The Episcopal Church in Montgomery and Greene Counties
will worship together as One People of God

Pentecost Sunday
May 23, 2010, 11 a.m.

Bishop Thomas Breidenthal will be Preacher and Celebrant
including Confirmation, Reception, and Reaffirmation of Baptismal Promises  

St. Margaret's Episcopal Church
5301 Free Pike
Trotwood, Ohio

There will not be a 10:30 am service at Christ Church, Dayton that morning!

St. Margaret’s is fully handicapped accessible and
our worship will be interpreted for the Deaf.
Reception following.

At this time interested parishioners will have the opportunity to be confirmed, received, or renew their Baptismal Promises.  Below is a brief description of each.

• Confirmation:  In the life of a young person, it is the sacrament through which they make their baptismal promise their own.  For someone who has entered the Episcopal Church as an adult, it is the sacrament through which they renew their baptismal commitment and make a commitment to live out those vows in this community of faith.  
• Reception:  If you were formerly confirmed in another church (such as the Roman Catholic Church), the Episcopal Church may recognizes your confirmation and you would be received into the Episcopal Church by the Bishop. 
• Renewal of Promises:  Adults, who are confirmed and who desire to publicly recommit themselves to the promises made at their earlier baptism/confirmation may want to consider renewing their baptismal vows at this time.

For anyone who comes before the bishop to be confirmed, received or to renew their vows, the bishop lays his hands upon them and prays for the indwelling of the Holy Spirit so that one is strengthened to live into their baptismal promises. 

Several parishioners are now attending the class, Discover the Episcopal Church, in preparation for their Confirmation or Reception.  If anyone is interested in being confirmed or received in the future, call the church office. You will be contacted when the next Confirmation/Reception is scheduled. 

From the Rector                                                                                                       

Christ Church is the “Mother Church” for many of the other Episcopal congregations in the Greater Dayton area. As the community grew and folk moved from what is now downtown Dayton, other parishes were founded in the new neighborhoods and communities from among the members of Christ Church including St. Andrew’s, St. Margaret’s, St Paul’s, and St. Mark’s. St. George’s and St. Christopher’s are grandchildren having been sponsored from St. Paul’s and St. Mark’s. Christ Church, Xenia, has a different genealogy; but over the years there have been many people who have moved in and among these various congregations. 

Collaboration among Episcopal churches in the region has a long history as well. A very close relationship in the 1970’s and 80’s was through the Miami Valley Episcopal Council (MVEC) where we sponsored various mission and outreach opportunities, had Executive Directors who helped member parishes with clergy searches and other consultative services. We even distributed grants to other local agencies in much the same way that Waffle Shop does today.

The Miami Valley Episcopal Russian Network (MVERN) with it’s significant partnership with St. Nicholas Orthodox Parish in Sablino, Russia, is well known. The close collaboration with other churches has made it a very successful and satisfying venture.

We have also joined with area Episcopal congregations to build Habitat houses. Our CityHeart program, Kiva loans, Rebuilding Dayton, Community Garden, Episcopal Food Bank, and even our mission trips for youth and adults have caused us to work closely with folk from other churches.

A year and a half ago, the clergy of the Dayton Deanery began discussing other ways to collaborate in common ministry. Our wardens started meeting quarterly. Parish Administrators and Outreach and Mission folk began to hold their own gatherings. Clergy started to cover pastoral calls for one another and to share mid-week services during illnesses and vacations. Christian formation for youth and adults has been shared. There is even a collaborative young adult group called YODAH (Youth Of Dayton Are Here). Our Lenten study and Holy Week worship were done together.

None of this cooperation and collaboration is meant to diminish the identities or ministries of our individual parishes but, rather, to enhance and strengthen us all for the ministries to which Christ calls us.

So it comes as no surprise that we are finally at a point that we can share a Sunday worship event on the Feast of Pentecost. Our regular services on Saturday at five and Sunday at 8 a.m. will be held at Christ Church as usual. But at 11 a.m. on May 23, the eight churches of the Dayton Deanery will come together with one festive service of Holy Eucharist and Confirmation at St. Margaret’s with our Bishop as Celebrant and Preacher.

Many of us are hesitant to go to another church. We like our own, because it is comfortable and familiar. And we have chosen to be here and not somewhere else.

But I invite you to take the risk of joining with fellow Episcopalians from throughout the area on Pentecost where we can celebrate the unity we share through the Holy Spirit, support the people being confirmed and received, and explore what it means to be “one church on eight campuses” in this deanery.

