NEWS TO SHARE Fall 2018 Your guide to getting involved at Holy Communion this Fall
A WORD FROM THE RECTOR Fall always feels like a fresh start. Many churches consider the first Sunday after Labor day "Homecoming Sunday" or "Kickoff Sunday." There is a sense, after a summer season of travel, vacations, and wandering, that we have a new start. On September 9, we kicked off a new program year at Holy Communion, and there is good news all around in this parish. The Vestry shared our new one year and five year goals at the Adult Forum. We are looking to a future of continued growth, not only in attendance, but in the depth of programs, in the impact of our outreach into the wider community, and in the diverse offerings of the congregation. We continue to live into our mission statement: THE EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY COMMUNION IS A WELCOMING AND DIVERSE COMMUNITY SEEKING TO WALK IN THE WAY OF JESUS AND TO REVEAL CHRIST S RECONCILING LOVE IN OUR CITY, NATION, AND WORLD. If you took some time away this summer, you might have been surprised coming back. Our beautifully restored hardwood floors in Mitchell Parish Hall have made the room brighter and easier to maintain. We built a new room upstairs, taking underutilized space out of the lounge. This allowed us to re-open our nursery program, and to locate space for our youngest members close to where their parents are worshipping. Godly Play kicked off, and the growth in our "Sunday School" program continues to surprise me, the other staff, and the vestry. The model of telling holy stories, wondering together, and playing seems to resonate. I often hear little kids telling their parents, "I can't wait for next week." This January we will mark the congregation's 150th anniversary. As we look toward the next 150 years, the future appears bright. More and more people have found this welcoming and diverse community. More and more people have come to walk with us as we seek to follow Jesus. In the coming weeks and months we will have the opportunity to talk about, and pray about, how God might be inviting us to invest in our corner of University City. How might we renovate some of our spaces, including the church itself, to live more fully into our calling. You will hear from our capital campaign group, asking what your priorities are as we continue in a "feasability study," about a potential renovation Holy Communion stands in witness to God's good news, that at God's table there are no outsiders. All are welcome. In the Fall season especially, I hope you feel that invitation for a fresh start, and I hope you hear that message of welcome, core to the identity of the congregation. Welcome home! In Faith, The Rev. Mike Angell Rector 2
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN AND ANNUAL CAMPAIGN: TWO RELATED KINDS OF GIVING Holy Communion is continuing discernment about a capital campaign and renovation. Over the course of the Spring we held a series of discernment meetings, and gathered information about the state of our programs and facilities from the perspectives of many of our ministry leaders, parishioners, and outside groups. The vestry has hired Erin Weber-Johnson, a consultant from Vandersall Collective, to plan a capital campaign. We have also hired Stauder Architects to help us think through the process and projected costs for upgrades to our facilities. In the coming weeks, you will see potential designs, and you will receive a survey about your potential participation in the campain. This fall, we will also be conducting our usual annual campaign for funding. When a capital campaign is in the works, it is important to remember that capital gifts are different from annual gifts: ANNUAL GIVING: YOUR PLEDGE The church relies on annual giving, particularly in the form of pledges, for our day to day operations, to keep the lights on, pay staff, and to support our ministry. Pledging is a decision to commit to a goal of giving a portion of our resources and sticking to it. A pledge is disciplined giving, a commitment with a purpose. It can be made by letter or email at any time, and of course through the annual pledge card. Every year one of our goals is 100% participation in the pledge campaign. We hope your annual pledge is your first giving priority at the church. CAPITAL GIVING: INVESTING IN THE FUTURE Capital giving is giving that goes to meet large expenditures that cannot be met through the normal annual parish budget. Capital giving allows us to make long-term investments in our buildings, in endowments, and in equipment and furnishings that will serve the church for generations to come. We hope that your first priority will be maintaining, or even increasing, your annual pledge. We also hope that every member will consider making a gift to the capital campaign, to invest in the future of our congregation. 3
