Parish Life celebrates the relationships we have with each other. The most regular and visible sign of our life together may be the Coffee Hour. Each week individuals or families bring delectable goodies to share with the congregation, providing an atmosphere that encourages fellowship, good conversation, and keeps us connected. Other activities, such as progressive dinners, theater programs, brunches, the annual parish picnic, Knitting Pearls, and events for newcomers provide avenues for other fellowship. In addition, many of our fundraisers such as our Christmas Bazaar or the Antiques Road Show bring us closer together. The same can be said for our Parish Work Days, in which we gather to take care of our church and property and to spend time with one another. Our parish's great love and appreciation of our history has been a particularly meaningful way of developing our Parish Life as we create many opportunities to share our traditions with one another and with the greater community. Both the ECW and the Brotherhood of St. Andrew, a group for men, are other ways of encouraging deeper relationships with each other. Communications, such as the Crown, the Website, and Weekly Email help to keep our parish family connected and "in the know".

The Mamas and the Papas

Once a month, parents and their young children meet to share a potluck meal together in the Christ Church Parish Hall. This is a great opportunity for an affordable night out and to get to know other parents of young children. On premise babysitting is provided for a very modest fee of $5.00 per child for the entire event. Families meet from 5:00pm to 8:00pm. Call the Church Office for the next date and for more information.
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Brotherhood of St. Andrew

The guiding principals of the Brotherhood are prayer, study and service. The men of Christ Church Shrewsbury meet with the men of St. James Memorial Episcopal Church. Eatontown at 9am on the 2nd Saturday of the month in the St. James parish hall for breakfast, an informal meeting and Bible Study.

Because of the proximity of the 2 churches and the opportunity to develop camaraderie between the men of the 2 parishes, it was decided to join the chapter at St. James rather than start a separate chapter at Christ Church.

The Brotherhood has sponsored several events including trips to National Cathedral in Washington, D.C. and St. John the Divine in New York City. It also has joint meetings with the Brothers of St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Red Bank.

The Brotherhood of St. Andrew is an international ministry of Christian men. It was incorporated by an Act of Congress, signed by President Theodore Roosevelt on May 30, 1908.More information is available on the website http://brothersandrew.org. The mailing address is The Brotherhood of St. Andrew, P.O. Box 632, Ambridge, PA 15003-0632.
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Coffee Hour

We Episcopalians love our Coffee Hour! Following the 10:00am service each Sunday, it has become known by some as "the Eighth Sacrament". Church members sign up to host each week. Coffee, tea, and hot chocolate are provided by the Church; the hosts bring additional baked goods to be served. It is a wonderful time of fellowship and occasional forums. Coffee Hour is held in the Parish House most of the year; during the summer months iced tea and lemonade are served on the lawn in front of the Church. The sign up sheet may be found on the Parish Life Bulletin Board in the Parish House, or contact the Church Office to sign up.
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Thomas Bray Beef & Brew Dinner

"If my Beef and Brew dinners in the English prisons had been as good as the Beef & Brew Dinner at Christ Church on February 13th, half of London would have been clamoring to go to jail,"
Thomas Bray

Back in the 1700's Thomas Bray's held "Beef and Beer" dinners to raise money for much-needed prison reform. In honor of Thomas Bray, who was also instrumental in the founding of Christ Church, we hold a "Beef and Brew Dinner" on the Saturday closest to his Feast Day of February 15th. Costumed servers lay out a family style spread of delectable foods from the early 1700's time period to our own hungry hoard of parishioners and guests. Funds raised are used to support the ongoing ministries of Christ Church.

A Brief Biography of Thomas Bray: "In 1696, Thomas Bray, an English country parson, was invited by the Bishop of London to be responsible for the oversight of Church work in the colony of Maryland. Three years later, as the Bishop's Commissary, he sailed to America for his first, and only, visitation. Though he spent only two and a half months in Maryland, Bray was deeply concerned about the neglected state of the American churches, and the great need for the education of clergymen, lay people, and children. At a general visitation of the clergy at Annapolis, before his return to England, he emphasized the need for the instruction of children, and insisted that no clergyman be given a charge unless he had a good report from the ship he came over in, "whether... he gave no matter of scandal, and whether he did constantly read prayers twice a day and catechize and preach on Sundays, which, notwithstanding the common excuses, I know can be done by a minister of any zeal for religion." His understanding of, and concern for, Native Americans and Blacks were far ahead of his time. He founded thirty-nine lending libraries in America, as well as numerous schools. He raised money for missionary work and influenced young English priests to go to America.

Bray tried hard to have a bishop consecrated for America, but failed. His greatest contributions were the founding of the Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge and the Society for the Propagation of the Gospel, both of which are still effectively in operation after two and a half centuries of work all over the world.

