"Herself" © 2003 T. Jutsum; acrylic on canvas - The Spirit hovers over the Earth like a mother over her child
CHRIST CHURCH PENTECOST and TRINITY 2018
Rochester, NY The SONG vol. 3 issue 5
Mirrors at the End of the Day
The sun kindles bare branches,
drapes them in silver glow
candles the remaining leaves
burnishes those not ready to let go.
The shadows mirror the top branches reaching for heaven,
spill onto to sidewalk, as if waiting to wrap
whoever sees them, inviting each of us to join in
the spell of this moment
with grateful heart.
Kitty Jospe
Lilies of the Field- © M.V. Hill
A Study in Electricity- © Elizabeth Dugdale
Contributing Life
Peter was quoted as having said to Jesus, "Lord, you alone have the words of eternal life.", John 6:68. But, the Spirit of God has come to us and we have been given this power to share with God. We have the words of eternal life!
This issue, Pentecost/Trinity, we have contributions from two voices from our parish family; Kristy Liddell and Fr. Stephen Metcalfe. I think both are outstanding and life giving. I hope you are inspired and enlivened as well.
Happy Pentecost!
Val Jutsum- editor
Manifestations of the Holy Spirit: wind and tongues of fire; sudden, supernatural knowledge; miraculous healings and raising from the dead; people transported instantly to distant places; people shining so brightly others can’t bear to look at them; prisoners freed by angels and earthquakes. And: Finding the right words for another person’s encouragement or guidance. Help deciding where to go next. Seeing past prejudice - even caution and ideas about cleanliness - to another person, complex, dignified, divine. Sobriety. Song. A whole community willing to share material goods. A community that hears the voices of those who complain that they’ve been neglected, and successful administration of meals to all in need. Discernment between what is essential and nonessential in a community.
I need help (and I assume I’m not alone in this) with the connection between wonder at the marvelous and the steady, inconspicuous responsibilities it leaves in its wake, responsibilities that can feel like they dampen wonder and wall off mystery.
I’m tempted to think of the connection as an economic exchange: I pay my pledge, rehearse on Wednesday nights, and usher at compline; I get a beautiful sacred space, good music, and a sublime worship experience.
This economic metaphor means I have a dual role - I can be a consumer, a spectator; I can tiptoe into compline, full of strangers toward whom I easily feel a general goodwill (as long as they’re quiet); I can receive communion and savor the moment, kneeling in a pew and praying reverently (instead of crowding into the back room with the knocking radiator and, thinking, well, really, can we still not figure out how to line up so that we can walk out in rows with some decorum and not like a gaggle of panicked geese?). Or, if I’m not caught up in reverence, I can still be a liturgical connoiseur: Ah, yes, one of my favorite collects; ah, Tallis; what a fine experience!
To sustain this economy, I can be a “producer”: I can do my part to provide an experience for those who are “consumers.” And this concept brings some baggage: pride in a good performance, anger at those who might bring my performance down, fear that it’s not good enough, and, if I’m honest, resentment toward the “consumers” who drop in occasionally and just assume the walls won’t fall down, the windows won’t fall in, there will always be a priest, a music director, a choir, organists, and a congregation as the backdrop for their annual transcendent experience (not very nice, but that’s a producer for you).
Besides the economic metaphor, there’s another set of impulses, roughly overlaid with the consumer/producer roles. One is to just sort of stand around, spiritually, waiting for those transcendent experiences, as if they are all that keep me going. The opposite is to be a nuts-and-bolts behind-the-scenes insider, the Man behind the Curtain, getting to know people and their quirks and little conflicts with others (and maybe reveal mine to a select group), to roll my eyes when so-and-so’s doing such-and-such again, to know all about the falling plaster and falling walls and committees, to be In but not “taken in”, to Know How Everything Works (and How Everything Should Work). It has its consolations--a sense of competence in a predictable sphere, most of all.
Over and over, we revisit this set of poles: Mary/Martha, the prodigal son/the elder brother, aesthetic and ethical.
Oh, how we want and need them to connect and to start merging, so that we don’t become shallow and dabbling or jaded and resentful, so that we see our daily places, people, and work are full of God.
Oh, how I need them to be pure: to have moments when all the business and all my self-consciousness drops away and a Bach fugue knocks me into God like a tsunami; to have times when I realize I can find sheer will to get out of bed and do the dishes and meet perplexing people and be nice and just Do Work when everything feels utterly empty.
I hope the Holy Spirit shows up somewhere in all of this ebb and flow, to help us live with ourselves and with each other. While we celebrate tongues of fire and a new calling, while sermons are about surprises and disruptions, some of us are precariously balanced, either in the pews or pulpits, in sacristies or soup kitchens, homebound or hospitalized, held up by habits when the easiest disruption is despair. And as we go through the long green life of ordinary time, some of us will have moments or days when the ordinary is overwhelmed with some blazing, glorious God.
