Christ
Church +Washington Parish
620 G Street SE
Washington, DC 20003
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CHRIST CHURCH+WASHINGTON PARISH January 23, 2000 Opening Prayer, the Rector Roll Call of Voting Members, Reed Franklin Registrar's Report, the Rector Establishment of Quorum, Call to Order, the Rector Appointment of Parliamentarian, Tellers Approval of Minutes of 1999 Annual Meeting Report of Nominating Committee, Sherry Saunders Election of Vestry Members Treasurer's Report 1999 Operating Budget, Bob Conly Presentation of 2000 Operating Budget, Mac Hansbrough Senior Warden's Report, Sherry Saunders Other Reports
Rector's Report, the Reverend Doctor Judith Davis New Business Notice of Proposed By-laws Revisions for 2001, Bill Woodward Kudos, Sherry Saunders Closing Prayer, The Rector
Registrar's Report - Membership December 1999 For the 2000 Annual Meeting
( ) = Previously declared inactive or already received by request At the end of 1998, Christ Church listed 209 voting members. During 1999, eight (8) people were removed from the list as indicated above by transferring out or by being deceased. During 1999, twelve (12) people were added to the list by transferring in, by being reactivated, and reaching voting age or by request. Several people moved from the area and have become neither inactive nor transferred as of December 23, 1999. As indicated above, some previously declared inactive people were removed by reason of transfer or death. Having been declared inactive previously, they are not included in the totals. In addition, some people who had already requested to be members and were previously counted have transferred their letter officially this year and are not counted again. On the day of the Annual Meeting of Christ Church, January 23, 2000, Christ Church has 213 voting members for a net gain of four over the previous year. The Registrar and the Rector compiled these data and hope they are accurate. Respectfully submitted, Alice Norris, Registrar CHRIST CHURCH+WASHINGTON PARISH Minutes of the January 24, 1999 Annual Meeting OPENING PRAYER The Rector offered an opening prayer to begin the annual meeting of Christ Church. ROLL CALL OF VOTING MEMBERS The roll of voting members of the parish was called and it was determined that a quorum was established. CALL TO ORDER The annual meeting of Christ Church was called to order at 11:00 a.m. on January 24, 1999. REGISTRAR'S REPORT The Registrar reported that Christ Church has 208 voting members as of December 24, 1998, a net increase of 7 new members over the prior year. APPOINTMENT OF PARLIAMENTARIAN AND TELLERS M'El Abrecht was appointed Parliamentarian. Nan Robertson, Lil Fidler, and Hap Carr agreed to serve as tellers. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF 1998 ANNUAL MEETING A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes of the 1998 Annual meeting as prepared by Louie M. Stewart. The motion was approved by voice vote. REPORT OF THE NOMINATING COMMITTEE Sherry Saunders reported that the nominating committee consisting of the outgoing vestry members had found five candidates for the five vacant seats on the Vestry. They are: Carolyn Cheney, Alice Norris, Lynne Schlimm, Woody Price, and David Shelton. No nominations were received from the floor. Gary Abrecht made the motion that the nominations of the nominating committee be accepted, Carolyn Johnson seconded the motion, and the five nominees were elected by acclamation. ELECTION Walta Abbott moved that those persons nominated be approved by acclamation, and Randy Norton seconded the motion. The motion carried by voice vote. TREASURER'S REPORT The treasurer, Bob Conly, reported on the 1998 operating budget, and presented the projected 1999 budget. The budget for 1999 projected income of $300,600 and expenses of $278,551. After questions and clarifications, Sarah Saeger moved that the Treasurer's Report be accepted, and Gary Abrecht seconded the motion. The Report was accepted by voice vote. SENIOR WARDEN'S REPORT Sherry Saunders reviewed the significant actions that had occurred during 1998. She stated that although 1998 was not as eventful as the previous year with its major renovations and welcoming the new Rector, she thanked everyone for working hard and responding to many needs. She encouraged parishioners to work together in meeting the challenges of paying off the renovation loan. Finally, she thanked the outgoing Vestry members, Lil Fidler, Nan Robertson, Hap Carr, Rebecca Grant, and Leon Daniels, for their dedication and contributions. RECTOR'S REPORT The Rector's Report was in the form of a sermon, and she indicated that written copies would be available. She began by expressing her thanks for all that the congregation had done during 1998, in responding to community needs through generosity and hard work and for offering her so much support. The Rector gave an update on St. Patrick's Day Dinner plans and other fundraising events. She thanked the Executive Committee of the Vestry for work well done and Bob Conly for ably taking on the task of treasurer. She and the audience expressed their thanks by acclamation. The Rector stated that Christ Church continues to gains new members, and she encouraged members to continue their efforts to increase our membership. A round of applause was given to the Rector at the end of her Report. OTHER REPORTS:
NEW BUSINESS Hap Carr of the Finance Committee presented information on the Endowment Plan, as an essential financial support for the church and a vehicle for long-term giving. Randy Norton moved that Sheila McJilton receive the congregation's commendation for her extraordinary contribution as a seminarian. The motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. ADJOURNMENT AND CLOSING PRAYER The Rector offered the closing prayer. The meeting was then adjourned. Respectfully submitted, Joann Hill Goodrick, Clerk
Report of the Nominating Committee John C. Carter I joined Christ Church the year of its Bicentennial, drawn by the 200th birthday excitement and a friend's praise of the Rector, Bob Tate. Tate soon left , but my partner Louie and I stayed on, finding ourselves enriched by the spirituality and community we found. I have served as a Liturgist since joining the parish, helped produce the St Patrick's Day fundraiser for the past two years and have worked on the property committee. My goal as a member of the vestry, would be to become more active on property issues. In the working world, I am publisher of show dailies which are specialized, short-run daily newspapers for trade shows and association annual meetings. Lisa Nickerson My family have been members of Christ Church for 20 years. I have served less than a year on the Vestry in order to complete an unexpired term, and would like to continue my service. Over the years, my family and I have been involved in almost every program and activity at Christ Church. I taught Sunday School when my children were small, and have worked on the Christmas Bazaar, serving on the Bazaar Committee for the last five years, and chairing the 1999 Bazaar and dinner. I have also worked on organizing Fellowship Groups and helping to plan the Parish Ministries Fair, and I am a member of the Bell Choir. If elected, I would like to devote more time and efforts to Evangelism. I believe Christ Church could steadily increase its membership by finding "hands on" ways