Parish Life

ORGANIZATIONS

SUNDAY SCHOOL

The Sunday School is dedicated to providing the children and youth of our community a spiritual foundation that will guide them through life.

Its goal is to provide the young children biblical instruction, time for reflection and an opportunity for hands-on activities. For the older children, in-depth discussion of Bible scriptures, extensions of scriptures to contemporary times and opportunities to examine their faith.

THE WOMEN'S CLUB OF CHRIST CHURCH

Most of the women of the church are members of this group and provide support to the church during social gatherings.

ACOLYTES

This is a group of well trained and disciplined young people of secondary school age both male and female who serve at the altar during Sunday services.

ALTAR GUILD

This group of dedicated and conscientious parishioners sets the altar and prepares the vestments for Sunday worship. The sisters of this guild regard this as a very special ministry.

CHOIR

The choir leads the musical aspect of the worship service. Though small in numbers, its members are capable of filling the sanctuary with their melodious tunes.

USHERS

The ushers welcome and assist worshipers at the services. They ensure the orderly flow of parishioners to the altar during the Eucharist. They assist in the general arrangement of the prayer books and hymnals before and after services.

LAY READERS/EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS

The lay readers are the Lay Liturgical Leadership. They are trained in the proper methods of public reading and leading Morning and Evening Prayer services. The Eucharistic Ministers assist in the Eucharist by administering the Chalice.

The MEN’S CLUB of CHRIST CHURCH

This organization is comprised of, but not limited to members of Christ Church. The aim of this organization is to provide a forum where the men could gather socially. The Men’s club is noted for its annual Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday. The group also serves as mentors to the younger men of the congregation.

PASTORAL CARE

This is a group of individuals who have answered God’s call to love one another. The ministry is done collaboratively with Grace Lutheran Church. The group is comprised of “Visitors” who visit the sick and shut-in and administer Holy Communion and “Callers” who maintain telephone contact with the sick and shut-in. In addition, sick or season appropriate cards are also sent to those in distress.

PARISH NURSING/CONGREGATIONAL HEALTH MINISTRY

This committee embraces the concept that there are strong connections between faith, health and caring for one another. That spiritual and mental health plays an important role in our wellness and feeling “whole”.

BUILDING AND GROUNDS

This small group of highly motivated individuals is charged with the proper upkeep of the church property. It is their responsibility to ensure that the buildings are safe and make recommendations to the vestry for preventative maintenance and capital improvement.

FINANCE

The Finance Committee assists the Treasurer in preparing and managing the budget and making fiscal recommendations to the vestry.

OUTREACH

This committee administers the Faith and Hope Food pantry and coordinates the various efforts by Christ Church to reach beyond its walls. This group in conjunction with the Inter Religious Fellowship for the Homeless and Grace Lutheran church is involved in a variety of outreach efforts.

MUSIC

This small group of talented individuals adds the melodious dimension to our Sunday worship service. They are forever expanding their repertoire of music reflecting the cultural mix of the congregation.

UNITED THANK OFFERING

The United Thank Offering invites people to offer daily prayers of thanksgiving to God and to offer outward and visible signs of those prayers which will benefit others. Twice a year, offerings are sent to the diocese of Newark during its ingathering in support of its continued mission at home and abroad.

CONVERSATIONS COMMITTEE

This committee is comprised of leadership from Christ Church and Grace Lutheran church. The two churches recognized that changing demographics in Teaneck have made conventional ways of evangelizing less effective. As two churches called to common mission, this group meets once per month to serve as a catalyst for discussion between the two churches and to manage and coordinate goals and objectives set.

STEWARDSHIP

The Stewardship committee spearheads the every member canvass. The committee is responsible for the education of members of the congregation on the various aspects of Stewardship. Also included in its charge is the initiation and execution of the yearly Stewardship campaign.

WORSHIP

This committee is charged with the responsibility of ensuring that Christ Church maintains its unique worship style representative of its diversity. The members plan and experiment with various forms of praise utilizing the full range of liturgical options available within the Episcopal tradition of America.

Parish Prayer

Blessed God, we give you thanks and praise for your many blessings to us and to our parish, especially for the new life we find in Jesus Christ our Lord and the power which is given by your Holy Spirit. Increase in us, we pray, the gifts of faith, hope and love; give to our congregation the vision to see your ways and the wisdom to follow them; use us to bring many to know your saving love. We know and affirm that you are already working in and through us to do these things even as we pray in the Name of Jesus.

Amen