How, in God’s name, do we share all that with each other? In an earlier draft I wrote that I thought that mainline protestants might struggle more than others to talk about that connection between God and ordinary life, but I’ve scratched it out. Surely everyone struggles to open up when languages of transcendence encounter languages of sophistication (or anti-intellectualism), of doubt, of doctrine (I don’t use this term disparagingly), of morality, of loyalty, of convention, of conviction, of uncertainty over something crucial, of lament, of nostalgia, of hope, of sheer boredom and weariness. What if I try to share something true and say it falsely? What if I try to share something sacred, and someone chuckles politely, or argues, or doesn’t even hear? What if I try to share the one thing that’s holding me up and someone knocks it down? What if I feel that I need to make a genuine moral effort at something and someone thinks I’m extreme? Or neurotic? Or self-righteous? Or joking? What if I sound delusional, or drunk (at 9 in the morning!)?
What if God is lost in translation? Not only between us, but within us, from transcendent moment to the ways we try to carry that moment forward into everyday life? How can we keep ourselves and our community together, let alone grow together, share everything, welcome strangers?
Even so. It seems we’re encouraged to believe that the Holy Spirit is about translation: visions to meals, marvelous healings to moral dilemmas, rehearsals to revelations, compline to conversations about the Cadillac hotel. What on earth does it look like, I wonder, to trust that translator a little more? Or even fully?
Kristy Liddell
Dear Brothers and Sisters at Christ Church and wherever this note finds its way:
I’ve returned from the celebration of Pentecost at Christ Church this Sunday, May 20. The Sunday celebration of the Lord’s Day is always a moment in time unlike any other: you either make it or miss it. Pentecost has the added distinction of being one of 7 major feasts of the Church, including Christmas and Easter. Alas, very few of us arrived to celebrate which led to my consideration of the whole “church going” matter.
First of all, this is not an attempt to persuade or shame anyone. Frankly, I don’t really want to go to church more times than is proper for me to admit. There are lots of reasons for that, most of them circumstantial and others more theologically complicated. Attending the service is occasionally burdensome and sometimes I just don’t see the point. But, I do know the point even though it sometimes doesn’t persuade me. That being said, Major Feasts (with the exception of Ascension Day which is always Thursday) are, for me, “command performances.”
Here are some reasons not to go to church: Attendance will make me a good person. I will get something “out of” the liturgy that is good for me. I know my mother wants me to go. Not going is a sin. I want to get married in this church. I want people to see me as a responsible, good person. I want to feel more “spiritual”. There are a thousand other reasons people might feel pressure to go to church and I certainly know how most of them feel as I have wandered these paths now and again.
The most powerful reasons I stay active and show up most Sundays are quite simple. This is where Christians gather on Sunday mornings; I am a Christian and that identity still fits me, so I go where the Christians go. Secondly, it is an objective act of devotion which maintains my irrevocable connection with God and with God’s family. I am sure I will hear God’s Word spoken and perhaps the Holy Spirit will lead me to hear it in a way that I haven’t before, but could be quite necessary. I might hear the same old hymns, pray the same old prayers, hear the same old Gospel, trudge up to receive the same old sacrament. Even so, that’s what Christians do. I’m sure that every Christmas you go to your family’s house, eat the same food, hear the same stories from Uncle Buck, get in the same arguments with your brother in law, and come away both pleased and dismayed at the recognition that you are part of this odd family. That doesn’t matter.
Finally, I remind myself that in the public square the identity of “Christian” has been firmly (and I hope not unequivocally) claimed by some of the most deluded “disciples” imaginable. When I hear Jesus saying, “you did not choose me, but I chose you...” sometimes I just shake my head. Of course, from Jesus’ point of view, we are all wrong headed and also fully deserving of his Love. Insofar as various factions who claim membership in the Church make every effort to lead us far astray, I believe it is incumbent upon me to physically be in a gathering which understands the Gospel quite differently. I don’t hear Jesus instructing his disciples on the arts of blaming, shaming, or scorning. Jesus says in Matthew, “Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” This might be where we all differ: what could be the will of God?
So, there it is, the testimony of a Christian, far outrun by the various champions of Christ who seem to be blissfully fueling an aimless, self satisfied culture. I have no power to do anything about all that except make sure I do what most honorably mirrors myself. The outcome of everything is God’s business.
God’s Grace and Blessing, Steven Metcalfe+
Ruth's column
Dear All,
It is Pentecost and I am with you in SPIRIT!!
I've seen my Lyme specialist and, while the blood work is inconclusive, he is treating for possible co-infections to be on the safe side. The antibiotic treatment will end in June, and I hope to feel better shortly after, if not before. I'm learning so much about the human immune system and the complexities of what goes into our chemical make-up. I am, in fact, seeing multiple theological metaphors in my studies of the microbes within us - the good, the bad, and the neutral. (Expect the term "microbiome" to fly from the pulpit on my return.)
Symptoms come and go, depending on the dormant and active cycles of the bacteria, and the effects of the antibiotics. I've noticed a real difference in mental sharpness and physical energy on my special paleo/ketogenic diet, and after I'm completely better, I might just stick to it and to taking my herbal supplements (I like to show them off). What is most confounding about Lyme disease - the current medical contraversies regarding treatment and recovery - is also, for me, the most truth telling: that my body instinctively knows how to heal from this disease if I listen and give it time. And herbs!
