GLAD TIDINGS

No. 1. Vol 10 January 2010 christchurchguilford.org

Annual Children’s PARISH YOUTH

GROUP TO PREPARE
Christmas Pageant & SERVE SPAGHETTI
SUPPER
Tells the Story of the The 4th Annual Gourmet

Birth of Jesus Spaghetti Supper, hosted and

prepared by the Rite 13/Journey-
to-Adulthood Youth Group of

T
he Annual Children’s Christmas Pageant, scheduled to be Christ Episcopal Church, will
performed on the Last Sunday of Advent, December 20,th be served on Sunday, January
was postponed to Wednesday, Dec. 23,rd due to the “Blizzard 31, 2010, at 5 p.m. Youth
of 2009” that dumped up to two feet of snow on our region that members participate in every
weekend. Under the direction of Susan Jillson, the enthusiastic aspect: from making meatballs
cast performed the traditional story of the birth of Jesus before and their famous chunky basil
sauce to preparing the fresh
an appreciative audience of over 130. The pageant was performed
garden salad with “Dressing a la
in front of a beautiful new set design on canvas in the sanctuary. Diana” and freshly homemade
Additional Pageant photos are posted on the parish website at desserts. The menu includes
christchurchguilford.org. Special thanks to Melissa Perez, Victoria homemade meatballs and basil
Reeve, John Mayo, Richard Marvin, Linda Reich, Adam Pajan, and tomato sauce, pasta, grated
all those who helped make the post-performance party such fun. cheese, freshly baked bread,
This year’s “Academy Awards” go to Zoe Lamoreaux who performed and a beverage. Desserts
her role as the Virgin Mary immaculately and to Austin Lafata, include a wide assortment of
who stole the show with his inspirational portrayal of the Baby cookies, tarts, and a chocolate
Jesus, and to all the actors, in their roles as Joseph, Mary, Jesus, the roll cake. Youth members bake
innkeeper, announcing angels, the Angel Gabriel, the heavenly host on Saturday, Jan. 30th, at the
of angels, sheep, shepherds, the star bearer, the narrators, the Magi, home of Rite 13/J2A Program
and the musical ensemble directed by Vicky Reeve; they were an Supervisor Susan Shackford.
On Sunday, they prepare, serve,
inspiration to us all.
and clean up after the meal.

In the past, this important Rite

13/J2A annual fundraiser has
supported a variety of critical
outreach projects, including
purchasing mosquito nets for
Mozambique children, the
Episcopal Church Women’s
“Thanks-in-a-Bag” program for
the military, and the SIFAAfrican
Orphan’s Choir supporting
school and housing initiatives.

