Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 2012 Annual Report
Hynm 680, verses 1 & 2
O God, Our Help in Ages Past
2012 Annual Parish Meeting February 24, 2013 10:00 am Agenda
Hymn 680. vs 1-2 Opening Prayer Call to Order – The Rector Report of the Nominating Committee
Vestry and Diocesan Convention Delegates – Van Sheets, Senior Warden
Election – Scott Wilson, Parliamentarian Saint Michael Foundation – Giffen Weinmann, President Treasurer’s Report Stewardship Report – Kelly and John Wilson Wardens’ Reports Senior Warden – Van Sheets Junior Warden – Tony Briggle Rector’s Report – Bob Dannals Election Results (if available) Questions and Responses Adjournment, Concluding Prayer and Doxology
Dear People of Saint Michael and All Angels, As we stand on the threshold of another year of shared life, I continue to be amazed and gratified by the many ways God blesses us as a congregation. Among the greatest of these blessings are the people who serve all of us so generously. In this booklet you will be pleased to find the heart and soul of our varied ministries. In lieu of protracted annual meetings, we ask each of our ministry areas to express the highlights of their experiences in the past year. I hope that each of you will “read, mark, learn and inwardly digest” these personal reflections and discover (again) the many and varied opportunities we have to worship, study, grow, give, and serve in this place. As you read I pray that you will want to be more deeply involved in ministry and mission for yourself. We will all be strengthened by the offering of your gifts. Our community of faith has such talent, strength and diversity, but we have so much undeveloped potential in terms of what God can do through us. May God continue to bless and guide us as we seek together to embody Christ’s loving presence to each other and the larger world.
Robert S. Dannals Rector
Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church Annual Report 2012
Rector’s Report and grace of God as we roll up our sleeves, open up our hearts and pocketbooks, and exercise our God-given gifts for the mission that is much larger than one individual.
A significant biblical image of mission and ministry, especially as it relates to a large, diverse congregation like Saint Michael and All Angels, is the calling to be “fishers of people.” Instead of going after the big catch by ourselves, we are summoned to appeal to God for direction and resources. To work the nets in concert with the diverse body of the faithful is, in modern The Rev. Dr. Robert S. Dannals terms, “networking.” This can Rector only be carried out when we put aside our more narrowly defined personal needs and desires and place our operative trust in God’s Spirit and in what benefits the whole community. Although we meet Christ first as individuals, we receive the sacrament of baptism in the midst of the community – of public worship – and we quickly grow in our faith within the community of the Church.
Our two primary goals for overall parish life during the past 12 months, and on into the next 24 months are: (1) to increase participation at all levels of our parish’s life; and, (2) to increase community-building in all areas of our life together. In regards to these two primary goals, I see the state of our parish as both precarious and powerful. I use precarious here in its original meaning: “depending on the will and support of another.” We rely more and more on the grace of God, not merely on our own ingenuity and efforts. We are a powerful place because, as I see it, we are garnering the incredible skills, talents and resources of this parish – we are searching, growing, planning, and dreaming; and all of us together are yearning to be useful to God and the world. We are realizing again that we are not just a “big ole” Texas institutional, traditional church on Douglas, but an organic, diverse, prayerful, sacramental presence with and for Christ in this city, this diocese, this state and country, and around the world. We are local to be global; we are a congregation meant to be attached to the Diocese, to our national church, and to the larger Anglican Communion.
One of the age-old questions that is often posed by seminary professors is whether or not one can be a Christian by oneself: Can Christianity exist outside of the community of local parishes? I believe this question is asked not to keep churches in existence, but to keep Christians in existence – to enable individuals to be alive and growing in faith and mission. There is the story of two friends sitting by a burning fireplace; one a priest, the other a believer who didn’t belong to any sort of organized community of faith. He challenged his friend, the priest: “Give me one good reason why I should attend public worship in an organized church.” The priest thought for a time and then took a poker and pulled a red, hot ember from the fire and placed it onto the stone hearth. Within minutes the ember turned gray and cooled. Without speaking a word, the priest had answered his friend’s question.
During this past year the clergy, staff, vestry, and over 100 ministry teams began looking at how we can increase commitment, participation, and real community in our parish. Most of the work, I’m proud to say, was done by small, imaginative lay groups working with clergy, staff, and vestry liaisons. Engagement was the primary theme, and we staked ourselves to deepened commitment to God (our worship and spiritual search), giving (our understanding and practice of good stewardship), and identity, purpose, and belonging (our dedication that Christian life needs community and a sense of significance). We have done good spade work by way of workshops – led by Marta Holden and Shelly Vescovo; our Christian Formation staff and clergy have done fabulous work in thinking about how we teach and learn the faith in today’s digitized world – reminding us that we have one of the best communications teams in the church; our strategic campus teams have thought imaginatively about enhancing and enlarging the community spaces of our facilities, including identifying a footprint for a larger preschool and a possible Great Hall near the Garden Cloister; and, we have done an honest appraisal of the ways we ask for and receive financial support (Jim Skochdopole has agreed to Chair our on-going
Paul uses the human body as a metaphor for the church, and what a wonderful example of how uniformity is not what is needed, but rather it is unity, cooperation, appreciation, and mutuality of purpose and mission that is needed to function in a healthy and faithful manner. At Saint Michael it means that we need the gifts, offerings, time, talent, treasure, and participation of everyone pulling on the nets – each person taking a responsible and beneficial role of ministry. We are not a mall where religious services can be purchased for individual needs, but a community of faith which draws on the presence 4
their unbending dedication to make this needed project happen (please excuse the minor mess and slight parking changes this will necessitate.) We also have entered a more formal exploration with Episcopal School of Dallas In the past three years we faced – along with the country regarding our (and their) long-range aspirations for our – a financial down-turn, and we were forced to weather building usage and their needs for the lower school. What its affects in our annual budget. At year-end, 2012, we we know today is that our lease arrangement, while being can sense God’s abiding presence and, quite frankly, re-examined, is likely to be a long-term relationship, determined hard work by many to maintain a robust possibly carrying both institutions into the next decade. We mission, ministry, and outreach at Saint Michael – are also adding two new playgrounds for our preschool – thanks to our very fine operations and financial staff and frugal spending by our program staff. During those years one renovated play space near the building, the other an we experienced some heroic giving by some, and diligent expansive playground and community-gathering space on and creative efforts by clergy, staff, and the north end of our property adjacent lay leaders. Our parish’s slight surplus to where we host the Saint Michael’s We are not a mall where at yearend and the presentation of a Farmers Market. And speaking of the religious services can be balanced budget for the coming year market, we had a hugely successful purchased for individual is clear evidence that many people are first half-season. It provided an everyparticipating in our bright future. Saturday sphere of community and needs, but a community outreach on our property. We are of faith which draws on Saint Michael’s brighter picture tells only anticipating an expansive, full season this part of the larger story of a dedicated spring, summer and early fall, and we the presence and grace clergy team and staff shouldering extend thanks to the many, many people of God as we roll up our ever weightier and more numerous who made this new venture possible. responsibilities. The calls on our offerings sleeves, open up our and ministries only seem to increase. Each Another major program goal was hearts and pocketbooks, of us needs to shoulder aspects of our life fulfilled this past year – the inauguration and exercise our Godtogether; to give not only of presence, of a community concert series. As gifts, and time – but also financially. many of you know, we hosted a major given gifts for the mission One half of our potential giving “units” interfaith concert and liturgy on the that is much larger than (individuals and families) don’t pledge, tenth anniversary of 9/11. With this leaving the other half to provide the as momentum, we launched out again one individual. financial needs of our parish. If you are this past Advent and hosted a seasonal not yet a pledger (or a regular giver), prayerfully consider concert on the first Sunday of December. Welcoming 1,000 joining the rest of us in this aspect of the Christian journey. people and sponsoring and executing stunning music was As I’ve said before, after Valerie and I reached the tithe of both important hard work and an expression of our spiritual financial giving, we’ve never looked back. It is spiritually outreach to the larger Dallas community. We anticipate rewarding – I promise. sponsoring at least two of these events every year. And the final This coming year will call us to even greater commitment and major endeavor we have launched is a quiet funding to pay off resolve to give of ourselves and our resources to God’s ministry. the debt of our Lomo Alto office building. We hope by this This includes continuing efforts to attract and involve new time next year we will benefit from the income that building members, re-engage those people on the sidelines, and to produces, rather than using the income to pay down its debt. deepen the faith of all. We need to enlarge both our donor/ To that end, we extend heartfelt thanks to Phillip Wiggins and pledging numbers and the amount of individual pledges. Peggy Carr who are chairing this effort. Giving Council to help advance our stewardship teaching and efforts) for our ministries.
Our church has made great strides this past year with several endeavors. The Columbarium project is now literally coming out of the ground. We held our groundbreaking on January 6 when we thanked countless people for
Our goals of community building and increasing participation will continue into the next 12-24 months. I have asked all areas of our parish’s life to explore how we will advance these two goals – in real terms – during the coming years. This spring 5
I extend my deep gratitude to my clergy colleagues; worship, program, and support staff; to the Vestry; and, to volumes of talented and faithful lay leaders. I thank my wife, Valerie, for her love and for her abiding interest and care she expresses within Saint Michael. I am particularly grateful for the extraordinary ministries of our Wardens, Van Sheets and Tony Briggle, both of whom are retiring from our Vestry; our Treasurer, Matt Waller; our Chancellors – Robert Wilson, Jim Skochdopole, Dianna Bowen, Bart Showalter, Bob Wilbur, and Scott Wilson; our Clerk, Margaret Spellings; the Stewardship Chairs, John and Kelly Wilson; the Foundation Trustees and its President, Giffen Weinmann; and three retiring Vestry members: Cindy Carter, Scott Wilson and Paige Wilbur.
the Vestry and I will finalize the good planning happening among the various ministry components. We appreciate the valuable volunteer consulting provided by Bill Bancroft of our parish. Having increased our children, youth, and family staffing, budget, and energy, we anticipate real growth in our younger population. The Preschool Board and early childhood staff continue to do amazing work. I feel we have one of the best children, youth, and family staffs in the Episcopal Church. We plan to continue our increases in mission and outreach and pastoral care. This past year we increased our clergy presence in pastoral care with the arrival of the Revs. Lisa Flores and Brenda Sol. Previously we had only one full-time priest assigned to this area; Brenda is giving one-half of her time to pastoral care. With increased volunteer participation and consistent and robust financial giving (from many different places, including the Women of Saint Michael), our outreach ministries are making a tremendous difference to those we serve and in our own lives. At the recommendation of the Mission and Outreach Committee and with the approval of the Vestry, we have set a goal that our operating budget allocation for outreach will reach a tithe in the coming years. When we add up all of our allocations – from all of our constituent groups – Saint Michael gives nearly one million dollars every year to ministries beyond our walls. We have bid farewell to several staff/clergy during this past year: Patty Willett, Jemonde Taylor, Carol Hermann, Jennifer Lopez, and Tami Leal. We miss them, their particular gifts and contributions, and we wish them Godspeed and blessings in their new ventures. We’ve also welcomed several new staff and clergy: Lisa, Brenda, Katie Riley, Carolina Armstrong, Austen Crossley, and the return of the Rev. Ariail Gores to our diaconal staff.
