The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest
2014 ANNUAL REPORT Care. Share. Create. Serve.
Vision Statement:
Diocese of Northwest Texas The Mission of the Episcopal Church Is the Mission of Christ • To proclaim the good news of the kingdom • To teach, baptize and nurture new believers • To respond to human needs by loving service • To seek to transform unjust structures of society • To strive to safeguard the integrity of creation and sustain and renew the life of the earth We recognize with gratitude that the Five Marks (‘Five Marks of Mission’ as developed by the Anglican Consultative Council between 1984 and 1990) have won wide acceptance among Anglicans, and have given parishes and dioceses around the world a practical and memorable “checklist” for mission activities.
Vision Statement:
Mission Statement:
Church of the Heavenly Rest The Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest is a Christian community of faith rooted in the Anglican tradition. Empowered by the Holy Spirit through Word and Sacrament, we seek to know the reconciling love of God and to share that love with others. As a community of faith centered in God through liturgy and Christian practice, the Episcopal Church of the Heavenly Rest exists to: CARE for members of all ages and stages of life. SHARE God’s inclusive and healing love with all people. CREATE opportunities to grow in Christ. SERVE the church, the community, and the world.
1
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
SOLUTIONS TO SATISFY PARISH NEEDS
1
To preserve and adapt the historic Parish House by renovating the existing structure to address In-Reach and fellowship opportunities and address children & youth issues by renovating the nursery and youth space.
2
To repurpose the upper level of the existing Parish Hall for our Music Ministry and provide space on the lower level Parish Hall for Hands-on Ministry, Pre-K classrooms, and children’s craft lab.
3
To build a Great Hall and courtyard area to address In-Reach and fellowship opportunities.
2
Warden’s Message
It has been a privilege to serve the Church of the Heavenly Rest as the Senior Warden this last year.
We concluded our Stewardship Campaign in December. John Stowe and Rachel Anderson led this effort and, along with the work of their committee, we have been able to increase our pledge amount by 4%. We were able to increase salaries and add additional staff that will allow us to grow, including a new Parish Administrator, a fulltime Youth and Christian Education Director and a fulltime Communications Coordinator. The budget for direct Outreach was increased from $40,000 to $50,000. Our Outreach committee, led by Doug Thomas, decides how to disperse these funds. Thank you for your contribution to the mission and work here at Heavenly Rest. With the Vestry approval, the Discernment and Feasibility Study was completed with the guidance of the Episcopal Church Foundation. We give thanks to Mike Denny, Nancy Estes, Tom Choate and many others for their leadership and work to make this a success. The parish identified priorities from which the following solutions were prepared: • To preserve and adapt the historic Parish House by renovating the existing structure to address In-Reach and fellowship opportunities as well as children’s and youth issues by renovating the nursery and youth space • To repurpose the upper level of the existing Parish Hall for our Music Ministry and provide space on the lower level of the Parish Hall for Hands-On Ministry, pre-K classrooms and children’s craft lab • To build a Great Hall and courtyard area to address In-Reach and fellowship opportunities The addition of an east parking lot is planned to meet specifications required by additional building on our campus as well as improve traffic flow. A very successful Capital Campaign was conducted over the last six months, led by Mike and Julie Denny and the efforts of the Capital Campaign committee. Please see Mike Denny, chair of the Capital Campaign and chair of the Building Report for details. The Vestry unanimously named the following parishioners to chair the various building committees: Mike Denny, the Building committee; Nolan Kelley, the Great Hall committee; Kim Snyder, the Parish House committee; Judy Godfrey, the Sacred Music Hall (Parish Hall) committee, and Jill Bishop, the Furnishings committee. During the summer, the Abilene Planning and Zoning committee approved, and subsequently the Abilene City Council gave final approval, for the Church of the Heavenly Rest to purchase Meander Street from South 6th to 7th. This will allow us to realign the street and east side parking to accom-
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
2014 VESTRY Yvonne Batts, Senior Warden ybatts@battscom.com
Kim Snyder, Junior Warden kimsnyder3@gmail.com
Tom Choate tomchoate@ choatelawoffice.com
modate any buildings and parking lots planned for that area in the future. The new design also will improve traffic flow. Please see Mike Denny’s report for more details. We continue to have beautiful music under the direction of Dr. Wes Gomer and Susie Rockett. Thanks to Dr. Gomer, we continue to see new faces visiting the church at the Second Sunday Music Series, along with the many other music functions the church hosts. Each of us should give thanks to others on our staff: Lt. Col. (Ret.) Peter Kent, Parish Administrator; April Powers, Finance Director; Katie Young, Youth and Christian Education Coordinator; Laura Wright, Communications Coordinator; Arnold Guerra, Sexton; Dorothy Guerra, Housekeeper; Shelly Reed, Children’s Music Coordinator; Barbradon Brooks, Harpist, and Lucy Marak, Nursery Assistant. Father Luke Back, Mother Susanna Cates and Deacon Amanda Watson continue to lead this parish as we move forward into the future. Through their loving and careful direction we all enjoy the many blessings that we share at Heavenly Rest. We continue to see growth, not only in numbers, but, more importantly, in spirit. We look forward to 2015 and the many opportunities that are before us. Yvonne Batts, Senior Warden
Geanna Cutbirth gcutbirth@me.com
Kathy Diamond diamond-kathy@aramark. com
Dickson Ferguson dicksonf@gmail.com
Paul Fulham pfulham@zachryinc.com
Bob Hale bob.g.hale@gmail.com
Angela Hamil-Willis ahw123@sbcglobal.net
Jay Hardaway j.hardaway82@gmail.com
Chris Rockett crockett@rentechboilers. com
Rosemary Suttle rsuttle@suddenlink.net
3
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
WORSHIP SERVICES
Sundays 8:00 a.m. Worship Service, Holy Eucharist in the Nave 9:15 a.m. Sunday School 10:30 a.m. Worship Service, Holy Eucharist in the Nave 1:00 p.m. Worship Service Morning Prayer in Swahili
Weekdays 8:00 a.m. Morning Prayer in the Chapel
Wednesdays
TA B L E O F C O N T E N T S
Warden’s Message..........................2-3
WOMEN’S YEARBOOK
Rector’s Message................................5
St. Margaret’s Guild.........................28
Minutes from 2014 Annual Parish Meeting/Elections..................6-7
Daughters of the King......................28
PARISH LIFE
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Parish Committee Roster.....................9 Morning Prayer.................................10 Thursday Bible Study.........................10
Parish Hostesses, St. Martha’s Guild...29-30
Neighborhood Committee................32 Breakfast on Beech Street.................33
Junior Warden Report......................11
Visitation Ministries - Hospital & Nursing Home Visitors......................34
Newcomer Ministry..........................12
Soup Sisters......................................35
Brotherhood of St. Andrew................12
ECW & Thrift House....................36-37
Christian Education..........................13
Outreach Committee - Hands On and Refugee Committee.............38-39
Youth Ministry..................................14 Curate’s Report.................................15 Heavenly Rest Music...................16-17 Music Outside of Worship..........18-19 Sound Guild.....................................19 Deacon’s Report...............................20
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE Office Administration.......................41 Stewardship Report..........................42 Statement of Receipts and Disbursements.................................43
5:30 p.m. Healing Service, Holy Eucharist in the Chapel
Altar Guild.......................................21
Ushers.............................................24
Foundation Investment Returns and Fund Balances/Grants and Expenditures....................................46
Service liturgy, The Book of Common Prayer
Parish Medical Committee...............24
Altar Guild Financials......................47
Columbarium Committee.................25
Capital Campaign Report............48-49
The Faithfully Departed....................26
Operating Budget.............................50
Acolyte Corps..................................22 Eucharistic Ministers/ Eucharistic Visiting Ministers.............23
Trust Balance Sheet..........................44 Foundation Report............................45
Heavenly Rest by the Numbers................................52
4
From the Rector
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Dear Friends, “What is possible?” You were asked this question throughout 2014. Your answer has enabled immense possibilities to become anticipated blessings. “Building on our Heritage of Faith, Hope and Love” is now being fulfilled. Over $5.9 million in gifts and pledges has been offered. We are willing and able to preserve, improve and expand our facilities to meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s opportunities. The “Celebrating our Heritage” dinner in August abides as one of the great memories of our parish life together. At this event, we felt the vision, courage and confidence that we could meet the challenge of our mission in this time and place. Often people appear on our doorstep asking, ‘Is it possible for you to help?’ You made it clear that the answer must be ‘Yes.’ Outreach ministries gave, give and will give again. When hungry lips pray to God “Give us today our daily bread,” we abide as part of God’s way to answer that prayer. Generous hearts working together in Vestry, Foundation, Outreach Committee, Hands On, Thrift House, Swahili Committee, BOB’S, and numerous other ways provide much labor and nearly half a million dollars in outreach support. African refugees sought out the possibility of finding a spiritual home and a supportive community as they settled in a new homeland. You embraced and included them, making a hoped for possibility a present reality. The Swahili Committee and Fr. Romanik brought this ministry a second mile, helping with material, employment and educational needs. At St. John’s Episcopal School, we have made it possible to provide a safer, more secure campus by donating funds needed for an attractive perimeter fence and gates. The School’s enrollment is at a ten-year high of 237 students. St. John’s has reached maximum capacity and the Board of Trustees has begun a strategic planning process to study the possibility of expansion. It is impossible to thank adequately everyone that enabled our present blessings to become so real and tangible. I am grateful for our parish staff and clergy, our dedicated lay leadership, wardens, Vestry, our faithful volunteers in so many areas of service to God, for our church and our community. May God continue to uphold and bless you!
“The Celebrating our Heritage” dinner in August abides as one of the great memories of our parish life together. At this event, we felt the vision, courage and confidence that we could meet the challenge of our mission in this time and this place.”
Faithfully,
5
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Vestry Members Term Ends January 2014 Mike Denny Blake Fulenwider John D. Stowe Courtney Vletas Term Ends January 2015 Kim Snyder Angela Hamil-Willis Geanna Cutbirth Rosemary Suttle Term Ends January 2016 Chris Rockett Dickson Ferguson Jay Hardaway Yvonne Batts
Annual Parish Meeting
Sunday, February 23, 2014: M I N U T E S CALL TO ORDER:
Senior Warden, Mike Denny called the meeting to order at 12:45 p.m.
PRAYER AND INVOCATION:
The Rev. N. Luke Back, Rector, gave the prayer and invocation. He thanked the Brotherhood and Soup Sisters for help with the lunch. Rev. Back then offered a prayer of remembrance for those who have died this past year.
APPROVAL OF LAST MEETING’S MINUTES:
A motion was made by Billy Edwards to accept the last meeting’s minutes as written. The motion was seconded by John Stowe. Motion passed with no opposition.
REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE:
Senior Warden Mike Denny introduced the current Vestry and Delegates to the Diocesan Convention. He expressed appreciation for those leaving as Vestry members and Delegates.
NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS:
Newly Elected Vestry Members: Term Ends January 2017 Tom Choate Kathy Diamond Paul Fulham Bob Hale Junior Warden Kim Snyder Senior Warden: Yvonne Batts
6
Ballots were distributed for the election of new Vestry members and Diocesan Convention Delegates. Nominees were introduced by Mike Denny. There were no nominations from the floor. A motion was made by Charles Scarborough to elect all of the Vestry nominees by acclamation. The motion was seconded by Jim Snyder. Motion passed with no opposition. Vestry nominees were Tom Choate, Bob Hale, Paul Fulham, and Kathy Diamond. Mike asked that everyone vote for three Delegates to Convention for one year term. Mike explained that the first vote was by 50% majority and the second vote, if needed, by plurality. Those not elected will be alternates. A motion was made by John Stowe that the motions cease. The motion was seconded by Lew Carter. Motion passed with no opposition. The first vote had no majority. A motion to elect by plurality was made by John Estes and Tiffany Wagstaff seconded. Ballots were again distributed.
