Search Results

... And for our wider community. Supporting community services such as our amazing first responders. And helping to sustain our neighbors. We love kids, dogs & cats, teachers, students, veterans, and first responders – not necessarily in that order! And we care about those in need and all of God's creation. Here are some of the community organizations we support, and below those organizations are programs at Christ Church Parish that are open to the community, including you and your family. Avalon Center (For abused women) Middlesex County Resue Squads Christmas Friends Middlesex High School Charger Closet Deltaville Maritime Museum Middlesex Little League Habitat for Humanity Middlesex Museum & Historical Society Hands Across Middlesex Middlesex Pet Friends for Life Hartfield Family YMCA Middlesex Public Library Jacob's Ladder Remote Area Medical Volunteers Middlesex County Fire Departments Virginia Wounded Warrier Project Our Programs We mentioned kids and dogs and veterans - what a combination! - but we are dedicated to their learning, love and respect. We have something for everyone, beginning with our annual Blessing of the Animals, when we bring our dogs, cats, birds, turtles, whatever, into church for a Holy blessing in the tradition of St. Francis of Assissi. Arriving for the Blessing of the Animals - every pet's best day! Blessing of the Animals Our Cub Scout & Boy Scout Troops have been building fine young men since 1947. Boy Scout Troop 341 Free Summer Fine Arts Camp Summer Fine Arts Camp Annual Veterans luncheon honoring those who served to keep us free. Veterans Luncheon Scholarship funds are available for Parish members, and those affiliated with the Parish, up to age 21 and may be used for religious, elementary, secondary, under graduate, special, technical, vocational, professional or other educational purposes. Elizabeth B. Sanders Educational Scholarship Fund "Ready to race." Robotics Camp - Learn and Build Robotics Camp We show our sincere appreciation for Middlesex teachers with individual homemade goody baskets. Led by Rev. Randi, our weekly Adult Bible Study is for everyone regardless of religious background or knowledge level. We're here for questioning, sharing, exploring and laughing. The Order of the Daughters of the King. Our Betty Evans Chapter is open to women members of denominations in communion with the Episcopal Church, which includes other churches in the Anglican Communion as well as the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), and the Roman Catholic Church. Godly Play for children Pre-K through 5th Grade the 2nd Sunday of each month. The monthly Middlesex Memory Cafe offers support to those caring for loved ones with cognitive challenges. Events honoring Lt. Gen. "Chesty" Puller, a Christ Church parishioner and most decorated Marine in U.S, history. Lt. Gen. Lewis B. "Chesty" Puller - The Most Decorated Marine in U.S. History Annual Puller Run - Honoring Chesty Goody bags for Christchurch School students during exams. See the forever ties between Christ Church Parish and Christchurch School in the Christchurch School Connection. Christ Church Parish volunteers doing their best for Habitat for Humanity. (Hmmm. Why does this look like a paint commercial?) We grow and donate healthy produce from our Creation Care Garden. We're Here for You Throughout the Stages of Your Life

Beginning September 17, 2026, Christ Church Parish's Episcopal Church Women (ECW), in concert with Bay Aging, is offering the Middlesex Memory Cafe. This new community service program is for caregivers of loved ones experiencing cognitive challenges. The Memory Cafe offers a judgement free setting for caregivers to share their journey with others and to learn of resources that Bay Aging offers to support their needs. It provides caregivers and their loved ones a comfortable setting to learn and to establish friendships and acceptance. The Middlesex Memory Cafe is free of charge to all participants and will be meeting in the Christ Church Parish Hall the third (3rd) Thursday of every month from 1:30 to 3:00 p.m. Light refreshments will be served. Memory Cafes are already established in Mathews, Gloucester, Warsaw, Kilmarnock, and Tappahannock. This will be the first Memory Café in Middlesex County. If you have questions, please contact the Christ Church office at 804-758-2006.

