News of Vital Interest

Journey to Adulthood Pilgrimage: August, 2009

We completed our third Teen Program Pilgrimage in August of 2009. This was a wonderful trip to Toronto, Ontario and featured mission work, historical connections and the young people`s own search for meaning and purpose. 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. Molly Wrent was the retreat leader from Wonder Voyages. They reported to the parish more formally on Saturday, October 24, 2009. The young people raised one third of the money needed for this trip. The current Rite-13 group of 6th and 7th graders are just beginning their second year together. While last year`s Rite-13 became the new J2A group this past September of `09. The YAC group, "young adults in church", our oldest group, consists of 10th through 12th graders and continues to be very active as acolytes, readers, chalicists, teachers and musicians. Several of their member graudated last spring. We wish them the best and God Speed!

Christ Church contemporary music band: ninesixteen

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., the Vanilla Bean, the Steak Loft in Mystic, other churches in Vernon, Ct. and Cape Cod, as well as at some private parties. Besides Donna and Andre the members include Brian Bastow on bass, Dave Carter on guitars and flute, Greg Nichols on guitar and Pat McCarthy on vocals. Ninesixteen 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 churchin Florida Christmas Eve, 1968, when his mission was moved up.

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