LIFE AT CHRIST CHURCH
learning and living the Word of God
Opportunities for Adults:
We host a Bible study class, called Seasons of the Spirit, which is held twice a week. Contact the office for more information.
Other Adult Formation Opportunities:
EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN
The Episcopal Church Women are active throughout the year. The women meet monthly, usually with a Eucharist. In April, the women present a salad luncheon fundraiser. In the fall, the women make and sell apple pies and in early November they hold their annual cookie walk. Proceeds from the ECW functions support projects and outreach by our parish.
MEN'S GROUP
Our men's group operates by consensus rather than a formal structure. The group meets for breakfast at various restaurants on the first Tuesday of each month. Each November we hold a fundraising Prime Rib Dinner and each January we host a Trivia Night fundraiser for the local abuse shelter. Profits from these activities are used to fund special projects for the parish.
Opportunities for children and youth:
Children are welcome in every aspect of our parish life. We are currently building our children's formation program and hope to launch it soon.
Youth members of the parish participate in all of parish life as well, and many of them serve as acolytes during Sunday worship.
Children's soft areas in the back corners of our sanctuary allow children and parents to attend worship.
Opportunities for all of our parish:
HEARTH AND HOME
As often as quarterly, a social gathering is held in a parishioner's home for anyone attending Christ Episcopal. It is a lively, friendly evening to get to know your fellow parishioners outside the church setting and enjoy food, beverages and fellowship together.
Outreach at Christ Church
“Good news is bread to a hungry person”, according to Archbishop Desmond Tutu. Taken seriously, Christ’s command to feed the hungry and care for the marginalized, we at Christ Episcopal Church are motivated by distressing statistics concerning income distribution and food insecurity in the city as well as the county. Our Outreach, Evangelism, and Mission (OEM) committee has the responsibility to organize and facilitate parish partnering with community organizations.
Laundry Love
On Tuesday evenings twice each month, Christ Episcopal members provide funds for attendees to do their laundry.
(Statistics with number of loads washed/dried, number of participants, etc. coming soon.)
Food Distribution
Christ Episcopal members volunteer at the 3rd weekend of the month food distribution at the Dream Center, and is an assigned church there in August.
Open Door
Our signature parish outreach, Open Door, addresses the problem of food insecurity. For many years, Christ Church has provided a nutritious Sunday noon meal for those in need in the community. Open Door rosters groups of four or five parishioners who purchase supplies and prepare a meal for 30 to 50 individuals each week. Some of these individuals are regulars, others occasional participants or transients. In 2019, the Open Door program served over 2,600 meals. During the pandemic, for safety reasons, we converted to takeout meals and served as many as 60 meals for pickup.
Back Door
Life necessities are available at Back Door each Sunday -- a list of items attendees can request is available, leading to participants receiving basic clothing and toiletry items (socks, underwear, shampoo, soap, etc.)
This ministry started in 2019-2020, when we received a grant from the diocese to provide "needed items" such as underwear, socks, toilet paper, and hygiene products for our guests.
These items are now donated by parishioners and friends of Christ Church. The pandemic turned the Open Door ministry into the "Back Door Ministry" but we flexed and rolled with the changes, keeping this ministry viable, for a segment of the population who has suffered the most during the pandemic. We welcome donors and volunteers for this ministry, even if you're not sure "church life" is for you!