Christ Church Parish Episcopal Our Mission We are a family of faith, growing in Christ through learning, worship, & service, who strive to love God and to love our neighbors as ourselves. August 2026 Newsletter The Lord Be With You From the desk of Priest in Charge: Randi Hicks Rowe When I was in business school, we played a marketing simulation game. In the game, each team was a company introducing a new product. We set pricing and budgeted for promoting, further developing the product, and distributing it. Through the game, I learned the importance of devoting as many resources as possible – even to the point of taking substantial risk – in the very early stages of launch. The teams that invested heavily in product development and promotion did the best in the game because their products quickly gained market share and became profitable. My team spent conservatively and our product ultimately failed, never becoming part of the company’s permanent product portfolio. Our church has begun a youth and children’s program because we want young people to become part of our congregation over the long term. In a way, this program is a new product, and its creation shares some characteristics with a business product launch. We must develop a good product and promote it and our company (the church) effectively to a new audience to succeed in attracting and keeping young families as part of our permanent “portfolio.” As we all know, the Sanders Fund Board, with consent of the Sanders family, has committed to funding the salaries for Mike and Rev. Joie and some dedicated activities for the youth and children’s program for five years. We have been about one year into that program. The money is a wonderful blessing and funds much for the development of this program. This gift puts us in an excellent position to be successful. One way we differ from a business, however, is that most of the labor required for any of our programs (products) is volunteer. The more we grow, the more we’ll need volunteer help because we will need fun and educational activities for ages infant through 18. These activities will require more than roughly the equivalent of one-half time position. We also may need specific activities aimed at the needs of parents of these young people. Volunteer help can be coordinated by paid staff, but, ultimately, the quality of the services provided over the long term will depend upon the number and quality of volunteers who are called to work with children and youth. Another way a church differs from a business is that we are a community. Our greatest strength here at Christ Church is that community. We are all formed more fully into the body of Christ through this community – education, activities, and, even, worship cannot form disciples without a strong community that fully integrates all ages. As we grow this program, we’ll need to include children, young people, and their parents in every group and activity in the church. Sometimes that means we may have to adjust the hours we meet or the way we communicate. We may need to add some projects or activities that younger generations are passionate about, while still retaining and sometimes adding projects and activities that are meaningful to the rest of us who are older. We neglect no one as we move forward on this journey. A church, like a business, must invest in its new “products” and “programs” heavily in the first few years. That investment includes program development, promotion, and labor. In the case of a church, however, most of that labor is volunteers. A church also is defined by the strength of its community, and, to be successful, we will find meaningful ways to include children, youth, and families in all the ministries of the church – music, outreach, fellowship, technology, ECW, Brotherhood, etc. In short, attracting and retaining children and families depends on all of us. Most of all, it depends on you. Randi+ From the Deacon's Bench Add "For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:35-40 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Our 6th Annual Fine Arts Camp went very well. We had a magnificent group of students, probably the best we ever had. Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers and those who made donations. YOU made this happen! One especially awesome part of camp was the decision of one camper, Eden Ginsberg, to be baptized. This special celebration happened on July 26th. We are already starting to plan for Fine Arts Camp 2027. There is another ministry with which we REALLY need your help Do you knit or crochet? We would like to revive our Prayer Shawl Ministry. These creations mean so much to those who receive them. They will be blessed by Rev Randi and then taken to those who are ill, shut-ins, those with new babies, and those celebrating other events in their lives. These shawls are a reminder as to how much the Christ Church community loves them and cares about them. This is a ministry you can do from home. No meetings or deadlines! Please let me know if you wish to be a part of this ministry so we can keep a list and hold all creators in prayer. ** Another way you can help is by donating yarn or other supplies. These could be items you have but no longer need or by purchasing items when you see a good sale. We will distribute these items to those creating the shawls. ** Did you read some good books this summer? It’s time for another book drive. Middlesex Department of Social Services keeps books to distribute to their clients who may be unable to purchase books. This ministry helps in a few ways: · You get to clean out books you no longer need to make room for NEW BOOKS · You help promote literacy in our community. · We show our community that Christ Church Parish cares about them. Please let me know how you can help with these ministries. deacon@christchurchparish.com or 804-869-3867, or when you see me We are each expected to care for others. Christ calls us to do so. These ministries and others help us show His love to others. ALL others. Where are YOU called to serve? Pray for answers to this question. It will be different for each of us. Thank you, Peg+ Stewardship Report Time, Talent & Treasure Dear Parishioner: It is........Celebration Time....We did it! At last year’s Stewardship Kickoff, the budget outlook for 2026 appeared challenging. Now…we are excited to tell you; your Vestry and Finance Committee has monitored expenses closely and your oh so generous pledging and contributions have made the difference, even with continuing escalating costs this year. Thank You..........Thank You............Thank You! We all pulled together and are getting it done. Together, we will continue to meet our challenges. In the past year, we have introduced new ways to serve the community. The new and expanding Children’s Program is attracting new attendees and families. The new website telling our story is continuing to develop and will soon provide easy access to all of our Ministries and activities. Next year, as you have requested; we plan to initiate a new music program that will benefit all parishioners. Do you feel it, too? We have momentum. Isn’t it exciting? Now it is time to prepare for our 2027 responsibilities. Join us for the Stewardship Kickoff Breakfast to hear the plans, share ideas, and enjoy fellowship. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 AM on August 30th. Please tell us you will be there by August 24th, by calling (804) 758-2006. While we are together on the 30th, we will thank you for your efforts and share our plan for sustaining our worship, strengthening our ministries, and supporting our pastoral care and outreach to the community. The expanded Music Ministry will also deepen our sense of connection, unity, and shared worship. Let us come together to build an even stronger future for our community and to celebrate this momentum. R.S.V.P Today! Prayerfully, Stewardship Committe OUTREACH MINISTRY The Outreach Ministry held its monthly meeting on June 10. In addition to regular members, we were joined by our new member, Allison Ellwanger. Welcome to Allison! The Creation Care Garden continues to provide such wonderful produce, thanks to Alyson Holt and her loyal helpers. The produce is distributed to the Cryer Center on the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month through the summer. We would like to invite parishioners to join us on the third Sunday of the month of July and August for fresh veggies at the 10:30 am coffee hour. We will be harvesting vegetables to share with you and others in our parish that would enjoy the harvest. The Garden is the site of “Coffee in the Garden” on Sunday, July 12 from 9:15 to 10:15 am (between the 8:00 am and 10:30 services.) Please come to see the Garden and invite your friends and neighbors. Refreshments will be served. Our annual school supplies collection will be held August 2-August 13. These supplies are given to worthy children (determined by the Department of Social Services) before school begins on August 18. This year, we will need supplies for seven (7) students, grades 1-12. Supplies most needed are: Spiral notebooks Loose leaf notebook paper Binders (1 ½ ring binders) Dividers Pens Pencils (#2) Marble composition books (4 needed) Glue sticks The collection box and list will be placed outside the Vestry room in the Fellowship Hall. Thank you, in advance, for your generosity. The annual One Community Under God service this year will be held at the Urbanna Fire Station on October 4. Our Ministry helps to provide sandwiches and support for those attending. This is such an important opportunity to partner with other faith community members in Middlesex County. Details will be in the next newsletter. Our next meeting will be Wednesday, July 8 at 10:15am. Come join us!!! DeLois Greenwood and Pam McClelland (co-chairs) ECW Episcopal Church Women Introducing the Memory Cafe Christ Church Parish and the Episcopal Church Women are about to embark on a new community service program in concert with Bay Aging. Beginning on September 17th from 1:30 until 3pm we are opening our doors to caregivers for loved ones experiencing cognitive challenges. This program offers a judgement free setting for caregivers to share their journey with others and learn of resources that Bay Aging offers to support their needs. This program is called Memory Cafe and allows caregivers and their loved ones an opportunity to learn, establish friendships and acceptance. Memory Cafes are already established in Mathews, Gloucester, Warsaw, Kilmarnock, and Tappahannock. This will be the first Memory Café in Middlesex County. These are recurring meetings and are free of charge to all participants. Light refreshments are served. The Memory Café at Christ Church will be on the third Thursday of every month from 1:30 until 3 pm. If you are willing to volunteer to sit in on these meetings or want further information, please contact Ann Padgett at padgett@va.metrocast.net Youth and Family Ministry Building Connections Every month, I look forward to sharing stories and updates from our Youth and Family Ministry. It’s inspiring to see how our community grows stronger through faith, fellowship, and fun aka"EF3" (more on that later). This month, I want to reflect on some recent events that brought our kids and families together and highlight ways everyone can get involved in the coming weeks. Whether you’re a teen looking for meaningful ways to serve or a parent hoping to support your child’s spiritual journey, there’s something here for you. Growing Godly Play We are now able to hold Sunday School twice a month. A huge thank you to Judy Quilter and Pat Anderson who answered the call to attend a half day training with me in Fredericksburg on June 30 to St. George Church to wortk with Dr. Rev. Rosemary Beales. We got a very informative primer on how to work in the Godly Play curriculum and saw first hand the kind of impact that this extension of our ministry can have on our young parishioners. We are very excited to build this program! If you are interested in learning more about Godly Play and the Sunday School curriculum, please reach out to youth@christchurchparish.com for more information. Upcoming Godly Play teacher training events will be listed below. Fine Arts Camp - Fun and Games We had a great time coordinating the games and "recess" time during the Fine Arts Camp. On Monday, we tried our hand at cornhole. It was a tough day for tossing bags as the heat was pretty brutal that day. On Tuesday, we stayed inside and did board games like checkers, Guess Who, Uno and more. Then we ramped up the excitement with a vigorous Bingo tournment! Wednesday, the boys vs. the girls for a fun kickball game. We really appreciate the kids and their upbeat attitudes during the camp. It was a lot of fun. Upcoming Events to Mark on Your Calendar Looking ahead, we have several exciting events planned that invite both kids and families to participate: Godly Play & Sunday School: 1st and 3rd Sundays at 10:30am. We will join the parents during the exchange of the Peace during the service. Godly Play Teacher Training: July 19, Aug. 16, & Nov. 1Training will consist of watching the day's lesson during the 10:30 service and then meeting to review materials, curriculum and methodology. EF3: An Evening of Faith, Fun and FellowshipWe are going to begin hosting a series of events to encourage middle and high school students to share one Saturday a month with us during the school year.These events will include a trivia night, a blessing of the athletes, nature