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"At baptism we are incorporated into Christ's body, infused with Christ's character, and empowered to be Christ's presence in the world. Ministry is not something in particular that we do; it is what we are about in everything we do."
John Westerhoff - from the foreward of "Calling - A Song for the Baptized" by Caroline Westerhoff
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Select ministry area to view:
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Parish Life
Parish Life
Mission:
By praying, playing, eating, working and thinking together, we grow with one another
in Christ.
Time and Talent:
The Parish Life committee is the umbrella committee for all those groups, functions,
events, etc., which take place here to promote fellowship and foster our spiritual growth. The goal of the Parish
Life committee is to provide an avenue in which we nurture ourselves, and seek new avenues to grow as a community
of faith. Specific areas within the Parish Life committee include: Prayer Chain, Lay Shepherding, Worship Committee,
Youth Group, ECW, etc.
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Acolytes
Mission:
To involve as many young people as possible, from 4th grade up, in a ministry
of leadership of worship at the 8 am and 10:15 am services, plus other special and festival services throughout
the year. In addition, the group has begun participating in a national acolyte festival, held annually at the National
Cathedral in Washington, D.C.. Our acolytes are led by an acolyte captain who is appointed at the annual Youth
Service held in the late spring. The captain is awarded a silver cross, which is worn throughout their tenure and
then passed on to their successor.
Time and Talent Opportunities:
- Thurifer
- Crucifer
- Torches
- Banner Bearer
- Bishop's Chaplain
- Assist with Baptism
- Assist at Weddings
- Assist at Funerals
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Altar Guild
Mission:
Altar Guild members prepare for the celebration of the Holy Eucharist and other
sacraments of the church. Altar hangings are changed according to the calendar of the church year which is found
in the Book of Common Prayer.
Teams of two or more members work together on Sunday and Wednesday to prepare
the altar for Eucharist, replace candles, and arrange flowers.
The altar guild also helps with the special services; Holy Baptism, Weddings and
Funerals.
Time and Talent Opportunities:
Deliver altar flowers
to the hospital and nursing homes.
Prepare palms for Palm
Sunday.
Prepare Annual Altar
Flowers Calendar.
Prepare and clean-up
the altar and Eucharistic vessels.
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Church Choirs
Mission:
The choir is responsible for leading the music portions of Sundays as well as
special services. The choir also performs special concerts throughout the year.
Time and Talent:
Junior Choir rehearses on
Sunday following the 10:15 worship service. The choiristers rehearses
with the expectation that they will to perform during most Sunday
services and for special services when possible. The choir is made up of children in
grades 3 through 8.
Senior (Adult) Choir
rehearses Thursday evening from 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The choir is
open to men and women beginning at the high school level through senior citizen.
Both choirs are always happy to accept new members.
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Episcopal Church Women (ECW)
Mission:
Episcopal Church Women of Christ Church raises funds to pledge to the church and
for Outreach/Support of:
Funds are raised through various
activities sponsored by ECW, such as craft fairs,
United Thank Offering (UTO) ingathering, Longaberger Basket party, and other events. The ECW meets once a month
at the home of one of the members.
Time and Talent Opportunities:
Organizing Events &
Activities
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Lectors & Lay
Eucharistic Ministers (LEM)
Mission:
The Lectors of Christ Church read the lessons at
most services
and lead the Prayers of the People. A Lector may also read Morning Prayer
as directed by the rector or priest-in-charge. Lay
Eucharistic Ministers assist the officiating priest by
distribution of the wine during the Eucharist. Lectors and
LEMs may assist at weddings and funerals when
requested by the family or priest.
Time and Talent:
Lectors and LEMs are
trained by the rector or priest-in-charge. The reading
of lessons and prayers is open to any person. The lay
Eucharistic ministry requires training and licensing through
the diocese.
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Lay Shepherding Committee
Mission:
To provide support to our church and local community families by assisting with
home-cooked meals during stress or health-related crises. Coordinate pantry replenishment for other outreach projects
such as Interfaith Hospitality Network.
