Christmas Mass Schedule

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The Bishop's visit

Bishop Sean Rowe visited Christ Church Meadville this morning. It was fun to have a full complement of acolytes and a couple of extra people in the choir plus some friends we haven't seen in awhile in the congregation. Sorry I didn't get any photos during the service but I was a little busy and didn't even think about it until coffee hour.

Christmas Mass Schedule

Christ Episcopal Church

870 Diamond Park
Meadville, PA

Sunday, 19 December 2010, 10:00 am - Bishop Sean Rowe visits

Christmas Eve, Friday, 24 December 2010, 7:30 pm - Holy Eucharist

Christmas Day, Saturday, 25 December 2010, 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist

Sunday 26 December 2010, 10:00 am - Holy Eucharist with Carol Sing

No matter where you are on your journey of faith, you are welcome at Christ Church!

Lessons and Carols program

ORGAN VOLUNTARY
Creator of the Stars of Night - William Witherup
Good Joseph, Listen to Me - Jean-François Dandrieu
From Heaven High to Earth I Come - Johann Pachelbel
Joseph Dearest, Joseph Mine (Resonet in laudibus) - Guy Bovet

PROCESSIONAL HYMN: Once in David's Royal City - Irby
v. 1: Leah Elberfeld

THE BIDDING PRAYER

FIRST LESSON: Genesis 3 - An Acolyte, Stephanie Onyeiwu
CHOIR: Adam Lay Ybounden - William Witherup
HYMN: 105 - God Rest You Merry

SECOND LESSON: Isaiah 9 - A Choir Member, Shelley Huston
CHOIR: People, Look East (Besançon) - Philip Dietterich
HYMN: 60 - Conditor alme siderum

THIRD LESSON: Isaiah 11 - A Lay Reader, Margaret Heald
CHOIR: Thou Shalt Know Him - Mark Sirett
HYMN: 100 - Antioch

FOURTH LESSON: Micah 5 - A Eucharistic Minister, Stuart Thompson
HYMN: 78 - Forest Green

FIFTH LESSON: St. Luke 1 - A Eucharistic Minister, Shelley Huston
CHOIR: A Maiden Most Gentle (French) - Andrew Carter
HYMN: 265 - Gabriel's Message

SIXTH LESSON: St. Luke 2 - A Lay Reader, Alyssa Fernandez
CHOIR: Midwinter - Bob Chilcott
HYMN: 107 - In dulci jubilo

SEVENTH LESSON: St. Luke 2 - The Organist & Choirmaster, William Witherup
CHOIR: Infant Holy (Polish) - Mack Wilberg
HYMN: 96 - Gloria

EIGHTH LESSON: St. Matthew 2 - The Senior Warden, Thomas Collard
CHOIR: Ding-Dong! Merrily on High (French) - William Witherup
HYMN: 109 - The First Nowell

NINTH LESSON: St. John 1 - The Interim Rector, The Rev. Dr. Richard Elberfeld, Jr.
HYMN 83 - Adeste fideles

THE COLLECT & THE BLESSING

RECESSIONAL HYMN 87 - Mendelssohn

ORGAN VOLUNTARY
In Dulci jubilo, BWV 729 - Johann Sebastian Bach

Lessons and Carols, 4 pm, Sunday, 12 December 2010

Father Richard Elberfeld and a few choir members who braved the snow Sunday posed for a photo to advertise the 2010 edition of Christ Church's Lessons and Carols.

Saint Nicholas Sunday

On Sunday, 5 December 2010, Saint Nicholas will return to Christ Church after a long absence. He will bring small gifts in thanksgiving for the mite boxes we will give him. Come, bring your mite boxes and welcome St Nicholas back.

The 2010 Turkey dinner

The dessert table was popular.

Turkey dinner, 6 pm, Friday, 19 November 2010

Christ Church's annual turkey dinner will be held Friday, 19 November at 6:00 pm. Turkey will be provided. Bring your favorite potluck item such as sweet potatoes, veggies, salad, dessert, stuffing, whatever you "need" at a Thanksgiving dinner. There should be 30 or more people. We will gather downstairs. See you there.

Evensong 4:00 pm Sunday, 31 October 2010

The choirs of Christ Church and First Presbyterian Church will present Evensong in the tradition of the 1662 Prayer Book on Halloween afternoon.

Healing Service 24 October 2010

A service of healing will be held after the 10:00 am Eucharist on Sunday, 24 October 2010. All are welcome at Christ Church. Come!

Welcome, Father Richard!

The Rev. Dr. Richard Elberfeld will be our priest at least until 2011 and perhaps beyond. The people who were in attendance this morning were enthusiastic. Another new era begins.

Organ and brass concert

On a hopeful note...

Christ Church will have a priest-in-charge beginning 1 October 2010 at least through the end of the year. The Rev Dr Richard Elberfeld has agreed to be with us two days a week. The Rev Kathleen Ziegenhine has agreed to supply at least the last two Sundays in September.

Now if only we could find a bi-vocational Episcopal priest who would relocate to beautiful Northwestern Pennsylvania!

Stay tuned...

On a sad note...

The formal announcement of Father Larry Donahue's resignation as Priest-in-Charge at Christ Church was made this morning by our senior warden. We are sad to say Goodbye but we are even sadder knowing that further health concerns are causing the separation. We pray for Father Larry and his wife Pat as both have physical issues that complicate their lives and are difficult to deal with.

After the Apple Tree Mural dedication.

The Right Reverend Sean Rowe, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania, blessed us with his presence on his day off to dedicate the Apple Tree Mural Friday night, 3 September.

The designer and painter of the four year project Jeri Hogan gave many personal tours.

A friend created a feast for the festivities

which many of us enjoyed.

There are more photos here.

If you would like to see Jeri's artwork, you are invited come to church on Sunday mornings for the 10 am service. Or you may find the church open on Tuesdays and Thursdays between 11 am and 2 pm. You may make an appointment at other times by leaving a message on the answering machine. Just be aware that it may take several days to get back to you however. You may also send an email to the address on this blog.

Apple Tree Mural Dedication

Jeri Hogan's four year project to paint the history of Christ Church, Meadville and Crawford County on the parish hall walls is coming to a close. The mural will be dedicated 3 September 2010 at 6:00 pm by the Right Riverend Sean Rowe, Bishop of the Episcopal Diocese of Northwestern Pennsylvania. There will be an art show/sale, organ demonstration and church open house as part of the festivities.

Schedule:
Thu, 2 Sep, 5 - 9 pm and all day Friday - Church open for artists
Fri, 3 Sep, 5 - 9 pm Open House
Fri. 3 Sep, 6 pm Dedication by Bishop Sean
Sat. 4 Sep, 10 am - 5 am Open House
Sat. 4 Sep, 2 pm - Organ Demonstration

Munchies are needed. Leave a message on the church phone explaining how you will help or sign up on the easel by the office. Wine, Cheese and crackers are needed for Friday evening. Sandwich, fruit and veggie trays, chips, dips, punch (pineapple juice, Hawaiian punch, ginger ale) and ice for Friday.

The public is invited to attend, share the festivities and see the inside of this historic church.

The 40th Anniversary of Bill Witherup's service as organist/choirmaster

The 40th Anniversary of Father Larry Donahue's Ordination

June Chronicle

The June Christ Church Chronicle is available here. You will need a .pfd reader such as Adobe Acrobat to open it. If you use Firefox on a Mac you can install this add-on to open .pdf files in Firefox.

Auction photos

The event was catered by the Market Grille in the Market House in Meadville. The food was wonderful!!!