piscopal Church of the Holy Nativity 2015 PARISH PROFILE Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 1

Transcription

1 E piscopal Church of the Holy Nativity 2015 PARISH PROFILE Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 1

2 Table of Contents Introduction...3 What We Seek...3 Historical Section Community Outreach...7 Children s Programs and Outreach...8 Our Neighborhood...9 About Our Parish...10 Parish Demographics...10 Parish Ministries Parish Life Financial & Stewardship Information Our Dreams & Goals...14 Summary Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 2

3 INTRODUCTION FROM THE PROFILE COMMITTEE The Church of the Holy Nativity is a parish in the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, located in the city of Meridian, near Boise. In the autumn of 2013, after three years of transition, the Vestry and The Reverend Canon Lucinda Ashby determined that a Profile Committee should be appointed and begin the work necessary to complete a church profile. The purpose of the profile process was to learn more about ourselves and to understand the mission into which God is calling us. Senior Warden, Gladys Clymens, asked these persons to participate on the Committee: Richard Bowring, Clay Lisle, Carrie Magette, Jo Ann Myers, Karen Ryker, and Matt Wheeler. The Profile Committee made announcements at numerous Sunday Services and published articles in the monthly newsletters in order to let the congregation know what to expect and to encourage their participation. In addition to meeting once a month, this group hosted a Legacy Brunch and an Oral History- Taking session. Five committee members sought the personal perspectives of 75 parishioners through a story gathering process. Twenty-three parishioners also participated in a Neighborhood Walk, in which we walked seven different zones encompassing a one-mile radius from our church. A Parish Conversation was held in the Parish Hall in September, It was eye opening to see how many skills we have tapped into and honed in the past four years. This exercise also helped us to focus on areas where we feel a serious need, and therefore shaped the outcome of our parish profile. The last event for parish participation was an exercise called What Is Our Bible Story? held in November, This Parish Profile is the culmination of work, not only of the Committee, but also of the Vestry and the parishioners who participated in all aspects of the information gathering. The committee wishes to thank Janice Avera, Mary Buchanan, Linda Burnz, Christy Fendley, and Willa Harrelson for the assistance they provided. We seek a priest who will be a consistent pastoral and spiritual leader, who is an accomplished liturgist and preacher, and who will help us further strengthen our ministries as we spread the good news of Christ in our community. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 3

4 TIMELINE 1972 First formal worship at Locust Grove Grange Holy Nativity was born on Christmas Eve s-2000 s Meridian saw exponential growth. Addition of parish hall and classroom wing. Holy Nativity remained small. A CHURCH IS BORN As church histories go, Holy Nativity is but an infant. In the summer of 1972, a small group of Episcopalians began meeting in Meridian homes. At that time, Meridian was primarily an agricultural-based community of about 3,000 people. Having an Episcopal church in Meridian made sense, as the nearest Episcopal churches were located at least 10 miles away in neighboring cities. These home meetings were followed by services held in the Locust Grove Grange Hall that November. The Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity was born on Christmas Eve, 1973, on West Eighth Street near the downtown area. The accommodations for that service were similar to those of the first Christmas in the stable at Bethlehem - very rough and rudimentary. Those in attendance sat on straw bales, boxes, rolls of carpet whatever could be found. The original building was a one bedroom, manufactured home with a seven-car garage unique in structure, but ideal for a growing church! At the Legacy Brunch, in 2015, founding members recalled coming together in their spare time to paint and put together the interior of their new church home. The congregation grew with the addition of quite a few young families. Family atmosphere was (and still is) of utmost importance. An organ, some pews, and a bell were obtained from the church in the Grandview/Bruneau area, which was closing. Eventually, there was a need to add a parish hall and classroom wing. After this addition, in 1984, there were about 3,800 square feet of space. GROWING PAINS Meridian is one of the fastest growing cities in Idaho, growing exponentially in the late 1980s through the early 2000s as Meridian became a bedroom community for the nearby city of Boise. Today, much of yesterday s rich farmland has been replaced by subdivisions, shopping complexes, and businesses in the health care and technological industries. Unfortunately, while the city of Meridian itself grew significantly during this time period, Holy Nativity remained a small parish. Some attribute this to the 1976 ordination of women clergy and the 1979 revision of the Book of Common Prayer. Interestingly, even though some parishioners may have been a bit disgruntled over the ordination of women clergy, Holy Nativity has been served by several women clergy through the years. The first woman priest in the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho, The Reverend Edwina Aker, was Interim Rector at Holy Nativity in the late 1980s/early 1990s. Deacon Paula Egbert was the first Deacon at Holy Nativity from the late 1980s The Reverend Barbara Bond brought a lot of vitality and culture to our parish. In 2000, she accepted another call, and The Reverend Alice Farquhar-Mayes became our Interim Priest. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 4

