Grace Vestry Update

by | Feb 13, 2019 | Vestry

The 2019 Vestry members are: Sam Baxter; Diana Deen; David Doshier; Karla Jensen; Jennifer King; Ken Moll; Barbie Moller Wentworth; Jennifer Muhlner; Michael Roche

The 2019 Officers are:  Sr. Wardens: Paul Asmuth and Joan Heller; Jr. Warden: Grant Showley; Treasurer: John Muhlner and Clerk: Lois Day

Purpose, Mission, and Vision of Grace Church

Purpose: We are a community of prayer for all people seeking deeper understanding and expression of God’s love in our lives and in the world.

The Mission of Grace Episcopal Church: To welcome, encourage and support all people to grow spiritually and deepen their relationship with God while connecting in and serving from a strong Christian faith community.

The Vision of Grace Episcopal Church is: To be a catalyst for transformation in lives, relationships, and God’s world.

A Message from the Senior Wardens

Paul Asmuth and Joan Heller

Our purpose, mission and vision are what connects us to each other and gives us a focus for our ministries. But, have you ever wondered about the administrative, governance and financial operations at Grace? These are the organizational components that provide structure and support for the work of our many ministries.

The purpose of Vestry updates, which we will be sending out several times during the year, is to keep you informed and connected to the operational and business sides of Grace. Hopefully these communications will answer the question “What is it that the Vestry does?”.

The 2019 Vestry began its work together at our first meeting on February 25. Rev. Amy’s words to this newly formed governing body were: Welcome! Thank you! and Let’s Go! These words have framed our initial focus: embracing the development of a Welcoming Ministry under the leadership of Rev. Anne and Rev. Amy. And just as Amy thanked each of us for accepting the call to the Vestry, we thank each of you for your support, love, and commitment to Grace Church.  Now we are ready for the “let’s go!” on this wonderful journey together.

The Vestry started with writing a covenant (see below) and approved Amy’s agreements for communication in community (see below). We set as a goal for this year to establish policies and procedures that will help Grace function both efficiently and consistently. The Vestry has been working closely with the endowment committee as they strategize how to increase this fund and establish guidelines for expanding its use to help support the church’s operations and ministries. The wardens (two seniors and one junior) meet with Rev. Amy and Rev. Anne monthly to discuss the state of the church and what needs our focus and attention. The senior wardens attend the monthly finance meetings.

As the Welcoming Ministries grow, we are reminded that everyone is a greeter. We see this especially during the passing of the peace each Sunday. We greet each other, those we know and those we don’t. We are working to take this welcoming and warmth outside of the service to coffee hour and beyond. Vestry members will be taking the lead of staffing our new Welcome Table during coffee hour. Please stop by and visit with us.

Communication is a two way process. We hope you will seek out and connect with the wardens and Vestry members giving us feedback so that we can work to make Grace a welcoming place to all.

A Message from the Junior Warden

Grant Showley

March and April have been busy months with repairs and maintenance of the campus.  The following are brief lists of items accomplished and those that are still outstanding.

Items completed

  • Replaced the eternity light fixture above the cross in the sanctuary
  • Reset the paving stones in the Columbarium
  • Replaced the dead tree roses in the garden
  • Installed solar lights along the handicap spaces along Oak Street
  • Replaced and repaired the damaged gutters on Bourn Hall and patio
  • Replaced the damaged coming in the basement
  • Sealed the leak that caused the damage to the basement from the storms
  • Installed new shelving in the basement storage spaces
  • Repaired the hot water heater
  • Painted Pratt Avenue rectory facia and wood decks

Items for future repairs

  • Cable the Oak tree limb resting on the choir room; prune for crown cleaning
  • Grind the roots in the lawn below the redwood tree
  • Grind the concrete along the path under redwood tree
  • Refinish the wood floors in Newton room in order to prevent further damage
  • Seek a second opinion concerning the leak underneath the stairwell behind the balcony
  • Replace light switches in the bathrooms with automatic fixtures
  • Replace the lock mechanism on the front door of the sanctuary with old hardware
  • Replace relay switch in Brides room
  • Install video camera in balcony for video feed of sermon to website
  • Replace mailbox on Spring Street with locked mailbox
  • Install two generators for backup power during power outages
  • Revise light schedule for campus
  • Replace ballast in sconces in Newton Room

The Vestry Covenant for 2019

Below is the abbreviated covenant, the full covenant is posted on our website.