STATE OF THE PARISH AND APPRECIATIONS:
The Rev. Back gave the Rector’s Report. He noted several highlights from this past year that were particular blessings such as the morning prayer service in Swahili; the confirmation of many, including Frances Gordon who is age 99; and the addition of Rev. Susanna Brosseau as Curate. Rev. Back asked her to say a few words. Susanna said that she listed in her report that one year ago today she interviewed with Heavenly Rest. The experience has been more joyous than she could have imagined, and she thanked everyone for everything. Rev. Back continued with other highlights such as the addition of Katie Young; she and Susanna have brought energy and life to the youth program; the expansion of the Columbarium was quite an accomplishment; the expansion of our Hands On Outreach facility; they provided assistance to 5,000 people; the thrift house had a successful year and a much needed overhaul of the facility; St. John’s Episcopal School now has a student body of 209 students. Rev. Back expressed appreciation to the staff: Mary J. Renfro, Dr. Wes, and Lauren Kimble our communications consultant who put the annual report together; Lynsi Musselman and Lauren are working on a new website to be launched soon. Rev. Back then recognized the clergy: Rev. Amanda Watson, Susanna, Father David and Sarah Beth, his wife. David and Sarah are expecting and there will be a baby shower on May 4th. He also mentioned other upcoming events such as the Alleluia Evensong, a shrimp boil and Ash Wednesday services. Rev. Back stated that it is traditional that we give a token of appreciation for those who have
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
given of their time. He started with those going off Vestry: John Stowe, Blake Fulenwider, and Courtney Vletas. Other volunteers recognized were Patty Collier, Nolan Kelley, Josh Stearns, Nancy Estes, John Hill, Dorothy Thompson, Becky McDonald, Susie Ramsey, Billy Edwards, Pat Garren, Cindy McCarty, Meredith Back, Diane Stearns, Martha Ferguson, and Candy Scarborough. He then gave special recognition of Mike Denny as our outgoing Vestry Chair and his wife, Julie. He thanked Julie for all she has done and presented her with flowers. Rev. Back presented Mike with a saved piece from the Columbarium expansion that was inscribed in his honor.
explained that advanced pledge payments go into a special trust fund and move into the budget in January.
2014 BUDGET:
Mike Denny reviewed the 2014 budget. We have had an amazing increase with a high priority for outreach. Last year, we gave away $30,000 and we budgeted $40,000 this year. Mike noted that we plan to increase our outreach amount each year. Insurance cost was reduced quite a bit. A motion was made by Yvonne Batts to accept the 2014 budget. The motion was seconded by Billy Edwards. The motion passed with no opposition.
SPECIAL PRESENTATION – EPISThe Annual Parish Reports were given. A motion COPAL CHURCH FOUNDATION: ANNUAL REPORTS:
was made by Nolan Kelley for the reports to be accepted by title. The motion was seconded by Kim Snyder. Motion passed with no opposition.
STEWARDSHIP REPORT:
The Stewardship Chair, Kim Snyder gave the Stewardship Report. She started by thanking the committee members. She announced that there was an increase in pledges by $45,000 and that the average gift had increased tremendously. She thanked everyone for their generosity.
FOUNDATION REPORT:
Mike Denny gave the Foundation Report as Lee Hampton was not able to attend. Mike recognized Foundation members for their work. Mike summarized the information in the Annual Report regarding the Foundation Funds. All funds added together equates to four million dollars.
2013 FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
Annabel House, Treasurer, gave the Financial Summary. She presented an overview of 2013. Some highlights were an increase in pledges and that all pledges have been collected; we didn’t have to borrow from the operating fund reserve for the first time ever; we had a negative balance previously, but now we are in the positive with $105,000. $55,000 was added this year rather than borrowed. In regard to our income and total expenses, we spent less and collected more. John Stowe mentioned that plate collections were up by $15,000. Annabel reviewed the Trust Funds which are monies given for particular program. The Trust Funds have a total of $434,000. She
Nancy Estes thanked and introduced Ralph Cousins of the Episcopal Church Foundation who gave a special presentation on the results of the feasibility study regarding a capital campaign. Last year, we initiated a discernment process for what God intends for Heavenly Rest. 150 people participated and 50% of the households participated. There was a common thread in all the responses which were more youth and children activities, inreach, outreach, music, and more space. He explained that the purpose of the study is to determine what the parish wants to see. At the end of the process, the ECF will come back and tell Heavenly Rest what is feasible for us to do. He said we should thank each other for our stewardship increases and that something exciting is happening at Heavenly Rest. There were 362 surveys and 35% responded. There were also 21 interviews. He said that he can’t give the results today. John Stowe asked why 35% was a good response. Ralph said that they frequently see less, where the energy level is not as high as at Heavenly Rest. Mike Denny said that Ralph will be coming back to the Vestry with recommen-
Delegates to Annual Diocesan Convention Nancy Estes Nolan Kelley Josh Stearns Annabel House Cindy McCarty
Newly Elected: Sharon Kelley Nolan Kelley Charles Scarborough APPOINTMENTS AND INSTALLATION OF PARISH OFFICERS AND LEADERS FOR 2014: The Rev. Back asked for approval of appointments: Patty Collier as secretary for today, Annabel House, treasurer for 2014; Yvonne Batts as next senior warden. Nolan Kelley made a motion to accept the appointments and Angela Hamil-Willis seconded. Motion passed with no opposition. New Officers and Leaders for 2014 were installed.
dations and as soon as we have results, BENEDICTION & they will be put out to the Parish. ADJOURNMENT: ELECTION RESULTS: The Rev. Back gave the The election results were announced benediction and Mike by Mike Denny. Delegates to the Denny adjourned the Convention will be Nolan Kelley, Sharon meeting at 2:04 p.m. Kelley, and Charles Scarborough.
7
PARISH LIFE
8
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Parish Committees ALTAR GUILD Sharon Kelley, Co-chair Suzie Ramsey, Co-chair ACOLYTES Nolan Kelley, Acolyte Master Russell Dickerson, Parent Captain John Hill, Parent Captain Mark Puckett, Parent Captain Charles Scarborough, Parent Captain BREAKFAST ON BEECH STREET Jody DePriest, CHR Coordinator BROTHERHOOD OF ST. ANDREWS Bill Young, Chair Dick Veigel, Treasurer BUILDING AND GROUNDS Linda Taubert, Chair Junior Warden CHRISTIAN EDUCATION Katie Young, Christian Education Coordinator CONSTRUCTION COMMITTEE Mike Denny, Chair Yvonne Batts, Senior Warden Jill Bishop, Furnishings Judy Godfrey, Music Hall Nolan Kelley, Parish Hall Kim Snyder, Parish House Rev. N. Luke Back, Rector COLUMBARIUM COMMITTEE Rosemary Suttle, Chair DAUGHTERS OF THE KING Rev. Susanna Cates, Interim Chair ECW/THRIFT HOUSE COMMITTEE Suzie Ramsey, Chair EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS Terry Young, Layreader/Lector Chair Karen Boyd, Eucharistic Visitation Chair FINANCE COMMITTEE Treasurer Rector Senior Warden Foundation Chair Parish Administrator Financial Manager Junior Warden Curate
FLOWER GUILD Jackie Batjer, Chair FRIENDS OF MUSIC Susie Rockett, Chair FURNISHINGS COMMITTEE Jill Bishop, Chair GREETERS COMMITTEE Maggy Morford, Chair HEAVENLY REST MUSIC Dr. Wes Gomer, Organist and Director of Music Ministries Susie Rockett, Music Assistant Shelly Reed, Children’s Music Barbradon Brooks, Harpist Charles Shelton, Rehearsal Accompanist Robert Partin, Tower Captain, Change Ringers Lynn Blair, Carillon Maintenance HOSPITAL & NURSING HOME VISITATION COMMITTEE Rita Turkett, Hospital Visitation Chair Sharon Rathbun, Nursing Home Visitation Chair LIBRARY COMMITTEE Eleanor Hoppe, Chair MEDICAL COMMITTEE Gay Ann Walts, Chair
HANDS ON OUTREACH Billy Edwards, Co-chair Sue Ivey, Co-chair SWAHILI OUTREACH COMMITTEE Peter Kent, Parish Administrator, Chair Sue Ivey Angela Hamil Willis Kim Snyder Rev. Amanda Watson Bikoli Mulanda David Ekombe Regina Kosongo Paul Kosongo SOUND GUILD Bob Hale, Chair SOUP SISTERS Sue McWilliams, Chair Becky McDonald ST. MARGARET’S GUILD Terry Young, Chair ST. MARTHA’S GUILD Suzie Ramsey, Chair THURSDAY BIBLE STUDY Pat Garren, Leader USHERS Mike Denny, Chair
MORNING PRAYER Rev. Amanda Watson, Deacon Jackie Batjer Billy Edwards Jeff Goolsby Annabel House Charlotte Passel Doug Thomas Courtney Vletas
VERGER’S GUILD Nolan Kelley, Verger
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMITTEE Rev. Amanda Watson, Chair
ASSOC. OF CONGREGATIONS AND INTERFAITH COUNCIL Representatives Rector and Linda Goolsbee
NEWCOMER MINISTRY Lynsi Musselman
CHANCELLOR Scott Bishop TREASURER Annabel House FOUNDATION Lee Hampton, Chair
OUTREACH COMMITTEE Doug Thomas, Chair
9
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Morning Prayer Each weekday morning at 8:00am, liturgy of Morning Prayer is said in the Chapel at the Church of the Heavenly Rest. The Episcopal Church is a church that prays, which means the church traditionally sets aside certain times of the day for prayer. As early as the second century, there have been places where Christians marked each day liturgically with morning and evening services. The morning service consists of a psalm, a canticle, prayers and scripture readings. Saying Morning Prayer provides an opportunity to read most of the Bible in the two year cycle. Interestingly, to emphasize that we are a people that prays, the liturgy of Morning Prayer does not conclude with a blessing because this is the beginning, not the end, of our day of prayer. Saying Morning Prayer is a reminder for each of us that we offer this day to the glory of God and to the service of God, and in saying Morning Prayer with others we are reminded that we serve and love together in community. The concluding prayer is the prayer of St. Chrysostom which says, “when two or three are gathered together in his name, God will be in the midst of them.” Come gather together and set aside 30 minutes at the beginning of your day for prayer and scripture with these people who graciously love and serve the Lord each week day morning: Annabel House, Courtney Vletas, Billy Edwards, Charlotte Passel, Jeff Goolsby, Jackie Batjer and Doug Thomas. Amanda Watson, Deacon
Thursday Bible Study The Heavenly Rest Thursday Bible Study has been a part of our church’s history for almost 40 years! The group is ecumenical in nature, covering scripture, theology, and spiritual practice. It meets every Thursday, from 9:30am through 11:00am in the Bishop Garrett Room at the church. Pat Garren is the current leader of the group, facilitating discussion as members journey through God’s Word. Bible study participants enhance the knowledge and insight they receive by offering loving support to one another, and discovering new ways to connect with their communities and the world. If you have an interest in joining the Thursday Bible Study, please contact the church office for more information... or you are welcome to drop by any Thursday morning and “come and see!”
