Rector’s Report
From any angle, 2018 was a great year at Saint Michael and All Angels. We completed the Refresh project, hosted wildly popular panels, increased our attendance, and invested more in discipleship and formation across the church. We can be proud of what we did together, but what is most exciting is how our momentum is growing!
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Everywhere I look, I see more energy and excitement. At least once a week, someone sends me a note telling me how much they appreciate our church, and I’m stopped Re v. D in the hallway every Sunday by someone who is excited about how great it feels to just ta, ir a r. C hristopher D. G be in the building. I’ve even had people tell me that when they’re away, they make sure to watch our sermons and services online because they miss being physically present. What a great way to feel about our church. As I reflect on the year gone by, I give thanks for the countless ways people in this parish have invested themselves in the Gospel work of our community. Our reason for being is first and foremost our discipleship of Jesus Christ. Every time I participate in a service of baptism, a wedding, or even a burial, I witness just how powerfully God is at work here. The sacred work of life and love is being done in big and small ways all around us. Near the end of the year, one of our beloved members, Gloria Hocking, died after a very short illness. The celebration of her life was beautiful, and afterward, her husband, Sam, wrote a note to me and granted me permission to share one section in which he said, “I feel sorry for those who have elected not to associate with a church, especially Saint Michael… I think about the love and support a church congregation can give and realize that the church is a top priority institution that must survive.” I’m pleased to see that Saint Michael is moving beyond just surviving — we are beginning to thrive. In addition to the primary work of our community, we have taken great steps toward a bright future. In 2018, most of the physical work of the Refresh, Renew, Revive project was completed. As you know, the response from our congregation was overwhelming. By giving more than double what was requested, we were able to complete projects we hadn’t even imagined, including all the wonderful work done in the Saint Michael Chapel. The investment in our community did not stop with the Refresh project. In 2018 we invested in significant ways in our discipleship formation for all ages. We kicked off the school year with an unprecedented, live reading of the entire Bible, streamed online for thousands to experience. Our focus on scripture continued with God’s Story lessons each Sunday for all ages. Sunday school attendance is up across the board, not least for the adults. We also began engaging our late elementary and middle school students through our new Chorister program that has continued to grow into 2019. In all those ways and more, our young people and young families are engaging more regularly than they have in years.
2018 Parish Meeting Report
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February 24, 2019
