A Newsletter by and for the people of Christ Church Bronxville

December 2011 VOL. LXIIV, No. 4

Contact us:914.337.3544

Monday-Thursday

9:00 AM to 3:00 PM

Fridays9:00 AM to 12:00 PM

www.ccbny.org

Children’s Formation 2

Adult Christian Formation 5

Diocesan News 4

Music at CCB 6 December Highlights 8

At a Glance

The Spire

C

HRIST

CHURCH

BRONXVILLE

From a Living Tableau to Live Action Drama: Inside the Children’s Crèche Service at Christ Church

When our family joined Christ Church in 1997, the Children’s Christmas Eve service ended with a reading of the Christmas story. At appropriate moments children came up with a Creche figure which was put in the stable to become part of the Christmas tableau.When Father Bird arrived, he offered a script which had been used at his former parish: “Good News of Great Joy” which included narrators, scary angels, frightened newlyweds, mean innkeepers, excitable shepherds and cherubic angels. In other words, a real story which the children could act out.With costumes made by Barbara Potgieter and a couple of short rehearsals, in December, 2004, the children of Christ Church performed “Good News” for the first time. Julia Castle was Mary and Michael Conaton was Joseph.Luke Potgieter (Joseph, 2006) was not enthusiastic about the experience, but his sister, Sarah (Mary 2006) said: “I appreciated the opportunity to perform Mary in front of a big group of people. It helped me when I later got the opportunity to dance solo roles.” Charlotte Reynolds (Mary, 2007) remembers being a little angel and running around with her best friends and also recalls that she forgot to turn off her microphone so that the whole church heard her sing “Silent Night” ! Claire Kraemer and Mark Sears (Mary and Joseph in 2009) said that acting out the Christmas story was “fun”. They both agreed that it made them understand the story a little better and they found it more interesting than just listening to it. Whit Yerkes (Shepherd 2, 2009) said he enjoyed “hanging out” with Jackson Freed (Shepherd 1). Sean Michael McAlarney (Shepherd 3, 2009) said that it was definitely worth doing because it “made Christmas more special for me”, when he realized that he could speak part of the story. Sally Reynolds (Gabriel 2009) was glad she did it and thought it was a better

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Children’s Christian Formation

The Spire

Weekly Children’sChristian Formation

Schedule9:55 AM Children arrive in Taylor Hall for a brief music rehearsal10:00 AM Worship for Children Begins10:20 AM Students move to their classrooms or remain in Taylor Hall for art

10:45 AM Students enter church for Holy Communion

Church School CalendarDecember

Church School CalendarSunday, Dec. 4thChildren’s Worship and ArtSunday, Dec. 11thThe Christmas StorySunday, Dec.18thThe Christmas StorySunday, Dec. 25thChristmas Day/No Church School

Nursery Careis always available for babies and children too

young for Church School.

Crèche Parent Volunteers NeededAll children are eligible to participate as angels and shepherds; it is not necessary to contact us yet concerning those roles. If your child is in Grade 4, 5, or 6 and would like to have a speaking role or be a narrator, please contact Eileen Visco at ecvisco@gmail.com before December 4th.

Please note that children with speaking roles must attend all of the following rehearsals:

Sunday, 12/11 – Rehearsal for narrators and speaking roles only after the 10:00 a.m. service.Saturday, 12/17, 9:30 – 11:00 a.m. – General rehearsal and costume fitting for all participants (including angels and shepherds).Sunday 12/18 – Run-through for narrators and speaking roles only; after Christmas Party. approximately 12:00 – 12:30 p.m.Saturday 12/24 – 4:00 Service – Speaking roles/narrators to arrive by 3:15; angels and shepherds to arrive by 3:30.

Parents interested in helping during the general rehearsal, costume fitting and service are also asked to contact Eileen.

Volunteers needed for the Christmas Party on Sunday, December 18th at 12:00 PM.

Please contact Mother Jennifer Brown at jbrown@ccbny.org or 914.337.3544 if you would like to help.

Christmas Party Helpers Needed!