5 After Barbara s departure, membership steeply declined. Founding members recalled that Bishop Harry Bainbridge, III, offered three options: to close the doors, to let the parish die slowly, or to accept a full-time priest and financial support from the Diocese to restart the congregation. The first two options were not viewed as acceptable by this resilient and determined parish. TIMELINE 2001 Father Mike Spillane appointed as fulltime priest Holy Nativity involved with ELCA. ASA grew to 180! Search for larger facility began. Pentecost Sunday The Move to Cherry Lane and official consecration by Bishop Bainbridge. The Bishop appointed Father Mike Spillane as the new full-time priest, with the goal of growing the parish to serve the needs of the growing community. Many members remember Easter Sunday, 2001, as a standing-room only service. Father Mike was a young, charismatic leader with an active family. Many who met his family on the soccer field, were drawn into Holy Nativity in their search for a church home. His sermons made Scriptures applicable to everyday life and membership grew again. During this time, Holy Nativity also became involved in an effort to live into the Call to Common Mission with the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America (ELCA). Members of Holy Nativity s clergy and Vestry participated in implementing this unique plan for approximately two years, at which point ELCA s involvement in the ecumenical project ended. When the parish grew to an Average Sunday Attendance (ASA) of 180, we looked for ways to expand our building, and the parish was compelled to seek a larger facility. The nearby Meridian Catholic Church building was available, and it was quite suitable for our growing congregation. In 2005, we coupled the proceeds from the sale of the old church with a sale of 13 acres of pasture land owned by the Diocese and were able to purchase the Catholic Church building. Pentecost Sunday, 2005, was a glorious day for Holy Nativity as the entire congregation, led by Bishop Bainbridge, processed from the old church to the new church for the consecration a distance of two blocks. On our way to our new church home. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 5

6 TIMELINE Loss of membership followed actions of General Conventions 2003 and Mike+ left. Alice+ returned as Interim Rector Michael Canning+ became full-time priest. Membership loss and financial struggles Rebuilding of congregation and reconstructing finances. Growth in Vestry and Lay Leadership. Worship Leaders and Supply Priests serve Holy Nativity. Pictured at right: This banner, made with cherished fabric from parishioners, served as the first cross above the alter when we moved into our new church home in CHANGES AND CHALLENGES The actions of General Conventions 2003 and 2006 brought about changes which led to additional loss of members. Tensions heightened between Father Mike and Bishop Harry; at times, our parish felt caught in this conflict. In early 2007, Father Mike left to tend a parish in California. At this point, membership again declined. The Reverend Alice Farquhar-Mayes returned as Interim Rector to provide a pastoral presence in the parish. During that time, former Rector, Father Mike was diagnosed with brain cancer. Shortly thereafter, Bishop Bainbridge was diagnosed with terminal lung cancer. When we learned that Father Mike had passed away, our parish hosted a good old-fashioned Irish wake for him; the Parish Hall was filled with Irish dancers, beer, and music. KEEP CALM AND CARRY ON Our parish suffered a huge amount of loss during a short amount of time loss of members, loss of priest, and a distracted Bishop. We were also dealing with all of this on a shrinking budget and a roof in need of repairs. The Reverend Michael Canning relocated from Canada with his family in 2009 to become our rector. The expectation was new priest, new members, new money. While everyone had the best of intentions, we now recognize that we should have taken more time to grieve our losses, waiting longer before hiring a new priest. This was not a good fit for Reverend Michael nor us, as we suffered another membership loss. In retrospect, we realize that what we needed was a more self-sufficient Vestry and a stronger Lay Leadership. In the past four years, we have reconstructed our financial picture, rebuilt our congregation, and developed our Lay Leadership. Services have been led by a core of Supply Clergy and also by Worship Leaders. We have a strong and highly-committed Vestry, who communicate well with parishioners. We now have a great working relationship with our Bishop and Canon, and we feel we are headed in the right direction. With God s help, we have grown confident in our areas of ministry, and we continue to discern God s call to serve the larger community. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 6

