• Our choristers traveled to England to be the choir in residence at Canterbury Cathedral.
• Speaking of England, a dozen parishioners inaugurated what we hope will be the first of many pilgrimages to England.
• We opened our space for the 4th season of our Overflow Homeless Shelter. This is our 3rd full season of at least 120 days.
• We welcomed the 6th class of Abraham Project interns. We also welcomed Becky Johnston as the first paid director of the program.
• We opened our space to Law Enforcement for prayer and refreshment on a 24/7 basis.
• We introduced Catechesis of the Good Shepherd to our children, enhancing what is already a robust children's formation culture.
• We introduced two new adult formation studies; one weekly lectionary class and one theology seminar.
• The Vestry made significant steps towards launching a capital campaign by meeting with different campaign consultants.
• We removed bats (successfully!) from all of our buildings.
• We pledged to properly bury any infants who remain "unclaimed" at Forsyth Medical Center.
• The numbers aren't officially tabulated, but it looks as if average Sunday attendance will be down about 4 or 5 from the previous year. 
• Stewardship, however, increased by 17%. 

This is certainly not an exhaustive list. Mission trips to Costa Rica continued. Our small groups continued. There is so much good that is happening. But in many ways this was a most challenging year for the church staff. We were without Christin Barnhardt for much of the year. While we are most happy for him, we said goodbye to John Roberts as he became the interim chaplain at Canterbury School in Greensboro. Other staff members battled illness and the loss of loved ones. And we were still without a communications staff person. I write all of this to not only acknowledge the realities of the past year, but more importantly to emphasize Our Lord's fidelity to us. Despite these challenges, so much happened. I don't mean in terms of busyness but in spiritual growth and transformation. I mean in terms of prayer, devotion, study, and the constant recognition of Christ in every person who walks this Earth.

I oftentimes wonder what Our Lord is trying to teach us with each passing year. I think in 2016, at least for me personally, the lesson was to keep calm and carry on. Keep saying your prayers. Keep doing what we've been called to do. The rhythm of religion is the stability that keeps us upright during the vicissitudes of passing around the sun for another time. I have no idea what 2017 will bring. I'm sure there will be some very good and some not so good. All I can control - all we can control - is how I/we respond. There is much more to be said, but now it's getting time for Evening Prayer and I must go bask in the vesper light.

Yours,
Fr Steve Rice