The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

Transcription

1 The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist

2 Mission statement to represent Christ and his church, to bear witness to him, to carry on Christ s work of reconciliation in the world, and to take our place in the life, worship, and governance of the church. Book of Common Prayer, p. 855

3 Parish of st. John the evangelist Hingham, Massachusetts Parish Profile TABLE OF CONTENTS the Rector We seek our Community History of the Parish Worship and Music Parish Life and outreach Christian education Parish staff Financial information

4 the ReCtoR We seek the Parish of st. John the evangelist in Hingham, Massachusetts, is in search of a new rector due to the retirement of our longtime rector, Robert edson in september st. John s is a thriving and growing parish with members representing a wide range of ages, interests, and needs. the congregation has been deeply involved in preparing the profile, with over 200 parishioners providing thoughtful input to this document. our new priest will seek to unite and engage the congregation to continue to devote its time, talent, and treasure through an active, intellectual, and participative style of leadership. Hingham is a suburb of Boston with a rich 373-year history as a maritime and commercial center. the parish of st. John traces its beginnings to 1879, and the congregation embodies the beliefs and principles of Hingham and the surrounding communities where the parishioners reside. the church has an energetic membership and has recently grown from a pastoral to a program-size parish. the rector we are seeking will understand the dynamics of growth and will respect the impact that change has on individuals and communities. our rector will be a dynamic and uplifting speaker who is able to provide thoughtprovoking sermons that bridge the lessons and readings of the service with the contemporary issues and concerns of the congregation. the parishioners at st. John s prefer an active ministry that explores, honors, and celebrates the presence of God in our lives through worship, outreach, and community fellowship. We are looking for a priest who will lead us on our spiritual journey and help to foster and support our goals and development as Christians.

5 Worship and music are important parts of our parish life, and the congregation has long enjoyed the traditional episcopal liturgy and music. the church building, made of locally quarried granite, has a lovely wood interior that serves to create a warm and inviting environment that complements the overall majesty and beauty of the liturgy. the parish also has an accomplished adult choir that sings weekly at the 10 am service and a growing children s choir that participates on selected sundays. the parish has a flourishing church school program run by dedicated lay leaders. the senior and junior youth groups, however, have lost momentum and energy, and a strong clergy presence is needed to revitalize these programs. the lay leaders are trying to re-invigorate the youth groups, but this vital part of our children s development needs clergy involvement in order to be successful. as a vibrant and growing parish, st. John s has members who span all age groups. Caring for and supporting these members in their daily lives, especially in times of need, are critical skills that we desire in a rector. a person whose empathetic nature enables us to understand our lives and God s plan for us will be a welcome addition to our community.

6 our CoMMUnitY Bare Cove, as Hingham was first called, was settled in 1635, when Peter Hobart and his followers arrived from Hingham, england. By the time of the american Revolution, the population had grown to over 4,000. in the nineteenth century, Hingham became a port of entry and major fishing port with many small businesses such as sawmills, salt works, iron, copper, and brass foundries, cooperages, bucket mills, and ropewalks. Because of these industries, Hingham became closely tied to Boston, located twenty miles to the north. in 1849 the railroad was completed and became a major means of transportation to the city. the twentieth century witnessed the decline of Hingham s commercial interests, and the town became more residential in nature. Hingham has always been very proud of its history and the preservation of historical properties. the old ship Church, the oldest building in continuous ecclesiastical use in america, and old Derby, which housed a private coeducational elementary school founded in 1791, are just two examples of such properties. today Hingham is a town of twentysix square miles with a population of 21,000. While close to Boston, Hingham retains its unique character as a residential community with a strong commitment to education, the arts, community service, and recreation. Hingham, which prides itself on being a town that values education, is home to an outstanding school system that includes both public and private primary and secondary schools. the town also has a successful arts community including south shore Conservatory, the largest community school for the arts in Massachusetts.