I am healing, and it is taking time, but I am healing and it is real. Thank you for your prayers, and your prayers for one another and for all who are in need of healing. Prayer for healing is more than prayer. It is also a proclamation of hope, of the good that is to come, and of the God for whom we wait. "Then shall your light break forth like the dawn, and your healing shall spring up quickly; your vindicator shall go before you, the glory of the Lord shall be your rear guard." (Isaiah 58:8)
See you soon in church,
Ruth+
Did you know that Ruth has a blog? It's beautiful and you can find it here-
This is a setting of the "Our Father" by Scott Perkins our former Assistant Director. Thatcher Lyman is heard here as the solo voice. Thatcher is our present Assistant Director. Scott's work may be purchased via this link: http://www.scott-perkins.com/store/th... Audio/Video by Mobile Audio Productions by Michael Sherman “The Christ Church Schola Cantorum… sings beautifully.” Fanfare, Jan/Feb 2010. Founded in 1997 by Stephen Kennedy, the Schola performs the Office of Compline at Christ Church Rochester NY, Sunday evenings, October through April. First-Sunday Candlelight Concerts and Compline was named “The coolest, most unusual music experience in the city…” in Rochester Magazine’s “Our Top Picks of 2014.” This acclaimed ensemble is also an early music laboratory through engagement of historic rehearsal and performance practices. The Schola specializes in Gregorian chant, Renaissance and Baroque choral music, and choral improvisation. It has collaborated with Manfred Cordes and Weser-Renaissance Bremen, Boston Early Music Festival Chamber Players, and organists Edoardo Bellotti, Hans Davidsson, David Higgs, Olivier Latry, William Porter, Joris Verdin, and Harald Vogel. The Schola has been a favorite of festivals and concert series, notably at the annual international Eastman-Rochester Organ Initiative. APM's Pipe Dreams, Minnesota Public Radio, and WXXI’s With Heart and Voice regularly broadcast tracks, via NPR, from the Schola's CDs. With organists Edoardo Bellotti and Stephen Kennedy, the Schola and dual organs performed a “guided improvisation” accompaniment to Carl Dryer’s 1928 silent classic La Passion de Jeanne d’Arc for Eastman's 2014 EROI Festival and the University of Rochester's interdisciplinary UCIS Cluster on Music and Film. The Schola’s latest CD is of 19th century French choral music with Belgian keyboardist Joris Verdin on Eastman's vintage Mustel harmonium. The Schola is comprised of Rochester-area musicians, Eastman School of Music faculty and students, and RIT faculty. Participation in the Schola is offered for course credit at the Eastman School of Music.
EVENTS
EVENTS and ANNOUNCEMENTS in This Issue
Special Music Event-Concert
scroll down to read more
The College for Congregational Development
What happened at General Convention #79
The Art Tree in the Garden
Pride Parade (not an official Christ Church event)
RedWings Episcopal Night
2018 Jazz Fest
New Addition Meals
Impromptu Tours
Latest Sunday Bulletin and Audio of the 11:00 am Eucharist
(when you click on an image below it will become full size and you can scroll through the pages)
Bishop Prince Singh
Lecture audio and video
Third Sunday Lecture Series and Compline
Vestry Minutes
GRANTS UPDATE
Concert by “Publick Musick”
TITLE: Bach Cantatas in Christ Church
DATE:
Wednesday August 15, 7:30 pm
Christ Episcopal Church
141 East Avenue, Rochester, NY
Returning to the beautiful sanctuary of Christ Church Rochester, Publick Musick will perform the magnificent cantata "Geist und Seele sind verwirret" (BWV 35) by J. S. Bach, featuring countertenor Clifton Massey as the soloist. This two-part cantata for alto, obbligato organ, oboes, and strings incorporates music drawn from an earlier (lost) concerto, including two large-scale instrumental sinfonias. The virtuosic organ solos will be performed by internationally renowned organist Michael Unger.
Also on the program is the beautiful cantata "Widerstehe doch der Sünde" (BWV 54) for alto and strings, and the joyous concerto TWV 44:43 for three oboes and three violins by G. P. Telemann.
This concert will take place in Christ Church Rochester in order to incorporate the glorious sounds of the Craighead-Saunders organ, an exact copy of a Bach-era instrument, and the only such instrument outside of Europe. The concert will be a rare opportunity to hear Bach's sacred works performed with a full-size baroque organ alongside strings and oboes of the era.
TICKETS: From http://www.publickmusick.org/buy-tickets/ as well as at the door.
