Meet The Pastor
Hi! I am the Rev. Dr. Mary Ann Mertz, the Rector at St. Christopher's Church. People at the church call me Pastor Mary Ann. I am celebrating my ninth anniversary as pastor of St. Christopher's on November 21. It is a joy to be a St. Christopher's because the people are truly loving. We welcome everyone, just as you are. Worship comes first at St. Christopher's, followed quickly by reaching out to meet the needs of others. In addition to my work at St. Christopher's, I am an adjunct Professor of Religion at Lincoln University so the people of St. Christopher's are also committed to working with the youth of the University and to provide a place of welcome for everyone.
When we say, come, just as you are, we mean that. It is not just a "marketing strategy;" rather, as one parishioner so eloquently puts it, "it's the way we roll." If you have been looking for a church that will accept you just as you are, you have a place with us. If you are looking for a place that has a church building that is accessible and designed for the hearing impaired, for those with mobility issues, while at the same time being focused on the needs of children and families, you have a place with us. If you want a church that deeply cares about the larger community and reaches out to help whenever and however we can, and if you want to be a part of those efforts, you have a place with us. And if you want a church where you will be accepted immediately, where you won't have to "play games" or "pay your dues" to belong or get involved on a committee or be able to express an idea to help us grow and change, you have a place with us.
You might ask, "If I come, what can I expect to find at an Episcopal Church?" As an Episcopal Church our worship services include prayer, singing, readings of the scripture, preaching, and the weekly celebration of the Holy Eucharist. Sometimes, we have Morning Prayer which focuses on praying the psalms. The Episcopal service is structured in many ways like catholic Mass, but it is more open and there is room to breathe and room for all. One of the things that parishioners say is that I am a good preacher because I relate scripture to what is taking place in our lives and in our world today. When reading this, if this makes you feel good, know that you will always have a place with us.
Check us out . . . this Sunday, online at stchrisoxford.org. We are live-streaming right now for safety until things settle down a little more. But, please make yourself known to us. We want to welcome you because you belong here! You have a place with us.