St. Lukes      St. Luke's Episcopal Church Annual Meeting, January 13, 2008
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2007 Report from the Rector

 

 

 

Dear Flock and Friends of St. Luke’s,

  While it is the rector’s prerogative to have the last word at the Annual Parish Meeting, it is more than a prerogative; for it is the rector’s canonical duty to report to the congregation annually on the state of the parish and to offer a public record of acts of pastoral and liturgical ministry preformed over the course of the prior year.  Actually, what I would like to share this morning is part “Thank You” letter, part reflection paper and part task report.  Having arrived more or less in mid-year complicates matters somewhat but this timing also provided me with some helpful insight into how you function as a church without a rector.  From my observations I commend all of you for your faithfulness in worship and service during those months.  I want to assure everyone that your Search Committee had the interest of this parish at heart in all my encounters with them.  They were committed to prayerfully and carefully seeking the best person to invite into your community.  I believe of all the phone interviews I have participated in theirs was the most straightforward and thorough.  I found the same devotion to discernment when I met with your vestry.  I encourage you to acknowledge your thanks for service well rendered to those who stepped forward and agreed to lead: Search Committee members-John Wagner, Leila Caldwell, Dave Carey, Ron Bagwell and Linda Turpin and the Vestry-Wayne Steffen, Senior Warden, Herman Melton, Junior Warder, Dave Turpin, Theresa Halfacre and to Jimmy Schumpert and Jane Bagwell (who graduate this year)!  It was my pleasure to get to know each of them!  That is the “Thank You” part.

 
     Now, I would like to share with you some things that your leadership and I are in agreement on.  These were shared values and goals that led to my being called to St Luke’s.  (This is not exhaustive as I am certain I have left something important out.) We agreed that we love God and want to make Christ’s love known to others.  We agreed that we love the Episcopal Church and although we are challenged and perhaps even disappointed by recent changes in policy we still find the Episcopal expression of worship to be that which feeds us best spiritually.  We would like to see St. Luke’s grow-not just for the sake of growth- but because we want others to find what we have found.  We also feel that the Episcopal Church presents a necessary alternative to other denominations and if we were no longer here our community would be the poorer for it.  Certainly, Our Lord can use any and all churches to make his light shine in the world but the Episcopal Church offers a tolerant community and a beautiful place for worship and service!  We rejoice in and we want to nurture the unique witness that St. Luke’s has by virtue of our racial diversity.  This is the envy of many clergy and churches.  We are committed to our Mission Statement; We are a community of faith committed to living and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  This is the reflection part.

 Now, the task report! In the year to come I expect to get to know all of you better.  I invite you to get to know me better as well. I want to assure you that I am available to you at any time though I live 22 miles away.  The bulletin lists my office schedule but I am not bound to the hours of 9:30 AM -2:30 PM, Monday-Thursday.  I can easily adjust my schedule to meet with you at other times.  If you need me I encourage you to try the office first and then my cell- 864-923-2033 or home- 864-938-6693.   You may call these numbers collect.  Pastoral Care is important to me and if it is not being provided it is most likely I do not know it is needed.  I have fallen in love with Newberry and if I were not married I would certainly live here!  I thank you for the hospitality you have shown to me and to Harold.  I intend to be very much a part of Newberry.

  Since arriving I have conducted 48 services of Holy Communion at Saint Luke’s, and have provided a worship service every other week at Springfield Place with attendance there averaging 20-26 people.  I have provided Home Communion on seven occasions and made other home and hospital visits.  During the past year services were provided each Sunday with an average attendance of 50.  Liturgical days were observed, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday and others.  Special services were held to commemorate the death of The Reverend David Stewart and Our New Ministry.  Other services were provided for the community including the Blessing of the Animals and the RED Ribbon Remembrance service.  Sadly, we lost two of our members by death. Gaynelle MacFarlane is dearly missed from our communion.  We knew the joy of one wedding!