of reaching out to residents both within our actual parish boundaries and in the broader Capitol Hill community. I would like to form a Committee that would plan and carry out specific projects toward this end, with the approval and guidance of the Vestry. Woodruff M. Price Woody Price is a retired railroad lobbyist who has been a member attending Christ Church since 1968. He is a member of the Breakfast Crew, an active participant in the Adult Forum and an occasional contributor to the Parishioner newsletter. He is a Trustee of the Historical Society of Washington D.C. and a member of the Board of the Friends of the National Arboretum of which he is currently Chairman. For the past year he has served on the Vestry, an experience which he found so exhilarating that he now seeks re-election to a full three year term. He believes that Christ Church - Washington Parish is an important part of our personal life and of the community, and he wishes to do what he can to support its continued well-being. Neil Strawser For nearly 14 years, Christ Church and its people have been my haven. I have been given spiritual inspiration, love, sobriety and great joy. In turn, I have tried to give back, mainly in the areas of improving the financial health and preserving the physical plant of Christ Church. As so often happens here, I was quickly put to work as a stewardship canvasser, and then, in 1989, as co-Chair of the Stewardship Committee. In six of the next seven years I served on the Vestry, right up through the near-completion of the bicentennial restoration of the church, serving also on the old Capital Campaign Committee, which conducted the first "cornerstone" fund-raising canvass for the renovation. In recent years, I have devoted myself to serving on the church Finance Committee and leading the Third Century Campaign to raise funds to pay down our construction loan. I feel that much remains to be done. We need to solve -- at long last -- the problem of the dratted moisture in the Narthex and elsewhere, to arrange -- somehow -- badly needed clergy help for the Rector, to increase the size of the parish and to ensure the financial security of this beloved institution. Barbara Wells Barbara joined Christ Church in 1988 when she and her husband Tommy were married by Bob Tate. In fact, she is probably best known for the aging cardboard fans used at their July wedding, which bear the names "Barbara," "Tommy," and "Bilbo, Best Dog of Honor." In the midst of exciting growth and revitalization on Capitol Hill, Barbara is eager to help Christ Church become an even more important leader and contributor to our community's health. She offers the vestry her twelve years' experience in the life of Christ Church, mixed with the fresh perspective of a newcomer to church leadership. Barbara has participated in nearly every type of Christ Church endeavor. This experience has taught her how each task can forge the relationships that engender a sense of church family while enabling every member to contribute his or her special talents and skills. Over the years she has served as an usher, taught Sunday school, waitressed at fund-raising dinners, baked cookies, hosted fellowship groups, weeded the yard, cleaned the kitchen, and worked on several stewardship campaigns. In recent years she has also become an apprentice quilter (mostly as a rouse to learn the Christ Church legends). Professionally, Barbara works in environmental and energy policy, currently focusing on state and federal land conservation and "smart growth" strategies. She is an experienced writer, researcher, and conference organizer, and she particularly enjoys synthesizing information in a clear, concise way. In her "free" time, for six years Barbara has mentored a young student who now attends School Without Walls. An avid fan of the Shakespeare Theatre at the Lansburgh, Barbara serves as an usher for the theater's performances and special events. She is also a member of a Toastmasters club that has helped her develop her speaking and organization skills. As a member of the vestry, Barbara would bring empathy and understanding to the decision making process, but not shrink from voicing her opinions and concerns. She promises to be a committed servant of the Christ Church family and faithfully meet her vestry responsibilities. As always at Christ Church, we have a year of losses and gains. We have lost dear friends and treasured members who have moved on to new jobs or retirement in new locations. But in their place, we have gained new members and friends who have provided new ideas and enthusiasm. We saw new outreach programs by our Sunday school students who made and distributed Christmas packages to the homeless and a trip to North Carolina by parishioners to take household goods and clothing to the migrant workers devastated by hurricanes and flooding. Money and Christmas toys were also collected to send to our new friends in North Carolina. The vestry's work was made easier during 1999 because of the generous response and commitment of the congregation to both the Stewardship campaign and the Third Century campaign. We were able to cover the cost of a new boiler for the church and at the same time make an additional payment of $60,000 on the principal of the renovation loan. While we did not address all of the problems with our physical plant and rental properties, we do know what issues need to be dealt with during 2000. In addition the vestry recognized but did not solve the problem of a very overworked rector. I hope that with the support and input of the congregation this issue can be addressed in the coming year. To meet our budget each year, we must depend on other fundraising projects in addition to the Stewardship and Third Century campaigns. Our major efforts in this arena are our St. Patrick's Day party and the Christmas Bazaar. Thanks to John Carter and Lisa Nickerson, both events were great fun and financial successes. We also raised money at the rummage sales and the Halloween party. The ongoing success of these events is essential to the financial health of the church, so I hope everyone will help when called by this year's event chairs. Reed Franklin will report on this year's stewardship campaign. Our pledges did not increase this year and in fact declined some. But there are still pledges outstanding. Naturally if we do not meet our goal, cuts will need to be made in the budget which is already quite tight. Also this year we will continue the Third Century campaign and hope that those of you who have not yet made a pledge to pay off our renovation loan will do so and those of you who have already pledged will keep your generous commitments. Serving as Senior Warden for the past two years has been both hard work and very rewarding. I learned more about not only the workings of our church but even learned something about the Episcopal Church. But more importantly, I have seen the commitment we all have to this very special community of faith. I have had the opportunity to attend several Diocesan meetings and talk with Wardens at other churches and I know that despite the problems we face of raising enough money and finding enough volunteers for all activities, this church is a very unique, special and spiritual place. I want to thank the vestry for their hard work but I also want to thank each of you for doing your part whether it is reading during a service, providing coffee hour or breakfast, running a major event, cleaning the refrigerator, calling a fellow parishioner when they are sick, making a bag lunch, chopping vegetables, volunteering in the office, teaching Sunday School, singing in the choir, being a liturgist, providing bread and wine, ushering, gardening, or making your stewardship pledge. We wouldn't be who we are without each special contribution and we can't survive without those contributions either. Sherry Saunders, Senior Warden