See you there!

(Details about the service follow. There will be carpools leaving from our parking lot that morning for those who are concerned about driving to an unfamiliar destination.)

--John Paddock

Christian Discovery

Adult Sunday Morning Programs for May
9:00 a.m. Sunday Mornings

May 2 and 9:  Rector's Forum:  This is an opportunity for a freewheeling discussion of matters concerning our parish, the Episcopal church, and the Anglican Communion.

May 16: The Rev. Mary Slenski will present "Palestine Now," a program of images from Mary and George's trip to Israel last year that represent life surrounded by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Birthday Wishes for Eddie Kerr                                                         

Eddie Kerr
will be celebrating his 95th Birthday,
Sunday, May 9, 2010. 

Honor his special day with a card shower. 

Send birthday greetings and good wishes
to his home address.  If you do not have his address, please contact the church office, 223-2239.

Memories of the 2010 Women's Winter Retreat

Despite a winter storm, eleven women braved the slick roads to come to the 2010 Women's Winter Retreat at the Procter Center.

Click here for more pictures from the retreat.

The next Women's Retreat is September 24-25 at the Convent of Transfiguration.

Outreach News                                                                                   

Dayton Episcopal Food Pantry (formerly St. Margaret’s/St. Andrew’s Food Pantry) is a collaborative effort of many of the churches in our Dayton Deanery, including St. Paul’s, St. George’s, Christ Church Dayton, St. Andrew’s and St. Margaret’s.  In 2009, we served an average of 51 households per month or about 154 people each month – this is an increase from 2008 when we served 83 people a month.   We served almost 1700 people in total in 2009!  The pantry is open the third and fourth Saturdays of the month and is also open by appointment during the week.  During these difficult times, we have seen the need for food and assistance continually increase.  Thank you to all who have helped our food pantry over the past year by donating food, money, and time.  If you would like to volunteer as a volunteer at the pantry please contact the Rev. Jane Gerdsen 278-7345 or by email at jane.standrews@sbcglobal.net. 

[Special Note: During the Easter season, we are doing a special toiletry collection for the pantry.  Please donate small sizes of personal care items (shampoo, soap, lotion, dental care, razors, etc.).  These items are especially expensive and difficult for our clients to buy themselves!]

Saturday Lunch at the House of Bread: St. Andrew’s has had a historic relationship with the House of Bread Community Kitchen which serves free, hot lunches to anyone in need. The House of Bread was located at St. Andrew’s for almost two years before they obtained their own facility on Orth Avenue.  We serve the third Saturday of each month for most of the year and invite other interested parties to join us in feeding many hungry people.  We will serve May 15th and then will take a summer hiatus before returning to serve again in September.  Volunteers from St. George’s and St. Paul's have been a tremendous help to us in supporting this ministry and working with us to serve the hungry in our community! If you are interested in learning more about this ministry or would like to help please contact Phyllis DeMarco at 898-4820.

This summer, we will also be once again looking for volunteers to help serve in the summer lunch program that we offer in partnership with Grace United Methodist our neighbor on Salem Avenue.  Children are offered a hot meal and a safe place to go during the summer.  We would love to again have volunteers from your churches help to feed hungry kids over the summer months when they won't receive free school lunches.

--The Rev. Jane Gerdsen

One way to Support our Military...                                                    

One of the Christ Church Foyer Groups is actively supporting our Military. They would like to give you the opportunity to join them in this endeavor. They are collecting and sending “needs and wants” to our Military who are serving in Iraq and Afghanistan. This is a way to show them that we appreciate them and have not forgotten them.

The following is a list of “needs and wants”. Please bring your gifts to church and place them in the container marked “For our Troops”. If you prefer you may give money toward the purchase of items and we will shop for you. You may also cover the cost of postage which is $ll.95 per box. Do not put money in the container—place it in an envelope marked “For our Troops” and place it in the offering plate or in the office.

NEEDS: Baby wipes, shampoo, soaps, lotion, foot care products, sun block (SPF-15 or higher) Visine, Q-tips, baby powder, chapstick, hand sanitizer, deodorants, toilet paper, all dental products, stationery & envelopes, sanitary products for women.
WANTS: Small hand-held games, batteries (AA or AAA), brown t-shirts (any size), white tube socks, music CD’s and any kind of movie DVD’s.
MOST REQUESTED ITEMS: Beef Jerky, Slim Jims, peanuts, tuna fish (seal packed), small packages of cheese crackers, hard candy, small packages of cookies, life savers, gum, suckers, Crystal Light drink mixes, Kool-Aid drink mixes in presweetened packages, powdered Gatorade in small packages, tic tacs, small cans of food with pop-tops on them, and anything else that they can put into their pockets to carry with them when they go out on missions.

