Rector's Report @ Annual Mtg Feb. 8, 2015

CHRIST CHURCH QUAKER FARMS – Rector’s Report

 for the 203 ANNUAL MEETING SUNDAY

February 8, 2015

                                                   The Rev. John Donnelly, DD

     

Most visions do not involve supernatural light, and God’s voice shouting from heaven, as they occurred in today’s Gospel when the disciples saw not just Jesus the man, but they saw a vision of Jesus as God.   But our God is a god of vision, who still imparts visons to his people, as He calls us to follow Him. Would you please take out your blue bulletin insert, which is a copy of my report.  Looking at page 1, let us together read the definition of vision:

“A VISION is a clear mental image of a preferable future imparted by God to his chosen servants [Sr. Pastor, elders] and is based upon an accurate understanding of God, self and circumstances.”

Now unlike the Vision that God imparted to the disciples in today’s Gospel, where that Vision happened suddenly and quickly with supernatural light, most of the time God imparts His visions to people  less dramatically, over a longer period of time.

For the past 3 years, we have been successfully living out God’s Vision for Christ Church Quaker Farms, as imparted to the Rector and Vestry back in June of 2012.  This vison was based on countless hours of prayer and discussion by the Vestry and the Rector Search Committee prior to my arrival in 2011.  It continued during the interview process as Christ Church and I sought whether or not Jesus wanted us to serve together; and that discussion continued on until   the Vision statement was unanimously adopted by the Vestry.

Please look to the front cover of your bulletin, and let us read that Vision statement together.

Christ Church Quaker Farms:   SHINING THE LIGHT OF CHRIST'S LOVE
through our Church & into the World as a Kid & Family Friendly Church with      ***Joyful Worship ***New Friendships

***Spiritual Growth ***Cheerful Giving & Service

Now, how do you know if a vision statement is really from God, and not just a human idea?  Well, the Bible says to test it.  Take it for a test drive.  And that is exactly what we have been doing.  And in the process, God has blessed us with growth--- spiritual growth (also known as discipleship), growth in worship, in new friendships (also known as fellowship), growth in Kid & family ministries, and growth in cheerful giving and service.   These have all been the ways that we have shined the light of Christ’s love in and though this church, and into the world around us. As a result, God has blessed us with growth in membership, too.  Many of you here saw the light of Christ’s love shining through this church, and have now joined us to share the light of Christ.

·         Prior to my accepting the call to become your Rector, the average Sunday attendance was 30 to 40 people, as I have been told. Currently, our average Sunday attendance, excluding the summer, is around 110.

·         During this time the Youth Group grew from 12 to 24 or more.  Our Sunday School has grown from 40 active registrations in 2011, to  90 this winter.

 

Now many of you are aware of this growth, but we have more Good News to report, and that is this: Jesus Christ has been alive and active at Church in this year now passed:

·         Bob Knapp: Tell us how Jesus has been active in our ministries of spiritual growth—2014 has been an amazing year for CCQF in terms of our spiritual growth and development as well as the participation level in our Small Group Bible Studies.  Our Walking with God series that ran from Sept. through Nov. had 80 adult participants and 15 children in eight different Small Groups who gave us great feedback on their experiences. 

·         Barb: Tell us how Jesus has been active in our cheerful service ministries: Over 60% of those attending our Sunday services are involved in volunteering at Christ Church, in one way or another. This is a huge amount--because in most churches, that number is only 20% of the people who do all the work.  So, praise God."

·         Ralene, what has Jesus been doing in our Music Ministries: The music ministry continued to celebrate growth during 2014. We grew in numbers of choir members. We were blessed to receive official choir chairs. We welcomed new guitar players. CCQF music worship also expanded to include a musical production titled "Happily Forever After" which was performed in the spring. The annual Christmas pageant included an intergenerational cast of almost 50 people. We look forward to seeing what God has for us in 2015!

·         Jackie, pls tell us how Christ’s love has shined through our youth ministries:  Our youth at Christ Church are one of the most wonderful group of people to work with.

a.         They are eager to grow closer in their relationship with Jesus;

b.      They seek to have a better understanding of Him in order to live more like Him.

c.        They beg for opportunities to help others or show love to others.

d.       They love to play and have fun in ways that bring Glory to God.

 Our youth are also led by a committee of members who are dedicated to serving Jesus through loving the young people of in this group.  Join us in prayer as we respond to the needs of the teens and join us in praise for God’s work in their lives! Thank you.

·         Let’s now hear from Bob Taylor, our Sunday School Lead Teacher: The Lord continues to guide and bless our Sunday School Program. Currently we have around 90 young people attending our PreK- 12 Sunday School.   The VBS Wilderness Escape was attended by about 50 young people, plus 16 or so  teens that helped. For the 2014 -2015 year the church adopted a new program “All Together Now”. The Lord answered our prayers for additional coaches and assistant coaches. During 2015 there will be a tremendous opportunity for growth and further program development. Praise the Lord.  

 

·         Renee, what is happening with our Newcomer Ministry: We have 20 new parishioners who come to church regularly this year.  And of those, only 3 (who started attending CCQF in the late Fall/early Winter) have not become involved in one of the available ministries or small groups. Praise God for bringing these friends to our doors!