walks and more. A schedule will be posted to this page in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. Each event offers a unique way to grow in faith and connect with others. I encourage parents to bring their kids and teens to these gatherings. They are designed to be fun and meaningful, creating memories while strengthening our community bonds. How Kids and Families Can Serve Together One of the most rewarding aspects of our ministry is seeing families serve side by side. Here are some practical ways you can get involved: Volunteer at Events: Help with setup, snacks, or leading small groups during kids’ activities. Mentor a Younger Child: Teens can support younger kids by reading stories, playing games, or simply being a positive role model. Organize a Service Project: Families can team up to plan a project like collecting donations for a shelter or visiting a nursing home. Serving together not only benefits others but also deepens your family’s faith and connection. It teaches kids the value of giving and shows them how faith comes alive through action. From the Vestry The Senior Warden's Report Hello and welcome to August! I hope everyone’s summer is going well and possibly getting out on the water or headed to the mountains for cooler air! I would be remiss if I didn’t share some of the great volunteer work that has gone on this past month. First, I want to thank Jeff McClelland for his six years as the Newsletter Editor. His consistent performance month after month meant so much for our parish and communicating all that is going on. Thank you for all that you do Chef Jeff. Second, thank you to our Jr. Warden, Jeff Loustaunau. He tackled what we thought would be a small repair that turned out to be huge in the Parish Hall, and got it done in record time! Way to go Plain Jeff! - Music and Youth Ministries on the Move If you have wandered to the far end of the Parish Hall, you have noticed that there has been a huge transformation between the two classrooms. The Choir Room has flipped with the Youth Classroom. As our youth ministry grows, we need to have the youth classroom closer to the Nursery for restroom purposes and trained supervision. With the leadership of Ann DePeyster and the Choir, they were able to clean out the choir room as it had become the “gathering place” for many items, many of which were not related to music! - Christ Church Painting – 1900 A week ago, the Reverend Scott Krejci donated a beautiful painting of Christ Church Parish. The painting was created around 1900 and depicts the church at that time. Apparently, this painting hung at Rosegill for some time. The artist is unknown, but it is a wonderful opportunity to see what our Parish looked like at the turn of the 20th Century. Thank you, Scott, for your wonderful gift. We will view it for many years to come! There are many other projects occurring in and around the church so please read on and learn about all that’s happening. Finally, Kathy and I will be on the road for a bit, and I will not be submitting any articles for September and October, but you will be in good hands with Reverends Randi and Peg and your Vestry Members to help you each and every day. Yours in Christ, Tom Clarke, Senior Warden Add a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. From the Junior Warden's Workbench Crawl Space Project Summary Crawl Space Project Summary As of Friday, July 24th, our Crawl Space Project is essentially complete. Here is what it entailed. Contractor: PBS Crawl Space Specialists of Hartfield, Virginia. Summary of the Problem: There was a soft spot in the floor of the Fellowship Hall, that when we uncovered it, showed that there were several OSB floor joists that had mold and fungus on them, and that several of them had areas that were rotten. This was all in the area of the south wall by the first window from the kitchen. Cause of the Problem: The cause of the problem was moisture that had caused fungus to grow on the joists. And although the salt treated 2 X 12 beams were not affected, the OSB joists were affected and had begun to rot. The moisture could have come from one or more of the following sources. · The seam between the old roof of the Fellowship Hall and the new roof of the Parish Hall. · There were 8 holes in the roof above that area that were left when some ice clips were removed. There were also 6 holes in the north wall roof in the same area. (All the holes have been plugged with epoxy and then covered with “Through the Roof” vinyl adhesive.) · The ground being saturated by rainwater from the roof, since the gutter drains were clogged up causing the rainwater to back up and saturate the ground along the south wall. This was filling up the basement with water from hydro-static pressure as well as allowing water to simply flow into the basement. · The humidity in the crawl space was roughly 80%, which will allow mold and fungus to thrive, and to rot the wood. Scope of Work: In speaking with four contractors who deal with this issue, we developed the following scope of work. · Reroute the gutter downspouts to PVC pipes that will carry the water to the woods to the east of the building. · Enlarge the access ports in the basement to the crawl space. · Inspect the crawl space for any further damaged joists or beams. · Spray a mold killer throughout the entire crawl space to kill the mold and fungus. · Replace the rotten OSB floor joists with #1 Salt treated 2 x 12’s. ( There were a total of 11 joists needing replacement.) · Line the entire crawl space with 12 mil vinyl, taping all the seams, and then foaming the edges along the wall to “encapsulate” the crawl space. · Place a dehumidifier in the crawl space. · Once the work commenced, we realized that water was streaming into the basement from both sides when it rained. Therefore, the scope was modified to include trenching the interior perimeter of the basement to include a drain that channeled the water to the sump pump. It also included a covering on the walls of the basement that keep the water flowing to the drains and not onto the floor. A new sump pump with a battery back-up is in place that takes the water out the back of the building to the woods. Contractor: PBS Crawl Space Specialists were chosen to do the work as their proposed scope of work was more closely aligned with the scope suggested by our Building and Grounds Committee, and they were the lowest cost. Their total cost was $19,330 but that did not include the basement. The basement addition was $6,000 bringing the total to $25,330 that has been paid in full as of July 23, 2026. The cost was covered by Reserves. Jeff Loustanau Endowment Committee The Endowment Committee is relaunching itself with fresh ideas on upholding your end of life wishes, confirming that you have worked correctly in advance to cement your wishes and concerns for the future of the church and for the church to prosper in the years ahead. Committee members will be available at both Coffee Hour sessions on All Saints Day, 1 November 2026 to review the steps to provide for your loved ones when that final day arrives. We can acquaint you with the process of donating funds, the allocation of the funds, securing a permanent location in the church cemetery, funding future projects, tax advantages now and simply tending to the upkeep of our beautiful church over the upcoming years to come. Come join us and share your thoughts with us. Fellowship Committee Greetings to all from your "tiny but mighty" Fellowship Committee. The "Dog Days of Summer" are upon us! You know the old joke, " What does a dog do on his day off? He can't lay around because that is his job." Well, we are hardly in a "lounging posture" as this is the time when we go into a planning frenzy for the next 4 months of the year--September through December...specifically our busiest time of the year. We want to bring young and "mature", members and visitors, church "shoppers" and curious into our fold and make them feel "good". Here is one RX we offer. 13 September: Back to school luncheon hosting seniors from MHS and Christchurch School. International foods and good ole standards can be shared. Bring a dish that puts a smile on your face. We are spotlighting our seniors in these schools who will be making weighty decisions for their lives ahead. Come share the love--a bit of music and more. 8 or 9 October: Marine Corps Run. We do not yet have the confirmed date for this "moving" event , but we promise you a beautiful spectacle as the Runners progress down the highway with banners, flags and their voices in unison making a path to Christ Church Parish. We provide interesting stories and history of Lt. General Chesty Puller at his grave-site followed by snacks and beverages for the Runners. Spirits soar and faces light up----don't miss this happy event. 10 and 11 November: These dates are confirmed! On 10 November, the entire county of Middlesex is invited to attend a special lecture evening in recognition of our nation's 250th anniversary celebration. We will cover the Alpha and Omega of the American Revolution from Ticonderoga to the Battle of the Capes (Yorktown) surrender. Also we will recognize our allies and compatriots, the nations of France and Poland, for their invaluable expertise, training and cooperation throughout the War. A lovely reception will follow so you can meet and chat with our speakers, friends and neighbors. This event is open to everyone to include spouses and family members. 11 November: This date is firm. It is the celebratory Veterans Luncheon. It is restricted to Veterans because of limited space ( 104) based on our fire code. It is a luncheon, our guest speakers and program. We will open the sign up window in October. Reservations are required. Patriotic music accompanies words of praise for our heroes! All veterans from all services are welcome!!! 16 December: Advent evening dinner and program with the spotlight on the nation of Hungary. We cook for you and share the customs and celebrations of Advent and Christmas in Hungary. More details will follow. Thank you! Bev Hart and Mary Lynn Landgraf Ushers' Schedule for August 2026 For 10:30am Services Sunday, August 2nd Pat & Roland Anderson Sunday, August 9th Kathryn & Joey Humphreys Sunday, August 16th Susie & Jeff Loustaunau Sunday, August 23rd Bill Snider & Jack Fackler Sunday, August 30th Susan & John Hilliard Celebrations: August Birthdays and Anniversaries Birthdays Jack Fackler 1-Aug Betsy Evans 2-Aug Jean Hill 2-Aug Henry Moncure 2-Aug Merri Hanson 5-Aug Delois Greenwood 7-Aug Linda Irwin 11-Aug Kelly Pollok 12-Aug Ginger Hellems 13-Aug Bryan Saddler 16-Aug Barbara Cockrell 18-Aug John Hilliard 20-Aug Roseanne Moncure 21-Aug Clayton Neal 22-Aug Jack Hellems 23-Aug Jane Bunnell 25-Aug Jamie Barnhardt 27-Aug Steve Gahan 29-Aug Patty Lamb 29-Aug Andrew Wilton 30-Aug Anniversaries Bill & Sue Newman 3-Aug John & Judy Quilter 8-Aug Don & Ann Harris 9-Aug Arthur & Evie Wilton 17-Aug Andrew & Ellie Wilton 26-Aug Byron & Linda Parker 28-Aug Bill & Judi Snider 30-Aug Upcoming Events August 2026 Saturday, August 1, 2026 School Supplies Collection Begins 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, August 2, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM Blessing of the Backpacks (for Teachers and Students of the 26-27 SY) Godly Play 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Tuesday, August 4, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Wednesday, August 5, 2026 WMC Eucharist 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Location: WMC Thursday, August 6, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, August 9, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Brotherhood 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Tuesday, August 11, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Eucharist 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Location: Parish Hall Chapel Outreach 10:15 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Vestry Room Thursday, August 13, 2026 School Supplies Due 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Saturday, August 15, 2026 Children's Day - West Point 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, August 16, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Daughters of the King 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Godly Play 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Godly Play Training Session 10:20-12:30) 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Monday, August 17, 2026 finance Meeting - 9:30 a.m. 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Library Tuesday, August 18, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Vestry 4:00 p.m. 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Ministry Chair Persons Meeting 10:30AM 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Thursday, August 20, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, August 23, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tuesday, August 25, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Thursday, August 27, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Saturday, August 29, 2026 Set Up for Breakfast 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, August 30, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00 AM & 10:30 AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Stewardship Kick Off Breakfast 9:00 a.m. 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Christ Church Parish (Episcopal) PO Box 476 56 Christchurch Lane, Saluda, VA 23149 804-758-2006 christchurchmiddlesex.com