Overall, Christ Church parishioners continued to give generously in 1999 with pledges toward the 2000 budget totaling $179,618 from 69 pledges. This, however, was down from last year's total, which was $195,986 from 89 pledges. Actually, the average pledge increased, but the loss of a significant number of pledges hurt the total. It should be noted that the average pledge at Christ Church is very high when compared with any parish in the Diocese of Washington or the national Episcopal Church. Averages do not tell the entire story, however. Christ Church has a relatively small number of large pledges while the bulk of pledges are markedly lower. This is concerning for two reasons. First, it makes the parish vulnerable to a financial crisis if just a couple of the largest pledges move out of the area or leave the church for any reason. Second, it is an indication there is a large portion of the congregation that is not participating as fully in the financial support of the church. It is also cause for concern that a large number of pledges were not renewed. In most cases, those are people who have moved away or are, for various reasons, no longer actively involved in the parish. There are very few people participating in the parish who do not pledge. This high participation rate is another area that compared favorably to national and diocesan averages. Stewardship is measured in more than dollar terms. Typically the Church talks about "time, talent and treasure." While not as easily measured, Christ Church parishioners gave at least as generously of their time and talent as they did of their treasure. The commitment of the members of Christ Church and their involvement both in the parish and other important organizations in the community is very impressive. In 2000, the Stewardship Committee will look for opportunities to build on our successes and address areas where there are opportunities for improvement. Reed Franklin, Chair Report of the Ad Hoc Committee on Church Rental Property
Return to Agenda
The Committee met on several occasions. We reviewed a number of inspections reports on the properties prepared in recent years for the vestry. Chuck Burger, a real estate broker with a large Capitol Hill real estate firm, examined the properties and discussed them with our leasing agent. In making our recommendations, we relied heavily on Chuck's expertise and knowledge. As we studied the matter it became clear the three residential properties on G Street should be reviewed separately from the warehouse, and that different recommendations would be made concerning these two groups.
Gary Abrecht, chairman
We are proud of the way the parish has responded to the need to pay down or pay off the $600,000 construction loan that funded the 1996 restoration of Christ Church. As many of you know, the Third Century Committee was reconstituted and a new fund-raising campaign launched in June 1998, after our then-Treasurer, Rebecca Grant, warned our restoration accounts were languishing. So little money remained that Christ Church was facing default on the construction loan payments by the middle of 2000, this very year! We faced the loss of one or more of the properties -- two G Street townhouses, the warehouse and the Rectory -- that had been pledged as security for the loan. Thanks to the generosity of this parish, the committee can report that all monthly payments have been made and we now have more than $120,000 in our restoration accounts. The payments through the life of the five-year loan are virtually assured. The loan terminates in March 2002, when the remaining principal must be refinanced as a longer-term mortgage. We have, moreover, been able to make extra payments on the principal totaling $69,000. If we do no more than make monthly payments for the rest of the life of the loan, the original $600,000 that we borrowed will be cut to $356,875 by March 2002. The Third Century Committee pledges to keep on trying to reduce that principal amount to ease the long-term debt burden and enable Christ Church to begin saving for the next restoration as our Third Century continues. Neil Strawser, Chair Communication efforts for Christ Church in 1999 primarily focused on raising awareness of the Parish in the Washington metropolitan area through the placement of stories in a variety of editorial outlets - the diocesan newspaper, the Washington Post, The Hill Rag, and the Voice of the Hill - by regularly contributing to the on-line Voice of the Hill, and through advertising. Additionally, the Christ Church website, http://www.washingtonparish.org, debuted during Advent, thanks to Webmeister Gerry Connolly, providing an invaluable tool for evangelism and education about the parish. Among the year's greatest success stories was the publication of Robbie Curry's story about Christ Church's donations to the victims of Hurricane Floyd in eastern North Carolina. The story appeared on the front page of the January edition of the Diocesan newspaper. Lynne Schlimm,Chair There are two principal educational activities at Christ Church--the Adult Forum and the Sunday School. The Adult Forum meets almost every Sunday in the hour before the 11 o'clock service. In the past year it covered a number of topics. Notable among its discussions were a four-part series led by Bob Conly on the life and writings of St. Paul. On a practical note there was also a series of discussions on issues relating to aging which Bob Lester led. In an ecumenical effort, Woody Price, Bob Conly and Gerry Connolly also did a series on the history and liturgy of Eastern Orthodox Christianity. And finally in Advent, the Rector guided us through the mysteries of the Book of Revelation. For the year 2000, the Adult Forum will devote itself to a discussion of the texts from the Bible used in the service for that Sunday, with the sessions to be led by various members of the Parish. The Adult Forum is now attended by a small but devoted group of parishioners. It is our hope attendance will grow in the coming year. Suggestions as to what subjects would be of most interest are always welcome and often followed. Let the Rector or a member of the Vestry know what you would like to learn more about at an Adult Forum. The Sunday School continues to be thriving and active under the guidance of Robin Blackwood, Connie Jameson, Joyce Gould and Alden O'Brien. Connie Jameson has provided the following report: In 1999, we had a productive learning experience studying the Tribes of Israel in each of our three classes. This was the first year we were able to assemble three classes for 15 children ages 3 to 12. The smaller classes enabled us to give the children more individualized learning. Alden O'Brien taught ages 3 to 5 while Joyce Gould taught the first and second grades. Robin Blackwood and Connie Jameson taught the third through the fifth grades. The children in