Join us on Sunday, August 17th, at 6pm in the Narthex for dinner and a mission project! We’ll be sorting the school supplies that the congregation has donated for underprivileged students. It’s a great opportunity to do some good, catch up with friends, and meet Libby. See you there!
March 20, 2008
Senior High Mission Trip to Honduras
Who: Rising freshmen through graduated seniors
What: Mission trip to Honduras with Grey and Monica Maggiano
When: July 21-30 — Registration deadline APRIL 6!
Where: Copan Ruinas, Honduras
Why: Because we can make a difference.
This summer a group of youth and adults will be traveling to Copan, Honduras for 9 days to work with youth and adults from the Diocese of Honduras to build and repair some mission churches, run a vacation bible school for kids, and sponsor a youth festival day for all the youth in the region.
Interested? Want more information? Please visit the website at http://hchonduras.wordpress.com/ . Even if you aren’t able to go, there are a number of ways that you can help support this trip.
If you’re interested, you’ll need to fill out an application, available here: http://hchonduras.wordpress.com/2008/03/12/apply-now/ and turn it in to Susan Fawcett or Grey Maggiano BY APRIL 6!!.
If you have any questions, send an e-mail to greyandmonica@gmail.com.
February 11, 2008
Lent is here…
Fasting like yours today will never make your voice heard on high. Is that the sort of fast that pleases me, a day when a person inflicts pain on himself? Hanging your head like a reed, spreading out sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call fasting, a day acceptable to Yahweh?
Is not this the sort of fast that pleases me: to break unjust fetters, to undo the thongs of the yoke. to let the oppressed go free, and to break all yokes?
Is it not sharing your food with the hungry, and sheltering the homeless poor; if you see someone lacking clothes, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own kin?
Then your light will blaze out like the dawn and your wound be quickly healed over. Saving justice will go ahead of you and Yahweh’s glory come behind you.
Isaiah 58:4-8, New Jerusalem Bible
Lent arrived last Wednesday morning, after we feasted the night away on Shrove Tuesday (Fat Tuesday/Mardi Gras).
What are you going to give up for Lent? Some people give up things like chocolate and soda, or bad habits like gossipping or nail-biting.
The point of fasting, though, isn’t just to see how long your willpower can last. Nor is fasting about dieting–it’s our culture that wants us all to be skinny, not God!
Fasting–denying yourself something for some period of time–is meant to carve out space/time/energy in your life to make more room for God. The passage from Isaiah (above) makes it clear that fasting isn’t supposed to be about making ourselves look holy; the kind of fast that God wants is for us to help our neighbors in need. That’s why other people give up things like chatting online or video games; there is quite literally more room in their lives for family, for God, for helping others.
Another approach to Lenten disciplines is to TAKE ON a practice. For example, some people decide to read the Bible a little bit every morning or evening. Some people commit to praying in a certain way each day, or working in a soup kitchen once a week, or saving money for some good cause.
The most important thing about Lenten disciplines, however, is that you should choose something that is personal, specific to your own life. Is there something about your life that you’d like to change? Is there some way in which you’ve been meaning to get closer to God but haven’t made the time? Well, you’ve got the perfect opportunity for the next forty days.
How are you going to carve out space in your life for God and for others?
January 2, 2008
winterlight 32
Happy New Year, friends. 
I am just back to work after spending the week after Christmas and New Year’s Eve at a high school youth conference in North Carolina called WINTERLIGHT. I was there to be a chaplain.
As Christmas approached, I began to get more and more stressed about having to work at this event. “Why,” I said to myself, “did I think it would be a good idea to give up my time with my family and friends to work with a bunch of people I don’t know? Why did I have to add this thing into a season that is already so busy?”
Now that the event is over, I can tell you that Winterlight was exactly what I needed. It was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had. We spent five days at Kanuga, a retreat center near Asheville, NC.
The music was amazing, the staff (college students) were all incredible people, the participants (high school students) were diverse and amazingly talented and from everywhere from New Jersey to Miami, FL. As a service project, we spent one afternoon packaging emergency relief meals for Stop Hunger Now. By the time we were done, we had made 33,000 meals. And at our closing Eucharist, the chapel literally shook with all the dancing and singing. I just can’t say enough about how amazing this event was.
If you will be in high school next year, I want you to put this on your calendar now: December 27-January 1. We will find a way to get you there, and we will find financial aid if you need it. I am telling you: you will have a truly awesome time. I definitely did.
Peace, peace.
Susan+
January 2, 2008
Our Pregnant Teenager
What are we as Christians to make of this situation? Surely our response ought to be something other than merely reading the tabloids and shaking our heads.
Click on the photo above to read a brief article in the Washington Post’s FAITHBOOK BLOG. And don’t miss the responses. This is an issue that is sure to spark some great discussions–on sexuality, abortion, celebrity culture, not to mention on what the people of God should do in responding to teenagers who become parents and have to make the difficult choices around abortion, adoption, or keeping the child.
Credit goes to Grey and Monica Maggiano for finding the great article.
December 6, 2007
Samaritan Ministries Christmas Party
Thanks a bunch to all of you who helped to raise money, make cookies, and/or helped out at the Samaritan Ministries Christmas Party. Clearly, the kids had a great time. Check out more photos here.
October 22, 2007
Ski Retreat 2008: Watch this space for updates….
Calling all 7th-12th graders: The time has come! Registration for the 2008 Ski Trip begins NOW.
2008 Holy Comforter Ski Retreat, February 22-24, 2008, Seven Springs Ski Resort
Total cost will be $200. Registration includes lodging, some meals, a t-shirt, and lift ticket. You will need to bring cash to cover ski rentals, snacks, and lunches.
Register NOW. Drop a $100 made out to ‘Holy Comforter’ with ‘Ski Trip’ in the memo line into Susan’s box in the office. Do it by November 10, or you’re out of luck. This deposit is non-refundable and non-transferable. Click here to download the registration info and form: Ski Retreat Registration and Info.
Email Susan ASAP if you want to help design this year’s shirt.
September 10, 2007
Holy Comforter Youth join PYM
Congrats to Spencer, Sean, and Parker–Holy Comforter youth who have been invited to join the Diocesan Parish Youth Ministries (PYM) Committee. PYM is a committee made up entirely of youth, who plan and put together retreats for other diocesan young people.
August 29, 2007
return of the ropes course
Join us for our Student Ministries Kickoff! All 7th – 12th graders are invited. We’re going to the Northern Virginia 4-H Center for an afternoon of low and high ropes!
Saturday, September 22, gather at 12:15 in the lower parking lot at CHC. Pack your lunch and bring $10 for dinner. Wear sturdy, closed-toe shoes (REQUIRED) and outdoorsy clothes. Last, don’t forget your permission slips and 4-H release forms (downloadable below; both available in the Narthex or at the Parents’ Orientation on September 16th). We’ll be back between 7 and 8 pm.
4-H Center Assumption of Risk and Photo Release Forms
See you there!
June 6, 2007
Senior High: Summer Coffeehouse Tour
We may be off for the summer, but that doesn’t mean we stop hanging out.
Wednesday, July 11, 7-8pm. Jammin’ Java.
Wednesday, July 25, 7-8pm. Jammin’ Java.