General Admission: $20
Patron ticket (includes $30 tax-deductible donation): $50
Student/Low income: $10
Children age 17 and under free
The College for Congregational Development
Joe Schaller and Deb VanderBilt completed Year 2 of the College for Congregational Development on Saturday, July 28. The week-long College teaches church leaders tools and models that can be applied to transitions, congregational growth or decline, intercultural communication, conflict, and other life-cycle dynamics that affect the life of a congregation. Joe and Deb report that they came back feeling "energized and inspired. The College facilitators were excellent and skilled teachers. We met Episcopalians from all over the diocese and from the eastern seaboard, heard great stories from them, strategized using case studies and small group exercises, and overall feel supported and better equipped for our roles at Christ Church. And we plan to share more specifically what we learned with the vestry and congregation over the next year." The College celebrates the attendees with a dinner on the last evening of the week--see photo!
What happened at General Convention #79
Pride Parade 2018
The Pride Parade was not an official Christ Church event. The Rochester Diocese had a place in the parade and Bishop Singh was enthusiastically leading. Many Christ Church parishioners joined in, marching with the Bishop or Jeremy Cooney, a long time member of Christ Church, a vestry member and a candidate for public office (NYS Senate). The people marching with Jeremy did so as friends of his who support his efforts and not directly as representatives of Christ Church. Many of the Christ Church people who wanted to support the LGBTQ community walked with the Diocese. Some folks bounced back and forth. It was colorful fun.
RedWings Episcopal Night
2018 Jazz Fest
Report to the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry
2018 Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival
Made in the U.K. Series
2018 marks our tenth year as host to the Made in the UK Series of the Xerox Rochester International Jazz Festival. In terms of people entering our church building, this is the largest public event of the year, and we welcomed 5,600 music lovers into our nave (and might we say, our bathrooms) each evening for 6:45and 8:45 performances. This year’s lineup was excellent, and we had as many as 992 in our nave in one evening. Here is our attendance summary:
An average of 621 paid attendance each evening. The low count on Wednesday was due to rain, and the drop on Saturday was the high heat and humidity.
Our arrangement with the Jazz Festival is for them to provide the sound and light system, which has been done expertly these past ten years by Andy Greco and his team from Applied Audio, who has come to know our building intimately from an audio perspective. They also provide a grand piano which they place in the chancel. In past years, they have used our Steinway Grand, but this year chose to use one from their pool. They pay us for Moses’ extra time – which is considerable – and for paper & cleaning products for the restrooms and to cover additional water and electricity use. This $1,500 makes the Festival a break-even event for us. We have free bottled water available each night, for what we call “Church Free.” The woven basket on the table is our subtle hint, and we netted about $375 which has gone into the general operating revenue. One kind soul gave us a donation of $25 “for all we do.”
It would be difficult to over-emphasize the importance of our participation in Downtown Rochester’s signature event. For nine days the East End Cultural District is filled with happy jazz lovers who bring with them a good vibe and make Downtown what we all must hope it could be most of the time. Christ Church is one of the oldest City institutions, and our various links to the life of our community says something very important and very positive about who we are and what we hope to be. To see our nave, chapel, and aisles filled with friendly faces, and to see our front yard filled with happy people cannot help but make us all proud and hopeful. One evening the line to get in stretched from the front porch to the curb of East Avenue.
We interact with all the musicians from overseas and the concert-goers, and we can say with absolute certainly that thousands of people have an extraordinarily positive image of Christ Church, Rochester, NY. Several of the key musicians who have been here more than once tell us that this is definitely their favorite venue. They are blown away by the sheer beauty of the interior, the majestic organ they see from the chancel as they perform, and they always remark on the hospitality they receive from us. As people leave each performance, we hear over and over again, how much they love this place, and how appreciative they are to be welcomed into our space. We cannot tell how many will come to a service, Tuesday Pipes, or Compline, but we hear many “promises!” We have also received many accolades in the British jazz press, the musicians, and the journalists covering this event.
Finally, we want to thank everyone at Christ Church who cooperates with and helps us host this wonderful nine days of great jazz. We have a stalwart band of volunteers from within and outside the Parish who come back each year to be a part of the goings-on. And we very much appreciate and value the cooperation of the Rector, Wardens, and Vestry for your support. This is both a great event and an on-going opportunity for Christ Church. We look forward to 2019!
Respectfully submitted,
The Jazz Festival Committee
Joe and Vicki McCutcheon and Carlos Mercado
New Addition Meals
A "New Addition Meal" being enjoyed at the Vogt house
Impromptu Tours
With a big shout out and round of applause to Joe and Vicki McCutchon for leading and photos
click on the photo for the full effect
Christ Church Vestry Minutes July 17, 2018
Capital Campaign: Jessica Tower provided an in depth progress report, including upcoming listening sessions, plans for a Gala event to showcase to friends of Christ Church all of the wonderful things that happen at the community cornerstone which is Christ Church (November 10), and RoCo tree sculpture grand opening, around Sept. 7.
Finance Committee Report: Meg reported on the recent Finance Committee Meeting. The committee discussed the pros and cons of enlisting a professional financial planner to manage our funds.
The Finance Committee discussed the current state of the Christ Church apartment.Repairs are needed, and church leaders will meet with the current tenant to discuss the relationship of those repairs with his tenancy.
Property Report: Kyle stated that the Bid Date for Lawn Street Wall Repair is Tuesday, July 23.