No aerosol cans, glass containers or things that will melt in the heat. (A handout with this list is available in the front hallway of the church.)

A CityHeart Moment...                                                                        

Many of you may remember the story of the grassroots community organization that I wrote about in last September's (Broadcast, page 7) that was reaching out to inner city boys in an effort to stop the violence in the city of Dayton. This month’s article will be the first in a series of “Where are they now?” stories that will be presented over the next few months as updates on previous stories.

After Christ Church helped to send a boy to Splash Moraine for a day of fun and swimming, I suggested to the organizer, Brother Larry (I now have permission to use his real name), that he might request a grant  from our 2009 Waffle Shop if he needed funding assistance again for the Summer of 2010. He was a customer of our 2009 Waffle Shop and was excited to learn about the possibility of a grant.

We heard from Brother Larry about the “Yes We Can End the Violence” program a few times over the past year and he always expresses appreciation for our initial support. The Waffle Shop committee approved a grant of $225.00 to help fund the summer swimming program which will be held at Vandalia Recreational complex this year. Brother Larry continues to garner additional support from area leaders, law enforcement and other agencies. His passion and dedication to this work is unceasing. Some of the boys have had the opportunity to receive swim lessons at the “Y” this spring to prepare them for summer. The group has recently attended a Dragons ball game, participated in the Five Oaks neighborhood clean-up, and assisted at a local 5K run. They are learning from their role models to give back to the community in addition to being the recipients of support.

Brother Larry told me how truly grateful he is for the original article that was written for our newsletter and said that he carries copies of it to share with those who ask about his organization. He especially liked the scripture quoted, “And those who are peacemakers will plant seeds of peace.” Apparently they are forming the boys into a football team. When Brother Larry was talking with another leader about a name for the team, the person said, “What about ‘Seeds of Peace’, like that article referred to the boys?”  And so it is, the team will be called Seeds of Peace. They already have t-shirts printed with the name and are attracting attention when wearing them on various outings.

I read that scripture reference from James 3:18 in the Forward Day-by-Day prayer booklet the week I wrote that original CityHeart article. Was it a coincidence?  I don’t think so, I believe that Brother Larry was meant to cross our path and we were meant to respond,” Yes We Can!”  Let us pray that these seeds will be like the seeds that fell on good soil, that they hear the word and come to understand, and bear the fruit of peace. Thank be to God!

Kris Sexton

YOUTH NEWS                                                                                      

Group picture from the Youth Group Retreat
at Camp Wesely in Bellefontaine, Ohio

YOUTH GROUP TO SERVE AT GOOD EARTH HUNGER MISSION
June 14-20, 2010

The Good Earth Hunger Mission grows and gleans fresh produce for food pantries, women's shelters, and free meal programs in Athens County. In addition to feeding the hungry, this ministry educates volunteers about local, sustainable agriculture and helps reconnect people from a variety of backgrounds with the earth. Volunteers help in the garden each week doing everything from planting to harvesting. Many of you were in church on Appalachian Sunday Feb. 14, when Paul Clever visited Christ Church and spoke of his mission and work as the director of Good Earth. In June, our youth group will return to Athens for mission work. Older youth and adults will arrive early in the week to work on building projects to include; an outdoor “camp” shower to be used by mission groups coming to the farm, and the construction of a greenhouse. Other youth and chaperones will join later in the week to help with the garden and farm chores. The mission trip will be a week of service and learning for all participants. We ask for the prayers and support of the congregation as we undertake this opportunity for servant ministry. More information about Good Earth can be found at the following link.  http://www.chogs.org/goodearth.htm

Youth Group Car Wash

May 22 at Groceryland of Xenia, Rt. 68 N

June 13, 8:00 am - 12:00 noon
Christ Church Parking Lot

Final Mission Trip Fundraisers

The Episcopal Diocese of Southern Ohio                            
2010 Summer Camp                                                                     

It's that time of year again!  
Join other families and youth for fun at the
2010 Summer Camp Season
at Procter Camp and Conference Center.

123 Camp (June 30-July 3) $200 per camper:
-For children entering 1st, 2nd, or 3rd grade and one adult chaperone to accompany them.
-We will learn Bible Knowledge and Bible Trivia.

