A parish in Raleigh.
Christ Our Life Anglican is a church in the Anglican Church in North America (ACNA), within the diocese of Churches for the Sake of Others (C4SO).
We were planted in fall 2022 by the Rev. Kara and Rev. Tanner Griffith, to be a church defined by contemplative, sacramental, Spirit-filled worship.
We gather in the Montessori School of Raleigh for weekly worship through Scripture and sacrament.
What we believe
We affirm the historic Christian creeds: the Apostles’, Nicene, and Athanasian. We are heirs of this ancient faith revealed in Scripture and passed down through tradition.
The Apostles' Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty,creator of heaven and earth.
I believe in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord.He was conceived by the Holy Spiritand born of the Virgin Mary.He suffered under Pontius Pilate,was crucified, died, and was buried.He descended to the dead.On the third day he rose again.He ascended into heaven,and is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again to judge the living and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Spirit,the holy catholic Church,the communion of saints,the forgiveness of sins,the resurrection of the body,and the life everlasting. Amen.
The Nicene Creed
We believe in one God,the Father, the Almighty,maker of heaven and earth,of all that is, seen and unseen.
We believe in one Lord, Jesus Christ,the only Son of God,eternally begotten of the Father,God from God, Light from Light,true God from true God,begotten, not made,of one Being with the Father.Through him all things were made.For us and for our salvationhe came down from heaven:by the power of the Holy Spirithe became incarnate from the Virgin Mary,and was made man.For our sake he was crucified under Pontius Pilate;he suffered death and was buried.On the third day he rose againin accordance with the Scriptures;he ascended into heavenand is seated at the right hand of the Father.He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead,and his kingdom will have no end.
We believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life,who proceeds from the Father and the Son.With the Father and the Son he is worshiped and glorified.He has spoken through the Prophets.We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic Church.We acknowledge one baptism for the forgiveness of sins.We look for the resurrection of the dead,and the life of the world to come. Amen.
What shapes us
Our values are worship, hospitality, formation, and justice. These values shape our services and how we show up in the world.
Worship
We believe that we are designed for worship. Worship wakes us up and reminds us of our primary purpose: to be in communion with God.
Hospitality
We believe that hospitality is core to the good news of Jesus. Jesus ate, drank, healed, laughed, cried, and served those around him. We want to follow Jesus’ way of slow hospitality, which allows us to see and welcome the stranger and the overlooked.
Formation
We believe that a life with God changes us. Through the work of the Holy Spirit and the ordinary means of grace, we are transformed into the image of Christ and marked by the fruits of the Spirit. To be formed requires that we bring all of ourselves to God — our minds, hearts, and bodies.
Justice
We believe that justice is God’s loving insistence on mending a marred world. As followers of Christ, we are committed to walking in ways of justice as we seek to be agents of hope and healing in our world.
Who leads here.
The Rev. Kara Griffith
Rector
Kara lives in Raleigh, NC with her husband Tanner and their three children Archer, Abel, and Whit. Kara has a BA in English from Florida State University, a MA in Christian Studies from Southeastern Baptist Seminary, and MA in English from North Carolina State. Kara taught high school English Literature for many years. She believes that stories can reveal the truth, beauty, and goodness in this world. She has been shaped through the works of C.S. Lewis, JRR Tolkien, and Eugene Peterson.
The Rev. Tanner Griffith
Priest
Tanner hails from Rocky Mount, VA but has called North Carolina home for two decades. Tanner is a proud Virginia Tech Hokie, and he completed his M.Div at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Tanner has ten years of pastoral experience that he brings with him to Christ Our Life Anglican. Some of Tanner’s influences include Eugene Peterson, Rowan Williams, and Frederick Buechner. He loves mountain biking and working outdoors. He is married to Kara, and they have three children who love eating donuts with their dad.
Carolyn Branch
Curate
Carolyn lives in Durham, NC with her husband Lucas. She earned her MDiv from Duke Divinity School, as well as certificates in Theology & the Arts and Anglican Studies, and her undergraduate background is in theatre. Carolyn is passionate about unveiling Christ through beauty, embodiment, and imagination. Her own theological imagination has been shaped by the works of Julian of Norwich, L.M. Montgomery, and Martin Shaw.
Andrew Darragh
Worship Director
Andrew grew up in North Georgia and later attended college there before moving to Raleigh in 2009 to pursue his Master of Divinity in Christian Ministry at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary. Andrew is passionate about serving through music and ministry. A devoted Georgia Bulldogs fan, Andrew also enjoys reading and spending time playing board games with his wife, Bethany, and their two children. Some of Andrew’s favorite works of literature are "The Great Divorce" by CS Lewis and "Les Miserables" by Victor Hugo.
Kaylin Verbrugge
Pastoral Intern
Kaylin grew up in the mountains of Charlottesville, Virginia, before moving to Chicago to study philosophy and theology at Wheaton College. She currently serves as a student at Duke Divinity School, pursuing a MDiv with certificates in Anglican Studies and Prison Chaplaincy. Kaylin cares deeply about living hospitably, learning attentively, and praying constantly. She loves journeying with others, beholding God's goodness present in ordinary things. Her theological imagination has been formed by Simone Weil, Dorothy Day, and Wendell Berry.
Noah Hattier
Pastoral Intern
Noah was raised in Tennessee, a place and people who instilled in him a love of home, an ear for music, and a knack for playing in the green southern wild. He is learning at Duke Divinity School, becoming childlike at an after-school climbing program, and remembering himself to Jesus all around Durham. His favorite teachers are George MacDonald and Flannery O’Connor, a pair who know that only the severity of God’s love will make us new—a truth which is quite serious, all too funny, and unimaginably good.