St. Timothy's, Athens: Parish Profile

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church

Parish Profile

207 E. Washington Street Athens, Alabama 35611 256-232-3541

sttimothy.athens@gmail.com sttimothy.dioala.org St. Timothy’s - Athens, Alabama | 1

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church

Who We Are Seeking to Lead Us

St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church is seeking a Part-time Rector who will support its values of inclusion of all people and its goals of growth, service, and love within the fastest growing county in the state. The city of Athens lies within Limestone County and the Huntsville metropolitan area, all of which are experiencing exciting development.

The primary responsibility of the Rector is to hold Eucharistic service four Sundays a month, as well as providing sacramental and liturgical leadership at most feast days observed by the parish. These include at least Christmas, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, Easter Sunday, together with any other established feast days agreed upon by the Rector and the Vestry. The parish has enjoyed in home services in the past and would welcome such services again.

The Rector will provide pastoral care as needed for baptisms, funerals, weddings, and for meeting with or visiting parishioners, as needed and according to availability of the Rector. The Rector will be expected to provide training on a yearly basis for lay worship ministers of the service and also to support the in-reach programs and outreach activities of the parish.

Desired attributes of our Rector are love, respect, and acceptance of all, including LGBTQ persons. These values provide the foundation for consensus building, pastoral care, and community presence. One who is able to lead and organize with courage and passion for service and justice will be appreciated, and a priest who sets boundaries necessary for self-care and spiritual growth is understood. A sense of humor is always welcomed.

Mission The mission of Saint Timothy’s Parish is, by the Grace of God, to worship, to proclaim Christ by word and example, to serve others beyond the parish, and to nurture one another within the parish.

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Values We care truly about each other. At St. Timothy’s, love abounds.

We proudly display and believe that we are a church “where strangers become friends, deeply connected with one another.” Our casual atmosphere centered around people is apparent to anyone visiting for the first time.

We are welcoming and accepting of everyone. Everyone is a cherished child of God, each on a very personal and unique journey of discovery and growth. We embrace that tenet, seeking a Christian community of faith at St. Timothy’s without regard to age, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, or political beliefs.

We serve those in need in the larger community. Jesus taught that we should love our neighbor as ourselves and so we endeavor to do so. St. Timothy’s offers a monthly beans and rice ministry that serves those who are in crisis or deep need in the greater community as a way of sharing the many blessings God has bestowed on us.

We value the diversity of our worship and education practices. These help us learn to live a Christ-like life and radiate the love of Jesus. Recognizing that people have different needs, we offer a variety of services and programs. Everyone is encouraged to share his or her talents and grow through service.

Beliefs As Episcopalians, we believe in a loving, liberating and life-giving God: Father, Son and Holy Spirit. We follow the teachings of Jesus Christ, who through lessons and by example showed how we should treat others and whose life, death and resurrection saved the world. We believe in taking scripture seriously, but not as a moral rule book. We value open, thoughtful reading of scripture.

We take scripture too seriously to only take it literally.

We strive to love our neighbors as ourselves and respect the dignity and worth of every person. Everyone has hopes, dreams and fears. Everyone desires mercy, grace and forgiveness. God loves everyone!

We believe in Community without Conformity. We can learn from each other, grow and transform the world without agreeing on every controversial topic in society today. We seek to help everyone find answers to their questions, recognizing that our understanding is incomplete and will grow in time.

We believe that one’s beliefs and relationship with God are personal, based on their unique experiences and thoughtful reasoned conclusions regarding God’s action in their life.

We share God’s love by living as Christ lived. When we pray “Thy will be done on earth, as it is in heaven,” we recognize that this isn’t just a plea for God to intervene on earth, but a promise that we will do our part with God’s help.

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Guideposts/Goals

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t. Timothy’s utilized this year without a permanent Rector to assess where we are today in relation to our mission, values, and beliefs; to experiment with change; and to formulate guideposts for the future, all within the context of exciting growth in our area. We recognize the next few years as a time of opportunity for growth in fulfilling our mission. Guidepost specific to areas are provided below.

Worship • Expand the types of worship services offered and the ways they can be received to support the spiritual growth of the parishioners • Enhance the music ministry • Be welcoming to all Parish Life • Provide diverse opportunities for serving the diverse needs of our parishioners • Provide activities to welcome newcomers and prospective newcomers Leadership • Grow resources to support a full-time Rector and necessary support and worship staff Outreach Activities • Utilize partnerships in expanding outreach activities while continuing established, effectives ones • Design and offer programs that support the growth of those served Financial Soundness • Increase pledges consistent with ministries and personnel needs Buildings and Grounds • Utilize buildings and grounds as a resource in attracting interaction with community groups and individuals • Maintain the soundness and beauty of our places of worship Participation • Increase membership and attendance • Develop widespread utilization of time and talents of parishioners and others through learning more about their talents and by providing information and training

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History The genesis of St. Timothy’s was present in 1830 with the Protestant Episcopal Faith meeting in homes, the courthouse, and public buildings. Colonel George Gordon of Huntsville, Alabama began a mission in 1861 to form the church in Athens which resulted in purchase of the present site for the church in 1869. The first recorded baptism occurred in 1867. Thirteen years later (1880), the first church building was erected on the present site.