Boys and Girls Camp (July 6-10) $200 per camper:
-For children entering 4th or 5th grade.
-Learn about prayer, Bible Scavenger Hunt.

Junior Camp (August 2-7) $220 per camper:
-For Children entering 6th or 7th grade.
-Learn to read the lessons, write prayers, and learn about the Bible through the Bible Amazing Race!

Intermediate Camp (July 26-31) $220 per camper:
-For those entering 8th or 9th Grade.
-Learn about Liturgy, how to read the Bible and how to share your faith with others.

Senior High Camp (July 19-24) $220 per camper:
-For those entering 10th, 11th, 12th grade, and graduated seniors.
-There are many formation tracks to choose from, including Biblical Storytelling, Peer Ministry, Worship through Music, Carrying Your Faith Confidently after High School, among many others.

Creation Camp (July 12-16) $200 per camper:
- For those entering 6th-12th Grade.
-Formation tracks will focus on Creative Arts and Sports.

Outdoor Adventure Camp (June 30-July 3) $200 per camper:
-For those entering 6th-12th Grade.
-See God in nature as you sleep in a tent, learn to cook your own food, and participate in many outdoor activities such as canoeing!

Family Camp (June 25-27, July 16-18, or August 11-14) $120 per adult camper, $60 per child camper under the age of 18:
-Age specific activities.
-Bible Study for all ages.
-Spend quality time with your family.

MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE DIOCESAN SUMMER CAMP

REGISTER ONLINE NOW!

Rites of Passage

Welcome New Members:

• Shannon Family: Vaughn, Amanda, Sophia & Catherine, 12-2009
• Diana James, 2-2010
• Frank Bynum, 2-2010
• Ana VanVlack, 2-2010
• Anne Wolcott, 1-2010
• Melissa, Thomas & Julia Liggett, 1-2010

Baptized:

• John Thomas Hillard, 1-2010
• Reece Wisecup, 1-2010

Died:

• Margaret Moehlman, 2-2010
• William Foster Wilson, 3-2010

March Vestry Notes                                                                        

• Waffle Shop Grants:  A final grant proposal for Waffle Shop 2009 proceeds was presented to the vestry for approval.  The total money to be disbursed is $13,513.  Tom Schaefer attributed the increase in money to the good weather, popular Celebrity Bakers and the addition of the Christ Church Cookbook. The proposal passed with one change:  An additional $400 went to the Sinclair Community College Chaplaincy Program in lieu of the Church purchasing a church video camera. 

• Report on Mission Share Review: Rich Maresca hopes to get together with the Mission Share Review Chairperson in the next couple of weeks.

• Finance Committee Meeting: A summary of the Finance Committee meeting was given to the vestry.  It is the committee's intent to move away from the detailed Treasurer's Report submitted to the vestry each month and replace it with two simplified displays. 

• A motion was passed to transfer $1,000 from the dues formerly paid to the Pastoral Counseling Center.  John Paddock had learned that the center no longer accepts insurance for clients and for that reason he did not want to pay the membership dues this year.

• The vestry discussed how we are going to care for our building since we no longer have a full time sexton.  The vestry was given a five-page document, Building and Grounds Maintenance Projects.  Ideas regarding how to tackle this ongoing project included a "Sparkle Day" in the spring where parishioners come in and help, train people to do some of the easier tasks, etc.  Howard Heck and Rich Maresca will get together to discuss ways to grow the Building and Grounds Committee.

• Due to the Vestry Retreat in April, there will be no Vestry meeting in April.

The complete vestry minutes are posted on the bulletin board
in the main hallway of the church.

Pilgrimage to Russia

White Nights Pilgrimage to Russia
June 13-24, 2011
Sponsored by the Miami Valley Episcopal Russian Network (MVERN)

Join Bishop and Mrs. Breidenthal and explore the cultural and historical sites in St. Petersburg and witness MVERN's outreach ministry to St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Sablino. 

Highlights of the trip:
* Discover St. Petersburg, long considered the artistic and cultural center of Russia.
* Spend a day at the Palace of Petrodvorets.
* Witness the revival of the Russian Orthodox faith after 70 years of repression.
* Worship with the parishioners at St. Nicholas Russian Orthodox Church in Sablino.
* See the work of MVERN's Russian ministry in Sablino.
* Join youth from the Diocese of Southern Ohio as they assist with a summer camp program and work on a designated project at the Youth Center.
* Extend your trip with an optional extension to Moscow.

For further information, click on www.mvern.org or call (937) 435-3550.