all classes are developing good relationships with one another as the year continues. For our Sunday School Christmas Project, we collected collect items to make gift bags for the homeless. With the help of the parish, we assembled and distributed 30 gift packages which included items such as hats, gloves, cookies, and toiletries. The project helps us remember those less fortunate and reminds the children that as Christians, we should help others not just at Christmas time but every day. As Sunday School Coordinator, Robin Blackwood provided consistency and leadership for all three Sunday School classes, managing curriculum and many other special projects, including the successful Epiphany Pageant. As we begin the New Year, the Sunday School faces the challenge of replacing Joyce Gould. We hope to identify another teacher for the first and second grade. Until one is found, the plan is to merge the 3 to 5 year olds with the first and second grade classes. This is not the ideal arrangement, but for now it seems to be the only alternative. . Woody Price, Chairman Music Report David Bucknum Director of Music Ministries Development of the Music Program During my first full year as Director of Music Ministries, I have worked closely with the Rector and members of the congregation to establish and promote a liturgically-based, well-rounded, quality music program at Christ Church + Washington Parish. I believe we have made a strong beginning and I have many plans for continuing to develop and strengthen the program in the coming year. CHORAL AND INSTRUMENTAL MUSIC Adult Choir - I continue to work with the adult choir to enhance their participation in the Sunday Services through the presentation of new, liturgically-appropriate anthems which are sung nearly every Sunday, an increased emphasis on the fundamentals of singing, and attempts to build collegiality and commitment to the choir from within. Attempts to increase the size of the choir have met with some success. We are fortunate to have three new members this year. I offer a special thanks to Linda Mellgren and John Payne for their efforts in recruiting new choir members and in hosting a choir party last fall at their home. During the year I have made modest music purchases, often necessitated by the limited resources of the existing choral library and the size of the choir. Attendance at rehearsals (Wednesday evenings from 7:30-9:30 p.m.) and at Sunday Service varies from four to 10 members. Children's Choir - The Children's Choir completed their first full year at Christ Church by singing anthems for Epiphany, Palm Sunday, Easter, Mother's Day, and a baptism, before adjourning for the summer. In the fall, they sang during Advent and for a baptism. Anne Bathurst Gilson graciously agreed to volunteer as co-director and join Dana Carr in leading the choir. I am truly appreciative of Anne's and Dana's contributions-Dana for the second year. The participation of the children in the Services is always warmly received by the congregation. They rehearse weekly during the 40 minutes preceding Sunday school. I continue to select quality anthems, appropriate to the children's abilities and composed by world-renowned children's choir composers. I have made modest purchases of the necessary music, as Christ Church has had no library of children's choir music. Attendance at rehearsals varies from two to eight children. Handbell Choir - The handbell choir has played regularly throughout the year, including at Easter, Christ the King and during Advent. Again, modest music purchases were made to continue assembling a music library for the playing of actual handbell repertory for the 2 ½ octave set of bells. Two portable tables and foam padding for the tables were purchased this year, completing the necessary infrastructure items. The handbell choir requires a minimum of eight members. We currently have managed with seven members, although the other commitments of members occasionally curtail rehearsals, performances, etc. I am hoping to add a few new members soon, so that all bells will be covered regardless of occasional absences. I would like the handbells to work toward performing once a month. Rehearsals are currently held on Thursday evenings from 5:00-6:15 p.m. Hymns and Service Music - I have selected, with the Rector's approval, liturgically-appropriate hymns for each Service, occasionally introducing new hymns. The congregation has mastered the singing of simplified Anglican chant to the appointed Psalm for each Sunday, as well as occasional responsorial psalms (composed by Gelineau, Daw, Hopson, etc.). I have always sought to draw upon the wealth of resources contained in our parish hymnals: Hymnal 82 and Lift Every Voice and Sing, as well as from other quality sources of hymnody and psalmody. The Rector and I have decided to pursue agreements with publishers of quality liturgical music, in order to enhance our worship experience. I have attempted to establish variety in our service music on a seasonal basis, to reflect the thematic changes of the liturgical year. Organ Music - I have chosen liturgically-appropriate organ music whenever possible to enhance the worship service. This frequently includes preludes and postludes based on the hymn tunes sung. Music is generally selected for its quality and suitability to the instrument at Christ Church + Washington Parish. Due to the temperamental nature of this particular instrument, last-minute adaptations and substitutions are frequently necessary. Stewardship of Instruments and of Printed Music Instruments - The Organ - The first phase of organ repairs/rebuilding has been completed, but emergency maintenance is frequently required. There are still many problems that need to be addressed. The organ, like any delicate instrument, is highly susceptible to damage from extreme temperature and humidity changes. This grand, century-old instrument has suffered long-term neglect over decades and without proper climate control will continue to require major repairs and frequent maintenance on a regular and continuing basis if it is to remain playable. I am thankful for the fine, dedicated service that Dan Meyer provides. Printed Music - As mentioned above, modest purchases were made, primarily out of necessity. Christ Church's music library is quite limited in the area of music for the Adult Choir and almost non-existent for the newer choirs: children and handbells. Establishment and growth of music programs requires expenditures of funds for printed music on both initial and continuing bases. In summary I look forward to working with the Rector and members of the Christ Church family to continue to foster and develop our music program in the coming year. I believe our greatest needs at this point in time are: 1) continued growth of the choral program in terms of the recruitment of more parishioners to make the commitment to serve in the essential music ministry at Christ Church + Washington Parish and, 2) a financial commitment from the church to support the continued renovation and maintenance of the organ and the obvious need for the growth of the music library. I will close with a special thank you to the many members of the parish who have offered their support, encouragement, and compliments to me and our music program during this past year. Please be encouraged to approach me with your comments and suggestions.
