Author: Rosemary Lovelace

The Rev. George Yandell, Rector

November 18, 2020

The first time I took the Myers/Briggs temperament sorter was in 1976 just before seminary. The results said I was an ENTP (extraverted/intuitive/ thinking/ borderline perceptive/judging type). When I met again with the psychiatrist after graduating seminary in May 1979, I took it again (as required by the diocese of Tennessee- I guess to see if seminary had infected me with some aberrations). I scored as an ENFJ.

The next time I took it in 1983 I scored less extraverted, more intuitive, and had moved toward being more strongly a feeling type and a J (judging type- we like closure). ENFJ. The test administrator suggested that when I took it the first time, I had not yet been ordained. In 1983, the test guru said the changes reflected my having been a priest for 3 years. Don’t know about that. But I do know I developed a pretty strong urge to finish each project I initiate before I move on to the next project (or it is initiated for me). So when I took it last in the mid 2000’s, I tested less extraverted, more strongly intuitive, more feeling and more a J.

Being a “J” is not an easy trait for a priest, or at least this priest. There are many concurrent needs and programs each needing attention. Often there is no way to gain closure. (I have a deep-seated fear of getting behind.) So I try to initiate projects that have clearly defined beginnings, middles and ends.

When I was trained in the mid-1980’s as a community organizer with the Industrial Areas Foundation, the deliberate processes for organizing groups for essential actions clicked for me. The steps are these:

• have one-on-one meetings with people you want to get to know- learn from them what animates them, what makes them tick, what they’re passionate about
• invite people with common interests/ passions to participate in small group meetings
• ask people of particularly strong interests and passions to help with or lead more group meetings
• in the meetings, ask, “What are the most important things we should be doing in the parish/community/region?”
• take verbatim notes in each meeting
• after a number of small group meetings, pool the results, weight each response by the number of times it’s mentioned, publish the results for everyone who participated
• develop action plans based on the most important items raised
• divide into teams to work with others of passion in the parish/community to accomplish the actions, conferring with community leaders to get them to act for the community,
• confronting them in public if necessary
• meet after all the teams have completed (or modified) their action plans and evaluate successes, failures, and contemplate future actions
• report the results to all in the parish/community.
• Start the process again when the community seems ready to move forward.

Close reading of the gospels suggests to me that Jesus was innately gifted as an organizer. (You can try this at home, comparing his actions and teachings with the steps above.) He might have learned some of it from John the Baptist, at least the confrontational parts.

Over the past 10 years at Holy Family, you can see how this process has worked for us. Small group input sessions’ responses have sculpted our successive Long Range Plans and Mutual Ministry Review (MMR) initiatives. In the new year, we might profit from engaging in small group sessions again. And from doing the MMR in the spring. We will have accomplished (or need to modify) these parts of the Long Range Plan

• Develop a plan for the whole campus
• Become better stewards of physical facilities by creating ongoing plans for regular and long-term maintenace
• Maintain a viable and up-to-date website, make it transactional, i.e. 2-way communication.
• Become aware of and strive to meet the needs of aging parishioners.
• Promote and support use of campus for retreats
• Eliminate the mortgage before refinancing is due @ 2023.

Even in the covid era, we can celebrate what we’ve accomplished by deliberate work on the components of the long range plan and adjusting/improving our ministries through the MMR.

I’d love to engage with anyone who’d like to talk about your Myers Briggs type (or how your personality guides you in work and play). G. Yandell

by Miller Andress

Fellow Members of the Congregation of Holy Family,

Over thirty years ago, when Jenny and I joined the congregation of Emmanuel Church in Orlando, the Rector came to visit. In the conversation I asked him, “How do you decide how much to give to the Church?”. His reply was a simple “That’s between you and God”. After some thought I took that to mean that we were to prepare ourselves for that conversation by knowing about the entities that we are considering to receive our giving.

Thus, my thoughts for you to consider in your giving to Holy Family.

When we arrived here twenty years ago, we found Holy Family and attended our first service in the trailers that are now the Conference Building. A very comfortable setting which facilitated getting to know those next to you. We were greeted with warmth and the feeling that this was where we wanted to be. Even encountered a Navy associate that I had last seen in Chu Lai, Vietnam. Although we have moved on to the new building, the congregation has continued the warmth for newcomers.

