Zion Episcopal Church Charles Town, WV Parish Profile

Transcription

1 Zion Episcopal Church Charles Town, WV Parish Profile

2 Table of Contents 1. Welcome to Zion Episcopal Church 2. Our Mission and Zion at a Glance 3. Our History 4. Demographics 5. Music and Christian Faith Formation 6. Finance and Buildings/Grounds 7. What We Seek in a Priest 8. Fellowship and Outreach 9. Contact Information

3 Welcome to Zion Episcopal Church Welcome to Zion Episcopal Church, a church with a history 200 years deep, which is chronicled in the book Acts of Devotion: A Religious Community in American History by the late Jonathon C. Brown. As we begin our call for new leadership, we reflect on our past and think about our future. Through this process we seek to find a leader who will help strengthen our relationship with God and the church. Our search committee has been tasked with undertaking the standard search process, so our profile committee has prepared this report in order to give prospective candidates an overview of our church community. Through informal information gathered and a formally conducted parish profile survey, we have a better understanding of how our parishioners see our church and what the needs of our church are at the current time. We currently are under the spiritual guidance of a supply priest. We understand the search process takes time and patience, but we are hopeful to find a rector to serve our parish in a timely manner. Please review our profile and prayerfully contemplate if God is calling you to a ministry at Zion Episcopal Church. Sincerely, Zion Episcopal Church Search Committee

4 Our Mission Statement We share Christ s love and grace with joy, respect, and compassion. We are a community of Scripture, Reason, and Tradition. Zion Episcopal is a historic church, a spiritual home, and a beacon of unconditional love. Zion at a Glance General Location: Charles Town, WV Diocese/Region: Diocese of West Virginia, Eastern Deanery Parish: St. Andrews Founded: Parochial Report Baptisms: Six Confirmations/Receptions: Seven Marriages: One Burials: Seven Clergy and Staff Supply Priest Parish Administrator/Secretary Sexton Director of Music Ministry Housekeeper Sunday Nursery Attendant Governance Board of Trustees: 4 people Vestry: 12 people, each serving a 3 year term Communication Sunday announcements with take home bulletin inserts Website: Monthly Tidings newsletter Facebook page Zion s Attendance Numbers Actual parishioner membership: 411 Active number of parishioners: 114 Number of people who pledge: 84 Average attendance: 114

5 Our History Zion Episcopal Church, Saint Andrews Parish, in Charles Town, West Virginia traces its origins to St. George s Chapel, the ruins of which are located on State Route 51, a mile and half west of Charles Town. The chapel was built in the 1760s. In 1801 St. George s parishioners began the construction of Zion Church at its present site. The original church on Zion s present site was built around The current church building was constructed in A larger church was erected in , but soon after its completion was destroyed in a terrible fire. The present structure was constructed on the same spot and opened for services on December 6, It sits on the highest point in Charles Town. During the Civil War the church was badly abused by Union troops and its interior had to be replaced after the war. It had been used as a barracks and also as a hospital. At one time there were galleries along each side of the church, but these were removed in The steeple was completed in the 1890s during the tenure of the Reverend Dallas Tucker. The bell cracked and a new bell tolled for the first time at the 1892 Easter service. There are approximately eighty-five to ninety Confederate soldiers buried in the churchyard, as well as two Revolutionary War officers. The churchyard indicates the great influence in the church, as well as in the community, of the Washington family. There are twenty Washingtons buried here who were born at Mount Vernon according to the inscriptions on their grave markers. Approximately seventy members of that family reside in this churchyard. Notable among them are Colonel John A. Washington, the last owner of Mount Vernon, and Lucy Todd Washington, sister of Dolly Madison, who was married to George Steptoe Washington. Also buried here is John Yates Beall who was charged, convicted, and hanged as a Confederate spy in New York. Two bishops, Bishop Beverly Dandridge Tucker and Bishop William L. Gravatt, who was the second Bishop of West Virginia, are also buried here. An original poem by Francis Scott Key is inscribed on the stone marking the grave of his friend, Mary Ann Morsel. There are many other persons buried here who were prominent in the history of not only this county, but of the country. Ruins of St. George s Chapel on Route 51 outside of Charles Town. Zion celebrated its 200 th anniversary with a service at this site.