10
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Junior Warden Report As Junior Warden this year, I’ve had the privilege of working with the church staff on several maintenance and repair projects for our gorgeous facility. Allow me to provide you an update on upcoming projects and items that are in progress or have been recently repaired. Please feel free to contact me if you have questions on any of these activities. At the first of the year, you will see much activity in our Chapel! After many decades of use, our beautifully crafted wooden chapel pews, kneelers and cushions, which came from the original church located downtown, are in need of major refurbishing to return them to pristine condition. All the pews will be removed at one time and gently stripped, sanded, repaired and restained by a local company. Removing all pews at once will allow for thorough cleaning of the floor as well. Cushions will be replaced as needed or reupholstered. We will continue to use the Chapel during this time by setting folding chairs in place until the pews are reinstalled. This process will most likely take about two months. We will also have a new cover created for the piano to provide protection. Additionally, we have recently replaced the burned out candle lights in the Chapel and Sanctuary chandeliers. With the height of these fixtures, this project required professional electricians. In the fall, our hot water heater in the kitchen went out and was replaced. To the delight of all those who help hostess events in the church, our dishwasher was repaired during the summer and is now functioning well. Unfortunately, our ice machine was not repairable. With the upcoming plans for a new Parish Hall with new appliances, we have chosen to use bagged ice in the short term. The major hailstorm we experienced in June caused some damage to our church structure, though minor compared to what was experienced on the north side of town. We had several broken window panes that have been replaced, and some damage to the roof. Because our roof is slate and the pitch is extremely sharp, repairs must be handled carefully, by a qualified company, and taken care of in favorable weather conditions. Barr Roofing will handle these repairs as soon as slate tiles that properly match our existing roof are secured. Roof and glass repairs together will amount to about $10,000. Seeing the damage to the roofs on the First Baptist facilities, we realize how very fortunate we were! Several years ago we suffered lightning damage to two of the four pinnacles on the top of the Bell Tower. Yvonne Batts and Mike Denny worked for several months to locate a company that was able to replicate the design of the original pieces. Those pieces have now been recreated and are ready for installation. Scheduling that installation, which involves large cranes, good weather, etc., is in progress. Many thanks to Yvonne and Mike for taking on this somewhat formidable task! Several other maintenance issues will be discussed as we move into our planning phase for the capital improvements and renovations. Some of the items that we hope to address are much needed electrical updates, a new elevator for the Parish House, and repainting (recaulking) all windows throughout the property. May 2015 be a blessed year for all, Kim Snyder, Junior Warden
11
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
NEWCOMER COMMITTEE Claire Carlson Lisa Goolsby Jackie Batjer Sandra Kent Julie-Anne Stoner Nick Shepard
Newcomer Ministry Beginning in September 2013, Heavenly Rest put in place a plan to welcome visitors and connect new members into the life of the congregation. The plan was developed by a committee and patterned after the Newcomer Ministry developed by Mary Palmer from the Episcopal Diocese Project. A training was held at Heavenly Rest by Mary Palmer for various groups which resulted in a committee formed and a plan for Heavenly Rest. The model plan calls for three phases: Welcome, Invitation, and Connection. The “Welcome” includes weekly greeters, website communication, personal referral, visitor cards, bags with welcome notes, and a follow up personalized note to the visitor. Name tags are offered by the church office to all members in an attempt to make identification easier. Clergy welcomes visitors at the end of the service and invites all of the congregation to an informal coffee time. Those who want to learn further and be confirmed will be invited to a confirmation class beginning in January and ending after confirmation in May. “Connection” is the final phase. It is a time of connecting newcomers with the people and ministry that matches his/her particular life phase, gifts, talents, and passion. Through rally day presentations and conversations with newcomers, pathways to discipleship and belonging open doors of opportunity. Lynsi Musselman
BROTHERHOOD Bill Young, Director Dick Veigel, Treasurer Wayne Jepson Rick Willis Lee Hampton Norm French
12
Brotherhood of Saint Andrew The Brotherhood has had a quiet year this year. We hosted a great Shrove Tuesday seafood cook out with lots of good fellowship with all the men of the church. On Senior Sunday we presented the 40th annual Dan Abbott Scholarship to Chuck Gilliard. We hosted the Third Sunday in Advent Wednesday Night Dinner. We have been meeting informally at the Dixie Pig at 6:15 on Tuesday mornings. All men and boys of the church are welcome to join us. We wish to hold our Brother Dick Orsini in special prayers as he recently entered Hospice Care. Bill Young
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Christian Education The past year was filled with numerous programs in addition to the regularly scheduled Sunday School classes for the children of Heavenly Rest. Our first main events of 2014 were the Lenten programs on Wednesday nights that coincided with the Adult Lenten Series. During those evenings the children learned about Easter traditions in various countries around the world. This year we tried something a little different with Vacation Bible School. For three evenings in August we met at Joe Galloway’s house, the Tanglewood Pool, and the Church for swimming, games, and Bible study. It was great fun, and parents appreciated being included! For Halloween, we held our Annual Trunk-or-Treat in the Heavenly Rest parking lot. For the event we had 13 trunks participating. There was a competition for the best decorated trunk. Karen Boyd’s family was the first place winner and Aimee and Robert Powell won second place. The Youth received an honorable mention for their outstanding pirate ship that was orchestrated by Jessica Millsap. The entire evening was a huge success!
SUNDAY SCHOOL
Wednesday night Advent programs kicked off the first week of Advent. The evenings TEACHERS were filled with practicing songs for the Christmas pageant and learning about the mean- (as of September 2014) ing of the Advent wreath. The Christmas Pageant was a great hit with Meredith Back resuming the role as our wonderful director. She really out did herself and the kids had a Terry Young & Sarah Driskell great time playing their parts. two and three year olds Thank you to all of you who helped create this wonderful year for our children! Meredith Back Katie Young & Jay Hardaway pre-kindergarten and kindergarten Courtney Bryant & Diane Stearns first and second grade Gretchen Henson & Susie Rockett third and fourth grade Heather & Russell Manion, Sherry & Jed Martin and Katie Young middle school and high school students
13
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Youth Ministry This past year, the youth groups have been led by the dynamic duo of Mtr. Susanna Cates and Katie Young. We met on Sunday evenings in the spring, alternating between EYC (high school youth) and JEYPs (middle school youth). Feeling the need to meet weekly with each group, we came up with a new schedule for the fall– EYC met on Wednesday nights, 6:30-8:00pm, while JEYPs met on Sunday nights, 5:15-6:45pm. EYC started 2014 with a trip to the Sonora Caverns. Nine high schoolers from Heavenly Rest met with members of Emmanuel’s youth group in San Angelo for this adventure. It was nice to get out and meet other youth in the Diocese. In February Jerry and Jody Depriest were kind enough to open their house to all of our youth for a Super Bowl watching party. We ended the year with a barbeque at Candy and Charles Scarborough’s house. It was complete with lawn games, ukulele serenades by our talented youth, and delicious food! During the summer we had diocesan camps at Cathedral Ridge in Colorado and Ceta Glen just south of Amarillo. Camp was a blast! I hope that this year we can have even more youth attending. In August we had Pools & Paul, combining swimming fun with Bible studies of Paul’s letters. These events were hosted by Annabel House, Sandra and Peter Kent, and Mike and Julie Denny. School year activities began with a trip to New Braunfels, Texas. Annabel House, Jessica Millsap, Mtr. Susanna and Katie Young joined 14 members of the youth group at a river cabin just outside of New Braunfels. We had a great time jumping off a rope swing into the river, floating in the river, playing games, telling ghost stories, and just getting to hang out before the school year began. The last day we were there, we celebrated Holy Eucharist... it was truly a wonderful thing to break bread with these wonderful teens.
14
Katie Young
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Curate’s Report
This has been a year of amazing hospitality, given and received! I give thanks for the open hearts and loving hands that make so many events at Heavenly Rest possible. We kicked off a year of celebrations last year with a beautiful Epiphany Feast, and we’re well on our way to making that a tradition of this beautiful place. We continued our festivities with a wonderful Mardi Gras festival, where a great group of men fired up their propane burners and cooked a Low Country Shrimp Boil—let’s keep this tradition going, too! And we ushered in Holy Week with a lovely community celebration of Passover; people from all over Abilene came to see and celebrate with us. None of this could have happened without the amazing support of the men and women here. I take such delight in opening up our doors and our hearts to this congregation and to this community. It’s also been a great year of teaching and learning. I happily took on the coordination of our Confirmation program and the Curate’s Study in the fall, and have been so grateful to see how our parishioners love to learn and ask questions. It’s one of the chief joys of my life to be able to teach about God’s word, God’s church, and God’s creation to the adults that, regardless of age or experience in the church, are hungry for more knowledge. Thank you for giving me the opportunity, and for your enthusiasm.
family and youth ministry
“I give thanks for the open hearts and loving hands that make so many events at Heavenly Rest possible.”
We are all looking forward to the process of growth and change that lies ahead– not only in our campus and its structures, but also the growth that awaits each one of us in our spirits and our minds. I pray that we continue to grow and learn together, as we have always done—that we support and teach one another in love and grace.
Susanna+
15
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Music at Heavenly Rest HEAVENLY REST MUSIC Dr. Wes Gomer – Organist/Director of Music Ministries Susie Rockett – Music Assistant Shelly Reed – Children’s Music Barbradon Brooks – Harpist (8:00 AM service) Charles Shelton – Rehearsal Accompanist for Adult Choir Robert Partin – Tower Captain, All Saints Tower Change-ringing Guild/Piano Maintenance Lynn Blair – Carillon Maintenance
“We strive to carry on Conrad’s love of Heavenly Rest and the music which enriches our worship experience.”
Providing musical leadership for Sunday worship services and other special worship services throughout the year is a calling that our volunteer church musicians take quite seriously. During 2014, our musicians of the Adult Choir, Canterbury Handbell Choir, and Junior Choir/Junior Ringers and Singers provided music for all 10:30 Sunday worship services throughout the year, as well as several additional services. Besides the standard Holy Week services, the Adult Choir sang a very moving service on Palm/Passion Sunday afternoon, the Charles Wood “Passion According to St. Mark,” with guest soloists Dr. Rick Piersall and Travis Lowery, and guest-conducted by Jeff Goolsby. On Easter Sunday, Dr. Steven Ward conducted the offertory anthem which was sung by the Adult Choir, Junior Ringers and Singers, organ, and members of the Key City Brass. Heavenly Rest musicians were saddened in June by the death of Conrad Bratton, who spent nearly forty years establishing and maintaining the music ministry of Heavenly Rest. Our Adult Choir, many former choir members, and area church musicians con-
16
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
ducted by Bobbie Sumerlin, joined their voices in singing for his memorial service. It was some of the most magnificent hymn singing that has been heard within the walls of our nave. We strive to carry on Conrad’s love of Heavenly Rest and the music which enriches our worship experience. Our church musician volunteers – the individual members of choirs and ensembles, and especially the members of the Adult Choir – spend a lot of time and energy each week, each month, and throughout the year not only in singing in service, but in learning and rehearsing the music which is sung. It doesn’t happen by accident. No matter how talented our staff leadership may be, that talent is useless without the work of these fantastic (and pretty fun) parishioners who desire to use their God-given musical talent in a meaningful way. It is significant that not a week has gone by in the past year without at least two mentions of appreciation and thanks coming from members of the parish! We appreciate your support and participation! Wes Gomer
“No matter how talented our staff leadership may be, that talent is useless without the work of these fantastic (and pretty fun) parishioners who desire to use their God-given musical talent in a meaningful way.”
