News of Vital Interest

Journey to Adulthood Pilgrimage: August, 2007

In August of 2007 an excited group of Christ Church young people and leaders (19 in all) returned from a week long sojourn in the Grand Tetons, Wyoming. This was the culminating event in their 4 year Rite-13 and J2A experience in which the goal was for every person involved to be open to God`s touch in any one of a variety of venues during their stay there. The group had a great time with their retreat leader, hiking, swimming, whitewater rafting, horseback riding, meditating and reflecting in a number of different ways. They will be reporting to the parish more formally in October. The young people raised one third of the money needed for this trip themselves. The new J2A group that has just moved up from Rite-13 will be starting this fall. In addition to that group.... there is a new Rite-13 group of 6th and 7th graders. The YAC group, "young adults in church", our oldest group.... 10th to 12th graders continues to be very active as acolytes, readers, chalicists, teachers and musicians. 

Christ Church contemporary music band: Living Water

Founded around the many talents of Donna Bessette on keyboards and Andre Bessette on drums the Christ Church band has grown in ability and in following, writing a number of their own songs and playing renditions of others. While their main focus is contemporary Christian music to be performed at services at Christ Church they have also learned a number of secular pieces that express spiritual themes in other ways. They have performed at a Diocesan Conference, at the Tang Center of Rectory School, at Relay for Life in neighboring Woodstock, Ct. as well as at a few private parties. Besides Donna and Andre the members include Brian Bastow on bass, Dave Carter on guitars and flute, Greg Nichols on guitar, Pat McCarthy and Rebecca MacKenzie, vocals. Living Water can be contacted through the Christ Church office.

Prayer at a time of war

O Almighty God, who canst bring good out of evil, and makest even the wrath of man turn to thy praise:

We beseech thee so to order and sispose the issue of this war that we may be brought through strife to lasting peace;

and that the nations of the world may be united in a new fellowship for the promotion of Divine glory

and for the good of all humankind; through Christ our Lord.

Frank Borman and Rod Rose`s poem read from space, Christmas, 1968

Give us, O God, the vision which can see thy love in the world, in spite of human failure.

Give us the faith to trust the goodness in spite of our ignorance and weakness.

Give us the knowledge that we may continue to pray with understanding hearts,

and show us what each one of us can do to set forth the coming if the day of universal peace.

Amen.

Borman and Rose were fellow Episcopalians. Borman had been scheduled to lay read at his church

in Florida Christmas Eve, 1968, when his mission was moved up.

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