EPIPHANY 3A & ANNUAL MEETING, SUNDAY, JANUARY 26, 2020

Epiphany 3A

St. Augustine’s Annual Report

January 26, 2020

Isaiah 9:1-4; Psalm 27:1, 5-13; 1 Corinthians 1:10-18; Matthew 4:12-23 

Clergy in Cars

Suzi and Andrew are driving to a meeting on the Tuesday before St. A’s Annual Meeting

SUZI:              It’s hard to believe it has been a year since we made this trip…

ANDREW:     Time flies! A lot has happened this year!

SUZI:              Yes indeed, Mr. Married Man!  What a wonderful celebration that was!

ANDREW:     Yes, St. A’s really pulled out all the stops.

SUZI:              I remember asking you last year to tell me about the folks at St. A’s…your love for this congregation was apparent!…you described the people of St. A’s as a community “that values one another, that embraces change and really believes that our loving actions in the world, change the world.” You said that “St. Augustine’s is a place that is deeply committed to sharing their gifts of time, talents and treasures—as well as their leadership, hospitality, and prayers.” I have found that to be so true during my time here.

ANDREW:     That is so true and I have especially appreciated how the people of St. A’s have stepped up during this time of transition.

SUZI:              What a blessing it has been for me to be the interim here. St. A’s is a healthy parish and it was a joy to engage in life giving ministry here.

ANDREW:     When you came did you have any specific goals for the parish…hopes for your time here?

SUZI:              For one, I was interested in the congregation’s use of the phrase “everybody, everybody, everybody” and wanted to find opportunities to explore with them more fully what it means to welcome all.

ANDREW:     How did you do that?

SUZI:              You may remember our table talk questions at the annual meeting last year were about the way of welcome. What did that look like? That fostered some good discussion.  I have also been intentional speaking about God’s radical welcome and hospitality in some of my sermons and how we are to reflect that in our lives as individuals and as a community of faith. It was the reason behind the One Book/ One Parish reading this summer, The Day the World Came to Town, about the amazing hospitality the people of Gander, Newfoundland showed on 9/11.

ANDREW:     Also the reason for the vestry reading the book Radical Welcome by Stephanie Spellers, the Episcopal Church’s chief evangelism officer.

SUZI:              That’s right. Also, transition time is also an opportune time to explore a congregation’s identity, their sense of who they are, where they have been and where God is calling them.

ANDREW:     Yes, we did that with the CAT survey that all parishes are asked to do in times of transition, and we also had listening sessions led by members of the search committee. The search committee folks, my goodness, did they have a tremendous task and they completed it with such precision.

SUZI:              Along with that, to explore Episcopal identity, come to a deeper understanding of what it means to be Episcopalian, who we are, what we do and why we do it …so we looked more closely at our Sunday worship through the instructed Eucharist month of September,

ANDREW:     and with the adult forums. It was interesting to hear from Dan Rhodes and Meghan Murphy-Gill about what makes us different and similar to other Christian denominations…and from Frank Senn about Eucharistic formation.

SUZI:              I place a high value on gratitude as a spiritual practice so another goal I had was to build community through expressing appreciations by acknowledging and lifting up the various ministries and all the things people do here. So we recognized various folks during our worship services such as: Music/Choir, Children’s Formation, Gold and Silver Members.

ANDREW:     And you know—there is someone who every week goes through the busy bags for the children and cleans them up and prepares them for the following week—and that’s Carol Gourley.  

SUZI:              So many things happen around here that support the life and ministry…that go unseen…one of the reasons we started the “Shout Outs” in the parish newsletter.

ANDREW:     Gratitude is a healthy culture—and what a culture to lead with in this growing community.

SUZI:              St. A’s is blessed with strong leadership. I remember the vestry retreat last March where we spent time unpacking the four actions of St. A’s mission statement: to invite, to connect, to equip and to send. That has been a helpful lens to use as I think about the various ministries here. There was such good energy at the retreat and I appreciated, and continue to appreciate the time and commitment that the wardens and vestry members give to this congregation.

ANDREW:     It was helpful that checking in on those mission action items at each vestry meeting kept us on track.

