- St. James Episcopal Church
Transcription
- St. James Episcopal Church
S T . JAMES EPISCOPAL CHURCH S T . J AMES P ARISH NEWSLET TER F EBRUARY 2013 R ECTOR ’ S R EPORT TO P ARISH ~ (Editor Note: The Parish Annual Meeting was held on January 20th at which this report was first offered and is here repeated for Parish view. PK) R_]tor’s R_port on 2012 Greetings Parish and Friends, Episcopal priests are required to maintain parish records of sacraments and membership. Every year I remind you those numbers tell our story. Last year’s shows a numerical decline, yet spiritual vivacity. Sacraments, Worship and Formation: We baptized eleven infants and children. In April, Assisting Bishop William Persell visited for the first time and baptized three children then performed eight confirmations/ receptions. The average Sunday attendance dipped slightly (spreadsheet below). My “Heavenly Banquet” effort with the rows of plates and bowls of stickers had no effect on summer attendance. Still, we had fun and the banquet itself was a delight. Four of our members went to their eternal reward with Christ: Donald Hamilton, Mary Gilpin, Frank Lonser and Judy Thompson. Christmas attendance popped back up to 190 from a decline over the 4 previous years. The secularization of the Incarnation of our Lord is a big factor in our lower numbers from 10 years ago. Easter remains steady at 217. Hooray for Resurrection! The Sunday Christian Formation expansion has been a success. Adult attendance numbers almost doubled with both class offerings and the energy in learning, growing and deepening your faith together. The Youth Gathering enjoys steady attendance with Travis Alexander, myself and Judith Barrie finding ways to engage the group. Paula Knapp’s exuberant class of elementary students is still our Sunday morning star. We have added a preschool class thanks to Alice Griffith. There are only two regular students, but they are having a wonderful time! Faith Giving and Finances Our 2012 Faith Giving was shy of budget by just $2,300. You’ll see from the Treasurer’s Report and the Fundraising (Perch & Pierogies Plus!) Report that several outside sources of income allowed us to end the year with a surplus. Our conscientious staff and volunteers held budget costs lower than planned as well. The Stewardship report continues its odd trend: fewer cards turned in, yet the end of year faith giving total was the same. As always, your generous support of the Rector’s Discretionary Fund allowed me to provide for the poor. Due to the increased and complex needs of those requesting assistance, I now require strangers to go through social service agencies for help. This forces people to utilize appropriate long term assistance and protects us from fraud. Mission and Life Together The suffering of our Painesville neighbors and the erosion of our city’s income are an unchanged story. Significantly higher numbers of children are living in poverty – our home- S PECIAL POINTS OF INTEREST : • Worship Schedule available on page 3 • See Election Results from the Annual Meeting on Page 6 I NSIDE THIS ISSUE : A COLYTES 4 B IRTHDAYS / A NNIVERSARIES 5 C OFFEE H OUR H OSTS 5 WFG 6 L UNCH P ROGRAM 7 S T . J AMES P ARISH P AGE 2 NEWSLETTER R ECTOR ’ S R EPORT , CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1~ less shelter, Project Hope, saw a 217% increase in child residents at their facility. Unemployment has lessened, but the quality of employment and average salary has dipped while costs of groceries, gasoline, rent and daily needs creep higher. Additionally, assistance for food, utilities and childhood needs (school uniforms, school transportation & childcare) declined. The feeding ministries of St. James as well as our love and welcome are vitally important to Painesville. We change lives just by doing what we are already doing: Love God; Love our neighbors as Christ loves us. Within the life of St. James, the joy of membership seems to bubble over in the smiles and friendships I observe. Outreach and Fellowship events continue to be the greatest place of connection, however, the Formation opportunities also bind our hearts together. As we prepare for a renovation of our space to respond to how use it, the intimate connections we feel as Christian brothers and sisters will need to be front and center to invite the community to join us. The warmth and quality of our Perch & Pierogies Plus event is a great example. Where are we going? We are following the Holy Spirit. As Christ was called back from the wilderness to preach the gospel to the surrounding villages and lands, so we find our sojourn is over and call to action invigorated. For thirty years St. James has ministered to the needy who live on the edges of society. We have devoted significant institutional