Vestry Transition Prayer

O God, You are our gracious and loving Father.
We ask for your guidance and presence so that we may have the wisdom and unity to make decisions and discern your will during our period of transition. Through your son, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever, Amen.

Christ Church 10 AM Service Schedule

• 1/18 - Holy Eucharist - Rev. Johnson Mathew
• 1/25 - Holy Eucharist - Rev. Mark Brown

Online Diocesan Morning Prayer

Online Morning Prayer with Bishop Heyd Every Weekday at 8 a.m.

Please note that you'll need to register before you join.
Click here https://dioceseny.org/online-morning-prayer to register.

A Day of Celebration and Renewal on Staten Island

What a beautiful Sunday we shared with Bishop Matthew Heyd on January 11th! It was a day filled with spirit, community, and forward-looking leadership for our island. A sincere thank you to Bishop Heyd for spending his Sunday with us and for being such an integral part of this day of worship and renewal.

Morning Worship at New Brighton
The day began at Christ Church New Brighton, where Bishop Heyd served as the celebrant and preacher for our 10am Sung Eucharist. His presence and message brought a sense of warmth and inspiration to our morning worship, setting a wonderful tone for the day ahead.

A New Chapter for the Mission
Later that afternoon, the celebration continued as Bishop Heyd led the formal installation of Rev. Kirstin Swanson as the Staten Island Missioner. This is a significant moment for our local community as we look toward new ways of connecting and growing together.

Congratulations!
We want to extend our heartfelt congratulations to Rev. Kirstin Swanson on her new role. We are so excited to see the work you will do!

2026 Vestry Slate & Nomination Update

As we move into 2026, we want to provide an important update regarding our Vestry leadership and the upcoming annual meeting.

In light of our current season of transition, Bishop Heyd and the Episcopal Diocese have recommended a path of continuity for our parish leadership. To ensure stability and steady guidance while we navigate this time together, the decision has been made to keep our Vestry slate the same as it was last year, maintaining stability in Transition.
By maintaining this experienced team, we can focus our collective energy on the transition process with a consistent foundation of institutional knowledge and leadership. While the core team remains the same, there is one change to note for the coming year:


• Outgoing Member: We share our deep gratitude for Jana Ballard, who will be stepping down from her Vestry position as her tenure has ended. We thank Jana for her dedicated service and heart for this community.
• Incoming Member: We are pleased to announce that Nick Lettiere has been asked to step into the vacated role. Nick has graciously accepted the invitation to serve our parish for a 3-year tenure.

What This Means for the Annual Meeting. Because the Diocese has directed us to maintain the current slate, we will not be holding the standard nominating committee process this year. We believe this "steady hands" approach is the best way to support our clergy and congregation during this pivotal time.
Please join us in praying for our Vestry members as they continue their work, and in welcoming Nick to the team.

Did You Know?

The Second Sunday after Epiphany is one of the Sundays in the Season of Epiphany, the liturgical period that continues the celebration of Christ's revelation to the world. Worship on this Sunday typically emphasizes how Jesus' identity and mission are revealed and how people respond to that revelation.

Lectionary focus and common Gospel (Year A): Under the Revised Common Lectionary used by the Episcopal Church, the Second Sunday after Epiphany in Year A frequently features John 2:1–11 (the Wedding at Cana). That Gospel passage is often read as an "epiphany" sign—Jesus' first public sign that manifests his glory and points to transformation and abundance in the kingdom (see the Revised Common Lectionary and Episcopal Church lectionary resources).

Liturgical placement and color: This Sunday sits squarely in the Epiphany season (the weeks after the Epiphany feast), when liturgical attention shifts from the single feast of Epiphany to the ongoing revelation of Christ. In common Episcopal practice, the Sundays after Epiphany are usually observed with green vestments and hangings (the color signaling growth and the ordinary mission of the church), while white is reserved for the Epiphany feast itself and other principal feasts (see The Book of Common Prayer and Episcopal liturgical practice guides).

