Father Gary's Annual Meeting Report

Inspired from Matthew 2:1-12

Proclaimed on January 9, 2005

In a certain mountain village in Europe several centuries ago, a nobleman wondered what legacy he should leave to his townspeople. At last he decided to build them a church. No one saw the complete plans for the church until it was finished. When the people gathered, they marveled at its beauty and its completeness. Then someone asked, “But where are the lamps? How will it be lighted?” The nobleman pointed to some brackets in the walls. Then he gave to each family a lamp that they were to bring with them each time they were to worship. “Each time you are here the area where you are seated will be lighted,” the nobleman stated, “And each time you are not here, that area will be dark. This is to remind you that whenever you fail to come to church, some part of God’s house will be dark.”

So goes this story. I do not know of its truth, but it does lend itself to our worship this day, combined with this my second report to the Annual Parish Meeting since my arrival to this parish. These kind of reports are difficult for me for I not only have to share what we accomplished, but what may have been learned, and where do we need to go from here.

But how appropriate it is that we do this today when we celebrate the first Sunday of Epiphany, wherein epiphany means “a flash of insight.” To the early Christian Church an epiphany represented that moment when each person discovered the Christ to be the light of their life, that moment when everything suddenly became different, when the world became a new place because it was made new by the presence of Christ.

Each year the first Sunday after the Epiphany is always a celebration of the baptism of Jesus. In the baptism of our Lord we find not only our Lord’s first revealed act as an adult, but also that act wherein he was anointed as the messiah. In this act God the Father reveals Jesus as God the Son by descending upon him like a dove as God the Spirit. Through this act new light is given to the world as to how our salvation will be procured. For in his baptism--a Jewish act of repentance and purification--Jesus does what John the Baptizer says he need not do, but Jesus does it anyway as a way of identifying with us. In essence, in this act he takes on our sin and his baptism symbolizes his sacrifice unto to death, converting the ministry of John the Baptist back into the ministry of a priest of the Temple wherein he sacrifices the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world. Through this same baptism future followers of Christ would be one with their Lord by taking on his death and his resurrection. Like that medieval nobleman who built as his legacy a church for his people, a church wherein the people provided the Light, so too in his baptism Jesus was building the Church as his legacy wherein the baptized were to carry forth his Light.

1How are we doing? This past year our overall attendance was 5,563, an increase of 137 over last year. However, some of this increase is simply a difference in how we keep the books. Our attendance at the Wednesday pre-school chapels is now being included in our figures. During this past year 4,377 communions were dispensed, which is about 327 fewer than the year before. We also had one baptism, 2 confirmations, and sadly, 2 burials. One of these burials was Ms. Elvira McMillan, the last living founder of this parish.

In essence, overall our numbers seem to be decreasing, meaning fewer lights to brighten our pews. Some of this decrease is because a few families have moved. Some of it is do to busy lifestyles. Some of this may also be related to me, my real failures, as well as perceived shortcomings. I am truly sorry for these latter. As I better learn what these are, I will work to become a better priest. Some of what we are facing are the continuing cultural issues that embroil the Anglican Church throughout the world. With the release of the Windsor Report, some hope has been restored, but it is not aggressive enough for many. Weariness from this conflict, as well as embarrassment that it exists has deflated some of our enthusiasm, as well as our attendance. Even so, your Vestry and I will continue to provide clear leadership in the midst of this paralyzing and crippling ambiguity.

Some of what is affecting us is related to Hurricane Ivan that has significantly disrupted the regular rhythm of our daily lives for some time. For me, it was the first hurricane I ever experienced, and I hope it is my last. Through it, however, I witnessed the goodness of this community as we came together to rebuild our lives. I will never forget the services we shared in the Parish Hall after Ivan gave us his best punch, as we gathered together in shock, shared our stories, shared our faith and hope, and began the healing that we so very much needed. This was especially a poignant time for me, in that I had just experienced a stroke that will forever change my life. The combination of the hurricane and stroke made me realize more than ever how dependent I am upon you the Body of Christ, and our Lord that created us to bear his light to one another.

All in all, we have been and remain a parish in transition. While it is difficult, if not impossible to say what we are transitioning into, we have a dedicated group of leaders who are solidly committed and working to strengthen our community. I am so thankful for each of you, but especially to Jackie Gay our Secretary and often our Parish Administrator. Her contributions are without number. I have learned to value her increasingly, especially the time we have spent together in prayer. Steve Layton has served well as our Senior Warden, providing very strong leadership to our Vestry, and having his hands full in keeping me out of trouble. Reid McBride took the reigns as our Junior Warden and what a service he has done for us in getting our building and grounds back into shape following the ravages of Hurricane Ivan. Sandy English has done yuleman's duty in supporting our ongoing Parish Life, as can be evidenced this past week alone where our parish provided a meal for a family following the burial of one of our own, threw a beautiful reception to area parishes who celebrated with us an Epiphany Festival of Lights, and now we gather here today for an Annual Meeting and a light lunch. Thank you, Sandy! Diane Saloom has guided our Altar Guild, steadily increasing its numbers while quietly working behind the scenes to make our worship possible. Emmie Jernigan has been an unsung hero in leading our Christian Education, along with Angie Johnson and Beth Dismukes in ministering to our youth. Bob McMillan literally shoved me into Cursillo, and Salem Saloom has been giving many others and me a Fresh Start. The list could go on and should, but my time is about up, and so possibly is your patience. Suffice it to say "thank-you" to all of you for sharing your light, for by doing so during this very difficult year you have also made it one of meaning, purpose, and thankfulness.

May we not forget where we get our light, just in case we face more difficult times to come. Our light is the epiphany of the baptism of Christ. For from it came our baptisms, whether we remember them or not, which continue to provide us with “flashes of light” as well. Perhaps this special little story may be helpful, as the Rev. Stanley E. Jewel of the Arvada Presbyterian Church in Arvada, Colorado tells it. It is about an American tourist in Paris, who purchased a cheap amber necklace in a trinket shop. Upon returning to New York he was shocked when he had to pay quite a high duty on it in order to clear customs. His curiosity aroused, he took it to a jeweler to have it appraised. After looking at the object under a magnifying glass the jeweler said, “I’ll give you $25,000 for it.” Greatly surprised again, he took it to another expert for examination wherein he was offered $10,000 more. “What do you see that’s so valuable about this old necklace?” asked the astonished man. “Look through this glass.” replied the jeweler. There before his eyes was an inscription which read, “From Napoleon Bonaparte to Josephine.”

The value of the necklace came from its identification with a famous person. The same is true of us. Our value comes not from our accomplishments or successes, but from our identification with Jesus Christ. In our baptisms we are claimed as brothers or sisters of Jesus. We are made members of the household of God. Just as God said to Jesus at his baptism, “You are my Beloved,” so God says the same to us. This is one of the greatest surprises of epiphany, when through our own darkness and apparent failures we hear the marvelous words of God, “You are my Beloved.” Like that medieval nobleman who built a church as his legacy to the community, through his baptism Jesus likewise is building a church for his legacy, and we are that Church. As the medieval nobleman gave each member of his community a lamp to lighten the darkness within that church building, so in our baptisms Christ makes us torches of the Gospel that everywhere we may go we are bearers of light, the Light of Christ the true Son of God to whom all darkness surrenders, because we are God’s Beloved.