The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation

r The Episcopal Church of the Annunciation 4408 Gulf Drive Holmes Beach, FL 34217 Parish Profile 2015

Table of Contents Mission and Introduction... 3 Our Ministries... 4 Stewardship... 4 Worship... 5 Evangelism... 6 Education... 7 Pastoral Care... 8 Service... 9 The Community... 10 Parish History... 11 Our Facilities... 13 Staff... 15 Finances... 16 Vestry... 18 Search Committee...18 Our Strengths..19 Our Challenges 19 What We Seek in Our New Priest.20 2

Mission and Introduction Mission Statement: The Church of the Annunciation is a joyful, welcoming community, worshipping God, nurturing one another, and reaching out to all with love. Our parish register shows 154 members (some seasonal), with our average weekly attendance at 133, including approximately an additional 100 who are here for one to four or even six months each winter. Many have been fully absorbed into the parish and participate in all facets of our life together. They lay-read, usher, cook, attend adult classes, Lenten programs and many other various contributions. Almighty God, giver of every gift, we ask that You look graciously on our church as we begin our search for a new rector. Be ever present in our midst and guide us in every step. Help our community and the candidates to discern the future that You desire for us. Grant us the strength and courage to accept Your guidance. We ask Your love to lead us, Your counsel to guide us, and Your presence to cheer us. Through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. AMEN Of the full-time residents 75% live in Bradenton, Palmetto, or Parrish, 22% live on the island, and the remaining 3% live in other surrounding towns, with some traveling as much as 35 miles to attend Annunciation. Almost no one walks to church; everyone arrives by car. The pattern here is for people to retire to this area relatively young. They are active and involved for as much as 20-25 years. We have many active parishioners in their 80 s or older. 3

Our Ministries Annunciation serves our parish and our community through managing the SWEEPS commissions. Members of the vestry serve as liaisons to the parish for each commission. The commissions are: Stewardship Worship Evangelism Education Pastoral Care Service Every other year a Ministry Fair is held in March to encourage parishioners to become involved with one of the many ministries we have. We pray that each member of our parish will find the ministry to which they are being called. We encourage all parishioners to participate in one of these commissions as a way to share the talents God has granted to them. Stewardship The Stewardship commission includes the Stewardship Campaign held every year from October through December; the Ministry Fair; Office Volunteers, the Annunciation Botanical Society, the Memorial Garden, and the Parish Registrar. Stewardship Campaign Our 2015 stewardship campaign was conducted by two vestry members. We had a Stewardship dinner in November at the local country club for more than 80 members. The dinner was paid for by a small group of generous donors. Our speaker was a clergy friend of the parish who did an outstanding job. We wrote letters to each parishioner, provided a series of bulletin inserts, and had several speakers at Sunday Services telling of their experiences at Annunciation. The result was 105 pledges for a total of $262,922. 45 parishioners increased their pledges, 40 stayed the same, and nine decreased from last year. Plus, we had 11 brand new pledgers. Last year s pledge total was $227,000, so this was a substantial increase. Annunciation Botanical Society This august-sounding group is a group of volunteers who help with the gardening, and especially the Memorial Garden. They gather at 7 AM on the first Tuesday of each month to do whatever is needed in the garden. Their numbers vary, depending upon the season. This group has slacked off a bit (surely age is a factor) and could use some additional members. 4

Worship The Worship commission includes the Worship Committee, Worship Assistants, Acolytes, Altar Guild, Flower Guild, Eucharistic Ministers, Eucharistic Visitors, and Music. Worship Committee This group is chaired by the Rector and includes the organist and choir director. They make decisions about the liturgy and music for each service and establish the service schedule. Worship Assistants We have about 20 lay readers who take turns reading lessons and saying the intercessory prayers on Sunday mornings. There is no formal training program for readers. They are scheduled a month at a time, and readers find their own substitute when they cannot attend. Ushers take turns in groups of two to pass out the Sunday Order of Worship, seat people, and count those in attendance at each service. They find their own substitute when they are unable to attend. Acolytes We have a group of youth acolytes who serve on the altar on a rotating basis. The acolytes last fall attended the first Diocesan Acolyte Festival in St Petersburg. They made trips to attend the National Acolyte Festival in Washington DC in 2012 and 2014. We also have a group of adult acolytes who serve one Sunday a month. Altar Guild The Altar Guild is made up of about 15 women who prepare our altar for services. More help is recruited for decorating for major holidays. The women work in teams and each is responsible for one week a month. The members are getting older and an infusion of new members is always much appreciated. Flower Guild This is a new ministry where donors in the parish sign up for particular Sundays to provide altar arrangements. They provide the flowers, making sure they are appropriate for the season and the colors, and arrange them. If they wish, they can be reimbursed for the cost of the arrangements. Because most people don t get reimbursed, the flower money builds up, providing needed money for flowers at Easter and Christmas. Our parishioners 5

