CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH

Transcription

1 CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH Bay St. Louis, MS DECEMBER 2015 CHRIST EPISCOPAL CHURCH 912 South Beach Blvd, Bay St. Louis, MS 39520

2 1 The Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi Christ Church is one of 85 congregations which comprise the Episcopal Diocese of Mississippi. The diocese, which includes the entire state, is headquartered in the capital city of Jackson and is led by the Right Reverend Brian R. Seage, X Bishop of Mississippi. The diocese is part of Provence IV of the Episcopal Church and is one of the owning dioceses of the University of the South in Sewanee, Tennessee. The Diocese of Mississippi and its rich mixture of urban, suburban, town and rural congregations embraces all styles of worship and churchmanship, from Anglo- Catholic to Evangelical. It has a history of being a moderate but progressive voice in the life of the Episcopal Church. Many people describe the heart of the diocese as being the Duncan M. Gray Camp and Conference Center, 30 miles north of Jackson and named for the fifth Bishop of Mississippi. Central to the center s ministry is Camp Bratton-Green, which each summer hosts hundreds of young people to six sessions of camp, and scores of specialneeds adults for two sessions of their own unique camps. Generations of Episcopalians have enjoyed Camp Bratton-Green, and many clergy have emerged from its ranks. A Brief History of Christ Church Christ Church, situated among live oak trees overlooking the Gulf of Mexico in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, is the physical manifestation of the untiring efforts and devotion of Episcopalians over the past 126 years. Through the efforts of a very determined woman, Hettie Crowell, and the help of a few other Episcopalians, Christ Church was established in The first services were held in the Crowell home on North Beach Boulevard. In 1890, the cornerstone for a new building was laid at the corner of North Beach Boulevard and Boardman Avenue. In 1901, Christ Church was admitted to the diocese as a mission. The church building was physically

3 2 moved in 1904 to the corner of North Beach Boulevard and Carroll Avenue; there it was consecrated on July 8, A new era began in 1948 with the arrival of the Rev. Charles R. Johnson as the priest in charge of the mission. Two years later, with 134 registered communicants, Christ Church was granted parish status. Also in 1950, the rector established Christ Episcopal Day School. The next year the church purchased a seven-and-a-half acre property at 912 South Beach Boulevard for a church-school complex. Today the school continues to offer academic excellence as Coast Episcopal School and is now located in nearby Pass Christian. The school offers a toddler program, a three-year old class and kindergarten through the sixth grade. While the church continues to have a supportive relationship with the school, it no longer has any management or financial responsibility. On August 19, 1969, Hurricane Camille struck the Mississippi Gulf Coast destroying much in its path including Christ Church. The buildings at the day school survived unharmed, and for the next 20 months the congregation met there for services, using a portable altar and organ. A new Christ Church rose on the grounds at 912 South Beach, and was dedicated to the glory of God by Bishop John Allin on April 18, A rectory and curate s house were also built. The former 1890 cornerstone was cemented into the pavement under a newly constructed bell tower, where the surviving bell hung. The last service in this church building was held on Sunday, August 28, Hurricane Katrina struck the next day destroying all of the church buildings, including the original day school, on the property at 912 South Beach. All that remained was the bell tower containing the bell of the original Christ Church.

4 3 In spite of the total devastation at the church and in the community, on the first Sunday following the storm, seventeen parishioners gathered for worship and communion on the church slab. After several months of services on the slab and later under a tent in the parking lot, a metal Quonset hut was constructed on the original church slab. This hut was built through the generosity of several Episcopal Churches in the southeast. On the tenth anniversary of the storm, a memorial service was again held on the original church slab (pictured above). Services continued in the hut until May of 2010 when the construction of the present Christ Church, and the second at the 912 South Beach location, was completed. The new church was dedicated on May 30, 2010, to the glory of God by Bishop Duncan M. Gray, III, IX Bishop of Mississippi. In its 126 years history, Christ Church has had but three full-time rectors; the three of them serving a total of 60 years. Interim and supply priests have been appointed and/or served as the situation required. In spite of two major storms and several minor ones, the live oaks still thrive and the Gulf view remains breathtaking providing a perfect place for Christ Church to continue its rich and textured history.

