An address to the 125th annual meeting of the Parish of the Epiphany, given by the rector,
the Reverend Thomas J. Brown, on Wednesday, 19 February 2014.
Your flexibility in rescheduling because of our storm two weeks ago is another testimonial to your resilience, and to your ongoing commitment. Thank you for being here.
The Annual Report provides a thorough accounting of what we did during 2013. God is good all the time, and all the time God is good. Let me say a few words about where I’d like us to go during 2014.
You know that for the past 11 years I meet without fail twice a year with a group of eight other priests (actually one of us is a bishop now). We pray, we laugh, and we challenge each other on our shortcomings, even as we celebrate our growth. At a meeting in May of 2010, each was responsible for bringing to the group one successful adult education program or initiative which the rest of us could adopt or reuse in our respective congregations. What came from that weren’t 9 different programs, but a synergy which landed us to sketch one comprehensive program to adapt for our respective contexts. After all there isn’t one size that fits all—what a parish does for formation in Marin County won’t necessarily fly at the Cathedral in St. Louis, nor will whatever’s sponsored at Trinity Wall Street necessarily work here at Epiphany. And, the truth is, the end result wasn’t completely ours as much as it was Carol Anderson’s, the former rector of All Saints in Beverly Hills, for whom one of us once served as her curate.
So from that meeting came the Basic Courses—Basic Anglicanism, Basic Bible, Basic Christianity, and Basic Discipleship. And following two years of those courses happening all over the country, arose in one of us a desire to write a book about discipleship, and to form a network, something called The Restoration Project. Epiphany is part of this network. In fact, you can watch a video of Christopher (the author) on our website, and hear more about his interest in helping churches grow through ancient spiritual practices including developing friendships with the poor and structured small groups and formation classes.
And from there we developed the 20+1+4 theme. It’s a challenge and an invitation, but one I present gladly. Will we spend 20 minutes a day praying, 1 hour a week worshiping, and 4 hours a month serving directly and intentionally the poor among us?
Many of the churches in this network are adopting 20+1+4 as a Lenten challenge, but we’re going to adopt it as our theme for the entire year. So when you see 20+1+4—you’ll think PrayWorshipServe—20 minutes a day, 1 hour a week, 4 hours a month. 2014. Much of what we’ll do programmatically throughout this year will revolve around 20+1+4.
There are four other matters to discuss tonight. The first is the strategic planning process and the second is the search for an organist. Scott Street and Suzanne Owayda have shared a good deal already about each of these topics, but I want to add to information about the strategic planning. First, about the survey: it’s not the only medium for collecting your experience and voice. It’s one tool, and it gets at the heart, I think—which is your assessment of how the Parish of the Epiphany fosters your spirituality, your prayer life, your sense of being a baptized Christian. But, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to speak in your own words about where you believe we should focus our attention in the next 5-7 years, some of those will be individual conversations in groups with others, and some of them will be in constituent ministry groups, which means that many of you will have multiple opportunities to speak and to hear. Your attention to this work is key; thank you.
The third is about the building project, and the fourth is about a change in our personnel.
There are really two projects related to our capital campaign. The first is to repair the tower, and the second is to install an elevator; both of the projects are in the engineering design phase, right now, and our hope is to present to the vestry as early as next month the cost estimates. This will give the vestry time to prioritize and to schedule the projects. You’ll hear much more about this, but for tonight, I want to recognize Fred Spencer and Jay Stott who are leading these efforts and giving so much of themselves and their time.
Finally, a word about the transition that’s occurred because of Tommy Campbell’s resignation. As you know, Tommy was a part-time employee who supported our children and youth programs. Right now the Christian Formation Steering Team and the Assistant Rector are working with children’s chapel leaders, parents of middle schoolers, and our church school teachers to figure out what we can accomplish for the rest of the year, as well as to look ahead to next fall. Whenever there’s a personnel transition it makes good sense to look at the whole picture, and we’re doing just that. Your opinion about what you think is needed, and your interest in helping us keep the program strong are welcomed.
I conclude now with a word of deep thanks for the sacred privilege you grant me to serve among you. The trust and the encouragement given me, as well as the guidance and course corrections you suggest are great gifts.
You know that I don’t do this work alone, and so I must express equal thanks to the wardens and the vestry, and to my colleagues on the staff. Every day they are here to serve you and in doing so they support me—and they do it in response to God’s mission. If we are congregational leaders it’s not because we possess certain innate traits, charismatic gifts, or a particular office, but because over time we have been molded into the likeness of Christ. Our metamorphosis comes through our life of praying, worshiping, and serving. As congregational leaders—all of us—you could say that we are made, not born. For your prayers, and for your generosity of time and money, and your continued devotion to the Risen Christ who is always among us, I am profoundly thankful.
Presentation of the Icon of the Visitation of the Magi to one who has demonstrated exemplary faithfulness to God in service of the Parish of the Epiphany
JOSEPH GEORGIS
2014
Warden, Usher, Stewardship Chair, Lector, Chalice Bearer,
Property Chair, Resident Expert on Middle East Culture, Food, and Christianity, Faithful Communicant of the Sacraments and the Church’s Corporate Worship, and a Lover of all the ways the Parish of the Epiphany seeks and serves Christ, the Icon is joyously presented to Joseph Georgis,
19 February 2014
