Epiphany 4 – The Rector’s Annual Report – George Yandell
In my annual reports over the past thirteen years, I have said these words, and I’ll say them again: This is your parish. I serve God with you, guided by the Spirit of Jesus. I want to tell what I perceive God has done, is doing, and what God may be leading us to do together.
Our parish has done remarkably well considering all the changes we’ve lived through. If the parish is the bridge for us in living into our baptisms in the company of Jesus, you have been resilient and devoted in serving Christ. Where is the parish headed? That’s what the newly reconstituted vestry will continue to discern after they start their work in the meeting after this all-parish meeting.
We are now into our 38th year as a parish- the founding parents are almost gone. New members are finding Holy Family and becoming part of the ministering body. The results of our pledge campaign have surprised me and made me most grateful.
We added new 4 members in 2023. 6 members transferred out. Our total active membership now is 253. There was 1 Marriage, noBaptisms and 6 Burials in 2023. We’ll remember the faithful departed by name in the annual meeting. Our average Sunday attendance in 2019 was 169. In 2020, our average attendance before we began worshipping outside and online was 146. It was tailing off by early February. In 2021 it was 86. In 2022 average attendance for our Sunday services was 94. Last year it was 120. A number more of us report attending our worship services online- I suspect that’s at least 35 more folk on average. This is against the trend nationwide where congregations are experiencing declines of about 20% per year since covid changed the way people choose to worship or reinvested in other activities.
For Adult Education last year, about 15 folks regularly participated. Online Evening Prayer, Morning Prayer and Evensong has engaged both parishioners and non-members. I am so grateful to those who’ve continued to lead those services.
Plus there were over 120 people who participated in some way in the parish but are not members. People are finding Holy Family who might not have been aware of us before. A large part of that trend is our online presence and Holy Family’s ministries in the wider community. Serve Pickens is the newest example over the past two years. Just to note- it’s not difficult to join the parish. Talk to me if you’re interested in becoming a member.
In the diocesan council meeting in November, the financial report showed that in 2023, Holy Family had the 26th largest budget in the diocese of ATL, out of 117 worshipping communities.
You will hear in the annual meeting about the finances in 2023 and the budget the finance ministry approved for 2024 and forwarded to the vestry- the vestry accepted it unanimously on January 16. Because of your pledge dollars, and with a strong end to last year with good income and less than anticipated expenses, Holy Family is in good condition financially. You are the reason- your pledges have been consistently strong.
You’ve set the table in supporting our ministries in this new year. 110 pledges totaling $448,800. That total includes pledges from 6 people who did not pledge last year.
These totals are remarkable. Give yourselves a round of applause.
After we burned the mortgage last year on Epiphany, a group of us started strategizing to raise funds to accomplish major repairs to the nave and parish hall exteriors, and to repair and re-seal and re-stripe the parking lots. Those initiatives have begun. You’ll hear more about them in the annual meeting.
I am grateful for all of you. You have kept me focused on what’s most important, and you challenge me and one another to love like Jesus. As I prepare to retire, your vestry will be working with the diocese to initiate plans for clergy support in the interim and to start the process for seeking a new rector. You will vote for three new vestry members in the annual meeting following this service.
You can read about the work the vestry and parish leaders have been engaged in over the past year in the annual meeting booklet.
We have added new members to our ministries. They’ve brought strength and purpose. You can read about each ministry’s report in the annual meeting booklet.
Worship: The Worship Ministry is chaired by Ric Sanchez, chief verger. With input from the clergy, vergers, altar guild chair, organist/choirmaster, usher chair, greeters, flower guild and others, we evaluate how services are working, and plan future worship.
The production team members became primary evangelists for our parish. They always welcome new producers, particularly now for sound production. No prior experience needed.
Because of our online presence, folks who didn’t know about Holy Family are seeking us out. Some are contributing online. It is evangelism. Thank you everyone engaged in our services for keeping our liturgy dignified, meaningful, and challenging. You can read Ric’s report in the booklet.
