sending well-equipped disciples of Jesus into the world compassionate, generous, resilient and wise

Transcription

1 sending well-equipped disciples of Jesus into the world compassionate, generous, resilient and wise First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest 2015 Annual Report

2 Worship Learn Connect Serve Invite

3 Annual Meeting of the Congregation (part 1) and The Society of the First Presbyterian Church of Lake Forest January 31, am Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian, Moderator of the Congregation and Annual Meeting Elder Jim Kellock, President of the Society 1

4 Annual Meeting agenda Call to Order Christine Chakoian, Pastor Opening Prayer Election of Church Officers Ted Notz, ACNC Moderator State of the Congregation Report/Long Range Plan Rita Fossell, Clerk of Session Finance Report Roger Burgis, Finance Moderator Stewart Kerr, Treasurer Personnel Report Jim Seymour, Personnel Moderator Other Business Christine Chakoian The Society of FPCLF Jim Kellock, Society President Adjournment Christine Chakoian 2

5 Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian head of staff Our mission is to send well-equipped disciples of Jesus into the world compassionate, generous, resilient and wise. Adopting this new Mission Statement and Long Range Plan ignited the start to Grounded in a church-wide survey and year-long discernment, our new plan fully embraces where we are today and propels us into the future God has in store. Already we re seeing fruit from this seed, as individuals and committees embrace the challenge. It reminds us that the purpose of our church is not to keep our doors open for the sake of the institution itself. Instead, the institution serves the desires of God: to form us into the kinds of people who move the mission of Christ forward. Our renewed investment in faith formation reflects this commitment. Our goal isn t to teach esoteric theology, or make sure people can ace a Bible trivia quiz! Our goal is to invest in deepening the faith of everyone who walks through these doors, so that they can go out from this place more compassionate, generous, resilient and wise. And it s paying off. Recently Liz Gescheidle, one of our Nominating Committee members, notified us that someone they asked to serve as an elder reluctantly turned them down because she had just committed to serving on the board of a non-profit agency. Liz added, If we could add up what everyone is doing outside the congregation WOW! Ten years ago, I was called to this ministry. At my 10-year anniversary reception, for which I am dearly grateful, I felt again the wonder of serving in this place. I joyfully renewed my commitment to serving alongside you. And I realized once more that every time we participate in our core practices every time we worship, learn, connect, serve, invite we are all recommitting ourselves to follow Jesus Christ. Now more than ever, this world God loves needs that to happen. And I trust that God will equip us for that work of mission. Blessings, 3 Rev. Dr. Christine Chakoian

6 Long Range Plan overview Our aim is to engage the congregation to invest in being well-equipped disciples of Christ. If we wish to thrive as disciples of Jesus Christ, this is our crucial work of the next 3-5 years: Priority 1: To be engaged in and transformed by Scripture. Priority 2: To learn of and engage in other spiritual disciplines. Priority 3: To connect what we do in Mission with our spiritual practices, to the end that both are strengthened. We use these priorities to guide each of our ministry s initiatives for each of our core practices worship, learn, connect, serve, invite: Worship Engage members in regularly and wholeheartedly attending worship as a key component of spiritual growth. Serve Connect mission with Biblical/spiritual growth so that mission is strengthened. Learn Ignite a desire for and commitment to life-long faith formation across all ages. Learning is the single-most crucial investment we can make. Connect Create intentional and systematic opportunities to connect individuals and families in their spiritual growth. Invite Encourage congregation to invite others into this family of faith, not for the sake of growing our numbers, but to share the transforming love of God in Jesus Christ. Full plan will be available on the website and in hard copy by March 31

