Pantoum

by Rev. Darren Steadman

Warm greetings Christ Church! It is such a pleasure walking the Christian journey with you all, and I want to thank you for creating such a loving community here. I am grateful to have been able to preach this Sunday, and want to share with you the poem I felt called to write based on Psalm 19. My continued prayer for us is that God's peace may be found in our holy scriptures, whenever we need it.

Blessings to all,
Rev. Darren

Stanza 1
My LORD, my rock and my hope
The beauty of your world leaves me speechless, but it's only a whisper of your full glory
Your light shines on all people, and you warm every heart
By the heat of your Love, all hearts are opened, all around the world

Stanza 2
The beauty of your world leaves me speechless, but it's only a whisper of your full glory
The letters of your law safely embrace me, and I live to fulfill your commandments
By the heat of your Love, all hearts are opened, all around the world
I will follow you; I will speak your holy name; and the words will be sweet on my tongue

Stanza 3
The letters of your law safely embrace me, and I live to fulfill your commandments
Even in the cold seasons and dark nights that punctuate the story of my life,
I will follow you; I will speak your holy name; and the words will be sweet on my tongue
I pray that my words and my thoughts are acceptable in your sight

Stanza 4
Even in the cold seasons and dark nights that punctuate the story of my life,
Your light shines on all people, and you warm every heart
I pray that my words and my thoughts are acceptable in your sight
My LORD, my rock and my hope
-

Click here for Darren's sermon.
Click here to learn about Pantoum.
Click here to read Psalm 19.

You are Here

At Christ Church, we seek to be the heart and hands of Jesus by aligning our passions and strengths with organizations that work to meet the needs of our neighbors, both locally and internationally. Throughout the Bible, we learn that God wants us to work for justice, especially for the vulnerable. Justice and mercy are core values of what we strive to do in our service through Missions and Outreach.

Through your service, your gifts, and your prayers, we go into the world, as God has called us to do, to serve others in Jesus' name.



The organizations we support include our four priorities of ending hunger, providing shelter, enhancing educational outcomes, and ensuring access to health care. Providing relief to the suffering is part of what we do, while also seeking opportunities for systemic, transformative change.

The organizations CCE supported in 2018 include: 

Feedmore and Shalom Farms: feeding programs for all age groups, cultivating healthy food and teaching food preparation as alternatives with the goal of ending hunger.

CARITAS and Richmond Habitat for Humanity: providing shelter and restoring dignity through short term housing and healing programs and safe affordable permanent housing.

A clinic in Haiti and Crossover Medical Ministries: ensuring access to healthcare to those who have no place else to turn.

St. Marc’s in Haiti and Hope and Resurrection School in South Sudan; George Mason Elementary School and Anna Julia Cooper School and Communities in Schools, Richmond: enhancing educational outcomes.

Episcopal Relief and Development, Re Establish Richmond (connecting resources for refugees in Richmond area) and Sophie House.

To learn more or get more involved, please attend the open Missions & Outreach Network meeting on Wednesday, February 13 at 6:30 PM in the Library. All are welcome! Contact Rev. Richard Pelkey with any questions.