This is the September issue of the Broadcast. I doubt that many people living in this country in our time will ever be able to think about September without reference to September 11—both to the actual events of September 11, 2001, and to the symbolic and emotional reactions and meanings whenever “9/11” is evoked. I suspect that many of us can remember exactly where we were and whom we were with on that September morning in 2001 when we heard the news. Beyond the news and verbal reports were the images of that day that we will carry with us to our graves.

I have long wanted to do a theological reflection on September 11. To some, this reflection may seem political. But I’m like Jim Wallis, editor of Sojourner’s Magazine, who wrote a book entitled God’s Politics: Why the Right Gets It Wrong and the Left Doesn’t Get it. My intention is not to engage in the Republican/Democratic Party debates and the coming electioneering season. My interest is in asking what God may want us Christians to wrestle with.

When I was in college, a wise political science professor advised us students to ask, “What do my opponents want out of me?” “The answer,” he suggested, “will give you significant insight.”

So I ask what is it that Osama bin Laden and his accomplices wanted to achieve? What did they want from us coming out of September 11? And the answer is pretty obvious. They wanted to create terror. After all, terrorism is the title that we’ve given to our response, The War on Terror.

Terror. I looked it up. It means fear. Synonyms are fear, horror, fright, dread, shock, panic, alarm. Antonym: security.

The follow-up question is this. What would we do if Osama bin Laden were successful in terrorizing Americans on 9/11?

Out of our fear, horror, fright, dread, shock, panic, and alarm, we might do one or more of the following:

• We might declare wars on predominately Islamic countries, which would have the twin effects of alienating millions of Moslems and helping to bankrupt America with military budgets so high that we could not properly educate, provide healthcare for, or support the common good.
• We might become so paranoid that strangers would not be welcome in our land . . . especially strangers who came here looking for a good deal just like our ancestors did.
• We would do away with freedom of religion guaranteed in the Bill of Rights . . . especially freedom for Moslems to build mosques and to worship not only in Manhattan but in many places across the country (like Sugarcreek, Ohio.)
• We might do away with freedom from harm by arming citizens with concealed carry weapons, because they’d be so afraid . . . even to carry guns in bars and churches and public parks.
• We would pass laws that over-ride protections from government scrutiny of our communications without court orders.
• We would require people to carry papers at all times to prove our identity and citizenship—just like they used to do in the Soviet Union under the communism and in other repressive regimes.
• We might incarcerate people without trial and torture folk.

Osama’s goal would be to destroy us by creating enough fear that we would abandon our highest ideals: free exercise of religion, the rule of law, equality, generosity and hospitality.

To all of this fear, to all of the horror and terror, what does the Gospel of Jesus say?

“Fear Not!” To Mary the Angel Gabriel said, “Fear not, the Lord is with you.” The herald angels declared to the shepherds, “Fear not, for to you is born this day a savior.” And at the end of his life, the angel said to the women who had come to the tomb, "Be not afraid. You seek Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified. He is risen; He is not here.”

Throughout Christian history there have been many martyrs, saints, and holy women and men who have followed in Jesus’ footsteps. Even though they may have been very afraid and rightly so, they did not allow their fear to rule their lives or to disrespect the lives of others.

The answer to horror is not “security,” but trust in God. As we recite regularly from the 23rd Psalm:

Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
      I will fear no evil; *
for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff, they comfort me.

The purpose of terrorists is to terrorize. For people of faith, our purpose to refuse to be terrorized, “to fear no evil,” but to trust in God.

--John Paddock

Thank you to everyone who has so generously supported the construction of Christ Church’s new ramp. At the time this Broadcast went to press, $35,445 had been raised in combined pledges and donations!  The fundraising drive for this project is planned to conclude at the end of August, please follow this link to access the pledge form to make a financial pledge.

Greg Sexton reports that the project is running within the original budget estimate of $38,000. Architectural drawings are complete and have been approved by the City of Dayton. A contract has been signed with Double J Construction, and work should begin in late September.
The new, accessible ramp and plaza will make our church even more welcoming. Thank you so much for making this upgrade possible!

Yours in Christian partnership,
Ann Charles Watts

Serving neighbors Tuesday - Friday
November 16 - 19, 2010

The calendar has just about cycled around to another Waffle Shop.  This November marks Christ Church’s 81st year since it all started on the cusp of the Great Depression in 1929. 

Such a run it has been!  Tens of thousands of our Dayton neighbors have come through our doors to come celebrate that special seasonal hospitality that we call Waffle Shop.  I certainly hope you’ll set aside some time in your busy schedule to be here to participate and help in that celebration.