Crawl Space Project Summary As of Friday, July 24th, our Crawl Space Project is essentially complete. Here is what it entailed. Contractor: PBS Crawl Space Specialists of Hartfield, Virginia. Summary of the Problem: There was a soft spot in the floor of the Fellowship Hall, that when we uncovered it, showed that there were several OSB floor joists that had mold and fungus on them, and that several of them had areas that were rotten. This was all in the area of the south wall by the first window from the kitchen. Cause of the Problem: The cause of the problem was moisture that had caused fungus to grow on the joists. And although the salt treated 2 X 12 beams were not affected, the OSB joists were affected and had begun to rot. The moisture could have come from one or more of the following sources. · The seam between the old roof of the Fellowship Hall and the new roof of the Parish Hall. · There were 8 holes in the roof above that area that were left when some ice clips were removed. There were also 6 holes in the north wall roof in the same area. (All the holes have been plugged with epoxy and then covered with “Through the Roof” vinyl adhesive.) · The ground being saturated by rainwater from the roof, since the gutter drains were clogged up causing the rainwater to back up and saturate the ground along the south wall. This was filling up the basement with water from hydro-static pressure as well as allowing water to simply flow into the basement. · The humidity in the crawl space was roughly 80%, which will allow mold and fungus to thrive, and to rot the wood. Scope of Work: In speaking with four contractors who deal with this issue, we developed the following scope of work. · Reroute the gutter downspouts to PVC pipes that will carry the water to the woods to the east of the building. · Enlarge the access ports in the basement to the crawl space. · Inspect the crawl space for any further damaged joists or beams. · Spray a mold killer throughout the entire crawl space to kill the mold and fungus. · Replace the rotten OSB floor joists with #1 Salt treated 2 x 12’s. ( There were a total of 11 joists needing replacement.) · Line the entire crawl space with 12 mil vinyl, taping all the seams, and then foaming the edges along the wall to “encapsulate” the crawl space. · Place a de-humidifier in the crawl space. · Once the work commenced, we realized that water was streaming into the basement from both sides when it rained. Therefore, the scope was modified to include trenching the interior perimeter of the basement to include a drain that channeled the water to the sump pump. It also included a covering on the walls of the basement that keep the water flowing to the drains and not onto the floor. A new sump pump with a battery back up is in place that takes the water out the back of the building to the woods. Contractor: PBS Crawl Space Specialists were chosen to do the work as their proposed scope of work was more closely aligned with the scope suggested by our Building and Grounds Committee, and they were the lowest cost. Their total cost was $19,330 but that did not include the basement. The basement addition was $6,000 bringing the total to $25,330 that has been paid in full as of July 23, 2026. The cost was covered by Reserves. Jeff Loustanau