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Cover ArtiCle Cont’dway for kids to understand the birth of Jesus. Nora Foley (Gabriel 2010) said that she was “really nervous and was afraid I had forgotten some of my lines” (she didn’t). Her mother said it was a very special memory for Nora. Hannah Potgieter (Shepherd’s Angel 2010) felt that she “would have liked it more if I didn’t have to be persuaded to do it, but I liked doing something with my friend (Ella Hogan, Mary 2010).The children don’t have much rehearsal time. Children with speaking roles have two rehearsals on their own and then another rehearsal which includes the little angels and shepherds. Parents are asked to help by keeping the angels and shepherds busy “off stage” during the first part of the service. Help is also needed to match costumes to each child’s size, occasional sewing of hems (or letting them out) depending on the size of the child and ironing all the angel costumes. Just before the performance angels need halos, shepherd need belts and head coverings and running angels and shepherds need to be wrangled and herded…From a director’s perspective, the hardest part is realizing how quickly everything happens; trying to keep track of cues and entrances and exits is a bit nerve wracking. But every year has been special: one year a child walked up on stage to pick up baby Jesus, and another year the child dressed as a baby lamb almost stole the show!The Children’s Creche Service is a wonderful way to celebrate Christmas – whether your child is participating, or you’re helping as an angel or shepherd wrangler, or watching Mary and Joseph being refused a place to stay, which reminds you of how lucky you are… Oh Come let us Adore Him! - Deborah Ross

Making a difference one student at a time with theAll Our Children – eBooks Buddy ProgramWith the help of the Learning Leaders volunteer program, the All Our Children Initiative has started the eBook Buddies Program, designed to encourage partnerships between churches and public schools through promoting literacy. The program matches each elementary and middle school student with a “book buddy,” who acts as their personal pen pal. Together, students and their buddies read a book and then discuss the book through a series of emails. In the process, students are encouraged to improve their writing and critical thinking skills. At the end of each season of the eBook Buddies program there is a get-together where volunteers and students finally meet in person, sharing a meal while discussing the book and reflecting on the experience. Last year the program was very successful at Trinity Wall Street - the students and volunteers each found the process and the meet-and-greet extremely rewarding. We hope to have at least 15 participants from Christ Church. There is no cost for the program, it just requires a small amount of time to support children in their pursuit of a great education. Please join us!!!!Please contact Mother Brown to volunteer - jbrown@ccbny.org.

Sacred Heart Soup Kitchen Dates for December and JanuaryServing at Sacred Heart 1st Thursday of every month.December 1stJanuary 5thCooking for Sacred Heart 3rd Thursday of every monthDecember 15January 19thWant to go with a friend or your family on another day? Need more information? Contact Shawn O’Neil at domesticceo@hotmail.com or 917-379-0791.

4 The Spire

CCB Reps Attend Election of Next Diocesan BishopOn Saturday, November 19, representatives from approximately 200 parishes assembled at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in Manhattan for the convention to elect the next Bishop Coadjutor. Father Bird and Mother Brown attended as CCB’s clergy delegates, while Colleen Sica, Michael Pollock, Vicki Carter served as lay delegates. With camera in hand I rode along as vestry observer, but ended up spending the day as diocesan photographer for the event. In the Episcopal Church the next Diocesan Bishop does not start service immediately but, as Bishop Coadjutor, is given a chance to learn some of the responsibilities prior to assuming office. The election would determine who would be the automatic successor to The Rt. Rev. Mark Sisk, current Bishop of the Diocese of New York, who must retire must retire before his 72nd birthday in 2013.

The proceedings, with a feeling not unlike a church shareholders’ meeting, began with Holy Eucharist, followed by the commencement of the day’s election proceedings and an explanation of the voting process. Five candidates had been recommended by committee as possible successors, with another two names on the ballot as the result of “floor” nominations prior to the convention. Delegates were deluged with information about the candidates prior to the convention, and the candidates also held personal “visitations” to each of the regions composing the diocese.Voting began after lunch (whereupon I began the process, not unfamiliar to CCB parishioners, of working/talking my way into the best vantage points from which to photograph). After each vote was tallied and results announced, supporters of each candidate had the opportunity to “caucus” to discuss their strategy, converse with other delegates or, based on the outcome of the prior vote, withdraw their candidate from consideration.

Despite this back and forth, it took only three ballots for the Rev. Canon Andrew Dietsche, currently serving as the diocesan Canon for Pastoral Care (essentially a priest for other priests), to acquire the simple majority of both clergy and lay delegates required for election. Interestingly, Dietsche was the only candidate who currently resides in New York, and the delegates’ personal knowledge of Canon Dietsche most likely played a part in his election.