We, the members of the Vestry of Grace Episcopal Church of Saint Helena, are committed to using our time, energy, and skills to be effective and transparent leaders for our church and our community in order to do the work required to guide our congregation toward the future God has for us. To that end, together we covenant to live by the following principles: Spiritual Leadership; Good Communication; Mutual Accountability; and Growth and Learning.

Agreements for Communication in Community

Below is the abbreviated agreement for communication in community, the full agreement is posted on our website.

There are 11 guiding principles: 1) Assume the best about other people; 2) Start from an appreciative mindset; 3) Listen with your whole self; 4) Confidentiality means not telling someone else’s story; 5) Value differences of opinion; 6) Respect the others dignity; 7) Talk to people, not about people; 8) Leave Conviction to the Holy Spirit; 9)Use email wisely; 10) In group settings, contribute proportionally; 11) To accomplish something together, everyone’s contribution is needed; and 12) Community means with unity.

The Standing Committees of the Vestry

From the bylaws: The rector and the vestry shall determine what committees are necessary for the best interests of the parish. From the Grace Vestry Standing Order on Standing Committees, adopted 3/26/2018: The Standing Committees of Grace Episcopal Church, St. Helena are those groups, designated by the vestry, which act on behalf of the vestry in administrative or governance matters.  Standing Committees are:

Accountable to the Vestry with monthly written reports; responsible for the fiscal and/or physical church operations and maintenance, both short-term and long-term.

Buildings and Grounds

Chair: Grant Showley

As jr. warden, Grant Showley oversees the maintenance of the church campus and the rectory. The buildings and grounds committee assists him this important function. They meet monthly to review what needs to be done now and evaluate repairs and improvements that need to be planned for.

Endowment

Chair: Mark Linder

Grace established an endowment fund in 2015. The current endowment committee is working with a consultant to strategize about ways to increase the revenue for this fund and how it can be better utilized by Grace to support the work of the church.

Finance

Chair: John Muhlner

As treasurer, John Muhlner meets with the finance committee monthly to review the financial health of the church. He reports to the Vestry about the financial status of investments and how we are doing regarding income from pledges, other grants and donations and building rentals as well as expenditures against the budget.

Grace Outreach / GO Seed

Co-Chairs: Kerry Brackett and Terry Henry

As co-chairs, Kerry Brackett and Terry Henry oversee the other areas of Grace’s outreach efforts: GO Advocate, GO Serve, and GO Give. They also serve on the Strategic Planning Committee. Grace receives many requests for both community and global outreach needs. GO Seed is the committee that does an initial review and will then pass the request along to the appropriate interest area. This is a new organizational structure for Grace Outreach and it was developed during the process of a mutual ministry review done last summer. It is working well and there is both renewed and expanded interest and participation by parishioners.

Personnel

Chair: Steve Heller

As chair, Steve Heller works with a small committee of 5 members to advise Rev. Amy on personnel concerns. At Rev. Amy’s request, they have been working diligently over the past year to update job descriptions for all paid positions at Grace and created an employee handbook.

Stewardship

Chair: Diana Deen

As chair, Diana Deen works with a small committee to plan a Fall Stewardship Campaign. She led a successful campaign in 2018 and she and her committee are gearing up for 2019.

Strategic Planning

Co-Chairs: Joan Heller and Jennifer King

As co-chairs, Joan Heller and Jennifer King work with a committee of 4 people to keep the process of strategic planning and implementation moving forward. They also oversee the “growth goal”. The “goal teams” are working on developing objectives and action steps with timelines, budget considerations, and accountability. In some areas, this process is being implemented as it is being written! When the people of Grace have an idea, passion takes over and action follows quickly. We are a congregation of “doers”!

Here’s what is happening within our 3 overarching goals:

To grow

This goal group focuses on creating an environment of “welcoming” all who come to Grace and “integrating” or “connecting” everyone to at least one ministry at Grace. The “grow” part is both increasing the number of people we reach out to and also to support personal spiritual growth and formation. A Welcoming Ministry is being developed under the direction of Rev. Amy and Rev. Anne. The Spanish Language Ministry is growing through the hard work of Sandra Sheffield, Spanish Community Coordinator. How we communicate is a large part of this work. Katherine Frederick, in her role as Marketing Coordinator, works to increase our presence in the community through Facebook posts and signage on our campus for special services. The addition of Rev. Anne as Assistant Rector has been so important in the expansion of opportunities for learning for all ages.