7 2015 at a glance We wholeheartedly took on our Long Range Plan in 2015, embarking on a journey that enabled us to 1) be engaged in and transformed by Scripture; 2) learn of and take part in other spiritual disciples; and 3) connect what we do in Mission with our spiritual practices.... all serve to equip the saints for the work of ministry. Eph. 4:11-12 Our sermon series Our Bible, Ourselves: 40 Stories to Remind Us Who (and Whose) We Are brought Scripture to life during worship, Sunday School, small groups and Bible study discussions. With an estimated total attendance of 19,000 in worship, these stories touched the lives of so many people. During the program year, 108 preschoolers - 4 th graders engaged lessons from the Bible in Sunday School, and 111 children participated in Vacation Bible School last June. One hundred twelve 5 th - 8 th graders and 82 high schoolers were involved in the youth programs and 177 adults participated in small groups, Covenant Bible Study, Alpha and in large discussion groups (Women s Wednesday Worship, Friday Men s Prayer and Discussion Group, and Sunday Men s Discussion Group). Our new Theologian in Residence program further enhanced our learning this fall with Rev. John Buchanan serving as the first theologian in residence. His talks on the Foundations of Our Faith drew in about 125 people every week from Sept Oct. 4,

8 In addition to Sunday services and learning opportunities, people from all walks of life came together in 2015 to find new ways to strengthen their faith and re-discover spiritual practices. Children s Faith Formation offered up simple, meaningful ways of family faith-building every week; 134 subscribers signed up for our daily Advent devotions to help them prepare for the birth of Christ; 36 people took part in the inaugural family retreat over Columbus Day weekend; and 21 women shared in a weekend filled with spiritual hospitality during the first women s retreat. In 2015, our church also has had the pleasure of welcoming 19 people to Christ s family in baptism, joining 5 couples in holy matrimony, and honoring 19 lives during their memorial services. Music continued to play a crucial role in our church, uplifting the congregation in worship and life with a wide spectrum of musical offerings from Bach to Bluegrass. The 60-member Sanctuary Choir, 17 ringers in the Lakeminster Ringers and Chancel Bells, and 42 participants in the Children s Choirs filled our Sanctuary with joyful noise. The five-member (and growing) first@five ensemble brought contemporary, folk, and international sounds to those services. There is always room for more in all of our ensembles. Fifty-one teens and 18 adult advisors went to Roscommon County, Michigan for the 40 th anniversary of Work Trip. Last June, the 5-6 th graders spent three days volunteering with our Mission 6

9 partners in Lake County, and last August, the 7-8 th graders spent three days in Chicago volunteering with four of our Mission partners. The 23 members of the 2015 Confirmation Class ended the year as the first class to write a group statement of faith to go along with their individual statements. Eight high schoolers who served on the Youth Leadership Team for finished the year strong by implementing small groups and planning for Work Trip, and 10 high schoolers were selected based on a peer vote, application and involvement, to serve on the Youth Leadership Team. First Presbyterian also welcomed two wonderful additions to our family after bidding farewell to our long-time organist, Jill Hunt, who retired after 20 years of service, and Jennifer Aycock, who started as our intern and became director of College Ministry. This fall, Dr. Barry J. Wenger joined our staff as organist and director of the Handbell Choirs, and Sean Kelly took over as director of College Ministry and tackled the new role of assistant director of Youth Faith Formation. And our church has been committed to generous and faithful mission for more than 155 years. In 2015, we celebrated the generous investment of our church in God s mission awarding over $600,000 in grants to partners near and far, including direct aid to support Syrian refugee relief efforts, sending out dozens of volunteers who roll up their sleeves every week to serve and offering talent through staff and board membership, advocacy and family philanthropy. 7

10 2015 Mission Partners Education Allendale Association Lake Villa Beacon Place - Waukegan Boys and Girls Club of Lake County Career Resource Center Lake County Casa Central Chicago Children of Promise Ministries Namibia Christopher House Chicago Dar Al Kalima College Palestine Erie Neighborhood House - Chicago Family Service of South Lake County Faraja Primary School Tanzania I Have a Dream - North Chicago Kemmerer Village Assumption, IL Learn 6 Charter School North Chicago Midtown Educational Foundation - Chicago Neal Math & Science Academy North Chicago One Hope United Lake County Reading Power Lake County South Sudan Education Initiative Waukegan to College - Waukegan Evangelism Board of Pensions Emergency Assistance Fund (PCUSA) Chicago Bible Society Prison Outreach Frontier Fellowship Dan McNerney HANDS Along the Nile Egypt Hope Presbyterian Church - Chicago 8