7 OUTREACH Outreach ministry is extremely important to the members of Holy Nativity. In many ways, we strive to be the hands and feet of Jesus in Meridian. Meridian Food Bank The Meridian Food Bank came about in the 1990s when it was discovered that both Holy Nativity and the Valley Shepherd Nazarene Church were operating food-based delivery programs to local shut-ins. We joined forces; parishioners donate food and supplies and also volunteer their time to serve at the Meridian Food Bank Be Our Guest Bi-monthly, church members prepare a free meal for the hungry in our area called Be Our Guest meals. Parishioners also continually supply clothing and personal hygiene items to be given to our guests. Holy Nativity parishioners who volunteer at the Be Our Guest meals feel greatly blessed in getting to know those who attend the meals on a regular basis. A few of our guests occasionally attend worship. Other Areas: 2 Cents a Meal Program, started by Deacon Paula Egbert Idaho CROP Walk Christmas family in need from Meridian Elementary School Civic organizations and local non-profits Volunteer time in local schools Leaders of Scout groups and recreational youth sports leagues In the 1990s, Holy Nativity had the opportunity to sponsor a Bosnian refugee family, providing financial support and transportation as they got their feet under them in their new home land. One member of the family became a Meridian City police officer, just as his father had been in Bosnia. We were transitioning through a change in priests at this time, but the common goal of helping this family kept us united. Holy Nativity Parishioners working at one of our Be Our Guest Meal events. Some Be Our Guest Meal attendees enjoying good food & company. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 7

8 KIDS, KIDS, & MORE KIDS We envision providing a safe environment for the children of our community. The recent Neighborhood Walk reminded us of our close proximity to the elementary and middle schools within our parish boundaries. We remembered that while still at our old location, we sponsored a Head Start program and a monthly vaccination clinic. Safeguarding God s Children Seventeen parishioners are trained in SGC, eight are trained in Safeguarding All God s People, and two parishioners serve as trainers. Vacation Bible School In past summers, we have hosted VBS programs for area children. The most recent one was held in the summer of We recognized that some children might be missing an important meal without the school hot lunch program and made it our goal to serve a nutritious lunch on a daily basis, as well as a snack for our attendees. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 8

9 COMMUNITY SPACE In addition to true outreach programs, we also sponsor space for Girl and Boy Scout groups and three AA groups. In return, the Scout groups help with spring and autumn cleanups on our church property. Two other congregations, The New Hope Christian Church and The Slavic Church, use our Sanctuary and Parish Hall weekly. Various other groups, such as the Boise Highlander Bagpipe group use rooms and our gymnasium. Until recently, a preschool used part of our Rectory. Each year in November, our Parish Hall is used by local crafters to host a Holiday Craft Bazaar. OUR NEIGHBORHOOD Encompassing 27 square miles just west of Boise, Meridian has a population of 75,092 according to the 2010 census. The people of Meridian enjoy a wide variety of retail choices, employment opportunities, seasonal activities, outdoor attractions, and a low crime rate. Even by Idaho s standards, the people are young, the families are large and the jobs are good. Recently named by USA Today as The Best Place to Live in America, Meridian has been featured on dozens of national Top 10 and Top 100 lists. USA Today Best Places to Live Ranks Meridian #1 Meridian is home to the largest school district in Idaho; emphasis on education is foremost. Our Neighborhood Walk earlier this year revealed five schools within the one mile radius surrounding Holy Nativity. There are a dozen colleges in and around the city, most notably Boise State University. Generally mild spring and autumn weather, lower cost of living, and excellent medical facilities are main reasons many people of retirement age settle here. Meridian has many retirement neighborhoods, balancing out the large number of households with kids (48%). We noticed quite a few homes with RV pads and four residential senior living facilities during our Neighborhood Walk. We observed that not only is Holy Nativity located on a major traffic thoroughfare, it is also located within a predominately residential area. In addition to seeing the expected single-family homes, we noticed a good number of homes with wheelchair access ramps, indicating residents with disabilities. This brought to light some potential new outreach opportunities for us. Recreationists are busy year-round here with many activities such as: Fishing Golfing Hiking Hunting Mountain Biking River rafting Skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, tubing, and snowmobiling Meridian is home to 19 parks, with two 45+ acre parks in development. There are also several recreational youth sports leagues, providing children, ages 3-18, opportunities to learn the fundamentals of different sports, good sportsmanship, and leadership. Growth has brought diversity to Meridian. Our city stands out from other Idaho cities. It has: higher percentage of residents with college degrees higher household income ($64,596 median income) higher percentage of foreign-born residents larger African-American population lower median age lower unemployment There are some areas where the demographics don t reflect a national profile. LGBT households are 0.2% of Meridian, 9% of the residents are living in poverty and 34% are members of the LDS church. Catholic and protestant churches represent another 48% of Meridian. At half of 1%, Holy Nativity s portion of the population doesn t reflect the impact that the parish has had on the community. It s getting harder to find the traces of Meridian s dairy farming heritage, as they have been covered by homes and businesses during the city s rapid growth. A dairy cow triples in size every year to reach maturity. Meridian itself reflects that rapid rate of growth, tripling its population several times over since the 1960s. Opportunities abound! Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 9

