events
Here are details on special
events at St. Christopher’s
Episcopal Church. For details, contact our office at (508) 945-2832 or
e-mail us.
Listen to the African
service
with The Rev. Ian
Douglas and Issa Coulibally
 The
latest podcast (digital audio recording) of Sunday worship at St. Christopher's
features the special "Hope to the Children of Africa" service, featuring The
Rev. Ian Douglas, known for his work in promoting reconciliation in the Anglican
Communion, and an offertory hymn performed by African drummer Issa Coulibauly,
who also accompanied the Uncommon Worship band and the church choir. The special
service was presented by the AIDS in Africa committee, which helps support AIDS
orphans in Khwiliba Parish in Maseno North, Kenya.To hear the entire service,
click here or visit the
Sermons page
New service
Uncommon Worship debuts Jan. 28
After months of planning and
discussion, St. Christopher’s will launch a third Sunday service on Jan. 28.
Called the Uncommon Worship service, it which will run from 11:15-11:45 a.m. in
the Chapel, and will be tailored to those seeking a communion service in the
Anglican Tradition which features innovative design, contemporary music,
informality of ceremonies and instruction on liturgical practices.
There will be no changes in the 8 a.m. or 10 a.m. services, or at Sunday
School.
The Rev. Brian McGurk and Ilene Bendas, director of Children,
Youth and Families, came up with the idea last fall. They then created a
steering committee to help plan details.
“What we’re trying to do is reach out to those who may have
difficulty with traditional services and teachings,” Brian says. “We hope that
young families, teens, basically anyone looking for an uplifting service, will
give it a try.”
The service will feature a homily from Brian, a Eucharist and
plenty of contemporary music. “We want it to be a fun experience,” Ilene said.
Chatham vocalist Lisa Jason has volunteered to help during the services.
Wide-ranging
discussion
Bishop Shaw shares
thoughts
at St. Christopher's
public forum
The Right Rev. M. Thomas Shaw, the
Episcopal bishop of Massachusetts, praised St. Christopher’s AIDS in Africa
 program during a
wide-ranging conversation with about 80 parishioners Aug. 30 in the Parish Hall.
Bishop Shaw’s visit to St. Christopher’s was one of several
appearances he made in Chatham related to the church’s successful and ongoing
capital campaign.
“What wonderful work you are doing,” Bishop Shaw said about
the AIDS program. “You are a beacon to the rest of the Diocese. You were the
first parish to take on a parish of your own.”
Bishop Shaw personally visited the Kenyon Diocese of Maseno
North in April. “You’re changing the lives of those kids,” he said. “I want to
thank you for looking beyond your own church walls.”
St. Christopher’s contributes 0.7 percent of its annual
budget to help support a feeding program in Khwiliba Parish for AIDS orphans.
Bishop Shaw touched on a number of other issues, including:
The possibility of schism with the Anglican Communion over
sexual orientation: “I’m very optimistic,” Bishop Shaw said. “In the short
term, some churches may leave. But there’s a sense of real optimism. Many
African bishops may not agree with us, but they want to work with us.
“The question that has to be answered is this: How are we
going to live together over the next 10 years? There are lots of discussions
going on and we’re working to a much more solid future.”
He predicted Katharine Jefferts Schori, the church’s new
presiding bishop, “will take us another step” on this issue.
On Bishop Jefferts Schori: Calling her a bishop of
“clarity and vision,” Bishop Shaw said she was elected not because she was a
woman, but “because she was, by far, the most qualified.”
On the Middle East: Bishop Shaw is deeply involved in
the Middle East. But he’s pessimistic about chances for peace. “The current
situation gets sadder and sadder and sadder,” he said. “This last war was
depressing for me.”
Bishop Shaw called the Palestinian people “the forgotten
people of the Middle East” and said there will never be peace in the region
until the issue of Palestinian rights is resolved.
He criticized the Bush Administration for not playing a
significant role in the peace process, saying, “The U.S. government must be
actively involved in the process.”
Bishop Shaw also urged parishioners to write or e-mail their
Congressional representatives because “that’s the only way to bring pressure on
the administration.”
On growth in the Diocese: Noting the Commonwealth’s
population decrease, Bishop Shaw said the only way to grow church attendance is
to focus on young people. Attracting teens and college age students to the
church is a key focus for the Diocese.
On St. Christopher’s assessment to the Diocese: Bishop
Shaw ticked off a handful of programs – from Africa to Biloxi to Lawrence --
that St. Christopher’s annual assessment helps fund. “We think you’re getting a
lot,” he said wryly.
On St. Christopher’s capital campaign: Bishop Shaw
called the campaign “very, very important” and “a reflection of the vitality of
the parish.” He also praised the leadership of Rector Brian McGurk, who received
a loud round of applause.
