Pre-K through Fifth Grade

Sunday mornings, 10am through to the Peace at the 10:30 service.

Sixth through Twelfth Grades

will be merged with the Episcopal Youth Community (EYC), Alternate Tuesdays, 6:00 to 8:00 p.m..

Confirmation Class (Sixth through Twelfth Grades) and adult Sunday School class

We will be viewing and discussing the The Alpha Series videos Sunday Mornings at 9:30.

came to order on Sunday, January 17th at 11:20 a.m. in Comfort Hall.

• Vestry Election Deacon Dick Almos, Jack Ashton, John Hopton, and Emmett Martin served as tellers for the election. Brian Baker, Sudee Campbell, Raúl Cortés, John Giangrosso, Nancy Ritzmann, and Cecile Torbergsen had been nominated prior to the meeting. Instructions were given to mark four names on the ballot. The tellers retired to the Morgan Library to tally the votes, while other business continued. 72 ballots were collected, of which 71 were valid. Brian Baker, John Giangrosso, Nancy Ritzmann, and Cecile Torbergsen were elected to four year vestry terms. The ballots wil be kept on hand for one month in case of a call for a recount.
• The congregation heartily thanked David Daigle, our outgoing senior warden, and Burt Kemp, Gwen Losh, and John Stevenson, whose vestry terms are expiring, and Alex McPherson and junior warden Jacques Walker who have submitted letters of resignation. The vestry will name parishoners to fill the two unexpired terms.
• Carl Ritzmann delivered the finance report. Last year, we operated on a deficit, but within the operating fund; we did not have to dig into reserves. For 2010, we have gained 14 new pledges, but lost 24 larger (on average) pledges from 2009, at a significant loss in pledge income. The bottom line is that our pledged and other anticipated income is only 2/3 of our budgeted expenses.
• In addition to the written report booklet , we heard brief oral reports from the Music Director, EFM, Welcome Team, Altar Guild, Men's Club, ECW, VBS, St. Clare's, and ESL teams.
• Beverly Stubblefield gave a Search Committee report. The search committee began receiving a selection of candidates in August, and is conducting telephone interviews, and apparently a few on-site interviews. Beverly stressed that we must "become what we want to find"; one practice interviewee described our parish as "stodgy". If we wish to attract an energetic rector, we must be an energetic parish.

met following the Annual meeting in Morgan Library. Ten vestry members and the Priest-In-Charge were present. The vestry:

• Accepted the resignations of the two absent vestry members, Alex McPherson and Jacques Walker. Fr. Ernie asked the vestry to prayerfully consider their replacements and make suggestions in the next week.
• Selected all new officers by acclamation. The new senior warden is Gus Michel, the junior warden is John Giangrosso, the vestry secretary is Lisa Carvin, and the treasurer is David Daigle.
• Determined a meeting schedule for the next few months of the third Sunday of each month. We will revisit the meeting schedule as the summer approaches.
• Also, Fr. Ernie discussed his expectations for the vestry. He asked that vestry members on duty also serve as ushers/greeters; that the vestry members wear a distinctive name tag regularly; that all vestry members pledge to give regularly to the parish; and that they participate in one or more Christian Education classes. He also indicated that business as usual will not be the order of the day, but that those who expect things to be the same "can just leave now". (No one left.)

God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of all comfort, dwelling on high but having regard for the lowly, knowing all things before they come to pass: We give you thanks that from the beginning you have gathered and prepared a people to be heirs of the covenant of Abraham, and have raised up prophets, kings, and priests, never leaving your temple untended. We praise you also that from the creation you have graciously accepted the ministry of those whom you have chosen.

Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church. Pour out upon him the power of your princely Spirit, whom you bestowed upon your beloved Son Jesus Christ, with whom he endowed the apostles, and by whom your Church is built up in every place, to the glory and unceasing praise of your Name.

To you, O Father, all hearts are open; fill, we pray, the heart of this your servant whom you have chosen to be a bishop in your Church, with such love of you and of all the people, that he may feed and tend the flock of Christ, and exercise without reproach the high priesthood to which you have called him, serving before you day and night in the ministry of reconciliation, declaring pardon in your Name, offering the holy gifts, and wisely overseeing the life and work of the Church. In all things may he present before you the acceptable offering of a pure, and gentle, and holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and power and glory in the Church, now and for ever.

Amen.

Wes McComb's meditation columns are again being published as a a weekly medidation column in The Slidell Independent newspaper. These are available on-line after the newspaper run is finished from www.christchurchslidell.com/publications/index.htm#externals . The latest is: Have you a lifelong dream in your prayers still to be fulfilled? (January 8, 2010).

Get yours from the blue card table outside the office. If you do not have envelopes and would like them for your 2010 donations, please contact the office during regular office hours.

is always finding need. Please remember the food bags on your next trip to the grocery store. Christ Church distributes approximately two to three bags of much needed food per week. Monetary donations for the food bank are also appreciated. See the list of contents for the bags.

Do you have time to lend a hand? Help Christ Church continue to make a difference in John and Marky Stevenson's lives! If you have a few hours to spare during the week, John conitinues to need daytime companions to lend a hand and make sure that all is well. Please sign up on the volunteer calendar located on the table by the phone in Comfort Hall.