VESTRY SUMMARY FOR OCTOBER 17.  Began 2011 budget process.  Voted roof repair work to address in leaking in back of church; tabled motion to renovate a classroom to become a new archive room; received reports on extensive building work including new A.D.A. bathroom, new church heating system, new signs, and lots of painting, repairing and sprucing up of our space.  Voted pledge goal of $130,000; reaffirmed commitment of all Vestry members to pledge; reviewed pledge campaign.  Search for new Office Manager underway.  Everyone is needed to show hospitality at Convention on November 6 and the Parish Fair on November 20.

PLEDGE PAYMENTS ARE LAGGING—DON’T FALL BEHIND!  Even as we focus our attention on making our pledges for 2011, the Vestry is concerned that pledge payments are lagging.  As of October, pledge payments stand just above 80%.  If we don’t bring ourselves to 100% pledge payment, we will face a serious deficit at the end of the year.  Don’t wait until Pledge Pay Up Sunday in December.  Catch up now.  We count on every person fulfilling his or her pledge.  If, for some reason, you will not be able to fulfill your pledge, please call the Treasurer.  The Vestry will make budget adjustments if we must.

Homecoming September 26, 2010

WOULD YOU LIKE A VISIT?  As weather gets colder, getting out can be a challenge for some of our members.  Please let us know if you would like a visit from St. Stephen’s just for a little Christian fellowship or for Communion.  Our Pastoral Care Team visits in homes and hospitals and they want to come visit you!  Please call the office to request a visit.  The Pastoral Care Team will gather on Sunday, November 14 at noon.

FLOWER THANKSGIVINGS AND MEMORIALS.  Throughout the year we decorate our altar with flowers.  Making a contribution to support our altar flowers is a wonderful way to offer thanks for a special occasion or anniversary.  It also is a lovely way to remember someone who has died.  Please call the office or complete a flower memorial form if you would like to offer thanksgiving or memorial flowers.

UNITED THANK OFFERING IN-GATHERING NOVEMBER 28.  The UTO supports relief and development work around the world.  Please bring in your UTO box or just add your offering to our collection on November 28 so that we can join Anglicans around the world in supporting this amazing work.  In years past, St. Stephen’s received a UTO grant to support the creation of the E-Team Machinists’ Training Program.

Jesus loves us

THANK YOU PASSPORT CAMP!!  For two weeks during July, Episcopalians, Baptists, Lutherans and Presbyterians who enrolled in Passport Camps, arrived at St. Stephen’s again for the fourth consecutive year.  Middle and High schoolers with their adult chaperones and youth ministers from Virginia, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, North Carolina and Georgia collectively donated over 940 work hours to St. Stephen’s.  This year, they repainted all the parking spaces in both the main lot and the handicap lot.  Also, they removed debris and litter and trimmed back all the brush growing into the lot through the fences. Campers cleaned out all the window wells along the bottom floor of the parish house. They mowed the lawn both weeks as well as thoroughly cleaned the entire Sanctuary.  All of this is part of their mission work experience at Passport Camp.  With a tightened budget so that our mission priorities can be funded, sexton coverage is budgeted at just eighteen hours per week.  We all know that the size of our property could easily use two full-time sextons.  This creates a lot of deferred maintenance which Passport Campers helped tackle for us, all while we continue to open our doors to the community.

Jesus Loves Us

St. Stephen's parishioners are quietly going about the business of compassionate ministry.  For more information on the scope of prayer shawl ministries click on the story header.