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Why go to Christ Church or any
other Church?
One way
to think about this is ordinary and human: it is much easier to
make it in the world as part of a community/family. Belonging
to a community is a basic human need. Here you share a purpose,
ways of behaving toward one another, traditions and a sense that
someone knows and cares about you.
The other way is religious or spiritual. For Christians,
specifically, there is a story: God in Christ lived his life to
give us freedom, loving us so that we might love others and
thereby saving us from ourselves --- meaning from false choice
--- by giving us better and deeper choices. We call it the Good
News. The movement that spreads this news is called the Church
and it’s radically welcoming to all who come.
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What is a
member?
A member is any
person who has been baptized with water in the Name of the
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, whether in the
Episcopal Church or any other Christian church, and has
requested that their baptism be recorded in that parish’s
records. If you are not baptized and would like to find out
what baptism means and when it is offered, do not hesitate to
contact any member of the clergy. We are more than happy to
talk with you and answer questions. Or contact the Parish Office
(732) 349-5506 for the dates when Holy Baptism will be
administered and to arrange for pre-baptismal instruction.
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What is expected of me
as a member?
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We expect that you want to be among us for the primary purpose
of worshipping God in joy and power. That you commit to worship
as regularly as possible in your life. That you believe that
God gives us all that we have and are, and that the people of
God, including you, learn how to be a giver – to the church for
its work and to the needs of others. That life, and church, are
not about being right, but about being open. Members commit to
rethink and re-do when they fail, and God is open to such
“repentance” again and again. That you help spread the Good
News of God in Christ whenever and however possible for you.
That you join with others not only in prayer, but in working for
justice and peace in the human family. That you respect the
dignity of every human being. In other words:
*Worship regularly
*Return and rethink when you
fall away
*Give in proportion to what you
have
*Spread the word and serve
others.
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If I can
enjoy most everything about the church as a guest, why would I want to
take on the responsibilities of being a member?
When you go to
someone's home for dinner, hopefully you enjoy a warm welcome, a
generous meal, and fellowship with your friend and their family.
But, there is a difference between being a guest at the table
and a family member. Some say it is merely the common blood that
flows through the family's veins. But those who are adopted,
married, or have had a commitment ceremony know that it is more.
In a healthy family unit, there is a bond present. A commitment
to take care of one another, to support one another through the
good and the bad. This unspoken understanding generates an ease
and freedom to be yourself, to be who God created you to be,
safe in the knowledge that they are a part of you and you a part
of them no matter what. The church word for this bond is
“covenant." We who are baptized are united, adopted into the
family of God. And not only in this life, but also in the life
to come. Baptism is our way of expressing this commitment
formally and publicly to God and to one another. Becoming a
member of a local community of faith is the way we live out that
covenant.
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How
do I become a member?
When you tell us that you wish to be a member, we,
from that moment, consider you a member. So the best way to let
Christ Church know you wish to become a member is to write a
note, make a phone call, send an email or speak with a member of
the clergy who will then record you as a member. If you're a
member of another Episcopal Church, you can contact that church
(or ask us to do it) and ask that a Letter of Transfer of
membership be sent from that church to Christ Church. If you are
baptized here, confirmed or received by the Bishop, you become a
member. Providing us your baptismal information (date & place)
is requested, but if you do not have it, your word is good
enough.
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After
I ask to be recorded as a member, is there anything else?
Absolutely! We want to recognize your decision and
formally welcome you. Several times a year we have a Welcome Sunday.
All you need to do is come to the 10:15 AM
service on one of those Sundays. Sit anywhere you wish. Come
forward when you are invited with others who have been recently recorded
as members and those becoming members on that day. You do not have to
participate in a Welcome Sunday to be become a member. However, we hope
you will, since it is our way of celebrating your becoming a part of
this family. Contact the Office for the date of the next Welcome Sunday
(732) 349-5506.
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I heard
that if I become a member, I could not only refer to myself as an
Episcopalian but also as an Anglican. What is an Anglican?