Time and Talent Opportunities:
Church members volunteer to prepare meals in large quantities for freezing for
future use. Committee organizes food preparations, menu choices , pantry replenishment, delivery of meals.
Financial Support:
Committee funding is presently moving from a donation basis to a budgeted item
basis.
Let us therefore approach the throne of grace with boldness,
so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in the time of need
Hebrews 4:16
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Prayer Chain
Mission:
To pray on a daily basis for any parishioner, friend or family member for one
month or longer if requested. We currently have a phone chain, an e-mail chain, and a fax chain.
Time and Talent:
You may add your name as a participant in the prayer chain and offer daily prayers
for those in need.
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Stewardship Committee
Mission:
Giving at Christ Church is emphasized as an act of thanksgiving for what we have
received from God, not as a means of paying one's dues.
Time and Talent:
The Stewardship Committee serves as a resource to the parish for Stewardship Education
and for the development of the Annual Campaign for Giving to the ongoing Mission and Ministry of this parish. The
Stewardship Committee is committed to the tithe (giving 10% of our resources) as the biblical standard of giving
for Christians. We ask all members of this community to work towards the tithe through "proportional giving"
(the act of looking seriously at that proportion of our resources that we give to God's work).
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Buildings &
Grounds Committee
Mission:
To preserve and maintain the
buildings and property of Christ Church, including the Rectory,
and to provide the space for the worship and program of the
church, as well as many community organizations.
Time and Talent:
The Buildings and Grounds
Committee is charged with caring for Christ Church's many
buildings, and there are constant opportunities for
involvement in many projects.
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Extended Ministries
Extended Ministries
Mission:
To employ our stewardship beyond the parish Christ Church to the surrounding community.
Time and Talent:
The Extended Ministries committee is focused on outreach to the surrounding community
of Newton & Sussex County. The goal of the Extended Ministries committee is to provide support for activities
which enrich the lives of others in our community. The committee sponsors and participates in activities such as
The Interfaith Hospitality Network, Habitat for Humanity, and Blood Drives to support the local blood bank. Contributions
to Extended Ministries include monetary donations as well as donations of time & talent.
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Interfaith Hospitality Network
Mission:
Sussex County Interfaith Hospitality
Network is a non-profit interfaith ministry charged with
helping the diverse religious communities of Sussex and
parts of Morris and Warren Counties to provide shelter,
meals and assistance to homeless families and single women.
Time and Talent:
Sussex County Interfaith
Hospitality Network (SCIHN) is an alternative to
traditional shelters whereby overnight lodging is
provided in 'host' congregations in one or
two week increments until families are able to move
into their own homes. Fourteen local
congregations take turns hosting the families on a rotating
basis. Volunteers cook and share meals with guest
families and provide companionship and support while
professional staff provide case management.
Christ Church is one of the
Host Churches in Sussex County. We
currently welcome the Interfaith
Guests for two weeks in February and October.
Volunteers from the Christ
Church and supporting congregations - Calvary Baptist
Church in Newton and Stillwater Presbyterian Church in
Stillwater - provide meals and support services.
Christ Church provides sleeping accommodations and a "hospitality room" where guests relax, socialize,
do homework, or watch television. Volunteers provide the evening meal, breakfast, and a bag lunch.
Each morning the guests are transported to the Day Center
at First Presbyterian Church in Newton. Children are
transported to school, and adults either go to work or get
assistance in finding employment and or housing.
Volunteers in the program provide homeless families with basic human
needs: safe shelter, sustenance, and Christian hospitality.
New volunteers are needed to support this important outreach effort. Volunteer duties include
| Daily, 6:30 AM to 7:30 AM |
Breakfast preparation |
| Daily 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM |
Evening Hosts |
| Dinner served, 6:30 PM |
Dinner preparation |
| Nightly, 8:30 PM - 6:30 AM |
Overnight Hosts |
| Weekends/ Holidays, 2 hour shifts: 7:30 AM
- 5:30 PM |
Weekend Hosts |
The kindness we show helps to diminish the hurt of homelessness, and both volunteers
and guest grow and learn from each other.
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