To be good stewards

This goal group focuses on the financial practices, maintenance and improvements on the church campus and buildings, and our resources, both human and technological.

Progress is ongoing as this team reviews our financial practices and makes adjustments as needed so that we have the best practices in place. Gloria Lewis has done a thorough review of Grace’s IT systems and is in the process of presenting her report and recommendations to Rev. Amy. David Foushee, Joan Heller and Anne Clarke are working to update our database system through the church software system, Realm. We currently use this for recording of donations and are working towards expanding using it to connect with parishioners and for ministries to connect with members.

To give back

This goal group focuses on outreach. This group is off and running with the new GO organization. GO Advocate is offering a 5 week Wednesday evening discussion about the baptismal covenant and how it relates to advocacy. GO Serve is hosting a hands on event in June, packaging food under the direction of the organization Rise Against Hunger.

The Ministries at Grace

Grace has six main ministry areas: 1) Administration, Governance and Finance; 2) Christian Education and Spiritual Formation; 3) Outreach, Social Justice and Evangelism; 4) Parish Life; 5) Spanish Language; and 6) Worship. Our visual for these are our colorful circles that connect with each other and with the “center” of Grace: our purpose, mission and vision. This spring, Helen Christianson organized weekly Ministry Fairs on Sundays during coffee hour. It was an opportunity for ministries to share what they do. We are currently working on a Ministry Booklet that will be printed and also available on our website.

Communications at Grace

E-News

The weekly news for Grace Episcopal Church is sent via email each Thursday morning. It also appears on our website and is available by mail upon request. Printed copies are available Sunday mornings at the back of the Sanctuary and in the lobby of Bourn Hall.

Social Media

Exterior Bulletin Boards

There are two bulletin boards on the outside of Bourn Hall, one located by the entrance and the other by the nursery. These are updated every Tuesday by Gloria Lewis. The bulletin board by the office has one side in Spanish and has information about what is happening at Grace for the coming week. The bulletin board by the nursery has the monthly Vestry minutes and community events

Announcements during Sunday Worship Service 

In addition to highlighting several upcoming Grace activities herself each week, Rev. Amy makes a minute or two available during the announcement time for one “stand-up” announcement each Sunday during the Sunday services.  Ministries or individuals wishing to schedule a “stand-up announcement” slot should email Amy in advance.

How you can communicate with the Vestry

  • Send an email to: [email protected]  or [email protected].
  • Seek out a Vestry member during coffee hour or better yet, invite a Vestry member out for coffee!
  • Leave a note in the Sr. Warden’s box in the workroom

Upcoming Events at Grace

Pentecost Celebration and All Church Picnic at Grace June 9th

Pentecost is the culmination of the program year for Grace. It is a wonderful time to come together and celebrate and connect with one another before summer activities and family vacations begin. Please be sure to join in the fun!

Summer At Grace

Summer Sundays starts June 16th and will go through August 11, Grace will have one service at 9 AM. We will alternate between Rite I and Rite II each week. There will also be an 8:15 AM spiritual offering such as centering prayer or a labyrinth walk. Rev. Anne Clarke is planning some fun learning activities for the Atrium-aged children. As part of the Summer Sundays there will be an extended coffee hour so there will be plenty of opportunity to connect with fellow parishioners.

Rev. Amy’s Summer Vacation: During her first two years at Grace, Rev. Amy has been unable to use her full vacation allotment and has accrued the maximum amount of vacation her Letter of Agreement allows her to carry forward.  She needs to “Use it or  lose it!”  So, Rev. Amy will be on vacation with her family July 1-August 9th. During Rev. Amy’s vacation, Rev. Anne will lead services, be available for pastoral care, and generally “hold down the fort.”

Photo Directory Coming this Fall!

Lois Day and Mary Linder are once again organizing a photo directory for Grace. The last one was done in 2016. Watch for emails and notices to sign up to have your photo taken and be included in this wonderful resource for parishioners.

Grace Episcopal Church

1345 Spring Street  Saint Helena  CA  94574