Vienna Presbyterian Church 2020 Annual Report

VIENNA PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH

2 0 2 0 A N N U A L R E P O R T

A Year of Change, Resiliency and Accomplishments

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A MESSAGE FROM PASTOR PETE JAMES Resiliency

Resilience is the operative word for this year’s annual report. God has given us resilience in this unique moment. Lord, give us more resilience in 2021.

We live in challenging times. A worldwide pandemic. Online education. Zoom fatigue. Isolation. Racial unrest. Political strife. Violent protests. Enough said.

The Biblical word for resilience is closely tied to perseverance. James writes, “Count it all joy, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything” (James 1:2-4).

Let’s put this present moment into perspective. We are not the first generation for whom resilience is needed. Pandemics were a real threat to our Christian forebears. Jesus’ disciples had to learn resilience.

Resilience was the order of the day in 2020. Resilience among our staff in shifting to online ministry.

Resilience among our volunteers in doing ministry in previously unimaginable ways. Who could have conceived of worshiping in our parking lot and distributing 20,000 pounds of food monthly in drivethru fashion? The rapid-fire ability to redirect money from our budget ($100K) to support 11 mission partners on the frontlines providing food relief, and seed money for two presbytery initiatives to address racism and provide counseling for sexual abuse victims. If you would have told me back in March that we would raise our entire 2020 unified ministries and missions budget, I would have dismissed your prediction out of hand.

2021 will bring more changes. A transition to a new senior leader. The uncertainty of what post-COVID ministry will look like. What it will be like to manage in-person and online church simultaneously?

The confidence behind our resiliency is trust in God who never changes. While methodologies change, our message remains wonderfully the same. We can be resilient because God is faithful. We can do this.

Jesus will pull us through. The gates of hell will not prevail against Jesus and his church.

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” (Romans. 12:12). My sentiments entirely!

Yours in Christ’s service, Pete

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GOODBYE AND WELCOME When The Lord Closes a Door, He Always Opens a Window

2020 is a year that many of us will not soon

Beloved Preschool Director, Marnie Sturm,

forget. At times, when it felt like the world

ended her time with us in July. Marnie remains

stood still, VPC never stopped being the

in education, but is serving with Fairfax

church and serving the Lord and serving the

County Public Schools as a Geosystems teacher

people. Our staff grew and changed, and we

at South Lakes H.S. Terri Franke, Assistant

are grateful for those who served and for those

Preschool Director stepped in to serve as the

who came on board during a pandemic.

Interim Director, ensuring consistent and excellent leadership during this unprecedented

In January, we added two new staff. Suzi Janda

time.

joined as ESOL Administrative Assistant to support our thriving ESOL community. Tyler

After 23 years of faithful service to VPC as

Ohman, who oversees VPC's audio/visual for

Administrative Assistant to the

Sunday worship, concerts and Sunday

Congregational Care pastors and Office

morning announcements joined as our new

Manager, Lee Taylor retired in August to

Technical Manager.

spend time with her first grandchild. In late September we welcomed VPC member

In February, long-time staff member, Karen

Melanie Nunez as the Congregational

Covell, Children's Ministry Manager was called

Care Administrative Assistant.

to serve at one of our very own mission partners, Belong! Karen is a great addition to

After serving five years as Finance Assistant,

Belong! and although she is no longer on the

long-time VPC member, Dara Myrah retired

VPC staff, we are fortunate to work alongside

and moved to Staunton with her husband.

her serving our local community. Pam Sellars

Filling her role is another VPC member and

who ran our Sunday morning children's

former Elder, Kelly Eldridge.

programs, graciously stepped into Karen's role as our new Children's Ministry Manager

Jose Salazar, our nighttime facility staff

making the transition seamless.

member, retired December 18. His contagious smile and upbeat personality will truly be

Doug LeMasters, Director of Operations, who

missed.

was on staff for nine years retired in May and relocated with his wife to North Carolina. VPC

God has truly blessed VPC with faithful, loyal

member, Rod Mateer joined the staff as

and dedicated servants; past and present.

Interim Director of Operations. We are grateful for Rod's vast amount of experience he brings to VPC. He is a lawyer, CPA and Pastor. Trifecta!

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WORSHIP AND SPIRITUAL GROWTH Taking It Online

In 2020, our church experienced radical transformation in all aspects of our worship. Having redesigned our Sunday mornings in 2019 to provide additional spiritual growth and engagement opportunities, we redesigned worship again in 2020 to remain a faithful community during the COVID pandemic. VPC nimbly transitioned to online worship with pastors and musicians delivering God’s Word from their homes and, later, from the Sanctuary. The worship team blended recordings of Cathedral Brass, Sanctuary and Youth Choirs into live services. Outdoor services were introduced with safe social distancing and Sunday morning learning groups moved to Zoom. We were blessed and encouraged by the Glorious Sounds “greatest hits” concert and the online candlelight Christmas Eve service.

VPC hosted three guest teachers: Joe Gibbs, Dr. Tremper Longman and Josh McDowell. These online events allowed many more people to engage and join in the teachings.

VPC began using YouTube and Facebook to deliver daily Word and Prayer and special events such as Keith and Kristyn Getty’s home concert for VPC. And in December, we launched our new website with a user-friendly format and enhanced graphics and information. Worship Online now features, among other things, the weekly bulletin, a prayer request form, a place to take notes and a Bible to look up scripture.

