Parish Profile Jesus accepts all at his table; so do we. The Episcopal Church of St. Benedict March, 2017 909 Lily Cache Lane Bolingbrook IL 60440 630-759-5955 www.stbenedict.ws
St. Benedict in 2017 We are a caring and intimate church community with values steeped in diversity and acceptance. We honor our namesake, St. Benedict, with our tradition of hospitality. Although we encourage individual voices to be heard, we make our decisions together. We encourage each other along our spiritual journeys; we try to meet each other where we are. Today we find ourselves at an important juncture as we seek a new rector. We recognize the challenges of this transitional period, and we embrace them and the opportunities they bring. If Jesus came to St. Benedict, what would He say Wow about? 2
Who We Are A healthy parish, ready for change Our mission statement makes it plain: Jesus accepts all at his table; so do we. St. Benedict is a healthy, vibrant parish with a warm welcome. We strive to make newcomers feel at home while also giving them space to take it all in. During the Peace, we transcend the physical boundaries of pews, and we cross the room to welcome everyone. Here at St. Benedict, we strive to live fully into the promises of our baptismal covenant. And we seek additional ways to deepen our understanding of and relationship to Christ, such as Bible study on Wednesday evenings and Sunday Seminars held after services. We also extend our church community through our support of several charitable groups, we seek opportunities to embrace a Christcentered life both within our walls and without. Along with racial diversity, our congregation values the varied backgrounds of our members: age, marital status, culture, religious background, economic status, sexual identity, and even theological diversity. 3
How We Worship St. Benedict uses a traditional Book of Common Prayer liturgy with an informal twist. We have been described as a relaxed high church. Our small community enjoys having one service at 9:00 a.m. on Sunday. Our music ranges from traditional English hymns to African-American spirituals. We welcome our youngest parishioners with song as they join the celebrant in offering the Peace. Gathered around the Rector, they hold their arms out wide and say, The Peace of the Lord be always with you. And the congregation responds with a resounding, And also with you! Before communion, the priest invites all who seek to know Christ to receive the bread and wine saying, Jesus accepts all at his table. And we affirm that welcome, responding enthusiastically and loudly, So do we! At communion, we gather in a circle around the altar to receive the bread and wine. Standing nearby, our Healing Prayer Team is available after communion for those in need of anointing and special prayer. We strive to include all in our services 4
We acknowledge the unique needs of our congregation and the larger community with special services throughout the year. During Advent, our Blue Christmas healing service offers comfort to those who struggle with the holiday. Our Ashes to Go Lenten offering serves those who are unable to attend a traditional Ash Wednesday service. In this drive-through ministry we dispense ashes and pray with passersby on their way to their destinations. We also commemorate Rogation Sunday, when we process around the church and bless it; Pentecost, when we all wear red and pose for a group portrait; and the Feast of St. Francis of Assisi, when we host a pet blessing for all area residents. Tradition with a twist 5
Education The Benedictine tradition of building faith through Christian education is strong at St. Benedict: Holy Moly: Children 4-8 respond in their own way to God s Word. Through Bible stories and films, as well as hands-on crafts, our youngest Benedictines are introduced to God s love for them. Connect: Children 9-12 explore their Christian identity through films, games, projects, and thoughtful discussions. Sunday Seminars: Teens and adults meet weekly after worship to learn about and discuss wide ranging topics relating to our faith and our world. Wednesday Night Bible Study: Adults and the rector meet year-round to explore the Bible and deepen their understanding of God's Word. Christian education fosters a deeper relationshi p with God 6
Fellowship At St. Benedict, we are blessed with the intimacy that comes with a smaller congregation; we host many events throughout the year. Grace and Race Events: This ministry provides a safe place to discuss vital issues of race through informal gatherings and outings. Seasonal Events: At our Mardi Gras pancake breakfast, our interfaith dinner with congregation Beth Shalom, our summer picnic, and our popular harvest barbecue, we enjoy many wonderful meals with our good friends. Easter Sunday: On Easter Sunday, we gather together for a potluck brunch while our children joyfully hunt for eggs. Annual Auction: The congregation works together to offer up items of value, from a basket of baked goods to a weekend away at a luxury hotel. The entire church and guests enjoy a gala evening of fun, food, and fellowship. Book Club: St. Benedict also hosts a monthly book club which meets every two months to discuss books, both spiritual and secular. This book club, like most of our events, is open to the community. 7
