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December 02, 2008

Vestry Update

Much of our October Vestry meeting was spent reviewing a first draft of Trinity’s 2009 budget. The Vestry is committed to having a balanced budget for 2009—a year we’ll be calling our new Rector. Because we anticipate the need for significant budget cuts in 2009, the Vestry will look closely at our current parish goals as we make specific budget decisions. These goals are:
• Engaging Worship

• Intentional Faith Development

• Radical Hospitality

These parish goals were approved by the Vestry last January with Father Mike, and were presented at our 2008 Annual Meeting. Although we’ve made progress toward our goals during this past year, the unexpectedness of Father Mike’s death delayed what we had hoped to accomplish during 2008. Both Michael Barlowe at the Diocesan Office and Corrie have encouraged us that these are wonderful goals for Trinity to focus on as we continue our journey as a community of faith during this interim time. Therefore, these goals will guide Vestry as we make potentially difficult budget decisions for the coming year.

Highlights of progress that we’ve made toward our parish goals during 2008 include:

• Engaging Worship: During 2008, the clergy worked diligently to enhance both the 8:30 AM “Peace,” and the 10:30 AM “Joy” services, in an effort to make them more compelling for a wider range of people. A worship space task force also was formed and consultants were hired to develop plans for creating a more inviting sanctuary for worship. Town Hall meetings were held to elicit input from the parishioners. The next step of that process will involve task force members and the consultants attending individual Trinity commission meetings to present initial plans, cost estimates, and gather feedback. This will take place in early 2009. Meanwhile the clergy and staff continue to devote time and thought to our worship experience.

• Intentional Faith Development: Clergy have worked to boost our Sunday forum opportunities, and attendance at is rising. We were delighted to have the Rev. David Perry here as Priest-in-Residence, along with his wife Ricki, during October and November. Many parishioners got to know and learn from David during his Sunday morning forum series on “Christ in Everyday Life,” his Monday evening “Taizè” series, and our intergenerational Bishop’s Ranch Retreat. In December. Corrie will lead a series of Advent forums titled, “Faith in the Psycho Season.” Attendance also is strong at Sunday School and weekly youth group meetings.

• Radical Hospitality: We continue to have newcomers visiting each Sunday, and they’re greeted by our brightly colored welcome wagon staffed by a smiling parishioner. Many return and join our parish. We officially hired Frannie as half-time clergy this year, with her official title of Associate Rector & Director of Radical Welcome. She will lead the charge in the coming year to help Trinity become a more welcoming community for newcomers. We were delighted to have many newcomers attend the Breaking Bread Dinners hosted by the Stewardship Commission this fall, and a Newcomer Wine & Appetizer Party is scheduled for December 5th, followed by Newcomer Sunday on December 7th. We also will be implementing a new Trinity website during 2009, with its primary focus being outward and inviting, targeting those in the community who are seeking to join a church community.

If you see an opportunity where you would like to contribute your time or talents to any of these efforts, please contact any Vestry member.

Lisa Deal, Sr. Warden