have turned out to be amazing flower arrangers and we have been pleased with the job they are doing. Any parishioner can memorialize their loved ones and make a donation of $50. Lay Eucharistic Ministers We have about 10-12 lay Eucharistic ministers who assist with the services on Sunday. They are trained by the Rector on an individual basis. Lay Eucharistic Visitors We have six to eight trained Lay Eucharistic Visitors who visit and take Communion to the sick or homebound. Music We have an excellent organist who has been with us many years. He plays on Sundays for the 10:30 service only. In summer he plays for the single 9 AM service. On his own time, he accompanies the Rector to a retirement community, where a number of our residents live, on the first Wednesday of the month to provide music for the Communion service there. We have a part time Choir Director who is a professional musician and does an outstanding job. She organizes an annual concert to raise money to pay guest soloists throughout the year (i.e. trumpets for Easter, instruments for Christmas, vocal and instrumental soloists throughout the year). The choir consists of 8 16 dedicated members. Evangelism The Evangelism commission includes Communications, Evangelism Committee, Fellowship and Special Events, Card Ministry, and Cursillo. Communications Our main means of communication is our monthly newsletter, the Annunciator. It is 12 pages long and mailed to 200 households. A volunteer does all the preparation and editing, folding and labeling and taking it to the post office. It also gets posted on our website. In addition, the Church sends out an e-mail message, the A-Blast, every Thursday evening, listing upcoming events, servers for the coming Sunday, and any other parish news. Our website is managed and kept current by one of our parishioners. The Sunday Order of Worship leaflets are prepared by the administrative assistant, with help from volunteers. Evangelism Committee A volunteer parishioner prepares Welcome Bags that get distributed to first time visitors during the announcement period. The Welcome Bags contain our new Annunciation coffee mug, literature on the Episcopal Church, an Annunciation welcome card, a map of the island with 6

coupons, a copy of our newsletter, a copy of the island newspaper, and a pen. This committee also plans a newcomer s get together in the fall to give the newcomers a chance to meet the rector and the vestry members. Fellowship and Special Events From September through May we host at least one special event a month. We have had movie nights, Oktoberfest party, auction for the Children s Coalition, wine tasting, Mardi Gras party, Shrove Tuesday pancake supper, Northern Lights farewell luncheon, and special birthday celebrations. We are discussing ways to include children from the Island and Bradenton area. We will host our first annual Blessing of the Animals Event this fall. Card Ministry We send birthday and anniversary cards to all our members on their special days. We also send get well cards and other appropriate greetings throughout the year. Cursillo is a weekend at the Day Spring Episcopal Conference Center, where parishioners deepen their faith in God, and learn to share His love and grace with others. We currently have about 23 parishioners who have attended, and several who have worked on the Team for Christ at a weekend. We also have two parishioners who serve on the Cursillo Secretariat for the Diocese. We hold Ultreyas (gatherings of those who have been to a Cursillo weekend and guests) and our parish has been the host for two of the 4 th Day Gatherings (a reunion for those who attended a Cursillo weekend). Education The Education commission includes Youth Sunday School, Adult Studies, Lenten Studies, and the Women s Spirituality Book Study. Youth Sunday School is held at 10:30, during the second service. Because of the age of most of our parishioners, we don t have many young children in the parish. We do, however, have a number of grandchildren of parishioners who make up most of our Sunday School. Our curriculum is based on Godly Play. Adult Studies are conducted at 9:15, between services, led by the Rector or one of the Deacons. The curriculum varies. 7