10 ABOUT OUR PARISH Parish Demographics From our Neighborhood Walk, we discovered that the age groups of the population surrounding Holy Nativity mirror the age groups in our parish. This provides us with important data about who we serve and also helps us continue to develop areas for education, outreach, and ministry programs. Our Average Sunday Attendance for 2014 was 67; yet on holidays, such as Easter Sunday, we see as many as 200 worshipers! 32% 23% 1% 9% 9% 17% 9% Ages 0-5 Ages 6-14 Ages Ages Ages Ages Ages PARISH MINISTRIES Martin Luther King, Jr. once said We are not makers of history. We are made by history. The parish history we have lived through has made us who we are today and has shaped how we handle different roles within our parish. We are thankful for the many talents God has given us, and we have grown to be capable, stronger lay leaders. Structure and Administrative Leadership We currently have a very committed and dependable Vestry - a good mix of older and younger adult members. Our Senior and Junior Wardens work well together and with the Vestry in making strong decisions for our parish. This past spring, the Vestry attended a day-long retreat, in which much brainstorming was done for the future of Holy Nativity. The office, which is located in our Rectory building, is staffed by volunteers three days a week. This team does a fantastic job with bulletins, weekly s, monthly newsletters, general office tasks, scheduling, and bookkeeping. Buildings & Grounds Sitting on a spacious 3.6 acres, Holy Nativity has: on-site parking for 170 vehicles a sanctuary that seats 395 a small library four large classrooms a nursery atrium a parish hall with a multi-use gymnasium and commercial kitchen 2,400 square foot house with a garage, currently used for the Church office. Located on a major traffic corridor, directly across from Meridian Middle School, we also open our parking lot for overflow parking for various events held during the school year. Our Junior Warden and one other parishioner oversee the grounds and building maintenance. Adult and youth members of the parish take turns weekly (spring through autumn) mowing the yard. Keeping the sidewalks clear of snow and ice in the winter is also handled by several parishioners. Worship Our style of worship is currently typical of smaller parishes in the Episcopal Diocese of Idaho. We use a mix of Supply Clergy & Lay Leadership for Sunday services and life event services which is unusual for a parish of our size. Our worship is traditional, in a casual family environment. We have seen growth in leadership as several parishioners have responded to God s call to serve as Worship Leaders. Our Worship Committee meets monthly to design our services. Morning Prayer is held one Sunday each month and with our steady rotation of Supply Clergy, we hold services of Holy Eucharist on the other Sundays. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 10