Right now, Waffle Shop has a few needs you might be able to help with:

•  We need lots of soft drinks!  If you see 12-pack cartons canned pop on sale, pick some up for Waffle Shop.  Whatever you bring, Waffle Shop won’t have to buy.  We need Coke, Diet Coke, Pepsi, Diet Pepsi, 7-Up, and Diet 7-Up.  Cans only!  Just drop donations off in the kitchen.

• Donations for raffle prize:   Once again this year, we expect to raffle off a doll house and a flat screen television in two separate raffles.  We’ll need about $300 for the television.  Care to donate?  We’d surely appreciate it.

We’ll also need lots of help to take care of guests.  Maybe you could take a day off work, or like Lisa Loftin, take a few vacation days just to be here so not to miss the fun.  It’s going to be great!  Questions?  Contact general chair Tom Schaefer:  276.2172 / tom@earthspeaks.org.  Waffle Shop needs you!

HUGE THANKS to
SUMMER MUSICIANS!!

I’d like to express my deep gratitude to all the musicians in our parish who contributed their time and talents to give musical offerings during the summer.  In addition to many familiar faces, we had great opportunities to hear debuts (such as Karah Paddock’s solo--which was fantastic!).  My special thanks also go to Jerry and Gabby Nelson, a “grandpa & granddaughter” duo.  For the entire month while visiting her grandparents in Dayton, Gabby offered to play her clarinet every Sunday at our services. 

Summer time at Christ Church has been a wonderful time to hear various soloists and small ensembles from our congregation, guest musicians and children, and we will definitely continue this tradition.  To top off our summer music program, we’ll hear beautiful harp playing on Sunday, August 29 at the 10:30am service.  Please thank Howard Heck for his generosity in sponsoring of our guest harpist.  Also, I’d like to thank Percy Jones for filling in for me during my vacation and for generously sponsoring soloists as well. 

Yun Kim, organist/choirmaster

Coming Soon!  New Choir Season 2010-11

An exciting new choir season opens up on Wednesday, September 8th at 7:30pm at the Burning Bush Room.  As always, both new and returning members are welcome.  This season will be a little different from the past, as we will work on a series of Christmas pieces to prepare for our upcoming recording project.  Being an active part of Christ Church Choir is a wonderful way to serve the Lord and our church community.  Also, you will reap the many benefits of making music with others.  Come and sing, praise the Lord, learn good music and enjoy the camaraderie!  I hope to see many smiling faces on September 8.

Guest Harpist Playing on August 29th

Harpist Leah Estes will come to Christ Church to play for our service at 10:30 am on August 29th.  She will feature many beautiful selections for sacred harp throughout the service.  Leah also has graciously offered to play a rather long prelude, so plan to be at church 20 minutes prior to the service to enjoy the heavenly sounds of the harp.

A CityHeart Moment – its history and 2010 statistics

Although Christ Church has always helped people in need, in 2006 a new outreach program called CityHeart was started at Christ Church.  The mission of CityHeart is to be open to the people of Dayton and to be a place of refuge, solace, assistance, referral, and care by serving the poor and newly-poor, the marginalized, the transient, and the needy.  This CityHeart Moment includes a little history of CityHeart and the statistics behind the sometimes heart-breaking stories published in the Broadcast. 

Kris Sexton is the first and primary contact for CityHeart clients.  She has extensive knowledge of services available city and statewide and has expertise dealing with the client population.  Lori Rehling helps to assist with clients and also uses the CityHeart database to gather the statistics needed to obtain grants or to write the reports for grants already received.  Clients are also helped by our rector, John Paddock and fellow staff member, Emily Jobe.  Our volunteers include Doris Miller, Natalie Harwood, Brad Miter, Peggy Barnes, Denise Hedley and Debbie Anderson.  Our grant requests are researched and written by parishioner Carole Ganim Nelson. 

CityHeart operates in conjunction with the Ohio Benefit Bank, a service to assist people to access programs and benefits they are unaware of; and HelpLink, a United Way referral service.  Christ Church parishioners who have been trained by the Ohio Benefit Bank to help people with their income tax returns or to apply for needed public benefits include: Charley Stough, Ann Pettee, Stan Musick, George Slenski, John Paddock, Pene Bishop, Amy Hayes, and John Baker.