17
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Music Outside of Worship The splendid acoustics of our Nave combined with the beauty of architectural details and stained glass provide an atmosphere for music quite unlike many other sites in Abilene. With the support and encouragement from congregational leaders and our parishioners as a whole, the Heavenly Rest Chamber Music Series continues to attract both performers and listeners from the area to enjoy unique, high quality, and very well performed music in our Nave.
“This year, the Chamber Music Series began our sixth season and will present 8 performances from local and area professionals. So far, we have had more than 40 contributors and we have received many requests from performers who wish to be included in our series.�
18
The Heavenly Rest Chamber Music Concert Series continues to grow in popularity, prosperity and prestige. This year, we began our sixth season and will present 8 performances from local and area professionals. So far, we have had more than 40 contributors and we have received many requests from performers who wish to be included in our series. The Friends of Music program has not only increased our budget, but has also helped build a strong and supportive audience base. One of the highlights new to our concert series is the Tri-Collegiate Scholarship and Honors Recital. This concert was developed to focus on the very talented music students from our three local universities (Abilene Christian University, McMurry University, and Hardin-Simmons University). Each performer auditioned and was unanimously chosen by an esteemed panel of judges. The top three performers were given scholarships. All three universities were well represented and the outcome was delightful! There was a lovely celebratory reception following the concert and it was a splendid and festive way
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
to end the concert season. This concert was hugely successful and we will continue to offer this event as long as possible. This year it will be held on Thursday, May 7 at 7:00pm. If you wish to contribute to the scholarship fund, please contact the parish office. This concert series not only gives our congregation, community and contributors a chance to hear beautiful music in our wonderful Nave, but it also invites people into our space who might not otherwise have a reason to enter. This is yet another way we can share this glorious church with others.
Sound Guild The Sound Guild is a dedicated group of Vestry members and parishioners who work the sound system on Sundays and any other services in order to make certain that the spoken word is heard clearly by all. Heavenly Rest’s Sound Guild has 10 members representing a broad range of ages, high school and up. Members are scheduled to work sound about once per month. I am very grateful for the way our members pitch in when needed, sometimes on short notice, when illness prevents the scheduled person from handling the sound. We can always use more help with this ministry, so please contact me if you are interested in joining our group. It is not necessary to be an expert on sound equipment to join the Sound Guild. We will provide training to familiarize you with the equipment and its operation.
“It is not necessary to be an expert on sound equipment to join the Sound Guild. We will provide training to familiarize you with the equipment and its operation.”
If you are interested in helping with this very important ministry, please join us! Bob Hale, bob.g.hale@gmail.com
19
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
serving the church and the community
Deacon’s Report
“Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received. Whoever speaks must do so as one speaking the very words of God; whoever serves must do so with the strength that God supplies, so that God may be glorified in all things through Jesus Christ. To him belong the glory and the power forever and ever.” 1Peter 4:10-11. It is the responsibility of the Deacon to remind the people that we are all called to be servants as “the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve” Mark 10:45. Therefore, in the liturgy, the Deacon serves at the altar, setting the table for the Great Thanksgiving, reading the Gospel, opening the Prayers of the People and dismissing the people who have just experienced communion with God and all the saints “to go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” Serving on the Outreach Committee, in the Hands-On Ministry, with the weekday morning prayer officiants, on the Neighborhood Committee and on the Swahili Committee allows me the privilege to serve with and to support the many generous, giving members of this parish who live as “good stewards of the manifold grace of God and in service to one another.” In serving one another– specifically in serving the children in our neighborhood– the Episcopal Church Women have begun a partnership with Bowie Elementary to support the children in the fourth grade. “Glorify God in all things,” as in the opening of our doors and welcoming the stranger. The Neighborhood Committee sponsored an Open House at Heavenly Rest in December and the people came and saw the glory of God that shone through the history and beauty of this incredible Gothic building. This committee will continue to open our doors and welcome our neighbors with a Frito Pie Dinner on February 22, 2015. I continue to be in thanksgiving for the people of Heavenly Rest as you have extended to me and have supported me, both financially and spiritually, in my opportunity to attend the Diocese of Northwest Texas School of Ministry in order that I might better serve both this parish and this community. In His Service, Amanda Watson
20
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Altar Guild The Altar Guild is currently composed of a group of 20 trained parishioners (and sometimes drafted family members) who love the ritual and order of the Episcopal church. As a service ministry the guild is responsible for the mindful preparations for all services. It is our opportunity to do our work in the quietness and awesome beauty of our Nave. As we set the altar for each service and altar adornments for Epiphany, Lent, Palm Sunday, Good Friday, Easter, Pentecost, All Saints, Thanksgiving, the four Sundays of Advent, and Christmas, we are actively reminded of the reasons and the seasons of our church calendar. The Festival Altar Committee delights everyone with creative visual expressions. The guild meets occasionally for training, special cleaning, and re-connection with all four teams. This year we also prepared and served one of the summer parish breakfasts and the second Advent supper which were fun ways to extend our ministry and friendship. Responsibilities of the Altar Guild: • Set-up, care and cleaning of the altar and its appointments • Preparation of the Nave and Chapel for all weekly services as well as baptisms, weddings, burials, confirmations, memorial services and other services as needed • Organization and direction of procedures for weddings and funerals • Delivering of flowers from the altar and acknowledging flower memorials and gifts • Care and repair of altar linens • Overseeing of altar needs and procurement of any needed items
• Wednesday Healing Services • Special Services such as Epiphany, special noon services during Lent, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, Easter Vigil, Easter Day, Confirmation, All Saints Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Day • 2 Weddings • 9 Baptism services which included 20 baptisms • 30 funerals, memorial services, burials and interments
Altar Flowers and Gifts: When considering a contribution in Organization: memory of someone or in thanksgiving, • Four teams involving 19 current active please remember the Altar Guild memorial members and 3 substitutes who rotate and meet fund and the altar flower fund. Altar flowevery four weeks on Saturday at 9:00 to prepare ers presently cost $100 per Sunday but a for the Sunday services check in any amount may be made out to • Linen committee with 5 members who rotate the Altar Guild and sent to the office with the care of linens each week the name of the honored individual(s) or a 2014 Services: special occasion and the date. Memorials • Weekly Sunday Services—two morning are used to purchase linens and hardware services of Holy Communion and Swahili for our altars. Morning Prayer
Anyone who is interested in being a part of this active group is encouraged to talk with the clergy about training and involvement.
ALTAR GUILD MEMBERSHIP January 2015
CHAIRPERSONS
Suzie Ramsey (692-7492) Sharon Kelley (698-1513)
COMMITTEES: FUNERALS Suzie Ramsey, Sharon Kelley FLOWERS Jackie Batjer WEDDINGS Franklynn Hall, Suzie Ramsey FINANCE & ACKNOWLEDGMENTS Sharon Kelley, Franklynn Hall CALENDAR/SUPPLIES Kathy Diamond ST. JOHN’S SCHOOL Martha Ferguson LINEN COMMITTEE Week 1, Cindy McCarty Week 2, Mary Reyes Week 3, Linda Taubert Week 4, Evelyn Bein Week 5, Dixie Bassett Linen Repair, Linda Taubert Substitutes, Evelyn Bein Mary Reyes
TEAM 1: Kathy Balch, leader, 698-4490; Kathy Diamond, Cindy McCarty, Suzie Ramsey TEAM 2: Candy Scarborough, leader, 677-4237; Jackie Batjer, Claire Carlson, Amy Edington , Judy Deaton TEAM 3: Bea Garner, leader, 672-1010; Gail Kaiser, Sharon Kelley, Lauren Puckett, Suzie Ramsey, Gay Ann Walts TEAM 4: Connie Collier, leader, 721-4376; Lynn Boyd, Norene Mansell, Jennifer Nichols, Patti Jones
All Around Substitutes: Franklynn Hall, Mary Reyes, Cindy Strain
21
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
ACOLYTE ROSTER 2014-2015 Junior Torch/ Gospel Book Austin Beckham Reagan Fulenwider Ruth Hill Colin Kent Senior Torch Ashton Hankins Jane Hill Rachel Kent Sam Mehaffey Katherine Morris Jack Phelan Michael Scarborough Joshua Ward Kate Yost Crucifer/Senior Torch Julia Dickerson Parker Edington Lauren Fulenwider Eliana Pigott Nick Procopio Server Maya Millar Alix Phelan Nathaniel Pigott Halle Puckett Senior Server Alex Beckham Russell Dickerson, Jr. Katy Powell Nick Yost Parent Acolyte Captains Russell Dickerson John Hill Mark Puckett Charles Scarborough
22
Acolyte Corps Our corps of twenty-six faithful acolytes at the Church of the Heavenly Rest includes an Eagle Scout, a Community Foundation of Abilene Future Philanthropist, a concert pianist, a number of other accomplished musicians, and numerous acolytes who are recognized in their schools for academic excellence and/ or athletic abilities. This listing is only a sample of the talent that can be found in this group of outstanding young people. Acolytes serve on Sundays, High Holy Days and at other times as requested. Their commitment to excellence, reverence and dignity ensures that our Anglican traditions and local customs are honored. We are deeply grateful for their service to our parish. In addition to our acolytes, there are four adults who serve as Acolyte Captains. Our captains receive acolyte training and serve on a rotating schedule. They are scheduled to serve with their children, sit with the acolytes in the Sanctuary during services, know the various responsibilities of each acolyte and provide any needed assistance. We are thankful for our captains and their willingness to commit their time and energy to this service. Our current captains are Russell Dickerson, Sr., John Hill, Mark Puckett and Charles Scarborough. Our substitute captain is Mark Phelan. It is a distinct honor to serve as Acolyte Master and Verger for the Church of the Heavenly Rest with this group of remarkable young people and committed adults. Nolan Kelley, Verger/Acolyte Master
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Eucharistic Ministers EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS & EUCHARISTIC VISITING MINISTERS Eucharistic Ministers (also known as layreaders and lectors) read the lessons and prayers as well as serve the chalice during church services and special events. The following individuals are to be commended for dedicating their time and talents to the members of this Parish this past year. Jackie Batjer Yvonne Batts Josh Black Mary Buzan Don Bridges Lew Carter Tom Choate Connie Collier Bart Cox
Ann Danehower Judy Deaton Pat Garren John Hill Ann Hollandsworth Annabel House Wayne Jepson Rebecca Kello Peter Kent
Mark McCarty Letha Morris Paul Potter India Reynolds Chris Rockett Susie Rockett Julie Stoner John Stowe Doug Thomas
James Wagstaff Colby Walker Strong Kristen Ward Steven Ward Bill Young Katie Young Terry Young
Many thanks go to all of our layreaders for their patience with the scheduler and with Mary Renfro and Laura Wright who dealt with our schedule changes. It’s been a busy year. Wayne Jepson rejoined the ranks. Mary Buzan and Colby Walker Strong moved to Austin. Ann Danehower, Julie Stoner, Paul Potter are on sabbatical. Five new layreaders have joined us: Josh Black, James Wagstaff, Peter Kent, Kristen Ward and Steven Ward. If you are interested in serving or would like more information, please let me or one of our priests know. Terry Young, LEM Coordinator
EUCHARISTIC VISITING MINISTERS The Eucharistic Visiting Ministers have been blessed this year to bring Holy Communion to those unable to attend services. We administer to any Christian who requests our visit. We most often visit on Sunday afternoons, but we are available to bring communion as the needs arise. The nine members of the LEV team have had the pleasure of ministering to as many as 25 people. At this time we have nine people on our list to visit once a month. Some of those we have visited have recovered enough to return to join us at the altar and some have moved. Most of those we no longer visit have gone home to God.
