Next Grubby Sunday July 11

Many thanks to EVERYONE who stayed after church on June 13 for our first Grubby Sunday. Stephanie Bettencourt counted at least 27 adults working, and some of our children even did some weeding too. (Way to go, Kordai!!!) A good time was had by all, and we got a LOT of work done. So get ready to do it again on Sunday, July 11. Hot dogs and chips will be provided, and you’re welcome to bring other goodies. Special thanks to Dave Linnell for all his hard work, Juan Febus, who cooked our hot dogs, and everyone else who helped. It was hard for some of our younger children to entertain themselves during the yard clean-up. We’d love to have a couple of the adults who are not able to work in the yard volunteer to sit in the playground with the children so they can enjoy playing in the playground. It isn’t safe for them to be in there without an adult so please let Mother Susan know if you’d be willing to do this.

Letter of Last

Instructions

Note: These instructions are adapted by some used at the senior retirement community where Mother Susan’s mother lives. They give some excellent ideas that will be most helpful to your family at the time of your death.

Have a letter of last instructions, which is separate and apart from a Will. A thoughtful person will have prepared such a letter, to be opened upon death. It should include:

0. A statement as to where the Will may be found.

0. Instructions as to memorial service and burial. You may wish to specify that you be buried in a certain burial plot. You may have other personal wishes to include about your memorial service and burial, such as type of service, special music or Bible readings. It is best not to place burial instructions in the safe deposit box since frequently the box is not opened until after the funeral.

0.  Where your birth or baptismal certificate, social security card, marriage or divorce certificate, naturalization and citizenship papers and discharge papers from the armed forces may be found.

0. Where your membership certificates in any lodges or fraternal organizations which provide death or cemetery benefits may be found and information on contacting them to let them know of your death.

0. A list of the location of any safe deposit boxes you may have and where the keys may be found.

6. A list of your insurance policies and where they may be found.

0. to which you belong and from which your estate may be entitled to receive a death benefit.

0. A list of all bank accounts, checking and savings, and their locations.

0. A list of all stocks and bond you own and where they may be found.

0. A statement of all real property owned by you.

0. A list of all other properties—personal, business, etc.

0. A list of names of various advisors, their addresses and telephone numbers. Such advisors would include among others the executor of the estate, the lawyer who will represent it.

0. Your father’s name and your mother’s maiden name. A statement concerning any pension systems These will be asked for on the death certificate and frequently all family members do not know them. Other information needed on the death certificate includes the full name, birthplace and birth date of the deceased; his/her occupation, social security number, place of residence, length of residence, name of husband or wife, and the date and place of internment.

Such a letter eliminates much uncertainty and confusion when death occurs, for it enables the survivors to handle financial affairs in an orderly manner. However, it is important to realize that this information does not substitute for a Will or serve as a Will.

Cars for Congregations

Ever thought about donating your car to your church? You can easily do so through Episcopal Charities, which itself receives gifts of vehicles. Here’s how to do it in three easy steps:

1) go to www.episcopalcharities.org 2) click “Donate Today” 3) Under the header “Vehicle Donations” there is a link to submit information about your auto. Please be sure to note in the “Comments” section that you wish for your gift to benefit your parish. Questions? Contact the diocesan Gift Planning Officer Richard Schaper at richards@diocal.org or Shari Gonzales at sgonzales@episcopalcharities.org or 415.869.7813.

Transitions

Anne Fletcher has moved to a new apartment in her complex. Her new address is:

A fond and sad farewell to Nannette Sherman and Stephanie & Jaxson Preston. They are moving to New Mexico, where Nannette has accepted a new position. They will be much missed here at CTL! Once we have a new address, we’ll pass it on! 

New email for Joakim Roy: royjoakim@hotmail.com

Juan ande Marguerite Febus have moved. Their new address is:

Please make the changes in your directory.

Your Mother Doesn’t Work Here

Most of us are familiar with this saying, but we need to remember what it means for us. Christ the Lord Church is OUR church, and we are ALL responsible for taking care of it. How can you help? 

A) If you dirty it, clean it. If you use a mug, please make sure it goes into the kitchen and is put in the dishwasher. If you spill something, please clean it up. 

B) If you use it, put it away. If you use a garden tool, please hang it back up in the shed instead of leaving it out or throwing it on the shed floor. If you borrow scissors from the office, please make sure you put them back.

C) If you use it up, replace it or let someone know. If you use up the toilet paper, please get a new roll from the closet (or if you don’t know where it is, ask someone). If you use up the last of the lawn and leaf bags, let Dave Linnell know we need more. If you use up the last of the dishwashing liquid, let Margaret Smyth know we need more.

Remember, this is OUR church. Paying attention to these small things can make life at our church much more pleasant for everyone. Thanks for your help!

