Weekly update week of November 12, 2018
Tuesday November 13
7pm Finance Committee meeting (parish office)
Thursday November 15
7:30am Morning Prayer.
7:30pm Rehearsal for the 10:30am service choir.
Saturday November 17
10am Ordination of Deacon Yoimel Gonzalez Hernandez (Washington National Cathedral).
Sunday November 18
8am Holy Eucharist Rite I, the Rev. Martin Smith preaches and presides.
9:15-10:15am Forum. Show of the film about R. S. Thomas: Welsh Priest and Poet, by the Rev. Martin Smith.
9:15-10:15am Manna and Mercy Bible study/series (Choir room).
10:10am Sharing the Gospel with Loaves and Fishes.
10:30am Holy Eucharist Rite II, the Rev. Martin Smith presides and the Rev. Yoimel Gonzalez Hernandez preaches.
Noon Meeting of the Pastoral Care Group (Missionary Room)
3:45pm Vestry meeting (choir room)
5:30pm Misa Alegría (Spanish language liturgy). The Rev. Sam Dessórdi Leite presides and the Rev. Yoimel Gonzalez Hernandez preaches.
Highlights from Vestry Meeting on 10.28.18
The vestry continued to discuss next steps and long-term plans for Loaves and Fishes. During the meeting the vestry went over yearly and monthly financials and stewardship progress in preparation for discussing the 2019 annual budget at the November vestry meeting. Several repair issues were brought forward by the Building and Grounds Committee:
Persistent roof leak in one spot lead to switching roofing contractors.
Additional church chairs are needed, and the vestry approved the committee to raise money for this purpose.
The current security system needs attention and Mike is pursuing estimates for repair or replacement.
Committee foresees the need to repair some external brickwork.
The vestry also discussed the following issues related to the pending reconstruction and redevelopment of Urban Village:
Parking and vehicle and pedestrian access.
SSI access to 16th street and sunlight.
Ongoing and increased waste management (residents frequently use SSI waste removal services).
Redevelopment is going to be 100% affordable housing and the developer will pay for temporary rehousing costs during construction.
Parish financial update
Pledge giving has continued to be a little weak through September but is ahead of budget for the year. Giving through plate collection on Sundays has continued to be strong through September and is well ahead of what we budgeted for the year. Thank you for your continued and generous support of the church! Please be sure to maintain your pledge payments as the end of the year approaches!
Parishioner Gifts Received by the end of September: $243,000
Expected Amount of Parishioner Gifts by the end of September: $234,000
Total 2018 budget: $312,000
Congratulations, Fern!
Parishioner Fern Hunt was named a Fellow of the American Mathematical Society on November 1, 2018. The accompanying citation reads: "for outstanding applications of mathematics to science and technology, exceptional service to the US government, and for outreach and mentoring". Saint Stephens and the Incarnation celebrates this achievement with Fern.
Advent and Christmas/Epiphany Liturgy Planning Teams
At the September Liturgy Retreat we began the process of forming liturgy planning teams for the upcoming liturgical seasons. Our vision is to have members from each of our worshiping communities on each team. Please contact Father Sam at ˂samdessordi@yahoo.co.uk˃ or Mary Alcuin Kelly at ˂marykelly9748@yahoo.com˃ if you would like to work on the Advent planning team or the Christmas/Epiphany planning team. Once teams are formed we will set up our meeting times for planning. Act soon!
Stewardship Campaign 2019
Thank you for the many gifts of time and treasure you offer to St. Stephen and the Incarnation. In 2018, we've grown in the faith and as a community, through beautiful music, quiet morning prayers, small groups, and in many other blessings large and small. As we plan for next year’s budget, we hope that you will continue your support of St. Stephen’s by making a 2019 pledge. Since we don’t have an endowment or receive regular funding from the wider church, parishioner contributions make it possible to fund our continued life together.
We expect to receive approximately $312,000 in donations from parishioners this year. In 2019, we need to increase our donations by about $22,000 just to continue our current parish operations and make up for the decrease in the diocesan grant which currently supports a portion of our senior priest’s salary. If we receive donations beyond that amount, we will be able to pursue other parish goals (for example, increasing resources for Godly Play, funding initiatives to grow our congregation, or planning for badly needed capital repairs to the building).
Please consider pledging to support our church home next year. If you are renewing your pledge, please consider increasing the amount by 10% to help meet our operational costs or 15% or more to help us meet other parish goals and save for much-needed capital repairs. To let us know how much you plan to pledge, you can:
Fill out this google form: https://bit.ly/2A0iPMP
Email Nicole Martinez at ˂nicole.martinezmoore@gmail.com˃
Mail back the pledge form you receive in the mail
Fill out the pledge card at church and leave it in the offering plate
We encourage you to automate your pledge payments at http://tinyurl.com/ssi-give. Automating your pledge ensures continuity of revenue, which allows us to plan better. It is also easier for you -you don't have to remember! Thank you, sincerely, for your support of our parish.
Sunday Forums
The Sunday Forums are happening each week from 9:15-10:15am in the auditorium. We offer time to gather as a community and focus on some aspect of our faith and our lives. A forum topic can be whatever is part of your journey with Christ inviting us to understand God working in our lives, to better know one another, and build the community of St. Stephen's and the Incarnation. Come hear our presenters and get to know others in the community.
November 18: Show of the film about R. S. Thomas: Welsh Priest and Poet, by the Rev. Martin Smith. Join us to watch a rare film exploring the life of one of the 20th century’s greatest poets, with beautiful scenes of wild Wales where he spent decades as a parish priest.