7 Recreation is a key component of life in Hingham, and the town encompasses Wompatuck state Park, a sprawling 4,000- acre park with over 12 miles of bike paths and trails, a town forest with walking trails, World s end (251 acres), Bare Cove Park (429 acres) and hundreds of acres of conservation land, three golf courses (public and private), a community sailing and rowing center, a yacht club, and a fine harbor for water-based activities. in addition to recreation, the town has an upscale retail shopping center and a vibrant downtown area with quaint shops, restaurants, art galleries, and a Community Center. the downtown area, with its proximity to the harbor, is also a great place to catch the latest in town news. Hingham has a town meeting form of government and there is always an issue or topic to be discussed over coffee or while simply enjoying this lovely town. Hingham has seen many changes in its 373-year history, but it retains the warmth and charm of its past as it embraces the present and plans for the future.

8 HISTORY OF THE PARISH The Parish of St. John the Evangelist traces its beginnings in Hingham to 1879 and celebrates its 125th anniversary in Land for a church building was purchased in 1881, and a wooden structure was completed in In 1906, the church building was moved across the street from its original location on Main Street. The Rectory The new site, high on the hill at the corner of Water and Main streets, also contained the 1788 Federal style house that became the rectory. A wooden parish hall was added to the church, but it burned in The rector at the time, George Weld, used his personality and his wallet to persuade parishioners to build a stone parish hall. In 1921, with the help of our remarkable early benefactor Ethel Randolph Thayer, a Tudor Gothic structure, made of Weymouth seam-face granite, replaced the old wooden church. Mrs. Thayer not only provided funds for the construction, she also contributed artifacts, such as the stained-glass windows, the organ, and many other embellishments. Over time, other artwork and furnishings were added. These included the carved wooden reredos designed by Edgar Walker, the 15 th century polychrome Madonna in the nave, and a Victorian bishop s chair that was a gift, among several, from the congregation of St. Andrew s Church in Hingham, England. Almost as soon as construction was completed, Mr. Weld resigned, and Daniel Magruder ( ) became the first of our long-term rectors. Hallmarks of his ministry were the establishment of a solid financial base through endowments after World War I and the shepherding of the parish through the Depression, World War II, and postwar years.

9 Upon Mr. Magruder s retirement, John Gallop became rector ( ). His ministry was marked by the challenges brought about by the social, political, and economic changes happening in the world. His calm demeanor and his wisdom and clarity from the pulpit helped to bring these issues to the forefront of the congregation. in addition, his ability to teach and educate enabled each parishioner to understand these changes within the context of Christian principles. in response to overflow congregations, the church was enlarged in in 1962 Mrs. thayer gave the parish a new 28-rank, two-manual aeolian-skinner organ, in honor of the 75 th anniversary and in response to, and recognition of, the importance of music to st. John s. the old organ chamber became a small side chapel, and a memorial garden, open to all, was installed opposite the south porch. Coincidentally, the 75 th anniversary saw the arrival of the first of a series of curates who served our Parish for three years at a time. Most of them lived in the curacy located on Water street, down the hill from the church. When John Gallop retired, Robert edson became rector ( ). Under his ministry, the church doors opened early every day, daily Morning Prayer was instituted, and the sunday service schedule was changed to 8 am (Rite i) and 10 am (Rite ii). Perhaps most important was Mr. edson s attention to the congregation, his remarkable conscientiousness in all things liturgical, and his care of the plant. in 1997 he led the church in a successful capital campaign to renovate Weld Hall and install a sprinkler system throughout the church. the ongoing growth of the congregation, and of Hingham, spurred the effort to start a capital campaign in 2006 to refurbish the rectory, repair the organ, and improve the church school facilities.

