I sometimes mistrust confident assertions of church success because of the rather clear witness St. Paul offers that Christians can boast only of their weakness and of the Lord’s grace (1 Corinthians 12:5). Proud declarations of church vitality may betray the very health such declarations are intended to communicate. If we enjoy robust church life, it is only by the power and mercies of God alone. Therefore, St. George’s has ample reason to give great thanks to God for the year 2011!

 

The occasion of the Annual Parish Meeting is always an opportunity to reflect on the previous twelve months of our common life as church. It was an important year in many ways. And though it is merely my own opinion, I believe St. George’s is more vital, stable, and well-poised for the future than at any time since I have known the parish. In 2011 we completed renovation and restoration on our parish facilities, enjoyed a larger annual budget over 2010, and experienced increases in worship attendance, Christian discipleship participation, and the number of small group ministries. We also made significant progress toward our goal for the Living Waters Capital Campaign.  The campaign is a critical ministry that not only enables St. George’s to be blessed with zero debt on our facilities but also be much better endowed to insure against unexpected future needs and invest in prayerfully identified future ministry.

 

I wish to highlight a few specific areas of our dynamic church life in 2011:

 

First, our staff ministry team and key lay leaders have pushed hard into establishing the small group as the primary vehicle for discipleship at St. George’s Church. As our prime example, in 2011 we had more than 120 parishioners participating in what we call Huddles. While there have always been small groups at St. George’s, this approach will represent genuine culture change over time. Of course we will continue to offer staff-led groups and large classes, especially on Sundays where adult attendance continues to climb. But we will press toward a discipleship culture where, with professional staff support, challenge, and encouragement, more of our learning and growth in Christ will happen in small groups that are lay-led. These groups will be the primary leadership pipeline for the future.

 

Second, 2011 witnessed the launch of one of the most auspicious and bold new ministries in St. George’s history: The Table.This new worship service represented growth and change on multiple levels, including the decision to worship at overlapping times on Sunday morning and in a different space from our church sanctuary and chapel. Following years of thoughtful consideration and much conversation, The Table launched September 18, 2011. Held weekly in Johnson Hall, the service has exceeded attendance projections and is regularly “full” with approximately 90% of 200 chairs occupied. Overall worship attendance in the fall of 2011 was up about 90 people per Sunday as compared to 2010, due in no small measure to The Table. Consistent with our history and under my charge, St. George’s will always seek to be a community inspired by reverent and relevant Anglican worship, an expanding and renowned music ministry, more opportunities for healing prayer services, and increasing worship attendance. I look forward to maintaining this momentum for 2012, especially as we look to new

opportunities for growth with our choirs and at the 11:15am service.

 

Third, our vestry approved an updated and revised version of our St. George’s Strategic Plan in 2011 giving practical shape to our vision for parish ministry into the upcoming years. Our Strategic Plan was originally developed and approved in 2007, the fruit of much hard work and

parish-wide participation. It has been enormously influential in shaping church organization, improving and growing ministries, and guiding the development of new initiatives. As most of the objectives and targets from the original Strategic Plan have been met, it has been necessary to revise the plan for our immediate future. We envision growth and improvement of many current ministries, as well as the creation of entirely new initiatives.  The updated Strategic Plan reinforces our current purpose statement that St. George’s exists “to receive, live, and share the abundant life of Jesus Christ.” We want this purpose statement to be the spiritual DNA embedded within each parish ministry.

 

Fourth, none of the growth and dynamism I celebrate would be possible without the dedication, competence, and grace of one of the hardest working vestries and best staffs I have ever been around. As we all know, the recent past has been filled with unanticipated challenge for our parish family. And yet we have come together in new ways, forged ahead, and prospered as never before. Again, such realities are only possible by the love and mercies of God. But God channels that power through those willing and able to direct it to blessed purposes. Such is the character of this past year’s vestry led so ably and wisely by Senior Warden, Eb LeMaster and Junior Warden, Chris Whitson, good friends, generous members, and mature Christians. Further, as I have shared many times, this is the finest and most fun staff of which I have ever been a part. Embodying a variety of gifts and temperaments, they share a common vision and are committed to you, to this parish, and to our Lord.

 

I often say I have the best job in the Episcopal Church. That is not intended hyperbole. This parish has been so very good to me. And as I approach the end of my seventh year (a biblical number!), I have already been pausing in recent weeks to ponder what joy it is to serve Christ with you in this good place. While I can reasonably anticipate continued vibrancy as well as unforeseen challenge ahead, in the deepest sense our future lies entirely in the hands of the Lord. And as with our recent past, so too looking forward we can say that all thanks belong to God.

 

-Leigh+