VISITING MINISTER TEAM MEMBERS Jackie Batjer Barbradon Brooks Martha Ferguson Rebecca Kello Mark McCarty Suzie Ramsey Sharon Rathbun Bill Young
“...as we share the Eucharist with them, they in turn share their wisdom and stories with us.”
We are very fortunate to be able to visit these people. They are special individuals who have led long and full lives and, as we share the Eucharist with them, they in turn share their wisdom and stories with us. The LEV team members are the ones most blessed!
23
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
USHER ROSTER Scott Bishop Joseph Crowe Sam Cutbirth Robin Dennis Mike Denny Jerry Depriest Jim Fitzhugh Joe Galloway Dru Hall Lee Hampton Jay Hardaway Jay Henson John Hill Tim Lillick Donald McDonald Cindy Moore Alexander Morotini Bill North Robert Peterson Mark Puckett Bud Ramsey Charles Scarborough Nick Shepherd Steve Strain
Parish Medical Committee Jon Anderson Pat Arth Dickson Ferguson John Gassler Rob Patton Dorothy Thompson Willys Treanor Gay Ann Walts
24
Ushers The ushers for Heavenly Rest are a group of men and women that assist at the main services each Sunday, the special services that take place during the year, and memorial services. The ushers work with the clergy to insure that all phases of the service go smoothly. They also help the congregation with anything they may need during the service. They act as greeters to the people that enter the church for any worship service that takes place. At the end of each service they insure that the church is cleaned and prepared for the next service. We ask that anyone interested in serving as an usher contact the church office to add your name to the list.
Parish Medical Committee The Parish Medical Committee was asked by the vestry to purchase an additional AED (automated external defibrillator) to be placed in the Parish Hall. With this additional AED, the church has available lifesaving equipment at each end of the building - one in the east wall cabinet of the Narthex and one in the Parish Hall. First aid kits are available in various locations in the church (kitchen, Narthex, nursery, second floor hallway and Sacristy). These supplies are made available for anyone in need of basic first aid. The Parish Medical Committee will continue to monitor the supplies in these kits. Please notify a committee member if you notice that any supplies need to be replenished. The committee is open to providing any medical education needs that would benefit parish members. Email topic suggestions to Gay Ann Walts at gayann.walts@gmail.com and the committee will work on providing the training. Wishing you a healthy 2015! Gay Ann Walts, Chair
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Columbarium Committee Report
In 2014, six niches were purchased, and five interments occurred. All 108 niches in the original section, “All Saints� (Center Section) have been sold and are paid in full. Linda Taubert worked tirelessly, as she has for many years, planting and tending to seasonal plants in the Columbarium. We have hired a grounds maintenance person, who will clean the Columbarium, trim plants and trees, and install new plants at the appropriate time. An engraver was located to replace the company which had been engraving our niche plaques since 1997. Our goal is to maintain your Columbarium as a reverent, peaceful and beautiful place. The Columbarium Committee members, as determined by the Rules and Regulations of the Columbarium are: Luke Back (Rector) Yvonne Batts (Senior Warden) Kim Snyder (Junior Warden) Peter Kent (Parish Administrator) Lee Hampton (Foundation Chair) Annabel House (Treasurer) Linda Taubert (Grounds Committee) Sharon Kelley (Furnishings Committee) Rosemary Suttle, Chairman
25
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
The Faithfully Departed, 2014 Mae Aromme Fletcher
Dorothy Mae Harper
Shelba Hollingshead
Ruth Ann Choate
Ann Herman
David Allan Kraly
Hazel Lindley
Melvin Layne
Patty Taliaferro
Martha Jane Rhodes
Leland Samuel Stranathan Jr.
Lee Anderson
William Rush Allison Jr.
Leroy Earle Powell
Harwell Barber
Justine Digby Roberts Grisham
Dorothy Ashton Chick
Jack R. James
Robert J. Wright
Leon Ravinoch
Anne Eugenie Gillespie
Dorothea Ravinoch
St. Claire Whitten Ziegler
Mary Alice Murphey
Odis A. Claxton
Mary Booth Steward
Catherine McAhorn Conrad C. Bratton Thomas Joseph Taylor Robert H. “Bob” Kuzma
26
WOMEN’S YEARBOOK
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
ST. MARGARET’S GUILD Barbara Beasley Coletta Clermont Mary Crymes Blanche Jerige Malinda Kraly Maureen McCormick Betty Parsley Kathy Wolaver Terry Young INACTIVE MEMBERS Christine Cooper Froncie Foote Elsie Norwood Ann Phipps
St. Margaret’s Guild St. Margaret’s Guild is one of the oldest guilds in our parish. We meet on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:30pm for fellowship and study, usually in the Library. The first Tuesday we bring sack suppers, and say Compline. The 3rd Tuesdays we bring sack suppers (once in a while someone cooks) and study different subjects. During the summer months we eat out at least once a month. Our Christmas dinner this year included soup, bread and lots of dessert! We will miss long time member Dorothy Chick who passed away in February. We were pleased to welcome Malinda Kraly into St. Margaret’s Guild this year. Please join us for any or all meetings. Terry Young
Daughters of the King The Daughters of the King is a national service organization of the Episcopal Church. Centered around the practices of daily prayer for people both near and dear to us, and to those whom we do not know, the Daughters are committed to sustaining the life of the church through intentional prayer and service. The Heavenly Rest Daughters of the King group meets once a month, generally the first Sunday, to discuss prayer concerns, strengthen one another and our community, and plan service activities for the church and community. In the past year, the Daughters have: • held a successful workshop on prayer for women • conducted several worship services • accepted countless requests for prayers of healing For more information, or to inquire about membership, please contact the church office.
28
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Parish Hostesses, St. Martha’s Guild Chair: Suzie Ramsey (call regarding changes)
2015 Hostesses
February 1st Rachel Anderson Pat Arth Kathy Balch February 8th Carolyn Barnett Susan Bartlett Dixie Bassett February 15th Jackie Batjer Yvonne Batts Barbara Beasley February 22nd Peggy Beckham Evelyn Bein Jill Bishop
March 1st Ariel Boggess Karen Boyd Lynn Boyd March 8th Connie Boyd Becky Brame Sandy Bridges March 15th Betsy Bryant Courtney Bryant Claire Carlson March 22nd Tracy Choate Connie Collier Patty Collier
March 29th Mary Lou Conley Terri Cress Susan Crowder April 5th Becky Crowe Mary Crymes Geanna Cutbirth April 12th Nancy Davenport Judy Deaton Robin Dennis April 19th Julie Denny Jody Depriest Kathy Diamond April 26th Sarah Driskell Jamie Dunn Amy Edington May 3rd Barbara Edwards Nancy Estes April Ewing May 10th Weezie Fitzhugh Martha Ferguson Sarah Ferguson
May 17th Jane Guitar Evelyn French Holly Frizzell May 24th Dulcey Fulenwider Rolanda Fulham Jan Funkey May 31st Melinda Galloway Bea Garner Pat Garren June 7th Dorothy Thompson Christine Gilliard Judy Godfrey June 14th Linda Goolsbee Kathy Hale Franklynn Hall June 21st Carol Hall Callie Hampton Lindsay Hardaway June 28th Gretchen Henson Laura Hendson Molly Hill
July 5th Margaret Hollowell Marta Hollowell Carolyn Holmes July 12th Eleanor Hoppe Annabel House Sue Ivey July 19th Patti Jones Gail Kaiser Sharon Kelley July 26th Sandra Kent Paula Klingler Malinda Kraly August 2nd Vicki Kuzma Vicki Lessing Debbie Lillick August 9th JDana Lindley Dolores Lovvorn Norene Mansell August 16th Cindy McCarty Margaret McCarty Melinda McCarty August 23rd Maureen McCormick Becky McDonald Sue McWilliams August 30th Ember Miller-Thompson Kathie Millar Maggy Morford
29
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
September 6th Debra Morotini Dianne Morphew Robyn Morris September 13th Jennifer Nichols Sally Orsini Susie Owen September 20th Lindsay Perry Kim Phelan Anne Powers September 27th Lauren Puckett Sharon Rathbun Suzie Ramsey October 4th Joy Ramsey Shelly Reed Karen Renick October 11th Mary Reyes Susie Rockett Candy Scarborough October 18th Linda Scarborough Debbie Sherman Kim Snyder October 25th Diane Stearns Cyndi Stockstill Suzanne Stowe
30
November 1st Cindy Strain Rosemary Suttle Linda Taubert November 8th Linda Taylor Deanna Thomas Kitty Thomas November 15th Gaile Thompson Helen Tindell Willys Treanor November 22nd Rita Turkett Courtney Vletas Tiffany Wagstaff November 29th Gay Ann Walts Angela Willis Jane Yost December 6th Terry Young Rachel Anderson Pat Arth December 13th Kathy Balch Carolyn Barnett Susan Bartlett December 20th Dixie Bassett Jackie Batjer Yvonne Batts
December 27th Barbara Beasley Peggy Beckham Evelyn Bein January 3rd (2016) Jill Bishop Ariel Boggess Karen Boyd January 10th Lynn Boyd Connie Boyd Becky Brame January 17th Sandy Bridges Betsy Bryant Courtney Bryant January 24th Claire Carlson Tracy Choate Connie Collier January 31st Patty Collier Mary Lou Conley Terri Cress
COMMUNITY OUTREACH
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Neighborhood Committee
“This committee strives to welcome the stranger just as Christ welcomes us into God’s kingdom.”
The Mission Statement of the Neighborhood Committee is to be committed to establishing partnerships with all who live in our community, believing that it is only through partnerships that opportunities to spread the Good News of Jesus Christ are provided. The Neighborhood Committee is committed to “opening doors and tearing down walls” that separate us from the community that surrounds us. This committee strives to welcome the stranger just as Christ welcomes us into God’s kingdom. The committee began with a hot dog dinner in a community park. Next the committee sponsored the Open House held at Heavenly Rest in December, 2014. Over a hundred people from our immediate neighborhood and the larger Abilene community attended. Many expressed the opinion that they had always wanted to enter this church and were pleased to be invited. It was a wonderful opportunity for this parish to share our story as a long time member of this community. And it was also a wonderful opportunity for our parish to hear our visitors’ stories. It was an opportunity to truly open doors– both in our buildings and our hearts. Our next event is February 22, 2015 when we will again open our doors and invite the neighbors to a neighborhood dinner of frito pie with music and games for the children– a time to gather together. We will need cooks, people to plan games, people to plan the music and people to meet and get to know our neighbors. The first step in welcoming our neighbor is to invite our neighbor into our home. Let’s make this church on the hill the church in the center of the life of our neighborhood. Come join us as we shine God’s love to all who live in our midst: Bill and Terry Young, Lisa Goolsby, Karen Boyd, Russell Sanders, Nolan and Sharon Kelley and Chris Cornell and you. Amanda Watson, Deacon
32
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Breakfast on Beech Street In May 2014, Breakfast on Beech Street (BOBS) completed 18 years serving hungry folks hot breakfasts and sack lunches each weekday, including holidays. Heavenly Rest is pleased to be a partner in this ministry to reduce hunger in Abilene. BOBS is comprised of five churches - First Central Presbyterian, First Christian, First United Methodist, Heavenly Rest, Highland Church of Christ, plus one Tuesday team from Holy Family Catholic Church. In 2014, BOBS served an average of 1,350 breakfasts and 2,000 lunches per month. BOBS is operated by an average of 167 volunteers per month. BOBS has no paid staff, relying on one buyer who is compensated for gas and time for purchasing food. Anyone, regardless of age or circumstances, may receive a meal. Each church provides two members to serve on the BOBS Board which meets monthly. Heavenly Rest continues to serve with five rotating teams on Mondays. Volunteers arrive at 5:30am and leave by 7:30am. Breakfast is served to 40-80 guests from 6:30-7:15am. To volunteer, contact Jody DePriest at jody.Depriest@gmail.com or call/text 669-3312. Volunteers serve two hours every five weeks at First Christian Church’s Perry Center. Many thanks to our 35+ Heavenly Rest volunteers who served on BOBS teams in 2014.
