Empowering Teens & Parents

BY ADAM WILLIAMS

Last night, Christ Church’s Youth Ministry hosted seminars for parents and teens regarding teen mental health awareness. Speakers from the Cameron K. Gallagher Foundation spoke to over 40 parents/adults and 30 students about the need to identify signs of depression in our teens, as well as explored tools for developing healthy and positive coping mechanisms for moments of stress and anxiety. This marks our second successful event with the Foundation, making it clear that the desire for prioritizing our mental health is strong among our community. Thank you to all who came and took part in this important conversation! 

Parents learn how to recognize signs of depression in teens.

Teens develop skills for coping with stress and anxiety.

 More info about the Cameron K. Gallagher foundation.

Even at the grave, we make our song

By Rev. Darren Steadman

Thursday January 31, a call came in from a parishioner.

“I’m sitting here with some lovely new friends, and unfortunately there has been a tragic death in their family. A man, only 48 years old, passed away a few days ago and his family is here to make the final arrangements. They could really use some pastoral support, and they may need a place to have the funeral. Oh, and they have just arrived from England. Can you help?”

I took a few seconds to fully comprehend this complex situation, and even less time to realize my response.

“Of course, I’d love to help.”

I met the family that Thursday, only a little more than a week ago, and they were “shattered,” the word used by the mother of the man who had passed on. They had to arrange an emergency passport for one of the kids by driving all over England, just after hearing the horrific news that their uncle/brother/son had passed away suddenly in the States. Then, the red-eye flight. Then, arriving at his empty apartment to begin settling his affairs. Exhaustion and sorrow were both deeply present.

Thank God for the good neighbors, who met this family, and eventually connected to us at Christ Church Episcopal, only a mile down the road. Thank you Jesus, for the network of souls and relationships that was strong enough to join this poor, suffering family, and the local priest. A priest in the Anglican (English) tradition, nonetheless. 

From there, the miracles of healing began to shine through the darkness. We talked and cried. I met the beautiful middle-school-aged children, a niece, a nephew and a son. They identified songs and readings for a funeral service. We met with the funeral home.

Then Tuesday February 5th, the day of the funeral arrived. The hearse arrived in our parking lot, and soon after, the family. Then guests, a few CCE lay ministers, and refreshments. The casket was covered by a white funeral pall, symbolizing the thin layer of holiness that separates the earthly world from the divine.

The service began, and after the readings from holy scripture, several friends stood to speak. They spoke with both joy and deep pain about the goodness of their friend. I looked around our worship space with new eyes, at several dozens of people who I had never met, who came seeking God in this time of great loss. Our sanctuary was bright and unseasonably warm, which perfectly and poignantly matched the spirit of resurrection that filled the room.

So, thank you, Christ Church, for opening your doors to a neighbor in great need. Our beautiful campus hosted a congregation that had been cut by the deepest sorrows imaginable. We were able to respond with open doors, open arms, and the message of hope in the resurrection power of Jesus Christ. With immense joy, I was able to speak one of the most beautiful lines of prayer in our Book of Common Prayer: “All of us go down to the dust; yet even at the grave we make our song: Alleluia, alleluia, alleluia!” The flowers from the service were given to us by the family as a token of their gratefulness, and will remain in the milling area this weekend.

Thank you for making all of this possible, Christ Church Episcopal. Our worship space was indeed a sanctuary, and the house of God.

In the spirit of our Lord Jesus Christ,
Rev. Darren Steadman

P.S. For further reading, I recommend BCP p.507, which is a note about our Burial rite. Just before I escorted the family from the parlor into the sanctuary to begin the service, I read to them this note which begins with “The liturgy for the dead is an Easter liturgy. It finds all meaning in the resurrection …”

Entertaining Angels

By Rev. Richard Pelkey

“Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”. – Hebrews 13:2

Thank you to all who supported the CARITAS family week of January 19-26. While it was a joy to share this week with our brothers and sisters from Shady Grove United Methodist Church and the West End Islamic Center, you, the members of Christ Church Episcopal stepped up in big ways to share your gifts of love and hospitality to homeless families in Richmond. Many of you volunteered your time with hosting meals, cleaning up from dinner, doing laundry, staying overnight with our guests, and playing with children, to name a few. Many of you also shared your gifts of treasure to meet this previously unexpected opportunity to serve. A total of $1875 was donated for the week. Thank you! Of that amount, $985 was used to meet the week’s expenses. The balance of $890 will go a long way to help us when we host CARITAS again in November. There will be more opportunities to volunteer and give in November, when we will be taking the lead in hosting that week.

Again, thank you all for sharing your gifts of time, talent, and treasure, in living out the Gospel imperative to care for those in need.

With God’s blessings,
The Rev. Richard Pelkey

Youth Choir Trip 2019: Famous in my Father's Eyes

Andrea Macgill shares her witness as a volunteer chaperone on the recent Youth Choir Trip:

"The congregation of St. John's Episcopal in West Point, Virginia, led by our former assistant rector, Barbara Marques, welcomed our youth choir this past weekend. Two of the youth singers at St. John's joined our kids in leading worship Sunday morning. The parishioners were so kind and incredibly grateful to the kids, saying they could feel the presence of the Holy Spirit Sunday morning.

The kids got to experience much more than just singing in church, though. One of the parishioners is a French-horn-maker with his own shop in town, and he gave the kids a hands-on demonstration of his craft that he has honed for many decades. It was fascinating to learn how these beautiful instruments are made! Later in the day, we visited the Mattaponi Indian Reservation – specifically the food bank, which is a part of Feed More. Sharon, a member of the Mattaponi tribe, welcomed us with a song in the native language and then shared her gift of story-telling as we helped her to stock the shelves in the food bank. Saturday night we all stayed at a beautiful home on the York River, which was so graciously lent to us by two members of St. John's. After lunch Sunday, we made a side trip to Colonial Williamsburg and enjoyed the beautiful sunny afternoon before heading back to Christ Church."

Keith Tan, Minister of Music, shares:

"The people who came to worship at St John’s that morning were awestruck; one remarked how she sensed the Holy Spirit through their singing; all gave thanks to God! They bore great witness to Christ, and to the ministry of Christ Church. Thank you for your support and prayers!"

Click through below for a few photos!

"I don't need my name in lights
I'm famous in my Father's eyes
Make no mistake
He knows my name
I'm not living for applause
I'm already so adored
It's all His stage
He knows my name."
- © 2014 Word Music, LLC, Francesca Music (ASCAP)

Photos by John Snuggs