St. Christopher's is 50

Sunday, September 7, 1958 the people of the future St. Christopher Episcopal Church held their first mass in the old United Methodist church on south Main St. 124 people attended that first mass celebrated by Bishop Mallet with 87 receiving communion. Regular services were begun on September 21, 1958.

The first Baptism service was held December 7, 1958 at which time three new members were baptized. One of those was Tom Joyce, our current Junior Warden.

Land was purchased and the present church was finished in the spring of 1962.

We will be celebrating the 50th anniversary on October 12th, 2008 starting with a mass concelebrated by Bishop Ed Little and Father Thiel during which we will celebrate the confirmation of 2 new members. Following mass we will all gather in the undercroft to enjoy a catered luncheon and all will be able to catch up with each other and talk about old times.

By now most of you are aware of the pending celebration. If you and your family are planning to attend, please sign the sheet (I promise there will be a sheet) on the door by September 10th or as soon as possible so we will know how much food to order. We hope to see you all there.

The 50th Anniversary Committee

Around Our Diocese A Letter from the Bishop Dear brothers and sisters, “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs” (Mark 10:14). We often associate Jesus’ words with sentimental pictures – watercolors of a smiling Jesus and well-scrubbed children – but in fact Jesus is offering us a significant challenge. How we care for children has eternal implications. We are responsible for them; Jesus has placed them in our hands, to nurture and train. “Teach [my words] to your children, talking about them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you rise. Write them on the doorposts of your house and one your gates, so that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied” (Deuteronomy 11:19-21). This summer I’ve become increasingly aware of the many ways that the Christian community can touch the lives of children. Two parishes, for example, have taken on the ministry of distributing school supplies to children whose parents are unable to provide them. (There was a time when children could simply turn up at school, and everything they needed was there. That is no longer the case. They must bring their own notebooks, pencils, backpacks, and calculators, and the “start up” cost at the beginning of the school year can be enormous.) Clark Miller, senior warden of Trinity Church, Logansport (and a candidate for holy orders) e-mailed me about the project that his parish had undertaken. “We had our School Supply Giveaway on Saturday, August 9,” he told me. “In that time, we gave away school supplies (from the schools lists) to over 670 students. We also gave away 470 hot dogs, went through six canisters of Pepsi product, and gave 23 free haircuts to students, and had live entertainment from our youth director.” Clark adds, “I can’t begin to describe what a blessing that event was. It brought our neighborhood together, our community together, and our parish together, and tears to all of our eyes. Trinity truly served the masses, we didn’t make a dime off of it, and our rewards were ten times greater than any activity we have ever done.” Northwest of Logansport, St. Augustine’s, Gary, has also been involved in a project to distribute school supplies. It began six or seven years ago, when God touched the hearts of two parishioners, Ben and Sharon Tyler, about the pressing need for school supplies in the neighborhood around their business. Using their warehouse as the distribution site, they raised funds, bought supplies, picked a date, provided hot dogs, chips, and drinks (I’m seeing a theme here!), and invited parents and children from the neighborhood. Ben and Sharon asked teachers what the children in each grade require, and supplies were arranged age appropriately. Last year, between 500 and 600 children took advantage of the program. Meanwhile, the people of St. Augustine’s have become enthusiastic about the project. Many parishioners donate toward the purchase of supplies and assist with distribution, and the vestry has added funds to the ministry. Fr. David Hyndman, rector of St. Augustine’s, tells me that the project has become a significant part of the parish’s life, a way of connecting with the neighborhood and offering a hand to the children whom Jesus so deeply loves. The next distribution is scheduled for Saturday, August 23. I’m so grateful to the people of Trinity, Logansport, and St. Augustine’s, Gary; they have made their hearts and their hands available to Jesus in a wonderful way. This ministry will bear fruit in the lives of countless young people, many of whom experienced – perhaps for the very first time – the love of Jesus mediated through the Christian community. Next month I’ll write about another amazing outreach project, Camp New Happenings – the camp for the children of prisoners – sponsored by the Diocese of Northern Indiana. Yours in Christ, +Ed

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