COMFORTABLE WORDS A Monthly Communication from Holy Comforter Church Serving the Episcopal Community of Angleton Since 1897 JANUARY 2013 www.holycomforterangleton.org Sunday Worship Schedule 8:30 AM Holy Eucharist 9:30 AM Christian Education 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist Children s Church Mission Statement All are welcome to grow with us through worship, prayer, fellowship, and service at Holy Comforter, a Christ-centered family Church. What s Inside Carol s Column Pg. 2 Parish Particulars Pg. 3-8 Sunday School Pg. 7 School Pg. 9 Calendar Pg 10 Vestry & Financials Pg 11 Happy New Year! Upcoming Events for 2013 Sunday, January 6: Epiphany Sunday! Saturday, January 19: Parish Workshop I: Core Values, 9-12 Sunday, January 20: Friends of HC Endowment Fund Grant presentations, 10:30 service Sunday, January 27: Annual Meeting, 9:30 a.m. Saturday, February 2: Parish Workshop II: Purpose Statement, 9-12 Sunday, February 3: Soup-er Bowl Sunday! 1
Mother Carol s Column January, 2013 Happy New Year! 2013 promises to be an exciting year for Holy Comforter Parish! We continue our discernment process, Listening to God s Voice, Responding to God s Call. Each week last fall, you received, via e-mail or postcard, a Question to Consider. I hope they provided hearty food for thought as you listened to God s voice! This year, we begin our response phase: It s time to respond to God s call! On two Saturdays in Epiphany January 19 and February 2 we will gather as a parish (led by diocesan facilitator, Donna Gerold) to process our thoughts and ideas and to begin to formulate a response. As you have listened to God s voice, what have you heard God saying to you about who we are as a parish? What have you heard God saying to you about our purpose as a community? What are we doing right and doing well? Where are the gaps? On Saturday, January 19, we will together determine our Core Values as a parish. Who are we and what is really important here? On Saturday, February 2 we will together determine our Purpose as a parish. Given our Core Values (as determined on January 19), why are we here, and what are we to be doing? The operative word in the above paragraph is together. God speaks to us in community. You are an important part of our community. Our parish workshops will set the ministry trajectory for the next few years at Holy Comforter, so please make sure your voice is heard! Mark your calendars, and make your plans to be here. Childcare will be provided by reservation. The times for both workshops are: Continental Breakfast at 8:30; Workshop begins at 9:00. We will finish by noon! I look forward to learning how God is speaking to us as a parish! Blessings, Carol 2
Parish Particulars Coffee Hosts for January 6 13 Carolyn Weatherly 20 27 Please contact Betty Mogford at 979-345-2968 if you would like to serve Save the Date! Annual Parish Meeting Sunday, January 27 9:30 a.m. (between services) A brief review of 2012...a look ahead at 2013! Stewardship Snippets Green Tip for November 9 Living Generously january 2 Kathryn Purdom Jamie Pruitt 11 Lou Hunter 14 James Northrup Mildred Hadley Christi Cole Fr. Preston Weatherly 15 Beth Hunter 17 Dylan Hanson 18 Julie Fleet 20 Sammy Green 21 Annabelle Powell 23 Kurt Ruthstrom 28 Faith Fileds Kelley Coats 29 Daryl Lewis Jeremy Pruitt Did you get a new gadget or three over the holidays? Make sure the old one will not go to a landfill to become the next generation's toxic waste problem. If we have never experienced what it is to give sacrificially, we may approach it like our first dive from the high diving board, a major moment at the time but really ordinary after that, a new and richer way to approach life. -Br. Eldridge Pendleton 22 Tom & Barbara Thomas January Anniversaries 3
Parish Particulars Coffeehouse Theology 9:30 AM Sundays in the Parish Hall Join us as we grow in faith together!! Reminder On the first Sunday of each month, all undesignated offerings are committed to the Rector's Discretionary Fund. Please give generously! Listening to God's Voice, Responding to God's Call Save the Dates! Parish Workshops Saturday, Jan 19 & Feb 2 Continental Breakfast @ 8:30 Workshop 9 ~ Noon Parish Workshops will be facilitated by Donna Gerold Seminary of the Southwest Congregational Facilitator Episcopal Diocese of Texas STEWARDSHIP AND HOSPITALITY We at Holy Comforter are very blessed to have a beautiful campus to use for fellowship and celebrations. We have a lot of people pass through our campus and we all should want our facilities to shine at all times for all who enter. With that being said, I would like to ask, remind and challenge everyone that when using our facilities or if you are in charge of events or Sunday Coffee Host that you leave it "cleaner than you found it" or as you would at home. Our facilities are also at times used by others outside the church and I think we all want them to know that we take pride in our campus by being good stewards. Blessings to all, Barbara Marin HCEC Hospitality Coordinator 4