Deb said she met with a representative of GC Carpet, who suggested replacing carpets with carpet tiles. Deb also said an engineer has inspected the floor boards of Wilder Hall. He will return for further inspection.
Warden’s Report: Deb announced the date of September 7 for the Newcomer Dinner, a pot luck hosted by the Vestry. It will be a story sharing night, i.e., parishioners telling stories about how they first came to Christ Church.
Vestry On Call: Paul Sackett was a faithful parishioner who died last spring. There has been no memorial service. Deb will ask Rev. Steven Metcalfe to plan a memorial service as part of Tuesday 12:05 Eucharist.
Respectfully submitted by David C. Jutsum, clerk of the Vestry.
Vestry Meeting Tuesday, June 19, 2018 Minutes
Capital Campaign Report. The members of the committee are hard workers who dedicate themselves to a collaborative effort with a discernible spiritual slant. He announced a Campaign event to be held in the second week of November to recognize donors and showcase partners in the community.
Episcopal SeniorLife Presentation. The Vestry welcomed Courtney McGinness and Jessica Kelly from Episcopal SeniorLife Communities. Per the request of the Vestry on behalf of the Care Committee, they presented a comprehensive overview of options for seniors who are living on their own. Ms. McGinness and Ms. Kelly made themselves available to be called upon about services, resources, and to be pointed in the right direction. They mentioned Life Span, Adult Protective Services,Pace Program Elder One Day Program, and Companion Services are but a few of the agencies which can be called upon to help in providing short term and long term solutions. Episcopal SeniorLifeoffers affordable senior housing, assisted living, and nursing home options.
Property Committee. Kyle reported that the completed bid documents for Lawn Street Wall Repair are ready. Bids will come in July 12 [since changed to July 24]. Deb reported that both grants have given approval if there is a delay of the beginning of the work.
Kyle reported that a Lighting Engineer is interested in coming up with a plan for improvements in lighting which have been discussed at previous Vestry meetings.
Deb reported a bid for resealing the parking lot: $1270.00. A dumpster and a heavy lift from Lawn Street Wall Repair might damage the new sealcoating. No decision for right now was made.
Deb announced that new blackout blinds have been installed in the Guild Room.
Finance Committee Report:
The 44 page Audit was presented to the Vestry via E-mail by Meg, in compliance with Diocesan policy. Highlights: Systems are now backed up via the cloud. Thanks to Lucie, Kyle, Meg, and Bill Soleim for their work on the Audit.
Warden’s Report.
Deb reported that she approved Vicki McCutchon’s request for 3 quiet fans for the Jazz Fest.
Carolyn presented copies of the new parish birthday card, created by Elizabeth Dugdale and Lucie Parfitt.
Deb introduced the issue of Christ Church advertising in the film series pamphlet published by Christians Witnessing for Palestine. Motion passed with 2 abstentions.
Deb asked the Vestry to approve, and the clerk to sign, a resolution authorizing Deb to accept funds from the NYS State Grant for repair of the clerestory windows, as required by State policy. The resolution was unanimously approved.
RESOLVED: That Deborah VanderBilt, as Warden of Christ Church Society, is hereby authorized and directed to accept funds from the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation in accordance with the provisions of Title 9 of the Environmental Protection Act of 1993, in an amount not to exceed $106,614.00, and to enter into and execute a project agreement with the State for such financial assistance to Christ Church Society for repair of clerestory windows, and if appropriate, a conservationeasement/preservation/public access covenant to the deed to the assisted property.
Safety and Security: Meg reported an update on Safety and Security Committee. She is in communication with a RPD officer, who has offered to make a presentation, and do a walkthrough. Meg recommends beginning with the smaller committee along with Moses. After that a meeting for the entire parish could be scheduled. Some training will also be available for those interested.
Respectfully submitted by David C. Jutsum, clerk of the Vestry.
Vestry Minutes May 22, 2018
ACTION ITEMS:
1. Meg will put a Finance update in the Sunday Bulletin.
2. Deb will call both grants to see if we can put off Lawn Street Wall repair until 2019,ifnecessary.
3. Deb will ask Jeremy for the name of the Pittsford Episcopal Church rug guy.
4. Deb, Vicki, Beatrice, and Lucie will work on Bulletin Board changes.
5. Kyle will pass new Sunday Bulletin format changes by Ruth for input and approval.
6. Deb will pursue developing postcards and concerts as fundraisers, in response to Diocesan Congregational Committee suggestions.
7. Deb requests all Vestry to greet the Bishop at Coffee Hour on May 27.
Present: Deborah VanderBilt and Kyle Liddell, Wardens; Margaret Britt, Meg Mackey, James Kurmis, Carolyn Mauro, Lucie Parfitt, Valerie Jutsum, and Joseph Schaller, Vestry; Norman Geil, for Treasurer’s report; John Fields, for Property report. Absent: Rev. Ruth Ferguson, Rector; and Jeremy Cooney , Vestry. Recorded by David C. Jutsum, clerk.