Also, did you know….
Governance and General Convention: The Episcopal Church is governed by its General Convention, a bicameral legislative body (House of Bishops and House of Deputies) that meets every three years to adopt churchwide legislation, budgets, and revisions to the church's canons and liturgical resources.

Announcements

Coffee Hour

Join us this Sunday, following our worship service, we will head over to the Guild Room for a special coffee hour. It's a wonderful opportunity to enjoy some light fare, warm conversation, and the gift of fellowship. All are welcome.

Annual Meeting Update

Annual Meeting Rescheduled: Please be advised that our Annual Meeting has been rescheduled from its original date to February.
We are making this change to accommodate Bishop Heyd, who will be sitting in on the meeting with us! We are excited to have him join our conversation. Stay tuned for the specific date and time, which will be announced shortly. Thank you for your flexibility!

Knitting Club Update – See You in February

The Knitting Club is taking a break for January. We will resume our regular meetings starting Tuesday, February 10th. Whether you've been knitting for years or want to learn a new hobby, we'd love to have you join us then!

Christ Church Coming Events

Saturday, January 31, 2026

A House of Welcome
Affirming nd Supporting LGBTQ+ People Through Faith

IPC Coming Events

Shine Your Light Ministries

Worship service at All Saints Church, 2329 Victory Blvd.

• Third Wednesday of the month at 10:00 AM
• Third Sunday of the month at 1:00 PM

Epiphany Season

Church of Saint Andrew Adult Formation: "Let Us Pray"
In this four-session series, each week's meeting can stand alone, and participants are welcome to participate in one, some, or all sessions. We will gather for an hour following the 10 o'clock service and coffee hour on Sundays during Epiphany (except for the Annual Meeting Sunday on 2/1/26). The series is appropriate for everyone, including teens who are approaching or who have completed confirmation. All materials needed will be provided in the session; just bring an open mind and a prayerful heart.

Friday, January 23

Church St. Andrew
Winner, Winner Chicken Dinner & Auction, 6:00 PM. Sponsored by the ECW, Catered by Osteria Santina, $25 per person.

Saturday, January 31

A House of Welcome: Faith Communities as Supportive and Affirming LGBTQ+ Spaces. A day-long event offering workshops, conversation, and worship that affirms the full humanity and belovedness of LGBTQ+ people and provides allies with knowledge and skills to build affirming communities of faith.

Friday, February 13

Church of St. Andrew, Bingo, Doors open at 7:00 PM.

Saturday, February 14

Blessed Absalom Jones Celebration, Eucharist at 10:30 AM
Cathedral of St. John the Divine, 1047 Amsterdam Ave, New York, NY 10025
This meaningful service will honor the legacy of the Reverend Absalom Jones, the first Black priest ordained in the Episcopal Church, whose groundbreaking ministry paved the way for a more diverse and inclusive priesthood.
Celebrant: The Rt. Rev. Matthew F. Heyd, 17th Bishop of New York
Preacher: The Rt. Rev. Carlye J. Hughes, 11th Bishop of Newark

Sunday, February 15

St. Alban's, 2:00 PM - Friends of Olmsted-Beil House presents Staten Island's Homestead Graveyards of the 1700's.

Wednesday, March 25

Watch party for this historic event in the life of the Anglican Communion
The installation of Sarah Mullally as Archbishop of Canterbury on March 25 (the Feast of the Annunciation). Dame Mullally will be the first woman to serve as Archbishop of Canterbury, a move that is not without controversy in some parts of the world.
The Episcopal Church on Staten Island is proposing a Collaborative Event on March 25th, location TBD. At 5pm we gather for Evening Prayer and at 6pm we share a potluck soup supper and watch the installation.

Curious about Congregational Development?

Come read some books from the College for Congregational Development Reading List!
Thursdays at 10:30 AM, at All Saints Church 2329 Victory Blvd.

