Journey Stories of our Parishioners

The Journey Story of Carol Donlan

I have been a parishioner of Christ Church for almost twenty-five years. It was here, amid this parish family that my spiritual journey took flight. I grew up in a blue-collar town, south of Detroit, Michigan. My devout Roman Catholic family included seminarians, priests, nuns, and brothers. In my parish, the pastor had about twenty sermons, which mostly dealt with church rules. There was the sermon on the strictures of the Lenten fast, the sermon about not missing church when you go on vacation, and my favorite, the sermon on what makes a sin mortal, such examples!

I attended Catholic schools and, luckily for my faith, a Jesuit college, where I encountered an intellectual view of faith and spirituality that was a welcome contrast to the rule-based view of religion of my childhood. In 1967, my campus was touched by the riots that tore through Detroit. Years earlier, those who could had fled the city and its problems for the suburbs. I wondered where had the Roman Catholic Church been as the problems that culminated in the riots were festering?

Years passed, I met Tom, and we married. I continued to resolutely seek the intellectual, spiritual experience of college in a parish or at least a Catholic church I could attend without becoming angry by the Offertory.

Work brought us and our one-year-old to Alexandria. One Saturday we took the tour of Christ Church; in addition to the church's history, we learned that there was a nursery during services. The next day found us enjoying an outstanding sermon at the 11:15 service. We began to attend Christ Church regularly, and I found the spiritual enrichment that I had craved. It came from the Anglican intellectual spirit and even more from parishioners, Christians truly living their faith. I met them at Shrinemont, in Mothers and Others, Renew, the Christmas pageant, the greening of the church, DOCC, the Cast of 500, the Vision Committee.

Christ Church is a family of faith, a church deeply involved in the well-being of its community and the world. It's is a place to find your way into community outreach and contribute to solutions rather than ignore problems. Anything I may have given to this parish pales in comparison to what I have received. To those visiting this church, I invite you to Come Share the Journey. To the clergy, staff, and my fellow parishioners, I thank you for being guides along my spiritual journey.

The Journey Story of Elaine Ho

"Through my journey at Christ Church I have found lasting friendships, countless avenues for exploring my gifts, and meaningful opportunities to be serve and be served. It is my spiritual community, a place where I am know, loved, and accepted."

The Journey Story of Kate Hahn

"Not only is Christ Church the church where I grew up, but it is also the church that guided me through the ups and downs of my Christian journey."

The Journey Story of Jay Pignatello

"My spiritual journey lead me to DOCC, which I think should be mandatory at Christ Church. It opens up avenues of spirituality, personal relationships, and community experience that one otherwise would never have."

The Journey Story of Melinda Hudson

"Scripture tells us that we must lose ourselves to find ourselves. That was certainly true for me. I'm a cradle Episcopalian, and in my Greenville, Mississippi, house, attendance at Sunday services was nonnegotiable. I could see that church was a deeply meaningful part of my parents' lives, but I'd pass the time struggling to stay awake or playing Motown tunes in my head."

After college, I moved to Washington, threw myself into work, and spent Sunday mornings reading the papers and following news programs. My journey took me everywhere but church---volunteer efforts, politics, transcendental meditation. I strove to matter in some way to somebody, and, while rich in many ways, my life held an undercurrent of loneliness, frustration, disappointment, and fear.

Then, feeling nostalgic, I slipped into a back pew in the gallery of Christ Church for a service. The liturgy and music resonated deep within my soul; it felt like a homecoming. I continued to attend services, always choosing a pew near the back of the gallery and slipping out before anyone could catch my eye.  

I might still be in that back pew, but you, my beloved church family, drew me out. You asked me to help in this or that, to join a class or a committee. You shared yourselves with me, thought I mattered, and didn't shy away from life's hard things. With time, I could see Christ alive in you.

I wonder if you realize the full reach of your stewardship? We're surrounded by the obvious effects---the lovely sanctuary, the clergy, the lay folks, the staff, the music, the gardens. There is another meaningful effect of your stewardship---the way you have brought Christ to life for me, for my husband, Mike, and for so many others.

As I was considering my spiritual journey, the lovely lines of the Christ Church mission statement came to mind: "Christ Church embodies God's unbounded love by embracing, liberating, and empowering people, whoever they are and wherever they find themselves on their journeys of faith." On behalf of all the prodigal sons and daughters whom you've embraced and welcomed home, thanks be to God!