Annual Meeting of the Parish
Saint George's Episcopal Church, February 26, 2012
I must begin by saying that I am still on a huge learning curve, being a ‘Baby Priest.’ I have learned so much- done some things well and made some gigantic mistakes. About two weeks ago, on the recommendation of our bishop Porter Taylor, I went to the Mepkin Abbey in Monck’s Corner, SC. It is a Trappist Monastery where the monks practice total silence, with the exception of a few who communicate minimally with retreatants and visitors. The morning I was leaving I had an appointment with a Roman Catholic priest for spiritual direction and confession.
His name is Ernie Kennedy. He is 81 years old and became a priest right out of college. We sat and talked for about an hour and a half. He listened to a bit of my story and then he would share some about his ministries throughout the many years. All of this is to say that Father Ernie told me that I am going to make many mistakes in ordained ministry. That just because I am ordained doesn’t mean that I am any less human. He said Anne, you can either forgive yourself, pick yourself up- dust yourself off and continue on your journey or just give up. He said that God had forgiven me and that I was the one who needed to forgive myself.
I share this because it is the Good News. I am not perfect and I will make mistakes- this is the truth. We are the beneficiaries of God’s Grace and the Good News of Jesus Christ. We all through our Baptism are God’s beloved children. This experience with Father Ernie reminded me of why I was called into ordained ministry- my faith. My faith is grounded in the truth that God loves us, is always with us and will forgive us when we repent and ask for forgiveness. God’s timing is amazing. Sometimes we hear something and it makes all the difference and changes the way we are able to look at our lives.
Today is the First Sunday in Lent. Today we begin again the process of looking inward; remembering that once upon a time, this season was for the preparation of those going to be baptized at Easter. It was typically at least a one year period where the ‘students’ studied, prayed, asked questions and were prepared for baptism. It was also a time for looking at their own sins and short comings. It was a time for Bible study to learn from Jesus so that they could in some ways emulate what he taught and how he loved people.
In this past year, we added some events during Holy Week. We held an Agape Meal, foot washing and stripping of the altar on Maundy Thursday. We had the Stations of the Cross on Good Friday and a wonderful Easter Liturgy.
In the summer we had 4 gathering times for Campfire and Compline. This year we will offer it a little later in the year because it was so hot and had to have it inside 3 of the 4 times. We had music and story telling and a yummy snack and closed with Compline from the New Zealand Prayer Book.
In the fall we offered Via Media for 7 weeks. We began with a simple supper, watched the video, held discussions in small groups and ended with worship. This program ended just before the first Sunday in Advent.
We had a super turnout for all the programs that were offered. The folks at St. George’s turn out well for programs, social events and other series. We have had 20-25 folks come to everything that was held in 2011. This is good news!
Retiring from the Vestry
I want to thank Valerie Lord our senior warden for the past 6 years. Her work has been tireless, her energy level infectious and love of God and St. George’s is remarkable. I have learned so much from her and will continue to seek her wisdom.
I want to thank Dick Maybach for his incredible fortitude and patience with us on the vestry. Dick has helped St. George’s by developing ‘By-Laws’ and helped organize the vestry into workable entities and brought Robert’s Rules of Order to our vestry meetings. He manages the website and is always willing to help with just about everything. I will continue to seek his wisdom.
Remaining on the Vestry
I also want to thank our Junior Warden Marsha Thomas. She is also our sexton and keeps our buildings and grounds looking great. Marsha’s stamina and heart for this beloved church is an inspiration to me. She works tirelessly.
Susie Perry is continuing on is her work here at St. George’s as she is in treatment for cancer. Her devotion to St. George’s is also long standing.
Cynthia Bassett has just finished her first year on the vestry. She has done an incredible job in organizing programs and events, among other things.
Mollie Johnson, though not on vestry, has served as Treasurer since ???- I’m not sure how long. I want to thank her for her service in this way. I also want to thank her for all her work with the children of St. George’s.
Ina Schwartz and the choir are to be thanked as well. Their time in rehearsal and artistic abilities are always evident in our worship services.
A big thanks also goes to Danielle Cook-Riley for being the clerk of the vestry. This isn’t an easy job- trying to keep up with everything we talk about at our vestry meetings.
My heart is full for all the service to God that is done here at St. George’s, by all of you. My thanks and blessings go to each one of you.
Anne +
Another year in the life of our Church has flown by, and I am happy to say that it is running well under the guidance of our Priest-in-Charge: Rev. Anne McClearen, and the Vestry.
It has been a busy time, new programs have been put in place, changes made, and our music and liturgy well accepted and enjoyed by our Congregation.
Attendance at programs for each of the Church’s seasons has been good, and we have learned much from them. It has been gratifying to see that we are appreciative of Anne’s Ministry, and we should be proud of our own efforts to support it. As well as Inreach into our own community, our Outreach into other organizations at home and abroad has continued, and we hope that this has brought help and sustenance to those in need who are less fortunate than we are. We are a community which works together for the good of others.
During the year, our Junior Warden Marsha, who is also St. George’s Sexton, together with her team has maintained our building and grounds in good order. Your Vestry has been hard at work developing plans for Transformational Ministry. Together as a congregation, we will be putting those Ministries into action as the year progresses. Committees will be formed under the guidance of Vestry members, in order to organize and run our various activities; and thanks to your generosity of Spirit in offering your time and talents we will work together to be a Church where “things happen!”