10 WoRsHiP and MUsiC st. John s is a vibrant parish that offers two sunday services that focus on a formal celebration of the Holy eucharist. at 8 am, Rite i is followed, creating a more contemplative setting containing the Liturgy of the Word, followed by the celebration of the Holy eucharist in a traditional manner. the 10 am service has a full choir, follows Rite ii, and is also a Holy eucharist with a Liturgy of the Word. the formality of the service is structured so that family members of all ages can have a meaningful worship experience. Church school is held during the first part of the service, with children joining their parents during the singing of the offertory hymn. a focal point in the liturgy of both services is the sermon. Parishioners at st. John s consider the thoughtful delivery of a well-developed sermon, based on the Lectionary but with interpretation and application to current issues, a vital part of their worship experience. Parishioners of all ages participate in the services at st. John s. a team of active lay eucharistic ministers, lay readers, ushers, acolytes, altar guild members, and flower arrangers serve at all principal and many special services throughout the year. Music is an integral part of the worship experience, and the parish takes great pride in offering a broad spectrum of music from all periods. st. John s has two active choirs. Four section leaders, who have advanced musical education or experience, lead the adult choir. our organist/choirmaster has rekindled an interest in a children s choir that occasionally joins the adult choir. st. John s also offers a number of special worship opportunities during the year including advent Lessons and Carols, Lenten evensong, and Compline during advent and Lent. Morning Prayer is held daily, and there is a weekday Holy eucharist and Healing service.

11 PaRisH LiFe and outreach st. John the evangelist is blessed with a dynamic membership comprised of a strong, stable base of longtime members and a steady stream of younger and relocated families. this multigenerational mix enables the parish to plan for the future while respecting our history and traditions. the church seeks to create a warm and inclusive environment where all are welcomed and invited to participate in parish life. the numerous activities and events that occur regularly at st. John s serve to bring parishioners together for socializing, learning, and service. newcomer events are well attended and result in people joining our parish. the vestry and its various commissions lead many aspects of parish life. our vestry is composed of a senior and junior warden, a treasurer, a clerk, and nine commission heads that meet monthly. the commissions are: outreach, Worship & Music, adult education, Youth education, Buildings & Grounds, Parish Family, stewardship, Communications, and administration & Finance. st. John s seeks to strengthen our sense of community by providing continuity of caring for all our parishioners from the nursery to the nursing home. Parishioners contribute meals for families in crisis, donations for our food drives, and refreshments for the coffee hour and evensong receptions. We celebrate the baptisms and confirmations of our parishioners, and we recognize our youth for their service to the parish and participation in mission trips. We pray for and provide communion to our parishioners who are housebound, in nursing homes, or in the hospital. We celebrate the milestones that occur in the lives of our parishioners, and we commemorate those who have died.

12 st. John s is blessed to have a willing, conscientious, talented, and abundant pool of parishioners who volunteer their time and talent on behalf of our parish. Led by the outreach Commission, our efforts extend beyond our parish. st. John s supports a number of local, regional, and international charities, as well as Diocesan projects. the gifts we have been given are used to uphold our ministry and draw us into Christ s mission in the world.

13 CHRistian education st. John s values strong adult and youth education programs. the adult program is focused on small interactive groups and includes Bible study, book groups, and other secular-based programs of special interest to parishioners. the mission of the church school is to ensure that by the time students are confirmed, they will have learned basic Bible stories, have memorized the classic Christian prayers and creeds, and understand fundamental episcopal traditions. Parent volunteers, including husband/wife teams, teach one to three classes a month. More than 100 students in grades pre-kindergarten through grade six are enrolled in the church school program with an average attendance of 60 students each sunday. Classes run from september through June. Paid daycare professionals staff a nursery for infants and toddlers. a children s chapel worship service is offered once per month. the fifth/sixth grade class directs the service, acting out Bible characters from the previous month s lessons, reading prayers, serving as acolytes, serving snacks, and cleaning up. Red-Blue day represents the culmination of each semester s study. We divide all children into two teams that compete against each other, by grade level, in a quiz game that reinforces lessons from the previous three months. the children dress up in red or blue and decorate items that they use to cheer on their teams. the students have a lot of fun and learn a great deal in the process. Lay leaders have worked diligently to develop programs and activities for our older children experiencing the challenges of the teenage years. this area needs clergy participation to better incorporate Christ s teachings into the program.

