This week’s reflection comes from John McLaughlin, who invites us to ponder on what shapes our lives—the calendar year and the liturgical year. With major family milestones behind him and 2026 stretching out as a “blank slate,” John sees a beautiful opportunity for our parish to begin anew.
He encourages each of us to think about how we can bear fruit in the year ahead by sharing our time, talent, and treasure to nurture and strengthen our Church. This could mean continuing important projects, like repairing the west wall, or supporting the parish’s outreach efforts that continue to touch many lives in our community.
John reminds us that honoring our parish’s rich legacy and fostering new growth are interrelated. By offering our gifts both within the parish and beyond, we can help our Church flourish and make a lasting difference in the lives of those around us.
Read the full reflection here.
When I was thinking of what to speak about in regards to stewardship and how things relate to the coming of the new year, I thought of something my parents a couple of months ago had had happen; back in October, my youngest cousin had recently gotten married, and it effectively was the end of many milestones in our extended family between engagements, weddings, and in the case of my parents, living and settling into a new home, a new place and the like. So things have sort of settled into place within my family, and 2026 is coming before us as sort of a blank canvas; so far there isn’t a definitive guide or direction so far of where the McLaughlin family will go next, but the time and place has a wealth of opportunity with just a sort of blank slate for the coming year; it seems appropriate to reflect not only with the calendar new year upon us, but with this being Christ the King Sunday, which is the end of the liturgical year this week. We certainly welcomed new faces to our congregation in 2025, as we’ve also kept our legacy burning by reading through the 100th anniversary of sermons from one of our former rectors. Last year, 2024, was also the 175th anniversary of the church as a whole, so there really is a blank slate in 2026 as well for this parish.
In considering the idea of bearing fruit, perhaps now is as good a time to consider how we could get going on the work of the new as we enter this new chapter of renewal and how to use the three T’s – our time, talent and treasures – to make it happen. Perhaps it could be a continuation of what we – of what you and I – could provide to further the excellence of our mission in all of its forms. And as the theme implies, not just the consideration of the new, but cultivating and maintaining the church’s legacy. For example, repair of the west wall project, and continuing in the work and outreach that we continue to provide in the Waltham community. Of course, while it’s important to utilize the talents that we have to extend to the members of our neighborhood, however it may be, it’s just as significant to exercise the talents that we have within ourselves and figure out how the pieces best fit within the present needs. So as is the usual case in life, it would serve ourselves well not just to maintain our gifts, but to also continue in the work that we always strive for, both within this parish, and outside these walls. Happy Stewardship, and thank you!
John McLaughlin
Read the Rector’s Stewardship letter below and scan the QR code to pledge!
Bearing Fruit: Restoration and Renewal
Dear Friends,
When the Stewardship Committee asked me to write this year’s letter, my thoughts turned immediately to our sunflower garden. At first, it looked uncertain — a few fragile stems struggling to take root. But with patient care and steady attention, the garden came to life and burst into radiant bloom.
That is what growth and renewal look like– nurturing what already exists and helping it flourish once more. Scripture reminds us, “Those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength.” As a parish, we too are called to renew our strength — our energy, our purpose, and our shared commitment to spreading Christ’s love in the world.
Over the past five years, we have faced many challenges. Yet through your faithfulness, we have turned those challenges into opportunities for transformation. We hosted our second International Dinner, installed a beautiful new sign, welcomed new families, and launched new ministries. Our church has become a home not only for our own congregation but for others as well—Spirit Life Chapel, the Missionary Church, and our sister church, St. Peter’s. We open our doors to recovery groups such as AA, Al-Anon, and Narcotics Anonymous, and we serve our neighbors through the Bristol Lodge Soup Kitchen, Food Pantry, Diaper Depot, and Grandma’s Pantry.
This is what it means to be a church that matters — a church alive and at work in its community. Through your Sacred Generosity, we have supported missions near and far, bringing light and hope where it is most needed. Truly, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”
And yet, renewal never ends. Like a growing plant, our parish must keep reaching upward and outward. This year’s Stewardship theme — Bearing Fruit: Restoration and Renewal — invites us to do exactly that.
The journey has not been easy, but already we can see the fruits of our labor. To keep that growth alive, we must all take part. Are you in?
I need you in. Nearly one-third of our income comes from those who rent space in our church, another third from our endowment, and only one-third from parish pledges. For our future to be sustainable, we need renewed commitment to stewardship. Christ Church is our shared home — and like any home, it depends on our care, commitment, and love to thrive.
I invite each of us to step forward and become one of the pillars on which this parish will stand. Your generosity ensures that those who are hurting or alone continue to find hope here. Your gifts — of time, talent, and treasure — are the seeds God uses to bless others. Together, we can build a stronger foundation for our children, our neighbors, and all who seek God’s presence among us.
Our story is one of faith renewed, year after year. Now it is our turn to nurture what has been entrusted to us — and to bear new fruit for the future.
Your pledge — in time, talent, and treasure — sustains our shared mission: to love God, serve our neighbors, and shape a vibrant future for generations to come. When we give together, we grow together. Christ Church exists because you have chosen to be Christ’s hands and heart in Waltham.
So get involved — God is counting on you, and so am I.
With gratitude and joy,
Rev. Kapya Kaoma
Rector, Christ Church
Please fully fill out your pledge Card and return it by December 7, 2025. We encourage even young ones to pledge even if it means time or talent only.
Sunday
From the E-Crier of December 11, 2025. Subscribe to the weekly newsletter.