Last year went by so fast it is almost a blur. In the beginning of the year I felt I was wandering. I wondered if I had lost my sense of direction for us as a community. I felt at a loss. In my ministry as your priest, there were two defining moments.

The building where the little church with the BIG heart meets

We did everything I knew of to live into God’s calling.  We grew stronger in ministry and mission, spirituality, and stewardship but we continued to stagnate in others.  We gained new families only to lose people to old age. How dare, especially our younger members, move on?  We had a small piece of the Kingdom of God here on earth, why weren’t people breaking down our doors?

With my marketing background, I feel personally responsible for the lack of membership growth. We had direct mail campaigns, movie nights, concert series, teacher appreciation programs, and special liturgies for the Boy Scouts, Masons and Election Eve. We opened our facility to anyone that was in need.  According to the experts our membership should have been increasing, instead, it stayed the same.

Then came the first of the defining moments for me in 2009.

In May the vestry went on retreat. We reviewed our vision statement.  We made a few changes to more accurately reflect the transformation we were experiencing.  I was energized by the enthusiasm and teamwork of the vestry. The next step was to figure out how to achieve this newly polished vision.  We needed some Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, Timely (SMART) goals.

The vestry established four SMART goals. The one we decided to tackle first was to tithe our operating budget to outreach, a 2% increase for five years. The vestry discussed this commitment for five months. The congregation was then asked to become percentage givers.  It was a huge step.  It was what God was calling us to do and God rewarded us for this commitment.  Right after that decision, T-Mobile approached us with an offer to add a steeple for our bell-tower and monthly rent income if they could use the inside of the steeple to house a cell tower.

This fall as we discussed how we utilized our time, our talent and our treasure we focused on the spiritual implications of tithing (giving our 105 best-first’) to God.  People like to give their two cents worth, so we suggested that people begin by giving their two per-cents worth, and continue to build on that until they reach a minimum giving of ten percent.  We also suggested that participating in this way could be the greatest life-giving activity that one could have.  The congregation heard the call and they answered in faith!  I was so proud to be a part of this community and very excited about the all of the implications and possibilities.

One of the most challenging ministries is that of being a deacon.  The second hardest ministry is being that of a deacon spouse.  In 2009 Ed Munro achieved his twenty-five year anniversary in the Brotherhood of St. Gregory.  In June of 2011 he will have twenty years as an ordained clergy, in the deaconate.  More importantly he and Barbara will celebrate their five-year anniversary with St. Christopher’s in 2010. This calls for a celebration of thankfulness and praise. The Munro’s are wonderful examples of how a family can thrive as they tithe.  Their dedication to this Spiritual and Financial commitment was what gave the vestry pause this year as they established the new goals created from the St. Christopher’s vision statement.  I want to thank Ed and Barbara for all the wonderful ways they share their time, talent and treasure with out community.  They lead by example and we are blessed by their presence.

The second of the defining moments for me in 2009 was getting pneumonia during the summer.  As I have stated in a sermon this “sickness” was a holy and sacred time and a clear answer to prayer.  I wouldn’t wish pneumonia on anyone, but I would not have traded this experience.   One of the most wonderful gifts I found was St. Christopher’s ability to carry on with little or no help from me.  The Leadership Team (the Vestry and Foundation) did a wonderful job moving forward in mission and ministry.  What a gift our new administrator Carol Williams was, I had only been able to spend four days in a row with her before I became ill.  Our new treasurer in 2009, Bob Davies, was a great help in keeping the office running smoothly.  I have always felt that a sign of a good leader was in his or her absence that the community not only functions but also, thrives.  A special thank you to everyone who stepped up and came through during that time.

For the last year I have been keenly aware that our Senior Warden, Pete Nortari’s term is ending.  Pete has served in this position for six out of the seven years that I have been at St. Christopher’s.  Through his leadership and guidance we have become the life-giving, mission based “little church with the BIG heart.”  So many of the projects, programs, and perspectives, that have grounded our journey have come from Pete’s discernment and dedication.   I give thanks to God for Pete’s ministry and for Kathy’s support of all of the time and talent and treasure he has give us.  The best news is that even though he is retiring from this position he is still going to be a member of the team! I can’t express my appreciation enough to Pete for all he has done to support my ministry.

The last quarter of the year a great deal of time was spent on negotiating our agreement with T-mobile for our new steeple and new source of revenue from cell phone carriers.  We are expecting the steeple to be completed by the end of June.  We hope to have rent from T-mobile for 6 months of the year and an additional carrier for three months.  By 2011 there should be three carriers in service paying rent.  Besides the steeple there will also be a fenced in area where the grassy area is a next to Mr. Dave Phillips drive-way and the beginning of our parking lot going down the hill.  A board on board fence will enclose any and all mechanical equipment needed to run the cell units inside the steeple.

We held our first (pasta) ravioli “Fun”-raising dinner this fall.  There was much fun and fellowship and ended up making some “dough”. To make sure everyone had the latest information about all of these activities we updated the stchris.org web page.

The vestry came up with some excellent musicians to continue our music series this fall with the Shenandoah Circle from West Virginia.  The St. Chris Café never looked better and the food never tasted sweeter.  Due to snow, the December concert was rescheduled for January.

In keeping with our goal for mission Drew Davies, Russell Eustler and I attended the El Hogar Agricultural School graduation in November.  This year sixteen young men, the largest class yet graduated.  We were of service to them with the supplies we took and the extra hands we had to assist in their studying for exams and with the preparations for graduation.  The Foundation provided a grant to the school to fix a broken septic system, and for some needed repairs to a farm truck and in several classrooms.

During Advent and through Christmas we supported HOPE For All, located in Linthicum, by supplying clothes to families and especially school age children in need.

There was one disappointment this fall and that was that the Lilly Foundation was not able to fund my sabbatical request.  My thought was maybe since we have a foundation and so many churches do not that they felt that I had options that most other clergy don’t.  Our Foundation was not asked to provide any funding for my sabbatical.  I am continuing to look for other outside grants.  I will be taking some sabbatical time in May how much is yet to be determined.

It is no wonder the year is somewhat of a blur – things were hopping and these are only a few of the many ministry activities we have led or participated in this year.  Our 9:15 worship service on Sunday continues to feed us; and the Wednesday bible study and Healing Eucharist continues to grow in depth and in attendance.

I can always see God at work through the people of St. Christopher’s who together create the body of Christ in the world.  Thank you for your support and dedication, it makes my ministry of joy.