ANNUAL MEETING
January 24, 2010
This morning I was thinking what a quiet year it has been at St. Matthew’s and how little I have to report. What a surprise when I went back over a few Vestry meetings and realized that we have all been busy. So let’s take a look together...
It was a blessing to find that Rev. Peter MacLean was willing to be supply for us twice a month. He nourishes us spiritually with his sermons and sharing the Eucharist. He has also continued his commitment to get our bookkeeping in sync with the Diocesan standards. It has taken a lot of time on the computer and off but it looks as if we are in good shape at last and have the technical equipment to meet our needs. We have had monthly financial statements and the audit went out on time this year. He has always said he was working to replace himself. Several attempts with local volunteers have not panned out. Hopefully, in 2010 there will be an experienced bookkeeper in place so that he can move on to other challenges. We are most grateful for his faithfulness and look forward to his being with us through next September when he threatens to retire completely.
During the year we met several times with Connie Saeger Proctor, a Diocesan Ministry Developer, to look at our future and sustainability. A number of options were explored from calling an interim and/or a companion to inviting St. Ann's and Grace into conversation, to taking a "sabbatical" by closing the doors for a specified period of time. The Vestry seriously considered all of these possibilities both practically and financially. Clearly, no one wanted to take a sabbatical for fear that closed doors might not reopen. Our attempts to have an outdoor service in the summer with St. Ann's came to naught as well as suggestions that we meet to discuss options. No one there wanted to take the time to meet. Our explorations with Grace to join in an outreach endeavor were disappointing due to their commitment to another project that engages each member of their congregation. Lack of time was cited. An examination of our finances relative to the cost of an interim revealed that we really could not afford to go in that direction. The Vestry voted to continue with supply priests in an effort to build up our finances for at least two years. The Diocese would like us to be more proactive and concentrate on ministry development as well as sustainablity in stead of repeating patterns of ministry that we have followed in the past.
It feels as if we are all engaged in ministry of one kind or another. We have a volunteer at the Food Shelf and have supported it financially. The dances have continued on a regular basis and were showcased Dairy Day with a wonderful float. We offered dance classes as a fundraiser. We rent the parish house regularly and found tenants for the apartment. We participated in the ecumenical summer church school program, hosted the Thanksgiving ecumenical service, and went caroling with the other church groups at Christmas. Our homebound members are visited consistently and taken the reserved sacrament. For our size it is an impressive list of comitments and outreach sustained by prayer for one another, and those in crisis nationally and internationally.
Our buildings and grounds are well maintained. It is wonderful to have the insulation of the windows in church and parish house accomplished. It was an attempt to "go green" by reducing oil consumption as well as to safeguard the windows from vandalism. We were lucky to get a grant from the Diocese and $500 in contributions towards the project. It will be interesting to see if savings actually occur.
Our Deacons, Dave and Virginia, bless us with their presence and their thoughtful sermons. Their dedication and caring contribute greatly to the wellbeing of all of us. Many thanks to them and to each of you for all you do to make St. Matthew's a caring community.
Respectfully submitted,
Edith C. Hawksworth
Senior Warden