When author Kathleen Norris began to take her faith seriously, she joined the church out of what she writes was “a basic need; I was becoming a Christian, and as the religion can’t be practiced alone, I needed to align myself with a weekly, worshipping, sacramental community of faith.” No matter how much or how little or how different our Christian beliefs and experiences may be, it will be in fellowship together, in breaking the bread together, in praying together, that we shall draw nearer to one another and to God in Christ. Thanks be to God!
Robert S. Dannals Rector
6
Senior Warden’s Report This church also is serving God’s purposes in our individual lives. We are drawn by different combinations of experience – music, mission and outreach opportunities, Christian formation programs, youth activities, particular small groups, and so forth. Whatever the magnets, they have deep personal meaning. This applies not only to staunch members who attend the Annual Meeting, but just as much to parishioners who come only at Easter and Christmas, visitors passing through town, or friends we make on distant mission trips.
There is some lore that serving on the vestry can challenge your faith, and that being a warden is worse. Maybe that refers to all the meetings to which vestry members are invited, and all the committees of which wardens are ad hoc members. Seriously, one thing I like about attending church meetings is the opportunity to walk these Van Sheets hallways at all hours of the Senior Warden week, observing this lively community beyond the view from my regular pew. I’ve seen the weekday 7a.m. chapel regulars crowded around the coffee carafe, children dressed for Pajama Prayers on Wednesday night, a parishioner with tense shoulders and fidgeting hands waiting for an appointment with a priest, and later leaving less anxious, a conference room buzzing with plans for the next mission trip, musicians practicing with transfixed faces, the social life of school carpool lines, the kitchens receiving homemade food for a different purpose every day, scores of weekly Bible study groups…. No statistics can capture the life-changing ministries visible from our halls.
In most areas of my life, I tend to project my own experiences and desires onto everyone around me. Serving on the vestry has reminded me that the church is different for every one of us, but a deeply felt home for all of us. Saint Michael and All Angels sometimes is called a “big tent” church, because in a time when the energy of some Episcopalians, other Christians and other religious people seems directed to clarifying boundaries between us, we try to welcome all of God’s children. We want to understand right and wrong in our own lives, and to be at one with God, but we don’t presume to understand each other’s spiritual journeys. We appreciate that life in community is inherently messy, but we are grateful to travel together. We try to see and encourage the best in each other, and to seek Christ in the breadth, vibrancy and warmth of our messy community.
Another reward of attending so many church meetings has been to appreciate the Christ-like examples of our clergy and staff. Imagine me rushing into a church meeting, breathless and ready to regale the group about my dramatic business meeting this morning and my flight delay into Dallas two hours ago. I am met by a cheerful and gracious rector or associate rector arriving directly from hospital rounds or counseling a parishioner or conducting a funeral. It ruins the satisfaction of complaining about a flight delay.
I suppose the senior warden’s report to the Annual Meeting is meant to summarize the health of the church, so here it is: I am not perfect, you are not perfect, Saint Michael and All Angels Church is not perfect. But the past year was very good, the coming year will be better, and “surely the Lord is in this place.” Respectfully submitted,
Our rector has the most emotionally and intellectually demanding professional position of anyone I know, serving as pastor, teacher, diplomat, preacher, executive, writer and strategic visionary. Our associate clergy and lay staff are remarkable. Each of the 52 fulltime and 9 part time men and women on the church payroll is gifted and called by God to work among us. In a time of tectonic change in society, technology, government, economy, and the church, Saint Michael and All Angels Church is steadily doing God’s work on earth, because of the leadership of our rector, clergy and staff.
Van Sheets, Senior Warden
7
2012 Vestry Officers
Van Sheets
Senior Warden
2010 – 2013
Tony Briggle
Junior Warden
2010 – 2013
Matt Waller
Treasurer
Robert Wilson
Chancellor
Margaret Spellings
Clerk
Members
Christine Ashmore
2012 – 2015
Cindy Carter
2010 – 2013
Clifford Miercort
2011 – 2014
Stephanie Pearson
2011 – 2014
Grady Schleier
2012 – 2015
Nancy Skochdopole
2012 – 2015
Ron Staffieri
2011 – 2014
Tom Stewart
2012 – 2015
Stewart Thomas
2012 – 2015
Donell Wiggins
2011 – 2014
Paige Wilbur
2010 – 2013
Scott Wilson
2010 – 2013
Sheryl Wylie
2011 – 2014
8
Elections – Vestry Nominations 2013
John Gorman
John Gorman has been a member of Saint Michael for more than 12 years during which time he has served as President of the Men of Saint Michael and a member of its Board for three years. He served on the Building and Grounds Committee and is on the Engagement Ministry Connect Team. John and his wife served as Sunday School teachers, volunteered with the EYC, and participated in numerous Bible Study groups.
Kathy Jenevein
A member for more than 25 years, Kathy Jenevein has served Saint Michael in many capacities. She served on and chaired the Early Childhood Ministry Committee as well as several committees associated with the church’s children’s ministries. She has twice been on the Vestry Nomination Committee and is on the Mission and Outreach Gift Committee. For the Women of Saint Michael, Kathy has served as Parish Party Chair, Program Chair, and a member of the Executive Committee, as well as in several other capacities.
Sallie Plummer
Sallie Plummer has chaired the Jubilee Park Public Health Committee and has led the Mission and Outreach Committee’s hunger initiative, which includes the Jubilee Food 4 Kids program and the Rosebud Indian Reservation’s Kid’s Café and Backpack projects. She serves on the Adult Formation Committee, the Women of Saint Michael Auction Committee, and is a Meals on Wheels volunteer. Sallie has been a member of the parish for 22 years.
Randy Rekerdres
Randy was baptized at Saint Michael and All Angels and has been a current member of the parish for more than 25 years. He is chair-elect of the Mission and Outreach Committee, and has served on its executive committee and grants committee. Randy has served as co-leader of the adult Honduras Mission trips, participated in the 2012 Rosebud Indian Reservation Mission trip, and cooks regularly for the Austin Street Shelter.
Matt Waller
Matt Waller is currently Treasurer of Saint Michael and All Angels and has served several years on the church’s Finance Committee. He has served as organizer and host of two Bible study groups, and participated in numerous outreach programs including Jubilee Park, the Saint Michael’s Farmers Market, and the Columbarium Committee’s finance review group. Matt has been a member of the church for more than 23 years.
9
Diocesan Convention Delegation Nominees’ Biographies Marla Briggle
Jim Riggert
Convention delegate 2007 – 2012 Member: Altar Guild, Funeral Guild, Wedding Guild Board: American Convocation of Episcopal Churches in Europe
Convention delegate for 7 years Finance Committee: Diocese of Dallas Lay Eucharistic Visitor
Ralph Cousins
Former Vestry: Senior Warden Convention delegate: Delegation Chair Stewardship Committee
Phil Ritter
Former Vestry member Convention delegate Mission/Outreach and Stewardship Committees
Charles Sartain
Former Vestry: Senior Warden Acolyte, Chalice Bearer Assistant Chancellor
Blake Hull
Former Vestry member Convention delegate since 2007 Mission/Outreach, Pastoral Care, Adult Education Committees
Van Sheets
Vestry member: Senior Warden Stewardship Committee Former Treasurer
Bill Johnson
Former Vestry: two-time Senior Warden Former Chair: Stewardship Committee Diocese of Dallas Standing Committee
J.C. Snead
Verger Acolyte, Chalice Bearer Worship Service Master of Ceremonies
James Kerr
Acolyte, Chalice Bearer, Lector Lay Eucharist Visitor Pastoral Care Committee
Chuck Stewart
Convention delegate 8 years Mission/Outreach Committee Team Leader: By Our Love Supper Club
John McFarland, Sr.
Former Vestry member Rector Search Committee Chair, Chapel Restoration Committee
Tom Stewart. Jr.
Vestry member Building and Grounds Committee Chair Decade Committee
Bill McIntyre
Former Vestry member Diocese of Dallas: Risk Management Committee Saint Michael Foundation: Trustee
Paul Talbot
Saint Michael Choir Stewardship Committee Sunday School and Disciples Class teacher
Clifford Miercort
Vestry member Jubilee Park: DISD Committee Chair: Compensation Committee
Donell Wiggins
Vestry Former President Women of Saint Michael Former Chair Child Development Committee
Kyle Moore
Convention delegate 2010 – 2012 Stewardship Committee co-chair Children and Family Ministry volunteer
Jim Wiley
Former Vestry, Junior Warden and Treasurer Saint Michael Choir Adult Formation and Stewardship Committees
Liz Oliphant
Acolyte, Chalice Bearer, Lector Convention delegate 4 years Former Executive Council: Diocese of Dallas 10
Finances & Operations
Report on Saint Michael and All Angels Church Finances Highlights
Matthew Waller Treasurer
can avoid the scramble to balance the budget when the last pledges arrive in January; and, 3) Since we commit to our ministries in advance it is important that, as you are able, pledges are paid timely and in full.
• Our finances are sound and our cash reserves are adequate. • In 2012, we achieved a surplus of $22,093 vs. a projected deficit of $76,246. • We continue to support Mission and Outreach ministries financially at a high level. • With an increase in Stewardship, we still have several areas that are in need of funds.
I am always amazed at the responsiveness and generosity of our parish, and I am thankful for your support and additional gifts that allowed us to overcome the budgeted deficit and finish the year with a surplus. Status of Our Financial Giving
Based on our most recent Stewardship campaign, I report that those who pledge are becoming more generous in general, but overall the number of pledgers is declining. The average pledge in 2013 is $4,100, an 11% increase over the average pledge in 2012 of $3,700. The number of pledges, however, declined 4% from 1,200 in 2012 to 1,150 in 2013. As treasurer, I often get asked what is the average pledge required to meet the need in our ministry areas without cuts and with support for growth. My answer is an average pledge of $5,000.
