Gentle reader, you will find below reports from a few of Grace's ministry teams. These will be available for your perusal at the annual meeting on Sunday; if, by some unhappy chance, you are not able to attend, you can read the reports below:
Adult Education
Committee
As you may already know the Weeks Adult Forum and the Young Adults Group meet most Sundays at 9:30 for book discussions, scripture readings, and thoughtful dialog. Please feel welcome to join us. Over the past year we have had several book studies. The Adult Formation Team is planning to focus on Racial Reconciliation in the coming year. To engage in a dialog on this topic we will be looking at an Advent program, film series, book discussions, Sunday forums and an invited guest for Grace Speaks.
David Stanislawski
Children and Youth Ministry
Committee
The children's department continues to grow, especially in the younger age groups. Vivian Dodds is shepherding the program due to Maria's current illness. Many parents have stepped in to help. Since starting a year and a half ago, the Godly Play room has become a favorite place of the children. We are grateful for the bookshelves made by parent Jeff Bertrand which have made the room even more hospitable.
The Summer Arts Camp continues to be a favorite with our members and the community. Having cut back to one week, it was probably no surprise that we ended up with five classes instead of four.
Andy Belcher and Vivian Dodds are coordinating EYC and are working with other local youth leaders for ChattEY. Riley Hendrix and Jackson Rickets attended Happening at Grace Point. Although there are not weekly meetings, Andy and Vivian are hoping to have at least two events per month.
Maria Hurt, Vivian Dodds
Endowment Committee Committee
Members: Tom Carroll, Randy Durham, Andy Lane, Todd Morgan, Joyce Smith, Edith Snider
Non-Voting Supporting Members: Rev. April Berends; Tom Makepeace – Senior Warden; Terry Burnett – Treasurer; Jim Milburn – Finance Chairman; Jim Harris – Vestry Liaison
About the Endowment -- The purpose of the Endowment Fund is to enable Grace Episcopal Church to fulfill its mission in the community and the world. It is the intent of both the Vestry and Endowment Committee that money from the growth and income of the Fund be used to assist in funding programs in ministry and outreach consistent with our mission statement. The Fund is not to be used for the normal day-to-day operating expenses of the Church except as otherwise designated in the enabling resolution of the Endowment Policies and Guidelines. In the case of a great emergency endangering the existence of the Church, principal from the Fund could be withdrawn after at least a four-fifths (80%) concurring vote of both the Endowment Committee and the Vestry. However, a unanimous vote of the entire Vestry would prevail. The Fund is intended to grow primarily through ongoing endowments from the parishioners of the Church, and secondarily through growth and income on the Fund’s investments. The Endowment and Investment Fund is a ministry in stewardship for Grace Episcopal Church.
Balance of the Fund 10/31/18
Investment Fund $1,289,228
Loan to Church + $247,823
Total Value $1,537,051
Investment Strategy: The high-level Investment Strategy recommended by ECF/SSgA and the Committee and approved by the Vestry is 70% Equities and 30% Fixed Assets.
Amount invested in equities = $902,460 (59%)
Amount invested in Fixed Assets (including loan) = $634,591 (41%)
The 70/30 strategy may be viewed as risky by some, but taking the loan into consideration, the true investment ratio is 59/41.
2019 Use of Proceeds: As stated earlier, it is the intent of both the Vestry and Endowment Committee that money from the growth and income of the Fund be used to assist in funding programs in ministry and outreach consistent with our mission statement. The Fund is not to be used for the normal day-to-day operating expenses of the Church. The estimated proceeds for use in 2019 is $71,000 and the tentative plans for use of the annual proceeds from the non-restricted funds are:
Metropolitan Ministries/Community Kitchen
Brainerd Farmers Market
Utility Assistance for those in need
Grace Speaks
Summer Arts Camp
Music at Grace
Diocesan Commitment
In addition, three of the sub-accounts of the Endowment are Donor Restricted. The Donor left specific instructions for the use of their bequest. They are:
Altar Flower Fund – Used for altar flowers only. We did reach out to the heirs and received permission to expand the use of this fund for other flowers or the Memorial Garden upkeep.