The McManis Parish Hall was constructed in 1955. Ten years later, the church was condemned as unsafe and services moved to the common room of the parish hall. After demolition of the original church, groundbreaking for a new church was held in 1968 with the first service being held in January of 1969.

The property next to McManis Hall was acquired in 1990, converted to a garden with a Celtic cross, and dedicated in 2001. The parish hall was refurbished in 2002.

The number of priests who have served St. Timothy’s throughout its years is somewhat unclear. We do know the first Rector served from 1867 to 1870. According to the history compiled by Thomas E. Edwards, twenty-five priests served the church through 1969. Since that time, thirteen have served St. Timothy’s.

Building and Grounds St. Timothy’s has been a place of worship and prayer since 1867. Many articles of worship that date back as far as 1880 are used in our weekly Sunday services. From our 1880 steeple bell and our 100 year old Eucharistic candlesticks, to our brick from our sister church in Iona, Scotland, we are pleased to be a longstanding member of the Athens community. The current church was built in 1968 on the site of the first church that was built in 1880. The adjoining McManis parish hall was built in 1955. A prayer garden is flanked by the two buildings, and a second garden is immediately west of the parish hall. A labyrinth was added in 2019 with the support of a grant from the Diocese.

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Location St Timothy’s Episcopal Church is located in downtown Athens, just two blocks from the town square. Athens is the county seat of Limestone County, the fastest growing county in Alabama. Growth from 2020 to 2030 is projected to be 16.3% and by 2040, 56.6 percent. Athens is located in North Alabama and is a neighbor to Huntsville, Huntsville added roughly 3,300 people from 2021 to 2022, more than twice as many total people as the next closest city, becoming the largest city in Alabama. The second place city in growth was Athens. which sits within the larger Huntsville metro area. Athens added 1,566 people in just a year May 19, 2023.

The metro area offers recreational, performing arts, cultural, and concert activities. Amateur, collegiate, and professional sports teams attract enthusiasts. Professional baseball, soccer, and hockey teams provide fans with many opportunities for entertainment. The area is also known for premier golf courses, hiking and running opportunities, and growing green space.

The Tennessee River, Elk River, and Guntersville Lake are nearby and provide recreation for residents. Athens somehow has maintained amidst the growth some small town charm, sporting walking trails, antebellum homes, and festivals.

Diocese The Episcopal Diocese of Alabama includes 88 parishes and worship communities. The Diocese is led by the 12th Bishop, the Rt. Rev. Glenda S. Curry, Ph.D. The diocese has a number of camp, youth, and outreach ministries and initiatives. Please see the website (https://www.dioala.org) for more details. St. Timothy’s participates in the voluntary program of giving to the Diocese.

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Sunday Worship Service We worship God because of who God is and what God has done for us. As Revelation 4:11 says, “O Lord our God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power; because you have created all things, and by your will they were created and have their being.”

Every Sunday morning at 10:30am we celebrate a joyful worship service. Our music consists of traditional hymns from the 1982 and Lift, Every Voice and Sing hymnals.

We offer Adult Education and Christian Education. On Sunday nights, we occasionally have Soup, Conversations and Compline. We meet at 5:00pm, enjoy a meal while we socialize and discuss the gospel or another topic and then close with compline.

Music St. Timothy’s parishioners enjoy music as a part of the worship service. A volunteer organist provides accompaniment for congregation singing. The choir is small, currently numbering seven. An attempt to recruit paid student singers occurred in the spring and will occur again this fall. Two members of the choir serve as volunteer directors. Fortunately, St. Matthews Episcopal Church provided joint Lessons and Carols in 2022 and has offered to do so again in 2023. The congregation has enjoyed the recent purchase of the Lift Every Voice and Sing (LEVAS) hymnals to supplement the 1982 hymnal.

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Christian Formation and Spiritual Offerings

Labyrinth St. Timothy’s offers a labyrinth for spiritual reflection and clarification of thoughts. The labyrinth, funded by the Alabama Diocese, was built by parishioners for use by the congregants and also for the community. The labyrinth was blessed by the Bishop in June of 2023.

Spiritual Direction A parishioner of St. Timothy’s is a lay preacher licensed by the Diocese. She has officiated Morning Prayer services and provided sermons. She is also a spiritual director and as such assists others who seek deeper knowledge of relationship with self, with others and with the Divine. Through active listening, questions and reflections about what the directee is noticing, experiencing in daily living, the spiritual director offers a safe, confidential space for exploration. Together, the directee and the director listen for the spiritual meanings of these experiences. Through these deeper understandings directees discover more intimate relationship with the Divine and how to live out this relationship in the world.

