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Ministry Groups
The primary focus of these groups is serving our world; locally, nationally and internationally. More detailed information can be found about Service and Outreach Groups by contacting Aimee Norman at normana@christchurchcharlotte.org.
Bay St. Louis Missioners While on planned mission trips, Christ Church parishioners help rebuild homes on the Gulf Coast in Bay St. Louis, Mississippi, that were devastated by Hurricane Katrina. In 2007, Christ Church made its first pilgrimage with some parishioners to Bay St. Louis, Mississippi to serve in the storm ravaged areas. Since then, we have been taking several trips per year as a parish. Parishioners have also journeyed with larger groups organized by our Diocese. Parishioners stay at Mission on the Bay, a Christian community of faith that provides hospitality, lodging and meals to volunteers. Mission on the Bay operates recovery and reconstruction missions for those in need on the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Volunteer work crews composed of all levels of skill and ages are organized daily to go out into the communities to help residents. Mission on the Bay welcomes all volunteers, and groups that have volunteers under the age of 16. Charlotte Community Health Clinic provides acute medical care to uninsured, low income adults ages nineteen years and older. Their emphasis is on health education, training, and community outreach. A team serves together once a month. Five to ten parishioners work together to support a fellow parishioner who is in transition, recovery, illness and/or homebound. Teams are trained and meet periodically to build community and reflect on their experiences. The Christ Church Choir, our primary adult choir, is made up of men and women who rehearse weekly and lead worship in the 11:15 AM service on most Sundays during the academic year. This choir also sings for Advent Lessons and Carols, and Choral Evensong. The Christ Church Choir has even toured nationally and internationally, and has made recordings of their performances. The Contemporary Band provides music at the Contemporary Holy Eucharist which takes place in All Saints’ Hall each Sunday at 8:45 AM. This service is offered weekly through the calendar year from September to May and then monthly during the summer. The current band is made up of guitars, keyboard, drums, and vocalists. Expanding our community to include the wider world, Christ Church hosts regular mission trips to Costa Rica, the companion Diocese of the Diocese of North Carolina. During past trips, parishioners have worked to paint, refurbish and help renovate Hogar Escuela, a day care center in central San Jose. Christ Church has formed strong ties with students, parents, staff, and clergy, along with the Bishop of Costa Rica, as ideas for continuing outreach projects have been explored. Over 50 Christ Church adults and youth have participated in these rewarding mission trips. Christ Church Singers is the youth choir focused on the musical education and Christian Formation of girls and boys from sixth through 1twelth grades. Choristers rehearse weekly and eat dinner together. They lead worship three Sundays a month and participate occasionally in other festival services and concerts. They volunteer periodically in outreach projects, and each singer is expected to volunteer once per semester at Crisis Assistance Ministries in uptown Charlotte. As a group, they also enjoy several social outings and cultural performances each year. Christ Church sends teams of parishioners to serve at the men’s Emergency Winter Shelter three nights monthly, October through April. Teams of five to eight parishioners help serve dinner, assist with check-in, pass out blankets and towels, and provide hope with a smile. The EWS typically desires volunteers to be at least 16 years old, but well behaved and supervised younger children serving with parents or mentors will be fine. Family Promise is an interfaith hospitality network in the Charlotte area that provides food, shelter, and support for families in need of shelter. This program utilizes existing community resources to address the needs of homeless families. Teams of parishioners work together to set-up living spaces, prepare meals, serve as overnight supervisors, and provide hospitality to homeless families. Teaching Sunday school is a rewarding way to respond to Christ’s call to “Feed my lambs.” Ages two years old through Sixth Grade. Habitat for Humanity is a people-to-people partnership drawing together individuals and communities to build safe, affordable housing. Habitat is dedicated to building and financing homes that low-income residents can afford through zero-interest, no profit mortgages. Christ Church teams help hammer, nail, install and paint all items that go into making a house (while working under the supervision of trained Habitat employees and AmeriCorps volunteers). All skill levels are desired - you need to be at least 16 years old to serve. Christ Church has built over 20 houses in Charlotte to date. Ninth through twelfth graders meet in homes for small group discussion while simultaneously growing closer and forming relationships. The Parish Choir is an adult choir for those who seek a less intense choral commitment; all adult volunteers who love to sing and are willing to learn are welcome. This choir rehearses once a month. Six to ten parishioners are assigned one care partner whom they provide volunteer assistance and friendship. Teams are trained and serve together to support a care partner living with HIV/AIDS. Christ Church provides hospitality, food and a temporary home to twelve homeless neighbors each Sunday night, December through March. The homeless are pre-screened and processed by the Center for Urban Ministry. Teams of parishioners serve together with a trained steering committee member. Teams of parishioners work together to set-up living spaces, prepare meals, and provide hospitality to homeless guests. Join a WISH Hope Team-comprised of five to eight trained parishioners who agree to partner together with a previously homeless family for a minimum of one year. Opportunities are self-scheduled and shared among team members (typical time spent is one to three hours per month). WISH seeks to add 25 new families to the program per year; Christ Church seeks to provide Hope Teams for two-four families per year.
 
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