2012 Financial Results
Our financial results for 2012 prove out the saying “All’s well that ends well.” For the first time in my recollection, the Vestry approved a budget that provided for a $76,246 loss, counting on our parish to respond to our need rather than cutting program or staff that it deemed necessary. At the annual meeting, Van Sheets described our predicament and asked the parish pray about their level of giving. I am happy to report that because of your response to that request and a follow up letter in early December, we finished the year with $280,449 more revenue than budgeted. Due to this increase in giving and excellent expense management, we were able to finish the year with a $22,093 surplus even after providing an unbudgeted discretionary $110,991 contribution to our staff 401(k) account.
Having said that, we are grateful to every person who pledges to Saint Michael at every giving level. But in a world of non-profits that ask for our support frequently and in such sophisticated ways, I feel it is so important to prayerfully consider where the church ranks in our giving priorities. I can assure you that the need is great, and we are careful and efficient stewards of your gifts. How Much of Our Money Goes to Outreach?
A common question is, “How much of our budget goes to Outreach?” Here is a simple summary:
How we budget; Your pledge matters
At the end of a Stewardship campaign that begins in September and ends in January (we have some 300-400 pledges arrive in January), we are able to project our annual revenue available for our ministries. In November, our staff engages in a professional budgeting process where they plan for their ministry area and forecast its cost. We then compare that need with the results of the Stewardship campaign, and in recent years that need exceeded our projected revenue, so each ministry area had to trim their requests in order to provide for a balanced budget.
Directly:
Support of the Episcopal Church of the U.S. and the Diocese of Dallas Support of Seminaries Mission and Outreach Committee grants Allocation of clergy and staff compensation (est.) Total Direct Support
This process highlights three areas where you as parishioners can be of help: 1) If you are able, please pledge, because our ability to extend our ministry in the world depends entirely on your Stewardship; 2) Please pledge as early in the campaign as possible so we
$645,866 7,000 145,000 1,000,000 $1,797,866
Indirectly (Off budget, but by our parishioners efforts and generosity):
Women of Saint Michael Christmas and Easter plate Backpacks for Kids Heart of Giving 12
$503,100 $77,660 $42,236 $49,783
Parishioners gifts of time, talent and treasure to a wide range of outreach and mission ministries locally and around the world!
campaign is currently underway to solicit gifts to pay off that note which would free the cash flow of that building to support parish ministries.
PRICELESS
Long Term Financial Resources
Financial Management Organization
Thanks to prudent management in past years, we have assets to support long-term initiatives. These are not intended to cover short term operating expenses, but do provide a modest cushion against the seasonality of our revenue. These include:
Saint Michael and All Angels has an excellent finance staff led by our Director of Accounting Rob Baber, and including Interim Stewardship Coordinator Lisa Baber, accountants Angelia Hunter and Marlene Moncada, and part time consultant Darla Sheeley. We have regular contact with other large U.S. churches, and are aware of none our size that are able to operate with such a lean financial staff.
• Over $1,330,000 in Restricted Funds designated to dozens of purposes for which the expenses cross more than a single year’s budget, for example, lecture series, liturgical supplies and youth missions. • Cash reserves not designated to special purposes, which fluctuate seasonally since our revenue is highest around Christmas and lower in the summer. At their low point at the end of last summer, these exceeded $500,000. This essential cushion is modest in relation to the size and complexity of our finances. • A bank line of credit for $400,000, which is available if our cash reserves become insufficient to cover revenue and expense timing differences. This line of credit costs us nothing unless we draw on it, which we have not done in several years. • The assets of the Saint Michael and All Angels Foundation are completely separate from the church Balance Sheet, but represent important resources devoted to the church’s purposes. At the end of 2012 the Foundation had $3,080,681 in funds designated to various long term special purposes of the church and $1,797,655 in undesignated funds. Foundation assets as an established policy do not fund activities that naturally are part of church annual operating expenses. The Foundation trustees ensure that all spending complies with the Foundation By-Laws and individual fund purposes. To ensure coordination with church finances, the Foundation president is an ex-officio member of the vestry and its finance committee, and the rector and church treasurer are ex-officio members of the Foundation board of trustees.
The vestry appoints a Finance Committee to oversee and advise on church finances. The members in the past year have been, Rob Baber (Director of Accounting), Steve Black, Bob Dannals (Rector), Bill Felder, Tracy Helms, Kathy Kelley, Randy Kob, Suzanne Lipscomb, Casey McManemin, Alan Pierce, Jim Smith, Van Sheets (Senior Warden), Matt Waller (Treasurer and Committee Chairman), Giffen Weinmann (Saint Michael Foundation President), John and Kelly Wilson (Stewardship Co-chairs), and Sheryl Wylie (Vestry Liaison). The Finance Committee meets and reports to the vestry monthly, and its minutes are published on the church website. Audits We received an unqualified (or “clean”) audit opinion for our 2011 financial statements, and the 2012 audit will be performed this spring. The church Audit Committee reports to the vestry and is independent of the staff, the Treasurer and the Finance Committee. Its members in 2012 were Jay Lipscomb, Grady Schleier, Scott Wilson and Sheryl Wylie. Conclusion
We trust this conveys that the clergy, staff and lay leaders at Saint Michael and All Angels are careful stewards of the church’s resources. The church’s financial health is, however, in your hands as you decide how to use the material gifts you receive from God. Respectfully submitted,
Capital Accounts
In 2012 we paid off the remaining $94,000 mortgage on the land under our new north parking lot with pledge payments from the last capital campaign. In addition, we paid down our mortgage on our commercial office building on Lomo Alto to $3,000,000. That mortgage is being serviced by the building’s rental income. As mentioned in the Rector’s report, a quiet
Matthew Waller, Treasurer
13
2012 Revenue and Expenses Current Year Pledges Prior Year Pledges Unpledged Plate Other Credit Card Fees Total Revenues Diocese and National Church Seminaries Mission and Outreach Total Outreach Net Operating Revenue
Budget
Actual
Variance
4,311,000 225,000 285,000 100,000 68,000 (45,000) 4,944,000
4,489,140 234,382 355,689 94,832 94,070 (43,664) 5,224,449
178,140 9,382 70,689 (5,168) 26,070 1,336 280,449
656,000 7,000 145,000 808,000
656,279 7,000 145,000 808,279
279 – – 279
4,136,000
4,416,170
280,170
Operating Expenses Ministries Compensation & Benefits Other Facilities & Administration Compensation & Benefits Services, Utilities, Supplies Total Operating Expenses
2,598,000 395,000
2,733,839 479,619
(135,839) (84,619)
1,096,000 1,392,000 5,481,000
1,123,988 1,407,885 5,745,330
(27,988) (15,885) (264,330)
Expense Offsets ESD Expense Allocation Preschool Tuition Net Expenses After Offsets
(558,000) (711,000) 4,212,000
(585,671) (765,582) 4,394,077
27,671 54,582 (182,077)
Net Surplus/(Deficit)
(76,000)
14
22,093
98,093
Stewardship 2013
our parishioners, or 1,150 families pledged financial support in the annual campaign. The average pledge per family is approximately $4,100. Of course, there are many that pledge significantly more and many others that fall below the average gift.
As members of Saint Michael and All Angels, we are called by God to work together, complementing each other’s vast gifts and abilities. Stewardship is our collective efforts to manage and exercise the financial gifts that God has given to us. It is our combined efforts to care for and support God’s work in our church, our community and around the world.
The Stewardship committee, vestry, clergy and staff would like to thank everyone that supports the annual campaign. In return, we pledge to be the very best stewards that we can be of the gifts you have entrusted to our care. These gifts will allow Saint Michael to reach out to others through worship, Christian education, pastoral care, mission and outreach, and hospitality. Without our collective gifts, none of this would be possible.
Contrary to our annual giving campaign, stewardship is not a season. It is a continual exercise requiring our focus and commitment. Just as God is committed to each of us every day, we must remain steadfast in our commitment to God. Stewardship requires acknowledging our role in God’s world and taking action. It is the ultimate answering of God’s call in appreciation for his generosity and grace.
Working together, we will witness the power of Saint Michael and All Angels to make a difference in the world, in our community and in each of our lives. We thank you for saying, “Here I Am, Lord”.
As part of our duty in stewardship at Saint Michael, we help to establish and maintain our annual budget. We participate in an annual pledge campaign to cover the costs of running the church on a day-to-day basis. Saint Michael and All Angels must manage to a balanced budget.
Kelly and John Wilson Stewardship Co-chairs
This year, our parish collectively pledged $4.6 million to support our annual church activities. Approximately 40% of
15
The Saint Michael and All Angels Foundation Mission and Purpose
proceeds will be donated by the Church to the Foundation to create permanent Foundation funds. Our thanks to Tom McConnell for his creativity in developing this idea for financing the Columbarium expansion and providing for long term growth of the Foundation’s permanent funds.
The mission of the Saint Michael and All Angels Foundation of Dallas is to seek and manage funds to enhance the ministries of the Church we love by encouraging and assisting Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church in its mission. Organization
The Foundation’s Current Gift Acceptance Policy is available online at the Church website.
The Foundation is a separately chartered, non-profit corporation exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the internal revenue code. It is governed by a 15-member board of trustees, five of whom are elected to six-year terms by the parish at large every other year.
Grants
Grants from the Foundation support the mission of the Parish, and are consistent with the priorities established annually by the Rector and the Vestry. During 2012, approximately $149,000 in grants were approved to help create a Department of Lay Ministry Engagement, to support the operations of the Farmer’s Market, to fund a Parish Nurse Administrator for the growing Parish Nurse Program, to pay for improved signage on the church campus, to fund a speaker for the Ratelle Lecture Series, and to fund the renovation of men and ladies restrooms.
The trustees oversee a professionally managed perpetual fund which is invested prudently for capital growth and preservation, as well as short term funds held for specific purposes on behalf of the Church. The Foundation is separate from Church finances but coordinated with the President of the Foundation serving ex-officio on the Vestry and the Finance Committee, and the Rector, Treasurer, and a Vestry Representative sitting ex-officio on the Board of the Foundation.
The Foundation does not make grants from most of its funds for needs that are properly within the scope of the Church operating budget. This is to prevent the Church from becoming dependent upon the Foundation for its normal operating needs and thereby weakening parishioner support of the Church through annual stewardship gifts. Grant requests can be submitted at any time and are first approved by the Church Finance Committee and the Vestry prior to any commitment by The Foundation. A grant application form is available online.
Donations to the Foundation
Contributions to the Foundation are encouraged when individuals want to give beyond their annual operating support. These contributions may be made to the Foundation to the undesignated funds or to support one of the designated funds such as Clergy Housing, Music, Pastoral Care, Youth Ministry, Outreach/Mission, Columbarium, and the Ratelle Speaker Series. Traditionally, gifts made to the Church from an estate are transferred to the Foundation thus allowing the donor to continue to support the Parish in perpetuity.