For 10:30am Services Sunday, August 2nd Pat & Roland Anderson Sunday, August 9th Kathryn & Joey Humphreys Sunday, August 16th Susie & Jeff Loustaunau Sunday, August 23rd Bill Snider & Jack Fackler Sunday, August 30th Susan & John Hilliard

The Endowment Committee is relaunching itself with fresh ideas on upholding your end of life wishes, confirming that you have worked correctly in advance to cement your wishes and concerns for the future of the church and for the church to prosper in the years ahead. Committee members will be available at both Coffee Hour sessions on All Saints Day, 1 November 2026 to review the steps to provide for your loved ones when that final day arrives. We can acquaint you with the process of donating funds, the allocation of the funds, securing a permanent location in the church cemetery, funding future projects, tax advantages now and simply tending to the upkeep of our beautiful church over the upcoming years to come. Come join us and share your thoughts with us.

Greetings to all from your "tiny but mighty" Fellowship Committee. The "Dog Days of Summer" are upon us! You know the old joke, " What does a dog do on his day off? He can't lay around because that is his job." Well, we are hardly in a "lounging posture" as this is the time when we go into a planning frenzy for the next 4 months of the year--September through December...specifically our busiest time of the year. We want to bring young and "mature", members and visitors, church "shoppers" and curious into our fold and make them feel "good". Here is one RX we offer. 13 September: Back to school luncheon hosting seniors from MHS and Christchurch School. International foods and good ole standards can be shared. Bring a dish that puts a smile on your face. We are spotlighting our seniors in these schools who will be making weighty decisions for their lives ahead. Come share the love--a bit of music and more. 8 or 9 October: Marine Corps Run. We do not yet have the confirmed date for this "moving" event , but we promise you a beautiful spectacle as the Runners progress down the highway with banners, flags and their voices in unison making a path to Christ Church Parish. We provide interesting stories and history of Lt. General Chesty Puller at his grave-site followed by snacks and beverages for the Runners. Spirits soar and faces light up----don't miss this happy event. 10 and 11 November: These dates are confirmed! On 10 November, the entire county of Middlesex is invited to attend a special lecture evening in recognition of our nation's 250th anniversary celebration. We will cover the Alpha and Omega of the American Revolution from Ticonderoga to the Battle of the Capes (Yorktown) surrender. Also we will recognize our allies and compatriots, the nations of France and Poland, for their invaluable expertise, training and cooperation throughout the War. A lovely reception will follow so you can meet and chat with our speakers, friends and neighbors. This event is open to everyone to include spouses and family members. 11 November: This date is firm. It is the celebratory Veterans Luncheon. It is restricted to Veterans because of limited space ( 104) based on our fire code. It is a luncheon, our guest speakers and program. We will open the sign up window in October. Reservations are required. Patriotic music accompanies words of praise for our heroes! All veterans from all services are welcome!!! 16 December: Advent evening dinner and program with the spotlight on the nation of Hungary. We cook for you and share the customs and celebrations of Advent and Christmas in Hungary. More details will follow. Thank you! Bev Hart and Mary Lynn Landgraf

Dear Parishioner: It is........Celebration Time....We did it! At last year’s Stewardship Kickoff, the budget outlook for 2026 appeared challenging. Now…we are excited to tell you; your Vestry and Finance Committee has monitored expenses closely and your oh so generous pledging and contributions have made the difference, even with continuing escalating costs this year. Thank You..........Thank You............Thank You! We all pulled together and are getting it done. Together, we will continue to meet our challenges. In the past year, we have introduced new ways to serve the community. The new and expanding Children’s Program is attracting new attendees and families. The new website telling our story is continuing to develop and will soon provide easy access to all of our Ministries and activities. Next year, as you have requested; we plan to initiate a new music program that will benefit all parishioners. Do you feel it, too? We have momentum. Isn’t it exciting? Now it is time to prepare for our 2027 responsibilities. Join us for the Stewardship Kickoff Breakfast to hear the plans, share ideas, and enjoy fellowship. We will gather in the Fellowship Hall at 9:30 AM on August 30th. Please tell us you will be there by August 24th, by calling (804) 758-2006. While we are together on the 30th, we will thank you for your efforts and share our plan for sustaining our worship, strengthening our ministries, and supporting our pastoral care and outreach to the community. The expanded Music Ministry will also deepen our sense of connection, unity, and shared worship. Let us come together to build an even stronger future for our community and to celebrate this momentum. R.S.V.P Today! Prayerfully, Stewardship Committe

