Office of Transition Ministry Portfolio (OTM)
1. Describe your liturgical style and practice for all types of worship services provided by your community.
Our liturgical style is based on the Book of Common Prayer primarily focusing on Rite II and including general liturgical forms. We incorporate music from The Hymnal 1982, Renew: Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship, and Lift Every Voice and Sing II. We utilize the organ, and when available the flute, violin, and guitar. Lay ministry continues in worship through Eucharistic ministers and occasional preachers. (Four parishioners
are licensed lay preachers.)
2. How do you practice incorporating others in Ministry?
We have a very active church community at St. Anne’s. While we are in the process of updating job descriptions and incorporating newer members into vacant positions, we include parishioners with the following responsibilities: Lay Preachers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Music Director, Christian Formation, Administration, Almoner, Altar Guild Coordinator, Sacramentalist Coordinator, Facility Manager, Fellowship Administrator, Finance Coordinator, Ministry Developer, Outreach Coordinator, Pastoral Care Minister, Secretary, and Treasurer.
3. As a worshipping Community, how do you care for your spiritual, emotional, and physical well being?
Our doors are open to community groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, ALANON, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. We have an informal and active social hour every Sunday after services. On the fifth Sunday of the month, we hold a potluck “5th Sunday Brunch" for fellowship. We hold an annual summer church picnic immediately following a Sunday service at the home of a parishioner. Once a month, we offer a crafts evening to encourage fellowship while crafts are being created. We have an active ECW that supports the Diocesan ECW (“Lead them and Guide them”), St. Anne’s Food Pantry, and Women to Women. In addition they provide funds for the Angel Tree at Christmas, the Boy’s Home in Covington, and the Jackson Field Home for Girls. We offer adult Christian Education on Wednesday evenings. We hold occasional Men’s breakfasts, and a group of men gather one night a month to play cards. We participate as a church in the Relay for Life and in local Habitat for Humanity projects. We offer pastoral counseling for parishioners, including pre-marital counseling.
4. How do we engage in pastoral care of those beyond our worshipping community?
St. Anne’s established and continues to operate a Clothing Exchange for those less fortunate in our community. We distribute food to those in need through our food pantry. A Wednesday evening Healing Service, with Eucharist, is offered monthly for all members of the community at large. In addition, Healing is performed by lay ministers in the rear of the church on Sundays during Eucharist. We maintain an on-going prayer list that includes members, their families, and non-members who need God’s help. We share our unused items with the Appomattox community by holding an annual “Free Yard Sale”. We hold an annual “Honor a Friend Sunday,” a time to recognize special people in our lives and the community. We have shared our Wednesday evening Bible Study with individuals from the Appomattox community. Priest and Lay Ministers make pastoral visits to homebound and hospitalized patients. Communion is also offered to those desiring so during these visits. We hold annual “Blessing of the Backpacks and Briefcases” and “Blessing of the Animals” Sundays.
5. Describe your worshipping community’s involvement in either the wider church or geographical region.
We have an active ECW chapter. A member serves on the Diocesan Executive Board and is Chairman of the Program Budget & Review Committee. Members attend the Bishop’s Day with Vestries and Church Leaders. We attend meetings and support the activities of our Convocation. We attend the Annual Diocesan Council. Our clergy regularly attends Appomattox Interdenominational Clergy meetings. Our congregation participates at the annual Railroad Festival and Habitat for Humanity construction projects. We participate with other denominations in the Lenten Lunch Series and also Holy Week services and lunch. We also share an Easter Sunrise Service at the Appomattox Surrender Grounds with other churches and clergy in the area. We conduct an Anniversary Auction and BBQ.
6. Tell about a ministry that your church has initiated in the past five years. Who can be contacted about this?
The “Free Yard Sale” was started three years ago. It provides an avenue for parishioners to offer their unused items (i.e. yard equipment, home appliances and tools) to the less fortunate members of the Appomattox community, at no cost. Becky Olsen is the contact person.
7. What is your practice of Stewardship and how does it shape the life of your worshipping community?
Our Finance Coordinator informs the membership annually of the importance of pledging as pledges form the basis of our budget. Pledge cards are distributed and returned as offering on “In-Gathering Sunday.” A fund-raiser is held each year; the proceeds of which are donated to an outreach program. The grounds of St. Anne’s are maintained by a volunteer member as a part of service to the church. The Facilities Manager (Junior Warden) organizes the membership for occasional “work days.”