Lenten Studies are held on Wednesday evenings during Lent. They begin with the Stations of the Cross in the Sanctuary, followed by a soup supper and a study program. Pastoral Care The Pastoral Care commission includes the Daughters of the King, Men s Breakfast Group, Tidewell Hospice, Meal Ministry, Calling Partners, and Transportation. Daughters of the King Annunciation has a small chapter of the Daughters of the King, a service order of Episcopal women. There are about six members who meet monthly, usually on the second Thursday morning following Eucharist. They conduct a prayer chain for the parish. Men s Breakfast Group A group of men meet on Wednesday mornings at 8 a.m. for breakfast, prayers, and fellowship. This group started small and continues to grow. The men s group has been very generous, providing funding for things such as Sunday school equipment/supplies and other church projects. Tidewell Hospice Parishioners volunteer their time at the local Hospice House or residences in Bradenton. They visit with patients, give respite time to care takers, and work in the office. The volunteer can help anyone with questions about Tidewell Hospice. Meal Ministry A committee of parishioners provide meals for a few days to those just home from the hospital or recovering from a serious illness. Transportation Committee Each Sunday volunteer parishioners provide transportation for other parishioners to attend church and other church events. 8

Service The Service commission includes the ECW, AID, Coalition for the Homeless, Our Daily Bread, the Military Ministry, and the Outreach Advisory Committee. ECW Annunciation has an active Episcopal Church Women s (ECW) organization. They meet on the first Thursday of the month from October through May, following the Thursday morning Eucharist, usually attracting 20-35 women. They have a short business meeting and a speaker or program, and lunch. This organization is the primary fund raising group of the church. They have two or three big events each year, (Christmas Market, White Elephant, High Tea, etc.) usually earning $4,000-$5,000 each. Everyone (men included) pitches in to help with the sales. Just about all the money that they raise goes to the church or to outreach. They host our Christmas Angel program to provide gifts to needy children. They also host any funeral receptions. AID We fully participate in All Island Denominations (AID), an organization of all (6) the churches on the island. They work together to address community problems. They run a food bank and operate an emergency phone line for those in need. They have money to provide food or gas vouchers to needy people. AID has two ecumenical church services a year on Thanksgiving Eve and in January with shared choirs, preacher, and readers from all the churches. One Stop Center In Bradenton there is a one-stop facility for those in need. All the services they need are located in one building, provided by a number of different agencies. We have parishioners who serve meals at Our Daily Bread, the local soup kitchen for the needy. Our parishioners have chosen this Bradenton facility to support homeless and people in need. We also work closely with the Coalition for the Homeless, providing warm clothing, knitted hats, bicycles, and financial support. Military Ministry We host a group of about 30 women, both church members and others in the community, called the Rectanglers, who knit or crochet 6 x 9 rectangles. When we have about 1,000 rectangles, we have a Design Day when we gather to design colorful rectangles into afghans for service men. These get assembled and washed, then blessed on the altar, and delivered to the VA 9

Hospital in Tampa. We have sent about 75 afghans so far and will have another 15-20 ready to go this spring. In addition we collect items needed for the Manatee Operation Troup Support (MOTS) care packages that get sent to the troops overseas. Community Outreach Three different AA groups use our building for meetings year round. A duplicate bridge group meets in Lowe Hall. In high season, this involves about 75-80 people. An Artist s Guild also meets monthly at the church. The Community The Church of the Annunciation is located on Anna Maria Island, a barrier island just off the city of Bradenton, in Manatee County, and reached by two major bridges. It is largely a tourist and retirement area, with most businesses catering to these populations. The area had grown steadily in population. Anna Maria Island is 7.5 miles long, and less than a mile wide in most places. On it are three communities: City of Anna Maria, Holmes Beach, and Bradenton Beach. The church is located in Holmes Beach, just about at mid-point of the island, and near the two major shopping areas. There is an elementary school on the island; middle and high school students are transported by bus to schools in Bradenton. Anna Maria Island is largely residential, with single family homes, and an increasing number of condo units. There are two shopping areas with a grocery, hardware, chain drugstores, and a variety of tourist-oriented businesses. There is an excellent County library on the island. Other 10

