From the Vestry June 2026

Welcome to June and I hope you have plans to gather with family and friends over the

summer. It’s always a special time here in Tidewater. I wanted to give a shout-out to

the Brotherhood on a great Mother’s Day Breakfast. “Chef Jeff” (McClelland)

provided wonderful fare and our guest speaker, Susie Guillotte shared her story of

family that touched all in attendance.

-Mutual Ministry Review

As I shared in the May Newsletter, the annual Mutual Ministry Review took place on

May 5th. In that meeting, current Vestry Members, past Vestry Members, whose terms

ended January 2026, Reverend Peg and Reverend Randi were led by a Diocesan trained

Facilitator, the Reverend Cate Anthony.

In this meeting, discussions focused on these questions:

1) What is going well? Where is there energy or excitement?

2) What needs more attention? Where is there anxiety or tension?

3) What is the future like at Christ Church? Where is there hope and purpose?

4) What are the elephants in the room? What has been unsaid?

The following is the official summary report that will be presented to our Bishop, Rt.

Rev’d E. Mark Stevenson for his review:

Christ Church Parish-Middlesex

Mutual Ministry Review Report

May 11, 2026

Author: Reverend Cate Anthony, Diocesan Mutual Ministry Facilitator

"Christ Church is a growing parish defined by a community of mutual care and

support. Under the direction of Rev. Randi, the parish has grown in size and is

flourishing. Vestry members and others were vocal about their love for and support of

Randi, as well as their desire for her to continue her ministry among them as Rector.

Energy and excitement also arose around the work the community has done to grow

its youth population, including hiring a new youth minister and starting a Taizé service

with youth.

The congregation is also proud of its ongoing expansion of its use of technology;

services recently began to be streamed directly to YouTube and has increased

viewership.

There is a real sense of potential in the air at Christ Church, as the community

begins a search for a new Director of Music and continues to expand its pool of lay

volunteers and members. Additionally, leaders are excited about the potential for

growth in their community outreach ministry. Christ Church has a Creation Care

garden which supports a local food bank; their annual Oyster Festival is not only a

fundraiser but a time of community outreach and connection. Christ Church is

oriented toward future growth and is hopeful about their shared ministry in the

years to come. The Holy Spirit is up to something there!

Some anxieties presented themselves during our review. There is concern about

the upkeep of the old and historic church building. This is in conjunction with a

broader concern about being a church made up of mostly aging members—there is

a sense of pressure to grow the younger population in order to keep Christ Church

viable long into the future. Additionally, Christ Church has had a period of rapid

change and growth in its staff, which has not always been communicated

effectively, leading to anxiety within the congregation. That being said,

congregational leadership is aware of this particular anxiety and is responding to it

with transparency.

Overall, I experienced the leadership of Christ Church to be thoughtful, earnest,

and future oriented. They are clear-eyed about challenges and realistic about

solutions. They love their clergy leadership. Most of all, they love one another and

enjoy one another’s company. Their community is rooted well in the love of Christ

and is open to what the Holy Spirit is doing in their midst!”

Once again, please know that I am here for you. If there is something on your mind,

a need that you have or anything at all, just let me know.

Yours in Christ,

Tom Clarke, Senior Warden