Dinner Ticket Cost: Adult

– $9.50 per person or
$21.00 for three or more.
Search Committee
Activity
O
n December 1, The Rev.
Erik Larsen, Canon for
Transition Ministry for
the Diocese, presented us with
the backgrounds of a large list
of candidates interested in our
open position. The committee
spent nine evenings conducting
phone interviews, with questions
touching on the candidates’
professional development and
reaction to our Profile’s goals for
Stewardship, Outreach/Inreach,
Christian Education, and
Spiritual Growth.
The candidates also sent written
answers to two questions
and provided videos of their
preaching for our review.
We have heard a multitude of
perspectives on how our stated
goals are intertwined , how our
challenges are addressed in
parishes elsewhere, and what
each candidate feels they would
bring to strengthen and grow our
congregation.
The number of applicants
involved in the next phase,
face-to-face interviews here in
Guilford, will be reduced by
more than a half. 90% of those
invited to continue in the process
responded immediately and
enthusiastically. The schedule
for interviews in Guilford has
been set and will be completed
by the second week of February.
The last committee interview
step will be having two members
of the committee visit churches
of still a smaller set of semi-
finalists. Then, the Vestry will
be presented with finalists for
interviews. The Vestry has the
ultimate responsibility for the
decisions on calling a Rector.
We appreciate your support and
prayers as we continue in our
discernment process.
By David Jones, Search
Committee Chair
Why We Give to Christ Church
By Dirck Goss, Treasurer By Bill Glover
I L
remember Christ Church when ike most people, my
I was very young, attending with mail box is filled with
my grandmother, Estelle Farrel soliciations for many
Goss.  She liked Brad Locke, and I worthy organizations. Long
remember Rev. Locke coming for ago, I decided that my church
lunch at her house with the Bishop of is my favorite charity and the
Hong Kong on Duck Holes Farm.  good that Christ Episcopal
Church, Guilford, does signifi-
My father's name is on the honor roll cantly benefits the community
of those who served in the Second and my fellow parishoners. My
World War on the north side of the visible and transparent invest-
Sanctuary.  I roamed and played ment at home does God’s
around Foote's Bridge, near which work, uplifts our fine com-
the sandstone was quarried for the munity, and binds us together
current Christ Church under the in Christian fellowship. It is
direction of George Foote.  well worth writing a substan-
tial check and supporting our
I am very proud of my children, who special place.
have attended junior choir, J2A, and
are now members of the senior choir. 
I pledge to Christ Church because
of the fond memories and the many
lessons that my children have learned
through participation and worship at
Christ Church.
HAVE YOU MADE
YOUR 2010
PLEDGE?
2010 Nominating Committee Announces
Slate of Officers to Be Proposed at the
Annual Meeting
Members of the 2010 Nominating Committee, elected at last year’s
Annual Meeting, announced the following slate to stand for election
at the 266th Annual Meeting of Christ Episcopal Church. The
Annual Meeting will be convened at 11:45 a.m. on the Fifth Sunday
after the Epiphany, February 7th. The nominees are:
Sr. Warden Edward Seibert Jr. Warden David Kish
Treasurer Dirck Goss Parish Clerk Pat Daunic
Vestry – 3 yrs. Kay Claiborn, Martha Maxwell, Carol (Grant) Iovanna
Vestry – 1 yr. Diana Stovall (filling an unexpired term)
Delegate to Diocesan Convention Rhoda Whitman, Kay Claiborn
Alternate Delegate Jean Valentine
Deanery Representatives Cindy Smith, Kay Claiborn
Nominating Committee for 2011 Rhoda Whitman, David Moore, Ted Ervin
 GLAD TIDINGS
First Community Thanksgiving Dinner Five-Day Part-time
Succeeds with Outpouring of Support Sexton Position
Eliminated
T
hank you to all who helped make
our first Christ Church Community Due to unavoidable but over-
Thanksgiving Dinner a successful due budget cuts, the 5-day, part-
Outreach event. We received an outpouring of time position of Sexton has been
support from parishioners in all aspects of this eliminated. Our part-time parish
wonderful effort, from food donors who cooked sexton, Pete Cedeno, faithfully and
cheerfully completed his last day
and delivered roasted turkeys, stuffing, gravy of work here at Christ Episcopal
and pies, to donations of vegetables, whipped Church at the very beginning of
cream, butter, cream, dinner rolls, salads, December. Pete came to work
and festive decorations. The fellowship and at the parish at the beginning of
camaraderie shared by those who volunteered the tenure of the former Rector in
to work on Wednesday and Thursday was the late 1990s and was a cheerful
presence, a helping hand, and
wonderful. Our dinner guests came from always generous with his time.
Guilford and surrounding communities. Although they represented all However, it should be made clear
walks of life, they were united by a spirit of thankfulness for the sense that Pete didn’t retire or quit, nor
of sharing, community, and warmth on a day that can be so full for was he fired or terminated. The
some, but quite lonely for others. Even with the modest attendance five-day, part-time position had
of a “first-time event,” we know that our hospitality provided a warm to be eliminated. Personally, this
was a difficult decision to make.
and welcoming atmosphere to all our guests. All of the delicious However, pledge and other income
Thanksgiving leftovers were delivered to the Community Dining has not met parish operating
Room, where they were gratefully received and where the fruits of our expenses for many years, but in
collective labors continued to provide nourishment throughout the the past, unrestricted endowment
next few days. funds were used liberally (to
“From a small acorn can grow a mighty oak tree...” We feel this exhaustion) to bridge that gap.
Community Thanksgiving Dinner has great potential to impact many MEET SHEWARD HAGERTY
lives and provide an important ministry of hospitality to our Shoreline Sheward Hagerty of Guilford has
community. There are so many ways to grow this outreach both in size been hired by our Interim Rector,
and scope. We welcome your feedback and give thanks again for your Father Tony, to attend to some of
continuing support. the duties of Sexton. At present
Sheward will be on the premises
Lisa Ste. Marie, Dinner Chairperson only on Wednesday and Saturday
mornings and then only for three
hours each day. This arrangement
represents a significant reduction
in hours and budget expense.
With everyone’s help, we can
continue to keep our property,
buildings, and worship space in
good order by taking individual
responsibility for picking up
after ourselves, pitching in when
needed, and by contacting the
parish office to volunteer to help
with specific extra cleaning and
clean-up needs.
Christ Episcopal Church Non-Profit Organization
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P. O. Box 574 PAID
Guilford, Connecticut 06437 Guilford, Connecticut
Permit Number 1

Change Service Requested

Epiphany
GLAD TIDINGS NOTICE: ANNUAL PARISH MEETING IS
a publication of
Christ Episcopal Church
FEBRUARY 7
11 Park Street
Guilford, Connecticut 06437 The 266th Annual Meeting of the Parish of Christ Episcopal Church,
The Rev’d. Anthony C. Dinoto Guilford, Connecticut, will be called to order at 11:45 a.m. on
Interim Rector Sunday, February 7, 2010, the Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany. The
Editor
fracdinoto@snet.net agenda of this year’s Annual Meeting includes presentation of the
203-453-2279 operating budget for 2010 approved by the Vestry, reports of standing
Edward Seibert committees of the parish; the election of a Senior and Junior Warden;
Senior Warden election of Vestry members, Diocesan Delegates to the Convention,
seiberte@ix.netcom.com
203-458-6516 representatives to the New Haven Deanery, and members of the 2011
Nominating Committee. The Annual Parish Meeting is required by
Pat Wakefield parish by-laws to be conducted on or before February 8th and annually
Parish Administrator
cecsec@snet.net by Canon Law of the Episcopal Church, USA. Childcare will be
203-453-2279
available for children of the parish in the undercroft. This will be an
William D. Glover important meeting in the life of the parish. All parishioners are
Managing Editor urged to attend this meeting.
wdglover@comcast.net
203-458-1926
There will be one celebration of Holy Eucharist on February 7th at
10 a.m. There will be no Holy Eucharist celebrated at 8 a.m.