Respectively submitted,
All Angels Society - To encourage all parishioners to remember the Church in their wills, The Foundation established the All Angels Society. Membership in the All Angels Society signals a parishioner’s commitment to include Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church of Dallas in his or her estate planning. Members of the Parish are encouraged to include the Church that they love in their estate plans and become members of the All Angels Society.
Giffen Weinmann President
Columbarium - The Foundation has recently received over $1.7 million of gifts and pledges which will be granted to the Church to support the expansion of the Columbarium. As the Columbarium niches are sold over the next 20 to 30 years, the
16
The Foundation Statement of Assets, Liabilities and Fund Balances - 2012 STATEMENT OF ASSETS, LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES December 31, 2012 ASSETS Cash and Temporary Investments
$
Securities (At Market) Mutual Funds Marketable Securities
392,603 4,177,983 307,750
Total Assets
$
4,878,336
Fund Balances Undesignated--Corpus & Income Designated--Corpus & Income
$
1,797,655 3,080,681
Total Fund Balances
$
4,878,336
LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCES
REVENUE, EXPENSES, GRANTS AND CHANGE IN FUND BALANCES Fund Balance-Corpus Beginning Balance Contributions to Corpus Return of Grants Grants from Corpus Dividends, Interest, Royalties Realized Gain (Loss) On Securities Unrealized Gain (Loss) On Securities Corpus Before Transfers to Income Transfers to Income Ending Fund Balance-Corpus Fund Balance-Income Beginning Balance Income Transfer-Current Year Grants from Income Expenses Ending Fund Balance-Income
UNDESIGNATED $ 1,495,541 28,344 62,083 1,603 155,395 1,742,966 (65,706) $
1,677,260
DESIGNATED $ 2,217,604 488,617 8,000 (53,015) 88,308 1,980 185,301 2,936,795 (101,908)
$
$ 2,834,887
$
TOTAL 3,713,145 516,961 8,000 (53,015) 150,391 3,583 340,696 4,679,761 (167,614) 4,512,147
$
157,122 65,706 (86,232) (11,201)
$
166,456 101,908 (10,000) (17,570)
$
323,578 167,614 (96,232) (28,771)
$
125,395
$
240,794
$
366,189
17
Junior Warden’s Report – Building and Grounds 2012 Improvements and Projects:
Beck Construction Company. Permitting is underway, and construction is expected to commence in February or early March. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held on Sunday, January 6.
The operations group completed the replacement, repair and enhancement of the planting walls and entry walk at the Northeast entry of the building allowing easy access to the North parking lot of the Church in anticipation of the Columbarium expansion. Thanks to Mr. Bill Pardoe Tony Briggle for assisting with this project. Junior Warden In correlation with the Columbarium expansion, we added 5 additional ADA compliant parking spaces along the North drive and created a Senior/Prime Timer parking area of approximately 10 dedicated spaces in the North parking lot.
The Building and Grounds Committee extensively considered both the short-term and long-term uses of the Fredericks Square property, better known as the “North Forty.” • For the foreseeable future, we anticipate operating 8100 Lomo Alto as a multi-purpose office building. It is currently 99% leased with its income covering expenses. A quiet campaign is seeking to raise funds to pay off the building’s debt. Thanks to the leadership of the Fredericks Square Title Holding Company chaired by Bob Wilbur, who recently stepped down from that position and is being succeeded by Blair Oden. • The Committee helped create and supports the Saint Michael’s Farmers Market, including the addition of picnic tables and creation of a concession area and “cool” zone. Additional amenities for the Farmers Market are planned for areas adjacent and north of the parking lot. • New playground facilities and grounds for sports education programs are being developed for the Saint Michael Preschool. • Saint Michael entered into a temporary agreement allowing the City of Dallas to utilize a portion of the vacant lot as a staging area for the construction of the new fire station at the corner of Douglas and Northwest Highway. This agreement provides a significant financial benefit to the Parish. A special thanks to Lay Leader Bob Wilbur and our professional counsel Kirk Williams.
Final plans and specifications for the new Columbarium were completed, and we solicited bids and awarded the contract to
We completed Phase I of retrofitting the exterior landscape/ security lighting from mercury vapor to the energy saving LED lighting. This retrofit not only saves money through reduced energy consumption and maintenance costs, but also is environmentally beneficial and less stressful for the trees.
Groundbreaking for the Columbarium and Nave Courtyard was held Sunday, January 6
Less Visible Projects:
Architectural concept of the completed Columbarium and Nave Courtyard. 18
• Audio frequency changes were made in the Church and the Saint Michael Chapel due to FCC regulations. • Sanitary sewer pump and alarm board replacements were made in the ESD I gymnasium area. • Upgraded the Saint Michael Chapel stained glass window lighting to new generation LED fixtures. • Working with the Saint Michael Preschool committee on the multiple playground projects.
Administration
The Administration staff of Saint Michael continues to support all of our church ministries. Manning the frontline are our wonderful receptionists Sandra Cox and Bonita Frederick. They continue to keep happy faces and make a positive first impression for us for all the events and activities on our campus. Our accounting team is headed up by Rob Baber, Director of Accounting, with tremendous assistance from Angelia Hunter and Marlene Moncada. They work on everything from processing all contributions to paying all of the campus invoices and keeping all financials in line for the Saint Michael ministries and the Lomo Alto office building.
Rafael Encarnation of the operations and maintenance staff
• Through B&G and the lay leadership of Steve McKenney, Saint Michael has set a precedent on energy savings through aggregation that will benefit the entire Diocese of Dallas. • B&G is in the process of creating policies and procedures for non-Church related use of our building and facilities. Special thanks to Tom Stewart, Chairman • B&G is coordinating with the Dallas Police Department, Saint Michael Preschool and ESD on proper emergency action protocols.
Tommy Thedford is our Information Technology Coordinator. He provides support for 68 workstations, several servers, switches, routers and bridges. It is an ongoing effort to keep our campus technology infrastructure running smoothly. Ever wonder about all the family address changes, family additions, email address changes, etc.? These church membership records are kept organized by our registrar, Celise Stephenson. She also logs all of the births, baptisms, confirmations, weddings, transfers in and out, and deaths.
We appreciate the work of all members of the Building and Grounds Committee and are especially grateful for the hard work and support of Facilities Manager Bracken Reese and his staff.
Kimberly Hughes, Parish Administrator, keeps track of all meetings and events on the campus calendar. She supports all of our 60+ staff for human resources needs including administration of the 403b and employee insurance. She also manages the property and liability insurance for the church campus including the Lomo Alto office building.
Respectfully submitted,
The communications team at Saint Michael is responsible for all print and digital publications including the church’s website, social media postings, the weekly Sunday News and monthly Archangel newsletter, and the video screens throughout the building. The group livestreams on the website Easter and Christmas Eve worship services, and the youth’s Nativity Pageant, which had viewer across the country and in several foreign countries. The group works with the church’s ministries to support and promote their programs.
Tony Briggle, Jr. Warden
Our entire team works with each ministry area on a daily basis to ensure all needs are met for parishioners, employees and our expansive campus. IT manager Tommy Thedford and Leon Farmer confer on Sunday setup 19
2012 Parish Statistics Holy Eucharist: Saturdays/Sundays Weekdays Private
483 371 289
Daily Office: Sundays Weekdays
61 8
Other Services: Marriages Burials Other
25 45 37
Baptisms-Adults Baptisms-Children Number of Families All Baptized Members as of December 31, 2011 Communicants as of December 31, 2011 Confirmed Adults Confirmed Children Receptions Transferred Communicants Reactivations Other Adds Total Additions Transfers Out-Active Deaths-Active Inactivations Other Losses Total Losses Communicants as of December 31, 2012 All Baptized Members as of December 31, 2012
1 64 2,998
7180 5,127 6 88 9 48 14 0 165 22 28 110 4 164 5,128 7126
20
Ministry Reports
Worship Music Ministry
church’s Ambulatory and Narthex. 2012 also saw the formation of a concert series committee to explore the possibility of a regular concert series at Saint Michael and All Angels, which was approved by the Vestry and will begin in the fall of 2013. The committee will initiate an underwriting campaign in the new year to help fund the concert series.
The Music Ministry is pleased to report that 2012 was a fruitful year, both in terms of the continued success of programs instituted in previous years and in terms of new ones launched in 2012. As in 2011, 2012 saw a significant increase in volunteer membership of the adult choirs, which grew by 12.5% in 2012. The choir continues to receive musical support from a particularly talented section leader team of university students and recent graduates. The choirs sang consistently well in 2012 for the church’s feast days and special occasions, and enjoyed multi-year record attendance on Christmas Eve. In addition to the many services they sing at Saint Michael, the choir also sang a choral Evensong at the Church of the Incarnation during Lent.
James Diaz composed a new setting of the Magnificat in 2012 for choir and organ that was written in thanksgiving for the ministry of The Reverend Patty Willet. The choir sang this work during the Lenten Choral Evensong series as well as on Patty’s last Sunday at Saint Michael. The Music Ministry would like to thank the many volunteers and staff who work consistently to bring beauty and inspiration through music to our Eucharists every weekend, as well as to the many festal services Saint Michael offers year after year to the parish and community. James Diaz Director of Music and Organist Altar Guild
The Altar Guild prepares all things necessary for the celebration of the Eucharist and any other sacraments and offices of the church. The preparations are done in such a manner so that any service may be conducted in decency, order, and beauty for the worship of Almighty God and his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord. The Music Ministry launched two new choral programs in 2012. In September the children’s choir moved to a Sundayonly format. Choir rehearsals take place on most Sundays at 10:00 and are designed as both a musical and Christian education offering. Later in the fall the Music Ministry launched the Seasonal Women’s Choir, which had its debut in Advent. This new choir is designed for women interested in singing but cannot commit to regular rehearsals. While some rehearsals of the Women’s Choir took place at the church, some of the music learning was achieved using smartphone-friendly multimedia, which proved to be an excellent learning tool for this new group.
The Altar Guild maintains and cares for all vestments, altar cloths and altar adornments, linens, and all candles and prayer stations.
In December Saint Michael hosted a Christmas concert featuring the Arts District Chorale, the Children’s Chorus of Greater Dallas, and Saint Michal’s music directors James Diaz and Hyeon Jeong as organists. Attendance for the concert was spectacular—over 900—and required overflow seating in the
In the past year, the Altar Guild has prepared and served at nearly 1,150 weekday services, over 480 Sunday services, and 22
Additionally, 50 lay readers are responsible for delivering the Old and New Testament lessons, the Psalm and the Prayers of the People at the many worship services in the church, the Saint Michael and Bishop Moore Chapels, the Parish Hall, and the Theater. During the year students were introduced into the lay reader program to serve at services designed for youth, children and families.
