An old-fashioned church bell pealed out loud and clear through a frosty Advent morning, alerting all of Sausalito that worship was about to begin. Walking up the steps of this historic gothic, dark wood-paneled building, worshippers were met warmly: members greeted each other at the door with kisses, hugs, and gentle teasing. Inside light streamed through beautiful stained glass, which, along with the architecture as a whole, invites congregants to "worship the Lord in the Beauty of Holiness."
A recently completed Capital Campaign raised money to retrofit the foundation of their historic landmark church. Built in 1882, it is the second-oldest Episcopal Church in Marin County (only St. Paul's, San Rafael, is older). Christ Church's beginnings were rugged and simple: British immigrants began meeting in a barn in the hills of Sausalito. A young woman named Ellie Avery started a Sunday School and soon the fledgling congregation needed a rector. Ellie Avery might have gotten more than she bargained for, since soon after the Rev. Frederick Reed arrived, she married him! They were the first couple to move into the rectory. Ellie and Frederick then rode a horse and buggy over to Mill Valley to begin a Sunday School in the living room of their summer home there. After Reed's death, Ellie Avery Reed then requested to begin (and paid for in full!) the church of Our Savior in Mill Valley in his honor.
While Christ Church has a rich past, it also has a lively present. An open and warm congregation with a good balance of young families and older people, Christ Church is a growing community looking for new ways to "go forth into the world." They participate in numerous ministries to people in their immediate neighborhood, and also those in other areas of Marin, including San Quentin prison.
Ministries to those in need. Members participate in a food pantry in cooperation with other local churches, providing food baskets and meals to people in need -- and there are people in need in Sausalito. Christ Church also supports the Marin Abused Women's Services, which provides shelter and counseling. In addition to financial aid, members give gifts of toys and clothing at Christmas.
Educational ministries. Christ Church supports Canal Ministry in San Rafael, which serves the low-income Canal area in Marin County. This area contains the largest immigrant community of any Marin city. The ministry provides education, training, mentoring, and English as a Second Language classes. Members also participate in a tutorial project in mathematics at Bayside and Martin Luther King, Jr. Schools, a cooperative effort with the Rotary Club.
Worship ministries. Christ Church members enjoy "going
forth" to do
a worship service at Redwoods Retirement Community for those who
can't make it to church. To further serve those who are ill or
unable to worship on Sunday mornings, Rector the Rev. Mark Stanley
and Deacon James Goss regularly take the reserve sacrament to
those who need it.
Children's ministry. On the church grounds, the Iniece Bailey Children's Center provides child care to families in Sausalito and Marin City. The most exciting ministry to children, however, takes place on Sunday morning.
In three years the Christ Church Sunday School has gone from only three children to a high of 17. An average week will find about twelve children in attendance. The Sunday School is currently divided into three classes, on the basis of age and Biblical literacy. Sunday School opens with prayer, then the children divide up into classes where they explore their lessons. They all meet briefly again together at the end for a time of meditation. Eulah Getty, Children's Ministry Coordinator, says that, "If I can get them to meditate for 10 seconds, I'm doing good!"
When asked what she hopes the children are learning from their Sunday School experience, Eulah Getty answers quickly, "To question, to ask and wonder is what it means to be a spiritual being." She hopes she can encourage them to cherish the Eucharist, to feel awe, and, at the very least, to be able to meditate and "feel a sense of something greater out there." Getty hopes to expand the church's efforts into Youth (Teen) Ministry. Right now, teens can be involved in parish life through the lay reader and acolyte programs, and Getty is optimistic about the future. Ministry to teens, she says, is "our growing edge." Teenager Alexandra Fliescher finds a way to minister by watching children during the service. When asked what she likes most about Christ Church, she stopped working on a creche made out of popsicle sticks and Super Glue (which didn't seem to be going so well anyway) and said, "It's really a fun place. It's very friendly."
In these and many other ways, members are seeking creative means of taking care of each other and reaching out to the community.
Fortunately the
people at Christ Church are blessed with compassionate and creative
leadership to support and assist them in their ministries. The
Rev. Mark Stanley was installed as rector in the Spring of 1994.
Mark's style of ministry has been described as "warm and
caring." Mark is inviting and eager to help people find their
own gifts, and is, according to Deacon Jim Goss, a good listener.
Though Mark is concerned about evangelism, he is primarily interested
not just in bringing people into the church, but in letting them
know the church is a safe place to "get to know God."
Far from a second-hand experience, Mark is concerned that people
experience God directly, and skillfully tailors his preaching
and pastoring towards this end.
Deacon James Goss came to Christ Church in August of 1997. A permanent deacon, Jim's involvement at Christ church involves, in his words, "anything that needs doing!" In addition to the liturgical duties of the diaconate, Jim also serves on committees, preaches, and teaches classes (such as a recent class on lectio divina). He also does a great deal of outside visitation, and is responsible for the training of acolytes.
Jim's ministry is not limited to Christ Church. He also serves as a volunteer chaplain at San Quentin where he does cell-to-cell ministry and counseling, and has also been involved at Grace Cathedral's Ministry to Women's Prison.
With a solid foundation,
an illustrious history and inspiring leadership, Christ Church
continues to seek new ways to minister to the community in a hands-on
way through organizations and individuals. Plans for the future
include adult education, forums, and the expansion of pastoral
caregiving in the parish. Jim Goss hopes that together, the Christ
Church community can "find ways for people to minister in
ways that are comfortable and fun." Asked what that might
look like, Jim suggests that "if your gift is not for visiting
people, you might minister by cooking!" All in all, Christ
Church takes a very hands-on approach to ministry, and everyone
is encouraged to be a "minister."
What makes Christ Church unique? It has a family atmosphere (which is at the same time not exclusive of those without families), and there is a feeling that this is a place where everyone is welcome to join in. When reflecting on the "family feeling" at Christ Church, Jim Goss was reminded of the story in which Jesus was told that his family was outside. Jesus replied, "These (people assemble here) are my mothers and brothers!" "That's the way it feels here," Jim says. "These people are my family." *
--JRM