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Cursillo St. Timothy’s has an active Cursillo group.

Participants regularly join with a reunion group. Cursillo is an opportunity to grow in faith and in spirituality. Cursillo in the Diocese of Alabama beings with a four-day weekend at Camp McDowll. During these four days, lay people and clergy share their experiences and perspectives on a variety of topics related to the love of God, the Christian life, and Christian community. Through Cursillo we seek a deeper understanding of the teachings of Jesus and how we can serve. We work together to share God’s love and encourage each other to persevere in carrying out our Baptismal vows.

Cursillo starts with a four-day weekend, but the best is yet to come!

Beans & Rice Ministry The Beans & Rice Ministry operates on the third Saturday of each month. Volunteers meet at the church at 8:30 and distribution is from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. handing out quart-size bags of dried pinto beans and uncooked rice, along with canned or boxed fruits, vegetables, and entrees.

Although the numbers served has not yet reached prepandemic levels, twenty to thirty are consistently served with an average of 21 thus far during 2023. An interesting development has occurred in 2023, namely landlords are frequenting beans and rice to obtain food for their renters who are in need, but lack transportation or confidence to avail themselves of the opportunity. The Beans and Rice Ministry is a critical link in serving our community.

Ecumenical Wednesday Noonday Lenten Services and Lunches St. Timothy’s initiated Ecumenical Noonday Lenten Services and Lunches in 1991 and has continued to do so each year with the exception of one year during the pandemic. Five churches participate each year with pastors providing the meditation and a hospitality group providing the luncheon. The specific churches that participate varies from year to year. The roster for 2023 included a Catholic, a Presbyterian, a Methodist, and a non-denominational church in addition to St. Timothy’s.

Attendance averaged 43. Lunch donations are given to Limestone County Churches Involved, whose mission is to mobilize the Churches of Limestone County to transform lives in the Name of Jesus Christ by providing a prayerful and organized approach to meeting the physical needs of individuals in our community. This year a check for $2,518 was presented to LCCI.

Parish Life and Pastoral Care St. Timothy’s is known to be a welcoming parish.

Newcomers and long-standing parishioners are encouraged to participate in various roles such as lector, acolyte, altar guild, choir, usher/greeter and activities in the church such hospitality, beans and rice, Lenten lunches, greening of the church and grounds, burning of the greens, and soup suppers.

The Daughters of the King The Lois and Eunice Chapter of the Daughters of the King is an active chapter at St. Timothy’s. Our members are women who desire a closer walk with the Lord. We are strengthened through the discipline of a Rule of Life and supported through the companionship of our sisters. We are all at different stages of our Christian journey. But no matter where we are on our sacred journeys, our primary goal is the same – to know Jesus Christ and to make Him known to others.

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Numbers The 2022 parish report indicated total membership to be 108 and that membership had increased by 1 and decreased by 3 for a loss of 2 members. Communicants included 26 senior adults, 19 middle adults, and 10 children and youth.

Confirmations numbered one in 2017 and 2018; two in 2019; four in 2021; and one in 2022. One individual was baptized in 2020; four in 2021; and one in 2022. There were two funerals in 2020; one in 2021; and one in 2022. There were no weddings.

Average Sunday attendance in 2022 was 28 with 42 attending Easter Worship Service and 100 attending Lessons and Carols.

During the first nine months of 2023, three individuals were confirmed, and three had letters transferred to St. Timothy’s. One wedding has occurred. Two were baptized the first Sunday of September.

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Financial Overview

aint Timothy’s has an investment account with the Diocese of approximately $80,000; a memorial fund of $37,000; and a checking account that is our operating account with a balance of $127,000 (amounts from July 2022 reports) of which $1296 is designated as beans and rice funds. The second Sunday loose plate offering is designated as the Priest’s discretionary fund.

Receipts and expenditures are shown below for the 2022 calendar year.

Income totaled $109,100; expenditures were $72,894. Pledges are the primary source of income. Pledges in 2022 were approximately $99,027. Pledges for the current year increased to $110,00.

Sources of Income for 2022

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Categorical Expenditures for 2022 The largest categorical expenditures in 2022 were predicably for the rector and for facilities and grounds with those categories nearly equal in percentage. Contribution to the Diocese followed, as St. Timothy’s made a commitment of at least ten percent of income. The fourth highest category was that of worship.

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In Closing St. Timothy’s parish eagerly and prayerfully awaits a rector who will join us in love and service to God, to each other, and to our community.

We look forward to spiritual growth, growth in service, and growth in numbers with a rector who through prayerful discernment has committed to leading our parish.

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St. Timothy’s Episcopal Church 207 E. Washington Street Athens, Alabama 35611 • 256-232-3541 sttimothy.athens@gmail.com • sttimothy.dioala.org