CHURCH COMMUNITY THEOLOGY ON TAP Theology on Tap gathers each month for good food and good conversation. Some of us are members of local Episcopal churches, but not all of us. We seek to create a low pressure environment to invite your non-churchy friends for conversations about faith, ethics, politics, and life today. Our rector is the lead organizer of Theology on Tap. You can read more about Theology on Tap on the Theology on Tap page: www.pubtheologystl.org TEENS Teens are not just the future of our church at Holy Communion. Teens are leaders in our church today. You can find our teens helping younger children on Sunday morning, serving as acolytes, or joining in the adult forum. Our teens also gather twice monthly, once for game night and once for for Faithquest. Contact our Youth Coordinator: Markie Jo Crismon youth@holycommunion.net 20S AND 30S The 20s and 30s group at Holy Communion usually gathers on the Second Sunday of the month after church. We also get together for hikes, trips to the Botanic Garden, and other adventures. We alsoe sponsor the monthly Theology on Tap (see above). If you re interested in getting on our email list and hearing more about the 20s and 30s ministry, email the coordinators: Contact the coordinators: YA@holycommunion.net THE GUILD The Parish Guild is the longest standing social and spiritual organization at Holy Communion. Originally the Ladies guild, in recent years the name changed to welcome all people to join in the fun. The Guild Gathers for biweekly book or Bible Study on Wednesday mornings at 11am All are welcome! Contact Guild President: Marlene O'Brien marl0302@sbcglobal.net 314-968-2278
COMMUNITY BEYOND OUR WALLS REACHING OUT LOCALLY FAITHFUL ACTION is our group of folks who join in local action for justice. An email and text alert group lets you know ways the church is organizing. Join the list so you are kept up to date about the latest ways to act. Sign up on our website holycommunion.net/action TRINITY MEAL: The third Sunday of most months, Holy Communion serves a hot lunch at Trinity Episcopal Church. We are always looking for help preparing, serving, and cleaning up. Contact Scott Ferguson to sign up: scott@scottfergusonphoto.com EL SALVADOR: CRISTOSAL In 2017 Holy Communion committed to partnership with the Anglican-founded nongovernmental organization Cristosal, based in El Salvador. This Fall, we are partnering with the Danforth Center for Religion and Politics at Washington University. Join us for a conversation with Executive Director Noah Bullock about immigration, human rights, and the politics of our Southern border. You can also sign up to come on our next pilgrimage to El Salvador: LAUNDRY LOVE Every third Tuesday of the month at 6pm, a group gathers at Classic Coin Laundry on Balson, just blocks from the church, to build community in a laundromat. We offer kids' activities, food, quarters and soap, and our neighbors do their laundry. All are welcome. No need to sign up, just show up! Contact Lisa Heaner with any questions: lisaheaner@gmail.com 5 Join us for the next El Salvador Trip! June 3-10, 2019 " Limited Spaces are Available Estimated Cost $2,500 per person Scholarships are available Contact the Rector mangell@holycommunion.net
PAGE 8 HIGHLIGHTS FROM THE FALL CALENDAR Music Festival: Concert Across America to end gun violence September 23 at 10:30am. St Francis Day: Blessing of the Animals September 30 at 10:30am Bring your animals to church for a shortened service of Holy Eucharist. ( Non-aggressive dogs are welcome on leashes. All other animals need to be in carriers). Cristosal Visit: El Salvador Weekend October 7 and 8th Cristosal Exec. Director Noah Bullock will preach October 7 and Oct. 8 join us at 6pm at WashU, for a conference, with the Danforth Center. Altar of Rememberance October 14-November 4 Photos and momentos of loved ones who have died are gathered in the chapel for our All Saints/Dia de los Muertos festival. Fall Festival: Family and Friends October 28 after the 10:30am Invite your friends to the Fall Carnival, and start simmering that chili for our annual cookoff! Music Festival: The Church Year November 18 at 10:30am Our choir leads a service of music from every season of the church calendar, as we prepare for Advent. 6
