Episcopal Press and News
ARKANSAS: Mission feels strength of new members, new life
Episcopal News Service. April 30, 2007 [043007-07]
Mary Frances Schjonberg
A small Episcopal Diocese of Arkansas congregation that has felt the tensions in the Episcopal Church is finding ways to grow and thrive.
The Rev. Jos Tharakan, mission chaplain of Christ Episcopal Church in Mena, writes in the May issue of the Arkansas Episcopalian that the members "support each other, care for each other, they provide an excellent example by their deliberate participation, and they are in communion with each other as in the time of the Acts of the Apostles."
Tharakan writes that Christ Episcopal Church is coming back from having lost 30 percent of its contributing members when seven people left the mission as a consequence of tensions in the denomination.
"Miracles were in store for this church which has also experienced the largest gain in the diocese by adding 14 to their rolls in six months and preparing for another four to be added soon," he writes in the article.
Christ Church was founded in Mena in 1899 and was admitted to the Diocese of Arkansas in 1900. Then-Arkansas Bishop William R. Brown made a pledge of $200 to the St. Agnes Guild (later changed to St. Mary's Guild) to assist with construction of the church. The congregation and the women of the guild raised the rest of the money needed to build the church and provide altar linens, choir and clergy vestments, and aisle carpeting, according to the mission's website.
The corner stone of the first church building was laid on January 19, 1899. The number of registered parishioners listed in 1900 was 48, number of families, 12.
The original building, a frame structure, was destroyed by fire on March 8, 1967. Services were held in the parish house until a new church was rebuilt and dedicated on November 19, 1969 by Arkansas Bishop Robert R. Brown. Most of the furnishings from the original church were saved from the fire and are incorporated into the present building.
Christ Church has never achieved parish status. The mission has been served by visiting priests, supply priests and lay readers.
"They have contributed greatly to the strength of our church," the history of the congregation found on its website notes.
Ten percent of Christ Church's annual budget is designated for outreach and it is in a companion congregation with the Rosebud Episcopal Mission in on the Rosebud Lakota Sioux Indian Reservation in South Dakota. Each December, the Swaddling Clothes Project supplies the Rosebud mission with warm clothing for newborns, food items, mittens and gloves for adults and children, and other requested items.
This year on Easter Sunday, the congregation celebrated the blessing of a columbarium, which Tharakan describes as a "longtime dream." The baptismal font stands in front of the columbarium as a reminder of the full-circle spiritual journey one starts at baptism, he writes.
"It also reminds the congregation of their commitment to walk with each other from the day of their birth through the last day of their life," Tharakan writes.
Terry and Denise Collier, who joined Christ Church in December, led the columbarium project. Terry, a woodworker, worked side-by-side with longtime members Rick Reed and Audie Wigger.
"When the three men started the project, little did they expect the work of their hands and hearts to produce such a beautiful work of art with such a powerful impact on the families of Christ Church," Tharakan writes.
During Holy Week when the mission's Way of the Cross project was officially blessed and celebrated. The works of a young artist from India, depicting the journey of Jesus to the cross, were transferred onto golden plaques by Ken McReed, who, along with his wife Bette Ann, also came to Christ Church in December.
Tharakan reports that this is only the beginning of the fulfillment of the vision for the Way of the Cross. Christ Church artists are developing additional, original works of art for future installation in the sanctuary.
"Christ Church is blessed with people with many gifts," he writes. "The members come from all walks and ages of life. As this story of patience and perseverance, creativity and commitment continues, dreams become fulfilled, lives become joyful, and all are embraced and welcomed with warmth ... They have learned to let go and to let God. Today, they end each worship service with these words: God in all things; people of all kinds."
Christ Church members have also put those words on a series of coffee mugs, t-shirts and other items available through their CafePress.com online gift shop. Proceeds from sales help support the mission.