Rector's Letter

October 2018 Rector's Letter

As our Stewardship Campaign, “Blessed to Belong,” has kicked off, I have been thinking a lot about what belonging means. There is something very powerful about belonging somewhere. To belong connotes a sense of being deeply known, even those parts we might need to hide when we are elsewhere, and being genuinely and deeply welcomed, accepted, and celebrated. A place where we belong is a place where we can let down our guard, where we feel safe, and where we feel encouraged to grow and thrive. Feeling a sense of belonging is one of the richest, most affirming feelings in the world. Not only are you fully accepted, but you find a group of people you choose to be your kindred – your family. For those of us who have had times in our lives when we did not belong, we know how incredibly powerful belonging can feel. Most of us at Hickory Neck are here because we felt that sense of belonging. Whatever we were seeking – a community, a family, a place to learn and grow, somewhere to raise our children, a group open to our questions and doubts, a church that could inspire and enrich our lives – whatever we were seeking, we found it at Hickory Neck. We come back week after week because that sense of belonging feeds us, gives us hope, and empowers us to go out in the world. Being a part of Hickory Neck feels like a blessing! One of the things we will be talking about over the course of this month is how that blessing of belonging can be regenerated. If this is the place where our time and our talents spent, our laughter and our support is found, our learning and our growth happens, then this is also the place where we invest our resources. We invest in this blessing for two reasons. First, we invest because we want to keep benefiting from the blessing of belonging. This is our spiritual home; as it supports us, we want to support it. Second, we invest because we want to extend that belonging to others. We want others to know and feel the joy and abundance we have felt, and if we are to reach others, we know the community needs our financial support for that work. A few years ago, I found a sense of belonging here at Hickory Neck. From that first conversation, I felt drawn by this community in a powerful way. The more I learned and saw and experienced, the more I wanted to be here. Since that time, my indebtedness to this community has grown and grown. My family is fed here. My ministry is enriched here. My whole self is welcomed here. I belong to Hickory Neck, and I want to make sure I give my resources to the place that so richly blesses me. I hope you will spend this month praying about the ways you have been blessed in this place, the way belonging here has enriched your life, and the way giving financially to Hickory Neck has enhanced your walk with Christ. I look forward to this time of prayer and action with you! In Christ’s Peace, Reverend Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly Would you like to be on our Vestry? By Aaron Small Fall is the time of year when we look for candidates for the openings in the next year’s Vestry. The Vestry is the lay representation for the church, and gathers monthly to work with the rector in discussing the organization of the parish, managing resources and finances, and discerning the 2019 Stewardship mission and direction of the church. Blessed to Belong Each year we seek parishioners to fill specific ministry areas within the life The Stewardship Committee: of Hickory Neck. The Ministries open Larry Kelley, Chair; Fred Boelt, Ann Cooper, for next year are: Dave & Margene Hartsough, and the Rev. Charlie Bauer • Pastoral Care Over the next month, we will focus on what is affectionately known as • Christian Formation “Stewardship Season,” though in actuality Stewardship is a yearlong – and lifelong – undertaking. We are all called to offer thanksgiving for all we have • Stewardship been given by God from God’s abundant creation, and to serve God’s As Vestry Liaison, you would be creation to the best of our ability. responsible for coordinating and leading the parishioners who have Soon you will receive materials from us, the Stewardship Committee. volunteered to serve in that ministry. This year, we are asking two broad questions: These duties vary depending on the What does it mean to you that we belong to ministry area. Hickory Neck Episcopal Church? To serve on the Vestry: What does it mean that we, all of us, belong to God? • You must be an adult in good standing who is a confirmed In asking and answering those questions, consider how you are being good communicant of the stewards of all that God has given to you. In expressing your gratitude, congregation and a regular reflect on the ministry of this church – your church, God’s church – and participant in its corporate what we have accomplished this year. Together, we have welcomed a worship; school to address the childcare needs of our community; we have • You need to be able to attend supported a youth mission trip to Newport News; we have expanded our Vestry meetings on the second practice of pastoral care for our parish; we have prayed, laughed, and Thursday of each month for the learned together. We are Blessed to Belong to this church. next three years; and As is often true for churches, we have spent 2018 stretching our budget. • You need to be able to attend Our staff and volunteers have worked tirelessly to serve as good stewards the annual Vestry Retreat, of our shared resources that you have entrusted to God and to Hickory typically in early February Neck for the work of ministry. Though we have made cuts to some areas of • You need to have a passion for our budget, especially for the work of the church beyond our parish one of the ministry areas, and be through our diocesan pledge, we are excited with our accomplishments willing to work with existing this year. Look around at everything we’ve done together with this limited ministries within that area and budget! Imagine how much more we’ll be able to do in the coming year open to supporting new with your help. ministries. If you are willing and able to serve on Please give generously to Hickory Neck Church’s ministry and mission this the Vestry and to be responsible for year. We will hold our annual In-Gathering on October 28. As you give, you one of these ministries or if you have will know the comfort of belonging, the joy of giving, and the satisfaction of any questions about the ministry or knowing what an important presence this church is in the world, and that being on the Vestry, please contact you are an important presence in the life of this church. Aaron Small, Senior Warden ([email protected]). October Guest Preacher By Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly

On Sunday, October 7, The Rev. Canon Leslie Nuñez Steffensen, Canon to the Bishop Suffragan for Armed Services and Federal Ministries will be our guest preacher at all three services. Steffensen is canon to the Episcopal Church Bishop Suffragan for the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries, a member of the Presiding Bishop’s staff. After graduating from The Sunday Forum: Officer Candidate School, Newport, RI and October Offerings completing studies at the Navy and Marine Charlie Bauer Intelligence Training Center in 1989, she was on In September, we kicked off our revamped 2018-2019 active duty for four years as a Naval Aviation Sunday Formation offerings with a brief series on Intelligence Officer. After active duty, she raised three children as a Navy spouse. Steffensen Evangelism. This year, we will explore a range of topics that later served as a Volunteer for Mission with the engage the theme Telling our Story. Sharing aspects of our Episcopal Church’s program for adult faith – especially how faith interacts directly in our lives, in volunteers. She was the academic dean and our own story – is fundamental to who we are as Christians. instructor of theology and biblical studies at On October 7, we will host the Rev. Canon Leslie Steffensen Msalato Theological College in Dodoma, as our guest preacher. Canon Steffensen is the Canon to the Tanzania. She returned to the US and was Bishop to the Armed Forces and Federal Ministries. At the administrative coordinator for the Center for Sunday Forum that day, we will offer a chance to hear a Anglican Communion Studies at Virginia brief overview of her ministry, and to ask her questions Theological Seminary. Most recently, she was about her work with the Armed Forces and Federal assistant to the rector at Grace Episcopal Ministries, which include oversight of chaplains to the Church in Alexandria, Virginia. She was the military, Veterans Administration hospitals, and federal primary clergy for the Latino congregation, La prisons. Gracia. On October 14, we will have a creative gathering to discuss For the Episcopal Church, she served on the stewardship as we focus on our stewardship theme this Bishop for Armed Forces and Federal Ministries Chaplain Selection Committee; the Disciplinary year: Blessed to Belong. Come and dream with us about the Committee, Diocese of Virginia; and was co- future of Hickory Neck and engage in creative activities on editor for The Wiley-Blackwell Companion to the theme of belonging. the Anglican Communion (2012.) She is a Finally, on October 28, we will hold a round table discussion graduate of Virginia Theological Seminary, with on the 79th General Convention of the Episcopal Church a Master’s in Divinity (’12.) with Alternate Clergy Deputy (and our own!) the Rev. She did her undergraduate Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly, and Lay Deputy Isabel Burch, studies at The Johns who is a parishioner at Bruton Parish in Williamsburg. Come Hopkins University, learn and ask questions about the direction of the Episcopal Baltimore, Maryland, Church and all that was accomplished at the triennial graduating with a gathering of Episcopalians from throughout the church. bachelor’sin international studies (’88.) She is a All are welcome to attend The Sunday Forum between the graduate of the Phillips 9:00 am and 11:15 am services (roughly 10:15 am) in the Exeter Academy (’85) Nave. We particularly invite our middle and high school and School Year Abroad, aged youth to join us this year in lieu of a separate Sunday Spain (’84.) School class. We are enriched by a variety of perspectives Please join us in and experiences, and believe that all voices are important in welcoming Canon telling our story. Steffensen to Grab a coffee and join us for The Sunday Forum in October! Hickory Neck! FALL GROUNDS CLEANUP DAY