11 Children are an important part of the worship experience in our parish. Holy Nativity is blessed with a gifted volunteer for the Sunday morning Children s Sermon. The children look forward to this time, as do the adults. Children, ages 9-18, regularly participate during services as acolytes or in the choir. We also have a monthly Youth Sunday, in which the Youth Group members also serve as Lectors and Ushers; many of our youth say this is a major reason for their attendance at Holy Nativity. Our Christmas Eve services include a Children s Pageant in the early service and a late candlelight service. Our narrated pageant is free flowing and designed so that regular attendees and visitors alike may join in. In October of this year, we resumed our Blessing of the Animals service. Baptisms, ordinations, weddings, and funerals make up the life-event services held at Holy Nativity. We have talented Altar Guild and Flower Ministry teams, who beautify our Altar and Sanctuary for all the services. The choir shares their musical abilities with us for all services. At the end of 2014, our long-time Music Director retired. Her talents on both the piano and organ are missed, but we have recently hired a very talented new Church Musician, who is a gifted leader of traditional and contemporary music. Under her direction, the choir meets weekly for practice. Education Holy Nativity holds education for adults each Sunday during the school year. The topic for this year s adult education is The Episcopal Church History and Practices, and it is proving to be very interesting for both newcomers and old-timers alike. In addition to the Children s Sermon, kids ages 5-11 meet every Sunday to discuss stories from that Sunday s readings using curriculum from the Sermons4Kids website. Additionally, this year the focus is on Holy Eucharist, so the children and their parents may increase their understanding of and appreciation for the mystery of this sacrament. The Youth Group use the Confirm Not Conform curriculum. Our current Youth Group is a close-knit group who have grown up together. Past Youth Groups have twice gone on pilgrimages, once to England in the summer of 2004 and once to Belize in the summer of We look forward to growing our Youth Group and hope they will be able to participate in similar pilgrimages or mission trips in the future. Youth Group members also participated in the Neighborhood Walk and provided a valuable perspective on how we can serve the area surrounding our parish. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 11

12 Pastoral Care At Holy Nativity, we care for each other in a myriad of ways. Some examples of these are: A Pastoral Care Team, originally started through The Community of Hope, provides visitations to those in the hospital, nursing homes, or homebound. Three parishioners trained and licensed as Eucharistic Visitors, who take Communion to members unable to attend services. An active, combined Prayer Chain and Healing Ministry Team. Prayer Shawl Ministry. The Ladies Group takes meals to those who have an illness or have recently suffered loss, and they prepare meals in the Parish Hall after funerals, weddings, or other parish dinners. PARISH LIFE Fellowship, Fun, and Fundraising As a congregation, we greatly enjoy getting together outside of church service times. This topic would not be complete without mentioning our fantastic Coffee Hour after each Sunday service. Friday we open our gymnasium in the parish hall for walking and coffee. The Ladies Group meets on a monthly basis to enjoy a seasonal outing or event. The men are known for their delicious pancake supper on Shrove Tuesday. The Youth Group enjoys getting together for movie nights, trips to a local amusement park, or bowling. Sunday School children take outings to the Boise Zoo during the Summer and a local pumpkin patch each Autumn. Our young nursery-aged children are able to join in these outings as well. Participation in Diocesan Life Various opportunities abound for participation in Diocesan Life. One of the best places is at Paradise Point Summer Camp, which is located on beautiful Payette Lake in the mountain community of McCall, Idaho. Parishioners enjoy attending Women s Camp, Men s Camp, Family Camp, and Youth Camp. There are multiple events, led by many different parishioners, that shape the life of our entire parish. Mid-summer, we gather at the annual Summer Picnic to visit, play games, and enjoy delicious food prepared by parishioners. During the year, we have several FUNdraising dinners - celebrating Mardi Gras, Harvest Festival, and Advent to name a few special occasions. In June of each year, we hold an annual Indoor Rummage Sale in the Parish Hall. The funds raised at such events are used to offset capital improvements or other needs in our parish. During the past two years, we have also participated in the Meridian Winter Lights Parade. Children dress in costume to represent the Holy family, wise men, shepherds, and angels riding on a float decorated as the stable at Bethlehem. Adult parishioners walk alongside singing carols and handing out candy canes to those attending the parade. Small groups gather frequently for a time of fellowship and fun. Each Each year, Holy Nativity sends four delegates to the annual Diocesan Convention, and in 2008 we hosted the convention itself. In 2014, Holy Nativity was selected to be responsible for the Convention s mission project. We decided on the theme Covering the Masses, Including All of God s Creatures and asked all the parishes in Idaho to supply new or gently-used blankets. Holy Nativity collected 59 of the 351 total blankets received for the mission project, including one horse blanket! Parishioners also serve with the Idaho Episcopal Foundation. Participation in Diocesan Life is an area where we could improve. We have strong leaders, and as we are able to focus less on ourselves, we envision taking leadership roles in commissions and committees of the Church. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 12

