Author: Lou Ellen Gibson

Parish Life

GENESIS: The Parish Life team, assembled in March 2024, was tasked by the Vestry to plan/initiate events and activities which would encourage fellowship and involvement in ministry. 

MISSION: After months of brainstorming ideas – remembering time-honored events of the past to dreaming about new initiatives – the team was able to discern its mission and scope – “Connecting Hearts, Engaging Belonging, and Building Connections”. 

TEAM: Composed of representatives from the various ministries throughout the church, the team works together to support and coordinate church-wide efforts. Members are active in multiple areas of interest, serve in either service on Sunday mornings, and are a cross-section long-time members and newcomers. Current members include Tammy Kirk (chair), Phil Anderson, Vicky Harkins, John Kirk, Kathleen Allen-Leonard, Rosemary Lovelace, Martha Power, Leamarie True, and Mary Sue Zercher. 

INITIATIVES:  This year, the team sponsored the Pentecost Celebration, designed and carried out the Holy Family merchandise sales, produced the Advent Devotional, initiated the monthly Ministry Spotlight program and is coordinating an interactive ministry fair entitled “A Day in the Life of Holy Family” on January 19. Potential new events for 2025 include Shrove Tuesday, Lenten activities, a Parish retreat, movie or game nights, development of Men’s and Women’s ministries, and much more! The team welcomes all suggestions!

Music Ministry

MUSIC MINISTRY

Let’s get to know our choir members better with a game of GUESS WHO?

Guess who … is a former nationally certified wrestling official?
Guess whose … favorite movie is “Young Frankenstein”?
Guess who … has been in the choir the longest?
Guess who … loves anything that sparkles?
Guess whose … favorite Bible story is the story of David?
Guess who … paddles a whitewater canoe?
Guess whose … favorite book is “The Virginian” by Owen Wister?
Guess who … is a Solar Farmer?

Scroll down for Answers:

Answers: Christine, Vicky, June, Carmelita, Sally, Gina, Susan, Robert

Music

We celebrate our hard-working, highly committed Music Ministry. Over several weeks, they perform Lessons & Carols, the Christmas Eve services, an Epiphany presentation, and Sunday worship services. WHEW! The planning and preparation for these holiday events began months before, and each choir member will spend hours in practice and rehearsal in order to offer the gift of Christmas to us, so let’s be intentional and show each member how much we value their contribution to our worship experience. How? Just a few suggestions: write a note of thanks (note cards provided in the Parish Hall), thank a chorister with encouraging words, or send a treat during rehearsals.

November 26 – We have candidates!

November 25 was the deadline for applications for our new Rector. We have several very qualified applicants; we have been told by our Diocese transition advisor that getting multiple applicants is outstanding. We now start a period of due diligence and interviews to narrow it down. At that time, the nominating committee will make recommendations to the vestry who will then complete the search process. During this stage, we will, of course, maintain a strict code of confidentiality. We covet your continued prayers that God will lead us to the ideal candidate/rector for Holy Family. –Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro, Jeannine Krenson, and Richard Smith. 

October 21, 2024 – Profile approved, Position OPEN!

Early October 2024 the Parish Profile was approved by the Vestry and the Diocese and is posted on our Web Site Home Page. Click on the blue button labelled Parish Profile.  Also on October 15 we published the position opening on the Episcopal News Service under Jobs and Call.

Please remember all the nominating committee members in your prayers! Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro, Jeannine Krenson, and our newest member Richard Smith who has replaced Ric Sanchez.

August 9, 2024 – CAT Survey is Here!

The Nominating Committee was pleased to host Sally Ulrey from the diocese last week as she made a presentation regarding the data gathered from the parish-wide CAT survey. If you have any questions about the survey or any aspect of the work the committee is doing, members of the committee will be available in the parish hall between the services to speak with you this Sunday, August 11. Of course, you are free to contact any committee member at any time to discuss the search process. 

Please remember all the nominating committee members in your prayers! Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Ric Sanchez, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro and Jeannine Krenson.

August 2, 2024 – Survey Results (Aug. 4) and Round Table Discussion (Aug. 11)

Canon Sally Ulrey will be at Holy Family this Sunday August 4 for the 10 am Service to explain the results of the survey that 140 of us took in preparation for the new rector. Canon Ulrey will speak for approximately 30 minutes and will have a short amount of time for Q&A. We look forward to seeing you this Sunday! 

The Nominating Committee will be available on August 11 for a Round Table Discussion between services to answer any questions you may have about the survey results. The Nominating Committee encourages all parishioners to come to both special events.

Meanwhile, the Parish Profile sub committee is diligently working on editing the writeups from each ministry head and exploring ways of showing Holy Family as it really is – a welcoming, active, and vibrant parish ready to transition into the next phase of doing God’s work here in the Jasper area. 

Please remember all the nominating committee members in your prayers! –Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Ric Sanchez, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro and Jeannine Krenson. 

July 19, 2024 – 10:00 AM Service August 4

There will be only one service on August 4 and it will be at 10:00 am. There will be no 9:15 Adult Ed that day. The reason for the change in time is because Canon Sally Ullrey from the Bishop’s staff will be at Holy Family to explain the results of the survey 140 of us took in preparation for the new rector. Canon Ullrey will speak for approximately 30 minutes and will have a short amount of time for Q&A. 

Remember! Put it on your calendar! Put a string around your finger! Tell Siri 10:00 am Service, August 4.

Also, the Nominating Committee will be available on August 11 between the services to answer any questions that folks may have about the survey results. The Nominating Committee encourages all parishioners to come to both special events. –Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Ric Sanchez, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro and Jeannine Krenson. 

July 12, 2024 – Nominating Committee Update

On August 4 Canon Sally Ulrey will present to the congregation highlights of the CAT survey we filled out in May. There will be only one service that day. Canon Ulrey’s interpretation will be at the end of the 10:30 service.

On August 11 at 9:15 between the two services the Nominating Committee will host a round table discussion with parishioners who would like to ask questions and/or give opinions regarding the results of the survey and the search for our new rector. 

The Nominating Committee encourages all parishioners to come to both special events. –Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Ric Sanchez, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro and Jeannine Krenson. 

June 28, 2024 – CAT Interpretation

The nominating committee and vestry met jointly on June 25 with Canon Sally Ulrey to hear her interpretation of the CAT survey that we all took in May. It was a very informative meeting. Canon Ulrey will return to Holy Family in early August after the 10:30 service to highlight the survey findings. Watch for the actual date!

-Your Nominating Committee, Steve Franzen, Martha Power, Scott Armentrout, Winship Durrett, Ric Sanchez, Cammie Cox, Allan DeNiro and Jeannine Krenson.