Christ Church Parrish Profile

Christ Church King and Queen Parish Chaptico, Maryland www.cckqp.net

Introduction to Christ Church Christ Church in Chaptico, Maryland, has served the ministry of Christ’s work in the world for more than 275 years. Founded by colonists both fearless and reverent, who established roots that grew deep into the tradition of this land, our church community be- lieves that we are called to be people of prayer, dedicated to proclaiming a lively faith in God and service in the name of Christ. Today, the church’s quiet beauty bears witness to devotion of many generations who have cherished and support- ed Christ Church, Chaptico. Sunday services reflect our commit- ment to finding ways to involve young families in our church life. We are working to develop our Christian formation program that is among our highest priorities. Members of the parish maintain our buildings and grounds, and can be counted on to raise funds to assist with operations and maintenance. Visitors at Christ Church often remark how welcome they feel and comment on the friendliness and hospitality of our members. The church interior exudes intimacy and peace intertwined with a sense of history. A beautiful stained glass win- dow depicting the birth of Christ adorns the altar. 2

Episcopal Diocese of Washington Christ Church is part of the Episcopal Diocese of Wash- ington, which includes the District of Columbia and Montgomery, Prince George’s, Charles and St. Mary’s Counties in Mary- land. Under the leadership of the Right Rever- end Mariann Edgar Budde, the diocese has claimed that its first priority is the renewal and revitalization of our congregations and core ministries, in service to Christ’s mission. The diocese is blessed with rich racial and cultural diversity, including six Spanish-speaking congregations, numerous rural congregations, and a variety of urban parishes. The diocese includes in its mission the support of several international partnerships as well as seventeen Episcopal schools. Christ Church is a member of Region VI, one of six geographic regions into which the diocese is divided. Region VI consists of southern Prince George’s County, as well as all of Charles and St. Mary’s Counties. This region’s Episcopal communities are ripe for innovation and collaboration, and its clergy are en- couraged to engage with one another not only for fellowship, but also for joint outreach, special services, and congregational develop- ment projects. Worship and Music Worship on Sunday mornings is central to the life of Christ Church. We offer two Holy Eucharist services each Sunday. Our 8:00 a.m. worship service, Rite I, ap- peals to people that prefer a more quiet experience without music. The 10:30 a.m. worship service, Rite II, includes organ, adult choir and acolytes and is more suited for a range of ages. When asked, most parishioners say they prefer a traditional service but also would like to see variations in the liturgy. 3

Parish Life Youth Ministry Children’s ministry is a growth area for the parish. Christ Church currently maintains a “Friday Night Sunday School” youth program (FNSS) led by parents. Each session includes group potluck meal, prayer, fun lessons, and crafts. We are reaching out to the greater community to offer those who don’t attend Christ Church services an opportunity to move more deeply into their faith and make a difference in our world. FNSS is an innovative program that has been highlighted as a model for other parishes within the diocese. 4

Acolyte Program Christ Church has a group of dedicated young acolytes who assist with liturgical functions at the 10:30 am service. It is a joy to watch them grow in Christ through their service on the altar. Altar Guild The Altar Guild consists of a small group of people who care for altar linens, vestments and vessels and prepare the altar and the church for regular and special services. Their “quiet ministry” enhances the worship experience in our beautiful th 18 century church. Lectors Christ Church lectors read the First Lesson and a Lay Eucharistic Minister reads the Second lesson. Greeters The greeters welcome parishioners at the church door, offer bulletins, bring the wine and bread to the altar, and collect the offerings. 5

Outreach Christ Church supports or has participated in the following programs: Strawberry Festival The Strawberry Festival is a fundraising event held by Christ Church each May. It is the most visible expression of the sense of outreach that permeates all phases of parish life at Christ Church. The proceeds help support local charities in St. Mary’s County. St. Patrick’s Day Dinner Christ Church parishioners’ family and friends gather to celebrate the Patron Saint of Ireland. A delicious meal of corned beef, cabbage, potatoes and many Irish/ green desserts are on the menu for the evening. A folk band provides the entertainment for the evening. We dance an Irish jig and enjoy the company of friends. 6

