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Dear Friend in Christ,
Today, the feast of the Apostles Saints Simon & Jude, is the tenth anniversary of my installation as the thirteenth Rector of Christ Church, New Haven. It's been a time together--full of joy, some sorrow, and much accomplishment. I gave thanks for those ten years at Mass today--and for you.
In the last ten years together we've changed the narrative in this place. When I came here, folks I met were talking about narratives of decline--closing the parish in a decade or so, selling the buildings, cutting costs--there was no sense of a way forward in ministry. The vestry's immediate concern was that if it kept violating the Diocesan canonical spending rules that the Diocese would disband the vestry and take control of the parish's investments. (If you don't remember those conversations, good for you. Let's keep it that way!) Given the spending levels on the endowment in those years, I wasn't convinced it was a bad idea to let the Diocese step in and right the ship!
But as I said to the vestry then, I wasn't interested in coming to New Haven to close Christ Church. I was only interested in spreading the good news of God revealed in Jesus Christ--and only interested in a narrative of growth.
For some reason the vestry took a chance and called me as your thirteenth Rector. And ten years later, things look vastly different. I give thanks to that vestry for its vision and its trust and its faith. I give thanks for the subsequent vestries who have helped change the narrative in this place from one of decline and anxiety to one of joy and abundance. I give thanks that, today, all our conversations about ministry start with an understanding that this place is responsible, sustainable, and full of life.
And I give thanks that, in all things, the people of Christ Church New Haven have kept as their goal, as their North Star, the idea of showing people Jesus.
That's the only reason we exist. It's the only reason we open the doors each day. It's the only reason we pray, the only reason we maintain our endowments and communion silver and keep the lights on: because we want to show people Jesus.
The first person to invite people to come and see--to invite the apostles in fact to come and see--was Jesus himself. Our friend Robert Willis, the late Dean Emeritus of Canterbury, invited us as well to come and see--and to show people Jesus. Dean Robert's year's mind was just last week, and I was powerfully reminded of his friendship, his ministry, and his influence in this place. I think he'd be proud that we have moved beyond a culture of anxiety and into a place of confidence--a confidence that our only work, our only goal, our only task is indeed to show people Jesus.
We've had some bumps along the way. The devil has tried mightily to frighten and to stop us. But Jesus as always has prevailed. Our Lady has prayed for us. Saint Michael has cleared the path with his sword. Saint Hilda has offered her wisdom and courage and counsel. And just like Saints Simon & Jude, quietly, faithfully, and constantly, we've kept showing people Jesus.
Today's Christ Church is quite different from the place I encountered ten years ago. After COVID even our numbers are different! But today's Christ Church is younger, while drawing on the depths of the wisdom of its elders. It's more transient, while relying on the steadiness of the knowledge held and transmitted by its faithful constants. It's even chaotic, exciting, kinetic, in ways that enliven and excite even the more quiet and introverted like myself! And in all things it's deeply faithful.
If you step inside these doors, you'll still find a place that celebrates the beauty of holiness, a still and quiet place to pray. You'll find a mass that is real, that knows that Jesus is at the center of all things, and that proclaims his resurrection and his reign. You'll find organists and musicians that offer the highest level of artistry to the glory of God--never as a performance, but as a prayer. You'll find a kitchen that can feed seventy of us on Celebration Sunday--and six hundred and fifty of us each day of the week through the work and witness of Community Soup Kitchen, our ministry partner. And every Sunday evening you'll find the doors open, incense burning, and the last office of the day, Compline, sung with such faithfulness and artistry that one might be forgiven for thinking the Archangels themselves were involved. (Because they are.)
It's been ten years. I couldn't be more delighted. And I look forward to what God has in store for us as his delightful, foolish, faithful, and deeply devoted people here at Broadway and Elm in the years to come.
I hope you feel the same. And if you do, come on and let's pray together and work for the coming of the kingdom.
Below, just after this little rant and rejoicing, there's a report on Consecration Sunday. It warms my heart that, even in the midst of a world that seems to be falling apart (and friends, the world always seems to be falling apart--so take heart...), folks are still expressing their faithfulness to God and to the ministry we share in Jesus's name by increasing their giving, by tithing or approaching a tithe, in this place. Congratulations, bravi tutti, and THANK YOU to everyone who's made their pledge for 2027!
And if you haven't done so yet, stop and do it now. Make your estimate of giving. Make your commitment for 2027. Visit christchurchnh.org/pledge. Give first, and let everything else follow.
God is faithful. God is good. Let God draw you into the abundance of God's merciful, lifegiving kingdom.
And come to Mass and experience God's love anew--and take it out to proclaim God's love to the world around you.
See you at Mass.
Yours faithfully in Christ,
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