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“We open our hearts to Christ and our arms to all.”

A note from our Stewardship Committee ~

Dear Parishioners,

This has been an exciting year at Christ Church. On November 23, Bishop Jeffery Mello will be with us to Dedicate and Bless the newly restored steeple and bell, along with the church interior, parish hall, and kitchen — representing what we have been able to accomplish with the help of generous donors. We are especially excited about the restored bell, which the Bishop will officially name ‘Old Joyful,’ as it rings for the first time in many years.

At the beginning of April, we officially – and most joyously – welcomed Mother Kathleen as our Priest in Charge.

In May, thanks to a generous donation from the Wallace Foundation, restoration work on the steeple finally began. As it neared completion in June, the renovations were extended to the whole exterior of the Church building. This was made possible by a further generous gift from the Wallace Foundation.

In July, restoration work on the interior of the Sanctuary resumed. By the end of the month, the side and back walls of the Sanctuary were fully repaired and repainted. This work was made possible by the Marjorie G. Scott Endowment Foundation. We happily de-camped to the air-conditioned Marjorie Scott Parish Hall for summer services as work took place in the sanctuary.

Thanks to a generous gift from a parishioner, we were able to attend to several other important building and grounds upgrades, including fire safety measures and the re-landscaping of the Ash Garden.

Besides maintaining our property, we should also be proud of our efforts to re-establish a church school, and our continued support of multiple outreach missions to both feed and clothe those in need in the Greater Bridgeport area throughout the year. Our small but dedicated parish family has been growing steadily as we continue to focus on our commitment in the areas of Christian formation and outreach, as well as cementing our presence in the community as a gathering place and spiritual home. Our seasonal Bible study sessions as well as our meditation and prayer groups are well attended, but we do need to re-establish a choir to enhance our musical program. We are so blessed to have such talented musicians, and the opportunity to sing everyone’s favorite hymns on a weekly basis over the summer (and into the fall!) has allowed us all to sing with greater confidence. We would welcome any and all thoughts as to how we can attract more choristers!

As a spiritual home, a place of healing and renewal, Christ Church Tashua sustains so many of us, but it too needs sustenance.

You have been generous in the past, and for this we thank you sincerely. But as expenses such as utilities continue to grow, the Vestry is asking us again, this year, if we can increase our contributions by a further five percent to continue the Joyful work of being present in the community. Pledging a certain amount either weekly, monthly or annually really helps us to plan and budget for the year ahead. A five percent increase for someone giving a $100 monthly would translate to just $105, or $1,000 annually would translate to $1050. We hesitate to ask for an increase in giving, but the reality is that the cost of maintaining this Joyful community continues to increase. If you have not pledged in the past, we ask that you consider doing so.

We know that the real solution is to grow our congregation. We have seen progress in this regard and the goals we have set are intended to keep us growing. We understand that not everyone will be able to increase their pledge, but please consider prayerfully how much Christ Church and its community and purpose mean to you. Our newly restored steeple and church building is a much beloved landmark in the town of Trumbull, and we hope to continue its tradition as a beacon – within and for the community it serves – for continuing generations.

Our Ingathering Sunday will be November 16. We ask that you please fill out the pledge card that you will receive in the mail this coming week and place it in the collection plate if you are able. As we approach the season of Thanksgiving this year, counting our many blessings, and contemplating all that Christ Church means to us, we certainly have cause to be Joyful! Joyful! Thank you for being part of this parish family.

Thankfully,

Christ Church Stewardship Committee