Christ Episcopal Church
“Our Doors Are
Always Open”
2000 Main Street
Stratford, CT 06615
Tel: (203) 375-4447
Fax: (203) 378-1445
Email: christchstrfrd@aol.com
Staff
The Rev. Robert K. Stuhlmann, Rector
The Rev. James Wilson, Resident Priest
The Rev. Lee Forshaw, Deacon
Dorothy Cameron - Organist/Choir Director
Marilyn Olbrys - Hand Bell Choir Director
Susan Hovan – Administrative Assistant
Joseph Bonitatebus – Sexton
Office Hours
9am to 3pm – Monday through Thursday
9am – 12 Noon - Friday
Vestry and Officers of Christ Church
Senior
Warden
Karl Agan
Junior
Warden
Ruth Munson
Treasurer
Kyle Hamilton
Clerk
Nancy Neff
Financial Secretary Marilyn Olbrys
Vestry
Esther Cartwright
Beth
DaPonte
Catherine
DeLieto
Vincent
Brennan
Ian
Sim
Alan Busek
Mark
Flash
Billie Brooks
Frances Esposito
Marie Louisgene
Charles Nichols
Jeffrey Scholl
Schedules
Services
Sunday 8am & 10:00am
Sunday School
Sunday 10:00am
Coffee Hour
Sunday after the 10:00 am
service
Children’s Choir (ages 8+)
Rehearse Sunday 11:45am
Children’s Bell Choir
Rehearse Sunday 11:30am
Adult Choir
Rehearse Wednesdays 7:30pm &
Sundays 9:30am
Adult Bell Choir
Rehearse Wednesday 6:45pm
Musings
Lent and Holy Week 2008
In New England we
learn to live with the dark. It becomes an old acquaintance, one that
reminds us that life is a mix of light and dark, and that one can live
in the darkness, and still be as light, just as well as one can live in
the light and still be in the dark. As the days lengthen, Daylight
savings begins this Saturday night; we begin to move out of the long
dark nights of winter. Even the rose bushes are beginning to turn a
tantalizing green. Spring can’t be long now. And then Holy Week and
Easter.
We have learned from the dark. The darkness must be
faced. Carl Jung, the psychologist wrote about facing the shadow. He
said that many dreams are of someone chasing us and of ourselves, in
the dream, running from the dark shadow in terror. Only when we turn
and face the shadow and confront it, do our nightmares cease. Prayer
can help here.
Jesus was no New Englander, but he showed us
how to face the darkness. He confronted the powers and principalities
of darkness; he faced them down. And each time the darkness has tried
to overcome him, it has never succeeded. The longing of the human heart
for wholeness, for light, for healing, for peace and freedom and
justice, is too powerful for the forces of darkness to prevail forever.
The light will always find a little crack to enter, so that the
darkness can be overcome.
We spend these last days walking
with Jesus into his darkness. It is the human story writ large in the
life of one man. It is the story of a human being who was willing to
face into the darkness of his generation in order that people might see
injustice and illuminate it and transform it.
It is our
story too, for we are called to step into his footsteps and work while
the day is light to reach out in love and compassion to a world that
sits in darkness. We are being called now and in our next three hundred
years to witness to the light of God’s love and justice in this place
and to each other. To witness to Christ in this time will not be to
make people comfortable with the darkness around them, but to empower
them to have the faith and courage to face the darkness and overcome
it.
We know that some of you have taken some time away
from church. I know that many say you get out of the routine. We know
it well. We have here an exquisite community of faithful and loving
people who are trying each day to walk in the light. Come back. We miss
you.
To those of you who are here each day and week, thank you, and to all of you: God’s Peace.
Fr. BobPage 1 2
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