1999 CHRISTMAS BAZAAR
Long before the Bazaar, publicity efforts got underway, coordinated by Lynne Schlimm. A crew of workers including Lisa Nickerson, Susan Block, Lou Ivey, Rich and Jan Shea, Carolyn Johnson, Nelson, James and Jon Rimensnyder, worked for three days in mid-November to stuff 8,000 issues of the Voice of the Hill in the Robey's garage for home delivery, a new initiative which brought out many new customers to this year's Bazaar. Rich and Jan Shea also delivered hundreds of flyers to churches and around the neighborhood. Carolyn Johnson and Joann Hill Goodrick led a crew of workers who spent all day Thursday and Friday unpacking, sorting, pricing and arranging the Attic Treasures. Thanks to the Rector's bean soup and the Goodrick's homemade bread, all who worked on setup were well nourished and energized to finish the job.. Some of those who came to help set up Thursday and Friday were Robin Blackwood, Sandra Hussey, Barbara Franklin, Ann Erdman, Marian Tebben, Sally Sullivan, Lynne Schlimm, Marian Connolly, Alice Norris, Nelson Rimensnyder, Sherry Saunders, Robbie Curry, Alesia Bicknell, Dana Carr, Carole Knight, Bill Doggett, Carolyn Cheney, Sis Allen, Catherine Jacob, Susan Block, Jan Shea and David Goodrick. This year's quilt, "A Twinkle in God's Eye," sold a record amount of raffle tickets, about $1,800. In addition, about $300 worth of linens was sold at the linens booth. We have never seen or sold so many beautiful linens before. Thanks to all the quilters, and especially to Linda Mellgren, Marian Tebben and Ann Erdman for their work at the linens table. The quilt raffle was won by Rebecca MacPherson, a parishioner, who was thrilled beyond words. Eighteen donated gift baskets were sold for a total of $1,275. The doggy and kitty baskets were a tremendous hit. The imagination and creativity shown in this year's baskets were truly marvelous. They also looked beautiful, thanks to the artistry and skills of Dana Carr, who supplied finishing touches to many of the baskets with cellophane and ribbons. Thank you to all who donated and all who bought them. No separate figures are available for sales of books, plants, bake sale items, snack bar, attic treasures or crafts, but each of these tables contributed to the festive display that made this year's sale so successful. Charles Harles did an outstanding job of pinch hitting for Gary Abrecht, issuing chits and keeping track of money during the sale. Rebecca McPherson and Lil Fidler transformed cookies, candies, cakes and other delicious offerings into irresistible gifts at the bake sale table, which also featured two magnificent cakes from the kitchen of master baker, Richard Swift. Tom Norton, James Rimensnyder and Patrick Rees kept everyone supplied with food and beverages throughout the day at the snack bar. Thanks to homemade chili and beef stew provided by Lil Fidler, Anne Curry, Sandra Hussey, Sally Sullivan, Rebecca McPherson, Ruthmarie Kelly, and Bina Beghe, the fare was gourmet. Robbie Curry and David Goodrick went back and forth, up and down solving problems and keeping everyone's needs supplied all day Friday and Saturday. Carolyn Cheney, who flew in from a meeting the night before, set up her booth in record time, and once again, assisted by Liz Battis, made the Parish Hall bloom with her assortment of Paper Whites, Amaryllis, Poinsettias and greens. Lisa Nickerson's glass ball creations á la Martha Stewart shone at the crafts table, presided over by Pam Helton and Sue Alford. Sis Allen returned to the jewelry table in her traditional spot with outstanding assistance from Catherine Jacob, Sarah and Rebecca Vial and the Christ Church elves: Diana Seiler, Libby Bicknell, India Teal, Savannah Jameson, Emma Herman, Mary Woodward, Tomiko Mason, Lydia O'Brien and Emily Symington (who later received their rewards from Santa). This year's collection of jewelry was so large that enough was left over to get a good start on stocking next year's booth as well! Thanks go to Rachel Abrecht, too, for helping clean and prepare the jewelry for the sale. The Vial family returned to Washington all the way from their Richmond home for the Bazaar, bringing the dinner makings with them in their car. Sarah and Rebecca squeezed themselves in somehow between suitcases and legs of lamb and boxes of lettuce and vegetables. With Genaro's leadership and an outstanding kitchen crew including Bina Beghé, Alesia Bicknell, Richard Lindeborg, Mary Frances Lowe, Alice Norris, Dick Stock, Frank Young, Carrie, Rebecca and Sarah Vial, David Sheldon, Kathy Hill New (Barbara Hill's daughter), Bill Doggett, Barbara Wells, and Sally and John Sullivan, the dinner (lamb and vegetarian) was served on time, and the meal was pronounced superb by all. Remarkably, the parish hall seemed to seat the exact number of diners to fill the places that had been set, a little miracle. Special thanks to Andrea Harles, assisted by Ruth Pontius, Alesia Bicknell and Joe Shaffer, for the beautiful decorations and table setups for the dinner. Nelson Rimensnyder rigged lights for the stage so that the book titles could be seen, and the book collection was conveniently arranged by helpers Hastings Wyman, Barbara and Reed Franklin, Sandra Hussey and Woody Price. Thanks to Bill Hussey's expert selection of wines and champagne for the dinner, wine sales made a profit of $780.46. Many bottles of wine were sold both at the dinner and the next day at church. Thanks to Bill for choosing and supplying the wines, and for serving them before and at the dinner. Of course, no discussion of dinner would be complete without mentioning the cleanup crew led by Bob and Sonia Conly, including Marian and Gerry Connolly, Rich and Jan Shea, Nancy Metzger, Charles Floto, and Inez Lester, who left the kitchen and parish hall in spotless good order, ready for church the next morning. They earned stars in their crowns that night. Cleanup does not end with the dinner, of course. Thanks to Mac Hansbrough for volunteering to help box and put away the Bazaar leftovers, to Joann and Carolyn for packing and sorting Attic Treasures for next year, and to Nelson and others who helped carry bags and boxes back to the basement. Every year, the Bazaar is a work of faith. It involves almost every parishioner in some way, and calls for a prodigious amount of work. It is very exciting to see it all come together successfully. Many contributed who were not mentioned above, but helped in various ways before, during and after the sale by donating items to be sold, by working at the sale, or by coming and spending their money. All these contributions are valuable -- they help to make the Bazaar a success. The money that was earned is a significant item in the Church's budget, and the experience we enjoyed bond us together in the Body of Christ. It is truly a worthwhile, satisfying and rewarding endeavor. Lisa Nickerson, Chair
Report of the Junior Warden