13 FINANCIAL INFORMATION PARISH INCOME 2012 THRU SEPTEMBER Estimated Church Income Facility Reimbursement PARISH EXPENSE 2012 THRU SEPTEMBER Estimated Diocese Assessment Loan Payments Facility Other Our finance team are very good managers, capable of stretching a dollar. With their able leadership, we recently refinanced our loan, boosting our cash flow by approximately $1,000 per month. Stewardship This is an area of challenge and growth for us. For 2014, Holy Nativity received 46 pledge cards. The pledges combined with our plate offerings, unrestricted and restricted gifts, and contributions for outreach programs made for a tight budget. However, thanks to generous donations at various fundraisers we recarpeted the Sanctuary and Narthex in December, 2014, and did normal repairs and maintenance. With the help of a grant from the Idaho Episcopal Foundation, we replaced kitchen appliances. This allows us to continue preparing the Be Our Guest Meals and food for other parish dinners. We use two forms during our Stewardship Drive; one to pledge financial commitment and the other form to pledge time and talents. Our sensible and pragmatic approach to managing our funds, combined with the pledges of time and talent have not only served to keep the parish functional, but also strengthened our leadership and added to the enjoyment of fellowship during this time of transition. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 13

14 OUR DREAMS AND GOALS In November, 2015, we met as a parish to flesh out our Bible Story. Several groups felt our story was similar to the Israelites exodus and journey into the desert or the trials of Job. However, we kept coming back to the Nativity story, from which we originally claimed our name. Some of the parallels we discovered are humble beginnings, a group of believers who come from a variety of backgrounds, courage, hope, faith, perseverance, and a willingness to follow. For over 2,000 years, their stories have drawn others into the good news of Christ, just as we yearn to do. We have faithfully followed Jesus (our star) and remained hopeful and perseverant, regardless of the many obstacles that we have encountered. We are proud of the many ways in which our Lay Leadership has guided us in these past five years, and we are now ready to do more than merely survive. We are ready to hope and dream again. It is our hope that stable clergy leadership will enable us to pursue some of the outreach projects that are calling us in our neighborhood. We dream of using part of our property to tend a community garden which could provide fresh produce to help feed those who attend the Be Our Guest meals. Another dream is to grow the size of our congregation, while maintaining our intergenerational focus. In keeping with our new Presiding Bishop s message of evangelism, we want to learn more about how to gather the people of the Meridian community around the good news of Christ. Finally and very importantly, we find ourselves yearning to deepen our own spiritual lives, recognizing that this is the basis of our own transformation in Christ. We are stepping forth in faith, believing that as our ministry needs grow, so will our ability to eventually support a full-time priest. We hope to find a leader who is willing to walk with us into a future that is healthy, strong, and vibrant. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 14

15 Many Hands Make Light Work From bales of hay in 1973 to the fine, cushioned pews Holy Nativity now has in its spacious sanctuary, the faithfulness of the people has been a constant. Through the years, the resounding theme at Holy Nativity is that we are a genuine, caring, and friendly congregation. This has been a main reason that congregants say they choose to stay and become involved in the parish. Parishioner distributing one of the many Christmas baskets at the Be Our Guest Meal event. A healthy percentage of adult members are Lay Leaders, serve on the Vestry, maintain the buildings and grounds, or are involved in stewardship, fundraising, education, and mission programs. Opportunities are plentiful for the youth in our congregation to serve during Sunday Services or in our outreach programs. We are a faithful congregation, not afraid of hard work or hard times, banded together from our own life experiences, and truly a family, united as sons and daughters of God and followers of Jesus. Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Vestry: Senior Warden: Ms. Gladys Clymens Junior Warden: Mr. Phil Street Vestry Clerk: Ms. Cindy Wolfenbarger Finance: Mr. Mike Magette Mr. Bob Burnz Ms. Christy Fendley Ms. Kay Grooms Mr. Richard Jones Ms. Karen Ryker Episcopal Church of the Holy Nativity Parish Profile - Page 15