For the past five years I have been privileged to be your Senior Warden, a position which has been challenging at times but also very rewarding. Our By-Laws make it possible for me to retire at this point, and although I am saddened by this, it gladdens my heart to know that I will still be working with you, albeit in a different capacity. At this time, I want to express my sincere and grateful thanks to all those Vestry members with whom I have worked over the years, and include in this the Clerks who faithfully record our meetings, and our Treasurer Mollie for her selfless and devoted stewardship of our finances.
I am sure that your new Senior Warden will be as hard working, energetic, and caring as I have tried to be, and in return will receive as much love and support as you have given me.
Thank you all from the bottom of my heart.
Let us continue to support our Priest Anne and Vestry in their work, and never fail to offer love and help to each other, and to shine as a Beacon to the Community around us.
May God’s blessings be on us all.
Valerie
I accepted the position of Junior Warden in July of 2011. The following is a list of services that have been provided for St. George’s:
Dodson Pest Control monthly fee of $35.00
Robyn Corn Refinishing of Floors $685.00
Asheville Security for Fire Alarm $893.00
Higher Ground Gutter Cleaning $100.00
W.E. Bolton Construction New Thermostat in Parish Hall $516.11
Marsha Thomas Vacuum Cleaner for Church $203.87
Mark Thomas Painting and Molding of Parish Hall and Bathroom $516.55
Home Depot Blinds for Parish Hall $510.93
These are the large ticketed services rendered and all other items will be detailed in report from treasurer.
As of July 2011 the following activities for the building and grounds maintenance have occurred:
Congregation work days were scheduled for the 2nd Saturday of each month. These are a few things that were completed within the workdays:
Mulching of the gardens of the church
Bushes trimmed
All beds weeded
Raking and leaf removal
Removal of weeds from bank on side entrance
Tree trimmed away from church
Painting of the hand rails
Painting of light poles
Caution strips painted at walkway into parish hall and into the side entrance
Repaired lock to playground gate
Front door of church painted
Furnace repaired
Locks on outer door changed
Anne’s office painted and lock changed
A thanks is given to all whom have given of their time and talents to allow all of the above to occur.
Peace of the Lord be with you,
Marsha
The finance committee is fortunate to have Marian Maybach, Barbara Hall, and Perry Shaffer helping to oversee the finances of St. George's parish. A representative of the new vestry will be appointed to meet with us and report back to the vestry. Helen Carlson was the vestry representative in 2011.
We meet before the vestry meeting each month and go over reports and address any financial concerns which may need to be brought before the vestry. The Finance Committee also prepares the yearly budget for vestry approval.
In May 2011 we moved $8,000 from the Retirement Fund and $10,000 which was in our money market account to a business CD earning 1.5 per cent APR. This $18,000 matures in October 2012.
We began organizing records of years past, and will try to finish that thob this year.
I you have any questions concerning the finances of St. George's please get in touch with a member of our committee or me.
Mollie
Wow, What a busy year! It has been an exciting year as my first time on a vestry, and I’ve learned so much. Here’s a summary of what we’ve all done.
We started the year by going right into the ABCCM pancake supper of 2011. We had talked about getting signs made and/or possibly using the signs from the year before (which is what was done because Marsha had saved them somewhere in the basement.) This brings me to the sign.
Church member, Lynn Hunter had donated the church money for a sign and vestry members worked hard to find the right sign for our needs. We are happy with our new sign and it seems to suit our needs well.
Our mission statement: This took time and an extra meeting! We pulled together with help from many different sources, making a unique statement that says “St. George’s”.
Other fundraising events: Plants, Pastries, and Books and the yard sale. They were both very lucrative, making money for our grounds and for charity…as was “Soupy Sunday” for the tornado victims in Eastern NC.
The piano player David McClintock was here with his wife April. It was so much fun. He also gave us more playing at coffee hour, giving the children a chance to move and dance! (FYI …He is scheduled to be at St Mathias on March 18)
Anne’s Ordination: What a beautiful service and a wonderful meal, with many outstanding deserts, in celebration for our new priest. The walls were painted, blinds purchased, valances made, floors buffed, and the silver was polished! The bishop and others were here and we rose to the joyous occasion!
We had campfire and compline which was a success! It gave the parish a chance to be together casually, giving us real time to just be us!
The Labyrinth: This was something I had never personally done before either. It gave us quiet time for meditation and reflection.
We kicked off Sunday school with hot dogs and burgers.
The new comers’ dinner at Marsha’s and Ronny’s: What can I say? FUN, FUN, FUN
Lastly, our Christmas social ended a wonderful calendar year. The tacos were yummy! I finally got my camera out and had lots of fun documenting this wonderful time with my church family.
There may be more that I left off. We also had our regular Sunday services … Lint, Palm Sunday, Easter, etc…
Something for everyone!
It is my hope to continue to serve as your vestry representative during the year 2012 and work toward spiritual growth.
Cynthia
The goals for our stewardship campaign were : (1) to obtain an accurate estimate of our income and (2) to find in what parish activities our members wished to participate. We made substantial progress toward both, but there is still much to do. For 2011, we received $35,920. We believe that the best way to increase our income is to increase our membership. There were few surprises in the talent survey; most of you are already generously contributing to the parish's activities. Mainly, this helps us to get new members involved in our parish life.
As usual, the 2011 campaign was low key, but we may revise this in 2012, as the health of St. George's depends on increasing our income. Many parishes have improved their campaign results with more intensive campaigns involving several letters and personal visits to parishioners. If you have thoughts on how we can make our stewardship program more effective, please share them with any member of our vestry.
Dick