Your Vestry and Program Council have accomplished much over the last year including implementing a new church database system to replace our old one which was not user friendly. Hopefully all of you have logged into our new CCB (Church Community Builder) software and updated your profile and even added a picture. It is not any more difficult to navigate than Facebook and group leaders can use the system to communicate with their group members and schedule events on the calendar. Eventually the system will also assist us in walking through regular processes in the church like follow up with new members, getting Eucharist to the sick, signing up for picnics, helping with hospitality events and taking food to those who have suffered a loss among other things.
One item that we have left to accomplish in 2016 is completion of a capital campaign. As most of you know, the building we worship in is not paid for and our Building Fund, which has been the source of our mortgage payments, is being quickly depleted. Reducing this debt will give us the ability to use existing funds to do some much needed maintenance around the church and Academy rather than letting things go until they become an emergency. In particular, we are in need of new windows in our old building and the church and Academy parking lots are in need of repair and restriping. Our lack of capital replacement funds is an area that needs to be dealt with and a successful capital campaign can free up funds in other areas to allow some of this work to be done. Stay tuned for more information and please make every effort to work with the folks who will be calling to tell you about the program and invite you to participate.
Our Holy Cross Ministry Program and Holy Cross International Ministry Program are thriving as we move into our third year of working with these important partners. Our connection with organizations like Safe Harbor, Habitat for Humanity, Little Steps, Upstate Warrior Solutions, Synergy Garden, Kairos Outside and all the others give us all an opportunity to put feet and hands to the work of faith in Christ. Our Pumpkin Patch ministry has once again allowed us to be strong financial supporters while Dan Donboch, our volunteer coordinator has seen to it that we hear from one of these partners on a regular basis. Another piece of good news is that it appears we will be building this year’s Habitat house right here in Simpsonville. Steve Donboch has agreed to be our coordinator of the Habitat work.
Finally, thank you all for your prayers and support over this past year. Sharon Putman has been a great Senior Warden, Mike Nichols works hard to oversee maintenance with the assistance of Tom Jones. I also want to thank Lynda Clark for her work on revamping our website. Anne Smith has overseen the work of Program Council, Brown Garrett, Johnna Reed, Tobby Fields and Jim Webb (Stewardship Chair!!) have given countless hours of their time, please thank them. All the members of Program Council – Tom Jones, Kathy Cobb, Marcia Jones, Brian Beal, Dan Donboch, Heather Devine, Roseann Medaglia, Monica Rodriguez, Nancy Mathews (receptions!!!) and Marc Gonzalez are to be applauded for their efforts. Also Anne Brown, our altar guild directress has had to step down due to knee surgery. Anne has served for more years than I can tell you (I’m sure she can tell you!). Kathy Cobb has agreed to be her replacement until further notice. Worship cannot happen without these dedicated servants – thank you Anne for your years of checking on everything!
And finally please thank my staff members who keep this place running so smoothly. The Rev. Linda Gosnell, the Rev. Fred Gonzalez, the Rev. Susan Hardaway, Jennifer Hellams, Fran Styron, Leslie Donahue, Shelley Allen and her team, Walter Hundt, Joyce Ann Gunter, Weston Taylor, Lynn Causey and our unpaid staff member, John Ackerman, whose skills as a treasurer have kept us in a good place financially. These folks are worth so much more to this community than what we pay them, and all can say is “Thank You!” for your service and dedication.
This is an amazing place to work and worship and it is so because of the work of so many; not only those mentioned above but all the folks who do their part to make DOK, Primetimers, the altar guild, our life groups, covenant groups and all the other ministries that make up Holy Cross Episcopal Church. We are blessed to have such a variety of ministries and Christ-followers who are dedicated to love and service in Jesus’ name.
Peace,
Mike+