Deb chaired the meeting. Joe spoke the Opening Prayer. Carolyn acted as Timekeeper.
Norm presented the Treasurer’s Report. The target for the budget at the end of April was 33.3%. Income was at 42% and expenses were at 35%. The budget had predicted a deficit of about $11,540. Instead, there is a surplus of over $7,000.
We have received the first reimbursement for Ruth’s Medical Leave from the Medical Insurance.
We are changing Disposal Services from Waste Management to Youngblood. The saving will be $60-$70/month.
Norm recommended changing our Copier Contract from Toshiba to Cannon. A five year contract featuring unlimited toner, same extra copy charge, 2-3 hour response time, and removal and installation of equipment will save $66/month.
Kyle presented the Warden’s Report. He began by reading Ruth’s Rector’s Report. Synopsis: The healing process is taking place, but it is a difficult road. Ruth hopes to return July 1, easing back in slowly: “So much of our lives and our calling is surely this: not the life we plan, but how we respond to the life that is happening to us.” The specifics of Ruth’s return will be discussed at the July Vestry Meeting.
Deb asked the Vestry to choose a month for the Newcomer’s Dinner. September was agreed upon. Deb will start with a Doodle Poll of the Vestry.
John Fields presented the Property Report. He passed out a photo of the Ambulatory Wall, and described the story of its construction, eventual fall into disrepair, and plan for reconstruction.Summary: Bero Architectural has almost completed the bid request. After they go out, bids should then be received within about two weeks. The length of the project should be somewhere in the 4-8 week timeframe. It probably can’t be started any later than September 1, because of weather concerns. Deb will call both Grants to see if we can put off construction until 2019, if necessary.
Other work to be done will be the responsibility of the parish. This includes molding, carpet, drywall, windows, and roof, in terms of removal, repair, rebuild, reinstall, varnish, and such. John will supervise these in-house responsibilities.
The hallway inside will not be usable during the project. The sidewalk outside the wall will be blocked off by the contractor. A summary sheet by John is appended to the minutes.
Peg presented the Outreach Liaison Report. Here is a list of the salient points:
1.RAIHN : 6 new volunteers have joined. Beatrice Deshommes wants to individualize the RAIHN section of the hallway bulletin board. Beatrice, Vicki, Lucie, and Deb will discuss this.
2.Vicki is getting volunteers for Jazz Fest.
3.CC is hosting the Make Music Festival in the front lawn, hosted by Bernunzio Uptown Music on Thursday June 21, from 12-8 PM.
4. Vicki McCutchon reports 10 upcoming weddings, including 2 for parishioners, for a total of 15 this year.
5.”Growing Family” meals is a ministry that is getting off the ground. (Just what it sounds like-meals provided for families with new babies).
6.A list of school supplies needed for the new year will be coming from CC Pittsford for School #9.
Deb led a brief discussion of an offer from the Diocese to save money by using an early payment discount on our Congregational Development Loan. We are in a deficit budget, but we will revisit if we receive any bequests this year.
Kyle opened up a discussion of changes in Sunday Bulletin Format. The basic idea is to make the Bulletin more accessible to visitors, and, especially to those who are not familiar with the Episcopal form of liturgical worship. It is quite possible that, to someone walking into an Episcopal church for the first time, the impression is that we are intimidating, catholic, and conservative. Kyle had fashioned two possible facelifts. Many potential changes were discussed. The Vestry was invited to give Kyle suggestions, which he will pass by Ruth in a week, for input and approval.
The final discussion was led by Meg, Peg, and Deb. It had to do with a meeting which Meg, Peg, Deb, and Bill Soleim attended: the Diocesan Congregational Development Committee. We are asking the Diocese for a grant. At that meeting, They ask the parish general questions like, what is the parish about and what are our goals? More specifically, what efforts are our congregation making for fundraising which would complement the grant we are requesting? Here is a list of suggestions which the Diocesan Committee suggested CC looks into:
8. Involve Senior Centers , including Episcopal Church Home, in Tuesday Pipes.
9. A more obvious collection plate at Compline, which is more obvious and well lit.
10. Sponsored concerts.
11. Sell stuff at Jazz Fest, maybe on the lawn.
12. Postcards, Bookmarks, Posters, and Notecards, of CC stained glass windows.
Deb will pursue postcards and concerts as fundraisers.
One Vestry on Call Report was then noted. A parishioner had much trouble getting an address change with the church office. Deb will work with Pat to help her create a dynamic directory.
A written Capital Campaign Report was a part of the Agenda. (Appendix 2).
Joe closed with prayer.
Submitted by David C. Jutsum, clerk.