Parish Particulars Find us on Facebook Newcomer Ministry GROWING IN OUR COMMITMENT 2013 GIVING BACK TO GOD WHAT COMES FROM GOD Thanks to all who have committed to growth in 2013! To date (December, 2012) commitments total $142,249.00, representing an increase of $42,509.00 over 2012 commitments. If you've not yet made your commitment, cards are available in the office or the narthex. Mary Parmer, who designed the Diocesan Newcomer Ministry program, tells how she came to the Episcopal Church. One day a friend called her and said, "Mary, I'd love for you to go to church with me." The friend didn't ask if she already had a church or if she was looking for a church. She just expressed a desire for Mary to attend with her one Sunday -- and Mary did. The thing is...mary didn't go back for over a year, and it ended up being a different Episcopal congregation that she joined. Just because we don't always get to see the fruits of our labors, we must not loose heart, but continue the call to plant seeds. The harvest is ripe, but the laborers are few. newcomer@holycomforterangleton.org 5
Parish Particulars 2013 LENTEN FISH FRY FRIDAYS DOK Christmas Gathering December 15, 2012 Bluegrass & BBQ Update Bluegrass & BBQ was very successful! The net proceeds were $4,000.00 From this amount, $420.00 was contributed to the Saint Thomas Center You are not going to believe it but it is time again to start planning and getting ready for our 2013 LENTEN FISH FRY FRIDAYS. I just want to get the dates to you so that you can mark your calendars and make plans to participate by helping or attending the best fish frys in our neck of the woods. HERE ARE THE DATES: Feb. 15 & 22nd March 1, 8, 15, 22 Thanks to many of you our Lenten Fish Fry Fridays last year were a huge success. They brought in a lot of new faces and over $5,000.00 in money to support Holy Comforter s ministries. We are hoping that this year we will be blessed again by your support and the support of the community. If each family commits to help with just one Friday we should be in good shape. Of course, you are always welcome to help with more than one or all. Faithfully, Barbara Marin Lenten Fish Fry Friday Coordinator 6
Parish Particulars On Sunday, January 6 th, we will have special visitors for Epiphany! Explore Jesus Baptism on January 13 th! Examine the phenomena of Jesus miracles on January 20 th & 27 th Come and experience the excitement! Everybody wins on Souper Bowl Sunday, February 3! Bring your favorite soup, bread, or dessert for Holy Comforter's Annual Souper Bowl Lunch, along with canned soup for the food pantry, and a cash donation for the Rector's Discretionary Fund. The needy of our community will be the winners...and so will we! Sign up on the sheet in the Parish Hall to let everyone know what your are bringing! 7
Parish Particulars Music Notes Happy new year from the music ministry! The choir has new anthem books in hand thanks to your generous support. We look forward to sharing the new music with the coming of a new year. And, as always, we welcome new singers anytime. God bless, Yuri Sunday, January 20 @ 10:30 The Friends of Holy Comforter Endowment Board will present grants to: Brazoria County Military Moms/Wives Relay for Life St. Thomas Resource Center Seminary of the Southwest Thanks to all who made HC s Christmas worship so special! Welcome New Leadership for 2013! Vestry: Tom Long Kandy Taylor-Hille Ronnie Johnson Diocesan Council: George Zwicker Friends of Holy Comforter Endowment Fund Board: James Northrup SuZan Carpenter Senior Warden: Ellen Eby Junior Warden: Mike Hattaway Holy Comforter s Altar Guild, led by Sciobhan Short Yuri McCoy, HC s gifted music director Children & parents of the Christmas Pageant, especially directors Tom & Jodi Long HC s faithful Acolytes, Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Lectors We are grateful for their ministry and service! 8