Contact The Rev. Kirstin Swanson to RSVP
kswanson@dioceseny.org | (347) 446-4870

October 9 & 23
The Church Cracked Open (read the introduction through chapter 4 for the first meeting)

October 30, November 13, 20, December 11, 18
Vital Christian Community

January 8, 22
A People Called Episcopalians

February 12, 26, March 12, 26
Seeking God, the Way of St. Benedict

April 16, 30, May 14
A Facilitator's Guide to Participatory Decision-Making

Christ Church Parish Prayer List

The following individuals have requested our prayers:

Fred Allen, Ricia Augusty, Betty Babb, Elma Babb, Erma Babb, Marcella Babb, Jenny Badger, Joseph Bonner, Mary Boyce, Deborah Broome, Frank Cangemi, Merle Carrington, Irvin Celestine, Eva Charney, Matthew Cileli, David Clark, Wayne Clark, Marcia Clendenen, Sandra Cocks, Lisa Colli-Hogan, Theodore R. Coletti, Carmen Conrado, Barbara Corregan, Laura Craig, Gaynelle Cumberbatch, Wayne Dupuis, Marlene Elia, Garfield Evans, Tabitha Foxx, Julio Gambuto, Mary Gannon, Ann Gardner, Sandra Giambalvo, Peter Gilchrist, Melonie Griffiths, Suzanne Guglielmi, Steven Haley, Mary Hamblin, Mary Haugen, Anne Heather, Avion Hernandez-Elcock, Aretha Jadusingh, Michael Kelly, Christopher Martin, The McIntosh Family, Eva McClary, Mary Mcclellan, Julie Murphy, T. Rauch and Teri Murray, Minister Robert Perkins, Ann Reilly, Olivia Rey, Leila Rollock, Tiffany Ruperti, Willie Marcus & Dylan Schumaker, Lorelei Shull, Daphne Smith, Joyce Smith, David Lloyd Stephens, George Sullivan, Fred Tucher, Linda Tuell, John Tuohey, Lucille Williams, Doreen Wood, Leighton Wynter, Marsha Wynter, Teresa Brown-Zapken, Patrick Zapken.

Please Note: The Prayer List is intended to uphold and encourage those who need healing prayers. If persons have been fully recovered and no longer need to be lifted up in this way, please let us know so that we can make room for others. This list will be updated every three months unless otherwise notified. If you need a loved one or friend to remain on the list, please call the parish office. Thank you!

We pray for the repose of the soul of Anne Kehoe, and the souls of all the faithful departed. May their souls rest in peace.

We pray for all the frontline and essential workers in our parish, and around S.I. and the world.

We pray for the hundreds of asylum seekers in New York City, particularly on Staten Island, and ask God's Holy Spirit to help us as citizens, civic organizations, and religious institutions respond with love and compassion.

We pray for comfort to the families and communities impacted by gun violence, and for the will and determination to enact appropriate gun control legislation and promote a culture of safety.

We pray for an end to armed conflict and lift up the people of Israel, Palestine, Ukraine, Russia, and Sudan in the hope that they can move towards peace and diplomacy.

We pray for all those negatively affected by climate, environmental, and natural disasters.

We pray for those who are suffering from the impacts of systemic racism, and for those who are committed and working towards change, unity, and equality for all peoples.

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Memorial Candles

Memorial Candles are available in honor of your loved ones. Donation envelopes are available at the Ushers' station.

Columbarium candle

Lit in loving memory of Lorraine Brusco in remembrance of her birthday, January 20. Given by Nick Lettiere.

Sanctuary Candle

Lit in loving memory of Fr. Chuck Howell in remembrance of his birthday, January 20. Given by Nick Lettiere.

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We give thanks to God for the following individuals who are celebrating their Birthdays this week. Jill Kelley (20), Elita Williams (22).

We give thanks to God for the individuals who are celebrating their wedding anniversaries this week.

In the Richmond IPC Cycle of Prayer, we pray for St. John's Food Pantry.

In the Anglican Cycle of Prayer, we pray for the Province de L'Eglise Anglicane Du Congo.

In the Diocese of New York, we pray for +Sean, our Presiding Bishop; +Matthew and +Allen, our Bishops.