Jody DePriest, CHR BOBS Coordinator
2014 BOBS TEAMS TEAM 1 Lee Hampton, leader Jim Snyder Kim Snyder Rosemary Suttle Willys Treanor TEAM 2 Scott Bishop, leader Claire Carlson Bart Cox Mike Denny John Hill Charles Scarborough Steve Strain
TEAM 3 Jody DePriest, leader Karrie Partin Jane Yost Nick Yost Sue Ivey Mark Puckett Lauren Puckett Halle Puckett Steve Burgh TEAM 4 Dick Veigel, leader Peter Kent Linda Taubert Terry Young Marta Hollowell
“Heavenly Rest is pleased to be a partner in this ministry to reduce hunger in Abilene. BOBS is comprised of five churches– First Central Presbyterian, First Christian, First United Methodist, Church of the Heavenly Rest, Highland Church of Christ, plus one Tuesday team from Holy Family Catholic Church.”
TEAM 5 Connie Hilliard, leader Robin Dennis Lisa Jones Debbie Lillick Tim Lillick Tom Watson Substitutes Suzie Ramsey Jim Hatchett Scott Taliaferro
33
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Visitation Ministries HOSPITAL AND NURSING HOME VISITATION & SCHEDULES We are convinced that this ministry brings special joy to both the visitor and those visited. If you have thought about joining, now is a good time! New skills and ideas are always welcome. Rita Turkett and Sharon Rathbun
“...this ministry Hospital Visitation Guidelines brings special joy Scheduled visitors call the Parish Office at 677-2091 after 9:30 a.m. on their appointed day to obtain the names and room numbers of our hospitalized members. Their visits to both the visitor are short: and those visited.” • they introduce themselves • they then ask how they can be of help • an offer of the support of prayer is given to those present • a card is left in the room with the visitor’s name and Parish information if the patient is asleep or out of the room.
If you would like to know more about our ministry, please call or email rhturkett@sbcglobal.net – 793-9005, or sharonsathbun@gmail.com – 6777835.
Hospital Visitation Schedule Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
Barbara Beasley (TH) Rita Turkett (W), Terry Young (TH) Barbara Beasley (T), Becky Brame (W) Rita Turkett (W) Terry Young (TH)
Retirement and Nursing Home Schedule
The Retirement/Nursing Home list is updated and mailed out as needed. The schedule for nursing home visits is determined by each of our visitors.
34
Week 1 Week 2 Week 3 Week 4 Week 5
Dolores Lovvorn Deanna Thomas, Sharon Rathbun Carolyn Barber – sends birthday cards to residents Lorri Lantz-Profit, Sharon Rathbun Virginia Wright– notes & pew sheets to residents
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Soup Sisters The Soup Sisters begin our eleventh year of ministry in January, 2015. We are a very loosely organized group of approximately 35 women and one very brave man, our first and dearly beloved “Soup Mister.” So far, he has not donned a pink apron, but he has arrived promptly and delivered soup cheerfully. We meet in the Parish Hall kitchen on the second Monday of each month from September through May. Some of us are talented cooks; some are efficient organizers. One of our Sisters bakes a variety of homemade cookies for our recipients. Some of us like to divide the cookies into sacks with hopes of finding a few broken cookies that must be consumed on the spot. Another member keeps us well-supplied with containers, sacks, and other items. One hard-working Soup Sister maintains the list of recipients and writes the name and addresses on the labels. Sisters take turns volunteering to cook the soup. Along the way, we help out when we are asked to prepare a meal for a church event in the Parish Hall. In August, we saw the advent of yet another “franchise” of Soup Sisters. This time, the Baptist Church in Hamlin began their own form of our ministry. Several of our Sisters went to Hamlin to help with the first soup day. Our Soup Sisters had a great time and a delicious meal as they helped launch the Hamlin Soup Sisters.
“We meet in the Parish Hall kitchen on the second Monday of each month, September through May. Some are talented cooks; some are efficient organizers.”
The Heavenly Rest Soup Sisters take a bowl of soup, a corn muffin, and a cookie or two to our precious church members or friends who need a little tender loving care and a moment of personal contact with someone from our church family. If you are interested in joining Soup Sisters, please contact Sue McWilliams at 325.698-1009 (SMMNM@aol.com) or Becky McDonald at 325.698-3228 (rebeccamcdonald@sbcglobal.net)
35
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
ECW and Thrift House EPISCOPAL CHURCH WOMEN (ECW) “Maintain constant love for one another, for love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaining. Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.” 1Peter 4:7-10 All women who are members of the Episcopal Church are members of the ECW–Episcopal Church Women. As members of the ECW at Heavenly Rest, we meet for fellowship... simply gathering together to maintain, restore, and create relationships with women of all ages– to maintain constant love in relationship with another. Most recently, we have worked to serve one another and our community through: • the collection and donation of diapers for the Baby Room at our sister church, St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, • the collection and distribution of school supplies to the refugee community in Abilene associated with the International Rescue Committee, • the adoption of the fourth grade students at our neighborhood’s elementary school, Bowie Elementary. The ECW’s current project associated with the adoption of these classrooms of fourth graders at Bowie Elementary School are end-of-term celebration parties every six weeks. Bowie Elementary students come from predominantly low income families and the ECW strongly believes that these children are important. As mothers, sisters, aunts, friends and neighbors, the ECW is motivated to support and care for all children, and especially those vulnerable and at-risk children like many who attend Bowie Elementary. If you are interested in becoming an active participant in the ECW, please contact the church office. The ECW will meet again as a group on Sunday afternoon, April 19, 2015.
36
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
THRIFT HOUSE - Greetings from the Thrift House in the name of all that is good and holy!
We hope you were able to be a part of the exciting year had at the Episcopal Church Women’s THRIFT HOUSE. So many things to do– such as celebrating with us at the Customer Appreciation Event, helping Abilene and the surrounding areas get children ready for back to school or the Thrift House Fashion Show. All of these events help us to come together as Christians to enjoy fellowship in the name of the Lord. The Thrift House was started by the Episcopal Church Women (ECW) over 45 years ago. Any and all surplus at the end of a fiscal year has always been given back to the community in various ways. During the last four years, we have seen the economy change drastically. More and more people are coming to shop at the Thrift House, but less and less are donating their house wares and clothing– they are putting them on Consignment. With that change, we have also seen a dramatic decline in volunteers. What does that mean for Thrift House? It means we have paid out over $44,000 in consignments and we have seven employees. Our payroll is at an all-time high at $60,000 for 2014. Yes, that seems like a very high number for a thrift store, but when you consider we do $117,000 worth of business a year, that’s a lot of clothes, shoes, kitchen items and other miscellaneous used goods. We have had to invest more than $20,000 in the last three years for roof repairs and upkeep to the building. If you haven’t been by lately, please go see Shirlene Plocheck, our Manager, and the other ladies at the Thrift House at 761 Walnut Street and enjoy the warm atmosphere and all the friendly faces. Thanks to all of our employees, each is a blessing and a wonderful part of the Thrift House.
THRIFT HOUSE BOARD MEMBERS Suzie Ramsey, Chair Coletta Clermont Geanna Cutbirth Gretchen Henson Shirlene Plocheck Mary J. Renfro Jean Seymore Amanda Watson THRIFT HOUSE EMPLOYEES Shirlene Plocheck, Manager Malinda Kraly, Asst Mgr. Mary J. Renfro, Bookkeeper Mary Crymes Maureen McCormick Martha Schwartz Jackie Walters
37
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
our or our
COMMITTEE MEMBERS Julie Beckham Peggy Beckham Gail Kaiser Kathy Procopio Sue McWilliams Suzie Ramsey Steve Strain Doug Thomas, Chair
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS Luke Back Yvonne Batts Susanna Cates Kim Snyder Amanda Watson
“...the Outreach Committee received $8,000 from the Foundation and $40,000 from the church operating budget, providing $48,000 of unallocated funding to be used in ministries designed to relieve human suffering and empower individuals for success.”
38
Outreach Committee OUTREACH • HANDS ON OUTREACH • SWAHILI COMMITTEE For 2014, the Outreach Committee received $8,000 from the Foundation and $40,000 from the church operating budget, providing us with a total of $48,000 of unallocated funding to be used in ministries designed to relieve human suffering and empower individuals for success. This generous budget allowed us to provide substantial assistance to members of our local refugee community. In fact, we established and funded a subcommittee to assess, prioritize and respond to the needs of that community, with the goal of helping them successfully transition to life in, what is to them, a foreign culture. Specific areas of assistance included housing, transportation, utility bills, and school clothes for 31 children. Also on a local level, we were able to support human service agencies in Abilene that help teens and adults to procure employment by completing their education and/or learning specific job skills. These agencies focus their efforts on helping their clients to become self-sustaining, contributing members of society, and include: Abilene Transition Center/ Our House, Faith Works, and Hope Haven. We addressed needs of children in our community by focusing on three organizations: • With Deacon Amanda Watson serving as our liaison, we provided funds for the school counselor at Bowie Elementary to buy clothing and school supplies for children from impoverished families. • We supported the equestrian program at Ben Richey Boy’s Ranch. This program teaches empathy and responsibility through the care of horses. • We contributed to the Baby Room at Saint Mark’s Episcopal, our sister church in Abilene. They “provide basic needs for children, ages newborn to four, of parents who cannot provide the items necessary for the safety and development of their children” such as; diapers, clothing, car seats, cribs, and strollers. At the international level, we made another donation to the Haitian housing project sponsored by Food for the Poor. Our own Pete Renick has “adopted” a village in Haiti and uses the funds raised to build small, but secure houses for every family in that village. We also made a contribution to Episcopal Relief and Development for medical assistance to those African nations besieged by Ebola. We could not respond to the needs mentioned above without your generous giving. I hope that this report has helped you experience some of the blessing of being a participant in “God’s kingdom come.”
