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NEW DEACON
WELCOME TO OUR NEW DEACON MARGERY!
We are very pleased to welcome our new Deacon, The Reverend Margery Howell to St. Christopher’s. Margery will begin her time with us at the Anniversary Service. Margery served most recently at St. Francis in Virginia Beach. Deacons have a very specific role in the life of the church. Margery will be here on Sundays to assist with the services – the specific role of the Deacon is to carry the gospel in, read the gospel, help with the setting up and cleaning up of the Eucharist and say the dismissal. Margery will also preach once a month. In addition to her time here on Sundays, Margery will help me in establishing a stronger Pastoral Care Program. Margery feels a strong call to working with the elderly and she will continue her work as the chaplain at two area nursing homes. A retired police officer, she lives in Norfolk with her four legged children; Phoebe, her dog and Mr. Buddy, her cat. I hope you will all welcome Margery as she begins her ministry with us!
What is a Deacon?
By way of introduction, a deacon in the Episcopal Church serves at the discretion of the Diocesan Bishop at an assigned parish. In our Liturgy, a deacon leads the Confession, reads the Gospel, preaches monthly or more often at the discretion of the rector, sets and cleans up the Table, distributes Communion elements and gives the dismissal. In the absence of the rector, the deacon leads Morning Prayer. At the discretion of the Bishop, a deacon may lead a Deacon’s Mass-Communion from reserved sacrament-but only in extreme emergency situations.
A deacon’s ministry in the world is the core of the deacon’s call from God. My ministry is serving as Chaplain at two nursing homes-one in Norfolk and one in Virginia Beach-four days a week. I am only at St. Christopher’s on Sundays unless there is a meeting scheduled. My ministry with the elderly is my passion as it energizes and invigorates me as I spend time with folks who may or may not have family but who love to have someone to sit and listen. My goal is to be the non-threatening, peaceful presence to the residents and staff. I lead Spiritual Music and Bible Study weekly, make visits with residents, families and staff and perform other duties as may be necessary.
The focus of my ministry at St. Christopher’s is pastoral care. I am looking to form a Pastoral Care Team, which will be made up of a number of people with various forms of pastoral care ministry within the church. The focus of Pastoral Care is to take care of our members in the individual needs. I will be forming and training a Eucharistic Visitor Team who will be responsible for taking Communion to those who are unable to join us at the Table on Sunday. Included in the Eucharistic Visitor Team will be those who would like to visit the sick but not offer Communion. One very valuable way of taking care of our own is someone to write notes to those who are sick or have loved ones who are sick, have had a death in the family, have a new baby or any other occasion when a hand-written note would be appreciated. When a meal would be a blessing to an individual or family in the event of a death in a family or return from a hospital or rehab stay, I would like to have a team of cooks who would be willing to provide a meal. When there is someone who
needs a ride to the doctor, I would like to have folks available to do that ministry. The ministry of a Pastoral Care Team encompasses much in the life of a parish, and it involves everybody as we take care of each other. Pastoral Care is a lay ministry. Eileen and I will attend to certain circumstances, but we need your help. If you are interested in being a part of this ministry, please speak to me. I will be having an organizational meeting on Sunday, December 13 after the 10:15 service.
As part of Pastoral Care ministry, you will find a card in the pew racks asking for names of our members who have been missing from services recently. Please fill out the card and place it in the collection plate. This will help me know who needs a call or if there is a special need. Frequently our members slip by my radar screen especially on Sunday mornings, and I count on each of you to bring pastoral care needs to my attention. Please help me by filling out the card in the pew rack. Also, please help me learn your name. If you have a nametag, please wear it so I can learn a face and a name. I learn names faster when I see a name and a face together so please do your part to help me learn your names.
I look forward to hearing from you, serving among you and seeing what God has in store for us to accomplish together.
God’s Blessings and Peace,
The Rev, Margery E. Howell, Deacon
OUTREACH PROJECT
BRING US YOUR ALUMINUM CANS & CAN TABS!
To help with our outreach we are collecting can tabs to help the Ronald McDonald House in Norfolk. Bring in your cans and pull the tabs off and deposit them in the box for Ronald McDonald House and next to it you will see a box for the cans. We’ll recycle the cans and earn money for the church as well. The boxes are conveniently located in the parish hall near the ladies restroom. Please rinse your cans before bringing putting them in the recycle box.
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Coming Soon
DIOCESAN COUNCIL – February 12-14, in Williamsburg
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER – February 16, 6:30 pm
ASH WEDNESDAY SERVICES – February 17, Noon & 7:30 pm
Tuesday & Friday (7:30 am)
Lenten Morning Prayer Service – starting February 23
Wednesday (11:00 am)
Lenten Morning Book Study – starting February 24
Wednesday (6:30 pm)
Lenten Potluck & Study – starting February 24
LANTERN COFFEE HOUSE
Come spend the evening with 4th Day Band on Saturday, March 13, 7:30 pm.
Join St. Christopher's Online Prayer Group
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