8. What is your experience with conflict? And how did we address it?
Our church experienced a loss of approximately 40% of membership as a result of actions taken at General Convention in 2003. Although there were many ill feelings, St. Anne’s prayed for the leaving members and for the continued health of our church. By acknowledging God’s presence in this experience, we have been able to move forward as a congregation. In addition, previous members of St. Anne’s have returned.
9. What is your experience leading / addressing change in the church? When has it gone poorly? What did we learn?
St. Anne’s was a trial case for the establishment of the Team Ministry concept in the diocese of Southern Virginia. This was done because, with our reduced membership, our income would not support a full time priest. As a result, the membership must assume many of the functions performed by a full time priest. Our experience has been that the program is working. We have a very dedicated group of people, and we are able to effectively maintain our services and ministries. The Team Ministry concept is not going poorly; however, our membership has not increased sufficiently to allow for rotating jobs.
10. Describe a moment in your worshipping community’s recent ministry which you recognized as one of success and fulfillment.
Our priest recently received a call to serve another congregation. St. Anne’s was of course saddened, but life continues through Team Ministry. The Team Ministry method continues to keep parishioners involved, and the parish continues to be active in an almost normal way. Sunday worship is often times very inspiring and relationships among parishioners are heartwarming and healthy. We are a true church “family”.
11. How are you preparing yourselves for the Church of the future?
St. Anne’s was a trial case for the establishment of the Team Ministry concept in the diocese of Southern Virginia. The Team Ministry method utilizes the time and talents of the parishioners to fulfill some of the duties often expected of a full-time parish priest. The Search Committee continues to work faithfully to assist in the transition. Although lay ministries are strong and are expected to continue, the members of the parish recognize and long for the presence of a parish priest.
12. Please provide words describing the gifts and skills essential to the future leaders of your worshipping community.
The following characteristics are ones we deem essential: a love of God, love of people, strength of pastoral care, effective teaching and preaching, ability to identify programs and instructional material that excite those interested in serving, prayerful and effective leader of worship, a good listener, promoter and encourager of volunteers to serve in the community, and personal participation in ecumenical and civic activities.
1. Describe your liturgical style and practice for all types of worship services provided by your community.
Our liturgical style is based on the Book of Common Prayer primarily focusing on Rite II and including general liturgical forms. We incorporate music from The Hymnal 1982, Renew: Songs and Hymns for Blended Worship, and Lift Every Voice and Sing II. We utilize the organ, and when available the flute, violin, and guitar. Lay ministry continues in worship through Eucharistic ministers and occasional preachers. (Four parishioners
are licensed lay preachers.)
2. How do you practice incorporating others in Ministry?
We have a very active church community at St. Anne’s. While we are in the process of updating job descriptions and incorporating newer members into vacant positions, we include parishioners with the following responsibilities: Lay Preachers, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, Music Director, Christian Formation, Administration, Almoner, Altar Guild Coordinator, Sacramentalist Coordinator, Facility Manager, Fellowship Administrator, Finance Coordinator, Ministry Developer, Outreach Coordinator, Pastoral Care Minister, Secretary, and Treasurer.
3. As a worshipping Community, how do you care for your spiritual, emotional, and physical well being?
Our doors are open to community groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, ALANON, Boy Scouts, and Girl Scouts. We have an informal and active social hour every Sunday after services. On the fifth Sunday of the month, we hold a potluck “5th Sunday Brunch" for fellowship. We hold an annual summer church picnic immediately following a Sunday service at the home of a parishioner. Once a month, we offer a crafts evening to encourage fellowship while crafts are being created. We have an active ECW that supports the Diocesan ECW (“Lead them and Guide them”), St. Anne’s Food Pantry, and Women to Women. In addition they provide funds for the Angel Tree at Christmas, the Boy’s Home in Covington, and the Jackson Field Home for Girls. We offer adult Christian Education on Wednesday evenings. We hold occasional Men’s breakfasts, and a group of men gather one night a month to play cards. We participate as a church in the Relay for Life and in local Habitat for Humanity projects. We offer pastoral counseling for parishioners, including pre-marital counseling.
