Welcome to Christ Episcopal Church

It’s the doldrums of summer. Hot, humid, and a great time for vacations! I’m hoping you’re finding time for rest and relaxation. Although most of our programming has paused for the summer months, we have some projects happening here at Christ Church, and I wanted to update you on several of them.

We’re making progress on our heating system issues, and we’re so blessed to have Shawn Blaney donating his time and expertise to help us navigate this. Shawn has identified several issues with the current system. Our system uses copper boilers, which are less durable and more difficult to maintain than cast iron boilers. Two of our three boilers are inoperative and need repair or (more likely) replacement. And the current piping system is inefficiently designed, causing the boilers to stop for short periods of time and then restart (known as “short-cycling”), which is causing unnecessary wear on the equipment. At our June Vestry meeting, Shawn recommended that we reconfigure the piping to eliminate the short-cycling issue and replace the current system with four cast iron boilers. While remaining with the current system would be the least expensive option the Vestry believes Shawn’s recommended plan provides the most cost-effective solution over the long term, and so we are in the process of requesting bids for a four cast-iron boiler system. We expect this new and improved system will be in place by the end of October, in time for the heating season.

We have also made progress on our roof project. As a reminder, the hailstorms we experienced in April caused damage to our roof. The diocese has made technical resources available, and we are working with them to pursue an insurance claim. Our insurer has approved repair to the damaged portions of our asphalt roof, our gutters, and window screens. We are continuing to work with them to determine how to handle the slate portion of the roof. We will continue to keep the parish updated.

Finally, our task force to make recommendations on enhancing our ministry with youth, young adults, and young families has begun its work. The first step in developing a plan is to learn more about youth, young adults, and young families – especially their hopes, dreams and needs – spiritual and otherwise. Task force members will be spending time carefully listening to people in these groups, and to people who serve them, to gather information and perspective. We trust that the Holy Spirit will guide our conversations and our discernment as we try to determine how best to serve these groups and pass along the Good News of Jesus to our neighbors in relevant and meaningful ways. I’m grateful for the faithfulness each of these groups is showing. Please join me in praying both for the success of their efforts – and that these groups will be open to hearing the voice of the Spirit as She calls us into deeper discipleship.

Thank you for sharing your worship with us. 

May the peace of God fill your heart and mind, and the Blessing of God Almighty—the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit—be with you, and remain with you, always.