14 PaRisH staff st John the evangelist is a program-size parish based on the number of members and is moving to implement the administrative structure that supports and reflects this size. the staff currently consists of an interim priest, an administrative assistant, an interim organist/choirmaster, and a sexton. this group of dedicated people operates as a team while maintaining a clear vision of the ministry of the parish. a number of volunteers assist the paid staff in various ways with administrative, organizational, program, and maintenance responsibilities on a regular and asneeded basis. the rector provides the pastoral, liturgical, and administrative direction as well as leadership of all church programs and oversight of staff and volunteers. the parish has been fortunate enough to have an assistant or curate to help with the liturgy and preaching and to provide leadership and support as designated by the rector, and we hope to continue this practice in the future. the full-time administrative assistant is responsible for the day-to-day financial and clerical functions necessary to operate the office and communicate with the congregation. the part-time organist/ choirmaster is a professional musician with responsibility for the music at regular sunday and special services throughout the year. this individual, who assists in the selection of hymns and music, also directs the adult and children s choirs and occasionally directs guest instrumentalists. the part-time sexton provides continual support for the ministries of the parish as well as regular cleaning and maintenance of the church property. Evelyn Czaja Administrative Assistant Dr. Fred Guzasky Interim Organist/Choirmaster Dorothy Manley Sexton

15 FinanCiaL information st. John s financial profile is strong and reflects a positive commitment on the part of the congregation to support the needs of the community and the parish. the church is blessed with a solid financial foundation built on a combination of stewardship, real estate holdings, and a significant endowment. the parish community has taken an active role in maintaining the viability of these investments in order to insure they continue to serve the parish into the future. We are mindful of the numerous outside influences competing for the resources of the congregation. in this respect, we believe that a sound ministry program that meets the needs of the congregation is the best way to insure the continued vitality of st. John s. the following information, extracted from the parochial reports, provides an idea of the parish finances and the significant opportunities that exist to minister to our congregation: Funerals weddings BapTisms Funerals weddings BapTisms Funerals weddings BapTisms ToTal members 1,240 ToTal members 1,313 ToTal members 1, these numbers reflect the increase in young families with children who have joined the parish within the past three years. these families find common ground with the older or more established members of the parish, which helps insure the continuity of parish goals, aspirations, and sense of responsibility. this is viewed as a positive sign and one that is essential to the ongoing growth of the parish.

16 in 2006, the parish launched a $1,000,000 capital campaign to upgrade and improve our facilities. this three-year program is on target, and we expect to reach our goal in Funds raised by the program will be used to repair the organ, renovate the church school area and completely refurbish our historic rectory in preparation for our new rector. the treasurer s report reflects a parish that is financially viable and a vestry that is cognizant of its fiduciary responsibilities: 1,500,000 endowment Balance 1,000,000 ToTal operating revenues ToTal operating expenses 500, $506,025 $583,306 $572,742 $516,172 $550,776 $508,743 1,373,091 $1,520,653 $1,533,950

17 LooKinG FoRWaRD in conclusion, the Parish of st. John the evangelist is a vibrant and growing community with a solid financial base that can support its ongoing structural needs while continuing to support a vigorous outreach program. We are seeking a rector who will inspire and challenge us, through preaching and leadership, to become better stewards of our lives and ministry. our rector will celebrate the joyous times of our lives and comfort us in times of sorrow or trouble. Most important, our rector will be the spiritual guide on our lifetime journey of self-awareness and discovery as we seek to understand how we can become better Christians. For more information about st. John the evangelist church please view our website:

18 PRaYeR FoR st. JoHn s search almighty God, guide and direct your people as we seek a Rector for the Parish of st. John the evangelist. Give us clear eyes and wise minds to see beyond our desires so that we might choose a rector who loves and serves you. support those who hear your call to discernment and surround their families with your care. Lead us by your grace to a greater understanding of your mission and ministry so that together we might grow more and more into Christ-likeness; through Him who died and rose for us and who lives and reigns with you and the Holy spirit, for ever and ever.

19 amen.

20 The Episcopal Parish of St. John the Evangelist 172 Main Street Hingham, MA