40 services during Christmas and Holy Week. Altar Guild members serve at every wedding, funeral, interment, and baptism service, ensuring that each family is supported on these occasions. The Altar Guild has prepared and replenished more than 500 visiting communion kits for the Lay Eucharistic Ministers who deliver Eucharist to homebound parishioners. The Altar Guild has ironed more than 4,000 linens during this year.
Tony Briggle Acolyte Master
The Altar Guild has provided over 2,000 congregational candles for Christmas, Epiphany, and Holy Week, and replenished all Altar Candles and Pew Torches, over 400 Sanctus light candles and over 6,000 prayer station candles.
Ushers
The Usher Corps consists of approximately 115 men and women dedicated to making all people – parishioners and visitors – feel welcome, and to helping provide a high quality worship experience. The ushers are typically the first and last people that visitors see at our church worship services. They bring a friendly, welcoming spirit, and warmth to our services. They are responsible for handing out programs, assisting people in finding a seat, managing the offerings, and for the orderly movement of people to and from communion. Five usher teams serve at services in the main church, the Saint Michael Chapel, and the Theater. A special team trained for funerals is led by Bill Johnson. Tig Thompson leads the team covering the 7:00 a.m. services in the Bishop Moore Chapel, Jim Browne heads the Saturday evening service team, and Ann Jams leads the ushers covering the Sunday evening services in the Saint Michael Chapel.
Charlie Smith Directress Acolyte, Chalice Bearer and Lector Corps
More than 200 parishioners, ages 12 to 80, assist our clergy in celebrating the Holy Eucharist and other worship services throughout the year. From major feasts, weddings, and funerals to daily services the acolytes and chalice bearers served alongside our priests at God’s Altar for a total of 1,384 services in 2012.
Ed Ladd, Director
23
Adults ADULT FORMATION
yy The summer adult Sunday program continued the popular “Faith and Literature” series with an average of 100 attending each week. yy In the fall, adults could choose between four classes: The Rector’s Forum on “Life’s Hard Questions’, Adult Bible Study, Family Foundations, and Pressure Points: Faith and Society. The average Sunday attendance Fall 2011 was 270. yy 15 weekday Bible and Book studies met in the spring and the fall. yy The Distinguished Lecture Series format moved to Sunday mornings in a combined adult class so that more people could attend. A second session with the speaker was offered over a lunch presentation. Distinguished Lecturers were: – Dr. Diana Butler Bass on “Christianity Without Religion” – Dr. Philip Jenkins on his book “Laying Down the Sword: Why We Can’t Ignore the Bible’s Violent Verses” – Barbara Bradley Hagerty, religion correspondent for NPR on “Evidence for God: Evidence from the Frontier of Faith and Science” yy Home Communions were offered during Lent and Advent. yy The Lent Retreat hosted 80 parishioners in hearing the Superior of the Society of Saint John the Evangelist Monastery, Bro. Geoffrey Tristram yy 60 people heard the the Rev. Frank Allen for the Advent Retreat yy Lenten and Advent Meditations, written by clergy, staff, and parishioners were published in hard copy and offered online.
The particular task for Adult Formation is to provide opportunities for education, fellowship, spiritual formation; for asking questions, discovering answers, growing in our relationships with each other and with God. The classes, retreats, seminars, workshops, and lectures Saint Michael offers our congregation and the wider community are designed to educate and challenge all people in their life-long Christian formation. During the year, the 20 members of the Adult Formation Council meet to plan, implement, and evaluate the offerings to our parish and community. The Council spent considerable time reading and analyzing John Roberto’s book “Faith Formation 2020” to understand how cultural trends impact our parish. In 2012, these events took place to aid the formation and transformation of our parish: yy In the spring, congregants could choose from six Sunday classes: Family Living, Parents of Teens, the Rector’s Forum on “Famous Families and Figures from the Bible”, Adult Bible Study on “World Religions”, Pressure Points, and a Young Adult Class. Average attendance in the spring was 250.
Shelly Vescovo Director of Adult Formation
Diana Butler Bass Distinguished Lecturer
24
20.30 F3: Faith, Food & Fellowship:
In June of 2012, the young adults group moved from the leadership of Jemonde Taylor to Brenda Sol. As a result of the transition, the group has been in a rebuilding phase. After surveying several of the past participants, their faith formation portion was moved from The Rev. Brenda Sol Associate for Young Sunday mornings to Tuesday evenings, Adults and Pastoral and a monthly brunch was instituted Care as a way to pair a faith event (attending the 11:00 service) with a social activity. Additionally, the group gathers monthly for a social outing, and is exploring opportunities for engaging in community service. Much pastoral care is also being provided for this demographic in the form of support around career transitions, relationship challenges, and issues of self-identity.
20.30 F3 enjoys dinner at social gathering
Women-Work-Word:
Responding to the need working women have for an evening venue, Emily Given began a fellowship and study group in the spring of 2012. After her arrival in June, Brenda Sol joined the ministry, and since then, the two have continued to rotate facilitation duties. Though the group is diverse in professional background, age, and experience in the Church, they have formed a supportive network centered in prayer. While study is important to them, hospitality is a higher priority, so the discussions are designed to allow individuals to drop in when possible. The Reverend Brenda Sol Associate for Young Adults and Pastoral Care 25
Children, Youth and Families our offerings to our children and community. Our preschool continues to function right alongside our other CYF ministries as a very robust way for people to experience our parish and join our congregation. All of this is possible through the visioning of Katie and the Saint Michael team that surrounds her.
2012 was a very productive year for Children Youth and Families (hereafter, CYF) and with that year came new friendships, new challenges, and most importantly continued joyful collaboration with the three teams that make up this ministry sphere. Each of these three areas saw amazing ministry The Rev. Greg Pickens due to the hard work of an incredible Associate for Children, corps of volunteers and our staff. It Youth and Families would be impossible to overstate the love and care that the people of Saint Michael and All Angels have for CYF. We are blessed to be a part of an increasingly challenging area of ministry that enjoys the support of our parish leaders, strong volunteers, and very dedicated committees.
In our Children and Family Ministry group, Emily Given has taken an already fantastic children’s Christian education program and made it better. Emily and her team have been busy creating experiences of God that provide a foundation for future faith growth. New staff member Austen Crossley has provided an added dimension of ministry that I hope you will read about in Emily’s report. Youth Ministry, under the leadership of Andy Sahl, has also experienced change as we welcomed a new youth minister in Carolina Armstrong. Working with youth is always a challenging enterprise; strengthening the love of Christ in youth requires innovation and commitment, a teacher who is a strong Christian, and the most important thing which is the ability to be a friend in Christ. Our Youth Ministry team members become that friend in Christ to help navigate the bumps and curves of this age group.
The CYF team had the opportunity to work with other Saint Michael teaching ministries during the year. We were called together by Bob Dannals to confirm the content of our faith formation activities as well as review the way that faith content is being communicated to our parish. After a year of study, training, and reflection the CYF team came away with specific adjustments that recognize and take advantage of the learning differences among children, youth, and adults. This project demonstrated, once again, that Saint Michael is committed to finding and retaining innovative educators who go to extraordinary lengths in raising up Christians in our parish. In 2012, we welcomed Katie Riley as the director of Saint Michael Preschool. This has been a very busy year for her team as they go about the business of continuing to enhance
In each of our ministry spheres, the CYF team is dedicated to creating those encounters with the living God that prepare our children, youth, and families for their own life with the Lord. Please take the time to read each of the Director’s Reports. In them you will find encouragement and confidence that the programming and experiences offered by the CYF team support and encourage knowledge of Christ in real world settings. However, these experiences and programs, as wonderful as they are, cannot happen unless we have continued strong volunteer support. If you are already working with Katie, Emily, or Andy please know how much we appreciate your efforts. Should you wish to explore how you may be involved with our team, I invite you to call any of the three and become a part of this very special ministry that touches the lives of our youngest believers and our families. Thank you for your support. The Rev. Greg Pickens Associate for Children, Youth and Families
The youth production of “Godspell” during Lent 2012
26
Children and Family Ministry
to an interactive Vacation Bibile School model. This hour was set up with rotations of music, scripture, and large and small group activities. The gym is used for large group games and other large motor activities.
This year has been one of growth and celebration. New and expanded staff configurations, coupled with strong parishioner support, have created different expressions of ministry and an expanded sense of community. A few highlights are:
Worship yy Joy, Discover, and Celebration Masses all continued to be services which invite children into the center of our worshiping community. yy Instructed Eucharists provided a place where families could draw closer to the table and learn more about the significance of the Eucharist. yy Pajama Prayers (during Advent and Lent) offered a new way to share our Biblical story and experience age-appropriate Discovery Mass procession Compline services. yy Good Friday for Children created a place for families to come close to the Holy Week story in ways that were engaging and age appropriate.
Christian Formation (Midweek) yy Wednesday afternoons continue to be a place for learning and exploration thanks to experiences such as Faith Lab (science experiments married with Bible principles) as well as Lego My Bible (Bible adventure class). yy Small groups for tweens and women of all ages were a source of inspiration, exploration, challenge and connection. yy Catechesis of the Good Shepherd expanded to partner with Saint Michael Preschool for weekday Faith Lab got into sticky issues enrichment. There are currently three classes that meet on Thursday afternoons. Christian Formation (Sunday Morning) Sunday morning has been reinvented in exciting ways that expand knowledge, foster connections and increase joy. yy 3’s and Preschool – Each week children explore through play and worship. yy Big Tent Sunday School – Kindergarten through third grade experience a large group/small group gathering in the parish hall with storytelling, music, activities, prayer, small group discussions and games. Adults take the role of guide in place of teacher. yy Catechesis of the Good Shepherd - Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is an approach to the religious formation of children in which adults and children share their faith life together. They meet in a specially prepared room called an atrium where the children use simple, beautiful materials to meditate on the scriptures, liturgy and sacraments. It is based upon the educational principles of Maria Montessori. We have 4 atriums available on Sunday mornings- 2 for 3-6 year olds and 2 for 6-9 year olds. yy Edge Sunday School - All 4th and 5th grade meet in the Edge Room for a large group experience. We moved away from a classroom setting for the Sunday 10:00 hour and moved
Early Childhood Ministry - A renewed commitment to our youngest families Austen Crossley was welcomed onto the staff in the part-time capacity of Early Childhood Coordinator. Her primary role is to create community and connection among our youngest families through:
Catechesis class teaches the youngest about the bible and the church 27
yy The outreach efforts reached across the ocean to families in Africa. We were able to collect enough money throughout the week to give over 140 malaria nets to the Episcopal Relief and Development’s Nets for Life program.
yy Sunday morning 10:00 parent/child gathering yy New Mothers Support Group yy Baptismal Guild/Baptismal Support yy Increasing participation in Foyer Groups as chance for parish parents of young children to form relationships
Family Fellowship yy The parish hall was packed with families for the Advent Family Fair. Families dined on Blue Mesa, posed in the Bethlehem photo booth, painted Advent candle holders as well as created “Advent In a Box” to celebrate all season long. Back by popular demand was John the Baptist and his chocolate covered bugs. yy The parking lot was filled with ghostly creatures, lovely princesses and dozens of superheroes during the third annual Trunk or Treat Sunday in October. yy The pajama party Greening of the Church drew people of all ages for storytelling, music, crafts and dinner. yy The Feast of Lights celebration was a remarkable blend of wonderful worship, fantastic food and a deep sense of community. The large wise men puppets, sparklers, s ‘mores stations and the Perot mobile planetarium helped to create a festive feel for all.