FORMATION FOR ALL AGES GODLY PLAY Children are spiritual. They have incredible capacity to listen, wonder, and make meaning out of the biblical stories they hear. This is the foundation for Godly Play, our Montessori-based Christian formation program for children. 9/9 The Holy Family 9/16 Circle of the Church Year 9/23 Creation 9/30 St Francis Sunday- no Godly Play 10/7 Second Creation: The Falling Apart 10/14 The Flood and the Ark 10/21 The Great Family 10/28 Exodus 11/4 All Saints Intergenerational Formation 11/11 The Ten Best Ways 11/18 The Ark and the Tent 11/25 Thanksgiving break- no Godly Play Join us at 9:15am each Sunday for Formation ADULT FORUM From fall to spring, on Sunday mornings we offer the Adult Forum at 9:15am, a chance for formation before or after worship. We often highlight social justice issues and opportunities for spiritual growth. 9/9 Holy Communion Goals for 2018-2019 9/16 The Rev. Melanie Mullen: Doing Justice in the Episcopal Church 9/23 Capital Campagin and Annual Giving 9/30 Blessing of the Animals No Forum 10/7 Cristosal and El Salvador Noah Bullock 10/14 Immigration Law Steven Legomsky 10/21 Bravely (Formerly Magdalene St. Louis) 10/28 Violence in Scripture The Rev. Marc Smith 11/4 All Saints Intergenerational Formation 11/11 Church Master Plan Review 11/18 An American Culture of Violence The WELCOME THE MAGI THEN BUST OPEN THE PIÑATA FOLLOW THE STAR THE NURSERY In the Nursery, as in all spaces, we value the presence of children and strive to offer a safe and welcoming environment for them to enjoy. Children ages 0-4 are welcome. The nursery reopened on Sunday September 9, 2018. Our trained and background checked Nursery Staff come to us from TLC for Kids. They will be available A GOSPEL AND SOUL MUSIC FESTIVAL every Sunday in the program year from 8:30am REMEMBERING until 12:00pm. DR. You KING can pre-register AND SINGING children SONGS or you can register when you drop your child off. OF PROTEST AND RESISTANCE PARENTS DAY OUT On certain Sundays, we provide extended care to 3:30pm, including for older kids. We ask that families preregister by signing up online, or on the Sunday before, so we have enough caregivers. We also ask that the family pack a lunch or snack. Parents Day out will be Available September 16, October 14, and November 11. 7
PILGRIMAGE: A CLASS FOR NEWCOMERS AND SEEKERS Are you new to Holy Communion? To the Episcopal Church? To Christianity? Are you just looking to know more about the tradition? Join us for Pilgrimage our course exploring themes in Christian thought and practice through the Episcopal tradition. This Fall our Pilgrimage Class will be organized on what our Presiding Bishop calls the Way of Love, a new way of thinking about the Christian life we share together. This class is especially suited for newcomers, but it is open to all who are exploring. We will begin with lunch at 12:15pm and finish by 2:45p. September 16: Turn; Learn November 11: Pray; Bless October 14: Worship December 9: Rest; Go Register on our website, on the sign up sheet at church, or by calling the parish office: 314-721-7401 STAFF The Rev. Mike Angell, Rector mangell@holycommunion.net The Rev. Marc Smith, Priest Associate msmith@holycommunion.net The Rev. Chester Hines, Deacon chines@holycommunion.net Cheyanne Lovelette, Director of Operations office@holycommunion.net Mary Chapman, Director of Music mchapman@holycommunion.net Jim Kern, Financial Administrator jkern@holycommunion.net Heidi Oliff, Children s Ministries hmoliff@holycommunion.net Sally Thomas, Missioner for Children and Families sthomas@holycommunion.net Jerome Harris, Sexton 8 VESTRY Shirley Mensah, Sr. Warden Susan Norris, Jr. Warden Brian Barnhart, Treasurer Alisa Williams, Secretary Scott Ferguson, Tahnee Jackson-Whitlock, Rudy Nickens, Megan Ondr, Pat Redington www.holycommunion.net