Soon after attending church, Joe Satterfield called one Tuesday and after some conversation, ordered me to meet him at the North Gate of Big Canoe at 0730 and we would travel to Jasper for the Men’s Breakfast at the Carriage House. The Wednesday breakfast has become a special time of my life with special people that talk about all sorts of subjects. Foremost is that we care about Holy Family and each other. We continue to visit each Wednesday through Zoom, which has made possible talking with John Spitznagel, one of the three elders twenty years ago, now living in Chapel Hill, NC

About that same time, I decided that another way to get to know people was to participate in the Grounds maintenance. I talked with Pete Cooke who was receptive and said he would meet me the next morning at what is now Pete’s Porch. I was given a wheelbarrow, a rake and a shovel. We then proceeded to a mountain of mulch and Pete showed me the trail where it was to go. Pete then thanked me for being there and left me. Got to know more people on other days. Pete’s organizing was a major effort of giving.

Holy Family’s significant involvement in the founding of Cares and Good Samaritan Clinic. This involvement resulted in a rewarding project for me, managing the construction of the first new building for Good Sam. Holy Family continues to have involvement through Board members, volunteers and giving.

The Holy Family clergy have been willing to accept/guide new programs. Our program of “Preparing well for the Elder Years” was encouraged and facilitated by the clergy and is well received by the congregation. Hopefully, we find a way to get restarted.

Pastoral care continues to be very special. Two clergy visits at 6:00 AM on successive days to St. Josephs in Atlanta are very special in my memory. The dedication of those who publish the current Pastoral Care emails that let us know whom we should be praying for or helping in other ways. I just received a call from Winship to report on Robert Wright. Sermons, Sunday School and Lenten Programs not only educate us but provide guidance/encouragement in our daily lives. We are blessed to have not only clergy but members of the parish who provide this.

The Pandemic has cancelled our face to face time such as Coffee after church. When do have church will have good food, provided by the Hospitality Committee, to facilitate our conversations and a good time to meet new people.

We are a volunteer congregation with a wonderful choir, grounds maintenance, altar guild, outreach, vestry and supporting committees and then all the local organizations we are involved in—Good Sam, Cares, ACES, Angels on Horseback, Boys and Girls Club and Mountain Stewards.

In summation, we are a congregation that cares about the people and the Parish and the surrounding community. We not only care but we give of Time, Talent and Treasure.

All of the above don’t happen without the clergy, administrative staff, operations and maintenance of buildings and grounds, operating supplies, donations to charitable organizations and donation to the Diocese of Atlanta. These cost money.

Hopefully I have provided a background for the Holy Family part of your discussion with God.

There are many other organizations that are part of our consideration of giving. Jenny and I have managed this by first deciding how much that we have to give for the year. We then decide what we consider our share of the budget of Holy Family and then distribute the rest to the others. Also there is the giving outside of the Annual Pledge to Holy Family and that is a judgment of our financial well being at that time.

Last, outside of our giving of Treasure, a most significant contribution to Holy Family is the giving of Time and Treasure. Holy Family would not be the wonderful congregation without giving all three – Time, Talent and Treasure.

Miller Andress

by Judy Wyndham

WHAT ARE OUR RESPONSIBILITIES?

Having one’s vision classified as “20/20” has always been a good thing. Conversely, the year 2020 is shaping up to be a nightmare! The pandemic thus far has caused numerous businesses to fail, leaving many working individuals suddenly without a job or an income. Community food pantries are having difficulty meeting the food requirements of those who are falling behind financially.

Perhaps because we are not meeting together as a congregation on a weekly basis where we hear reminders of our obligation to sustain weekly giving, we are falling behind in meeting our fmancial expectations. Our continual giving is necessary not only for paying monthly expenses of the church but also for meeting our obligations to the agencies that we support…ACES, CARES, our missionaries in Madagascar, Arrendale Women’s Prison, and others.

Faithful giving is an essential tool for living a faithful life. Sharing the blessings that God bestows on us is part of our moral responsibility as children of God.

Judy Wyndham

by Nancy Shapanka

Dear Members of the Holy Family Episcopal Church,

The last seven months have been uncertain times, but thankfully because of the generous donations to Holy Family in 2019-2020 the maintenance of the grounds, offices, and the church that we so long to re-enter has carried on. Careful planning and watchful eyes have stretched every contribution, ensuring uninterrupted support to local charities who depend on what the church has promised, to carry on the work they do so well.

As a volunteer for the non-profit Angels On Horseback(AOHB), I have witnessed our church’s contributions help curtail the lesson cost for families seeking emotional and physical healing equine therapy. This unique therapy for both children and adults outside the confines of a medical setting can be life-changing. Their success becomes my success. Their joy becomes my joy! Feel the success, feel the joy; give generously to Holy Family in 2020-21.
Blessings to all,
Nancy Shapanka