churches on the Island include: Roser Community Church, Gloria Dei Lutheran Church, St Bernard s Roman Catholic Church, Crosspoint Fellowship (Baptist), and Harvey Memorial Chapel. One unique thing about this island is only one condo has more than three stories! Recently, many single family homes and duplexes have been renovated and turned into investment properties, rented out in the season (winter months). Real estate is generally more expensive than in Bradenton, so that with the added costs of insurance and taxes, many families choose to not live on the island anymore. A free public trolley runs from one end of the island to the other, providing free transportation back and forth. It runs right in front of the church about every 20 minutes. Bradenton shares a major airport with Sarasota, and a wider variety of national and international flights are available from the Tampa airport, about an hour away. In addition, the St Petersburg airport has an increasing number of commercial flights. Bradenton and Sarasota provide a huge number of shopping malls and other shopping opportunities, along with many really good restaurants. Both Bradenton and Sarasota also offer a wide variety of cultural opportunities, with theaters, opera, ballet, spring training for major league baseball, and a symphony orchestra. Parish History The first service held on Anna Maria Island - Evening Prayer - took place May 4, 1952, in a private home. Twelve people attended. The Rt. Rev. Henry Loutitt, Bishop of the then Diocese of South Florida, soon after assigned the Rev. Burkett J. Kniveton as Vicar of the new congregation. Initially, services were held in the original Island schoolhouse and community center, and the Vicar divided his 11

time between Annunciation and another new congregation, St. Mark s in Venice, some 30 miles to the south. When Fr. Kniveton was assigned to the Anna Maria mission full-time, the parishioners converted a garage beneath an apartment belonging to one of them and named it St. Michael s Oratory. It seated 60 people and services were held there from October 1952 until the next year when land was acquired and ground broken for the present church building and rectory. The Church of the Annunciation was dedicated by Suffragan Bishop Martin J. Bramm September 14, 1953. In later years, Lowe Hall was built, and the parking area at the rear was added. Remodeling in the early 1990 s created additional office space and a further extension of the parking lot. The Memorial Garden (where parishioners may have their ashes buried) was created in the early 1980 s and greatly improved around 2000. Our parish is known as a warm, friendly congregation. Being a resort community, we have many visitors at every service. We try to connect them with someone in the congregation from their home area, and urge them to come to coffee hour. When visitors come for a lengthy stay, we work hard to get them connected into parish activities and events. 12

Our Facilities Our church is located at 4408 Gulf Drive, less than a block from the beautiful waters of the Gulf of Mexico. There is easy beach access very close to the church. The church owns a total of seven contiguous lots. Four are used for parking, and the remainder for the church facilities. The church complex consists of a long, narrow sanctuary (just eight seats across) that seats 140, including the choir. The altar is free-standing, and the church has many lovely stained glass windows. The baptismal font is a giant clam shell. The Memorial Garden is a courtyard surrounded by church buildings. It has lovely plantings, granite benches, and an outdoor altar. Members may choose to have their ashes buried in the garden at the time of their death. It is a lovely, quiet, and peaceful place, very special to our parishioners. The Garden is also a lovely site for a wedding. 13

The Rectory is attached to the north end of the church. Downstairs has a kitchen, living room, dining room, and bathroom; upstairs has 3 bedrooms, an office or family room area, and two bathrooms. It has a small fenced in yard, and an attached single carport where the washer and dryer are located. Lowe Hall is a large open hall of approximately 4,200 square feet. One end can be used as a small chapel area with portable altar. There is an enclosed office currently shared by the treasurer and rector, and at the other end of Lowe Hall are two parish offices, one for the secretary and one used by office volunteers. There is a large well-equipped kitchen with dishwasher, commercial sized ovens, refrigerator and freezer. A capital fund drive allowed us to do about $60,000 in needed repairs and renovations. During the winter of 2014-15, the roof was replaced. In the spring of 2015, we are planning a repair and renovation of the Memorial Garden area. The arbor was built before we had pressure-treated wood, and the major support pillars are rotting. We hope to be able to do this work without losing the beautiful jasmine vine that covers the wood work. In April, the whole area is filled with the lovely scent of jasmine from the now 30+ year old vine. With the ashes of so many of our loved ones in the Memorial Garden, it is a very special place to our congregation. For most of our needs, the buildings serve us well. In high season (February through Easter) the church is very full at the 10:30 service, but we manage. Occasionally we have to set up chairs on the long corridor to Lowe Hall and open the doors to the church thus allowing an overflow crowd visibility to the altar. This usually only happens three or four times a year. Lowe Hall is used for adult and youth Sunday School. Our large parking area in the rear has been recently landscaped and is attractive and seems to fill our needs. There is also a smaller parking area at the front of the church. 14