Every month, I look forward to sharing stories and updates from our Youth and Family Ministry. It’s inspiring to see how our community grows stronger through faith, fellowship, and fun aka"EF3" (more on that later). This month, I want to reflect on some recent events that brought our kids and families together and highlight ways everyone can get involved in the coming weeks. Whether you’re a teen looking for meaningful ways to serve or a parent hoping to support your child’s spiritual journey, there’s something here for you. Growing Godly Play We are now able to hold Sunday School twice a month. A huge thank you to Judy Quilter and Pat Anderson who answered the call to attend a half day training with me in Fredericksburg on June 30 to St. George Church to wortk with Dr. Rev. Rosemary Beales. We got a very informative primer on how to work in the Godly Play curriculum and saw first hand the kind of impact that this extension of our ministry can have on our young parishioners. We are very excited to build this program! If you are interested in learning more about Godly Play and the Sunday School curriculum, please reach out to youth@christchurchparish.com for more information. Upcoming Godly Play teacher training events will be listed below. Fine Arts Camp - Fun and Games We had a great time coordinating the games and "recess" time during the Fine Arts Camp. On Monday, we tried our hand at cornhole. It was a tough day for tossing bags as the heat was pretty brutal that day. On Tuesday, we stayed inside and did board games like checkers, Guess Who, Uno and more. Then we ramped up the excitement with a vigorous Bingo tournment! Wednesday, the boys vs. the girls for a fun kickball game. We really appreciate the kids and their upbeat attitudes during the camp. It was a lot of fun. Upcoming Events to Mark on Your Calendar Looking ahead, we have several exciting events planned that invite both kids and families to participate: Aug. 2 - Blessing of the Backpacks (Special Sermon and Prayer for Teachers and Students for the 2026-27 school year) Aug. 8 - Back 2 School Bash (Camp Piankatank) Vendor Table giving away swag to families Aug 15 - Children's Day (West Point Farmer's Market) Vendor Table giving away swag to families Godly Play & Sunday School: 1st and 3rd Sundays at 10:30am. We will join the parents during the exchange of the Peace during the service. Godly Play Teacher Training: Aug. 16, & Nov. 1 Training will consist of watching the day's lesson during the 10:30 service and then meeting to review materials, curriculum and methodology. EF3: An Evening of Faith, Fun and Fellowship We are going to begin hosting a series of events to encourage middle and high school students to share one Saturday a month with us during the school year. These events will include a trivia night, a blessing of the athletes, nature walks and more. A schedule will be posted to this page in the coming weeks. Stay tuned. Each event offers a unique way to grow in faith and connect with others. I encourage parents to bring their kids and teens to these gatherings. They are designed to be fun and meaningful, creating memories while strengthening our community bonds. Ways to Serve the Church One of the most rewarding aspects of our ministry is seeing young people and their families serve side by side. Here are some practical ways you can get involved: Here is a list of opportunities for you to serve: Serving in the Nursery (available each Sunday during 10:30 services) Sunday School/Godly Play Instructor Serving as acolyte and/or crucifer (during the 10:30 services) Singing in the choir (during the 10:30 services) Learning to become Eucharist Minister - the person assisting Randi during communion (during the 10:30 services) Rhythms of Grace Camp - June 2027 Fine Arts Camp - June 2027 Creation Care Garden (Reach out to Allison Holt for more information - alyson.costnerholt@richmond.edu) Various Ministry Service Breakfast/Dinner Volunteer (various dates and hours - see the calendar for events) Diocese Youth Delegation in 2027 Coordinating and working with a grounds crew to clean the cemetery and landscaping of church and hall There are many ways to serve the church and its parishioners other than what is listed here. If you have other ideas, I'd love to hear them. Serving together not only benefits others but also deepens your family’s faith and connection. It teaches kids the value of giving and shows them how faith comes alive through action. Faith grows best in community, and our Youth and Family Ministry is a place where kids and parents can explore, serve, and celebrate together. I hope you’ll join us at the next event and discover the joy of building connections that last.

"For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me." Matthew 25:35-40 Dear Sisters and Brothers, Our 6th Annual Fine Arts Camp went very well. We had a magnificent group of students, probably the best we ever had. Thank you to all of our dedicated volunteers and those who made donations. YOU made this happen! One especially awesome part of camp was the decision of one camper, Eden Ginsberg, to be baptized. This special celebration happened on July 26th. We are already starting to plan for Fine Arts Camp 2027. There is another ministry with which we REALLY need your help Do you knit or crochet? We would like to revive our Prayer Shawl Ministry. These creations mean so much to those who receive them. They will be blessed by Rev Randi and then taken to those who are ill, shut-ins, those with new babies, and those celebrating other events in their lives. These shawls are a reminder as to how much the Christ Church community loves them and cares about them. This is a ministry you can do from home. No meetings or deadlines! Please let me know if you wish to be a part of this ministry so we can keep a list and hold all creators in prayer. ** Another way you can help is by donating yarn or other supplies. These could be items you have but no longer need or by purchasing items when you see a good sale. We will distribute these items to those creating the shawls. ** Did you read some good books this summer? It’s time for another book drive. Middlesex Department of Social Services keeps books to distribute to their clients who may be unable to purchase books. This ministry helps in a few ways: · You get to clean out books you no longer need to make room for NEW BOOKS · You help promote literacy in our community. · We show our community that Christ Church Parish cares about them. Please let me know how you can help with these ministries. deacon@christchurchparish.com or 804-869-3867, or when you see me We are each expected to care for others. Christ calls us to do so. These ministries and others help us show His love to others. ALL others. Where are YOU called to serve? Pray for answers to this question. It will be different for each of us. Thank you, Peg+

Christ Church Parish and the Episcopal Church Women are about to embark on a new community service program in concert with Bay Aging. Beginning on September 17th from 1:30 until 3pm we are opening our doors to caregivers for loved ones experiencing cognitive challenges. This program offers a judgement free setting for caregivers to share their journey with others and learn of resources that Bay Aging offers to support their needs. This program is called Memory Cafe and allows caregivers and their loved ones an opportunity to learn, establish friendships and acceptance. Memory Cafes are already established in Mathews, Gloucester, Warsaw, Kilmarnock, and Tappahannock. This will be the first Memory Café in Middlesex County. These are recurring meetings and are free of charge to all participants. Light refreshments are served. The Memory Café at Christ Church will be on the third Thursday of every month from 1:30 until 3 pm. If you are willing to volunteer to sit in on these meetings or want further information, please contact Ann Padgett at padgett@va.metrocast.net

Hello and welcome to August! I hope everyone’s summer is going well and possibly getting out on the water or headed to the mountains for cooler air! I would be remiss if I didn’t share some of the great volunteer work that has gone on this past month. First, I want to thank Jeff McClelland for his six years as the Newsletter Editor. His consistent performance month after month meant so much for our parish and communicating all that is going on. Thank you for all that you do Chef Jeff. Second, thank you to our Jr. Warden, Jeff Loustaunau. He tackled what we thought would be a small repair that turned out to be huge in the Parish Hall, and got it done in record time! Way to go Plain Jeff! - Music and Youth Ministries on the Move If you have wandered to the far end of the Parish Hall, you have noticed that there has been a huge transformation between the two classrooms. The Choir Room has flipped with the Youth Classroom. As our youth ministry grows, we need to have the youth classroom closer to the Nursery for restroom purposes and trained supervision. With the leadership of Ann DePeyster and the Choir, they were able to clean out the choir room as it had become the “gathering place” for many items, many of which were not related to music! - Christ Church Painting – 1900 A week ago, the Reverend Scott Krejci donated a beautiful painting of Christ Church Parish. The painting was created around 1900 and depicts the church at that time. Apparently, this painting hung at Rosegill for some time. The artist is unknown, but it is a wonderful opportunity to see what our Parish looked like at the turn of the 20th Century. Thank you, Scott, for your wonderful gift. We will view it for many years to come! There are many other projects occurring in and around the church so please read on and learn about all that’s happening. Finally, Kathy and I will be on the road for a bit, and I will not be submitting any articles for September and October, but you will be in good hands with Reverends Randi and Peg and your Vestry Members to help you each and every day. Yours in Christ, Tom Clarke, Senior Warden