Church Work done on the church during 1999 included installation of a new boiler when it was established the old boiler had finally expired. Work was finished and heat restored almost without a hitch. Policies for using the parish hall and other church use by community groups were developed and implemented. Procedures in the new policy will make our facilities run smoother, and ensure payments that cover the actual costs to the church of such use. The church sign was rewired and lighted; now it can be seen more easily from the street. Work planned for the church includes contracting for repair of the water damage in the sanctuary. Proceeding with this work has been complicated by not yet having a definitive answer as to whether any particular repair will assure the damage will not reoccur. Work still needed is to be sure no further water damage occurs, down spouts are kept clear and signs of dampness are closely monitored. Rectory Work done on the Rectory during 1999 included jobs large and small. Leaks were repaired, a bathtub was glazed, the dishwasher was replaced, one room air conditioner was replaced and roof work was done over part of the building. The rectory is at an age where it needs close attention if it is going to be in adequate condition to serve as the Rector's home. Work planned for the Rectory includes replacement of the windows in the upstairs study and repair of the surrounding wood. Considering the age and condition of the Rectory, it is important all repairs be made promptly. Grounds The gardeners continue to keep our yards growing with a modest budget. Work planned for the grounds is to make water available for dry weather watering. Warehouse The water damage in the warehouse rental property was addressed. In addition, a feasibility study was conducted to determine if the warehouse should be sold, and the proceeds used to pay for maintenance costs in other buildings. The feasibility study report is expected soon. No further work is planned for the warehouse until the decision for its sale is finalized. Significant work will be needed on the warehouse roof if the property is not sold. Rental properties Work done on the rental properties during 1999 were under the auspices of Yarmouth Rental Management, and included a furnace in one property. In cooperation with Yarmouth, the rents of three houses was raised to be closer to market value. Joann Hill Goodrick, Junior Warden The Outreach and Community Service Committee The Outreach and Community Service Committee held several meetings during 1999 and voted allocations totaling $10,000 of outreach funding from Christ Church + Washington Parish to several neighborhood organizations, to Episcopal Church programs, to AIDS support programs, to relief of victims of natural disasters and to the Rector's Discretionary Fund. These contributions from the congregation of Christ Church through the Outreach Committee for FY1999 were as follows:
The monthly vegetable chop for the soup kitchen at the Church of the Brethren marched ahead efficiently as it has for years with dedicated church members appearing regularly to do the chopping. The monthly brown bag lunch program was supported by church members who regularly and also without fanfare provide significant numbers of sandwich lunches. The delivery of the lunches has been regularized through a member of the Outreach Committee who volunteered to be the responsible authority. The Spring and Fall Rummage Sales provided substantial amounts of very low cost clothing and household goods to less fortunate neighbors. Many local people rely on the rummage sales to supplement their needs. The rummage sales also provided a significant revenue of nearly $2000 in FY 1999 to Christ Church. There are a number of ideas for future Outreach programs and there is enthusiasm among the dozen plus Outreach Committee members. The committee is open to the ideas and participation of all church members. The Committee sought and, hopefully, will receive an increase in the funds available for programs in FY 2000. Alice Norris, Chair
Evangelism
The Evangelism Committee has worked with the Communications Committee in
accomplishing a few tasks in Evangelism this year and wishes more had been done. We hope
next year's evangelism will really be able to accomplish more in this area.
We have prepared a Christ Church flyer to give to visitors and interested people and we
have given out lists of events to people attending the Rummage Sale, Bazaar, and other events.
We have designed a new visitor's card, which is available in the pews. We have been working to
assist the rector in sending greetings to visitors and newcomers, and birthday cards to
parishioners. We have helped provide new letterhead for the rector and office.
While the Evangelism chair has not been a part of the development of the new web page,
it must be noted Gerry Connolly has done an excellent job getting the evangelism re-energized
by working with Lynne Schlimm to get our web page up again. We see this as a real evangelism
opportunity and a way to tell people about our wonderful parish. The web page address is http://www.washingtonparish.org. We are committed to assist the rector in increasing Christ
Church's evangelism in the coming year. Carolyn Cheney, Chair
FUNDRAISING/SPECIAL EVENTS
In 1999, the Fundraising Committee was successful on a number of fronts due to
the dedication of a number of individuals--namely: The total amount raised for all fundraising was $24,400. The 1999 Vestry charged the
Fundraising Committee with raising $25,000. Obviously, the events were successful in allowing
the Fundraising Committee to reach its goal. Each of the fundraising events enjoyed the support of a number of individuals who
contributed to the success of the occasions. Invoking the Latin doctrine, For 2000, the Fundraising Committee faces a number of challenges. Most immediately, John Carter has chosen to step down from leading the St. Patrick's Day auction efforts. Replacing John, who worked tirelessly to make the auction a success, will require that a number of people "step up to the plate." Rather than asking one person to take on all of what John accomplished, the Committee decided to ask individuals to take on selected tasks. This appears to be working well. The Committee also has approached the Navy/Marine Band to perform a concert series at the Church. While this could not be scheduled during 1999, the hope is that a Fall 2000 series can be realized. The Committee also wants to have a late Spring Black Tie Swing Dance Event with champagne and light snacks. In short, the financial demands facing the Church require that fundraising not only maintain its current level but expand in 2000. The energy, commitment, and enthusiasm of everyone who has pitched in the past has ensured that these events are a success. We are excited about reaching the goals we must meet in 2000. David P. Sheldon, Chair Finance Committee Report The Finance Committee was reestablished in February, 1998 with the goal of putting Christ Church on a more sound financial footing over the next few years. The Members of the Committee during 1998 and 1999 have been: Mac Hansbrough, Chair, Hap Carr, Reed Franklin, Neil Strawser, Sherry Saunders, Bob Conly and Hasting Wyman. The Committee's major accomplishments for 1998/1999 include:
Stock Transfer Accounts
Christ Church+Washington Parish established two stock transfer funds at Salomon Smith
Barney in 1997 to make it convenient for persons wishing to contribute Stock to the Church for
either their annual pledge or the 3rd Century Loan Repayment or as a special contribution.