SUZI:              For “we invite”….some of the vestry action items we achieved were to update the  website, redesign the welcome card, tend to the building and grounds…still a long list of things to be done  and we can’t thank Greg Witt, Bryan Casperson, Rick Daspit for all they do to stay on top of building issues.

ANDREW:     Rick Daspit leads our ushers and greeters—and you know—they are our first line of welcome in this place on Sundays. A lot goes in to training them—and a lot goes in to the work of being an usher. I am so thankful for them.

SUZI:              And these ministries do not fall into neat and tidy categories.

ANDREW:     From inviting to connecting … Many of our newcomers come to know Carol Telling, or Mary Whiteley, or Kathleen Todd as they leave bread on their doorstep to welcome them, and plan beautiful receptions to recognize the new members among us.

We welcomed almost 20 new members last February and will welcome more this February.

SUZI:              And boy do we connect…I was told when I first arrived that the people here really enjoy being together. Oh my gosh, how true. I don’t think I will ever forget the smell of bacon all day long in preparation for the Shrove Tuesday Pancake supper! So many festive receptions and events: the Family Promise cabaret, St. Nick Party, picnics and barbecues…

I love the way people sign up to host at the Parish Planning Meetings.

ANDREW:     I love it, too. We’ve had a lot of opportunities to try new things this year too—be they outreach, pastoral, or social opportunities. We’ve had Listening Hours outside the office on Thursdays at Coffee Shops all over Wilmette and Evanston.

We’ve begun an outreach that is slowly taking off called Laundry Love—I just hope we can generate some more volunteers to sustain it.

We had a great turn out at our neighborhood outreach with the St. Francis Blessing of the Animals, that my husband led.

We also have had a wonderful turnout for Cottage Groups and so I am thankful that people want to get to know one another better and invite others into their home. It is so personal and welcoming and a great way to meet new people.

SUZI               And it was fun for me to go to Dog Beach and bless the pups there early that Sunday morning!

We have also connected folks into the household of God by baptizing 3 baby girls: Avery, Tessa, and  Addesta Rae.

And I loved the Easter cards the children made for our homebound parishioners. Such joy.

ANDREW:     The Good Samaritans are a wonderful extension of the way our parish cares for and connects with one another, as they reach out to help and support our parishioners.

SUZI:              There is also lot of connecting and equipping in our worship ministries. We trained and commissioned our acolytes, readers, prayer leaders, and liturgical stewards.

And where would we be on Sundays and special services without our dedicated altar guild.  They are so organized and Robin and Mary Ellen are fabulous to work with.

ANDREW:     And we offer a vibrant Children’s Chapel, led by Aeva Munro. and dedicated volunteers. Our children’s chapel crew is doing wonderful work with our young people.

SUZI:              I love watching the children process out right before the sermon, led by one of them holding the Gospel book! We also offered Godly Play training for our story tellers and commissioned church school and children’s chapel leaders commissioning.  Debbie Buesing has been a tremendous resource and we are fortunate to have faithful storytellers such as Linda Laatsch, Rene Brandt and Carly Andersen.

ANDREW:     Stacy and Mike Shedivy, as well as Sarah Fields, make themselves available to our tweens and teens leading the Feasting on the Donuts/Word group, and offer a safe platform for open discussion on all matters as they relate to growing up and figuring things out. And they bring donuts.

SUZI:              I have a heart for Formation, and I am glad we had the chance to offer opportunities for spiritual growth during our Lent Sunday adult forums and Thursday evening gatherings. Also we had a nice turnout for the half day spiritual retreat in October, which emerged from the vestry retreat…including a labyrinth! Big thanks to Mary Senn and Hilary Kennedy for organizing it! Education for Ministry is going strong with Sam Love and Debbie Buesing leading, and Our Equipping the Saints group offered a screening of the movie The Long Shadow for the community.

ANDREW:     And so many other forums over the year on ministry with multi generations, various diocesan and community outreach.

SUZI:              And yet…I am curious about formation. One of the priorities that emerged from the CAT survey was to provide more opportunities for Christian education and spiritual formation at every stage of life…I wonder what they really mean by that.

ANDREW:     Fall was a frustrating time as we responded to the needs and desires that were indicated in the survey—with more formation and outreach opportunities--but we had such a poor turnout that much of it was cancelled. I wonder what the disconnect is between the results and the reality. I think we could have done more work around this.