6 Demographics Jefferson County is the easternmost county of West Virginia, just 57 miles northwest of Washington, D. C. The Eastern gateway into West Virginia, Jefferson County (population approximately 56,500 residents), is bounded by the Potomac River and Maryland on the north; the Blue Ridge Mountains and Loudoun County, Virginia, on the east; Clarke County, Virginia, on the south; and Berkeley County on the west. It occupies 212 square miles. Its municipalities include Charles Town, the county seat, with a population of nearly 5800 residents (established in 1789 by Charles Washington, brother to our nation s first President, George Washington); Ranson, established in 1910; Harpers Ferry (1851); Bolivar (1825); and Shepherdstown (1762). Jefferson County was established from a portion of Berkeley County by the Virginia General Assembly on October 26, It was named for Thomas Jefferson.

7 Christian Faith Formation Christian Faith Formation (Sunday School) is held in the downstairs of the Parish House in the Chapel of the Ark and in the adjoining education rooms. Students, preschool through middle school, attend classes from 10:15 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. each Sunday (September through May). Parents drop the children/youth off and proceed to the church in time for the 10:30 a.m. service. Students are walked to the church after classes in time for Holy Communion. During summer months (June through August), the Children s Chapel is held at the 10:30 a.m. service for children ten years of age and younger. Children are dismissed to classes after a Children s Homily, which is conducted by the priest at the beginning of the service. Children return to the service in time for Holy Communion. Pairs of parishioners volunteer to facilitate the lessons to give the regular Sunday school teachers a respite. Music Music at Zion Church opens hearts and minds to the transforming power of Christ s love. We value music as a dynamic spiritual force that enriches the lives of parishioners and visitors alike. We nurture the talents of our musicians of all ages, we reach through the universal language of music to our neighborhood and the broader community, and we welcome all to sing, play instruments and enjoy making music to the glory of God. Zion is the only church in WV that is a member of the Royal School of Church Music in America. Children, youth, and adults learn the elements of music theory, including concepts of vocal range, diction, ear training, harmony, and pitch notations. Singing in a choir helps develop leadership skills, increased confidence, and self-esteem. We also learn about liturgy, the church, and the Bible, and we have a lot of fun singing together. The 10:30 a.m. worship is a traditional choral Eucharist and is supported by a vested choir and organ. The congregation and choir regularly use the 1982 hymnal, Lift Every Voice and Sing, and the Wonder, Love, and Praise song books.

8 Finance Zion is a generous parish and responds to God s call for continuous commitment of our resources, talents, and time. Each fall we conduct a well promoted annual stewardship campaign to contact each member of the parish to request a monetary, talent, and time commitment to Zion. The Finance Committee then takes these results and prepares the budget for the following year. Zion is fortunate to be the beneficiary of several trust accounts managed by the Bank of Charles Town. They relate to financial support, choir support, church maintenance, and churchyard cemetery support. The first floor of the Parish House produces income from the Montessori School that leases classroom space from the church. OPERATING PLEDGE HISTORY Year # of Pledges Dollar Amount Pledged Dollar Amount Collected $178, $159, $153, $158, $160, $163, $167, $161, $180, $173, Buildings and Grounds Zion encompasses the church, a two-story rectory and a large Parish House. The Parish House contains The Alger Social Center, with a large kitchen which was recently remodeled and updated. It also includes several meeting rooms and many classrooms used for Sunday School. The Rainbow Montessori School is also housed in leases classroom space within this building. Another small kitchen with two meeting areas as well as the Parish Office is located in the adjoining Mason House. The Mason House contains an upstairs apartment which currently houses the sexton and his spouse.

9 What We Seek in a Priest Response to our self-study clearly identified what we seek in our next priest: One who will help us grow in faith through inspiring and thoughtprovoking sermons, spiritual guidance, and education-- a spiritual guide. One who has a strong sense of liturgy and values the role of music in worship. One who values authentic and trusting relationships. One who will lead us in meeting the challenging goals of attracting young families, revitalizing our youth program, and strengthening our Christian Formation program for all ages. One who will lead us in developing and empowering servant leaders in all areas of ministry. One who will help us deepen our commitment to stewardship - financial, time and talents - so that Zion Church has the resources to fulfill its mission. One who will join our church family in preserving and broadening our culture of inclusiveness and strong sense of community. One who will lead us into a future worthy of the valued traditions of our past. When asked to identify the most important qualities they would like to see in a priest, the adults responded: Approachable Caring and Compassionate Good Listener Relates to all ages Reverent and joyful in leading worship Inclusive Respectful of other points of view

