Mission & Outreach

About

The church does not exist for itself, but for the purpose of serving the world in Christ's name. At Christ Church the work of mission and outreach takes many different forms, sometimes through direct involvement in feeding and clothing the poor, and at other times working to change the systems that create or reinforce the injustices of poverty and inequality in our world. Our goal is to do what the Lord requires of us, which is to "do justly, love mercy, and walk humbly with our God" (Micah 6:8).

We invite you to share in these ministries of compassion and empowerment, social justice and transformation, through your prayers, hands-on involvement, and financial support. Click on the links to the left to learn more about our local and global partnerships in helping to serve the needs of "the least of these" (Matthew 25:34-40).

Racial Justice Committee

The Book of Common Prayer encourages us to "strive for justice and peace among all people, and respect the dignity of every human being." The Racial Justice Committee allows its members to share their own reflections and engage in actions towards these goals. In 2022-2023, the Racial Justice Committee has worked with other local churches to celebrate holidays such as Juneteenth. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Louise Valleau.

Esperanza Academy, School Of Hope

Esperanza Academy is a tuition-free middle school for girls from low-income families in Lawrence, MA, established in 2006 by Christ Church and our partners at Grace Church in Lawrence. The fifteenth class graduated in June 2023. Esperanza graduates have gone on to succeed in competitive high schools, and the first group of Esperanza graduates graduated from college in 2017. Christ Church parishioners are very involved at the school, serving as tutors, running extra-curricular classes in music, knitting, and gardening, and serving on the board. For more information on ways to be involved, please contact our parish rep to the school, Linda Borland.

Habitat For Humanity

Since its founding in 1985, Essex County Habitat for Humanity has built 114 homes and rehabbed 41 homes in Lawrence and surrounding communities. Christ Church parishioners have been involved from the start, serving as board members, using their construction skills at on-site building projects, and providing financial support. "Build Days" are advertised in the e-Prophet. Christ Church members ages 14 and older are encouraged to volunteer to help build a home in partnership with a family in need.

Most recently, Christ Church was excited to be a part of work on a local build site at 8 Lupine Road in Andover, just down School Street from our church! A Habitat partnership with Andover Community Trust, the Lupine Road project has six units. Habitat built two duplexes with volunteers while ACT is built one duplex with students from Greater Lawrence Technical School. Christ Church upcoming build days will take place at the Spruce Street location in Lawrence.

For more information, please contact our liaison to Habitat, Bill Hastings.

The Merrimack Valley Project

MVP provides member churches, labor unions, and other community organizations with an opportunity to translate faith and values into public action to build stronger communities in the Merrimack Valley. It also supports the internal growth of member groups through relationship building and leadership development. Christ Church has been a member of MVP since 2003, and several parishioners play an active role on the board and a variety of volunteer activities. In recent years the focus of MVP actions has been on issues of jobs, affordable housing, and public services. Learn more about MVP on the web by clicking here. Past MVP Board President and Christ Church parishioner Rosemarie Buxton would be happy to answer questions about how you can be involved.

Neighbors In Need

Since 1983, Neighbors in Need has distributed millions of pounds of food to families in Greater Lawrence. Christ Church parishioners donate food weekly to Neighbors in Need by bringing food bags to church and leaving them in the red wagons on their way into church on Sunday mornings. We also hold twice-a-year holiday meal drives. Neighbors in Need is grateful for all donations, but some of its greatest needs are cereal, peanut butter, rice, beans (particularly Goya), canned tuna, spaghetti sauce with meat, and baby formula, preferably Similac Advance (blue label). For more information, please contact Helen Pickard.

REACH Rwanda

Christ Church maintains an active partner to the organization Reach Rwanda. REACH Rwanda's mission is to bring together Hutu and Tutsi people in an effort to foster peace and reconciliation to this torn nation. An important part of this mission is helping Rwandans in need achieve a basic level of food, shelter, clothing and economic security.

To learn more about Christ Church's most recent efforts in Rwanda, visit the Reach Rwanda Gender Equity program page. To learn more about REACH Rwanda, or to learn more about how you can join Christ Church's efforts there, please contact Michael Marcinelli.