and personal resources in successfully addressing hunger and loving even the most socially undesirable with dignity. God insists we continue that beautiful mission. We need to add to that hospitality commitment programs and energy for the more mainstream people of Painesville. Our business and government neighbors need to see Christ shining for them also. Events that entice into our doors people whose needs are primarily spiritual and emotional is the next horizon of outreach. The renovation project, partnerships with government agencies (Lake County Planning Division’s Continuum of Care for Housing Services, the Painesville Police Department) and my efforts to be the face of St. James in professional networks, such as Rotary Club and Downtown Painesville.org, are baby steps in that direction. Imagine how to take St. James directly to the residents of Painesville: Phelps Street pedestrian fairs with a book sale and a concert, a fundraiser for Harvey’s music programs featuring their choir and musicians in this space, a contemplative garden labyrinth on our lawn, healing worship services on the steps in summer or hosting community meetings for parenting classes and healthy cooking on a budget. We are heirs of the apostles and after our formation at the feet of Christ, it is time to strap on our sandals and take Christ to the world. With great love and faith, The Rev. Vanessa E. B. Clark, Rector Worship Attendance 8:00a m 10:30am Total 2012 Sunday Average 25 83 108 Summer Average 25 72 97 Jan-Jun Average 25 90 115 July-Dec Average 25 77 102 Christmas 190 Easter 217 2011 Average 27 82 109 2010 Average 26 86 112 Baptisms, 11: David Hill, Lincoln Horacek, Alana Kolek, Connor Williams, Tahja Brown, John Hovencamp, Margeaux Pogacnik, William Maxon, Lincoln Miller, Marlowe Miller, and Aiden Wrana Funerals, 4: Donald Hamilton, Mary Gilpin, Frank Lonser, and Judy Thompson Weddings, 0 Confirmations/Receptions/Reaffirmation, 8 Travis Alexander, Cassandra Jackson, Arthur Lindrose, Evelyn Lindrose, Kathryn Lindrose, Douglas Miller, Konnor Thompson and Cooper Van Pelt P AGE 3 U PCOMING W ORSHIP S CHEDULE Worship Schedule February: February 3: 8 AM Rite I & 10:30 AM Rite II February 10: 8 AM Rite I & 10:30 AM Rite II February 13: Ash Wednesday 12:15 PM in Chapel Rite II with Imposition of Ashes 7:00 PM in Church Rite II with Imposition of Ashes February 17: 8 AM Rite I & 10:30 AM Rite II – Lent February 24: 8 AM Morning Prayer Rite I & 10:30 AM Morning Prayer Rite II (We need a little Anglican worship practice, I hear!) Save the Date March 10: 7 PM Lenten Evensong with readings & hymns for St. Patrick of Ireland SAFETY PROTOCOLS: I would like to remind everyone to keep the outside doors locked unless there is someone actively watching the door. Public events such as Worship, Lunch Program meals or community-focused events are the only time non-staff should unlock the doors. If you expect attendees to be late or wander in unpredictably, be sure a member of your group is paying attention to the door, but do not unlock it. Also, we expect any group to turn out all lights and check the doors they used to be sure they are locked. After public events, all unlocked interior spaces, including the Chapel, need to be scanned for persons remaining inside. Thank you, Mother Vanessa + S T . J AMES P ARISH P AGE 4 NEWSLETTER Acolyte News As we work our way into the year 2013, I’d like to take a moment to once again say THANK YOU to all of those in our Acolyte Family, for their continued dedication to making not only Sunday mornings at St James a special place to be, but the additional days & nights that their talents are so often needed. Thank you to our adult acolytes for providing the leadership & guiding hands that are so often needed, & thank you to the youth of St James who listen & learn so willingly. It is a great pleasure to be a part of this group, as they continue to help St James experience & achieve spiritual fulfillment. I would also like to point out some individual achievements that I had the pleasure of acknowledging on January 13th. The following acolytes have accumulated the necessary points to reach new heights on our ladder of ribbons, & have earned the privilege of having a new color adorn the cross they wear when serving: 800 pts. & a red ribbon Vivianne Clark, Erin Knapp, Lauren Webster 1500 pts. & a purple ribbon Evelyn Lindrose 2000 pts. & a white ribbon Cassidy Morgan, Nathan Webster 3000 pts. & a gold ribbon - Brandon Berry, Darrell Knapp, Savanna Van Pelt Congratulations to these most deserving acolytes! I’m looking forward to more of these moments as all of our acolytes continue to share their time & talents with us. Peacefully, Bill Thompson Education for Ministry or EfM will be accepting new students this