Fall Festival This is an annual dinner and festival to kick off the fall season. A southern Maryland dinner of oysters and country ham is served as either dine-in or carryout. Crafters sell their goods throughout the Parish Hall. A large bake sale tempts the shoppers with various confections. Dinner, fellowship and shopping bring us all together for a lively community centered day. Community Yard Sale Treasures are donated to the parish, tables are rented and the bargain shopping begins. This event, as does spring, brings new life to those old treasures. We clean out the closets, garages and back rooms and wait for the bargain hunters. The youth group joins in fun with a hot dog and cookie stand to raise funds for a summer fun day. Food Pantry Christ Church supports the neighboring Our Lady of the Wayside Church food pantry. This pantry assists nearby fami- lies with food supplies. Our contribution comes from parishioner donations and the hard work of children from our congregation. 7

Christmas Baskets Every year the congregation donates money during Christmas time to provide food and gifts baskets to families in need. WARM Wrapping Arms Round Many (WARM) is an ecumenical venture by churches of St. Mary’s County in partnership with the county Depart- ment of Social Services. Through WARM, churches provide safe shelter and meals to the homeless during the coldest months of the year. Coffee Plantation in Honduras Christ Church members raised funds for the construction of a storage facility for coffee bean crops so growers can protect their harvest while they negotiate fair prices. Facilities Christ Church was built in 1736 and is on the National Register of Historic Places. The 2400 square-foot building with its solid walls, and stained glass win- dows gives a feeling of openness to worshipers. The wood pews provide seating for more than 175 people. The parish hall is approximately 8

7000 square feet and includes a 350 -square-foot completely equipped kitchen. The church offices are locat- ed in the first floor. On the lower level of the parish hall are class- rooms and meeting rooms. The par- ish hall has a gravel parking area. A playground with swing set is in the rear of the building. The estimated value of all real estate holdings of Christ Church is $2,500,000. Most church social activities/events are held in/around the Parish Hall building. The Parish Hall is also available for com- munity events. Some of the groups that currently utilize the Parish Hall include: Narcotics Anonymous, Yoga Classes, Girl Scouts, Southern Maryland Traditional Music and Dance, Chaptico Classic race, weddings, birthdays, etc. The historic cemetery at Christ- Church contains burial sites da- ting back to colonial times. Numerous members of the Francis Scott Key family are bur- ied in the Key Family vault. Some of the graves are marked with elaborate headstones, vaults and monuments, while others are marked simply with large stones. The cemetery is filled with folklore and tales. 9

Management The financial affairs of Christ Church are managed by the Vestry, the treasurer, the Finance Committee, and the Endowment Funds Board in concert with the rector. The mission of the Finance Committee is to provide the Vestry with financial advice in pursuit of the church’s mission. The committee, working with the treasurer, formulates the church’s annual budget and advises the vestry of anticipated or necessary modifications. The endowment funds are managed by a five-member Endowment Funds Board appointed by the Vestry. The board operates in accordance with all diocesan financial guidelines and reports to the Vestry. Current Finances The 2014 operating budget was $239,412. Sixty-two percent of the 2014 revenues came from parishioner pledges and plate offerings. The remainder comes from a variety of sources, including banquet hall rent- als, fundraising, grants and gifts. Christ Church has unique challenges associated with maintaining a historic building. Overall, the repairs and maintenance costs for 2014 represented about 35% of the operating budget. 10

St. Mary’s Community St. Mary’s County is situated on a peninsula in Southern Maryland with more than 500 miles of shoreline on the Patuxent River, Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay. The Naval Air Station, Patuxent River, employing 22,400 military, civilians and defense contractors, is home to the U.S. Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR), including the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD). With over 200 high-tech aerospace and defense contractors, the county has emerged as a world-class cen- ter for maritime aviation research, development, testing, evaluation, and acquisition. St. Mary’s County’s 1,990 businesses employ 28,000 workers; an estimated 50 of these businesses have 100 or more employees. Corpo- rations with a footprint here include DynCorp International, Wyle, BAE Systems, SAIC, L-3, Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and many others. Non-defense employers include St. Mary’s Hospital, Burch Oil, and the Paul Hall Center for Maritime Training and Education. St. Mary’s County has numerous small businesses providing goods and services that add to our quality of life here. Educational opportunities are strong in St. Mary’s County, and getting stronger. St. Mary’s College is the state of Maryland’s only public 11