The Edge The Edge ministry has grown and evolved in leaps and bounds! Watching the numbers rise with the implementation of new faith formation initiatives was exciting. The emphasis of multisensory experiences for Christian education as well as whole family faith experiences were successful changes in the new curriculum. Highlights included: yy Community Building - Edge Christmas party, Edge 2012 lock-in, Edge shaving cream wars, and summer swim nights yy Mission and Outreach - Edge mission trip to the World Hunger Relief Farm, Edge 3rd grade welcome and outreach, and spring break bags for Jubilee yy Midweek Formation and Connection - SURF Bible study, Edge Lenten reflections mid-week art class, Advent family home communion Nativity Pageant yy Over 100 of the children and youth of Saint Michael shared a dramatic retelling of the birth of the Christ Child through song and story in the main sanctuary.
Family Outreach yy The Jubilee Park neighborhood was the focus of a mission and outreach partnership for children and families this year through gatherings such as Taste of Jubilee, Edge spring break snack bags, and other child focused connections. yy North Dallas Shared Ministries was the focus of the Sunday School Thanksgiving food collection. At the end of the gathering time, families were invited to deliver the items, stock the shelves and hear more about how they can continue to be the heart and hands of God in the Dallas community. Several of the families enjoyed fellowship time during a lunch gathering afterward. Faith in the Home Enrichment: yy The second Coke Family Weekend created wonderful moments for families to gather around music, worship, and faith-building. The guest musician was Peder Eide, who led us in a Taste Worship weekend. yy Social media campaigns to support individual and family faith were huge successes. Project 40 for Lent gave a daily message of inspiration and love. RADVENT’s Instragram style texts brought a daily image to inspire hope and anticipation to people of the parish as well as a far-reaching subscribership around the county and beyond.
The Nativity Pageant was livecast on the Saint Michael website
yy Both presentations of the pageant were webcasted in realtime. The web viewership reached 80 screens as grandparents and loved ones around the world shared in the experience. yy The parish hall was packed for a delicious potluck lunch and fellowship time. Vacation Bible School yy The parish took flight with “SKY! – Where everything is possible with God!” It was a week of music, worship, storytelling, drama, crafts, games and more. 28
Youth Ministry
Communication yy The “SMAACFM” facebook group continued to grow and created a place to view photos, hear about events and stay in touch with the parish community. yy Presence of the parish-wide facebook page expanded. yy Constant Contact eblasts helped to keep families informed between editions of the parish newsletter, the Archangel. yy Increase in the use of posters and other large visuals to communicate events and opportunities. yy Bulletin boards were also used as a center for children and family event photo sharing.
The young people of Saint Michael and All Angels continued to grow in faith, relationships, and serving others in 2012. This was a year of many great ministries, with some of our strong programs continuing to grow in numbers and depths and a few new start ups. One notable bittersweet item was when one of our Youth Ministry staff, Melissa Lopez, moved on from our parish to become a fourth grade teacher. Melissa was much loved and had a number of meaningful relationships with our young people. We spent the summer preparing for her departure and in August we held a farewell party for Melissa at Rusty Taco.
Growing Edges of Ministry for the Coming Year yy Cultivate more small group community and study yy Expand resource development for family faith building yy Increase communication yy Expand midweek and “other than Sunday morning” gathering times yy Build on the meaningful ways for families to participate in mission and outreach yy Foster key leaders and faith-formers within the parish family
In October, our newest youth minister, Carolina Armstrong joined us. Carolina is focusing her ministry with high school young people and her primary responsibility is the development of the high school small group ministry (along with many other responsibilities). Carolina has already formed a number of quality relationships with our young people and brings great energy and insight to the youth ministry team. While often staff transitions lead to periods of rebuilding and disengagement, the strong character and skills of both Melissa and Carolina have allowed for a very smooth transition with little of the expected “bumps.”
Emily Giren Director, Children and Family Ministry
Highlights of 2012 yy Two focused and contextual classes aimed at specific age groups. These classes are call Stepping Stones and include one for tenth graders called “That Guy/Girl Thing” (relationships), and one for ninth graders at the beginning of high school called “Jump Start.” We hope to continue adding this type of program for each grade level. yy Our young people traveled to Bolivia, New Orleans, and Houston for mission trips. 49 young people and adults served on mission trips this summer. yy Our young people performed “Godspell” for the community during the Lenten season. yy 86 Young people were confirmed in a confirmation class that continues to be known as the exemplary Confirmation program in Dallas. yy Peder Eide, a national musician and speaker led our families through two worship experiences during the Coke Family Weekend. yy Three families hosted summer pool parties allowing our young people to remain connected through the hit or miss summer schedules of our family and youth ministry.
High School youth at Bolivia Mission Trip
Middle School students visit Jackson Square on New Orleans Mission Trip 29
yy 50 youth served as leaders at Vacation Bible School this year, leading in classrooms, activities, dancers, and logistics. yy We hosted our second Winter Retreat, a great Discipleship focused retreat that has quickly become a favorite tradition for our young people. yy A “Teenage Confirmation” class was held for young people who, for various reasons, had not been confirmed in 6th grade. yy A parent resources and leadership team, called the Steering Wheel, was developed and meets monthly to support and provide feedback to the youth ministry program. yy Our Sunday morning education hour, Encounter, was redesigned to teach the same Bible story as the Children’s Ministry and Family Foundations adult class with the intent of fostering faith conversations in the home related to the lesson. yy Our Wednesday night programming (LiveWire for middle school and EYC for high school) continues to be a place of strong community, faith growth, and Discipleship for our young people. yy Small groups continue to be a place of connection and growth for many of our high school students. Carolina Armstrong will spend much of 2013 putting more structure in place for this ministry which should allow for much growth.
LiveWire for Middle School students meets Wednesday evenings for fun and devotions.
Numbers and programs are the easy pieces to include in a report. What is harder to include is the stories of young people who care for each other during hard times, the seeds that are planted in the long days of mission trips, or the family that finds hope in a Sunday presentation. The greatest asset of our youth ministry is the families and young people that minister to each other on Sundays, Wednesdays, and all hours in-between.
Our young people lead worship in the Youth Center
Our larger team of Children, Youth, and Adult Faith Formation has been doing much work around what is next for faith formation at Saint Michael and I look forward to reporting the implementation of a number of new projects in 2013. Andy Sahl Director of Youth Ministry
30
Saint Michael Preschool
• Preschoolers created artistic masterpieces, learned about various cities around the USA, “camped” in tents, developed their fine motor skills, and practiced sports skills while attending five weeks of summer camps. • A Saint Michael Preschool facebook page was created – be sure to like us!
2012 ushered in many exciting changes for the weekday Early Childhood programs. Officially the name of the preschool was changed to the Saint Michael Preschool and a new logo was adopted. Katie Riley was named Director of Saint Michael Preschool and under her leadership, the teaching staff transitioned to a school year calendar, new staff were hired, and improvements were made to the existing playgrounds.
We look forward to a new year full of wonder and discovery for your children. Katie Riley, Director Barb Wynn, Assistant Director
Below are highlights from 2012. • The much anticipated Barnyard Bash was held in May with 700+ people participating in the fun. • The Preschool welcomed 190 students, ages 8 weeks – 5 years of age, into 11 classrooms. • The Preschool students had the opportunity to participate in exciting enrichment activities – Techie Tots, Soccer Palz, Stretch-n-Grow, Catechesis, Mr. Donavan, yoga, music. • Our young children participated in outreach by baking cookies to share with clients of Austin Street Centre. • The small east and west playgrounds were renovated • We hosted the second annual Chairish Our Children school party and auction and raised over $133,000 to improve our facility for young children. • Our Preschoolers sang to the residents of C.C. Young Assisted Living Center twice during the year, as well as to the Prime Timers in December.
Groundbreaking for the new Preschool Playground
Pegi Ishii works on numbers with her class
Teacher Judy Basped’s class is excited, has fun, and learns
31
Caring & Sharing Pastoral Care
The Rev. Lisa Flores Associate for Pastoral Care
During 2012 there was a clergy leadership change in Pastoral Care, and yet the mission of Pastoral Care – to build the kingdom of God by responding in love to those in need – did not skip a beat. The Pastoral Care Ministries grew steadily in 2012 with a total of 7,763 occurrences of Visiting, Caring, Praying, and Serving. This represents an increase of 1,240 additional pastoral care contacts made during the year.
There were significant increases on behalf of Stephen Ministry, Lay Eucharistic Visitors Ministry, Al-Anon (Serenity Seekers), the Centering Prayer Ministry, Women’s Cancer Support, the Blood Drive/Be The Match Donor Ministry, and the Parish Nurse Ministry. All other Pastoral Care Ministries maintained visits, contacts, and support consistent with last year.
Friends in Christ deliver Easter Flowers to home-bound parishioners
Each Pastoral Care chair reports monthly to the Lay Leader of Pastoral Care regarding their preceding month’s activity. The chairs of LEV, Stephen Ministry, Congregational Care, the Priest for Pastoral Care, the Assistant for Pastoral Care, and the Lay Leader for Pastoral Care meet monthly to review the pastoral needs of the parishioners and to follow up by responding in love to those in need.
Caring The Card Ministry administered by Lou Ann Campbell, Jan Moncrief, and Sarah Martin, sends cards and notes to provide comfort, support, and to share in life’s celebrations. In 2012, 750 cards were sent to parishioners who celebrated a birthday, had a new baby, were recovering from illness or surgery or a hospital stay, or had lost someone close to them.
There are currently 21 different lay ministries that reach out to those in our parish who are in need. Each of those chairs of the Pastoral Care Ministries meet a minimum of three (3) times a year to review the status of each ministry and to insure that all Pastoral Care Ministries are working together to respond to those members of the Parish who are in need.