Outreach Seeking Christ, within our walls and beyond We place a high priority on outreach into our community. We have an active partnership with MorningStar Mission in Joliet, which offers support, both material and spiritual, for those experiencing the hardship of homelessness and those in crisis. Our parishioners aid MorningStar in their mission by serving meals, and donating school supplies, toiletries, and clothing throughout the year. Each summer we participate in the mission s annual 5k run/walk to help raise funds for their programming. Our other outreach work includes: Offering a home to six 12 step programs. Donating to the DuPage Township Food Pantry. Praying with patients at the Bolingbrook Christian Health Center (Healing Prayer Team). Sending scores of Valentines to disabled veterans at the VA Hospital. Holding a fundraiser for the BraveHearts equine-assisted therapy program for disabled veterans. Providing a brighter Christmas for our neighbors in need through our annual Giving Tree. Hosting the New Covenant Pentecostal Church each week for their Sunday worship services. 8
Leadership Bishop Vestry Rector Deacon Finance Committee Secretary Music Director Nursery Caregiver We are blessed with a strong sense of shared leadership Although we have a traditional organizational chart, a foundational cornerstone of our culture is shared leadership. We value a collaborative relationship between the rector and lay leaders in the church. We enjoy a strong and active vestry that partners with the Rector in the management of St. Benedict. Our Vestry currently consists of five members plus two wardens with complementary skill sets. Our deacon supports us and our rector in both worship and crisis intervention; she also provides support to the larger community, serving as chaplain to the Plainfield Police Department. Our music director incorporates organ, piano, and bell choir into our worship, and also directs our adult choir. In addition to our regular staff and a part-time secretary, we employ two part-time nursery caregivers during our services and many of our fellowship activities. Members share in the routine maintenance of our church. 9
Opportunities and Challenges Community involvement, meaningful growth, and service to our diverse community are uppermost in our hearts. We look to the future while honoring what makes us unique Community Involvement While we are involved in community initiatives, we understand we will need to try different approaches and breathe new life into our efforts. Being small means we have limited resources, but we know the resources we do have are a mighty force. We are blessed with parishioners as generous with their skills as they are with their time and enthusiasm. Our challenge is to find approaches that we can support, in spite of our limited budget. Meaningful Growth One of the many reasons we love our church is the feeling we get by knowing each other on a deeper level. We do not just pass each other on the way to and from communion; we participate in each other s lives. We want to grow while maintaining the connection we feel with each other, and the support we provide to each other. Service to Our Diverse Community We are mindful that Bolingbrook and the surrounding communities are multicultural; we reflect that at St. Benedict. Although we have embraced this with our Grace and Race ministry, we fully understand that we are capable of doing more. We look forward to having a leader that will support us on that journey. 10
Our Next Rector We respond to thoughtful sermons that connect Christ s teachings to our everyday lives. We like to think, and we like to laugh. We appreciate a worship style that accounts for our varied backgrounds, sexual orientations, race, age, and spiritual level and practices. We are hoping to find a rector with an energetic and engaging style, both in worship and in fellowship. We know we must keep our younger parishioners excited and involved, and we want to attract more young families. We are not afraid to shake things up in worship and try new things, but we also respect and cherish our Episcopal traditions. Energetic Engaged We love to feel connected to each other and to our rector and we would like the rector to feel the same way. Our church community values the importance we have placed on a shared leadership