honors college. It consistently ranks high in the U.S. News & World Report college rankings. The College of Southern Maryland is so in demand as an educational institution that it soon will add a fourth cam- pus to the three it is operating now, one each in Charles, Calvert and St. Mary’s Counties. The Southern Maryland Higher Education Center offers numerous opportunities for the pursuit of advanced degrees offered by 10 different universities Chaptico Community The village of Chaptico is significant as one of the th few 18 century village centers to survive in St. Mary’s County. The village is especially remarkable since the county landscape has always been character- ized by widely dispersed settlement. This cross- roads community retains the landmark Christ Church as its centerpiece, as well as a clus- th ter of 19th and early 20 -century structures. Chaptico was established as a port by an act of the General Assembly of Maryland in 1683. Originally accessible by water, Chaptico Run gradually silted in to the point that it was already unavailable by the late 18th century. By that time, the wharf and the tobacco warehouse were located a mile and half south of Chaptico at a site known as Darby’s landing. Regardless of its distance from water access, Chaptico remained an important com- mercial center. A public house here, supposedly visited by George Washington in 1767, remained active into the 19th century. In 1792, one of the first post offices in the county was established in the village. Christ Church History Christ Church, Chaptico, is one of the oldest churches in continual use in America. The congregation dates from 1640, only six years after the landings of the Ark and the Dove at St. Clement’s Island, establishing the 12

Maryland colony. Thomas Gerard, Lord of St. Clement’s Manor, gave the church 100 acres of land. Another colonist, William Marshall, donated three heifers, stipulating that from them “a stock of cattle shall be raised for the maintenance of a minister.” In 1692, the congregation was officially established through the Act of Establishment, which directed the creation of Maryland’s parishes and set their boundaries. The parish church was completed in 1736 and became known as Chaptico Church. In 1840, it was consecrated as Christ Church. The Future Our Strengths We are a healthy congregation that is ready for the future and is seeking a rector who can help us to grow and overcome challenges that may come our way. We have a strong lay leadership team eager for a collaborative relationship with the next rector. We are com- mitted to outreach and mission in the larger community. We are generous stewards at Christ Church; the next rector would do well to challenge and encourage us to 13

continue towards giving “out of a grateful and generous heart.” We acknowledge the critical importance of children and their full partici- pation in the life of Christ Church. We expect our next rector to share our enthusiasm for Christian formation for children and youth and to join with lay leaders and parents to find ways to enlarge and improve our youth program. Our Ideal Rector We are looking for a confident and experienced leader who is strong but compassionate, too. The rector should be personable and willing to re- late to a wide variety of people. We desire a skilled teacher with an opti- mistic attitude, one who is a good communicator but, more importantly, a good listener and a common-sense thinker. He/she must have a strong sense of Christian community and be able to embrace and be present in the rural Chaptico area. We seek a rector committed to doing God’s work, one who demon- strates this via meaningful church worship and preaching, providing pas- toral care and being alert to the needs of the community. He/She should be willing to roll up his/her sleeves to help with church activities. We would like to call a congenial person who is adept at cultivating a variety of relationships: developing lay leaders; maintaining a healthy associa- tion with the Diocese; making local professional connections within the region; and reaching out to local civic organizations. We seek a confi- dent leader, possessing managerial and financial acumen and proficien- cy in everyday communication technologies. We understand that the best leader will be someone with demonstrated ability to manage change successfully and with the ability to compromise when needed. Detailed Qualities  A priest who has personal spiritual depth and who can inspire others.  A pastor who is compassionate, knows how to listen and is supportive of families with children.  A preacher who is engaging and down to earth.  A leader who is creative and energetic. 14

 A joyful person with a sense of humor.  A manager who is organized, flexible, knows how to delegate, and empowers lay ministry and leadership.  A community leader who encourages, and participates in, outreach. Responsibilities of the Rector  Providing for conduct of worship services.  Providing pastoral care and counseling.  Partnering with the Vestry in the management of the parish.  Ensuring that all children and youth and adults receive instruction on the scriptures and the doctrines of the Episcopal Church.  Overseeing parish administrative and financial operations and building and grounds activities.  Guiding and assisting with long-range planning and development efforts of the parish. 15

Published by Christ Church, 25390 Maddox Rd., Chaptico, MD 20621, April 2015 Parish Hall and Office: 37497 Zach Fowler Road, Chaptico, MD 20621 Postal Address: PO Box 8, Chaptico, MD 20621 Web Site:www. cckqp.net E-Mail: [email protected] 16