Digital Recordings of

Sermons Available Now

Mother Susan has finally mastered the digital recorder so all her sermons starting from early May are available as digital recordings. (Lisa and Vicki will be starting to record their sermons soon.) The files are too large for most email programs to receive them and are very time-consuming to send. So what to do if you want a sermon? You have two options: Option A (the best option) is to purchase a cheap flash drive. Bring it in to church and give it to Mother Susan with a note on which sermons you would like to have. Option B is to bring in a CD-rom (preferably a rewritable one) with a note on which sermons you would like to have. It is our hope that, sometime in the near future, these digital recordings will also be available on our website so watch for more news on this!

Wanted: New Photos

for our Website

This summer, Lisa Cole will be in L.A. for part of the time, but, even when she is gone, she is taking on a major project for us by working to improve our website. One way we’d like to improve it is with new, recent pictures. Would you like to see your pictures on the website? All you have to do is bring your digital camera to church events, take pictures, save them as J-Peg or TIF files and email them to Mother Susan. So all you amateur photographers, please start taking pictures now!

Senior Center without Walls

This is a wonderful project out of St. John’s, Oakland. They have all sorts of wonderful programs available online for seniors, including chat groups, a Bible study, brain wellness, a book group, a men’s group, play reading, writing workshop, healing & relaxation, weight management, etc, etc. What does it cost? Here’s the best part. It is ABSOLUTELY FREE! To sign up, call 1-877-797-7299. This is a great way to stay connected with others, even if you can no longer get out very often. If you’d like to learn more, ask other Susan to show you the fall session schedule.

July Days of Celebration

21^st We celebrate with the Bettencourts for Dave’s birthday.

29^th We celebrate with Mary Joy Barker for her 85^th birthday.

31^st We celebrate with the Andrades for Dustin’s birthday.

Acts of God

Whenever dark clouds gather

Above the hills again,

And our their contents gently down

It’s just a nice spring rain.

But if there is a rainstorm

That brings us far too much,

And washes out some villages

And brings us floods and such,

Then, that’s the kind of weather,

(I think it rather odd,)

We very quickly classify,

And call an act of God.

Or if there is an earthquake

That shakes our dwellings down,

Although there have been shakes before

We even built the town,

We never seem to blame ourselves

For building on that sod.

O No! We quickly label it,

“Another act of God.”

Or should we build

At a volcano’s base,

Where there is rich volcanic soil

All about the place,

The smoke that says it’s active,

We may hardly give a nod,

But when the lava covers us,

Than that’s an “act of God.”

Or if we build a lovely house

Upon the ocean’s shore

Where hurricanes have come and gone

For any years before,

If there should come a mighty wind

So strong it lifts the roof,

Is that another “act of God,”

Or just a human goof?

When showers come that clear the air

And make our crops to grow,

And gently sunshine bathes the earth

And gently breezes blow,

When all those miracles of green

Coe shooting from the sod,

How is it we so seldom say,

“Now there’s an act of God?”

(Thanks to Karen Ekstrand for sharing this poem, which was written by her son, Andrew, many years ago.)

Electronics Recycling

Fundraiser July 17

Thanks to Dave Linnell for arranging our first ever electronics recycling fundraiser. We will be paid by the pound for recycled electronics. Electronics that can be recycled include:

Free to Recycle: Televisions, Monitors, Laptops, Flat Screens, Cell Phone, Ink Jet Cartridges

$5.00 each to Recycle: CPU’s, Telephones, Printers, Copiers, DVD Players, FAX Machines, VCR’s, Stereos, Video Games, Small Appliances

$10:00 each to Recycle: Microwaves

$3.00/lb to Recycle: Batteries

Please mark July 17 from 9 am – 4 pm on your calendar now so you can plan to help make this event a success. Also, we will need EVERYONE to get the word out to the community so please take flyers from church and post them and hand them out to all your friends.

The Souper Center’s

On a daily basis, the GRIP (Greater Richmond Interfaith Program) Souper Center provides 3 free nutritious meals for hungry individuals and families. This year we will serve 90,000 meals! Most meals are prepared and served by volunteers, and we never turn the hungry away. In order to continue to meet the needs for our consumers, we need large quantities of the following items: 

     Seasonings

     Seasoning salt

     Black Pepper

     Garlic Powder

     Onion Powder

     Beef Broth

     Chicken Broth

     Fresh Onions

     Chopped Garlic

     Canned foods of all assortments

     Fresh Vegetables of all assortments

An Obituary Printing in the London Times

Submitted by Margaret Smyth

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was, since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape. He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as:

Knowing when to come in out of the rain;

Why the early bird gets the worm;

Life isn’t always fair;

and maybe it was my fault.

Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don’t spend more than you earn) and reliable strategies (adults, not children, are in change).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well-intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a 6-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job that they themselves had failed to do in disciplining their children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer sun lotion or an aspirin to a student; but could not inform parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn’t defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar could sue you for the assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust, by his wife, Discretion, by his daughter, Responsibility, and by his son, Reason.

He is survived by his 4 stepmothers; I Know My Rights, I Want It Now; Someone Else Is To Blame and I’m A Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone.

If you still remember him, pass this on to others. If not, join the majority and do nothing.

Relay for Life 

Fernandez Park

August 14 & 15

It’s hard to believe that another year has gone by since our last Relay adventure! Last year was a great improvement over past years in that the co-captains, Tina and Sarah Reich, finally figured out how to make an attractive team booth. This year we are equally motivated and have decided on our theme:

“BEE CANCER FREE”

The Christ the Lord Cruisers website is all set up:

http://main.acsevents.org/goto/CTL

It states that our goal is to raise $1500 as a team in the fight against cancer and to have 10 registered team members. The easiest way to sign up and to fundraise is online but for your convenience, we still have the good ‘ole paper option. Tina Reich is ready and willing to help anyone with either option. Relay materials can be found in the narthex on the information table beginning Sunday, June 27.

To make a donation to the team go to the webpage above and click: Donate to Our Team

To join the team and set up your own personal web page, go to the website listed above and click: Join Our Team

Our team registration is already paid so click the “free” registration option. Survivors will select the “survivor” registration option.

See Tina Reich will any questions or for assistance.

Intercessors for the Month

Please remember to hold in your prayers: all those impacted by the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico, those impacted by earthquakes and other natural disasters this year, especially our sister parish of St. James’s, Petion-Ville (for Bishop Duracin and reconstruction projects at the Holy Trinity Music School, College St. Pierre and St. Vincent’s school for children with disabilities; Justin Casillas and other military personnel in harm’s way; for all those looking for work, especially Juan Febus, Tara Champion, and Cristina Rich; for our intercessors Hope Keller and Elaine Wilson-Glimme and those for whom they pray: Florence Munroe, Holer, Larry Ohran & Mary Celine, Judy Andrade, Pinole Senior Village, Bob & Della Burnett, Lola Ejiwuni, Sharon Paxson, Harold Radcliffe, Tom Bressem, Lissa Parker, and Eloise Guerrero and her mom, and for those they hold in confidence.

July Birthdays and Anniversaries

 5^th Peter Champion and Christine Nadeau (B)

 7^th Susan Linnell and Zak Bondy (B)

 8^th Alexis Bressem, Walt Gross, and Ann Roberts (B)

12^th Lyndon Bressem (B)

13^th John Crooms (B)

14^th Linda Hickok (B)

15^th Marguerite & Juan Febus (A)

18^th Gayle Hunting and Marguerite Febus (B)

21^st David Bettencourt (B)

24^th Arian Sexton (B)

27^th Chris Johnson (B)

28^th Sandy McNeel (B)

29^th Mary Joy Barker (B)

Happy Birthday and Happy Anniversary to Everyone! May God bless you on your special day!

Answers to the Most-Asked

Questions in an Emergency

(This information comes from a flyer put out by Doctor’s Hospital, San Pablo. Other information will be shared in future issues of our newsletter.)

1. When should you call an ambulance?

The best rule is “better safe than sorry,” but an ambulance should always be called if the patient is suffering from any of the following:

- Chest pains

-Uncontrollable bleeding

- Any difficulty breathing

- Difficulty moving

- Loss of consciousness

- Unrelenting pain

- Back or neck injury

2. Am I having a heart attack?

The first symptoms of a heart attack are:

- Unexplained sweating

- Weakness/shortness of breath

- Nausea/indigestion

- Sudden chest pain or pressure

If these symptoms occur, remember that time is essential. Call 911 immediately; do not attempt to transport yourself. Paramedics and emergency personnel have been specially trained to handle cardiac problems. Call for assistance as soon as possible.

Church Bulletin Funnies

A cookbook is being compiled by the ladies of the church. Please submit your favorite recipe, along with a brief antidote.

The senior pastor will be away for two weeks. The staff members during his absence you will find pinned to the church notice board.

Next Sunday a special collection will be taken to defray the costs of redecorating the sanctuary. Anyone wanting to do something on the new carpet will come forward and do so.

The ladies of the church have cast off clothing of every kind, and they may be seen in the church basement Friday.

Eight new choir robes are currently needed, due to the addition of several new members and to the deterioration of some older ones.

Bilingual Chicken Dinner this Sunday at noon.

The maintenance of the church graveyard is becoming increasingly costly. It would be a great help if parishioners would do their best to tend their own graves.

The Vision of

Christ the Lord

Episcopal Church

Christ the Lord Church – Sharing the Love of Christ with our Community