The Canon now needs the approval of Bishops around the country before he can be sworn into office in March of next year. (And photos of the event can be found via the diocesan page on Facebook, “Episcopal Diocese of New York.”) -Story and Photos by Ken Richardson

Diocesan Events

Lay delegates cast their votes for the next Bishop Coadjutor.

The Rev. Canon Andrew Dietsche thanks delegates for their support as Bishops Roskam and Sisk look on.

Christ Church Gay and Lesbian Fellowship Group

The next get together will be on Sunday, December 4th at 6 PM. The location is at the home of Arthur and Carol Taylor.As usual, the format will be fun, fellowship, and food. There is no agenda or program. And, invite your friends. This fellowship group is a place where all are welcome.Please let us know, as the time nears, what you’d like to bring for the meal. Suggestions are casserole type main courses, appetizers, sides, salads, desserts, wine and soda. For more information, please contact Jim Robertson jasbrob@aol.com

Illuminated Prayer: Spend three weeks of Advent learning and experiencing how we pray with our eyes, using a method called “visio divina”. Through scripture and art, we will spend time in prayerful engagement, making room for a deeper sense of God’s presence in our lives. Join Jadon Hartsuff and Hondi Brasco on December 4th, 11th and 18th following the 10 AM service. We will meet in the Crispell Lounge.

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Center for Spiritual Growth DecemberBirthdays

1: Edward Barr, Sandra Britt, Wink McKinnon; 2: George Palmer, Hannah Hely; 3:James Kirby, John Kirby; 4: Brendan Elkerton, Worth Goodell, Libby Goodell; 6: Kather-ine Brasco, Brian Sica; 7: Gregory Gilliam, Laura Griffith, Katha-rine Rooney; 8: Page Marshall; 9: Caroline Sorensen; 12: Marca Ewy; 14: Steve Ecklond, Rachel Roberts; 15: Elisabeth Campbell; 17: Eliza Elder, Ruth Singleton; 18: Tracey Minich; 19: Michael Barrett, Warren Kraemer, Letizia Seirup, Haydelee Roman; 20: Vance Wood; 21: Carol Costa; 22: Kim Olson, Noel Carroll, Owen Jones, Charlotte Prior; 24: James Redpath; 25: Sarah Heintz, Frank Simpson; 26: Avery Jones, Erica Kenney; 27: Ralph Alexander; 28: Blake O’Guin, Thomas Roth; 30: Fiona Barr, Mallory Bates, Vincent Pazienza; 31: P.G. Costa, Christo-pher Watson

Labyrinth TalkThursday, Dec.1st from 9:30-11:30 AM in the Crispell Lounge. All are welcome.As part of its ongoing interest in meditation, the Women’s Spirituality Group has invited Christine Farm-Noble to speak to us about labyrinths. Recently she answered the call from Chartres Cathedral to join an international team to build a new labyrinth in the garden of the cathedral. She has also built her own labyrinth in rural Maine. An accomplished photographer, writer and teacher, Christine is a Veriditas Advanced Labyrinth facilitator. Her talk will take place in the Crispell Lounge. -Hondi Brasco

JanuaryBirthdays

3: Claire Hayes, Jane Sears, Sarah Thaler, Sophia Allan, Allison Barker; 4: Tyler Morse, Rich-ard Moor; 6:Bette MacGregory, Theodore Rooney; 7: Lily Crystal; 9: Sarah Sullivan; 12: James Lee; 16: Bailey Johnson, Laura Hol-land; 17: Heidi Wolfgang, Edelawit Bird; 20: Megan Barker; 21: Trudi Bottari-Hornick; 22: Fred Heintz, Juliet Ragland; 23: Tyler Car-roll; 24: Robert O’Connor, Ellen Tighe; 25: Kathleen O’Guin, Ian Palfrey; 26: Cece Jablonsky; 27: Virgina Newcombe; 28: William Bates, Michelle Richardson, Treva Thoms, Christopher Wells, Gus Vaughan; 29: Hadley Barr, Erin Foley; 30: Andrew Hibbler, Wilyem ThomsTo submit birthdays please send them to Amy Capeci at acapeci@ccbny.org.