Courtyard Upkeep -- Once again, we reached out to the heirs and are awaiting letter giving us permission to use this fund proceeds for the larger gardens and grounds at Grace
Scholarship – This fund was specifically to be used for a scholarship for a Grace family to send a child or children to St. Nicholas school. The heirs are not flexible on this. We will soon announce the creation of this scholarship and publicize an overview of the process and an application form.
Music Ministry
The Grace Choir continues to grow both in number and musically. In February, we participated in the Metropolitan Ministry Evensong with our sister Churches,
St. Paul’s, St. Timothy’s, Church of the Good Shepherd and St. Mark’s. We will participate with them again in February of 2019. In April, the choir said goodbye to two staff singers and welcomed two more this fall, Janelle Wagoner and Elisabeth Schrock. We sang Evensong for All Saint’s Day and we also invite you to Advent Lessons and Carols on December 2, 5pm, and Christmas Eve Music at 10:30pm, before the Liturgy at 11pm. Thank you for your support of the Music Ministry and the choir.
David Long
Outreach
Committee
The Outreach Committee feels it is very important for you to know where your outreach contributions go. Over the past year we have given out over 280 food vouchers for the Chattanooga Food Bank as well as 356 food boxes from our own food pantry for needy families in the community. We have also provided $1,500 in bus passes. In addition, the Brainerd Farmers Market has provided almost $1500 in double SNAP savings through a generous donation from AARP. In addition, your support of the Rector and Associate Rector discretionary funds has allowed them to distribute about $17,000 to provide help with utilities, rent, travel, etc. for those in need. There is great need in our neighborhood and we thank you for your generosity in enabling us to help them.
In addition to these efforts here at Grace we continue to support the Community Kitchen with $500 as well as clothing and book donations. We also supported Metropolitan Ministries with a $1500 donation, as well as well as donations for their cupboard on “Souper” Bowl Sunday, Mother’s Day, and Father’s Day. We are currently collecting grocery gift cards to be distributed for Thanksgiving. We will be serving our annual Christmas breakfast at MetMin on December 11 and giving their clients McDonalds gift cards. We gave Fr. John $5000 for medical supplies for his Haiti trip. Maria made 3 trips to Barger to give them the school supplies we collected at the beginning of this school year. If you have been keeping tabs this amounts to over $100 a day every day of the year in support to those in need.
During this coming year, as part of the Mayor’s initiative, we hope to be able to join forces with one of the Black churches in our community to provide support to one of our at-risk neighborhood schools, Woodmore. In addition, we will be further investigating the Community Bail Bond project and may be asking for your support.
David Stanislawski
Parish Life
Committee
For the coming year Parish Life will host the following functions:
Mardi Gras pancake supper
Refreshments after Easter Saturday night vigil
Birthday party on Pentecost Sunday
Reception for Bishop's visit in spring
Lunch for Rally Day
St. Francis Blessing of the Animals
Pre-Thanksgiving Tuesday night soup supper
Lunch for the annual Parrish meeting in November
St. Nicholas Dinner
All funeral receptions
Receptions for any other special events
Coylee Bryan
Planned Giving Committee
Justin Bolinger – Co Chairman; Phaen Stone – Co Chairman; Linn Finck;
Andy Lane; Edith Snider
As I said earlier, the Endowment Fund is intended to grow primarily through ongoing endowments from the parishioners of the Church, and secondarily through growth and income on the Fund’s investments.
Last year we created the Planned Giving Committee to raise an awareness at Grace of the need for its parishioners to have a will, estate plan, a living will, etc. and to remember Grace in your plans. The Committee held 2 events (“A Conversation About Planned Giving”) in 2018 and they are already planning some interesting programs for 2019. Watch for announcements in Grace Notes and make the time to attend, you won’t regret it.