Securities contributed to Christ Church may be placed in either the:
These funds are maintained by:
1776 I Street, NW Suite 900 Washington, Dc 20006 The Contact person is: Dan Jones 202-862-2899 Please also include the DTC Number: 0418 Persons wishing to contribute Stock to either of the two funds should send a letter along with the Stock to Dan Jones at Salomon Smith Barney with a copy of the letter to Mac Hansbrough at Christ Church.
Christ Church Endowment Trust, Established 1999
Background In the mid 1990's the "Endowment" of Christ Church-washington Parish consisted of
Income-earning Real Estate and Income-earning Financial Bequests in the form of Irrevocable
Trusts. Historically, the income from these sources had been used entirely for the Church's
Operating Budget. Thus, the Church had no source of income for restricted uses or
extraordinary needs. Early in 1996 the Vestry of Christ Church-washington Parish formed a Legacy
Committee to explore the need for an endowment fund as a vehicle for long term "Planned
Giving" available to Christ Church parishioners. That Committee, assisted by a consultant from
the Diocese of Washington, considered the need for such an endowment fund and the purposes
to which its funds might be used. It studied the various forms such an endowment might take,
the ways in which parishioners could use it for Planned Giving and the variety of ways they
might make contributions to it. The Committee also considered how such a fund would need to
be presented to parishioners and the ways in which parishioners would need to be "educated"
about it. The Legacy Committee took a very participatory approach, enrolling members from a
variety of parishioner groups. Over the course of 1996 and 1997 membership changed as a wide
variety of views were considered. In the Spring of 1998 the Christ Church Finance Committee
set up an Endowment Committee and charged it to take the work done by the Legacy Committee
and to formulate a proposal for a Christ Church Endowment Trust to the Vestry. The Purpose of the Endowment Trust The Vestry of Christ Church-Washington Parish has resolved to create and maintain a
Fund that is available for the following purposes: Restrictions of the Endowment Trust The Christ Church Endowment Trust should be governed by the terms presented below.
When used in terms presented below, the use of the word "Shall" is intended to denote a
mandatory directive, while the use of the word "Should" is intended to denote a recommendation
or guidance. It is stipulated that planned gifts cannot be restricted or encumbered by the giver in any way. The intention of the Endowment Trust itself is to embody a transparent and pre-ordained set of restrictions, conditions and objectives for long term funding of Christ Church which are those described above. Gifts for which the donor wishes to set restrictions or encumbrances should be established outside of the Endowment Trust. The Management of the Endowment Trust At the time of the establishment of the Endowment Trust, a finance committee exits, with a Chairperson who is named by the Vestry. Unless otherwise determined by the Vestry, the Endowment Trust should be managed, administered and overseen, by the Chairperson of the Finance Committee, who should be selected by the Vestry and designated as "Endowment Trust Manager", and be advised by the Finance Committee and the Vestry. The Investment Mechanism for the Endowment Trust At the time of the establishment of the Endowment Trust its funds are to be invested in the Diocesan Investment Fund of the Diocese of Washington, which is managed by the Diocese of Washington. At any time, the Finance Committee, or whatever other entity to which the Vestry may assign responsibility for the management of the Endowment Trust, may decide to invest the funds of the Endowment Trust in some other investment option. Planned Gifts to the Endowment Trust It is foreseen and intended that Christ Church parishioners or friends of Christ Church can contribute to the Christ Church Endowment Trust through a variety of "Planned Giving" mechanisms which include, but are not limited to, those described below:
Mac Hansbrough, Finance Committee Chair
The Rev. Dr. Judith Davis, 27th Rector January 23, 2000 Today, as last year, I would like to combine my sermon and my report for the annual meeting, which follows this service. During Epiphany, we focus on the manifestation of Christ to the world and our own call to follow Christ, as the disciples of old did. The Collect for today is about answering the call readily and proclaiming to all people the Good News of Christ, in order that the world and we may perceive the glory of Christ and his works in the world. We hear in our Gospel lesson from Mark that Jesus called his disciples and immediately they left their nets and followed Christ. We, too, are called to leave our proverbial nets and follow Christ in our day, too. That reminds me of two things. First, one of our hymns for today, "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult;" second, one of the crèche scenes at the National Cathedral in December. A woman English hymn writer in 1852 wrote the great Christian hymn, "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult," for St. Andrews's day. The hymn's theme throughout is the call of Christ and priorities. Christ's call comes to us today as clearly as it came to Andrew by the shore of the Sea of Galilee. For Andrew, it involved sacrifice--he turned from home and toil and kindred and left all for Jesus' sake. We, too are called, as this verse says, from each idol that would keep us, saying 'Christian, love me more." This stanza is the heart of the hymn; we are called from love of the world, to a wholehearted love of Christ, who must be our priority. The tune, Restoration, from the Southern Harmony, has a great name and reminds us that we need to be restored. Cecil Alexander wrote a number of children's hymns, for which she is better known, but this hymn, sung to a number of tunes in various hymnals, is an appropriate hymn of commitment and sending forth in this time after the Epiphany. The final stanza calls us to give our hearts to God's obedience and to serve and love God best of all. That's what we are about at Christ Church--doing what we can to serve and love Christ best of all. In this new century, we are called to give of ourselves for Christ's ministry in this place. We are called to give the gifts that we alone can bring to ministry here. That brings me to the crèche. Some of you were here on the feast of the Epiphany as we celebrated that feast day. I told about the crèches this year at the Washington National Cathedral and I talked about my favorite one, from Alaska. So I want to tell about it again for more of you to hear. The crèche scene is one of Alaska. The holy family is in a wooden lodge house and the wise ones are approaching this scene. Each of the hand-carved wooden wise men brings a gift that is unique to his culture and vocation. One wise man approaches on dog sled, bring his finest furs for the baby Jesus. Another wise man approaches on foot, well, foot with snowshoes and is carrying an Alaskan king crab to baby Jesus. At last the third wise man approaches by kayak up the somewhat frozen river and brings fresh salmon to the Savior. The important piece for me is that each of these wise ones is bringing a gift that is unique for the time and place and culture. They did not bring gold and frankincense and myrrh, but they brought the best of their own work. I, of course, was particularly drawn to the kayak and the polar bears. And so this year, I would adopt for my metaphor for our work and care at Christ church, the kayak. In 1997, our metaphor was swimming, and in 1998, bicycling. As we continue with images in this genre, I have chosen kayaking this year, partly because I love kayaking, partly because of this great crèche I saw, and partly because it has to do with a river. We are poised, it seems to me, before a river of life in the Church that offers a challenge. Sometimes the water is moving very rapidly and we must navigate our kayak through it. Sometimes, the river is just perfect and we glide gently down it. Sometimes our shoulders are weary from paddling; other times we can rest a bit. Sometimes we meet rapids in the river and we must be resilient enough to go through them as we continue on our goal. And if we are in a tandem kayak, we must work as a team to accomplish our goal. As I look back over 1999 and our year together then, I am struck by our bicycle metaphor and our accomplishments, even as I think of the new metaphor. Last year as I stood here I talked about goals for this year in light of our bicycle metaphor. What can I say about our accomplishments?