From 1706 to 1730, Bray was the rector of St. Botolph Without, Aldgate, London, where, until his death at the age of 72, he served with energy and devotion, while continuing his efforts on behalf of Black slaves in America, and in the founding of parochial libraries. When the deplorable condition of English prisons was brought to Bray's attention, he set to work to influence public opinion and to raise funds to alleviate the misery of the inmates. He organized Sunday "Beef and Beer" dinners in prisons, and advanced proposals for prison reform. It was Thomas Bray who first suggested to General Oglethorpe the idea of founding a humanitarian colony for the relief of honest debtors, but he died before the Georgia colony became a reality."

O God of compassion, you opened the eyes of your servant Thomas Bray to see the needs of the Church in the New World, and led him to found societies to meet those needs: Make the Church in this land diligent at all times to propagate the Gospel among those who have not received it, and to promote the spread of Christian knowledge; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
From 1994 Lesser Feasts And Fasts, (c) 1995 Church Pension Fund.
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Episcopal Church Women (ECW)

Please call the Church Office for more information.
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Knitting Pearls

Knitting Pearls is a group of parishioners who meet in the home of Perky Cameron most Thursday evenings from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The group loves the fellowship, but everyone benefits from labor of their hands. Beautiful baby blankets, presented to our infants at baptism, prayer shawls given to those who are elderly or sick, the cutest dolls ever – given to an orphanage in Cameroon, or the hats, gloves, and scarves knitted for Seaman's Institute and the people of Afghanistan, are some of the projects Knitting Pearls has done. Currently they are making snow families for the Christ Church Christmas Bazaar.

Everyone is welcome and we have some great new patterns. We always have fun. What? You don't know how to knit? We'll teach you. It's easy and fun. Contact Perky Cameron for more information.
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Pastoral Care

In a community that almost seems like an extended family, caring for one another in times of difficulty and need is essential in the parish. Whether a couple is attending pre-marital sessions, a family is in need of counseling through difficult personal times, or whether one needs support and assistance surrounding the death of a loved one, the church seeks to respond in personal and meaningful ways. Although the Rector is often seen as the "first response" person, she is by no means the only one to care for the flock. Each week altar flowers are brought to those who cannot attend worship or are taken to a local nursing home or facility. Parishioners visit those who are sick, and some are licensed to take communion to them, as well. Upon the death of a church member, the ECW (Women's Group) is ready to not only prepare and present a wonderful meal, but to be a spiritual and emotional support in that great time of need. Our Newcomers Committee is another kind of "first response team", immediately reaching out to those who may be new to the church or community and offering a variety of ways of helping them find their way at Christ Church.
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Christmas Bazaar

The annual Christmas Bazaar is held the 1st Friday & Saturday in December along with the Four Corners Lantern Tour. Dinner is available Friday night and lunch is served on Saturday. The Bazaar features baked goods, crafts, jewelry, trinkets & treasures, poinsettias, decorated wreaths, silent auction, ticket auction, a mega 50/50 and outside vendors.
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Four Corners Lantern Tour

Christ Church has been hosting the Four Corners Lantern Tour for many years. The tour is the 1st Friday in December at 6PM and 8PM. The Presbyterian Church, Quaker Meeting House, Allen House are all included in the costumed guided tour. This is a fun and educational event. Call the church for more details, admission price and reservations.
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Goodies in the Graveyard

What is "Goodies in the Graveyard"? Just what it sounds like! Every year, on the Saturday closest to Halloween, the community is invited to bring their little "goblins" to Christ Church for a frightfully good time. Come join us from 12:30pm to 2:00pm for games, a pumpkin hunt, and then pumpkin painting. And of course, there will be tricks and treats for all!
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Blessing of the Animals

Every year, on the Sunday closest to the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi (October 4th), we hold our Annual Blessing of the Animals for the community. Held at 4:30pm in the Churchyard just south of the Church building, all animals (and their friends and guardians) are invited to join us for an open-air worship service. Participants are encouraged to bring a donation of pet supplies for the Monmouth County ASPCA. In 2011, we will celebrate twenty-five years of this tradition, and plan a very special afternoon for all. Please be sure any animals you bring are leashed or in a cage. Call the Church Office for additional information.
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Second Saturday Parish Work Days

From 10:00am until 4:00pm on the second Saturday of the month, volunteers gather at the Church to work on small projects around the buildings and grounds. You are invited to spend the entire time with us, but you are also welcome to come for an hour or two. There is plenty to be done - both inside and out - and there are tasks for every age and ability. Many of our youth use this time for "Community Service Hours" required by their schools. The coffee is always on and a lunch is served. Contact Walt Dein or the Church Office for more information.
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