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NEXT GEN GETS CREATIVE Thinking Outside the Box

Pivoting quickly following the COVID pandemic, Children's Ministries began meeting daily with kids via Zoom with the inaugural “Games & the Bible” program. This program allowed kids feeling isolated to connect with other kids, play games, share jokes, show off talents, and participate in Bible study. The music programs thrived during COVID. Under staff and volunteer leadership, choirs, forced to go virtual, navigated new terrain and presented musicals in May and in December to large numbers of families, friends, and congregants.

Rocky Railway VBS moved to a digital ministry in July, providing families a box with crafts, props, music and more. Though unable to meet in person, 170 kids joined the fun on Zoom as staff and volunteers showed kids that God’s power can pull us through any of life’s circumstances.

In the Fall, Children's Ministries began meeting outdoors, offering movie nights, Family Club, Club for 4,5,6 graders and Games & the Bible. Though socially distant and wearing masks, kids and families enjoyed special time of fellowship with games, movies and a Halloween party.

Student Ministries recognized the need for continued opportunities for community through the summer when activities would normally be suspended, and continued Sunday AM & PM. Student Ministries started meeting outdoors for informal gatherings three times a week at the beginning of the school year. This will continue to be an important avenue for face-to-face interaction and greater relationshipbuilding as time goes on.

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CARING FOR OUR COMMUNITY "Thou Shalt Love Thy Neighbor As Thyself." Matthew 22:39

In response to the prompting of the Holy Spirit, the pain of our sisters and brothers in Christ and national events, our Care Ministry launched a weekly time of prayer focused on Racial Reconciliation and Healing in the spring of 2020. With a weekly attendance of at least 80, and well over 425 participants, God used prayers and personal witnesses to soften hearts and open minds to the ways God would have us grow in this often-neglected area of care and discipleship. This initial gathering immediately spawned our Christ and Culture Adult Learning Community pivoting towards a three month, intensive summer series dedicated to the topic of race.

In November, the VPC Session approved a statement on race and blessed the launch of the new MRRH (Ministry for Racial Reconciliation and Healing) ministry.

God greatly used our Stephen Ministry in 2020. We commissioned a new class of 14 after they completed 50 hours of intense classroom training in addition to a similar number of hours in homework. A “hidden” ministry due to our commitment to confidentiality, we had so many referrals in 2020, we brought several of our experienced Stephen Ministers out of “retirement” in order to meet the needs for these priceless, caring, one-onone relationships.

To equip those without computer access or ability, VPC adopted the use of a phone system that allows people to access the worship services from their phone, either live or pre-recorded.

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LOCAL AND NATIONAL IMPACT "Do Everything in Love." 1 Corinthians 16:14

In a year of uncertainty and hardship, VPC continued to share God’s love and serve our community. We cared for the homeless through our Hypothermia program serving 150 meals a day for two weeks. VPC faithfully provided groceries every month to 450 families experiencing food insecurity (and will continue to do so through January 2022). 125,000 pounds of food were distributed in 2020.

And because of your generosity, VPC provided our mission partners in areas of crisis fueled by the COVID pandemic with $100,000 of additional funds for emergency food, medical assistance, shelter and most importantly, hope in the Lord.

Belong! also quickly pivoted to the online world, offering tutoring, mentoring, establishing a reading club and spearheading the Vienna Student Food Initiative. More than $80,000 in grocery gift cards were distributed to families below the poverty line in Vienna.

VPC provided strong support for CHO’s Annual Christmas Store. More than $33,000 in gift and grocery cards were distributed at a drive through Christmas event in December.

Additionally, we engaged our partners in Zoom meetings with the congregation. In many ways, borders were erased as we now communicate with Zimbabwe in the same manner we do with our local partners! Our ESOL classes moved online and this format allows students to join class from China, Italy, Houston, and Brazil!

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2021 ANNUAL UNIFIED SPENDING PLAN

$3,797,319.00 Facilities 16%

Per Capita 2%

Worship 17%

Spiritual Formation 9% Operations 17% NextGen 12%

Missions/Outreach 20%

Congregational Care 7%

Worship: $634,420 - Choir, musicians, audio-visual, concerts, weekly and special services.

Spiritual Formation: $340,039 - Learning Communities, small groups, community engagement, hospitality, congregational spiritual development.

Next Generation: $457,722 - Children’s Ministries, Student Ministries, Marriage Ministry, Child Care, Preschool oversight.

Congregational Care: $273,573 - Deacon Ministries, support groups, Stephen Ministers, Senior Ministries, visitations and Ministry for Racial Reconciliation and Healing (MHRR).

Missions/Outreach: $753,630 - Mission partner support, mission trips, Hypothermia Ministry, ESOL, Evangelism, Bridgepoint Connections.

Operations: $627,344 - Finance, human resources, communications, stewardship, database management.

Facilities: $624,591 - Building/grounds maintenance, utilities, insurance.

Per capita: $86,000 - Support to the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly.

Weekday Preschool - The Preschool budget is on a different cycle and is not included in the Annual Budget.

Belong!: $200,000 - Estimated payout from Ignite funds and not from the Unified Budget.