11 McCormick Theological Seminary - Chicago Samaritan Counseling Center - Lake County University Christian Ministry (Northwestern University) University of Dubuque Theological Seminary Relief & Development A Safe Place Lake County CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) - Lake County ECHO (Educational Concerns for Hunger) Independence Center - Waukegan Facing Forward to End Homelessness - Chicago I-PLUS (Independent Positive Living under Supervision) Lutheran Social Services (prison ministry) Mother s Trust Foundation Lake County Northern Illinois Food Bank Lake County National Evangelical Synod of Syria & Lebanon Refugee Relief Opportunity International Tanzania Outreach Foundation (Todd Luke - Mexico) PADS - Waukegan Sarah s Circle - Chicago The Lake County Haven The Night Ministry - Chicago Zacharias Sexual Abuse Center Lake County $600,000 given to support our Mission partners in

12 2015 New Members Becky Adams Tia Bagan Paul Bailey Diane Bailey Michael Burger Libby Burger Scott Crawford Leslie Crawford Ryan Dorow Barrett Erker Currie Gasche Chris Gasche Laurie Giesen Marianne Hewitt Mike MacDougal Jan MacDougal Barbara Marshall Kay McCurdy Mark McDowell Roberta Miller Miriam Nelson Linda Nevling Susan Noble Karen Schmidt Sherry Trenchard Peter Vander Velde Marty Vander Velde 10

13 2015 Confirmands Megan Emily Calaway Elijah Kerr Fietsam Andrew James Fluri Bennet James Flynn Lindsay Sara Folker Stephen Peter Haggerty, Jr Emerson Hender Hart Katherine Beihl Hubbard Cassandra Rae King Mary Elizabeth King Bryan Dolan Kingsley Kirsten Elizabeth Larson Tatum Alexandra Litzsinger Bridget Claire McGreevy Landen Eric Messner Alexis Caroline Mory George Francis Munns, IV James Denison O Keane George Immanuel Schoettle Paige Johnson Speed Robert Cooper Winebrenner Allison Macenzie Zacher Christopher Samuel Zitko 11

14 ACNC Nominees for Elder, Deacon and ACNC Board of Elders Mike Adams Matt Brown Bruce Keith Kyle Levin (youth) Roberta Miller Natalie Notz (youth) Barbara Schultz Nancy Thomson Tracy Tolmie Marty Vander Velde Dewey Winebrenner Board of Deacons Joe Barbour Stephanie Elliott Pat Ensing Will Gescheidle (youth) Hildo Hoogcarspel Kylie Murray (youth) Jim Perrin Beverly Raudabaugh Patti Tucker Martha Zeeman All Church Nominating Committee Dorothy Chantler Liz Gescheidle Jeff Hinch Donna Johnson Tom Watkins 12

15 2015 Financial Summary 13

16 Roger Burgis finance moderator In 2015 Income & Funds were $3,013,413, lower than our Budget of $3,153,339 by $139,926 (4.4%). Overall Pledges and Gifts were less than expected by $95,249; Other Giving was $111,121 less than budgeted. Overall Expenses were $3,272,228 or $121,897 more than budgeted. Of this $82,500 was received as Mission Restricted and issued to agencies to comply with each Donor s intent. Remaining expenses of $52,397 were 1.7% over budget. Further details are available from the Finance Committee Total Budget Session Approved Income Budget 2015 Approved Actual 2015 YE Preliminary Bud-Act 2015 $ Diff Pledges and Gifts 2,135,086 2,039,837 (95,249) Other Giving 262, ,379 (111,121) Restricted Mission Giving 13,000 82,500 69,500 Rummage and Auction 189, , Portfolio & Brinkman - Int & Div 298, ,751 (21,019) Planned Restricted Endowment 119, ,529 (15,671) Other Income 135, ,958 33,558 Total Income + Funds 3,153,339 3,013,413 (139,926) Expenditures Office and General 742, ,866 7,794 Buildings and Grounds 573, ,078 32,227 Faith Formation 86,567 97,066 10,499 Worship and Music 276, ,395 (3,066) Ministerial 761, ,420 1,818 Mission 580, ,203 8,457 Restricted Mission* 13,000 82,500 69,500 Other 116, ,700 (5,332) Total Expenditures 3,150,331 $ 3,272, ,897 *Restricted Mission distributed per donor s intent Net Difference 3,008 (258,815) 14