Appendix 1
Appendix 2:
Capital Campaign Committee - Report to the Vestry
5/22/2018
Campaign Tally: $466,000
Action:
• Implemented new database, inputted all donor data
• Sent pledge reminder letters for 2018 and Campaign Update
• Naming Opportunities Updated
• Met with Lois Jones and Meal and More
• Updated all Campaign Policies and Procedures
• Soliciting Donors in Person
Outcomes:
• Received $25,000 in new gifts
• Receiving pledge payments for 2018
• Determined all-inclusive campaign will include kitchen as approved by Vestry (2 possible donors identified to fund this portion est. at $100,000)
Next Steps:
• Meet with all Parish, if meeting is declined then a pledge card and letter will be mailed to them
• Publish Campaign Update
• Begin Cultivating and Soliciting Members of the Community (outside Parish/Vestry)
• Follow-up with all verbal commitments for payments and anyone who has not yet committed
Vestry Minutes, March 2018
Vestry Minutes March 20, 2018
Visit from Jessica Tower, Capital Campaign Consultant
Jessica Tower was welcomed to the meeting. She has been a professional fundraiser for fifteen years. Coincidentally, she has previous connections to the Father’s House, and to the Eastman School. She offered an overview of how she hopes to approach her work at Christ Church. She will begin with a Listening Tour, as she becomes acquainted with the community. She will be officially introduced at both services on April 15. She will also be available at coffee hour that day. She will meet with the church staff. She wants them to know that she is available to them. She will supply monthly reports to the Vestry. To sum up, if the Capital Campaign team could be said to be a car moving through traffic, concentrating on looking at the car right ahead, Jessica will be helping by providing the bigger picture of reaching the final destination. The Capital Campaign at Christ Church is an endeavor which she looks forward to embracing with passion and enthusiasm.
2. Visit from Padraic Collins-Bohrer
Paddy asked the Vestry for a letter of support from the Vestry, to be part of the final step toward ordination to the priesthood. This letter, to be written by Ruth, in ink, and signed by the Vestry, will be sent to Carolyn McConnell at Diocesan HQ, in time for Paddy’s meeting with the Commission on Ministry on Saturday, April 28.
Paddy also gave us an update on his new assignments. Since February 21, he has been at the Church of the Ascension. He has entered into the preaching rotation. His fellow deacon there is Christ Church alumnus Lucy Alonzo. He is also working full time as a chaplain at Strong Hospital. This includes a learning component. He works in the Burn, ICU, Medical Trauma, and Psychiatric Units. He considers his participation in this ministry to be an honor.
Paddy is beginning to have discussions with the Bishop about work opportunities after ordination. The Vestry thanked Paddy for his faithful response to a calling from God which, though rewarding, involves difficult and trying challenges.
3. Rector’s Time
Ruth and the Executive Committee have decided it best for her to take a three month leave of absence, beginning right after Easter Sunday. She is fighting a very serious disease, and she must have time to rest, without stress, to give her the best chance to get better. The Vestry commended her determination to work as long as she has, in spite of being very ill. Fr. Steven Metcalfe and Fr. Bruce Griffith will be among the supply priests subbing for her in her absence.
4. Warden’s Report:
Deb said 3 people have agreed to act as liaisons to help while Ruth is gone: Deb will be liaison to ROCO; Kyle will be liaison to the Eastman; and, Norm Geil will be liaison to the Father’s House.
5. Capital Campaign Committee:
Joe announced that there is now a Capital Campaign tab on the CC website. It features a thermometer, synopsis of projects, and a donate button. Thanks to Colin Soleim for designing the site.
6. Discussion of Safety and Security Meeting Report:
Kyle reported that many big, difficult issues were brought to the forefront at this meeting held on Feb. 28, which was a forum for concerns about safety in the church; especially, in the light of the many tragic mass killings which have happened across the country. There have been incidents at Christ Church which, although “handled”, have revealed the need for professional guidance. We want everyone to be safe, and to take all necessary measures to ensure that.
A committee of volunteers from the Safety and Security Meeting has formed and will send back recommendations concerning all of these issues. Meg will act as liaison to the Committee, whose members will be Joe and Vicki McCutchon, Spencer and Hope McGuckin, Pru Kirkpatrick, Lois Jones, and Jonathan Falk.
7. Proposal for Garden from ROCO:
The Vestry discussed ROCO’s art project for June-October. It is a concrete tree with LED leaves that change color. One possible location was the center circle, but the Vestry decided the lawn adjacent to ROCO where the other installations have been was a better location for the tree as well.
8. Deb reported that the Sunday evening pre-compline talk by Cynthia Houck on March 18 was well attended. Cynthia encouraged her listeners to join her in supporting a building which in this day and age cannot be rebuilt.
Respectfully submitted by David C. Jutsum, clerk of the Vestry.
Grants Update
WE GOT GRANTS!
GRANT UPDATE- December 19, 2017
The Christ Church grant team is thrilled to announce that the church was granted a New York State historical preservation grant for just over $106,000. The grant team applied for these funds to fix the six clerestory windows, which have damaged sills, frames, and panes, and therefore have let water into the building, which is partially responsible for the piece of the ceiling that fell from the North Aisle a couple of years ago. (The other element responsible was the roof on that aisle, which has already been repaired.) This work will be scheduled for Summer 2020. The grant team was inspired by the successful application by Ron Vukman to get a similar grant from NYS in 2009. It is rare to get a second grant in such a short time, and the grant team is grateful to everyone who helped by supplying us with information, especially Stephen Kennedy and Norm Geil. We are also so grateful for our partners Meal & More and The Father’s House, whose leadership wrote supporting letters to us, and to those in the community who also wrote letters supporting our application.