  Oh, there is also the vision piece.  What do we believe God is calling us to do as we begin a new year? Above all else I believe we are called to be faithful – faithful in community with one another, in service to one another and the world, generous in giving our resources- time, gifts and money and above all faithful in our worship!  This is where God is encountered; in our worship together at Christ’s altar. It all starts here! 

 
      Finally I offer “the scripture piece” from Ephesians: Surely, as those who gather today for the Annual Meeting of St Luke’s Parish, Newberry, we have heard about Christ and were taught in him, as truth is in Jesus. We have clothed ourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God …and so we are members of one another.  As members of the body of Christ: Let no evil talk come out of our mouths, but only what is useful for building up, as there is need, so that our words may give grace to those who hear. And let us not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, with which we were marked with a seal for the day of redemption. Let us put away all bitterness …and anger …and be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ has forgiven us.

            May God find us faithful in all of this and May God bless us in 2008,

 

 

Elizabeth+

 

  

2007 Senior Warden’s Report

Dear St. Luke’s Parishioners and Friends,

Thank you for your prayers and support of St. Luke’s Church during this past year.  St Luke’s is what we collectively make it.  Many have given of their resources to make St Luke’s the community of faith our mission calls us to perform.  My prayer is that we continue to fulfill our responsibilities as people of God, united by our faith in him to work together, serving each other and the community. 

I am thankful for everybody that has been involved and responsible for the many activities that support our Church Family.  Special thanks to the ECW, the wonderful women and their leaders that have been the glue that binds us and the grease that has allowed us to work so efficiently together.  Thanks to all who helped support me in my times of need and frustration, in particular my best friend Sandy- who somehow finds the strength to love, forgive and stand by me.  Collectively, through all of you, I have felt the presence of our Lord in this place.       

I would like to report on some of the areas and activities accomplished in 2007:

1) Scheduled and coordinated supply ministers through 6 months of 07 for Sunday services, Ash Wednesday, Holy Week Services, Memorial Service,  2) Shrove Tuesday pancake supper,  3) Held weekly Lenten programs,  4) Youth Sunday school offered weekly,  5) Adult Sunday School curriculum offered weekly,  6) Bishop Duvall’s’ visitation and Baptism service,  7) Parish Breakfasts,  8) Church audit completed,  9) Discernment Committee meetings,  10) Convention representation and participation by the Norris’s and Melton’s, 11) Maintained mid-week services at Springfield Place,   12) Acolyte Training,  13) Rector Search Committee meetings and calling of Rector,  14) Upgrade to Organ completed, (Poole)-Dedication service,  15) Pledge Campaign,  16) Summer Arts Program,  17) Finance Committee meetings and 08 budget preparation,  18) Easter Brunch fund raiser,  19) ECW Bazaar,  20) Conducted Vestry Meetings,  21) Church Web Site improvements and Calendar,  22) Sunday Coffee Hour,  23) July 4th BBQ,  24) Celebration of New Ministry Service,  25) Angel Tree,  26) Rectory lease,  27) Blessing of The Animals service,  28) Maintained email news item updates and schedules for Parish.

Looking ahead to 2008 I am excited about the opportunity to follow Reverend Morgan’s leadership in continuing to carry out our mission of being a community of faith committed to living and sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We have found the right Rector for St. Luke’s.  Facility needs continue to be an area that requires our attention.  We have a lot of the preliminary work completed on evaluating our Parish’s needs.  With our new leadership in place I hope to start once again in addressing our facility needs that will support us in living and sharing the Good News.   

The sorrow that came with the ending of David Stewart’s material life this year has been replaced with the joy of a new beginning for St Luke’s.  Events that at the time seemed negative have helped me see the light of Christ as is promised to us, just as it was taught to us by David.  I pray that my faith continues to be strengthened through all of you and others he has sent my way.    

God’s Peace,

Wayne

Wayne Steffen, Sr. Warden