“A capital campaign is a huge thing to take on,” he said.
“It’s such a sign of hope. Thank you for your generosity.”
Tim Weller, Communications
Coordinator
Community
dinner series
Fishing community to
be honored
at Oct. 1 Faith In
Action supper
Faith In Action will begin hosting
monthly community dinners beginning Nov. 5. The dinners, open to everyone, will
be held in the Parish Hall. Each month, special guests who are part of
Chatham’s community fabric will be recognized. The young "Sunday Chefs" will
prepare all the food for the dinners from scratch. Chatham’s commercial
fishermen and women will be the first guests of honor.
“These dinners will be inclusive and diverse,” says Rector Brian McGurk.
“We’re reaching out to various community groups and we’ll pay particular
attention to the marginalized and forgotten.”
Diocese
convention to honor Faith In Action
The Episcopal Diocese of
Massachusetts will recognize St. Christopher’s and three other churches at its
annual convention in Boston Oct. 27-28.
The diocese will point to St. Christopher’s Faith In Action
program as an example of a strong, vital, youth outreach. The Diocese believes
nurturing and recruiting teens and young adults is an important strategy to
increase church numbers. The Diocese will spotlight Faith In Action during a
presentation on the convention’s final day, Oct. 28.
Details are being worked out. Rector Brian McGurk and Ilene
Bendas, director of Christian education, attended a brainstorming session with
Diocesan officials in Boston on Aug. 24. They plan several more meetings before
the convention.
Faith In Action is a community-wide, ecumenical program
designed to teach young people cooking and life skills, while at the same time
creating a bond with Chatham’s most isolated residents.
About 40 youths from 5th to 12th grade
participate in the program. Three Sundays a month, these “Sunday Chefs” prepare
gourmet meals from scratch and then spread out to hand-deliver the meals. Staff
members at St. Christopher’s, at Chatham’s other churches, sometime even kids in
the program, help identify those most in need.
“The food is important, obviously, but the program goes
beyond that,” Ilene says. “It’s more about the personal connection, of kids
knowing they’ve helped. That’s the secret of what we do.”
Forward in
Faith
Champagne Brunch
celebrates
success of capital
campaign
 St. Christopher’s parishioners
filled the Parish Hall on Aug. 6 to celebrate the ongoing success of the Forward
in Faith capital campaign to raise funds for the church’s renovation.
More than $3.2 million has been pledged by about 80 percent
of parish households since the campaign kick-off in April. That figure exceeds
the project’s goal of $3 million.
“Today, we celebrate reaching beyond a goal of $3 million. We
are a special group of loving and dedicated parishioners who have risen to the
occasion and to a need at this time. A celebration is in order!” said campaign
co-chairman George Olmsted, who stood before the group with co-chairman Dick
Carroll.
More contributions will arrive as church members await
changes in circumstances, such as selling a home.
“Today
I join you in celebrating a wonderful effort in the history of St.
Christopher’s,” Olmsted said. “The Holy Spirit has again descended upon 625 Main
Street and all its loving people.”
Forward
in Faith
Capital
Campaign surprised with
$200,000 matching donation
As
efforts accelerate to raise money for the Forward in Faith capital campaign, a
surprise matching gift for $200,000 in donations has infused callers and
contributors with an extra boost of enthusiasm.
St. Christopher’s is almost two months into the drive to
support the renovation and expansion of our buildings and ministries. More than
70 volunteers from our parish are calling on all households connected with St.
Christopher’s. As of June 14, we have raised almost $2.5 million towards our
goal.
The surprise $200,000 matching gift — donated by a group of
anonymous donors to motivate prospective givers — will double new contributions
dollar for dollar up to $200,000 — in effect, doubling the donations.
Our campaign callers have already made a number of
visits: 36 percent of our households have responded with pledges and gifts. Many
are yet to be visited — about two-thirds to go. Please welcome the volunteer
who contacts you to set up a visit.
As our rector Brian McGurk likes to say: “We invite you
to join us by giving with a joyful heart.” The gifts we make now will last
forever, and they will serve future generations from our communities. We are
striving for total participation — every gift counts!
Our youngest giver so far is Amanda Stauring, age 9, who’s
working hard to help us achieve our goal (see story in July/August issue of
Soundings.).
Our campaign challenge is to raise $4 million. We believe
that amount can accomplish the total renovation and expansion project in one
construction phase. If we raise less, we will need to prioritize the
construction work to fit our budget.
As of July 9, we have raised $2.4 million. We hope for
support from the many households not yet visited. Remember, every gift counts!
— George Olmsted and Dick Carroll,
Campaign Co-chairs
Check out our Calendar for
listings on other events at St. Christophers.
Previous
events
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