The Outreach Ministry held its monthly meeting on July 8. We welcome our newest member, Barb Fasig. We are excited to have Barb join our team. Current members of Outreach are: · DeLois Greene and Pam McClelland (co-chairs) · Lindsay Adkins · Kathy Clarke · Tom Clarke · Ann DePeyster · Allison Ellwanger · Barb Fasig · Alyson Holt · Susie Loustaunau · Peg Moncure · Judy Quilter All are invited to attend our monthly meetings that are held on the second Wednesday of the month at 10:15am (right after the Wednesday Eucharist). Our annual school supplies collection will end on August 13 since school begins the following week. We are grateful to all who have helped us meet the needs of seven students (grades 1-12) who were recommended to us by the Department of Social Services. July was a busy month for the Creation Care Garden. We began harvesting 2 or 3 times a week due to the sunshine and the intermittent rain! We are so thankful for the garden's bounty. During the week of July 13th, we delivered a record 65 pounds of produce to the Cryer Center. In addition, available produce was shared with parishioners on Sundays during our coffee hours. We look forward to sharing more as our veggies grow. Many thanks to those that support our garden. Please join us at the “One Community Under God” service at 11:00am on October 4 at the Urbanna Fire Station. Our church is always well represented at this wonderful service that provides all members of our community the opportunity to worship together. This year, Deacon Peg will represent our clergy at this very special service. Outreach will help to provide lunches, as always. Our next meeting will be on Wednesday, September 9 at 10:15am Join us!

When I was in business school, we played a marketing simulation game. In the game, each team was a company introducing a new product. We set pricing and budgeted for promoting, further developing the product, and distributing it. Through the game, I learned the importance of devoting as many resources as possible – even to the point of taking substantial risk – in the very early stages of launch. The teams that invested heavily in product development and promotion did the best in the game because their products quickly gained market share and became profitable. My team spent conservatively and our product ultimately failed, never becoming part of the company’s permanent product portfolio. Our church has begun a youth and children’s program because we want young people to become part of our congregation over the long term. In a way, this program is a new product, and its creation shares some characteristics with a business product launch. We must develop a good product and promote it and our company (the church) effectively to a new audience to succeed in attracting and keeping young families as part of our permanent “portfolio.” As we all know, the Sanders Fund Board, with consent of the Sanders family, has committed to funding the salaries for Mike and Rev. Joie and some dedicated activities for the youth and children’s program for five years. We have been about one year into that program. The money is a wonderful blessing and funds much for the development of this program. This gift puts us in an excellent position to be successful. One way we differ from a business, however, is that most of the labor required for any of our programs (products) is volunteer. The more we grow, the more we’ll need volunteer help because we will need fun and educational activities for ages infant through 18. These activities will require more than roughly the equivalent of one-half time position. We also may need specific activities aimed at the needs of parents of these young people. Volunteer help can be coordinated by paid staff, but, ultimately, the quality of the services provided over the long term will depend upon the number and quality of volunteers who are called to work with children and youth. Another way a church differs from a business is that we are a community. Our greatest strength here at Christ Church is that community. We are all formed more fully into the body of Christ through this community – education, activities, and, even, worship cannot form disciples without a strong community that fully integrates all ages. As we grow this program, we’ll need to include children, young people, and their parents in every group and activity in the church. Sometimes that means we may have to adjust the hours we meet or the way we communicate. We may need to add some projects or activities that younger generations are passionate about, while still retaining and sometimes adding projects and activities that are meaningful to the rest of us who are older. We neglect no one as we move forward on this journey. A church, like a business, must invest in its new “products” and “programs” heavily in the first few years. That investment includes program development, promotion, and labor. In the case of a church, however, most of that labor is volunteers. A church also is defined by the strength of its community, and, to be successful, we will find meaningful ways to include children, youth, and families in all the ministries of the church – music, outreach, fellowship, technology, ECW, Brotherhood, etc. In short, attracting and retaining children and families depends on all of us. Most of all, it depends on you. Randi+

August 2026 Saturday, August 1, 2026 School Supplies Collection Begins 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, August 2, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM Godly Play 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Tuesday, August 4, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Wednesday, August 5, 2026 WMC Eucharist 11:00 a.m. 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Location: WMC Thursday, August 6, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, August 9, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Brotherhood 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Tuesday, August 11, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Wednesday, August 12, 2026 Eucharist 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Location: Parish Hall Chapel Out reach 10:15 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Vestry Room Thursday, August 13, 2026 School Supplies Due 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Saturday, August 15, 2026 Children's Day - West Point 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, August 16, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Daughters of the King 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Godly Play 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Godly Play Training Session 10:20-12:30) 12:30 PM - 1:00 PM Monday, August 17, 2026 finance Meeting - 9:30 a.m. 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Library Tuesday, August 18, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Vestry 4:00 p.m. 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Wednesday, August 19, 2026 Ministry Chair Persons Meeting 10:30AM 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Thursday, August 20, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, August 23, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Tuesday, August 25, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Thursday, August 27, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Saturday, August 29, 2026 Set Up for Breakfast 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, August 30, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Stewardship Kick Off Breakfast 9:00 a.m. 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Click the arrow to open all of the month's events September 2026 Tuesday, September 1, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Wednesday, September 2, 2026 WMC Eucharist 11:00 a.m. 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Location: WMC Thursday, September 3, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, September 6, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Godly Play 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Tuesday, September 8, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Wednesday, September 9, 2026 Eucharist 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM Location: Parish Hall Chapel Out reach 10:15 10:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Vestry Room Thursday, September 10, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Sunday, September 13, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM International Back to School Lunch for CCS and MHS Seniors 11:30 AM - 1:00 PM Location: Parish Hall Brother hood 9:00 a.m. 12:00 PM - 12:30 PM Tuesday, September 15, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Vestry 4:00 p.m. 4:00 PM - 5:30 PM Location: vestry room Wednesday, September 16, 2026 Ministry Chair Persons Meeting 10:30AM 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Thursday, September 17, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Memory Cafe 1:30-3:00 :30 PM - 3:00 PM Saturday, September 19, 2026 Fun, Faith, Fellowship @ CCS 11:00 AM - 11:30 AM Location: CCS Sunday, September 20, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Daughters of the King 9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Godly Play 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM Monday, September 21, 2026 Finance Meeting - 9:30 a.m. 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Location: Library Tuesday, September 22, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Thursday, September 24, 2026 Bible Study 10:30 a.m. 10:30 AM - 11:00 AM Fellowship Hall AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM Saturday, September 26, 2026 Tentative AA Conference 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM Location: Parish Hall/ Kitchen Wings, Wheels, and Keels 8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Sunday, September 27, 2026 Service / Coffee Hours after 8:00AM & 10:30AM 8:00 AM - 12:00 PM Monday, September 28, 2026 Gathers 11:00 AM - 12:30 PM Location: Vestry Room Tuesday, September 29, 2026 AA Meetings 11:00 AM 11:00 AM - 1:30 PM

