Ever wondered why we do what we do when we do it in worship? Many prayers, actions and traditions in our service have a rich history and deep theology behind them. We recently offered an ‘Instructed Eucharist’ service, where we stopped and explained the elements of worship as we were doing them. Also, the Bulletin contained many notes about the various elements of the service. To read the Bulletin from that service, please click here.

The Long Reach of Giving

I am continually amazed by the longitude of God’s loving reach, especially as we see all the ways Christ Church makes an impact in the broader community. In 2018, $320,348 went out into the local and national community in the name of Christ Church. Over $138,000 came out of our operating budget, and $70,000 came from the Christ Church Trust.  Benefitting the local and national Episcopal Church, we gave $106,000 to the Diocese of East Carolina, Trinity Center, and the United Thank Offering. Nearly $44,000 went to Religious Community Services, MERCI Clinic, and health and healing ministries in our area. We have received nearly $100k for Hurricane Relief, and in 2018, we were able to give away $51,000, much of it to our own parishioners who suffered damage and displacement after Hurricane Florence. More has been given in 2019, and around $15,000 remains to be granted. Parts of this money came from people outside Christ Church, including participants at Pumpkin Patch and Cookie Walk, but nearly half ($153,000) came from parishioners either through a pledge or special giving. The dollars that go out from here have helped make ministry happen in countless ways. Many thanks to Chris McCrudden and Patti Williams for compiling this data on behalf of the Finance Committee.

Thank you for all you do to help Christ Church continue to share the love of God  with our neighbors.

In Christ,
Paul+

Want to do something special and different this Advent season? Here are some great resources to help you observe a holy and meaningful season. For more information, contact Ashley Simpson (ashleysimpson@christchurchnewbern.com or 252.633.2109 exxt 150)

Click here for all the details.

Click this link to read about the nominees for Vestry.

Vestry Nominees Profiles 2018

Thank you to all who have put themselves forward.

Dave O’Connell

Are any of you suffering?  Pray.  These words from Saint James’s epistle today are most appropriate for we New Bernians and Christ Church congregation. Today we are surrounded by suffering, loss, and pain, but we have been through disasters before.  We are a Christian community whose faith is tested in many ways throughout our lives.  We come each Sunday morning to hear the word of God proclaimed to us and to celebrate the Eucharist in this sacred space.  It is appropriate that we talk about stewardship in the midst of the disaster of Florence.  This sacred space has become a center of relief for helping people, and also to continue our church’s programs through the year. This requires leadership, and we are blessed to have to have this leadership in the presence of Paul, Cortney and Lisa who are guiding us and our community through this immediate disaster. Please take a moment to read our mission statement contained in our service leaflets. It is really lived out at times like this. In closing, I draw your attention to 1st Peter:  4:10.  “As generous distributors of God’s manifold grace, put your gifts at the service of one another, each in the measure he has received.”

Karen O’Connell

We at Christ church are a blessed people and a giving people. We give of our time, our talents and the fruits of our labors.   To most of us who worship here, this has never been more evident than now when there is such need in our community. And as we know, our parish has risen to the task of helping. Our gifts to the annual stewardship campaign make it possible to give to others in need.

Please remember all the ways that God gives and allows us to give, and give to the stewardship campaign as you are able.

Click here to read our latest publication about Stewardship at Christ Church.

2018 Stewardship Education Brochure

In early 2017, the Vestry of Christ Church commissioned a survey of the parish looking into the various demographics of who we are.

The results of that survey are available here. 2017demograhicsurvey. Individual, personal information has been omitted.

Also check out these links:

paulcastpod.libsyn.com/saul-never-became-paul-the-name-change-myth-ep-58?tdest_id=375590
and

glanier.wordpress.com/2017/02/23/no-saul-the-persecutor-did-not-become-paul-the-apostle/