Stewardship:

"Now these three abide: Faith, Hope, and Love..."

I Corinthians 13:13

Dear Christ the Redeemer Family,

 

As we approach stewardship season, I am mindful of how blessed CTR is, due to your generosity. As we send out this year's series of "Because You Gave" articles, I want to begin by focusing on the furnishings and fixtures in our nave and sanctuary space.

 

Because you gave, our pulpit is now adorned with a beautiful crucifix, reminding us to always "preach Christ crucified" as the apostle Paul tells us in I Corinthians 1:23. Because you gave, this Sunday you will arrive at church to find Bibles in each - ahem - chair in the nave. Because you gave, our AV team is now able to record our sermons, and not just the audio, but also with video, adding more breadth and depth in our communication of the Gospel.

 

Because you gave, the furnishings and the fixtures we are adding in the nave and sanctuary continue to enhance our worship experience and help us spread the Gospel to the ends of the earth, to the glory of God.

 

Stay tuned for more articles in the coming weeks. As we have recently celebrated our first 10 years, so we now begin our next 10 years together. Personally, I am very excited to watch how God is continuing to grow our congregation... because you gave.

 

Yours in Christ,

Fr. Chris Culpepper

Rector, CTR   

 


Stewardship

A Story of generosity

Dear CTR Family,

As I watch the children's and family ministries grow before us, I am ever grateful to God for the commitment and generosity of our CTR church family.


Because you gave, we have an inspiring mural of creation in the main thoroughfare of CTR life for everyone's enjoyment and reflection.


Because you gave, we now have two age groups of children in a Worship and Wonder model of Sunday School with countless wooden and carefully-crafted story presentation materials, down to details of sewn liturgical cloths, and handmade playdough in our art response supplies. Because you gave, we have journals, bibles and maps for our older elementary children's discipleship group. Because you gave, we have a community of adults who have undergone training and grown in their own Christian formation to lead our children as storytellers, greeters and disciplers. I am encouraged each week by the creativity and love for transmitting God's Word that you generously share with the families at CTR.


Because you gave, we have hired additional childcare providers to care for the littliest in our  CTR nursery. Because you gave, our nursery has recently added much needed cabinets, shelves and supplies to ensure further storage and safety.

Because you gave, we have intergenerational activities such as our annual Advent Purple party, Saint Nicholas' visit, and Lenten family devotional activities and are planning our first Celebration of the Saints' for this fall.


I am reminded of the parable of the mustard seed as I ponder on all that is growing in our children's ministry.  May CTR continue to be like the vibrant, flourishing mustard tree where many more may nest and grow.  To God be the glory!

In His joy,

Melissa Smith

Director of Children's and Family Ministries, CTR

   

How to pledge:

There are a number of different ways to pledge to CTR:

1. Pledge cards can be found on the Information Table at church.

2. You may fill out this pledge card form.

3. Click on the Pledge Card for 2020 button below and your pledge will be sent directly to the church.


If you are filling out a pledge card at church or filling out this form, you may choose one of the following:

1. Email the church at admin@ctrfw.org with your pledge.

2. Mail it to:

Christ the Redeemer Anglican Church

Attn: CTR Treasurer

6116 Southwest Blvd.

Fort Worth, TX  76109

3. Bring your pledge to Church on All Saints Sunday, November 3rd in a sealed envelope to be blessed at the in-gathering.

If you have any questions, please contact the church at the e-mail above or call 817 386-3000.


Stewardship

A STory of Hope

Dear Christ the Redeemer family,

 

In a world that is full of hurt, insecurity, depression, abuse, pressures from every side to be thinner, or smarter, or richer, or better.... in a day when there is a pressure to make your life look perfect on social media and to convince others - and maybe yourself - that you love your life when some days or seasons are hard... in a time when some of the basic assumptions of our culture around identity are shifting....

 

What can we offer? HOPE.