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Our volunteer participation has been The year 2014 continued to be a busy year for the Hands-On ministry. The most requested outstanding and we assistance is help with utility bills and food. Also, particularly in the winter months, want to give recognition clothing is needed and the Thrift House is really a blessing to those in need. to these individuals:
HANDS-ON OUTREACH
Hands On is not funded through the church operating budget, but is funded by individual Dick Veigel donations. Heavenly Rest parish members have been very supportive. Cindy Taliaferro Weezie Fitzhugh
According to the United Way Basic Needs Network, Heavenly Rest has furnished services Paige Parker valued at $45,873 for the first 9 months of 2014 (fourth quarter information was not yet Ariel Boggess available at the date of this report). Linda Taubert
The Hands-On Outreach hours are 9:30-11:30 a.m. on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Doug Thomas Jack Woods Everyone is invited to stop by to see what takes place. Billy Edwards and Sue Ivey, Co-chairs
SWAHILI OUTREACH COMMITTEE The Swahili Outreach Committee was established in September with a mission to minister to the needs of refugees, many of whom are at Heavenly Rest as fellow Christians and share a continuity of faith in the Episcopal tradition. The committee is dedicated to: • Providing a spiritual home to these refugees as they resettle • Working with other organizations who assist refugees • Welcoming the positive contributions of these refugees to our church life The Swahili Committee assists in providing resources that stabilize, teach self-sufficiency, and develop a thriving new community. Seeing this as a long term investment and focusing on the needs of the African congregation, the Swahili Committee provides ongoing pastoral and financial support on a regular basis. Committee members follow a patient, sustainable approach to empowering and equipping refugee women and men to succeed, and they look for ways to provide positive outcomes for refugee children. This ministry has responded to material needs, provided emergency funds for housing, transportation and utilities as well as worked to educate and connect the refugee community with the many assistance resources available in the community. Committee members have also assisted in finding employment opportunities for refugees. The committee is comprised of representatives from both the local African refugee community and members of the Heavenly Rest congregation. The current committee members are: Bikole Mulanda (Swahili Minister), David Ekombe (translator), Shine Attipoe, Regina Kosonga, Paul Kasonga, Peter Kent (Parish Administrator), Kim Snyder (Junior Warden), Angela Willis (Vestry), and Sue Ivey (Outreach), Ann Hollandsworth, and Suzie Ramsey. Clancy Hart and Kathy Diamond have also been instrumental in connecting with and assisting the refugee community. The Swahili Committee meets every Wednesday from 3:30-5:00pm to discuss issues, needs or ideas, and may meet with guests and visitors to provide pastoral care and financial assistance.
Jamie Dunn Dianne Morphew Billy Edwards Sue Ivey Amanda Watson Bishop Claude Payne Gail Kaiser Margaret Hollowell Marta Hollowell Mary Crymes Suzie Ramsey Sharon Kelley Chris Cornell Jane Yost Madison Goldston John Stowe Julie Ann Stoner Katie Young
39
ADMINISTRATION & FINANCE
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Office Administration Diocese of Northwest Texas The Right Reverend J. Scott Mayer, Bishop 1802 Broadway, Lubbock, TX 79401 Diocese Office (806) 763-1370 Fax (806)472-0621
Church of the Heavenly Rest 602 Meander Street Parish Office (325) 677-2091
The Reverend N. Luke Back, Rector lback@heavenlyrestabilene.org The Reverend Susanna Cates, Curate scates@heavenlyrestabilene.org The Reverend Amanda Watson, Deacon awatson@heavenlyrestabilene.org Bikole Mulanda, Swahili Minister
Peter Kent, Parish Administrator pkent@heavenlyrestabilene.org Dr. Wes Gomer, Organist and Choirmaster wgomer@heavenlyrestabilene.org
April Powers, Financial Manager apowers@heavenlyrestabilene.org Katie Young, Office Assistant, Youth & Christian Education kyoung@heavenlyrestabilene.org Laura Wright, Communications Coordinator lwright@heavenlyrestabilene.org Susetta Rockett, Music Assistant srockett@ heavenlyrestabilene.org Courtney Bryant, Christian Education Assistant cbryant@heavenlyrestabilene.org Nolan Kelley, Verger Barbradon Brooks, Harpist Arnold Guerra, Sexton Dorothy Guerra, Housekeeper George Scott Bishop, Chancellor georgebishop@gmail.com Annabel House, Treasurer Annabel.house@bduffelcpa.com
41
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
PLEDGE REPORT FOR 2014
Stewardship Report
21 NEW: $56,407.95
73 INCREASED: (by a difference of) $77,309.21 20 DECREASED: (by a difference of) $28,490.00
92 STAYED THE SAME: $272,360.04 206 PLEDGES: TOTAL: $813,494.20 AVERAGE: $3,949.00
PLEDGE REPORT FOR 2015 30 NEW: $45,910.00
87 INCREASED: (by a difference of) $63,390.53 29 DECREASED: (by a difference of) $50,019.49
75 STAYED THE SAME: $211,835.00 221 PLEDGES: TOTAL: $850,809.20 AVERAGE: $3,849.82
42
Thanks to the generosity and vision of the congregation and your commitment to continuing to expand our outreach ministries, our 2014 stewardship effort resulted in an increase in pledged commitments of approximately $37,315 over the previous year. The total amount pledged to our 2015 budget was $918,119. The Vestry and Stewardship Committee deeply appreciate your generous response to this campaign. I would like to recognize and thank those who served on the 2014 Stewardship Committee: Co-chair Rachel Anderson, Yvonne Batts, Tom Choate, Nancy Estes, Judy Godfrey, Steve Strain, Pat Garren, Sam Cutbirth, Charles Scarborough, Doug Thomas, Lee Hampton, Paul Fulham and Steve Suttle. I also want to give special thanks to Kim Snyder who faithfully and with great patience made a huge difference. If you would like to make a pledge to help support the missions of Heavenly Rest in 2015, you may certainly still participate by calling the church office and speaking with April Powers or Peter Kent.
John D. Stowe Stewardship Chair
RECEIPTS: Current Year Pledges 201731.87 56200.01 47347.26 56991.09 43297.84 53404.09 61634.09 49958.34 49908.09 59530.09 45449.59 64149.29 789601.65 813342.00 97% Plate/Gifts 3834.00 5656.00 8946.00 4783.00 5182.97 6062.00 3926.00 5736.00 3016.00 2802.00 4829.00 10295.00 65067.97 70000.00 93% Diocese Share - SC 0.00 7500.00 0.00 7500.00 0.00 0.00 7500.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 7500.00 0.00 30000.00 30000.00 100% Other Income 578.95 100.00 0.00 0.00 200.00 100.00 300.00 (328.00) 200.00 100.00 0.00 100.00 1350.95 1500.00 90% Interest Income 4.94 4.93 4.93 3.93 4.11 2.91 2.61 1.44 0.68 1.57 2.94 3.75 38.74 50.00 77% Total Receipts 206149.76 69460.94 56298.19 69278.02 48684.92 59569.00 73362.70 55367.78 53124.77 62433.66 57781.53 74548.04 886059.31 914892.00 97%
Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14 Jul-14 Aug-14 Sep-14 Oct-14 Nov-14 Dec-14 TOTAL Budget % Budget
Total Variable Expenses 3898.26 2807.92 5148.30 8649.74 7463.64 10375.20 1954.84 6313.43 4720.27 6642.49 2228.75 6100.10 66302.94 75455.00 88% TOTAL DISBURSEMENTS 91261.57 57771.43 73769.17 89842.55 64755.42 85003.47 64507.39 66635.36 86331.48 80224.71 49519.79 56810.81 866433.15 914892.00 95% EXCESS RECEIPTS/(DISBURSEMENTS) 114888.19 11689.51 (17470.98) (20564.53) (16070.50) (25434.47) 8855.31 (11267.58) (33206.71) (17791.05) 8261.74 17737.23 19626.16 0.00 Cumulative Operating Balance 114888.19 126577.70 109106.72 88542.19 72471.69 47037.22 55892.53 44624.95 11418.24 (6372.81) 1888.93 19626.16 Amount due Operating Fund Reserve 0.00 CURRENT GOAL 100% Checking Account Balance 19626.16
LOAN FROM OPER. FUND RESERVE: 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 32000.00 0.00 (32000.00) 0.00 DISBURSEMENTS: FIXED EXPENSES Clergy Salary, Ins., Pen 34315.69 20213.21 21408.77 35627.29 18685.80 19970.40 25129.27 19123.21 19780.01 19915.52 12822.22 17090.85 264082.24 263767.00 100% Staff Salary, Ins., Pen 27234.31 22808.42 22102.32 30142.84 21229.18 21225.25 22866.54 22295.40 33333.87 25520.51 23333.51 19949.22 292041.37 326789.00 89% FACILITIES: Repairs 1440.00 1234.96 1495.58 1476.17 5980.39 887.97 2570.73 832.45 934.84 2130.63 939.29 1177.76 21100.77 20000.00 106% Ins. & W/C 13099.75 33.50 11053.75 277.50 33.50 11046.25 33.50 (2014.50) 11139.25 33.50 25.50 59.00 44820.50 48000.00 93% Utilities 469.26 0.00 1748.22 1048.94 588.85 79.74 1185.34 995.82 1126.02 2226.64 0.00 1235.50 10704.33 12500.00 86% Total Fixed Expenses 76559.01 44290.09 57808.64 68572.74 46517.72 53209.61 51785.38 41232.38 66313.99 49826.80 37120.52 39512.33 632749.21 671056.00 94% OUTREACH: Diocesan Apportionment 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.42 10698.38 128381.00 128381.00 100% Operating Outreach 105.88 (25.00) 113.81 1921.65 75.64 10720.24 68.75 8391.13 4598.80 13057.00 (527.90) 500.00 39000.00 40000.00 98% Total Outreach 10804.30 10673.42 10812.23 12620.07 10774.06 21418.66 10767.17 19089.55 15297.22 23755.42 10170.52 11198.38 167381.00 168381.00 99% VARIABLE EXPENSES Facilities: Disposable Paper 0.00 0.00 861.58 362.44 139.51 0.00 170.34 691.89 0.00 274.24 0.00 1109.46 3609.46 2500.00 144% Administration: Accounting/Bank Charges 188.07 754.79 462.00 443.64 492.89 5324.89 423.09 519.67 349.53 477.46 347.58 310.39 10094.00 9700.00 104% Office 670.25 317.31 536.96 141.04 55.43 240.75 99.97 166.88 71.98 158.87 0.00 518.14 2977.58 3300.00 90% Postage 101.06 97.37 114.60 683.00 444.00 0.00 426.00 0.00 (49.00) 1177.67 181.00 435.60 3611.30 3500.00 103% Telephone 226.62 226.62 244.67 244.66 401.87 584.00 0.00 198.85 279.73 327.97 327.97 0.00 3062.96 5000.00 61% Printing 619.61 435.20 1471.86 1628.46 1607.70 2912.44 1044.42 1893.79 396.63 1916.23 945.12 2049.19 16920.65 13500.00 125% Worship Expense 891.22 624.98 302.81 824.36 951.19 258.43 688.68 825.00 469.76 103.00 28.14 518.49 6486.06 6500.00 100% Altar Guild 55.03 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 609.57 0.00 0.00 919.36 1583.96 1755.00 90% Publicity/Website Maint. 86.09 86.09 86.09 86.09 919.98 0.00 54.11 38.41 54.11 79.57 0.00 54.11 1544.65 2200.00 70% Total Admin Expenses 2837.95 2542.36 3218.99 4051.25 4873.06 9320.51 2736.27 3642.60 2182.31 4240.77 1829.81 4805.28 46281.16 45455.00 102% Programs: Children’s Christian Education 25.90 75.75 126.04 818.43 380.86 20.96 159.99 148.90 0.00 41.15 78.79 726.36 2603.13 5000.00 52% EYC - JEYP 246.80 196.53 202.50 950.15 0.00 529.41 0.00 732.25 618.86 0.00 0.00 (854.42) 2622.08 3000.00 87% Adult Christian Education 41.26 (27.52) 122.31 335.90 0.00 158.40 0.00 0.00 780.53 245.82 (119.97) 199.38 1736.11 2500.00 69% Nursery Supplies 68.03 0.00 35.90 23.94 120.15 0.00 150.99 58.60 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 457.61 2000.00 23% Food 231.95 (95.95) 321.98 463.63 1547.68 260.48 (1262.75) 350.52 963.57 1078.67 440.12 309.30 4609.20 5000.00 92% Music 196.37 116.75 9.00 800.00 0.00 85.44 0.00 338.67 0.00 261.84 0.00 (195.26) 1612.81 5000.00 32% Parish Activities 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 402.38 0.00 0.00 350.00 175.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 927.38 1000.00 93% Guest Speakers 250.00 0.00 250.00 844.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 0.00 500.00 0.00 0.00 1844.00 4000.00 46% Total Program Expenses 1060.31 265.56 1067.73 4236.05 2451.07 1054.69 (951.77) 1978.94 2537.96 2127.48 398.94 185.36 16412.32 27500.00 60%