4. How do we engage in pastoral care of those beyond our worshipping community?
St. Anne’s established and continues to operate a Clothing Exchange for those less fortunate in our community. We distribute food to those in need through our food pantry. A Wednesday evening Healing Service, with Eucharist, is offered monthly for all members of the community at large. In addition, Healing is performed by lay ministers in the rear of the church on Sundays during Eucharist. We maintain an on-going prayer list that includes members, their families, and non-members who need God’s help. We share our unused items with the Appomattox community by holding an annual “Free Yard Sale”. We hold an annual “Honor a Friend Sunday,” a time to recognize special people in our lives and the community. We have shared our Wednesday evening Bible Study with individuals from the Appomattox community. Priest and Lay Ministers make pastoral visits to homebound and hospitalized patients. Communion is also offered to those desiring so during these visits. We hold annual “Blessing of the Backpacks and Briefcases” and “Blessing of the Animals” Sundays.
5. Describe your worshipping community’s involvement in either the wider church or geographical region.
We have an active ECW chapter. A member serves on the Diocesan Executive Board and is Chairman of the Program Budget & Review Committee. Members attend the Bishop’s Day with Vestries and Church Leaders. We attend meetings and support the activities of our Convocation. We attend the Annual Diocesan Council. Our clergy regularly attends Appomattox Interdenominational Clergy meetings. Our congregation participates at the annual Railroad Festival and Habitat for Humanity construction projects. We participate with other denominations in the Lenten Lunch Series and also Holy Week services and lunch. We also share an Easter Sunrise Service at the Appomattox Surrender Grounds with other churches and clergy in the area. We conduct an Anniversary Auction and BBQ.
6. Tell about a ministry that your church has initiated in the past five years. Who can be contacted about this?
The “Free Yard Sale” was started three years ago. It provides an avenue for parishioners to offer their unused items (i.e. yard equipment, home appliances and tools) to the less fortunate members of the Appomattox community, at no cost. Becky Olsen is the contact person.
7. What is your practice of Stewardship and how does it shape the life of your worshipping community?
Our Finance Coordinator informs the membership annually of the importance of pledging as pledges form the basis of our budget. Pledge cards are distributed and returned as offering on “In-Gathering Sunday.” A fund-raiser is held each year; the proceeds of which are donated to an outreach program. The grounds of St. Anne’s are maintained by a volunteer member as a part of service to the church. The Facilities Manager (Junior Warden) organizes the membership for occasional “work days.”
8. What is your experience with conflict? And how did we address it?
Our church experienced a loss of approximately 40% of membership as a result of actions taken at General Convention in 2003. Although there were many ill feelings, St. Anne’s prayed for the leaving members and for the continued health of our church. By acknowledging God’s presence in this experience, we have been able to move forward as a congregation. In addition, previous members of St. Anne’s have returned.
9. What is your experience leading / addressing change in the church? When has it gone poorly? What did we learn?
St. Anne’s was a trial case for the establishment of the Team Ministry concept in the diocese of Southern Virginia. This was done because, with our reduced membership, our income would not support a full time priest. As a result, the membership must assume many of the functions performed by a full time priest. Our experience has been that the program is working. We have a very dedicated group of people, and we are able to effectively maintain our services and ministries. The Team Ministry concept is not going poorly; however, our membership has not increased sufficiently to allow for rotating jobs.
10. Describe a moment in your worshipping community’s recent ministry which you recognized as one of success and fulfillment.
Our priest recently received a call to serve another congregation. St. Anne’s was of course saddened, but life continues through Team Ministry. The Team Ministry method continues to keep parishioners involved, and the parish continues to be active in an almost normal way. Sunday worship is often times very inspiring and relationships among parishioners are heartwarming and healthy. We are a true church “family”.
11. How are you preparing yourselves for the Church of the future?
St. Anne’s was a trial case for the establishment of the Team Ministry concept in the diocese of Southern Virginia. The Team Ministry method utilizes the time and talents of the parishioners to fulfill some of the duties often expected of a full-time parish priest. The Search Committee continues to work faithfully to assist in the transition. Although lay ministries are strong and are expected to continue, the members of the parish recognize and long for the presence of a parish priest.
12. Please provide words describing the gifts and skills essential to the future leaders of your worshipping community.
The following characteristics are ones we deem essential: a love of God, love of people, strength of pastoral care, effective teaching and preaching, ability to identify programs and instructional material that excite those interested in serving, prayerful and effective leader of worship, a good listener, promoter and encourager of volunteers to serve in the community, and personal participation in ecumenical and civic activities.