When you hear the words “solo flight,” do you think of being alone, or do you think of soaring? At Christ Church Solo Flight means a vibrant ministry for those who, by reason of never marrying, death of a spouse, or divorce are making life’s journey without a partner. From corporate worship, social gatherings, active pursuits like kayaking, hiking, to educational events, retreats, and opportunities to help others, Solo Flight makes sure that being alone doesn’t have to mean being lonely.
Solo Flight at Christ Church began in 2006 when Fr. Bob Morris and several staff members, in an “ah ha!” moment one Sunday, all recognized a need for an organization that made singles in the parish feel welcome. In a first step, Fr. Bob called together a group of singles to begin the conversation and invited Dr. Kay Collier McLaughlin, author of Single in the Church: New Ways to Minister to 52% of God's People, to consult about how to get started.
Solo Flight is organized around five “gateways:” the “Worship Gateway” presents singles with various opportunities to worship together. The “Social/Recreational Gateway” sponsors a variety of monthly social events; the “Educational Gateway” provides opportunities to meet the spiritual, psychological, and practical needs of singles; the “Outreach Gateway” facilitates ways for the single parishioner to reach out in service; and the “Divorce Recovery Gateway” offers workshops facilitated by professionals to support those going through the painful process of divorce. Also, Solo Flight has recently added a subgroup to its ministry, called “Single Parent Families.”
Earlier this month Solo Flight sponsored its third annual singles retreat at Camp Weed. Becoming Like Jesus: A Weekend of Experiencing God’s Grace, March 13-15, attracted forty singles who enjoyed three days of discovery and fellowship.
One of the Solo Flight founders, Holly Scholl, said, “This [Christ Church] is a church that takes singles seriously and singles can become as seriously involved as they wish in any or all Solo Flight events.” Another of the original organizers, Alan Wade believes that Solo Flight is succeeding in its mission, “There are a number of people attending Christ Church today who made their first contact through Solo Flight, and many people are more closely tied to Christ Church because they have found a welcoming and nurturing community in Solo Flight.” Indeed from a modest early beginning with 20 members, Solo Flight has now grown to over 300 participating in 2009.
Fr. Bob Morris says, “It’s been a very powerful experience to see this come alive and now begin to reach out to help put together ministry to and with singles in other churches in the Diocese. Christ Church is a corporate-size church with resources entrusted to us not just for our own use, but for the larger church. We are exploring how we might fulfill that responsibility, conversing with other parishes about what we have done and are considering a regional conference in the fall. There are countless singles out there and it is a great Evangelistic ministry.”
Remember, as a single member of the church, through a myriad of Solo Flight activities you don’t need to be alone! For more information, log onto http://www.christepiscopalchurch.org/> ministries> Solo Flight.
- Barbara Church
2/22/09
"Ax Handle Saturday"
What you knew about Ax Handle Saturday in 1960 depended on where you lived
by Kathy Cramer
If you lived in Jacksonville in 1960, you might have read in the Florida Times-Union about “a little neighborhood skirmish” that took place downtown on Aug. 20.But if you lived almost anywhere else in the country, you read a very different story about what came to be known as Ax Handle Saturday, when 200 whites attacked 35 young men and women holding a peaceful sit-in at a lunch counter
.
Jacksonville’s role in the Civil Rights movement came vividly to life this past Sunday when one of those 35 demonstrators, Rodney L. Hurst, Sr., spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Solo Flight ministry of Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach.Hurst’s award-winning book, It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke, chronicles the events of that day and its aftermath.
And at least one audience member could verify the differences in news coverage that Ax Handle Saturday received. “I grew up in the Arlington area in the 1960
s,” she said, “and until I read this book, I knew nothing of this.”Today, those days may seem to belong to a very distant past … or do they? How far has Jacksonville come since 1960, Hurst was asked. “Not as far as we think we have,” he replied. Citing the “natural boundaries” between communities that the St. Johns River creates, and an “abysmal” educational system, he stated that “Jacksonville has a long way to go.”
Reprinted from the Faith Matters blog, http://www.pontevedrarecorder.com/.
by Kathy Cramer
If you lived in Jacksonville in 1960, you might have read in the Florida Times-Union about “a little neighborhood skirmish” that took place downtown on Aug. 20.But if you lived almost anywhere else in the country, you read a very different story about what came to be known as Ax Handle Saturday, when 200 whites attacked 35 young men and women holding a peaceful sit-in at a lunch counter
.Jacksonville’s role in the Civil Rights movement came vividly to life this past Sunday when one of those 35 demonstrators, Rodney L. Hurst, Sr., spoke at a luncheon sponsored by the Solo Flight ministry of Christ Episcopal Church in Ponte Vedra Beach.Hurst’s award-winning book, It Was Never About a Hot Dog and a Coke, chronicles the events of that day and its aftermath.
And at least one audience member could verify the differences in news coverage that Ax Handle Saturday received. “I grew up in the Arlington area in the 1960
s,” she said, “and until I read this book, I knew nothing of this.”Today, those days may seem to belong to a very distant past … or do they? How far has Jacksonville come since 1960, Hurst was asked. “Not as far as we think we have,” he replied. Citing the “natural boundaries” between communities that the St. Johns River creates, and an “abysmal” educational system, he stated that “Jacksonville has a long way to go.”Reprinted from the Faith Matters blog, http://www.pontevedrarecorder.com/.