Vestry Initiatives-
Long Range Plan: Last spring the vestry carried out small group input sessions around the question: “What are the most important things Holy Family should be doing?” 67 of us participated in the sessions. Your comments were sorted and weighted by the frequency of the responses. The LRP guides our work and keeps us on task.
Working with this year’s vestry has been grace-filled. I am most grateful for all they’ve done. See more in Sr. Warden Jeannine Krenson’s report of the vestry. I find it hard as Jeannine, Rosemary Lovelace and Jim Reid rotate off vestry. Rosemary Lovelace has served a longer sequence of years than any other vestry member in Holy Family’s history, as far as I can determine. She filled two members’ unexpired terms after her 3-year term- let’s applaud her for her unstinting service. And applaud Jeannine and Jim for their leadership as we began to emerge from the Covid shut-outs and limited time together as a parish. All of the vestry have done exceptional work over the past year. Your leadership during the pledge campaign kept folks plugged in and contributing, against the trends in the prevailing Church culture. Jeannine’s leadership has kept us on track, has generated plans for developing the parish, and has kept me accountable for the whole year.
I’d like to take a census of the parish’s leadership over the past years. How many of you have served as Sr. Warden- please stand. Jr. Warden? How many of you have served on the vestry? How many in the Finance Ministry? As chair of a ministry or working group? What you see around you witnesses to the Holy Spirit’s work in our midst. Give them all a big round of approbation if you will.
I’m pleased I get to continue to serve a bit longer with those remaining on vestry and those who will join us. We actually have fun together, even when we’re focused on sometimes difficult tasks.
Enhancing Stewardship of Money: In 2023 the vestry employed the Every Member Canvass program developed in 2021. The response in turning in pledge cards in fall 2023 was strong. The vestry members gave excellent leadership in planning and carrying out the stewardship of money campaign. It was thorough and participatory. The canvass just ended was remarkable after the capital campaign in early fall for the buildings and parking lot. Your pledging has equipped the vestry to meet the levels needed for funding parish ministries. You can hear more about the pledge results and the new year’s budget from Finance Ministry Chair Jim Braley and Treasurer Dan Ciomek in the annual meeting.
Finance Ministry: Read the report of the Finance Ministry to learn the details of our use of your pledge dollars. I am most grateful for all of your work and especially for the leadership of Jim Braley as chair, and our treasurer Dan Ciomek.
Clergy Colleagues: Holy Family was blessed with four clergy who volunteer in service to our parish. We all grieved as Katharine Armentrout retired from serving as our deacon. And we celebrated her unstinting service not only in worship, but also in outreach and pastoral care. Her retirement is causing us to reassess how we can maintain those ministries going forward. Ted, Byron and Bill’s ministries for us are grace-filled, generous and essential to our spiritual and emotional health. To have colleagues like these is an asset beyond measure. Not only do they preach, serve at the altar, lead EFM classes, and serve in the Worship Ministry, they do pastoral calls and push outreach efforts, but we also have fun together. I am daily grateful for Byron, Ted and Bill.
Conclusions: How are we doing in accomplishing the mission of the parish: “Creating Christian Community: Engaging people in vibrant ministry”? Your input gives direction and support as parish leaders plan for stronger ministries. Your volunteering puts the plans into action. During challenging times, your participation is a gift of community we all need more of. You can read about all the ministries’ accomplishments in the annual meeting report.
Most important question: Are you engaged in vibrant ministry? If not, volunteer. Engage yourself in the work of a ministry or committee. Seek a higher plane of engagement with the Spirit of Christ. Speak with the leader of the ministry. Your ministries through Holy Family help fulfill your baptismal promises. You find colleagues and friends you haven’t known before. Being engaged multiplies your joy as you work with others in company with the Resurrected Lord of Heaven and Earth.
This is a remarkable community of love, support and nurture, not only for one another, but for the wider community. I have been honored to serve as your rector over the past 13 ½ years. I know you will continue to “live long and prosper” as Spock regularly said on Star Trek. G. Yandell