Slides from our rector's presentation at St. George's Episcopal Church, Fredericksburg VA, December 10, 2017.

1. St. George’s Annual Meeting
December 10, 2017

2. • Annual Parish Meeting
• December 7, 2017 10:00 a.m. Sydnor Hall
• St. George’s Episcopal Church
• Growing into Christ + Reaching out in Love
•
• 10:10 Welcome. Call to order. Opening prayer and singing.
• Administrative business: approval of special election rule that top four vote receivers are elected. Overview of agenda.
•
• 10:15 – Vestry election –Recognize election committee of four vestry members finishing their term. Introduction of candidates. If you
need a ballot, please see one of the four vestry members on the election committee. Opportunity for any questions or clarifications.
Prayer for guidance.
•
• 10:20 – Request for a motion to approve the appointment of Tres Seaver by the vestry to fulfill the unexpired vestry term (ending 2018)
of Bill Carter. Vote by the assembly.
•
• 10:22 – Where have we been? Slide show images and music.
•
• 10:28 – Junior Warden Report on Buildings and Grounds – Ethel Hellman
•
• 10:32 – Senior Warden report – Anne Beals
•
• 10:36 – Where have we been? Where are we going? Looking ahead to the 2020 Tri-centennial celebration. - Marilyn Farrington and Joe
Hensley.
•
• 10:40 – Presentation by the 300th anniversary history committee
•
• 10:45 – Treasurer Report: Tom Meredith
•
• 10:52 - Where are we going? How are we growing? – Rector
• Overview of a process to review and renew our mission and our resources for that mission.
• Phase I (Jan – August 2018): Asking the questions: How is God calling us to fulfill our mission in the next 5-10 years? What is
necessary/unnecessary in order to fufill mission goals? What will we need in the next 5-10 years? How much will it cost?
• Phase II: (Sept – Dec 2018): What are the resources in our parish?
• Phase III: (Jan-May 2019): Inviting generous sharing of resources for the fulfillment of our long-term goals in mission.
•
• 10:55 – Time for questions and responses. Sharing of good news in our ministry together.
• 11:07 – Adjourn.

3. Let’s sing: Seek Ye First
Seek ye first the kingdom of God
And its righteousness
And all these things shall be added unto
you
A-lle-lu, Allelu-ia

4. Vestry election
• Voting now and after each Eucharist service today.
• Votes tabulated this evening by four vestry judges.
• Need a vote by the meeting to adopt a special rule:
“Whereas Diocesan Canon 11:5 requires that “a majority of
votes shall be necessary to a choice,” “unless otherwise
provided by the meeting,” we, the qualified voting members
of the annual meeting of St. George’s, make this alternative
provision: that the four vestry candidates receiving the most
votes will be chosen for a three-year term. In case of a tie, if
necessary, a coin toss will determine the addition of one vote
to one of the tied candidates.”
• Results will be posted on our website Monday morning.

5. Vote needed
“We ratify the appointment, by the unanimous
vote of the vestry on November 15, 2017, of
Tres Seaver, to fill a vacancy on the vestry, the
term of which expires December 2018.”

6. St. George’s by the Numbers
• Number of current enrolled members: 1098 (966 in 2016)
• Prospective members (may attend regularly but have not
officially transferred membership): 359 (297 in 2016)
• 2017
• 141 Newcomers (32 officially joined the church)
• 6 persons/households officially transferred out of the parish
• 25 Baptisms
• 28 Confirmations
• 6 Weddings
• 14 Burials

7. Slide Show
See the slide show with music from our St.
George’s music ensembles.

8. Thank you to vestry
Members completing their terms:
-Anne Beals (junior warden in 2016 and senior
warden in 2017)
-Mike Fray
-Ann Smith
-Tommy Thompson

9. Warden’s reports
Many thanks to Anne Beals, senior warden, and
Ethel Hellman, junior warden, for all their work
this year. The wardens have met regularly with
the rector, served on the finance, personnel, and
buildings and grounds committees, and been
involved in numerous other ways.

10. Looking ahead to 2020
• 2020 Anniversary celebration planning is
underway
• Presentation by history committee

11. Why celebrate 300 years?
 Evangelism! Sharing the good news of God at
work.
 Community: “The year is just a good reason to
get together” and connect with the wider
community for learning, healing, and growing
in grace.
 Blessing. – Opportunity to invite generosity
and sharing of gifts and using those gifts to
bless and continue the work we are called to
do.