The Care Giver Support Group, led by Sandra Klingeman, Drew Stull, and Liz Wheelan, provides a place for those caring for ailing loved ones to confidentially share their challenges.
own. This past year 875 parishioners were visited by an LEV. Gwendolyn Chestnut has transferred the coordinator duties to Ruthie Garrett. There are several new parishioners including families who will be joining the Ministry in 2013.
Visiting Friends in Christ: Under the leadership of Terry Demler, 17 Friends in Christ made 381 visits and contacts. In the annual Easter Flower delivery last spring, Friends in Christ visitors took Flowers from the altar to 27 parishioners who were homebound and could not attend services on Easter Sunday. Lay Eucharistic Visitors: Led by Gwendolyn Chestnut over 35 Lay Eucharistic Visitors have been trained and licensed to take communion to parishioners in the hospital, at home, or in assisted living facilities. The Ministry continues to support those who are unable to come to church on their
Lay Eucharistic Visitors take Holy Communion to home-bound parishioners 32
Touch Base Phone Ministry provides a personal phone call made by volunteer Lewis Duncan. Lewis calls to provide comfort or share in life’s celebrations. 229 phone calls were made in 2012. Many calls were made to families who had lost a loved one or who are homebound. Christian Yoga: Instructor Annette Lentz, leads this free class every Monday night. The class is designed to help individuals gain increased strength and flexibility, to seek spiritual centering and to have fun. 499 people attended yoga classes in 2012. Praying Centering Prayer led by Mary Ann Webster meets weekly, Tuesdays at 10:00 in the Chapel Conference Room. Those who meet together are seeking to practice centering prayer as a part of learning to live a more contemplative life. We spend 30 minutes in silence and share afterwards about our experience and readings that are helpful to a deeper understanding of this form of prayer. We welcome newcomers. In 2012, over 100 people participated in this spiritual practice.
Advent Liturgy of Remembrance provided a quiet respite during the stress of the holidays.
We have welcomed 264 attendees during the past year. They continue to reach out to the parish by planning events featuring guest speakers who serve as a resource for caregivers. The Grief Ministry is best known for the Faith and Grief Luncheons held on the second Thursday of each month. The mission of the Faith and Grief ministry is to provide ongoing comfort to persons who have experienced the death of a loved one. The luncheons begin and end with a clergy-led liturgy, a presentation by someone who has experienced the loss of a loved one, and small group discussions led by lay volunteers. In 2012, 224 people attended the luncheons.
The Daily Intercessory Prayer Ministry offers prayers from requests that come to them via the Prayer Ministry Request Line, online prayer requests, or the Connect Cards from the Sunday Services. 53 volunteers participate in this confidential prayer ministry through daily prayer. 1,324 people were prayed for in 2012. The Prayer Shawl Ministry knitted over 177 prayer shawls for those in need during 2012. This ministry, led by Byrd Teague, gathers weekly to knit and for fellowship.
The ministry also offered an Advent Liturgy of Remembrance followed by a reception in December. The liturgy was enhanced by special music and the opportunity to remember loved ones through the lighting of candles and special blessings. Approximately 88 individuals, again from many different congregations, attended the service.
A second knitting group, Alterknit, meets at night. Led by Nancy Cantwell, this nighttime group is open to those who cannot attend during the day and contributes to the supply of shawls.
Stephen Ministry is a one-on-one, confidential ministry which provides care to individuals facing life challenges or difficulties. A Stephen Minister is a trained individual who can walk beside someone who needs help facing a loss in their life by providing encouragement, resources and prayerful concern. Each Stephen Minister has more than 50 hours of in-depth study and training. Saint Michael has 10 Stephen Leaders and 20 Stephen Ministers, available to serve our parish community. Approximately 571 touches were made during 2012 by Stephen Ministers.
Prayer Shawls knitted by parishioners are blessed and given to the sick and ailing 33
Sunday Service Prayer Teams pray with those in need, as an extension of the Eucharist each Sunday at all services. Prayer team members include young families, mature couples,
Recovery Mass in the Spring and hosted two special event speakers. This ministry reached out to over 120 people in 2012 and is coordinated by Sandy McDonough.
and single adults. The prayer ministry is always open to new members and meets for a book study and dinner once a month led by Rick Porter. In 2012, the team prayed with 417 parishioners and conducted special training sessions to qualify team members to participate in this ministry.
As you can see the Pastoral Care ministry cannot be done solely by the clergy. In my short time here I have been overwhelmed by the dedication and love of so many in this ministry area – there are some truly special people caring for us here at Saint Michael.
Serving Extended Care Cooks, the Funeral Reception Guild, and Good Shepherds, are three lay ministries that serve members of Saint Michael in the most practical, loving, and hospitable ways. I am grateful to Ann Mills, the Good Shepherds, the Extended care Cooks and the Funeral Reception Guild for the superb ministry they do by reaching out to any parishioner who is in need. See Ann Mills report under Congregational Care
I want to thank Katherine Bowen - Administrative Assistant for Pastoral Care, Kay Whelan - Lay Leader of Pastoral Care, and Marillyn Seeberger – Pastoral Care Communicator, who do so much behind the scenes to support all of us in our ministries, and to all the volunteers who so willingly and lovingly give of their time and talent to minister to the needs of this congregation. Thank you all!
The Parish Nurse Program serves parishioners by making hospital visits, making home evaluations, and providing basic health screening and information about health issues. Our Parish Nurses also follow-up with parishioners recently released from the hospital or who are known to have on-going health issues. The volunteers, in addition to being Registered Nurses, have gone through additional training to serve in our parish’s program. On the third Sunday of the month, they are available to take blood pressures and to provide counseling concerning health and wellness topics. In 2012 our Parish Nurses made 321 touches with Saint Michael parishioners.
The Rev. Lisa C. Flores Associate for Pastoral Care
Blood Drives: Terry Demler coordinated our Blood Drives which were sponsored by our Parish Nurses. Our goal each year is to host two blood drives. We continued our partnership with the American Red Cross in 2012. Our February drive collected 36 units of blood and our October drive collected 32 units of blood. In addition to our two blood drives, we hosted a special “Be The Match” drive for the National Marrow Donor Program. In April, we signed up 26 people to be on the national registry. The Women’s Cancer Support Group has served the women of Saint Michael for 15 years. Attendance for 2012 was 351. These women meet in the parlor, every Monday at 1:45 to offer each other support, encouragement, laughter and tears in a confidential and non-judgmental setting. This group is led by Sue Patton and Charlie Stobaugh. Recovery Advocates is dedicated to enhancing the spiritual, physical, and emotional well-being of those who experience substance abuse or other additions. This group hosts an Annual 34
Mission and Outreach
Major accomplishments in 2012 Jubilee Park and Community Center: Our Flagship Ministry • 250 people attended the Taste of Jubilee • 70 tutors at O.M. Roberts School giving 1 hour per week for 32 weeks a year = 2,272 hours of volunteer time The Rev. Dr. Kevin • 93 volunteers serving Thanksgiving Huddleston & Christmas lunch at Jubilee to over Associate for Mission and Outreach 100 people = 200+ meals • 93 volunteers through “I Believe in Angels” gave to over 423 people • 235 families at Saint Michael donated gifts for the “I Believe in Angels” project • 125+ seniors served Thanksgiving Dinner at the Jubilee Community Center • 150+ seniors served a Christmas Dinner at the Jubilee Community Center • Assisted with the Jubilee La Posada Event through a fire pit, heaters, and Saint Michael volunteers work to enhance life experiences in the a donkey. Jubilee Park community • 100 children fed each afternoon at Jubilee through Kid’s Café • Saint Michael parishioners host a monthly Bingo game for the seniors at Jubilee
Youth and adults work to stock the shelves at the North Texas Food Bank
• 170 volunteers for Meals on Wheels delivering 10 meals per week. 1700 x 12 months = 20,400 meals • 50 volunteers cooking and serving 500 meals at Austin Street Shelter. 500 per month x 12 = 6,000 meals • 60 volunteers at North Texas Food Bank in January produced enough food to fill 8,400 Backpacks 4 Kids • 63 volunteers at North Texas Food Bank in September produced 4,855 meals for families that were hungry and in need • $38,500 dollars collected for Backpack 4 Kids program in September • 725 children’s teeth painted with fluoride in Honduras • 290 lunches served to the hungry in Tela, Honduras • 25 stoves built for those in need in Triumfo, Honduras • 200+ pairs of eyeglasses given out so that others may see more clearly Tela, Honduras • 1 set of playground equipment and geodesic dome set up in Triumfo, Honduras, where there had never been even a swing set. • 1 disability ramp constructed for the elderly at Espiritu Santos Episcopal Church in Tela, Honduras • 6 fans installed in the community room at Holy Spirit School, Tela Honduras • 1,500 children’s lives touched in Rosebud, South Dakota; New Orleans; and Tela, Honduras by Christian education and tutoring • Care, love, and support given to the 12 children at Casa Esperanez house at the Amistad Mission, Cochabamba, Bolivia • 60 children fed daily in the Kid’s Café at All Souls in New Orleans • 30 children fed daily in the Kid’s Café at the Joe Eagle Bear Community Center, Rosebud Indian Reservation, South Dakota
AND THAT’S JUST JUBILEE
At Taste of Jubilee residents and parishioners share food and good times 35
Bingo in Jubilee Park unites the community’s seniors
Honduras Threads helps women build businesses to enhance their economy
• Over 100 residents served grilled burgers and hot dogs at Black Pipe, South Dakota • 1 wood splinter purchased and used for the Black Pipe community to provide wood for the Elders during the winter months • 1 church scraped, painted, repaired, and restored in Black Bear South Dakota, (with a little help from our Boston Baptist Friends) • 123 members of Saint Michael participated in Mission trips throughout Dallas and around the world. • $27,870.51 in Easter Offerings disbursed to Amistad Mission, Bolivia, Honduras Scholarship fund, Honduras Threads, New Orleans and Jubilee Park • $47,039.73 in Christmas plate offerings were disbursed to Heifer Project International, Hurricane Sandy Relief and North Texas Food Bank • $49,915.65 from the Heart of Giving program (the 2nd highest amount in 6 years) was disbursed to various mission and outreach programs. • $145,000 in grants disbursed by the Grants Committee for use around the world. • 15 “By Our Love” volunteers provided 250 meals this past year • 13 families helped to host the Haiti Boys Choir
Honduras Threads helps women build businesses to enhance their economy
The number of people who were given HOPE; The number of people whose lives were TOUCHED; The number of people whose spiritual life was STRENGTHENED at home and abroad – PRICELESS! The Rev. Dr. Kevin Huddleston Associate for Mission and Outreach 36
Congregational Care
Congregational Care fosters community by encouraging members of the parish to befriend and care for one another. In 2012, hundreds of Saint Michael volunteers carried out their ministries of compassion, care, hospitality and fellowship. Working closely with the volunteer leaders of each of these ministries is Ann Mills, Director of Congregational Care. Congregational Care serves the needs of our parish family though the efforts of the: yy Good Shepherd Ministry yy Extended Care Cooks yy Funeral Reception Guild Ann Mills tosses the salad for a Congregational Care event
Volunteers of the Good Shepherd Ministry respond to needs within their own neighborhood. This neighbor-helpingneighbor ministry is the oldest and largest program within the Pastoral Care area. Judy Cole did an incredible job of leading this ministry in 2012. Regional Shepherds Paula Rzomp, Becky Mills, Maria Ward, Peggy Wood, Anne Leary, Marianne McConnell, Cora Mason, Mary Massengale and Kathleen Bywaters were responsible for the Shepherds representing 101 different neighborhoods.