In the first ten months of CityHeart (July, 2006 – September, 2007), 465 requests were made and 382 people were assisted by CityHeart.  HelpLink referrals during this time numbered 116.  As you can see by our statistics listed below, 709 of the 729 requests made by CityHeart clients were helped in just the first six months of 2010. Our financial help to each client usually is in the $25 to $50 range.  We help purchase State I.D.s, birth certificates, bus passes, etc.  When their needs are greater, such as for rent and utilities, we will pledge a partial amount and oftentimes, with our help and the help of other churches and agencies, their needs are met.  CityHeart also helps our clients by making referrals to agencies, such as, but not limited to, The Benefit Bank, HelpLink, AA, and Legal Aid.  The average time spent with each client is close to 35 minutes.  Sometimes our client’s needs are met with a sack lunch or simply a cup of hot coffee, use of the phone, or just listening to them in their time of need.   Other clients have numerous needs and in some cases, staff/volunteers spend hours researching and making follow-up calls. 

In the year 2007, CityHeart averaged 35 clients a month.  In the first six months of 2010, we averaged 121 clients each month.  In 2009, during the worst months of the economic crisis, CityHeart average 144 clients a month due to the loss of so many jobs in the Dayton area. 

Towards the end of 2009, CityHeart established definite hours (10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday).  This move was made to give CityHeart staff time to follow up on the calls and walk-ins which come in each day.  The shortened hours in which we accept calls/walk-ins have not short-changed our clients.  From January to June 2010, CityHeart counselors served 729 clients, compared to 717 in 2009 and 411 in 2008 (January to June).

Our record keeping improved in 2009 as we started to keep track of the simple requests which usually only take a few minutes of time but quickly adds up to hours of the staff/volunteer’s time.  These simple requests include the use of our phone, a cup of coffee or water, use of the restroom, faxing documents, and even occasionally notarizing a document for a client. 

The money used to directly help our clients comes from parishioner’s donations to CityHeart, a portion of the Rector’s Discretionary Fund, and from the African-American Community Grant.  Funds used to run the CityHeart program come from grants received from the Dayton Foundation (Fishing Grant), Jubilee Ministries, the Episcopal Community Services Foundation, and Waffle Shop.  Christ Church in-kind help includes the use of the Christ Church staff time, building use, utilities, phone and computers.

The trouble with statistics is that we sometimes forget that there is a ‘CityHeart Moment’ story behind every client’s request and the realization that their story could easily be ours or someone we know.  How can you help support the CityHeart mission?  Donations can be made to Christ Church with ‘CityHeart donation’ noted on the memo line.  Please help us help them. 

Click here for the January to June 2010 statistics.

Lori Rehling

Dayton Community Garden

The harvest from the Dayton Community Garden has been overwhelming . If you have not yet seen the garden, come visit the garden at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church in Trotwood (off the 35 connector). It has been an amazing Summer at the garden just watching what Mother Nature can do. As a "city girl" I have been transformed at the many wonders that I have seen at the Garden.

We harvested potatoes, cucumbers, squash, zucchini, several varieties of peppers, radishes, green peppers, eggplant and lots of tomatoes.  We have supplied about 150 lbs. of fresh produce to the Dayton Episcopal Food Pantry located at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on Salem Ave. This effort at the garden has met the goal of helping to supply fresh produce.

If you need more information about the Dayton Community Garden, please contact me at mv_boyles@yahoo.com.

Maureen Boyles
Garden Coordinator

Kairos Prison Ministry

Kairos cookies are needed by the first weekend in September or earlier. Two hundred (200) dozen cookies are needed to support our prison ministry weekend in September.  Please see the special instructions below in regards to the kinds of cookies needed and the packaging instructions.  Please see George Slenski if there are any questions.

Kairos Prison Ministry Cookie Baking Instructions:

• Home baked cookies only
• No raisins, icing or powdered sugar
• Cool cookies before packaging
• Exactly 2 dozen per one-gallon ziplock bag
• Pray over the cookies - asking God's blessing on those who will receive them.
• Bring cookies to church on or before September 5.
  
  

Rebuilding Together Dayton 2011

Last April, the Dayton Episcopal Ministry sponsored and worked on a Rebuilding Together Dayton house.  We had over 45 folks from our churches that participated in the April 2010 RTD day.  It has been purposed that next year we rehab a parishioner’s house, a neighbor’s house,  or someone that we know from one of our outreach programs.   The RTD program is now actively looking for houses to rehab for the April 2011 RTD day and is also taking applications for home owners that have immediate repair needs through the Rebuilding Together Dayton (RTD) neighbor care program.  Applications need to be submitted by November 5, 2010 for the next April RTD day.  The neighbor care program is apparently available year round. 