But, this doesn’t change the reality that we already do so much and people have their missions in the world.

SUZI:              We certainly do send many out into the community and the world. …

Bernie’s Book Bank last February, Field trip to the New Trier food pantry in July , the visit to the Day of the Dead exhibit in Pilsen..

ANDREW:     Once again, St. A’s had a presence at the Chicago Pride Parade, this year braved the torrential weather. It was so nice to be with people—all of God’s people—many of which believe God has forgotten them.

SUZI:              I have appreciated hearing about the ministries supported by the Mission Outreach Grants during the Ministry Minute each month….that committee works really hard and Jerry Todd does such a good job of facilitating their work.

SUZI:              It is a joy to be at the church when Family Promise is here. Julia Joehl and Kathy Gander and many faithful volunteers transform this place into a home…welcome signs on the door, creating living rooms and family rooms and trying to make things as pleasant and as welcoming…truly respecting the dignity of each and every person in the families that stay… to offer care and meals. We host at least three weeks a year, and more ..often stepping in when other sites can’t.

ANDREW      There’s also A Just Harvest—where we serve hot meals regularly. And then there is the Second Sunday food collection which helps a ton of local food banks.

SUZI:              Some more things don’t fit so neatly into those categories of inviting, equipping, connecting, sending…yet are interwoven, such as the Journey to the Cross that St. A’s hosts and an ecumenical VBS, both organized by Jen Curchin.

ANDREW:     I have appreciated the opportunity to try new things like Laundry Love, Listening Hours, 4th Sunday healing, Blue Christmas, Whole Foods Wine Bar Wednesdays Formation Classes…

SUZI:              and Sarah Fields’ Sunday evening Taize service…a lovely time for prayer.

ANDREW:     What memories will you take with you?

SUZI:              Gosh…so many! I have enjoyed the inclusion of children…. Gathered around the Gospel book each Sunday and gathered around the altar once a month…

ANDREW:     Yes, and even the children were invited to participate in stewardship this year with a card all their own.  

SUZI:              After a snowy Palm Sunday a beautiful Easter Sunday, and the kids running out into the courtyard looking for eggs. The summer services at Gillson and looking out through the trees to the lake in awe and wonder of God’s precious creation. I was impressed by the way people rallied for the Christmas baskets. We had very little turnaround time, yet the people of St. A’s provided for 35 families. Hilary Kennedy does a great job organizing it all. The families lighting the Advent candles. The Christmas Pageant overseen by Janice Hurley, ably assisted by Katie Gonzales…precious, story well told…and ZZ Top wisemen, and Brady Curchin as the star that guided them. Amy Eckstein and Allison Jacobs looking at the photos on the Table of Remembrance and talking about their grandmothers. Seeing the kids grow up so fast…Jack Curchin, Asher Mysen, Christopher McCall…oh my, they got so tall so fast!

SUZI:              And the dedication and faithful work of Search Committee…what a gift.

ANDREW:     The search committee had an incredible task and I am so thankful for their success

SUZI:              Finally, my memories of working with you, and Theresa and Martin, and Sue and Pisa …the glue that holds it all together…our staff….is… amazing…       

ANDREW:     That’s right, we’ve managed a lot of transition together well, and really grown together through it. 

SUZI:              Transitions…change…woven into the fabric of creation…the sun rises and sets and then there is a new day…and we embrace it…as we did when we said goodbye to the Dan and Audrey Shedivys wrapped in prayer shawls… wrapped in the love and blessing of this congregation.

I love the prayer shawl I was given when I first arrived, and I use it all the time…which I am taking with me by the way! as a way of remembering the welcome and care shown to me during my time here.

ANDREW:     What are your final offerings to us, Suzi? What words do you leave us with?

SUZI:              I think the words are an invitation…in one of the hymns we will sing on Sunday…it is one of my favorites…and it fits so well with our Gospel lesson. “Will you come and follow me if I but call your name? Will you let my love be shown? Will you let my name be known, will you let my life be grown in you and you in me?”

My prayer for St. A’s is that they will go where God leads. Loving God and everybody, everybody, everybody.

Andrew:         Amen!