fundraising dinner in the Great Hall at 6:00pm

Sunday, March 4 Faith and Science, Part 2 of three part series – Adult Ed 10:30, Great Hall

Tuesday, March 6th Lenten Tuesdays: Practicing Our Faith & Kids Choir – 6 – 7:30 pm, Great Hall

Sunday, March 11 Faith and Science, Part 3 of three part series – Adult Ed 10:30, Great Hall

Tuesday, March 13 Lenten Tuesdays: Practicing Our Faith & Kids Choir – 6 – 7:30 pm, Great Hall Saturday, March 17 Make dinner bags for the Gathering at Christ

Church, kitchen – 8:30 am Sunday, March 18 ASP Presentation – Adult Forum 10:30, Great

Hall Tuesday, March 20 Lenten Tuesdays: Practicing Our Faith & Kids Choir – 6 – 7:30 pm, Great Hall

Sunday, March 25 Christology - Woody Anderson- Adult Forum 10:30, Great Hall

Our Events

Weekly offerings of the

Holy Eucharist

Sunday, 8:00 & 9:15 a.m. Wednesday, 8:00 a.m. (chapel)

Evening Prayer

Monday, Wednesday, Thursday 5:30 p.m. (chapel)