summer. It is an intense and rewarding adult Christian Formation course of study with theological formation for everyday life. Please contact Mark Clark for more information: Mark Clark, markdclark43016@yahoo.com or check the directory. Christian Formation We continue our weekly schedule at 9:30 AM on Sundays. We offer two adult formation opportunities, Sunday school classes for people in preschool, elementary grades and middle/high school. The Wednesday Lunch Group, who meet after the 12:15 Wednesday Eucharist, is trying out a bible study of the Gospel of Mark using Focus on Mark by The Rev. Robert Schwenk from Morehouse Publishers. Please drop in to any of these formation sessions. nten e L e th e on’ ending k a t ‘ att not Why cipline of ation??? m dis n For a i t s i C hr P AGE 5 B IRTHDAYS AND A NNIVERSARIES IN F EBRUARY February Birthdays 2/03 Jerry Hemphill February Wedding Anniversary 2/03 Herb Hubbel 02/23 Mark & Vanessa Clark 2/04 Maurice Jones 2/05 Bill Thompson 2/13 Evelyn Werbeach 2/07 Jim Morton 2/16 Jan Bythway 2/07 Sally Hewis 2/20 Dave Webster 2/08 Alice Carter 2/21 Eve Strong 2/09 Eric Sylor 2/21 Fr. Kip Colegrove 2/12 Rose Lonser 2/21 Carl Erickson 2/22 Samantha Jackson President’s DayFebruary 18 2/23 Joe Torre 2/23 Barbara Denner 2/26 Stephanie Morgan Coffee Hour Hosts for February 8:00 AM 10:30 AM February 3 Dave & Julie Siegel Art & Kathy Lindrose February 10 Dave Webster & Ann Johnson Pay Norman & Rose Lonser February 17 Jim & Doris Oberg Alice Griffith & Laura Recek February 24 Bob & Ruth Ann Beckwith Tom & Libby Hill S T . J AMES P ARISH P AGE 6 NEWSLETTER Congratulations!! At the Annual Meeting, held on January 20th, the following parishioners were elected: Vestry Scott Hewis Foundation Delegate Judith Barrie Bobbie Nolan Nancy Walsh Diocesan Convention Delegates: Darrell Knapp Scott Hewis Josh Horacek Alternates: Nancy Walsh, Susan Cowling and Bill Dobda Women's Fellowship Guild We hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season. After taking a winter break for the month of January, we are ready to begin 2013 with a meeting on Sunday, February 10, 2013. Please join us after the 10:30 Eucharist in the Guild Room for a "brain-storming" meeting. Come with your ideas, suggestions, wish list for what we hope will be an interesting and enthusiastic year of meetings and activities. Looking forward to seeing you on the 10th. Any questions, please contact Alice Griffith or Patty Norman God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him. 1 John 4:16 P AGE 7 LUNCH PROGRAM LUNCH PROGRAM REPORT Suggested Pantry Donations for February February 3 Paper napkins February 10 Sugar February 17 Dish soap February 24 Canned pineapple Volunteers are DESPERATELY NEEDED to help on the St. James team the third Sunday of most months. Next scheduled services: February 17, March 24 On December 11, 2012, the Lunch Program completed its twenty-ninth year of operation. We have many volunteers from area churches involved in our program. Participating churches that lead a team include St. James Episcopal Church; St. Mary’s Catholic Church, Painesville; Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, Willoughby; First Church Congregational; St. Hubert’s Episcopal Church; St. John Vianney Catholic Church; Painesville United Methodist Church; Church of the Brethren; St. Nicholas Orthodox Church; First Church of Christ; St. Gabriel’s Catholic Church, St. Bede’s Catholic Church and secular groups: Hungry Hearts and Civil Air Patrol and the 4th Sunday group. These teams also include many volunteers from other churches and organizations. In July we became an agency of the Cleveland Foodbank which enables us to obtain a greater variety of foods including fresh dairy and produce. Cost savings compared to prices at GFS for the six months we used the Foodbank were $2,694.01. Financial report follows: Operating Activity Donations: Area churches 2,525.00 Fund Balances (as of 12/31/11) Diocese of Ohio 5,921.17 Operating Checking Account $13,941.68 Fr Terry Russell Memorial Fund 4,268.48 Jr. Women’s Club Mentor2,000.00 Corporate donations 1200.00 Individuals 2,956.32 Organizations 1,855.00 St. James Outreach Total Donations 500.00 $16,957.49 Total $18,210.16 St. James Lunch Program Leadership: Nancy Walsh, Director Derick & Irene Riley, Supply Chain Phyllis Cooper, Treasurer Expenditures Liz Tinck, St. James team leader Food 10,250.19 Paper 3,079.20 Miscellaneous Pest Control Equipment Delivery Utilities Postage TOTAL Expenditures 45.00 421.39 177.93 2,000.00 70.06 $16,043.77 Respectfully Submitted, Nancy Walsh Non-Profit Org. U.S. Postage PAID Painesville, OH Permit No. 413 Current Occupant Or St. James Episcopal Church 131 North State St. Painesville, OH 44077 440-354-3526 E-Mail: office www.stjamesoh.org