style; our congregation is ready and willing to step in and lead new programs and initiatives. We have enjoyed the support of a strong rector that appreciates a partnership. We would like a rector who is one of us -- not immune to the challenges and questions that we might struggle with ourselves. We want a leader who offers a genuine warmth, compassion, and understanding as (s)he guides us on a Christian path. Additionally, we firmly believe that to support us, our rector needs to ensure (s)he has supportive spiritual practices in place. We work hard to stay connected to the diverse community around us. We need our rector to seek opportunities to maintain those connections we have, while helping us identify new opportunities. We would like St. Benedict to shine as a community partner, and we would love some help getting there. We look forward to a longterm relationship with a rector committed to being a part of our community. Committed 11
History of the Congregation St. Benedict was "planted" as a mission in 1972 in response to the building of the Stevenson Expressway (Interstate 55) and the resulting Bolingbrook housing boom. Membership peaked in 1989 with average Sunday attendance at 112; changes in leadership have resulted in membership fluctuation. In 2001, a mold problem in our leaking geodesic dome church building resulted in our having to move into a storefront while we constructed a new building at a cost of 1.5 million dollars. Changes in vicars and our temporary home kept the congregation small, in debt, and in mission status. In late 2015, by the grace of God and the help of The Bishop and Trustees, our mortgage was paid. We finally reached full parish status in November 2015. In return, we committed to pay $71,500 to The Bishop and Trustees over a ten-year period. Today, although we are nearly debt-free, we have little in reserves to address major repairs that will be needed in the future. However, when funds have become a serious issue in the past, the congregation has risen to the challenge. Some recent initiatives that have shaped who we are today include: Redefining and embracing a new mission statement: Jesus accepts all at his table; so do we. Renewing the worship space with a new altar, cross, paschal candle, paint, and lighting. Forming a friendship with the Muslim Association of Bolingbrook, to foster understanding and offer moral support. Developing a relationship with MorningStar Mission, a Joliet nonprofit, assisting them in their mission to feed, house, and guide those in need. Our congregation has endless enthusiasm for ideas that spread love, welcome, and comfort to others and provide opportunities to live out our baptismal covenant. 12
Finances Summary of 2016 actuals and 2017 budget: Income Income Type 2016 Actual 2017 Budget Pledge 131,371 150,611 Plate 13,144 7,600 Other Contributions 41,144 a 16,465 Total 185,659 174,676 a: includes $22,548 for renewal of worship space Expenses Expense Type 2016 Actual 2017 Budget Personnel 115,665 136,961 Facility 22,098 27,096 Office & Administration 7,760 9,008 Diocese Pledge / Programs / Outreach 8,322 9382 Total 153,845 182,447 End of Year Snapshot 2016 Operating Carryover 8,256 Designated Funds 17,403 b Total Funds 25,659 Average Sunday Attendance 63 Pledging Units 2016 55 Pledging Units 2017 52 b: includes $9,000 toward $71,500 owed to Bishop and Trustees 13
Bolingbrook & Surrounding Areas Although the Church of St. Benedict is in Bolingbrook, almost half of parishioners call our neighboring communities home. The communities include Naperville, Woodridge, Downers Grove, Romeoville, and Plainfield. This area has been one of the fastest growing in the state over the past twenty-five years. All of these communities are renowned for their schools (including several colleges), libraries, and park districts. In addition, they have many activities and attractions for all of the residents. These include the Naperville River Walk, The Rialto Theater, and Pelican Harbor Aquatic Complex. All of these attractions are a short drive (or even walk) from the church. Three goals: Grow the Church. Form the faithful. Change the world. Our Diocese The Episcopal Diocese of Chicago is led by Bishop Jeffrey Lee and has 123 member congregations, spreading from Lake Michigan on the east, to the Wisconsin border on the north and the Iowa border on the west. The Diocese is known for its leadership initiatives designed to support congregational vitality. To this end, the Diocese focuses its energies on four key programs: The College for Congregational Development, Fierce Conversations, Project Resource, and Living Compass. The Nicholas Center, located on the fifth floor of the Diocesan office building in downtown Chicago, provides classroom space and accommodations for these programs as well as other leadership events. 14