Worship Weblog

Christ Church, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Posted by cicw

Wednesday, November 4th, 2009

Posted by Betty Grit:

Rector Tim Stafford and Assistant Minister Susan Richardson met with me in beautiful historic Christ Church in downtown Philadelphia. They provided a history lesson in the ways this church was a leader as the colonies gained independence and established a new government. Their worship renewal project will honor the past while exploring what worship at Christ Church might be in the future. With more than 300,000 visitors a year, numerous weddings and baptisms and weekly worship, they face unique challenges and opportunities. It is important to them that Christ Church not be seen as a museum but as a living congregation.

The events they have already held are engaging the congregation in this process. Participants in a study group which met the evening I visited expressed gratitude for the opportunity to focus this year on worship. Christ Church reaches out to the neighborhood and is renovating a building to offer more learning and service opportunities. As they explore what worship renewal will mean in this historical church, we look forward to learning from them.

Tags: grantstouroct09