6 The Spire

Music

Saturday December 24, 20114:00 P.M. The Family Christmas Crèche Mass

Favorite Hymns and our Children’s Choirsplus a 30 minute organ prelude of variations on French Noels

10:30 P.M. The Christmas PreludeOnce in Royal David’s CityDing dong! Merrily on highThe Virgin’s Cradle Hymn

Alleluya, a new work is come on handSans Day Carol

Angelus ad virginem

11:00 P.M. Solemn Midnight MassMarc Antoine Charpentier

Messe de Minuit pour Nöel (Midnight Mass for Christmas)

David Willcocks arrangements ofO Come, All Ye Faithful and

Hark! The Herald Angels SingJohn Rutter What Sweeter Music

Sunday December 25, 201110:00 A.M. Christmas Day Mass

The Hymns of Christmas

Christmas at Christ Church Bronxville

Flowers and MusicFlowers and music beautifully enhance our Christmas season at Christ Church. During the season of Advent we will be collecting donations to help offset their cost. Envelopes are available in the narthex for your contribution. Please indicate if your gift is in memory of a loved one or in thanksgiving for a particular blessing and they will be listed in the Christmas Eve and Christmas Day bulletins. The deadline for donations to the church office is Wednesday, December 21st

An Advent Offering from the Handbell ChoirA familiar poem by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow opens, “I heard the bells on Christmas Day, their old familiar carols play.” Bells and Christmas seem to go hand-in-hand. We would be hard-pressed to make it through December without hearing the Ukrainian Bell Carol chime, “Hark, how the bells, sweet silver bells,” the background jingle of Santa-capped volunteers on behalf of the Salvation Army or wrapped Hershey kisses ring, We Wish You a Merry Christmas. Historically, bells have tolled time, sounded alarms or called people to worship and other special events like weddings and funerals. Church towers may hold either carillon bells, designed to play familiar hymns by one person, or enormous bells (each weighing between 100 and 3,600 pounds) pulled by several ringers according to a series of mathematical permutations called changes – a technique that emerged in 17th century England. Ringers must memorize these and ensure that their bell strikes at just the right moment. Depending on the occasion, changes can last a few minutes to three hours.In the early 18th century, the Cor brothers developed handbells so change ringers had more comfortable places to practice rather than the cold, dank bell towers. Neighbors also appreciated not hearing ringers rehearse. Handbell use was particularly common during World War II when church bells could not be rung lest they suggest an invasion. Today handbell choirs typically ring music with melody and harmony, though they have also performed changes.Composer Fred Gramann used both styles in his lovely arrangement of Divinum mysterium, based on the 13th century plainsong, Of the Father’s Love Begotten. His setting features lush harmonies and complex-sounding rhythms as change and chant do battle. An ever-changing meter (3/4 to 7/8 to 5/8 to 2/4 to 4/4 to 3/4) keeps ringers on their toes. The composition begins with a calm, gentle change-ring on four bells. As more octaves are added, the moving change reflects ambiguity and growing anticipation. Finally the chant is rung: Of the Father’s Love begotten, ere the worlds began to be, he is Alpha and Omega,he the source, the ending he, of the things that are, that have been,and that future years shall see, evermore and evermore! During the second verse, the melody is heard as a round in the treble and tenor, and the third time through, chant and change are fully enmeshed:let no tongue on earth be silent,every voice in concert ring, evermore and evermore! (The Hymnal 1982, #82)On December 11, the Change Ring Prelude on Divinum Mysterium will be played by the Handbell Choir. We hope you enjoy this lovely offering combining the aura of plainsong with the mystery of the Incarnation. May you be filled with wonder and anticipation this Advent season. - Debbie Cook

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Music

8 The SpireThe SpireChrist Church Bronxville17 Sagamore RoadBronxville, NY 10708-1599

HighlightsFri., Dec. 2nd 7:00 PM Midnight Run

Sun. Dec. 4th 10:00 AM Advent Lessons & CarolsSat. Dec. 17th 9:30 AM Crèche Rehearsal

Sun. Dec. 18th 11:15 AM Christmas Party Sat. Dec. 24th 4:00 PM Crèche Service 10:30 PM Brass Prelude 11:00 PM Midnight Mass

Sun. Dec. 25th 10:00 AM Holy Eucharist Mon. Dec. 26th Church Office Closed Christ Church Bronxville

17 Sagamore RoadBronxville, NY 10708

(914) 337-3544www.ccbny.org

Advent Lessonsand Carols

Sunday, December 4that 10:00am

This service will include a Brass Quintet and three of our choirs: The Treble Choir, Schola Cantorum, and The Christ Church Choir. Traditional advent hymns will be interspersed with carols and anthems by the choirs.