5 4 Bay St. Louis Waveland Area Christ Church draws its members from a number of coastal communities but primarily from the close towns of Bay St. Louis and Waveland. Both are charming towns situated near where the waters of the Bay of St. Louis meet the Gulf of Mexico. It is here that the new world explorer Pierre LeMoyne Sieur d Iberville in 1699 first claimed the area for France. Both towns contain a number of small shops, boutiques, antique stores, art galleries, restaurants and cafes. Bay St. Louis recently completed construction of a picturesque new harbor at the head of its Old Town center providing long and short term slips for all sizes of recreational boats. Waveland recently completed a major renovation of its beloved and much used fishing pier. Other recreational opportunities include youth sports, sailing, canoeing, golf, camping and both fresh and salt-water fishing. Bay St. Louis and Waveland share a common boundary and together account for a large percentage of Hancock County s population. The combined population total as of 2014 was 17,807. Both towns, as well as the county, have fine public and private school systems teaching a wide variety of academic and industrial skills. Higher education opportunities are available through universities and community colleges in nearby communities. The economy of the area, in spite of Katrina, is strengthening and is recognized as one of the highest per capita income areas of the state.

6 5 Various industries locate near the John C. Stennis Space Center, the NASA rocket engine test facility and also a federal city of resident offices, headquarters and laboratories for more than 30 organizations, universities and corporations. After the storm, with the help of the local community, NASA opened its official visitor s center, Infinity, a non-profit science museum dedicated to offering a blend of space, Earth science, engineering and technology. Also important to the area s economy is the county s port and harbor facility which encompasses five industrial facilities. The area is also less than an hour s drive from the historic city of New Orleans making for easy access. The blending of the Gulf Coast s rather laid back culture with the flavor of New Orleans makes for a truly unique area. Profile Development The Christ Church Vestry decided not to use the traditional parish questionnaire to gather information for a profile. Rather, it decided to gather the information through a series of neighborhood dinner forums. Members of the parish were organized into five neighborhood groups and, over the next two months, five separate forums were held, each in the home of a parishioner. At each forum, to insure consistency, the presentation and discussion were led by the same three persons. The senior warden addressed the current status of the church and explained the search process. The interim rector guided a discussion using categories drawn from the questionnaire provided by the Diocese of Mississippi. The junior warden closed the forum with an explanation and discussion relating to the financial position of the church. The vestry secretary recorded pertinent comments made during each forum. Attendees were also provided the opportunity to make written comments that were collected and made part of the record. All of this information was reviewed for preparation of this profile. All forums were well attended and the vestry believes that the information gathered and summarized herein appropriately represents the parish.

7 6 The Current Status of Christ Church Christ Church currently enjoys a parish size of approximately 80 households and the attendance at our single Sunday worship averages 65. The membership of this parish is drawn from our coastal communities and north along the I-10 corridor. We feel we are in a positive swing, receiving newcomers and visitors from all along the coast. We have enjoyed an increase in attendance and hope this will result in an increase in pledges. Our income is based solely on contributions from our members and a minimal amount from facility rentals. Our current budget was set at $176,000, with a deficit of $14,000. The deficit was made up through additional gifts to the parish and a successful ECW Rummage Sale. Our buildings and grounds are debt free. Fr. Ted Dawson presently serves as our Interim Priest. He is supported by a part-time Parish Administrative Assistant who maintains an open office five mornings a week. The parish also employs a church organist, sexton, custodian, and nursery worker. We live in a community where many of our parishioners enjoy a healthy network where they are involved with one another at Church as well as the larger community. Traditional Christ Church activities include 3 rd Thursday of the Month ECW dinners, 5 th Sunday breakfasts, Lenten Soup Suppers, Annual celebrations (Octo-Nonagenarian Event, Harvest Dinner, Pentecost Picnic); and we host a 4 th Sunday of the Month music and art event which is very popular along the Coast.

8 7 Lay Ministry Our Sunday worship service is supported by a strong cadre of parishioners. We have a wellorganized and multi-generational Altar Guild. Our Rector is supported by an adequate number of Lay Eucharistic Ministers as well as several trained and Licensed Eucharistic Visitors. Our choir is small but faithful. Ushers greet our parishioners and facilitate the presentation of the gifts. We are in the process of reviving the Acolyte Program with roles and responsibilities dependent on the capabilities of the children involved. We have a Vestry Person of the Day who is responsible for opening the parish hall, setting up refreshments, watching over the congregation, and standing with the Rector after Sunday Worship to help identify and welcome newcomers and visitors. Our Lay Ministry remains an opportunity for improvement, in order to meet the needs of the greater Bay-Waveland Community.

