Dear Bethesda Friends,
 
We are now well into the new church calendar year with the season of Advent and all that that means: centering, preparing for and joyfully anticipating the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Advent is a time of so many glorious services, concerts, and events at Bethesda, which help us focus on the real meaning of Christmas and the redeeming gift of the incarnation.  

Much is happening in the temporal realm as well. As the fiscal year comes to a close, I would like to thank everyone who has made a financial commitment to Bethesda, especially new pledgers. At the Vestry's request, I would also like to stress in this update the importance of year-end giving in hopes that everyone will make a generous year-end gift to Bethesda to keep us on strong financial footing. 

It is a busy time of assessing what has been accomplished in the year ending and planning what work we will focus on in the coming year. The following are outlines of some of this work:
 
Leaders of all the Vestry Sub-Committees and Rector's Sub-Committees participated in a 2018 Annual Planning Review on November 29 to review progress towards the strategic objectives for their respective ministries in 2018. Each ministry area reviewed its statement of purpose and scope and considered the following points: what were the major achievements and challenges of 2018 and what has been achieved towards realizing the 2018 strategic priority; what is the planned strategic priority for this ministry in 2019 and what are its planned outcomes (scope, organization, leaders, staff, results) and major changes/enhancements; and what is the planned strategic priority for this ministry in 2020.
 
This thoughtful reflection and planning helps to focus all these ministries' work going forward and is taken into consideration in the formation of the 2019 budget. It also will be summarized in the January 2019 Bethesda Plan available at the annual meeting in January.
 
Over the last three meetings, the Vestry has been engaged in a discussion about the process for developing Bethesda's Five Year Strategic Priorities and how they impact strategic planning and ministry activities.  We have also been working on updating the Strategic Priorities which will guide us in decision making going forward.  The Building and Grounds Sub-Committee, under the leadership of Junior Warden Connie Purcell, has been developing a five-year plan for maintenance and preservation of our precious buildings and grounds in a pro-active way, for the most effective and efficient use of our resources, and for use in development planning. All of this work will be summarized in the Bethesda Plan as well. 
 
Another important planning activity is the work by the Nominating Sub-Committee, headed by Leadership and Governance Sub-Committee Chair, Paul Coombs, to develop a slate of nominees for Vestry service and service as Delegates to the Diocesan Convention. Nominations are accepted from the congregation at large and also invited by the committee. Identifying leaders who are candidates for Chair positions for the four Vestry Sub-Committees (Leadership & Governance, Finance, Audit, and Buildings & Grounds), who in accordance with our by-laws must be Vestry members, is a key part of this process. At the same time, and throughout the year, Leadership & Governance members seek to encourage members of the congregation to take on leadership roles in various Bethesda ministries and develop their talents in service of our mission. The proposed slate of 2019 nominees for Vestry members and Delegates will be voted on at the December 19 Vestry meeting and then be presented to the congregation. Election will occur at the annual meeting on January 27, 2019.
 
All of this planning work reminds me anew of the amount of commitment, dedication, and sacrifice that Bethesda parishioners give freely and lovingly in support of all our ministries. I feel enormous pride in Bethesda and gratitude to all of you who are the hands and feet of Jesus in carrying out our christian mission. 
 
Finally, what better way to prepare for the coming of the Lord than to participate in the December 15 "Way of Love" (also known as "Evangelism 101") workshop led by Canon Stephanie Spellers and Presiding Bishop Michael Curry's Evangelism Team? It promises to be an uplifting event which will inspire us to go out into the world and do the work that God has given us to do, to share God's love through words and actions. More than 500 people are registered to attend! If you can not attend the Saturday event, please make sure to come hear Canon Spellers preach at any of the three services this Sunday and lead our Adult Forum at 10 o'clock.  

In addition, I hope you’ll join me and other fellow parishioners on our Celtic Pilgrimage in May 2019. It’s time to register for this incredible experience, so please download or pick up the materials and fill them out. Please don’t hesitate to get in touch with Father James, Paul Coombs, Don Smith, or me if you wish to discuss this further.
 
Wishing you all a blessed Christmas, and see you at Bethesda.
 
Yours in Christ,
Beth Cole
Senior Warden