Dear People of Christ Church,
Keep alert, stand firm in your faith, be courageous, be strong. Let all that you do be done in love.
- I Corinthians 16:13-14
The apostle Paul wrote these words to a troubled community, and his charge remains relevant and compelling. For now, more than any other time in Christ Church’s 75 years, we understand and experience that our Church is not a building. Our people are the Church, or the “living stones” (1 Peter 2:5), where faith and love and hope are embodied and shared and built up.
We realize this is a time where fear, worry, disappointment, and despair threaten to absorb and exhaust us. Your vestry, clergy, and staff want to help us all be the Church wherever we are, and to provide worship, education, spiritual practices, wellness resources, and comfort for a deepened sense of connection and hope. We also want to hold up faith that new and unimagined encounters of divine grace will rise up to strengthen and renew you and those you love. You are not alone. We are the church together.
We will offer worship via the internet on Sundays at 8:45 AM, and a Faith Forum or class at 10:00 AM. You can participate in real time through our
live broadcast
, or at a later time more convenient to you via the recording
on our website
. Beginning tomorrow (Wednesday), we will offer a mid-week meditative service with prayer and music, accessed through the website. We will share information about that as soon as we finalize the details.
Right now we are working to empower staff and commissions to reach out and connect to our church community. If you have an emergency need, please call the church at 704-333-0378. If you feel called to serve others, please visit
www.christchurchcharlo
tte.org/outreach
for information from our community partners.
The first documents of Christian scripture were letters – letters written to encourage faith, hope, and love. Likewise, we will remain in touch, in prayer, and in faithful communion with one another.
On this St. Patrick’s day, we close with a blessing attributed to him:
“May the strength of God pilot us, may the wisdom of God instruct us, may the hand of God protect us, may the word of God direct us. Be always ours this day and for evermore.”
Faithfully yours,
The Vestry, Staff and Clergy of Christ Church
I hereby command you: Be strong and courageous; do not be frightened or dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.
- Joshua 1:9
We see it taking shape day after day—a holy temple built by God, all of us built into it, a temple in which God is quite at home.
- Ephesians 2:22
Be strong, and let your heart take courage, all you who wait for the LORD.
- Psalm 31:24
But immediately Jesus spoke to them and said, “Take heart, it is I; do not be afraid.” 51 Then he got into the boat with them and the wind ceased. And they were utterly astounded.
- Mark 6:50-51
Therefore prepare your minds for action; discipline yourselves; set all your hope on the grace that Jesus Christ will bring you when he is revealed.
- 1 Peter 1:13
Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.
- Romans 12:9-13
The coastlands have seen and are afraid, the ends of the earth tremble; they have drawn near and come. Each one helps the other, saying to one another, “Take courage!” The artisan encourages the goldsmith, and the one who smooths with the hammer encourages the one who strikes the anvil, saying of the soldering, “It is good”; and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
- Isaiah 41:5-7