Single Parent Families Support Each Other
Turn the phrase “busier than a one-armed paper hanger”into “busier than a one-parent family” and it becomes an apt description of what a number of Christ Church members face every day.
Both Anne White, with two children, and Walt O’Shea, with three, mentioned logistics when asked to describe their daily challenges. “Trying to get children where they need to be,” Anne said, is more difficult when there’s only one parent. There are “career adjustments,” Walt said while driving to a business meeting in Orlando. For example, “you don’t have the flexibility to go to work early.” In the midst of that busy lifestyle, “being a single parent can be lonely at times,” says Jeni Chattaway, who has four children aged two to eight and is also the guardian of her 16-year old cousin. In addition, there can be financial challenges and emotional issues – Anne cited “how to make good parenting choices, not overcompensating because of guilt, creating a positive environment with the other parent, working out co-parenting responsibilities.”
Dealing with all those matters leaves little time for fellowship, as the Solo Flight ministry came to realize. While someone with no children at home can choose to go kayaking, build a Habitat home, attend a luncheon or go on a retreat, single parents may have childcare and financial issues to consider before they can do those activities. “We were overlooking the needs of that group,” Walt said. But no longer. The new Single Parent Families ministry is addressing their needs.
With clergy support from Associate Rectors Bob Morris and Luke Jernagan and initial assistance from the Solo Flight leadership, the Single Parent Families ministry has started a speaker series on the first Wednesday of each month. In addition, monthly fellowship activities, some with children and some for parents with childcare provided, are being planned.
“The best thing is that they all have a shared experience, one that a lot of other people can’t relate to.” said Luke, who himself grew up in a single parent family. While many church activities are geared to two-parent families, he realizes, it’s important to include single parent families, with an understanding of their specific needs. In addition, he says, “the church will hopefully get a broader view of what it means to be a family.”
Jeni agrees. She values getting together with others “who can appreciate the non-stop stress” of single parenthood. She also feels that the new ministry can draw “more faithful parishioners.” With a hectic lifestyle, “going to church can fall off the priority list,” she admits, “but if you’re meeting friends there, it’s back on the list.” Making friends with others in similar situations is also valuable for children in single parent families. They may “feel unique,” Walt says, but getting to know others “provides comfort and fellowship.” And, he adds, because “the church is a community of people who worship together, when you strengthen any subset, you strengthen the church.” The goal of the Single Parent Families ministry, Anne concludes, is “not to create a stand-alone group, but to integrate it into the church, to find creative ways to work within the church.”
- by Kathy Cramer
Both Anne White, with two children, and Walt O’Shea, with three, mentioned logistics when asked to describe their daily challenges. “Trying to get children where they need to be,” Anne said, is more difficult when there’s only one parent. There are “career adjustments,” Walt said while driving to a business meeting in Orlando. For example, “you don’t have the flexibility to go to work early.” In the midst of that busy lifestyle, “being a single parent can be lonely at times,” says Jeni Chattaway, who has four children aged two to eight and is also the guardian of her 16-year old cousin. In addition, there can be financial challenges and emotional issues – Anne cited “how to make good parenting choices, not overcompensating because of guilt, creating a positive environment with the other parent, working out co-parenting responsibilities.”
Dealing with all those matters leaves little time for fellowship, as the Solo Flight ministry came to realize. While someone with no children at home can choose to go kayaking, build a Habitat home, attend a luncheon or go on a retreat, single parents may have childcare and financial issues to consider before they can do those activities. “We were overlooking the needs of that group,” Walt said. But no longer. The new Single Parent Families ministry is addressing their needs.
With clergy support from Associate Rectors Bob Morris and Luke Jernagan and initial assistance from the Solo Flight leadership, the Single Parent Families ministry has started a speaker series on the first Wednesday of each month. In addition, monthly fellowship activities, some with children and some for parents with childcare provided, are being planned.
“The best thing is that they all have a shared experience, one that a lot of other people can’t relate to.” said Luke, who himself grew up in a single parent family. While many church activities are geared to two-parent families, he realizes, it’s important to include single parent families, with an understanding of their specific needs. In addition, he says, “the church will hopefully get a broader view of what it means to be a family.”
Jeni agrees. She values getting together with others “who can appreciate the non-stop stress” of single parenthood. She also feels that the new ministry can draw “more faithful parishioners.” With a hectic lifestyle, “going to church can fall off the priority list,” she admits, “but if you’re meeting friends there, it’s back on the list.” Making friends with others in similar situations is also valuable for children in single parent families. They may “feel unique,” Walt says, but getting to know others “provides comfort and fellowship.” And, he adds, because “the church is a community of people who worship together, when you strengthen any subset, you strengthen the church.” The goal of the Single Parent Families ministry, Anne concludes, is “not to create a stand-alone group, but to integrate it into the church, to find creative ways to work within the church.”
- by Kathy Cramer
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