I’ve been in a good mood lately. Despite the setback from illness in July, I have come into August with a great excitement about what’s going on at Christ Church. Yes, the repairs to the parish hall building are frustrating and expensive, but we’re also seeing progress on several of the capital campaign projects. Yes, we’re still seeing the post-covid/summer doldrums in terms of attendance, but we’re about to come alive with all sorts of ministry opportunities in the next month or two, many of them new. And, we just hired a new organist and choir master, who will be announced this weekend. These are exciting times at Christ Church!
The other day, as I was talking with Mother Ashton and Mother Katie, I said it felt like this was going to be the first normal fall program kickoff we’ve had in long time. They looked at me as though I had two heads (we had just been discussing how to make things work with only half a program building and no offices for three weeks). Ok, so this fall isn’t “normal” in every way, but this is the first time since 2019 I’ve been excited about the fall kickoff and the opportunities for ministry that await all of us.
Next week you’ll see a new fall brochure that lists all the things going on (some things are already in this week’s email). On September 18th, we’ll have a Ministry Fair between the services, so folks can learn about what we have going on and sign up for more information or to participate. We’ve got new ministries in the works such as a giving garden, the labyrinth, a baking ministry named Bake, Pray, Love. Fellowship will be back in a big way with the return of Foyer dinner groups, trips to the Mighty 8th Air Force Museum, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp baseball, and the immersive van Gogh exhibit in Jacksonville. Formation is ramping back up with the Sunday series, Bridging the Great Divide, and the return of Wednesday night Bible Study. Worship will be enriched by a reinvigorated music program, plus the return of the healing service, and a weekly contemplative Eucharist (formerly known as X Church) on Sunday evenings at St. Ignatius. Children and youth programming is back with Sunday School, Youth Group, and more. Y’all, it’s on!
The other thing that excites me is that we have an incredible opportunity to see our ministry grow. The mission field has shifted since the pandemic. Estimates are that more than a quarter of those who used to attend church have stopped. They didn’t change churches, they just stopped going over the last two and a half years. That doesn’t mean they don’t need or want to meet God anymore. They just need an invitation or a nudge, and a community that helps them bring meaning into their lives in various ways. There are folks for whom we might be that community, but they don’t know we’re here or what God is up to at Christ Church.
So, as we launch this new program year and look with great anticipation to the coming year, we all need to invite and welcome folks to join us at Christ Church. That means you! Think about persons you think might want to join us for worship, or a fellowship event, or an outreach effort. You don’t have to invite someone to become a member, just to join you for something that excites you. We’re not all about “membership”, but we are about discipleship and relationships. As we do God’s work for God’s people, we do it for and with anyone who wants to be a part of it.
When you see and hear what we have going on, reach out to folks you haven’t seen in church in a while and invite them to come back. Talk to friends and neighbors who might like to meet the new organist, or plant lettuce, or come to All Hallows Eve, or ride along to Jacksonville, or worship with us in a peaceful setting to start the week – whatever it is that you’re doing this fall. Be an evangelist in the simplest sense. Talk about what’s going on in your church and then say what Jesus said, “Come and see.” Get ready. It’s going to be an exciting fall!
Tom+
Almighty God, to whose glory we celebrate the life of our congregation: We give you thanks for the fellowship of those who have worshiped in this place, and we pray that all who seek you here may find you, and be filled with your joy and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Photo Credits: Excited Kid and Excited Guy via Dreamstime.com subscription.