The Episcopal Church is part of the Anglican
Communion. In its simplest understanding, it is all the churches
in the world that trace their roots back to the Church of
England. There are over 70 million Christians who are a part of
the Anglican Communion worldwide.
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What
if I am a member of another church, can I belong here too?
Definitely. It is important to remember that, first
and foremost, you are a member of the family of God, which is
accomplished through baptism. The choice then is where you feel
drawn to live out your baptismal vows of worship and service to
God. Some people who are members of another church, be it an
Episcopal church or a church of another denomination, choose to
make Christ Church their second church home and be recorded as a
member here as well. We welcome you to do this
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If I
want to learn more before I decide to become a member, what can I do?
| There are several ways for people to discover what it
would mean to be a part of this community: • Worship with us. Our
Christian faith lived out in the Episcopal tradition is often
summed up as "What we pray is what we believe." The best way to
find out if you feel God calling you to be a part of this
community is to live with us a while.
• Talk with
us. Any of the clergy will be happy to talk with you.
• Study with
us. We have many adult education programs to help you find
out more:
• Alpha:
This ten-week course on the Christian faith which takes place
two times a year. It is offered on both Monday evenings and
Saturday mornings. Each gathering includes, a meal, a talk on
one aspect of the Christian faith, and a time for small group
discussion.
• Other
Adult Education programs: Our on-going discussion
groups, bible studies, Education for Ministry (EFM) and book
groups. This is a great way to explore what this community is
like in study and prayer.
• Serve with
us. There are some wonderful opportunities to reach out to
those in need, including Interfaith Hospitality Network
(providing shelter for the homeless), Caregivers of Ocean
County, Habitat for Humanity projects, & mission trips to El
Salvador. These are but a few.
• Play with
us. There are many ways that we gather socially, including
parish dinners and fellowship events.
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Is
there anything beyond baptism?
The whole of the Christian life lies beyond baptism.
The Book of Common Prayer describes baptism as "full
initiation by water and the Holy Spirit into Christ's Body, the
Church." In this sense, there is nothing further required for
membership in the church. However, at different stages in one's
life there are other means of affirming one's faith.
Confirmation is an opportunity to make a mature affirmation
of one's faith in the presence of a bishop. All baptized persons
are encouraged to do this, and it is especially
appropriate for those who were baptized as infants. If you were
confirmed in another tradition/church, you can be Received
into this tradition. Reaffirmation is available for
those previously baptized and confirmed who would like to
reaffirm their faith before a bishop. Confirmation, Reception
and Reaffirmation all take place when one of our bishops
visits, which usually happens once a year. Any of the clergy
would be happy to talk with you about upcoming confirmation
dates and ways to prepare.
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To be
Confirmed:
*Young people are prepared for Confirmation through
the Journey to Adulthood Christian Education Program. This
begins in grade 7 and continues through the High School years.
*Adults are prepared for Confirmation or Reception into the Episcopal
Church through the Alpha Course and several sessions with the
clergy. Contact the Office for more information.
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To
arrange a Wedding:
At least six months notice is required (one year is
strongly recommended) in order to schedule a wedding at Christ Church. The
first step is for the couple to schedule an appointment with the
Rector. Please do not select a wedding date prior to verifying
the availability of the church and clergy.The celebration and blessing of a marriage is performed
for members of the parish, for those who have a connection to
the parish, or for those who in good faith, intend to become
members of the parish. Premarital instruction is provided to the
couple by the clergy. Approval from the Bishop is required in
order for Episcopal clergy to officiate at the marriage of a
divorced person.
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To arrange for a Hospital Visit:
Please phone the parish office (732) 349-5506 if a
member of your household is hospitalized for any reason. We have
no other way to know that you are in the hospital (HIPA law). We
are glad to bring the Sacrament to anyone who desires it.
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TO enroll your child in Sunday School:
Bring your child to the Chapel at 9:50 AM (10 minutes
before the start of Sunday School at 10 AM). Fill in a
registration form. If you would like to download the
registration form, just click
here.
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To Rent
the Church or Facilities:
We are a non-profit organization, so we do not
rent out our church or facilities.
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