Wow! Jim and I moved to Plano in January 1990….only a few years after the church’s beginning. Christ Church was already a vibrant congregation of believers. My earliest memory was the distinct feeling of the Holy Spirit being present. We never considered leaving and our spiritual growth began.
Randy and I were attending The Church of the Resurrection at that time. Father Ted suggested to us a mission church was starting in Plano and we should go help. Best decision we ever made. Even though Randy is gone and I have moved away my heart remains there at Christ Church.
We moved to Plano in July 1985. We lived in Country Place. We saw the sign that the church was beginning. We were there at the first St Carpenter’s service. And we stayed. A blessing.
Have heard this story many times over the years at CCP, but love hearing it again and being reminded of God’s faithfulness to CCP! Your fabulous teaching along with the help of Father Clay brought me to Christ in ‘96… been at CCP ever since.
I served on the New Church Committee in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. Our rector at the time Christopher Leighton recruited me to serve when the Committee was created by Bishop Alden Hathaway in the mid-1980s. Alden excitedly told us of a new church rector named David Roseberry who had started a church in Plano TX and it was growing by reaching people for Christ in that growing community. This spurned me to be involved in 2 plants and 2 replants and then attend seminary and be ordained -- first in TEC and then ACNA. The rest is history as it goes.
David+, I have known you for years from a connection apart from Christ Church and never knew the details of your story. Very interesting and inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
Keep commenting on the story as is flows forward. I have a secret, though. I have more stories than days to post! I may sneak in a few here and there, about 2-3 a week.
This story was thrilling! It gives me vision and hope for our church plant in Columbus, Ohio. And the story is challenging: Will I trust the power of the gospel? Will I be available and vulnerable? I love what you said here: "It wasn’t a strategy that started Christ Church. It was hunger—mine, at least. As the church grew and took shape, I saw that many people had a similar hunger. The truth of the Gospel can be surprisingly satisfying, even with its demands on us, and people were hungry for it." I'm far too worried about being respectable, not offending. That leaves me boring and restrained at times. Thank you so much for these stories!
The next episode has a definite application for the new church, I promise. (Do you know about my book called “The Seven Tools”? Talk to David about it. It could be very helpful for the new church!
Our core group was 13 coming out of a small group meeting in people’s homes. By the time we finished our three years at Saint Carpenter’s, we were about 180 to 200 people members.
A great start to an amazing story. A hymn I have always loved that we used to sing is “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.” We transformed a school into a place of worship with the Holy Spirit amongst us.
I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment of how this glorious church became what it is and its impact on me, my family and so many others. The truth of the gospel!
Wow! Jim and I moved to Plano in January 1990….only a few years after the church’s beginning. Christ Church was already a vibrant congregation of believers. My earliest memory was the distinct feeling of the Holy Spirit being present. We never considered leaving and our spiritual growth began.
Thanks for your encouraging words!
Randy and I were attending The Church of the Resurrection at that time. Father Ted suggested to us a mission church was starting in Plano and we should go help. Best decision we ever made. Even though Randy is gone and I have moved away my heart remains there at Christ Church.
Sandy, yes, indeed. I remember him well. And his booming voice as we ended our worship services saying (loudly) “THANKS BE TO GOD!” What a man!
We moved to Plano in July 1985. We lived in Country Place. We saw the sign that the church was beginning. We were there at the first St Carpenter’s service. And we stayed. A blessing.
Amazing days!!!
Have heard this story many times over the years at CCP, but love hearing it again and being reminded of God’s faithfulness to CCP! Your fabulous teaching along with the help of Father Clay brought me to Christ in ‘96… been at CCP ever since.
Praise Be to God !
Kerri
David,
I served on the New Church Committee in the Episcopal Diocese of Pittsburgh. Our rector at the time Christopher Leighton recruited me to serve when the Committee was created by Bishop Alden Hathaway in the mid-1980s. Alden excitedly told us of a new church rector named David Roseberry who had started a church in Plano TX and it was growing by reaching people for Christ in that growing community. This spurned me to be involved in 2 plants and 2 replants and then attend seminary and be ordained -- first in TEC and then ACNA. The rest is history as it goes.
David
David+, I have known you for years from a connection apart from Christ Church and never knew the details of your story. Very interesting and inspiring! Thanks for sharing.
This is going to be fun!
I’m hooked, I know the ending but cannot wait to get to read the details of how God worked all this out for His Glory.
Keep commenting on the story as is flows forward. I have a secret, though. I have more stories than days to post! I may sneak in a few here and there, about 2-3 a week.
This story was thrilling! It gives me vision and hope for our church plant in Columbus, Ohio. And the story is challenging: Will I trust the power of the gospel? Will I be available and vulnerable? I love what you said here: "It wasn’t a strategy that started Christ Church. It was hunger—mine, at least. As the church grew and took shape, I saw that many people had a similar hunger. The truth of the Gospel can be surprisingly satisfying, even with its demands on us, and people were hungry for it." I'm far too worried about being respectable, not offending. That leaves me boring and restrained at times. Thank you so much for these stories!
The next episode has a definite application for the new church, I promise. (Do you know about my book called “The Seven Tools”? Talk to David about it. It could be very helpful for the new church!
Thanks, will get the book and talk to David.
https://a.co/d/8pXfxuC
I remember you referring to the 187 people or there about that were the faithful base of Christ Church Plano. Did this group start at St. Carpenter’s?
Our core group was 13 coming out of a small group meeting in people’s homes. By the time we finished our three years at Saint Carpenter’s, we were about 180 to 200 people members.
David AND Fran,
Everett and I weren’t members of ChristChurch at that time BUT I think God has been working overtime ever since the beginning🙏🏻!!!!!
It is true. For sure. Thanks for reading!
That is fantastic. Alden is my hero...my father in God in so many ways. Thank you for your encouraging words!
A great start to an amazing story. A hymn I have always loved that we used to sing is “Surely the presence of the Lord is in this place.” We transformed a school into a place of worship with the Holy Spirit amongst us.
I remember that song so well…and loved it.
That song also reminds me of Fr. Ted Nelson. I can almost hear him singing it, along with "In Moments Like This . . ."
LeeAnn is in an assisted living community in Allen. We see her every week. Spry at 93!
I’m already on the edge of my seat waiting for the next installment of how this glorious church became what it is and its impact on me, my family and so many others. The truth of the gospel!