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From the Vicar...
What in God's Name is going on here? You are!
One year ago next week, I arrived on your doorstep to take on what I knew (or at least thought then) would be a difficult challenge. As Bishop +Rob said last Saturday night, the conversations he had with the Bishop's Committees prior to appointing me your Vicar revealed some serious concerns about the viability of our shared ministry and the commitment of the two congregations to fulfilling its potential.
If you were here my first Sunday last December, you may recall my sermon started with a question. I asked you this: "What, in God's Name, is going on here?" And I meant that literally: "What, in God's Name, is going on here?" And, in that sermon, I asked for your response. And, after a bit of hesitation, you said some things. As the weeks following unfolded, you said more. And did more to open up to me a sense of your answer.
This week, my first year as your Vicar is drawing to a close. And our year together has revealed some wonderful, and at times, surprising answers to the question I posed that December day.
After a lot of prayer and discernment, I think the overarching answer is this: "What in the Name of God is going on here?" You are. You are - each one of you. You are the ones in whom the Name of God has been planted, and you are the ones who will make the Name of God known as our shared ministry continues to unfold. Your insights, your laughs, your tears, your hopes, your journey - that's what's going on here in the Name of God. What a precious treasure you are. I have been so enriched by the good humor, integrity and faith of our Wardens, Craig and Patrice; our Treasurers, Robert and Kris; our Music Director, Alexis; our shared ministry administrator, Nita; and the dozens of you I have come to know and love over these past twelve months.
Soon, we will be entering the "next phase" of our shared ministry: setting and fulfilling goals and objectives for our ongoing life. At our Bishop's Committee meeting Tuesday night, we set in motion a process for determining those and drawing you into the conversation much the way we drew you in last year when we were beginning the development of what came to be the Covenant we signed last Saturday night.
As a new Advent dawns and I prepare to lead us toward having those conversations, I rejoice in having had the privilege of seeing the Risen Lord face to face in your faces. I rejoice that I have been among saints, dwelling in the radiant love of God.
And so, the journey continues...for you, for me, for each of us. Every journey is of God. As this new year of our work together begins, I ask only one thing: Keep stopping from time to time to ask that one question with which I began one year ago: "What, in God's Name, is going on here?" And if what you come up with isn't in God's Name...well, you and I can work together to get it back on track. Because God has some really great things in store for us.
Faithfully,
Fr. Chip
What a celebration!
Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart for making Saturday's Covenant signing celebration a true joy. The service was beautifully executed and well attended, the dinner was scrumptious, the church and hall were bright and inviting - and here was the best part: I looked around the room and saw that, at every table, folks were "mixing it up." There were no "Trinity only" tables or "Christ Church only" tables - we sat together, continued getting to know each other, and showed a real sense that God is doing something special here. That the Bishop's words in his homily were "right on" was but icing on the cake. You did it! Thank you to Patrice and Craig and the whole dinner crew, Alberta and the Altar Guild, Alexis and the choir, everyone who read or served on the altar, and the unseen many who cleaned and cooked and had everything shining and delicious. For photos of the celebration and dinner click here.
Blessings to you all!
Fr. Chip
Preliminary pledge results
At our Celebration Dinner following the Covenant Signing Ceremony on Saturday, Nov. 16 we filled that boat! The pledge response was gratifying - and we are well on our way to fulfilling the goals we set out for our campaign.
The tallies are done for what we have thus far, and our Stewardship Team has its list of follow-up calls to make. Here's where we stand thus far:
Christ Church:
Total thus far: 22 pledges for $34,538; 9 increases, 5 decreases, 2 new; potential total $39,328*
Trinity Church:
Total thus far: 27 pledges for $48,088; 14 increases, 1 decrease, 3 new; potential total $64,408*
*This total assumes all outstanding pledges come in even with last year
Our thanks to that have already made their pledges for 2014. We look forward to hearing from the rest of you by this weekend.
- Your Stewardship Team -
Notes from the November Bishop's Committee meeting
The November meeting, held at Trinity Church, opened with a reflection by Trinity's treasurer, Robert Bischoff. After a review of minutes of the October meeting and the October financial reports, the individual bishop's committees went into session. The Christ Church committee discussed the upcoming capital campaign and updated its list of licensed lay ministers. The Trinity Church committee updated its licenses as well, and voted to undertake roof repairs over the Hobbs House stage.
Fr. Chip provided a report on the recent Diocesan Convention, and presented a "first cut" at 2014 budgets for the two churches. There was some question as to whether the stewardship results would enable fully balanced budgets for the new year, but at both churches the preliminary budgets provide a framework that comes close to balance. In Trinity's case, the budget is being reformatted to more closely match Christ Church's budget, which is simpler and easier to read.
In other business:
- It was agreed that Come and See would be held during the Epiphany season, with an initial planning meeting in December, training beginning mid-January, and the three "Come and See" Sundays in late February.
- Initial plans were discussed for a February Bishop's Committee retreat to set goals and objectives for the coming year per the provisions of our recently signed Covenant.
- Stewardship follow-up calls are now underway. See the Stewardship report elsewhere in this edition of the E-News for preliminary results.
- Bishop's Committee members were asked to review last spring's Time and Talent pledges to make sure those who signed up for various ministries had actually been contacted about serving.
- Updates were provided on the upcoming Holly Berry Fair at Trinity Church and the Christmas Fair at Christ Church.
Full minutes will be posted as soon as they are available. The December meeting will be held on Tuesday, Dec. 17 at 6 p.m. at Christ Church.
A few days of "R & R" for the vicar
Fr. Chip will be on vacation from Nov. 21-29. Emergency coverage has been arranged for, and weekend services are being celebrated by the Rev. Bob Gallagher (Saturday evening at Trinity) and the Rev. Jane Van Zandt (Sunday morning at both churches). Nita in the office and the Wardens have emergency contact information, should any pastoral needs arise.
Memorial Service for Chick Anderson
There will be a Memorial Service to honor Chick Anderson, who passed away last week, at Christ Church on Sunday, Nov. 24 at 1 p.m. If you are able, please bring food for the reception after the service.
November highlights...
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23
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8-2
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Holly Berry Fair at Trinity Church
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5 pm |
Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church - The Rev. Dr. Bob Gallagher, guest Celebrant
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24
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8:45
| Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church - The Rev. Jane
van Zandt, guest Celebrant |
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| Holy Eucharist at Trinity Church - The Rev. Jane
van Zandt, guest Celebrant |
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Christ Church Christmas Fair
The Christ Church Christmas Fair is Saturday, December 7, 2013 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Please keep in mind that we need items for the White Elephant, Craft Table, Cookie Walk, used books, CD's and DVD's, seasonal and costume jewelry and knitted pieces. If you have any questions, contact one of our three co-chairs; Tena Wolf, Paula Kidder or Katie Towler.
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