Advent 2024
Dear Christ Church Family,
As the calendar year comes to a close, there’s a sense that the Lord is at work and the future of Christ Church is full of promise and possibility. When Fr. Matt accepted the invitation to lead this community, he shared a powerful metaphor to describe how he sees the Lord leading us. He described a ship carefully navigating its way in the harbor as it prepared for deep waters, when the sails would open for the wind of the Spirit to lead and guide our course. This season in the harbor - marked by transition and growth - has allowed us to experience God’s provision in some profound ways.
We said farewell to Fr. Cliff and Christine Warner and welcomed Fr. Matt and Lexie Dampier to serve and lead this community. It was a significant time of transition that was graced with cooperation, support, love and blessing in every direction.
At the Annual Parish Meeting on Sept 29th, we joyfully looked back on the number of ways we lived out our core values in many community groups, parish-wide events, and in global and local missions this year. We also introduced the Growing Young Season and shared how we’re applying our value of whole life discipleship to the expanding number of 0-22 year olds who are enriching our intergenerational parish. Thank you for your “above and beyond” pledges that are making the Growing Young backyard project to expand classroom space and create a more hospitable area possible.
As we come to this year's end and set our sights on 2025, we look forward to responding to the Lord’s invitation to journey into open waters, participating in the good and beautiful things He wants to do in and through Christ Church.
Would you be willing to prayerfully consider Christ Church in your end-of-year giving?
What does end-of-year giving do? Typically more than 15% of our giving comes in December. A strong finish at year-end not only provides for the general operating budget, but also creates opportunities to further our impact. Some of the opportunities we have identified include assessing and adjusting the ways we make community groups and adult education classes available, exploring and investing in ways to serve our city and our neighborhood here on the East side, and putting staff positions in place, including an Associate Rector, to support the pastoral and organizational needs of our parish.
In the next few days, you will receive an email from Pushpay (Christ Church’s giving platform) that details your year-to-date giving to help you prayerfully discern your end of year allocations.
Christ Church, you are faithful servants, and it is a joy to worship and serve with you. We pray that you all have a blessed Advent and encounter the living God anew.
Blessings,
Fr. Matt Dampier (Rector), Leslie Cameron (Senior Warden), Nate Bruce, Clay Davis, Kyle Frazier, Sarah Hadd, Amy McLaughlin, Sara Schultz