CE Every month brings new reasons to celebrate within our church community. This month, we take joy in honoring the birthdays and anniversaries of our parishioners. These milestones remind us of the blessings of life and love that enrich our shared faith journey. Recognizing these special days strengthens our bonds and encourages us to support one another with kindness and gratitude. Birthdays Jack Fackler 1-Aug Betsy Evans 2-Aug Jean Hill 2-Aug Henry Moncure 2-Aug Merri Hanson 5-Aug Delois Greenwood 7-Aug Linda Irwin 11-Aug Kelly Pollok 12-Aug Ginger Hellems 13-Aug Bryan Saddler 16-Aug Barbara Cockrell 18-Aug John Hilliard 20-Aug Roseanne Moncure 21-Aug Clayton Neal 22-Aug Jack Hellems 23-Aug Jane Bunnell 25-Aug Jamie Barnhardt 27-Aug Steve Gahan 29-Aug Patty Lamb 29-Aug Andrew Wilton 30-Aug Anniversaries Bill & Sue Newman 3-Aug John & Judy Quilter 8-Aug Don & Ann Harris 9-Aug Arthur & Evie Wilton 17-Aug Andrew & Ellie Wilton 26-Aug Byron & Linda Parker 28-Aug Bill & Judi Snider 30-Aug

Although Christchurch School is a separate entity from Christ Church Parish, there will always be ties that bind us. Ties and interactions that are often in the background but quietly supporting. This page will bring some of that interaction to the foreground allowing us to appreciate what we give to each other. Putting together goody bags to let Christchurch School students know we're thinking about them. Handing out the goody bags during exam week. Christ Church Parish fans cheering on the Seahorse soccer team. Christchurch School art students, under the guidance of teacher, Sarah McCormick, painted these moving Stations of the Cross for display in our Parish Hall. Their amazing talent captures the heartbreak of every step of Holy Week. Click on each painting to see the entire canvas and the student artist. CCS Stations of the Cross Program 2026 From the miracle of the Risen Lord to sharing community joy. Some Christchurch School students volunteered to serve at our Brotherhood's Dinner Dance in April and jumped in to lead a fun Conga Line! Christ Church School senior, Davis "Dig" Miller, shared his talents at Christ Church Parish's Spring Fling Music Fest in May, 2026. Dig won the school's Performing Arts Prize in Music and will be continuing his music at Belmont Music School in Nashville.

At the community Dinner Dance sponsored by our Brotherhood, April 2026. Christchurch School sudents volunteered as waitstaff, then spontaneously led a fun Conga Line. Christ Church parishioners know how to share joy and have fun, and inviting friends from the community makes it even better! A picture's worth a thousand words, so we'll explain Fun With Friends mainly with photos. Community Dinner Dance - 2026 Sponsored by Men's Brotherhood Annual Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper By our Brotherhood Creation Care Garden Party By Creation Care Garden Team Ladies Luncheon, Fashion Show & Game Day - 2026 Sponsored by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) Spring Fling Music Fest - May 2026 Sponsored by the Fellowship Committee

...Through all the stages of your life. You can count on us to be your church family. From your birth date to the departure date on your grave stone, God and his workers are here to love and support you throughout your "dash". Holy matrimony: the blessing and joining of two hearts. Holy Baptism: the promise to grow into the full stature of Christ. Children's nursery every Sunday during the 10:30 service, including Godly Play curriculum the 2nd Sunday of each month for Pre-K through 5th Grade. Weekly worship and Holy Eucharist. Support at every age. Loving Jesus and each other. Our Cub Scout Troop gets kids started on the right foot. Boy Scout Troop 341 Our Free Summer Fine Arts Camp for middle school students. Fine Arts Camp And our fun Robotics Camp, also for middle school students. Robotics Camp Scholarships for members, and those affiliated with the Parish, up to age 21. May be used for, but not limited to religious, elementary, secondary, undergraduate, special, technical, vocational, and professional. Elizabeth B. Sanders Educational Scholarship Fund Goody bags for Christchurch School students during exams. Although Christchurch School and Christ Church Parish are separate entities, we will always have ties that bind. See some of our interactions in The Christchurch School Connection. Our accomplished Eagle Scouts Boy Scout Troop 341 Christian instruction and forums for adults. Parties and dances and Fun With Friends . We're here for Middlesex veterans. Veterans Luncheon We're still here for you. End of Life Planning - A Gift for Those You Love We're Here for You and Our Wider Community.

Godly Play instructors are specially certified to lead this ministry and implement its curriculum. Nurturing Little Souls: Christ Church Parish Embraces Godly Play  Something wonderful is happening in our Sunday School on the second Sunday of each month. The children of our parish— from our youngest pre-K learners all the way through fifth grade — are gathering in a special way: not just to hear stories about faith, but to enter them. We are excited to share that Christ Church has begun offering Godly Play as part of our children's ministry, and we believe it will be a transformative addition to how we nurture the spiritual lives of our youngest parishioners.  What Is Godly Play?   Godly Play is a curriculum of spiritual practice that explores the mystery of God's presence in our lives. In practical terms, Godly Play is a creative, imaginative approach to Christian formation and spiritual guidance. Rather than a traditional classroom model where children passively receive information, Godly Play is rooted in a Montessori lesson building curriculum which values process, discovery, and relationships — nurturing participants through wondering and play.   Rev Joie invites little ones to be imaginitive, to become a part of the story, and to be curious and creative. Each session follows the same rhythm where Rev. Joie presents a lesson using handcrafted materials. The use of these materials invites children into the story rather than simply telling them. After the presentation, children “wonder aloud” — by asking questions, reflecting, and exploring what the story means to them personally. They then respond creatively through art, building, or other hands-on activities. This approach allows kids to make relevant and personal meaning to the story and their faith.   Why Godly Play for Our Children?   The children of our church have a natural capacity for wonder. They ask big questions about life, about loss, about God, often before adults feel ready to answer them. Godly Play meets children in that space of holy curiosity. Instead of simply memorizing biblical facts, they are learning how   to be in relationship with God — how to wonder, how to pray, how to listen. Together in the circle, children learn from one another as much as from the lesson itself.  After each lesson, parents can expect their children to have encountered a biblical story, engaged in a time of wondering, and expressed their response through creative work — whether that's drawing, painting, building, or quiet reflection.   An Invitation to the Whole Parish   Godly Play gives our youngest parishioners a language and a space to explore that truth for themselves. We invite the entire Christ Church community to encourage the children in your lives to participate, and to celebrate the work of nurturing faith in the future of our church.