CHURCH OF THE HEAVENLY REST - Statement of Receipts & Disbursements, 2014
43
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
ASSETS CURRENT ASSETS CASH: 1st Financial Trust Chkg
Trust Balance Sheet
$500,177.26 RECEIVABLES: Back Loan.........................................10,650.00 Brosseau Loan........................................350.00 Subtotal Receivables.......................................11,000.00 TOTAL ASSETS $511,177.26
LIABILITIES
CURRENT LIABILITIES
Clergy Housing Fund......................$53,094.12 Capital Campaign Fund....................94,737.36 Auto Rental.........................................1,465.12 Dan Abbott Scholarshp Fnd....................246.32 E.F.M......................................................125.00 Library.................................................8,574.24 Rector’s Con’t Ed Holding....................8,626.80 Assoc. Rec. Con’t Ed Hold......................397.44 Birthday Thank Offering.......................1,025.00 EYC - JEYP...........................................2,254.21 Youth Christian Education....................1,245.14 Jane Breed Memorial.........................23,307.49 Soldier’s Angels......................................506.18 Soup Sisters.........................................5,443.62 Facility Outreach Support.........................30.10 Financial Peace Univ................................75.94 Episcopal Relief & Develo......................250.00 Rector’s Discretionary Fund....................755.83 Ferguson/Armstrong Outreach...........28,396.13 Carillon Maint. (Music)........................2,288.68 Music Director’s Choir Fund..............15,796.47 Organ Fund (Music)............................5,191.77 General Convention Fund.....................-768.94 Dio. Conv. Delegate Fund......................768.94 Insurance Deductible.............................646.87 Staff Christmas Fund...........................1,696.00 Special Clearing Projects........................350.00 Concert Series...................................11,994.40 Canterbury College.............................2,106.49 M Heidebrecht Columbarium...........20,583.82 La Grande Familia Gregory.................3,000.00 Subtotal Liabilities........................................294,210.54
VESTRY DISCRETIONARY FUND
Interest/Dividends..................................128.00 Operating Fund Reserve..................104,170.68 Advance Pledge Payments...............103,865.00 Undesignated Memorials....................7,203.04 Subtotal Vestry Discretionary Fund...............215,366.72 PAYABLES
Due To Other Funds............................1,600.00
TOTAL LIABILITIES
44
511,177.26
TOTAL LIABILITIES AND FUND BALANCE.....................................................$511,177.26
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Foundation Report The Church of the Heavenly Rest Foundation was founded December 7, 1981
CURRENT FOUNDATION TRUSTEES
Lee Hampton, Chair TRUSTEES: Five trustees serve staggered terms of five years with the Senior Warden of the Vestry as the sixth trustee. No trustee shall serve more than two terms or ten years Bart Cox in succession. Non-voting members: Rector (Chairman of the Board) and Chancellor. Sam Cutbirth Successor trustees are elected in December by the Vestry upon recommendation of the Nancy Estes Foundation. Sue McWilliams ALLOCATION OF FUNDS: Passed April 21, 1998: 65% Stock, 30% Bond, 5% Cash. Spend Rate of 5% passed on June 15, 1999. Spend Rate percentage to be reassessed at the September Trustee meeting each year and passed on December 17, 2002. FOUNDATION OBJECTIVES • Provide a ready and acceptable means for the Church to receive major gifts, and to use those gifts for the greatest benefit to the mission of the church. • Provide a ready and steady source of income for Episcopal-sponsored charities and outreach programs. • Provide a ready and steady source of funds for capital projects. • Provide parish wide program of stewardship education in estate planning and deferred giving. The Foundation is empowered to accept gifts, bequest or devise of property, or any other form of charitable gift for which a deduction is permitted under the Internal Revenue Code of the United States of America. The affairs of the Foundation are conducted by an independent Board of Trustees appointed by the Vestry. Its incomes are subject to acceptance by its Board and its expenditures of income are governed by the Vestry. ESTATE PLANNING You may include the Church of the Heavenly Rest Foundation in your estate planning by simply calling the Foundation chair, Senior Warden or Parish Administrator. As you have questions and interest, any member of the Board of Trustees would be more than happy to help you and respond to your inquiries. You may also make memorial gifts and remembrances to the Foundation. Appropriate acknowledgements will be mailed. For further information contact the Foundation chair or Parish Administrator. Lee Hampton
FOUNDATION MISSION STATEMENT Acknowledging that all that we are and have comes from God, our mission is to provide stewardship education, and to accumulate, manage, and distribute financial resources for the long term benefits of the Church of the Heavenly Rest’s ministries.
45
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
Foundation Funds
Breakdown of Foundation Expenses, 2014
TOTALS St. John’s: Scholarships from St. John’s restricted funds 17,171.06 Clergy scholarships from unrestricted funds 18,962.50 Monthly budget support from unrestricted funds 24,000.00 60,133.56 Seminarians and Seminaries: Amanda Watson and Doug Thomas - from Walker Seminary Fund 2,612.94 Amanda Watson and Doug Thomas - from unrestricted funds 3,377.38 5,990.32
Seminary Support from unrestricted funds (Seminary of the Southwest) 6,000.00 6,000.00 Church Music Programs: Choir scholarships for college students from Boykin Choir Scholarship Fund 1,460.14 Special music program support from Gerhart Music Fund 1,439.15 2,899.29 Outreach Building Facilities Support from unrestricted funds 40,299.96 40,299.96 Other Outreach Concerns: Support for Hands-On Outreach from Allen & Lucyle Heidebrecht Fund 1,255.01 Support for clergy discretionary funds from unrestricted funds 5,333.12 Support for BOBS from unrestricted funds 2,400.00 Support for Church of the Good Shepherd, San Angelo, TX, from Richard Johnson Fund 10,000.00 Support for neighborhood outreach (Amanda Watson) from unrestricted funds 1,900.00 Support for Bowie Elementary from unrestricted funds 3,000.00 Support for refugee families from unrestricted funds 4,000.00 27,888.13 Columbarium and Other Expenses: Transfer to Trust for Columbarium Maintenance from Mary Heidebrecht Fund 3,000.00 Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes 8,550.00 11,550.00 Administrative Expenses 8,960.34 8,960.34 163,721.60
46
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
Altar Guild Financials ALTAR GUILD STATEMENT OF RECEIPTS AND DISBURSEMENTS December 31, 2014
Altar Guild Operating Account
Balance December 31, 2013
TOTALS $5115.97
RECEIPTS Sunday Flowers 2650.00 Easter Flowers 2895.00 Christmas Flowers 3335.00 Gifts/Memorials/Donations/Dues 200.00 Reimbursements 1049.20 Total Receipts
$10129.20
DISBURSEMENTS Sunday Flowers Easter Flowers Christmas Flowers Special Services/Flowers Expenses for CHR--some to be reimbursed Altar Needs/Linens/Hardware
2424.00 2000.00 1600.00 467.21 1120.90 1241.01
Total Disbursements
$8853.07
Balance December 31, 2014 $6392.10
Altar Guild Savings Account
Balance December 31, 2013 $673.09 Interest Earned .19 Balance December 31, 2014 $673.28
47
Care. Share. Create. Serve. • 2014 Annual Report
“One hundred ninety-one families and individuals have contributed to this effort. We are very excited as we move forward now with the construction phase of this project.”
Capital Campaign Report It has been a privilege and an honor for us to serve as the chairpersons for the Capital Campaign, 2014. After completing the discernment and feasibility study in May, assisted by the Episcopal Church Foundation, the vestry approved a campaign budget of 3.5 million dollars to be raised for the expansion project. A steering committee was formed and the following agreed to serve on that committee: Jackie Batjer Dixie Bassett Yvonne and Ron Batts The Right Reverend J. Scott Mayer and Kathy Mayer The Right Reverend Claude Payne (retired) and Barbara Payne The Reverend N. Luke Back and Meredith Back The Reverend David Romanik and Sara Beth Romanik The Reverend Susanna Cates The Reverend Amanda Watson and Tom Watson Ruth Ann and Tom Choate Jackie and Bart Cox Nancy and John Estes Rolanda and Paul Fulham Linda Goolsbee Callie and Lee Hampton Lindsay and Jay Hardaway Annabel House Sharon and Nolan Kelley Cindy and Steve Strain Many thanks to all who served on this committee. We would like to give special thanks to Tom Choate, Dixie Bassett, Bishop Claude Payne, and Nancy Estes for their leadership and work that they gave, insuring that this campaign would be successful. Paul Fulham and his firm, Zachry Associates, led our efforts and gave us the time line and tools to complete our mission. We were all impressed with the wonderful brochures and print materials which were produced by his talented group. Paul and his team spent countless hours working to make sure that this design was very special for this undertaking. In August, we held a Capital Campaign dinner at the Abilene Country Club, inviting the entire parish to attend what turned out to be a really wonderful and memorable evening
48
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
for the members of Heavenly Rest. The entire second floor dining room was full as we learned more about how we could all participate to reach our goal. A special video included the history of Heavenly Rest, acknowledging the challenges and accomplishments of those who came before us, and emphasizing our own vision for the future of our church. We are pleased to report that as of December 31, 2014, the campaign has raised $5,971,000 in pledges, cash gifts and in-kind gifts. One hundred ninety-one families and individuals have contributed to this effort. We are very excited as we move forward now with the construction phase of this project. Thank you for all of your sacrificial giving to this endeavor and putting your faith in our Parish family. Yours truly,
Julie and Mike Denny
49
Proposed Operating Budget - 2015
50
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org
51
Heavenly Rest by the Numbers
132 375,000 20 28,159 276 445 191
years as an Episcopal parish established in Abilene, Texas
dollars helped those in need through Outreach
infant baptisms took place at the Heavenly Rest baptismal font
visits to the Church of the Heavenly Rest website
inches added to the original 108 in the expanded Columbarium
people have “friended� Heavenly Rest on our Facebook page
families and individuals pledged to the 2014 Capital Campaign
52
The Church of the Heavenly Rest 602 Meander Abilene, TX 79602 (325) 677-2091
www.heavenlyrestabilene.org