 

We have GOOD news! We have news that the one, true God created each person with the dignity and value of being made in His image. We have news that this God is our loving Heavenly Father, who has a purpose for our lives and cares for us deeply. We have news that He came to rescue us in the flesh through Jesus, his death and resurrection. We have news that He wants to know us intimately and personally and promises a peace that surpasses understanding when we look to Him, regardless of our circumstances. This HOPE is not merely wishful thinking, but instead, the confident expectation that what God has promised will come to pass because over and over again, He has proven Himself faithful.

 

Because you gave, we have been living our goal of bringing people in, growing people in their faith, and then sending people out into the world as agents of HOPE.

 

"But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem..."

  • Opening Doors for Women in Need
  • Read 2 Win
  • Tarrant County 5-Stones Task Force
  • HOPE Farm
  • Iglesia San Miguel

...and in all Judea and Samaria...

  • Camp Crucis
  • Nashotah House
  • Church of the Incarnation, College Station

...and to the ends of the earth." Acts 1:8

  • New Wineskins Missionary Network
  • SOMA (Sharing of Ministries Abroad)
  • La Gran Familia
  • Centurion Partner, Fr. Juta (Northern Malawi)
  • Society of Anglican Missionaries and Senders
  • Anglican Relief and Development Fund
  • The Life Project

As we begin this fall semester, I'm excited to see how God continues to move in our midst as he sends us out as agents of HOPE in Southwest Fort Worth and around the world.

 

In Christ,

 

Jessica Tetirick

Stewardship

A STory of Love

To my church family,

 

In this broken, hurting world we live in, God has intervened, giving His ultimate expression of love in that "He gave His only Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16). As followers of Christ, it is such a blessing to be a part of this community of faith, hope, and love at Christ the Redeemer. We are living Acts 2:42 as we "devote ourselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers." God has sent our clergy, who He has called to lead us as we worship and praise God together. They are committed to preaching His holy living word, helping to train and equip us to share the good news of Jesus Christ, being witnesses of His love in the world with our families, our neighbors, our co-workers, wherever the Lord leads us!

 

Through His love, God has given us our vision statement at CTR. First and foremost, it is God's own vision as, "Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." (Matthew 6:10). We at CTR only want what God has in mind for us.

 

God has given us our mission through the great command, "as Jesus said, you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul and mind. This is the great and first commandment. And the second is like it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself." (Matthew 22:37-39). And the Lord has called us to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to obey all that I have commanded you. And lo, I am with you always, even to the ends of the earth." (Matthew 28:19-20).

 

As Christians, having accepted the truth of God's love and forgiveness through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, we have access to the amazing resources that our Father has available for us. He has given us His Holy living word as the guidebook for our life. The love He gives us through the Holy Spirit, gives us strength (Ps. 18:1), power (Luke 24:49), and His "peace that passes all understanding which guards our heart and mind in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:7). As we receive and accept this strength, enabling power, and peace, we are able to do whatever God calls each of us to do. We are also able to see Him more clearly as He continues to work all around us.

 

Personally, I see how God's love is being expressed through our church family at Christ the Redeemer, not only as you pray for and minister to one another, but I also see so many expressions of God's love as you show hospitality to those God has sent to visit CTR... and as you serve Him selflessly. You are faithful to pray for the work of the Lord within our own congregation and beyond praying as the Lord leads. You have shown many expressions of God's love and support through CTR's outreach ministries touching and changing many lives beyond our church walls.

 

Because of His love, I have felt the Lord calling and challenging me in new ways to serve Him. What is the Lord calling you to do? Is He calling you to a new area of service? Is the Lord challenging you and me to give to CTR in ways we have never done before? Sharing the blessings He has given us?   May we each accept the many ways the Lord expresses His love for us, and may we be open asking the Lord how we can show our love to Him by giving back to Him for all He continues to do for you and me through His work at and through Christ the Redeemer.

 

In His love,

Your sister in Christ

 

Caron Overbeek