17 Stewart Kerr treasurer 2016 Working Preliminary Budget Income & Funds Budget 2016 Working Draft Budget 2016 v Actual 2015 $ Difference Pledges and Gifts 2,014,961 (24,876) Other Giving 205,500 54,121 Rummage and Auction 187,716 (1,743) Portfolio & Brinkman - Int & Div 283,232 5,481 Planned Restricted Endowment 119,800 16,271 Other Income 143,400 (25,558) Total Income + Funds 2,954,609 (58,804) Expenditures Office and General 740,969 (8,897) Buildings and Grounds 597,128 (8,950) Faith Formation* 166,538 69,472 Worship and Music 277,621 4,226 Ministerial 736,651 (26,769) Mission** 585,649 (86,054) Other 111,772 1,072 Total Expenditures 3,216,328 (55,900) * Includes Faith Formation personnel ** Restricted Mission is not included Net Difference (261,719) In 2016 Projected Income & Funds is $2,954,609, lower than our Actual 2015 Year End by $58,804 (-2.0%). As of mid-january overall Pledges and Gifts received from 351 Donors are $1,875,071, compared with 403 Donors for $1,881,700 at the same time last year. Our Stewardship Committee is still working to gather remaining commitments for Overall Expenses are projected in the Working Draft budget at $3,216,328 or more than 2016 Projected Income & Funds by $262,000. We are committed to working with all Session Committees to make a recommendation by February 22, Details of the Working 2016 Budget are summarized on the next pages. 15

18 2016 Income Working Preliminary Budget Pledges and Gifts $ 2,014, % Other Giving 205, % Rummage and Auction 187, % Portfolio & Brinkman - Int & Div 283, % Planned Restricted Endowment 119, % Other Income 143, % Deficit to Unrestricted Endowment 261, % Total Income & Funds $ 3,216, % Notes: Pledges and Gifts ($2,014,961) are 62.6% of our income and $609,258 is prepaid for Other Giving each week includes Non-Pledge, Plate Collections and Sunday School and is 6.4% of income. Net proceeds from 2015 Rummage ($130,000) and the All Church Auction ($57,716) totaling $187,716 are to be used for 2016 Mission grants for 5.8% of income. Portfolio - Interest & Dividends (4.6%), Brinkman Trust (4.2%) Planned Restricted Endowment from 150 th Pastorate, Anderson Fry & Bruen Family provide (3.7%) of our annual income. Other Income is Work Trip, Parish Life, Faith Formation, Denominational Offering, Mission events, Rental and Miscellaneous. Operating Deficit of ($261,719) REQUIRES FURTHER REVIEW 16

19 2016 Expenditures Working Preliminary Draft Office and General $ 740, % Buildings and Grounds 597, % Faith Formation 166, % Worship and Music 277, % Ministerial 736, % Mission 585, % Gen l Assembly Per Capita 54, % Other Expense 57, % Total Expenditures $ 3,216, % Notes: Office and General includes personnel, supplies, computer network and support, office equipment and financial fees. Buildings and Grounds covers custodial staff, utilities, repair and maintenance, building supplies and service contracts. Faith Formation supports all ages with events and curriculum. Music and Worship provides for musicians at all services. Ministerial for salary, benefits and expenses for ordained pastors. Mission supports 40+ agencies in Education, Evangelism, Relief and Development in the US and the world. Per Capita is a $33.00 assessment per member to PCUSA. Other Expense includes Parish Life, Membership, Stewardship, Communications, Memorials, and Long Range Planning. 17

20 700 N Sheridan Road (847) Lake Forest, IL