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Formation The regularly scheduled meeting of the Holy Comforter Episcopal Parish Vestry was held on November 13, 2012, with Mother Carol presiding. The meeting was opened at 7pm with prayer, the welcoming of newly elected vestry members, and continued study of the Baptismal Covenant. Members present were SuZan Carpenter, Pam Baron, Allan Dinsmore, Kerry Payne, Ed White, Barbara Thomas, Ellen Eby, Mike Hattaway and Trey Picard. New members present were Tom Long and Ronnie Johnson. Others present were Jack Fleet and Pam Massingill, clerk. Information Approval of Minutes- Motion was made by Trey and seconded by Allan to accept minutes. HCES Report All going well, waiting list for new students, thanks to church for support of the school. Mother Carol encouraged vestry members to visit. Sr. Warden s Report- Blue Grass Festival was a wonderful success. Many people have mentioned to Barbara that they enjoyed it. Clergy annual performance review is coming up. Mike Hattaway, Jack Fleet, and Linda Peck plan to help Barbara with this. Jr. Warden s Report- All is going well and very few issues. The temperature needs to be set at a certain number in the church for the piano to be tuned. Rector s Report- M. Carol- Commitment Drive for 2013 is being chaired by the Northrups. Ingathering will be Advent I, December 2. In addition to the 2% challenge the vestry approved last month, John and Jane Parishioner have indicated a desire to renew their challenge again this year: dollar for dollar, each new commitment and each additional increased commitment. Ellen Eby has agreed to serve as senior warden for 2013; Mike Hattaway has renewed as Jr. Warden for 2013. Proposed SuZan Carpenter as vestry appointee to Endowment Board- Barbara made a motion to accept SuZan for Endowment Board and Mike seconded. Motion passed. Discussion Bluegrass festival was a success again. More in attendance. Some costs up such as bbq. Tee shirt sales up. Wrap up meeting next Thursday. Barbara Thomas suggested that we work toward using Bluegrass as a community outreach. Make donation to St Thomas. Perhaps increase amount given in future years. Decision Motion was made by Ellen and seconded by Trey to donate 10% of the proceeds from Bluegrass to St Thomas Center. Financial Report- Jack Fleet, Treasurer Jack briefly explained the financial report. Motion was made by Allan to accept the financial report and seconded by SuZan. After the financial report, Jack reviewed proposed draft budget for 2013. He explained increases to be made and felt the draft was a strong one. Mother Carol then explained to the new vestry members who the Financial Committee members were. Ellen thanked Jack for his hard work and a great job. Compline With no further business, the meeting was closed at 8:35pm with compline. Respectfully submitted, Pam Massingill Clerk of the Vestry Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Vestry Synopsis November 13, 2012 Financial Report General Fund October YTD Operating Income 28,734.95 177,550.15 Operating Expense 26,689.55 187,682.17 Designated Gifts (Memorial, Discretionary Fund, etc.) Income 1,021.30 9,723.35 Expenditures 781.30 8,535.30 Friends of Holy Comforter Endowment Fund: Balance as of 11/30/2012 - $510,079.37 Value of mineral properties and other assets is in addition to this amount. 11
Holy Comforter Episcopal Church 227 S. Chenango P.O. Box 786 Angleton, TX 77516 Return Service Requested Holy Comforter Episcopal Church Sunday Schedule 8:30 AM Holy Eucharist 9:30 AM Adult/Youth Christian Education 10:30 AM Holy Eucharist Children s Church Infant and Toddler care is provided from 8:15 AM until Noon Contact Information Parish Office: 979-849-1269 Parish Fax: 979-849-4361 Email: info@holycomforterangleton.org Web Address www.holycomforterangleton.org Parish Day School 979-849-4602 Extended Day School 979-849-1672 Diocesan Center 1-800-318-4452 or www.epicenter.org Bishop Episcopal Diocese of TX Rector Head of School Office Administrator / Theologian Music Director Children s Ministry Director Newcomer Ministry Coordinator Vestry 2012 The Rt. Rev. C. Andrew Doyle The Rev. Dr. Carol Petty Nancy Standlee Fr. Preston Weatherly Yuri McCoy Linda Peck Paula Haenchen Kerry Payne Ellen Eby Ed White Allan Dinsmore Pam Baron Barbara Thomas Mike Hattaway Trey Picard SuZan Carpenter Barbara Thomas, Sr. Warden Mike Hattaway, Jr. Warden Pam Massingill, Clerk Jack Fleet, Treasurer