The Extended Care Cooks offer their ministry of presence and caring by delivering a home cooked meal once a week to those in need. Last year over 60 volunteers participated in this ministry by delivering over 100 meals to our parishioners. Gay Rekerdres does a splendid job as chair of this ministry. Every bereaved family holding a service at Saint Michael is offered the thoughtful presence and kindness of the Funeral Reception Guild. In 2012 our 45 volunteers baked homemade goods while other volunteers The Funeral Reception Guild provides warm and welcoming atmosphere for worked before the agrieving families and friends funerals to beautifully prepare for the receptions. Susie Yeckel, Claire Jones, Gayle Kesinger, Kay Hyland and Cora McClure continue to do an outstanding job in leading this quiet ministry.
yyThe Good Shepherd Ministry enabled parishioners throughout the church to know that Saint Michael cares about them. yyThe Good Shepherd Ministry provided close to 200 Shepherds with an opportunity to get to know and feel connected to the parishioners in their neighborhood, which took a huge burden off the shoulders of the Clergy who would not be able to meet the needs of all those who are served by this Ministry.
Ann Mills Director, Congregational Care
Regional shepherds coordinate more than 200 volunteer Good Shepherds
37
Fellowship Lay Ministry Engagement
Your response: • Almost 5,000 views of the Stories of Saint Michael • The Spiritual Gifts Survey has been viewed 773 times • And Volunteer Central has been viewed 527 times • A few highlights of 2012: Two Lay Ministry weekends, where parishioners gave a personal message at each of the services. (The popular lay messages from the Ministry Sunday have been listened to 873 times on our website!) • We launched Get Plugged In on March 3rd with an “Apple Store” in the Parlor where the online new tools were demonstrated while brunch was served. • Identity, Purpose and Belonging Workshops were held offering a special time to explore who we are, gain a deeper sense of God’s purpose and understand how we find true community with fellow followers of Christ. • Focus groups were formed that are creating new ways to improve our ministry to families at baptism, confirmation, weddings and funerals.
Lay Ministry Engagement is on a mission to inspire, expand and engage our full parish community. We do this by listening to our members, encouraging their faith journey, and welcoming their involvement. I am blessed to work with a group of outgoing, passionate ambassadors who represent every aspect of our church life called the Saint Michael Connect Team. Together we create opportunities for every member to find a deeper sense of purpose and belonging. New online tools: • Get Plugged In – http://www.saintmichael.org/plugin/ Your place to go when exploring all there is to do at Saint Michael and determining your best fit. • Stories of Saint Michael – http://www.saintmichael.org/ stories/ – Get inspired by fellow parishioners telling what their involvement has meant to them. • Spiritual Gifts Survey – http://www.saintmichael.org/gifts/ Take a 4 minute anonymous survey that will identify your spiritual gifts and let you know what they mean for your life. • Volunteer Central – http://www.saintmichael.org/volunteer/ A complete listing of all the ways you can help in every aspect of our parish, with a brief description, time commitments, skills needed, and a person to contact for more information.
What’s new for 2013? Instead of asking you to come to the church, we will be coming to your “neck of the woods”. Neighborhood Nights begin in February. Members of Saint Michael, who are neighbors, will be invited to gather for a purely social time in one of the local homes. We hope that these parties will allow each of us to get to know more than just the regulars we see at the particular service we attend at church. If you are interested in hosting or helping, give us a call. We look forward to continuing as a resource dedicated to the parishioners of our church family. Let us know how we can help you! Marta Holden Director Lay Ministry Engagement
Get Plugged In event demonstrated how to discover one’s spiritual gifts and get involved 38
Welcome Ministry 2012
Those who transfer to our church continue to be given a special welcome by Valerie Dannals and Nancy Wilbur who coordinate our Welcome to Transfers.
The Welcome Ministry kicked off with brunch in August and included our Sunday Greeters, Coordinators for Newcomer Lunches and Newcomers Weekend Coordinators, and Mentors. We have 12 Steering Committee members, led by Sherry Wilson, and over 100 volunteers who strive to make all who enter the doors of Saint Michael feel welcome. The Steering Committee meets periodically over lunch, which is coordinated by Lynn Hood, and the meetings begin with an inspirational devotion by Karen Wiley.
We are grateful for the many volunteers who make Saint Michael a warmer and welcoming place to come, serve and worship. Ann Mills and Tish Visinsky Parish Life Events 2012
Parish Life Events began the year with a glorious Twelfth Night celebration in January. Hundreds of parishioners attended the Epiphany service, and then followed the three wise men from the burning of the greens to the candle lit Garden Cloister for a feast fit for a king.
Our warm, helpful and growing team of Sunday Greeters extend a personal welcome to all those who come through our many doors, both guests and parishioners. Seventy-five (75) volunteers, coordinated by Susan Thomas, rotate through the vestibules of our worship spaces to welcome and assist in any way they can. They also greet the thousands of people who attend church at Christmas and Easter to encourage them to come in and hear the Christian story and invite them to become a part of our church family. Newcomers’ Luncheons were held in the spring and fall. Over 50 newcomers and visitors joined the Rector for a delicious meal coordinated by our volunteer, Genie Rousseau.
The Lenten season started off with the festive Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper in the Parish Hall complete with hot pancakes flipped by the Men of Saint Michael. The Wednesday evening Lenten suppers underwent a makeover and were held BEFORE the Evensong service. Record crowds enjoyed the restaurant catered meals, and as always the dinners were graciously served by volunteers from various ministries within the church. The meaningful Easter Vigil service and reception rounded out our Lenten offerings.
Newcomers learn of Saint Michael and the Episcopal Church
Newcomers’ Weekend continues to be a wonderful way for those who are visiting, transferring, or interested in joining our church to learn about the Episcopal Church and Saint Michael, and to meet others who are seeking to serve Christ in their church, this city, and the world. The weekend is also the perfect preparation for being confirmed in the Episcopal Church. The hard working Newcomers’ Team, chaired by Cherri Oakley, included Margretta and Jose Aviles, Carol Price, Lea Courington, Lynn Hood, Patti Flowers, and Genie Rousseau. In the spring of 2012, one adult was Confirmed, three Received and four Reaffirmed. In the fall of 2012, eight adults were Confirmed, six Received and two Reaffirmed. Carol Price and Patti Flowers, Mentor Coordinators, did a wonderful job of matching each of our new confirmands with one of our parishioners.
The Men of Saint Michael prepare pancakes on Shrove Tuesday
Fun times were had at our summer receptions in the Garden Cloister. Ice cream sundaes over Memorial weekend, pie for the Fourth of July and popsicles and floats for the Big Chill over Labor Day weekend were devoured as we spent a few relaxed summer Sundays together. Saint Michael and All Angels kicked off the fall season at the church in September with Homecoming! Over a thousand of us gathered to celebrate Leon Farmer’s 50th Anniversary at Saint Michael. We worshipped together and had fellowship over an old-fashioned picnic style fried chicken and barbecue 39
Farmer’s Market:
On Saturday, June 30th Saint Michael’s north parking became a bustling Farmers Market with homegrown vegetables, produce, fruits, and other specialty foods. The Farmers Market was open from 8:00 to 12-Noon every Saturday through October. The idea to create the Saint Michael’s Farmers Market came from several parishioners who had been involved with farmers markets in the past and who were looking for new ways expand the church’s reach into the community. A committee led by Guy Griffeth turned the idea into reality. Each week, over a span of four months, under the direction of Ms. Nancy Powers, the market was comprised of about 20-25 vendors and attracted, on average, over 200 shoppers. Saint Michael volunteers staffed a Welcome Booth, which served as an information center and as an evangelism tool.
Leon Farmer and his wife, Edna, are honored at Leon’s 50th anniversary at Saint Michael
lunch under the big tent. The always popular Blessing of the Animals was held at the end of September under the ESD porte-cochere, and Saint Francis collar medallions were passed out by the clergy to all of our four legged friends.
The 2013 Farmers Market season will start in April with several new features including picnic tables, a concession area, and a “cool zone.”
In November, we paused to say thank you to our brave veterans. This service and reception continues to be a highlight of the year for us, giving us a chance to spend time with some of our heroes. Families flooded in dressed in their pajamas to help us adorn the church for the holidays during a family style Greening of the Church on December 19th, and before we knew it we were celebrating Christmas Eve in the Parlor with an open house reception for the entire parish. A huge thank you to the hundreds of Parish Life Events volunteers who shared their time and talents with this ministry. Thanks to you, the events at Saint Michael in 2012 were a tremendous success!
The Farmers Market attracted more than 200 people every Saturday
Tish Visinsky Director of Parish Life Events
Sundaes on Sunday provided a cool respite during the summer
Blessing of the Animals draws nearby residents and parishioners 40
Clergy of Saint Michael and All Angels The Reverend Dr. Robert S. Dannals Rector The Reverend Dr. Kevin D. Huddleston Associate for Mission and Outreach The Reverend Lisa C. Flores Associate for Pastoral Care The Reverend Greg Pickens Associate for Children, Youth and Families The Reverend Brenda Sol Associate for Young Adults and Pastoral Care The Reverend Michael Deangelo Sunday Assistant The Reverend Michael Harmuth Sunday Assistant The Reverend Pamela Theodore Sunday Assistant The Reverend Neal Hern Assistant for Pastoral Care The Ven. James Webb Deacon The Reverend Ariail Gores Deacon
Photography generously provided by Ray Hand, John Scott Glass and Smokey Goodrich.
Saint Michael and All Angels Episcopal Church 8011 Douglas • Dallas, Texas 75225 www.saintmichael.org