The eligibility criteria includes the requirements that the applicant live in the City of Dayton, own their own home, have a household income of 200% of poverty or less, have no outstanding real estate taxes, are unable to do the work themselves, and are willing to cooperate and work with the RTD organization. The home to be repaired must be owner-occupied.  Projects are small, med, or large.  Our project was medium and we had a materials budget of $2,000.  I believe the large projects may go up to $3,000 or higher.  Click on the links below for the RTD and neighbor care applications.  Please pass on to those who might be eligible or to folks you might be in a position to recommend that someone apply to the program.
You can get more information at the RTD website: 

http://www.rtdayton.org/index.html
RTD 2011 Homeowner application
RTD Neighbor Care application

The Christ Church Youth Group had a summer that included our mission trip to Good Earth Farm, Summer Camps at Procter, and our annual Camping & Canoeing trip at Morgan’s.  We will resume regular programming for youth beginning in September. Come check it out!

Y.O.D.A.H. (Youth Of Dayton Are Here) will kick off the year on Wednesday, Sept. 8 at Christ Church. The group is for the senior high youth of Dayton, members come from all the different Deanery churches and everyone is welcome to bring friends! Meetings focus on bible study, experiential worship, meditative prayer, games, music and forming a community of friendship. YODAH will meet every Wednesday from 7 – 8:30 p.m. and will participate in various Dayton service work projects throughout the year. (Deanery Program Leader:  Art Paul)

Get pumped for Junior High youth group! Grades 6-8 are welcome to join us every third Sunday of the month for food, music, Bible study, prayer and a community of friendship. Bringing friends is always encouraged! We’ll kick off the year with a hike and picnic at John Bryan on Sept. 19. Mark your calendar.  (Program Leaders:  Kelli Paul, Emily Sexton)

Mark Your Calendars:
The list below includes some dates for upcoming youth events
as we know them at this time.

September 8
YODAH Kick-off for Senior High Youth 7:00-8:30 at Christ Church

September 12
Kick-off Breakfast for Christian Discovery

September 19
Sunday Morning Christian Discovery Classes start for all ages.

Junior High Youth Group – Picnic, Hike & Ice Cream (12:00-5:00 p.m.)

October 17
Junior High Youth Group

October 31
Halloween Party at Coffee Hour

November 12-13
DSO Convention Overnight (All Youth)

November 14
Waffle Shop Set-Up (All Youth)

Exodus #8 will be held on December 3-5, 2010 at Procter Camp and Conference Center. Cost will be $35 for each participant. Scholarships are available upon request. Exodus is for students in 9th-12th grade who would like to experience a fun-filled, spiritually charged weekend with other youth from around the DSO.

If you will be in 10th grade or above next year, have attended at Genesis or Exodus, and would like to staff either of these retreats, please fill out the Team Member App. here: https://diosohio.wufoo.com/forms/genesisexodus-team-member-application/

• The new rector of St. George's Episcopal Church, The Rev. Ben Phillips, started his new position on August 2.  The Rev. Rob Baldwin of St. James, Piqua, has accepted a position at a parish in Lawrence, Kansas.  The Rev. Joe Redmond resigned as rector of St. Francis, Springboro and his last day was August 8.  He accepted a one-year Chaplaincy Fellowship at Kettering Medical Center.  St. Mark's, Christ Church Xenia and St. Christopher's are trying to determine how they might work together more closely.
• A chairperson is still needed for the Building and Grounds Committee. We also need people to be on the committee who can meet regularly, survey the building, talk to contractors, figure out the best contracts and building services, and then recruit people to do specific jobs. 
• A church work day has been scheduled for September 18 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.  The idea is to have as many people as we can get to try to accomplish a lot of tasks that day.  The work day will be called Rebuilding Christ Church Day.
• Looking into the possibility of The Perfection Group taking care of our HVAC system and electrical system.  Linc presently maintains our HVAC system. 
• Fan Coil unit in the library.  A bid of $2,690 has been received from Linc for the replacement fan coil unit for the library.  Waiting for a second bid from the Perfection Group. 
• The rendering of the ramp was shown and explained to the vestry.  The fundraising for the ramp has begun.  The pledge can be a one-time donation or broken up over the next 18 months and would be in addition to their regular pledge.  Any money raised over the amount needed for the ramp will be applied to other building issues.  The contractors said they can get the job done before cold weather.  The contractors will be selected within the next two weeks.
• Mission Share Review:  Diocesan council met and approved the $12,000 reduction in Christ Church's 2009 assessment.