2010 Newsletters

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Looking Back at 2009,
Looking forward to 2010

Rector’s Report for Annual Meeting 2010

“We must always give thanks to God for you, brothers and sisters,
as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love
of every one of you for one another is increasing.”
~2 Thessalonians 1:3

The year 2009 has been a year of great change for Holy Cross. Moving into our new worship space on Palm Sunday was the culmination of years of hard work and careful planning. I want to thank Drayton Gaillard for his untiring devotion to the process and his calm demeanor in the face of all our struggles. Our average Sunday attendance rose from 244 to 274 this year—a 12 percent increase in average attendance. Our membership team tells me that we handed out 85 new cross-stitched name tags in 2009!

The building is built, people are coming to join us, but there is still much to be done. We are currently servicing a 1.75 million dollar mortgage (which includes the balance of the Academy loan) and it will have a significant effect on our ability to do ministry in the future if we do not pay it off quickly. Our Stewardship folks are looking at all the possibilities for making this “bill” go away.

In the meantime, we are finding that ministry here at Holy Cross is changing rapidly. Our Program Council will be meeting in February to have a workshop on roles and responsibilities. Our vestry is aware that we will need to lean heavily on the people of the Program Council to accomplish those day-to-day tasks that require oversight and regular
attention. As we move more fully into the program model* of doing ministry, we will need to let go of the “old ways” of doing ministry and look for new opportunities for including others into the system. Many of us may feel that “someone is moving our cheese”, but these new ministers will allow us to continue to welcome those who are not yet members.

We have a unique calling at this time and in this place as a program-size parish. More than 65 percent of all churches are 100 or less on a Sunday. Our size transition puts us in the unique position of being able to do ministry that other Episcopal churches cannot do; to offer programs that other churches cannot offer.

With these realities in mind, this year we will be focusing on “growing smaller as we grow larger.” Our emphasis will be on creating and sustaining ministry groups that will allow one another to grow in grace and in ministry. Our goal is to be certain that every member has a place at Holy Cross where they belong. Please watch carefully for opportunities to participate with one another in growing our faith journeys.

Mike+
rector@holycrossep.org

*Editor’s note: A program church, the next step in growth for a pastoral church, has between 150 and 350 active members with many cells of activity headed by lay leaders. Clergy are still at the center of the program church, but their role has changed. Much of their time must be spent planning with lay leaders to ensure the highest quality programs. More information can be found at http://www.congregationalresources.org/article0132.asp.