2007 Annual Report in the Mail

Please let the Parish Office know if you do not receive a copy of the 2007 Annual Report.
Here's the Rector's letter. . .

Dear Friends in Christ,

By now, you’ve all heard about the switch from analog to digital television signals scheduled for February 18, 2009, when "rabbit ears" will no longer bring a picture to the screen. Many of us will have to upgrade our sets and the government is even offering $40 coupons to help. Isn’t the future both amazing and annoying? But sometimes the challenges and cost seem to outweigh the excitement and promise.

One of my sustaining verses from scripture is John 10:10b. It comes to mind when the washing machine breaks or there is too much month for my checkbook balance. It helps me put all in perspective and reminds me that Christ is my center. Some might say this is an extraordinarily optimistic view of life. To me it is resting in God and letting the Holy Spirit sustain me.

Jesus said to them ... "I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

On Sunday, January 13, the Vestry had an extra meeting in order to complete an Asset Mapping exercise which asked us to consider the "half full" glass of our common life and ministry. We spent about 15 minutes writing each asset we could think of on index cards. There must have been over 100. A few were duplicates.
Then we moved around the table where those assets were laid out and put them into affinity groupings, or constellations of cards that suggested actions to us. I was amazed at how easy it was to do. There is a lot of good things happening here. Good people. With talents. And enthusiasms. One of our assets is this building. With plenty of good room to open it up to others.

Our first identified concern was to build and strengthen our fellowship. So we hope to reform the S.M.I.L.E.S. ministry. [That’s St. Margaret’s Inreach, Laughing and Eating Society]. We want to have some fun together.
We spoke about the hospitality of opening our fellowship and building to others. This led us to suggest that every time we plan or approach an event or activity or new ministry there is a priority question which needs to be asked. That question is "Who can we invite to join us?"

When we were done we had a list of four actions for the future, and this is what we saw. . .the table was still full of index cards with assets written on them. We had not exhausted the gifts and graces given to us.
We truly are living the abundant life offered by Christ.

Let us be thankful.
And move into God’s HD future by
practicing Hospitality and strengthening our own Discipleship.

Faithfully,
The Rev. Canon Lexa H. Shallcross, Rector