Now I want to talk about where we can go as this wonderful historic parish, long established on Capitol Hill, what difference can we make in our community, among our neighbors, how we can continue to be people of prayer and outreach and ministry in this part of Washington. We've had a good year. We've made some great progress in various areas and we have had a few flat tires, as well, along the way. Now we are poised to stand at the river of swiftly moving water and ask ourselves how we can be prepared to jump in with our kayaks and paddle safely down the river. How can we, like the apostles of Jesus, respond to this challenge? Last week I talked about one of my favorite hymns, "precious Lord, take my hand." This takes me back to the river and the crèche scene at the Cathedral. We are standing beside the river, waiting to take the plunge to reach out and be a vital presence in our neighborhood and to grow in spirituality and evangelism. Some of us may fear the kayak will turn over and others may fear they don't know how to paddle. Still others may not want to get wet at all. Thomas Dorsey's great hymn, "Precious Lord, take my hand," offers these words:"at the river I'll stand, guide my feet, hold my hand,
This stanza of that great hymn reminds me of my own kayak. It's not a whitewater kayak, since it's fiberglass, but it's great for open water, for seas and lakes and calm rivers. It has a rudder that you work with your feet to keep it tracking well and leading the right way. So when I stand at the river and get into the kayak, my feet need guiding, my hands need to be held as they take their position on the paddle, and so I ask Christ to guide my rudder, and hold my hand, and take my hands and lead me on. May God lead us on this year to take the plunge into that river. May we have the courage to think outside the box. We want to grow and be more of a presence in our neighborhood. We want to reflect our multicultural neighborhood and reach out to our brothers and sisters. We need to offer more to children and youth. Imagine yourself tagging up with a partner here to paddle the tandem kayak in ministry. Each of us can do this and work together for the good of Christ's Church on Capitol Hill. `What are my goals for our kayak trip down the river of life this year? They are simple and few.
I feel we are on the verge of a growth spurt at Christ Church. We need to understand our mission of hospitality and welcome. We need to expand our youth ministries and children's education. We need to do more hands on mission, as we have begun in eastern North Carolina and in Honduras. I want to spend more time with you in fellowship and pastoral care. We had our first "game night" Friday night to share fellowship and those of us who came had a great time. We are continuing our Thursday night Soup and Eucharist for two Thursdays a month. I have great hope for our parish. You all are a wonderful people, who care deeply for each other and for the community. I realize now, it's time to be more risk-taking in our ministry and evangelism to make a difference. All the church growth experts and written about how to be successful as church in this post-Christian, even post-Sunday world. We can do several things this year 2000 to begin to make a real difference.
The church of the 21st century has a number of challenges before it. Structure of churches is changing yet again. The old models don't always work for new times. We must do more to attract people to spend part of their week with us in ministry, when the attractions of the world seem more interesting. As the hymn "Jesus calls us o'er the tumult," says, "Jesus calls us from the worship of the vain world's golden store; from each idol that would keep us, saying 'Christian, love me more." There are many idols that would keep us. The scary thing about change and restructure is the realization that we are not the church of 50 years ago, the one some of us were born into. We also are not the churches of 50 years to come. The church is changing. We need to focus on our ministries in our own world. We need to work with our youth. We need to be brave enough to change that God's will may be done by us and all the church, reshaping and reforming the church for God's mission I believe we have great hope at Christ church, to continue to be effective in our community and world and for ourselves. I believe we can be an incredible presence on the Hill with more evangelism, more community, more stewardship, and more spirituality. And I believe we cannot do this unless we are willing to change. We must build our staff for growth and not for maintenance. We must be creative in staffing to help us expand our ministries, thereby making our kayak lighter and easier to paddle. If we can have great volunteers to be more a part of our life together, our kayak will track better. If we can commit ourselves to taking on a new model of ministry and mission and evangelism, we can guide our kayaks down the river better. We must remember that each of us brings our best gift to the Christ in this time after the epiphany of Christ to the world. Let us offer that gift for the life of our community and neighborhood. What gift do you bring the Christ at this annual meeting? As we look to grow and change, I plan for us to take on a structured, congregation-wide study as we look at our church through the eyes of the Diocesan wide PERCEPT program and through the eyes of the Zacchaeus Project. I plan for us to do more with evangelism and outreach as we look to creative staffing in our parish. As we study and pray and worship and have fellowship with each other, as we sing and make music, as we teach others, as we reach out to welcome others into our midst, let us remember that Christ has empowered us in this ministry. Let us remember that we are a wonderful people of God in this place. And let us share that with those who would join us here to do God's work in this place. Bring your best gift to the Christ and let us believe in the power of God's holy spirit in this place remembering the words of that great hymn, At the river I stand, guide my feet, hold my hand, take my hand precious lord, lead me on. The Rev. Dr. Judith Davis, 27th Rector
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