Parish & Community Life

Parish-directed Programs

Lemonade on the Lawn & Cider in the Hall

The purpose of Lemonade on the Lawn and Cider in the Hall is to bring fellowship opportunities to the parishioners. On Sundays following the second service, we provide refreshments (cookies, lemonade/cider depending on the season) either on the lawn of the church or in Etherton Hall, depending on the weather. To volunteer to provide refreshments, there is a sign up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parish House or call the office for available dates.

Coffee Hour

During the regular church schedule, September - June, each Sunday, a pair of parishioners prepares coffee and tea, brings assorted breakfast “goodies” for the Adult Forum. After the forum, the hosts are responsible for clean-up. Thirty-six parish members volunteer for the year, generally couples, with each host team having two Sunday's a year.

Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

All women of Christ Church are members of ECW and are encouraged to join in the monthly meetings and year round activities. It’s an opportunity to form friendships while working to help meet the needs of others. By holding two Rummage sales, Fall & Spring, and a Christmas Bazaar, the ECW raised approximately $16,000 in 2005 which was given to outreach programs, such as, Camp Wright, St. Michaels Community Center, El Hogar Ministries, Habitat for Humanity, Bay Hundred Youth Task Force, Children’s Home Foundation, and many others. In addition, at Christmas, the ECW decorates an “angel tree” with gifts for needy children and brings plants to our shut-ins.

Lea Library

The Lea Library, located in the Parish House, maintains current books and periodicals addressing the Christian faith, Anglican Communion and Episcopal tradition. Parishioners and members of the local community may borrow books from the library.

Men’s Club

The Men’s Club unites members in brotherhood and prayer and strengthens knowledge of local, national and world issues. Meetings are on the second Saturday of each month (except May - August) at 8:00 AM at Christ Church, Etherton Hall. Breakfast is served followed by a short prayer and the guest speaker. The contribution for breakfast is $10.00 paid in advance - $40 in September, $50 in January. From this, $4 per person is contributed to the Scholarship Fund. Should a person not attend, his total payment becomes a Fund contribution. The Group organizes an annual Pancake Supper to benefit the local Boy Scout Troop. In addition, there is a target of over $1000 to be awarded each year either as an individual scholarship for a local student or for some other charitable purpose. There are currently 55 members of which 25 – 40 typically attend meetings.

The Tidings Newsletter

The Tidings provides news of our parish, upcoming events and information of general interest to Episcopalians. Parishioners send in items for publication. Approximately 500 copies are mailed out each month and are available online.

Welcoming Committee

The Welcoming Committee ensures visitors are welcomed and given the opportunity to learn more about Christ Church. They provide “welcome bags” containing publications about Christ Church and a copy of the current Tidings, collect visitor cards for clergy follow-up, and sponsor “Bring a Friend to Church Day” each October which includes a fair showcasing the ministries at Christ Church, and semi-annual “welcoming events”. The committee has recently introduced a “shepherding” program at Christ Church, a lay-led effort that pairs newcomers with Christ Church parishioners.

Community-directed Programs

Covenant Churches

The Covenant Churches Group was established to foster relations among the churches of St. Michaels: St. Luke’s United Methodist Church, Union United Methodist Church, The Roman Catholic Chapel and Christ Church. In recent years some activities have grown to include all of the churches of the Bay Hundred Area. The Covenant Churches Group sponsors a Thanksgiving Service, a Choir Sing at Christmastime, a weekday evening Lenten Series, a Good Friday Service and a Tent Service in June. Additionally, the churches of St. Michaels join together to sponsor efforts like the annual Crop Walk. An ecumenical group that pledges to respect the faith traditions of all its members while celebrating a common call to serve Jesus, the Covenant Churches pledge support to one another in individual efforts as well as mutual endeavors. Three representatives and a clergy person from each church attend the monthly meetings.

Docents Guild

More than 50 volunteers welcome visitors to Christ Church as tour guides, or just inviting people to come in for a quiet prayer. Docents are on duty daily 2 - 4 PM from May 1 through October. In 2005 docents hosted approximately 2000 visitors from the local area, most states and a number of foreign countries. If you can spare two hours a month, have an interest in the history of the church and enjoy meeting interesting people, join the docent volunteers. There are two meetings for volunteers each year.