9 8 Pastoral Care Parishioners and newcomers agree that we are a caring, warm, and welcoming church. We have licensed Lay Eucharistic Ministers that visit the sick and shut-ins, an active funeral planning team, and wedding coordinators. Each year we host a reception for all parish octogenarians and nonagenarians, many of them lifelong members of the parish. Having said that, pastoral care has been identified as our weakest point in regard to how needs are communicated. It has been suggested that we need a more formalized Pastoral Care Program. It is hoped that our recently established neighborhood forums can sustain awareness and build group ownership of its members. The forums going forward will also include new member families, further extending inclusiveness. Worship We have one celebration of Holy Communion at 10:00 a.m. each Sunday. In accordance with the wishes of the parish, services are conducted from the Book of Common Prayer rather than from a service bulletin. Traditional music from The Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice is preferred. Young children are always welcome in our worship service and may receive communion if baptized. We are looking to enhance our existing Nursery Program. Worshipers enjoy the coffee-hour after the service as an opportunity to meet and greet each other as well as visitors.

10 9 Christian Education Parishioners respond and are actively engaged in our well attended Sunday morning Adult Discussion Group led by the Rector. There is a Women s Bible Study group that studies the Lectionary each Tuesday afternoon, led by a senior parishioner that is enjoyed as well. We feel that Sunday school and EYC are very important to drawing and keeping families in our Parish, however these programs have waxed and waned over the years dependent on the number of youth we have to participate in these programs. As we look toward the future we recognized that there is an opportunity to develop a men s bible study group. Outreach Outreach is the strongest attribute of the parish. We have multiple opportunities for parishioners to engage in helping those in need in our communities including our Alliance for Health mission, a program that provides vouchers for people in need to get their prescriptions and medical supplies. We provide a monthly birthday party at Brenda s House, a local emergency shelter for children taken in to DHS custody. AA and the Girl Scouts use our facilities, as does the Bratton Green Pioneer Camp. We collect food on an ongoing basis for our local Food Pantry, and our Rector has generally been a member of the

11 10 Food Pantry Board. Parishioners serve on the board as well as volunteer in the Pantry. Each year at Christmas we provide gifts to the children of our local prisoners. A highlight of our community outreach is our Fourth Sunday at Four fine arts program. The general format is to have a performing artist at 4:00 p.m., and a visual artist to follow, whose works is displayed during a wine and cheese reception in our parish hall. This program, in its 5 th year, has proven to be one of the most popular cultural events of our community, drawing people from the broad coastal communities. We recently celebrated our 67 th Thanksgiving feast that we prepare and serve in Johnson Hall as an ECW fundraiser. This is a very popular community tradition. Proceeds from the dinner benefit missions and activities supported by Christ Church. Annual Harvest Dinner, a traditional All of the above outreach programs are self-supporting and are not included in the annual parish budget. Parish Life We enjoy a social and active parish life. In addition to the obvious liturgical seasonal celebrations (Easter, Pentecost, Christmas, etc.), we enjoy breakfasts prepared by the Men of the Church each 5 th Sunday. Our ECW meets every 3 rd Thursday at a local restaurant for a Dutchtreat social dinner. We host picnics and brunches, some casual, some fancy and all are well attended. Sunday morning coffee hour often extends well beyond the hour.

12 11 Attributes Desired of Our Next Rector Of course, like all other parishes we would like a seasoned, experienced pastor with good and relevant sermons, and a sense of humor - amiable, accessible, not too young, not too old, someone we can relate to, and who will be interested in the well-being of the flock. Having stated the obvious, our parishioners have very clearly stated that we want a pastor who likes people, who really enjoys people, who is accepting, compassionate, and a good leader - a rector who will fit well into our church and community s warm southern hospitality. We would like a rector who is willing to be involved in the community, both civically and socially. And of course, we would like a Rector who can manage the administrative business of the Church. Christ Church is an open and accepting congregation and we would expect our Rector to be comfortable with the direction the Episcopal Church is taking.