TODAY AT CHRIST CHURCH

UPDATE ON THE HEATING SYSTEM AND CAPITAL CAMPAIGN

We've had good news and bad news on the replacement of the main church heating system and its associated Capital Campaign.

First, the good news!  Thanks to the generosity of 35 donors to date, the church has received more than $66,000 in gifts and pledges.  This is a wonderful outpouring of support and we appreciate so much the generosity of all who have responded to the campaign.  More good news: the contractors have made great progress!  The furnace room under the stairs to the second floor now has two beautiful new gas-fired boilers installed and the contractors are in the midst of installing the air handlers.  We are on schedule.

Now, the bad news.  When the contractors removed the underground oil storage tank, they discovered that it had in fact been leaking and contaminating the soil behind the church. It is good that we removed the oil tank this year, since another year of leaking would have been much worse.  Following state regulations, this discovery required removal of the soil, drilling several monitoring wells, some lab tests, etc., which added a substantial amount of incremental costs.  While we don't yet know the full economic impact, we believe that it will be approximately $25,000 to $30,000.  The original goal of the Campaign was $75,000 (with a dollar-for-dollar match from the Smith funds), so the goal now must be raised.  We have set a new goal of $90,000, which, with your help, we can exceed!  Other projects, such as the Parish Hall roof, loom near; the oil tank has reminded us to address such problems promptly lest they get larger and more expensive.

We hope very much that each member of the church will give to the Campaign.  Please give what you can -- remember every dollar you give will be matched to make two dollars -- and fulfill your commitment to this project between now and December 31, 2011.  The church needs each family to give what it can, and to share in allowing the church to extend a warm welcome to all!   Thank you very much.

WE WELCOME MR. BRIAN GLIKES as organist again this morning while John Russell is on vacation. Brian, who is from Albany, New York, will begin his senior year at Gordon College where he is pursuing major studies in organ performance. Brian is no stranger here, having served as organist and accompanist in several liturgies during the past year. In September Brian will become the Organ Scholar at Christ Church, a position to which he has been appointed and will serve voluntarily during the 2010-2011 program year. Mr. Russell will return next week.

THIS WEEK AT CHRIST CHURCH

PARISH PICNIC! Please join us for Christ Church's Annual All Parish Picnic, held at the home of Leslie and Ray Desroches (306 Moulton Street in Hamilton) next Sunday, August 15th, after the 10 AM service. Christ Church will provide classic summer fare (hamburgers, veggie burgers, hotdogs and cold drinks) along with tandoori Indian barbecued chicken. Fr. Gray is continuing a long-standing tradition of procuring a keg of local beer.

• Here is what YOU can bring:

-Yourself! If you are unable to bring something, please do come and join us.
-If your last name begins with A-M, bring a side dish, snacks, juice for kids
-If you last name begins with N-Z, bring a dessert, bottles of water or fruit

• A pool is available for swimming, as well as two splash pools for toddlers.  Please bring towels, suits, swim diapers for kiddies still wearing them.

• Games provided for children (adults too!)
• Directions- From the Church, take a left onto Asbury Street, then left onto 1A/Bay road.  Follow 1A, passing Myopia and the HWRHS/Miles River Middle School on right.  After the school, take a right onto Moulton Street. 306 is last house on the left, a gray Gambrel with stone retaining wall in front.  Parking is available in the driveway, on Moulton Street, and on Autumn Lane (right turn immediately preceding our house). Please note that the police do not allow parking on Sagamore Street and please be courteous of our neighbors and do not block driveways or park on their lawns.
• If you have a chance, please RSVP to Leslie at 978-468-4992 or by email to let her know how many people and anything you may be bringing.  We are looking forward to seeing you there!  If you are new or have never attended, please come and help us have the best Church Picnic ever!

OTHER NOTES

Time, Talent & Treasure

REFUGEE IMMIGRATION MINISTRY (RIM) is a local ministry supported by Christ Church.  RIM works to create a community-based support system for refugees and immigrants in the Greater Boston Area. We are currently looking for volunteers to help teach English to two refugee families who have recently arrived in the North Shore area.  Training will be provided.  One family is also in need of a computer (new or used).  Please contact Heidi Busch at 970 946 9948 or by email for more information.

Time, Talent & Treasure

BEV PUGRABI, a long-time parishioner at Christ Church, has been diagnosed with ovarian cancer and is at the Caldwell Nursing Home in Ipswich.  She would love to see, or hear from, her old friends from this parish.  But, please, no flowers or chocolate, as she is allergic to both.  For more information, contact Eileen at the Church Office.