10 Fellowship and Outreach Each year Zion Episcopal Church hosts many activities that give people an opportunity for fellowship both in and out of church. Some of these activities also serve as fundraising endeavors for the church. Some of these activities are highlighted below. Annual Auction This event, held each May, has been located at local historical properties as well as at homes of parishioners who kindly offer their homes and lawns for a night of dinner, a silent auction, and a live auction. Each year the auction hosts up to 150 people for a buffet dinner often prepared by some of Zion s own parishioners with cooking talents. Auction-goers get to browse and bid on silent auction items and enjoy the excitement of a live auction. Both auctions are always full of wonderful items donated by members of the church and local businesses, with the prize item being a famous cherry pie baked by one of Zion s own. This event has proven to be a fantastic fundraiser, which draws not only Zion parishioners but many Jefferson County residents, who have come to love this event. Each year the auction has more and more success. The Annual Farmers Market Each year the first Friday and Saturday of November the Parish House becomes a flea market shoppers dream. Many volunteers work for weeks to set up the departments, such as the book shop, men s, women s and children s clothes, white elephant, bake table, flea market, jewelry, and outdoor sale. The Farmer s Market also includes the sale of soups, sandwiches, and hotdogs for lunch, as well as fresh sausage from a parishioner who owns a local farm. People line up at the door each day to purchase items that have all been donated to the event. Sunday School Rally and Parish Picnic As Christian Faith Formation gets ready to get into full swing for the upcoming school year, a picnic is held to give young worshippers a chance to sign up in advance and participate in some fun activities. Each August this event is held either in the Alger Social Center or on the Parish House lawn with a buffet of food provided potluck style. Movie Nights About 6 times a year, definitely whenever a faith-based movie is released in theaters, you can find a group of Zion parishioners at the movies. Each of these movie nights is followed by dinner at a local restaurant so the group can partake in discussion and critique of the film and its relationship to our faith. Book Club Zion Book Club is very active, reading on average a book every six weeks. At the completion of each book, the group meets for a potluck, - once even a pie gathering when the book was about pie - and has a lively discussion of the highs and lows of the book and how it relates to our faith. Monthly Meal Ministry The last Saturday of each month Zion hosts a hot lunch for the people of our community who may be low on funds and need some extra help. Lunch is cooked and served in the Alger Social Center by Zion volunteers. Deliveries of the hot lunch are provided to those who are unable to travel to the church. This program has grown exponentially in its years of existence, now serving about 150 people each month.

11 Fellowship and Outreach Continued Harvest Dinner Each year, before the Thanksgiving holiday, Zion volunteers cook a wonderful Thanksgiving dinner that one and all are welcome to attend for a small ticket price. The dinner is served all-you-can-eat buffet-style with all the proceeds benefiting the fund that runs the Monthly Meal Ministry for the year. Highlight of this event is not the pumpkin pie but the handmade Zion crock that is raffled off, with the winner being drawn at the dinner. Men and Boys Corporate Communion Breakfast Each December the women of Zion get together and cook breakfast for all the men and boys. This event is well attended each year. Vacation Bible School In June as kids are just ending the school year, Zion opens up its doors to all children from preschool through lower middle school to join us for a week of fun, games, music, crafts, Bible stories, and worship. Bible School is a big event for church youth as they get to share their faith with many children from the surrounding community who visit during this week. Bible School is held in the evening to allow all children a chance to join in. Each year as children age out of being a Bible School participant they come back to be group leaders, to help with games and crafts, or to be actors in the Bible skit each night. Bible school is capped off by a special service at 10:30 the following Sunday where all the children are invited to join the Bible School helpers in sharing all they learned about during the week with our older parishioners. Bible School is free to all children who wish to come with the help of scholarship donations.

12 Contact Information Parish Office and Mailing Address: 221 East Washington Street Charles Town, WV Telephone: (304) Parish Office Eileen Davis Search Committee Co-Chair Steven Longerbeam Search Committee Co-Chair