 

So, we all helped on this—but we could not have done this by ourselves.  This was not a mere act of men and women.  This occurred because we submitted to Jesus as Head of the church, follow where he led, and lived out the power of His love with one another.  If you think that Jesus deserves the glory, then please join me and giving Him a clap offering of praise—a standing ovation.

 

 

So, what does God have in store in the next chapter of Christ Church Quaker Farms?  Well, I believe that we are going back to the future.

 

·         Back to the night that Jesus initiated the New Covenant, as he called all His disciples to “Love one another as I have Loved You.

·         Back to 2012 when the Vestry accepted God’s call to Shine the Light of Christ’s Love.

·         And going forward into the future, as we follow Jesus as he leads us to share His Love. My dream, my hope for CCQF is not that we would have the best music, or the best preaching, or even the best ministries to your people. My dream is that the world will look at Christ’s church and know that we are Jesus’ disciples by the way we love one another.

·         Now to him who died and rose from the dead, that we would not perish but have everlasting life – to Him be power, glory and majesty – for he is exalted as Head of the Church and Lord of our Lives. Amen   

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CCQF Annual Mtg. Minutes Feb. 8, 2015

Christ Church Quaker Farms Annual Parish Meeting

February 8, 2015

-Opening Prayer led by Paul Doyle.

-Warden Michael Gibbons made some opening remarks and told a joke.

-declaration of the 203rd Annual Parish Meeting as opened and organized for business by Father John Donnelly.

-distribution was made of this year’s Annual Meeting Agenda, Ministry Reports and the Minutes of the last Annual Parish Meeting of February 2^nd, 2014; last year’s Minutes were approved.

-Father John then led us in an exercise organized by Groups of 5 to 8 people per table where each group was asked to answer two questions: 1) Identify one way that you experienced God’s love at CCQF in 2014; 2) Identify one way that you could share God’s love with someone else in 2015.  Groups were given 15 minutes to discuss and answer these two questions; Father John then gave each Group Rep. a chance to briefly respond to these questions; LeeAnn Speer then collected these written responses for collation and later distribution.

-next Renee Knapp gave her Finance Report consisting of bad news, good news and great news: the bad news was that CCQF was some $16,000 short on the expected Pledges total for 2014; the good news was that the 2014 Plate Offerings made up for some $8,000 of this shortfall.  The great news was that CCQF received a close-out sum of $2,824 from the Anastasia Davis Trust Fund. 

-Mike Gibbons then gave his Stewardship Report: several families came and several families left our Parish over the past year.  Mike then thanked all those who have pledged and continue to pledge to CCQF; Mike also mentioned our new on-line giving option called Faith Street.  Mike will be giving a presentation soon (date TBD) on the Faith Street program; the bottom line is that we are providing this option to make giving easier for anyone choosing to use this 21^st Century giving option.

-next was Dave Stepeck’s Treasurer’s Report: Dave reviewed major points of the Income and Expense sections of our completed 2014 and proposed 2015 Operating Budgets then briefly covered the Non-Operating Budgets.  There were several questions by the Congregation.  First Bob Thiel asked why the Altar Supplies Budget Line had decreased from 2014 to 2015; Dave responded that we had not spent the full $800 budgeted last year on that line item so this budget line was decreased some $300 for 2015.  Thad Burr then asked why Father John’s salary line in the 2015 budget had decreased; Renee Knapp responded that we pay Father John’s salary with whatever income is left in the Operating Budget after all other expenses are paid; we then make up the difference of what we still owe Father John from our CCQF Investments. 

-Thad Burr also commented on the Altar Supplies Budget Line decreasing and stated that funds would soon be needed for new Acolyte robes; Renee Knapp asked Thad to contact Kathie Osborn on this question; Kathie is working on getting new Acolyte robes using our CCQF Memorial Fund to finance the requirements.  Paul Doyle asked why the Heating Oil Budget Line had decreased from last year; Renee Knapp explained that the Pre-School pays for most of the heating oil used at CCQF and that CCQF will only have to pay for the last $400 or so worth of heating oil.

-Father John then asked the question for a vote to approve the proposed CCQF 2015 Budget; the Budget passed the first time on a voice vote with no noted nay votes, disapprovals, or modifications.  Charles Wyler then gave the CCQF Investments Report for 2014 to include estimated earnings for 2015; this report was also accepted with no modifications. 

-Father John then presented the slate of 2015 Vestry Nominees for election of our CCQF Officers; the slate of Nominees was then voted on and approved by voice vote with no other nominations made from the floor and no nay votes or disapprovals noted.

-Renee Knapp then addressed the meeting on the subject of Coffee Hour, and she asked that families please sign up on the Coffee Hour roster to volunteer for Coffee Hour Support each week over the course of the next year.  She also noted that CCQF will sponsor a weekly Lenten Pancake Breakfast between the 8 o’clock and 10 o’clock services over the course of the month of March 2015; families should please sign up to lead and prepare the breakfast for a given weekend in March.  Barbara Taylor announced the joint Pancake Supper set for Feb. 17^th at St. Peter’s Church, Oxford; Barbara is selling tickets for the supper for $4/adult, $2/age 12 and under and $12/family – buy in advance or at the door.  Finally Matt McDonnell asked for a round of applause to thank John Carson for his CCQF coffee station support which he provides at all weekend services, and a hearty round of applause was given to John. 

Faithfully submitted,

Bob Knapp, Clerk of the Vestry