Staff Rector Our Rector is a full time position. Administrative Assistant We have a paid, part time administrative assistant, who works Monday Friday for 20 hours a week. This person is assisted by office volunteers. Maintenance Contractors We use contracted labor for various services. We have a cleaning service that comes in once a week. We have a weekly lawn maintenance contractor. We call in repair contractors as needed for maintenance. Deacons We have three Deacons that have been supporting our Rector for over a decade. However, two are retiring from many of their responsibilities. The Rector also makes frequent home and hospital visits. We have a retired Deacon who assists at the altar once a month and contributes to adult education classes and community outreach. Volunteer Treasurer/Finance Committee The Finance Committee develops the annual budget. The Treasurer and part-time salaried bookkeeper prepare monthly reports for the vestry about the status of the budget. Counters Teams of two people count the collection each Sunday, working with a set of guidelines developed by the Finance Committee and our accountant (CPA). 15

Finances Financially Annunciation is in a good, strong position. The bottom line (Fund Principle) is $730,000 including ECW s Fund Principle of $8,000. The church has zero debt. The Assets include an $870,000 investment which is currently managed by Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) Wealth Management of St. Petersburg, FL. The investment gained over 14% last year. This fund is used to smooth out cash flow shortages and as a savings account to pay for the various church needs at the direction of the Vestry. For instance, we recently put a new roof on the church, parish hall and rectory, and we paid cash for the project. Operationally, we usually run a slight deficit, but it is normally made up by the earnings from the investment giving us a slight growth each year. In 2014, our pledges were $227,000 and we recorded a $37,000 operational loss, but the Fund Principle gained $35,000 for the year. In 2015, our pledges are about $263,000 (16% increase), and we have reduced our budget due to considerable operational changes, so we expect even better results. Revenue Pledges Plate Offerings Special Offerings ECW Income Other Income 16

Expenses SWEEPS Personnel Buildings and Grounds General and Admin 17

Vestry Regina Percy, Senior Warden Vivian Ragsdale, Junior Warden and Worship Liaison Carol Carter, Stewardship Liaison Terry Hussey, Stewardship Liaison Karen Jones, Evangelism Liaison Ann Lewis, Pastoral Care Liaison Ellen Messmer, Worship Liaison Ed Upshaw, Education Liaison Alex Richardson, Service Liaison Ginny Upshaw, Vestry Clerk Search Committee Regina Percy, Senior Warden Carol Carter, Vestry Alex Richardson, Vestry Luanne Collins Ann Fletcher Kelly Rubino Ginny Upshaw 18

OUR STRENGTHS 1. We have a strong spirit of giving. Members give generously of their time, talent, and resources to support the church, each other, community and the world. The by-products are: COTA is in a strong financial position with no debt and a sizable investment fund. Acts of love shown in our care of fellow members creates an atmosphere of caring that strengthens the church. Our outreach programs help us fulfill our mission of being the hands of God in the world. 2. Our parishioners are involved in a large number of ministries both within the church and in the community. 3. We welcome approximately 40 families that return each winter. They are fully involved in all phases of our parish life. They bring us new ideas, new energy, and additional manpower for church events. Because the same families return each year; they have become close friends and valued parishioners. OUR CHALLENGES 1. We are always seeking more and younger members, but this is challenging in a community that is decreasing in permanent residents and increasing in weekend or weekly rentals. There is little diversity in our congregation, but our demographics are representative of the community. 2. We have limited space in our beautiful but aging building. We are facing ongoing maintenance issues as the building ages. 3. We need more room for offices, for youth, for Sunday School, and for storage. 19

WHAT WE SEEK IN OUR NEW PRIEST We would like to see a priest who is deeply grounded in scripture, tradition and reason; and also in prayer and in the practice of Christian spiritual disciplines. We want someone who is capable of bringing God s message in thought-provoking sermons. We want a patient person who can lead and motivate, but who also values silence and reflection. A sense of humor always helps. We want someone interested in continuing the rich liturgical and musical traditions we have. We seek a priest who genuinely enjoys all people, both young and old. In particular, we want a priest who can establish a good rapport with our youth. We seek a priest with a gift for pastoral care and loving compassion for people in times of crisis. Above and beyond that, it would be appreciated to have a person who is organized, and enthusiastic about the church s activities. We would like to find an individual who can help us provide an environment of love, compassion and concern that is evident to parishioners, visitors and the community. 20