12. Potential 300th anniversary timeline
• Winter 2020: “warm-up” events, concerts,
lectures, art and history exhibits, fun events (sock
hop!) throughout the celebration.
• Feast of St. George (late April): inaugural worship
celebration.
• November 2020: mid-point celebration.
Anniversary of the legislation which created St.
George’s Parish
• Spring 2021: ending worship celebration,
anniversary of the actual creation of the parish

13. Next steps
• Creation of a steering committee (underway)
• Meetings in the parish to solicit ideas and
support (2018)
• Coordination with community partners (2018-
2019).
• Connect with capital campaign in 2019.
• History committee (already working) compiles
a history which can be published/shared.

14. Finance Report
• Tom, Meredith, treasurer
Many thanks to Tom, who has served as
treasurer for 8 years, attends vestry and finance
meetings, is a trustee of our General
Endowment Fund, and helps to deposit Sunday’s
offerings every Monday morning. Plus he helps
Jan Meredith 

15. Reviewing and Renewing Our Ministry
Together
Aspects of Growth in 2017:
-hired part-time youth assistant (Ashby Conway followed
by Emily Hoell)
-hired part-time clergy associate, the Rev. Bob Miller
-Expanded Sunday school-space off-campus (first in
Princess Anne Building and currently in historic Renwick
Courthouse Building)
-explored rental/purchase of properties near St. George’s.
-continued expansion of outreach ministries

16. Reviewing and Renewing our Ministry
Together
Opportunities for growth in staff leadership
-staff transitions: Michelle Midkiff (director of facilities and welcome as
well as assistant for children’s formation) left in August 2017. Thanks
to Michelle for her ministry over 5+ years.
-Helen Mosher, Director of Communications, planning to leave in early
2018. Thanks to Helen for her ministry almost 3 years.
-Plans to hire a full-time Parish Administrator for program and
communications.
-Current Business Manager becomes administrator for facility
maintenance and development and continues to be administrator for
finance.
-Plan to hire office secretary/receptionist
-Would like to hire a second, part-time facility manager (we have one
half-time employee currently) so we can have better coverage of the
facility seven days per week.

17. Reviewing and Renewing our Ministry
Together
Opportunities for growth in member leadership:
Calling for the formation of a “connection
commission” who will identify gifts and interests
and help to connect parishioners with each
other and will meaningful opportunities to
engage in ministry.

18. Reviewing and Renewing Our Ministry
Together
• Phase I (Jan – August 2018): Asking the questions: How
is God calling us to fulfill our mission in the next 5-10
years? What is necessary/unnecessary in order to fufill
mission goals? What will we need in the next 5-10
years? How much will it cost? Establishment of a
steering committee to oversee this process.
• Phase II: (Sept – Dec 2018): What are the resources in
our parish? Bring in outside fundraising consultant.
• Phase III: (Jan-May 2019): Inviting generous sharing of
resources for the fulfillment of our long-term goals in
mission.

19. Reviewing and Renewing our Ministry
Together
Potential goals
– Add to long-term building fund to accomplish major
capital projects in the next 3 years:
• HVAC - $350K (already spent $80K in 2017)
• Exterior painting $130K (needed every 10 years)
• Resolving our “damp” issue $75K
• Creating a children’s courtyard outside Sydnor Hall
• Improved handicap accessibility
– Complete the organ (732 pipes to go: roughly $272K)
– Expand our space capacity

20. Reviewing and Renewing our Ministry
Together
Rector sabbatical in summer 2019.
-Agreement when hired in 2015 included a
sabbatical after four years of service (instead of the
typical six).
-Our rector has been a priest for 10 years (Dec. 19)
and has not had a full sabbatical for rest and
renewal.
-Planning will take place in 2018 and will include
the parish. Sabbaticals are opportunities for mutual
renewal.

21. • Questions?
• Stories of good news and signs of the Holy
Spirit at work at St. George’s this past year?

22. Thank you’s
• Members of this year’s stewardship commission
-there are still pledge cards available. Pray for
the finance committee and vestry as they discern
the 2018 budget in the coming weeks.
• All those who make contributions small and great
of time, talent, and effort.
• All our clergy, staff, and vestry.
• Everyone who helped pull this meeting together!
• All of you for attending today.

23. Final Blessing said together
May God bless us and keep us.
May God shine upon us with grace and loving
kindness.
May God lift up the light of the divine
countenance upon us and give us peace.
AMEN!