Deb VanderBilt is also especially grateful to Val Jutsum, who happened to be at home within reach of her phone at the moment before Deb hit the “Submit” button on the grant website. Val and Deb claimed the verse “where 2 or 3 are gathered” and prayed for a successful outcome. : ) Thanks to the whole grant team: Deb VanderBilt, Tom Foster, Meg Mackey, Peg Britt, and Hugh Kierig.
This brings our grant total for repair work to $148,000. These grant funds will go a long way toward helping the church pay for repair of the Lawn St. wall and the Nave repair and repainting projects.
Below is the original posting about our Grant process and hopes. I left it in to underline how wonderfully these prayers were answered.-ed.
old news
[The grant-writing team (Deb VanderBilt, Tom Foster, Meg Mackey, Peg Britt, and Hugh Kierig) has finished this year’s round of applications. In general, grants are available in the historic preservation category; in other words, we have to specify a building project and the grant will go toward repairs. Here’s an update on where we are with our grants.
In January, we applied for a grant from Sacred Sites (a part of the New York Conservancy Trust) for $50,000 for our buckling wall on Lawn Street. We received $25,000, which the grant administrator told us is typically the upper limit of what they award. We must match that grant 50-50 (no problem, since the wall repairs will cost at least $130K).
In May, we applied for two grants for the wall as well: to the Rochester Community Foundation Grant for $25,000 and to the Partners for Sacred Places for an unspecified amount (the first step is a “letter of intent”). We should hear from RCF in October, and we already heard we did not make the first cut from Partners for Sacred Places.
In July, we applied to New York State for a Historic Preservation Grant. Because our church is in a zip code that is characterized by high poverty, if we get this grant it will be a 75/25 match (we pay 25%). We applied for the grant for clerestory window repair, since the criterion for the grant is urgency. Water infiltration caused part of the ceiling under these leaky windows to fall down, so we believe we have a good case that window repairs are urgent. The application was for about $120,000, and we will hear in January about whether or not we receive it.
We also applied in May for a Congregational Development Grant from the Diocese. This grant can be used for our deficit, so it is very different from the historic preservation grants. If we get it, we are eligible to be on a 5-year cycle of grant renewal, but it will be less each year as we work toward sustainability. To apply for the grant, the team worked on a plan of action to “develop” our congregation: communicating better about what we do to the community and other ways of growing our congregation. We applied for $35,000 and we will hear in September or October from the diocese if we get the grant. They can say no, give the full amount we asked for, or give a lesser amount based on the total they have to allocate within the diocese.
It’s because of this final grant that Ruth, Deb, and Joe were required to attend the College for Congregational Development, to learn tools that will help us grow Christ Church both “inside,” in what we do to develop spiritual lives and fellowship in our church, and outside, in what we do to live out our mission and attract others to work with us on that mission.]
It’s also in connection with the Diocesan grant that you took the survey about what attracted you to Christ Church and why you stay. Here are the results of that survey (except the comments, which even though anonymous we are treating as confidential:
Member Survey: 63 responses
Question 1: What caused you to visit Christ Church for a church service (other than Compline) the first time? (Click all that apply)
I was looking for a faith community 50.00% 26
Heard about it from someone I know 46.15% 24
Found it through the website 13.46% 7
Was in the neighborhood and was curious 13.46% 7
Attended Compline, then came to a service 7.69% 4
Read about it in the newspaper 1.92% 1
Found it via Facebook 1.92% 1
Attended Jazz Festival then came to a service 0.00% 0
Question 2: What was it about Christ Church that caused you to attend regularly or become a member? (Click all that apply.)
The music 70.4% 43
The preaching 63.9% 39
The Christ Church community 59.0% 36
The way the service is conducted (the liturgy) 57.3% 35
The physical space (Sanctuary) 47.5% 29
The outreach initiatives of Christ Church 34.4% 21
Question 3: If you had to pick a PRIMARY reason why you attend Christ Church regularly or are a member, what would you pick?
The music 26.6% 16
The Christ Church community 26.6% 16
The liturgy 20% 12
The preaching 18.3% 11
*Question 3 responses by those at CC 8 or fewer years:
The preaching 31% 9
The Christ Church community 24.1% 7
The music 20.6% 6
The liturgy 17.2% 5
The Care Team
is here to help
The Christ Church Care Team is a volunteer ministry to help parishioners on a temporary basis as they recover from surgery, suffer the death of a loved one, are home bound or in the hospital, or need support due to another kind of loss or difficult transition. The Care Team assists parishioners in need with the following: shopping, meals, pet care, house help, phone calls to check in, and home and hospital visits. Please notify the Rector if you or someone you know could use Care Team support. [Care Team Leaders: Shirley Ricker, Norma Kurmis, Lydia Worboys, Peg Britt, Elizabeth Dugdale, Kyle Liddell and Jim Blake]