Annual Congregational Meeting

Dear Creator Family,

This Sunday, following a shortened 10:30 service, we will gather for our Annual Congregational Meeting. Please consider yourself an important and appreciated attendant with a voice in our parish’s mission and operations. As we draw closer to Sunday and all the information and amazing opportunities we will hear about, there are a few misgivings I have heard that I would like help with:

1. Long meetings are boring.  

We have refined our meetings over the years to be concise and pithy—no verbosity here!

1. The technical stuff of the parish isn’t really my thing.          

There are many areas of parish life that we will touch on which are of vital importance to all of us for our future.

1. The Financial shortfall for 2022
2. Budget expectations for 2023
3. Program staffing (Music Minister)
4. Fundraising in 2023
5. Adjacent property development
6. Facilities use revenue 

1. I’m not really needed at this meeting.     

All members of our Parish Family are important and have a role to play. Each concern and question is welcome input which will receive a compassionate and thoughtful response. Trust that God’s ministry is spread out among the many, not the few; the Holy Spirit’s inspiration is dispersed, not consolidated. Guess what happened to the parish that left things to a few hired staff and elected lay folks? We will never know—it doesn’t exist anymore!

1. There is nothing that can be done anyway, no sense in going.

Every idea and suggestion for our encounter with the events of 2023 will require our participation. We need each other even as we need God and are needed (in a way) by God to do the work of the Gospel.

1. I think I am overwhelmed.            

Our meeting is informational and inspirational! Regular civic meetings, business meetings, and political meetings, all rely upon themselves for everything and can be exhausting, if not oppressive. We are not those. We are the church, the people of Jesus Christ, called each by name to gather and do the reflection, planning, and work of God with God. We are not alone, nor are we isolated. We are not taking “the novel approach,” or “making it up as we go along,” or “facing something new.” We are following the guidance of our Lord and Savior tending to His will with His companionship. Remember, when we are overcome by the weight of our crosses and are unable to stand, He will carry us both.  

1. I can’t wait till Sunday!

Absolutely! Time spent together in the companionship of our Lord doing God’s will, what could be better?

See you Sunday,
Fr. Bill+