Thanks to the hard work of Keith Byers (bookkeeper) and Clifford King Harbin (associate to the rector), St John's parish submitted our 2014 Parochial Report on time to the Episcopal Church and it reports significant growth!  The numerical growth of a congregation can be measured by adult attendance at Adult Forum, Pilgrims in Christ, and Scott's Creek Small Groups, or by our youth growing in their faith through the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd atria on the second floor.  But the greatest way to measure growth is by the weekly participation of adults and children in ministry and worship....called the Average Sunday Attendance (ASA).

The ASA for St. John's has grown 50% since 2011-not 49% or 51%--but a divinely perfect number of 50% (from 114 to 171).  St. John's ASA begins each year with high numbers that slowly keep ascending until our Easter Feast.  Then, due to waning attendance in the summer months, the ASA slowly declines.  It would be amazing to see our growth numbers if we did not experience the summer decline!

In addition to our rise in attendance, our 2014 Parochial Report also shows an increase in membership.  The National Church measures membership in two distinct ways: 

Baptized Members and Baptized Members in Good Standing. 

Baptized Members have the record of their baptism registered in this parish.  Our 2011 Parochial Report reported 188 baptized members.  Our 2014 report shows that our baptized membership has grown to 280.  This figure includes the addition of new folks to the parish as well as persons who have attended St. John's for years but had never transferred their baptism date to the rolls of this parish.  Your baptism record is like an ID or driver's license....it works best when it moves with you wherever you worship.  The process to be a baptized member of St. John's is very simple: provide your full name, date of birth, and church name, city, and state in which you were baptized (or a copy of your baptism certificate)!  We even had one member in her 70s who recently showed us her baby book where  her mother had recorded the date and had  lovingly written, "On the day of her baptism, N. behaved beautifully as she was held by her godmother." 

If you have adult children who grew up at St. John's but now worship at another congregation, please ask them to contact the parish office to get their membership updated!  Their new church home can't count them as active nor can we. 

Our 2014 Parochial Report also shows that we have 165 Baptized Members in Good Standing.  These are persons who may cast a ballot to elect our parish leaders (known as the Vestry).  These persons not only have the record of their baptism registered in this parish, they have received Holy Communion at least three times during the year, are faithful in worship, and are givers of record who are faithful in working, praying, and giving for the spread of the Kingdom of God. 

The number of Baptized Members in Good Standing would grow significantly at St. John's parish if persons who presently give cash would attach their names to at least one financial gift each fiscal year (via online, offering plate, or mail).  First quarter giving statements will be sent at the end of the March.  If you do not receive one, perhaps you might consider making a gift of record.  Like the old song from Cheers says, we are a place "where everyone knows your name."  Would you consider making it possible for us to have the honor of  calling you a Baptized Member in Good Standing?

If you have any membership questions or need assistance, please feel free to contact Clifford King Harbin.  

The Community Lenten Fish Fry is coming on Friday, March 13 from 11am-2pm and 5pm-8pm.  $5/person tickets are available here; advance purchases will help us plan food purchases for this new community initiative.  This is a great way for us to move into the neighborhood, meet our neighbors, and bring friends to St. John's for lunch or supper.  See you there!