We will have a Grounds Cleanup Day in preparation for Fall Festival on Saturday, October 13 starting at 8 am. Your help is needed. Cleanup activities will include raking, picking up limbs, trimming trees and bushes, picking up trash, and weeding. You can bring standard tools and equipment or use some that we have at the church. There will be no rain date. If you would like to work on cleanup and are unavailable on this day, you can come to the church any time and do whatever task you prefer. Limbs, weeds and cuttings can be left in piles preferably near trees for later removal to the back of campus if you wish. If the scheduled day is a rainout, many people will need to come over as individuals or small groups when the weather is clear before October 20 to get the campus in shape. For questions or more information, please contact Hunter Bristow at [email protected].

Mark Your Calendar for Youth Group!

This year, the Hickory Neck Youth Group will meet on the first and third Sundays of each month from 5:30pm – 7:30pm (with a few exceptions). Join us for activities including Bowling, Bible Trivia, Go Karts Plus, Stump the Priests – and more! We will meet: October 7, 21, November 4, 18, December 2, 16, January 6, February 17 (optional Evensong), 24, March 3, 17, May 5, and 19. For those who are beyond the Youth Group age, we would love for you to join us as a mentor! Contact the Rev. Charlie Bauer ([email protected]) if you are interested in assisting at one or more gatherings. Women's Retreat The annual Women’s Retreat will be held November BRING A FRIEND TO 2nd and 3rd on the campus of Hickory Neck Church. INVITATION SUNDAY! We will gather for supper and two sessions on the first evening, and return the following day for a full day. Cost is $60, which includes all meals and materials. We will hold a special Invitation Sunday on $25 deposit is due by October 5. Registration forms October 14. We encourage you to invite a can be found in the Narthex and in the Parish House. friend to church on this day! For more information, contact Jennie Corrales, at Our Communications Committee has 757-849-2305, or [email protected]. developed postcards to hand or mail to friends so we may share the gifts of this wonderful church. Pick some up this Sunday, and start thinking about who you want to invite to Hickory Neck on October 14!

As our neighbors surrounding us continue to recover from Hurricane Florence, please consider donating to Episcopal Relief & Development. Contributions to Episcopal Relief & Development’s Hurricane Relief Fund will support impacted communities and will meet urgent needs by providing critical supplies such as food, water and other basics and will help us to provide long-term assistance as needed. Episcopal Relief & Development has a long history of partnering with communities to provide needed support, and for focusing on long- term recovery efforts that last long after the last news crew leaves. You may contribute online at support.episcopalrelief.org/hurricane-relief. To learn more about the disaster relief and development work of the newly rebranded Episcopal Relief & Development in the United States and over 40 other countries, visit episcopalrelief.org.

High Fives Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly High fives go to our Stewardship Committee: Fred Boelt, Ann Cooper, David Hartsough, Margene Hartsough, and Larry Kelley (chair). They pulled together an impressive Discipleship Fair in September, and have organized our Stewardship Parties, mailings, reflections, and October In-Gathering. We are so blessed by their ministry, and we appreciate all the hard work they have put into this effort. Big high fives to all involved! I would like to give a high five to our new Church Safety Task Force: John Dutro, Sue Edwards (chair), De Ferenbach, Brian Hanlon, Roland Todd, and Rueben Trant. They have been working diligently this summer to address safety concerns at Hickory Neck. They held an all-day training in September to prepare a Hickory Neck manual for safety, and will be continuing their work into the fall. We are grateful for the gifts and expertise of each Task Force member, and their time and energy to make us safer. High Fives to the Task Force! Finally, I would like to give a high five to Bob Gay for chairing the Outreach Committee this past year. He has been a great help organizing the Committee’s work, including helping to establish a Scholarship Committee for the Kensington School, shepherding the Winter Shelter, and supporting our wider giving and serving. I would also like to thank Gerry Hassig for accepting the position of chair for the coming year. We are so grateful for her willingness to serve in this capacity, given her vast experience in Outreach both at Hickory Neck and in previous parishes. A big high five to both of you for serving the church in this powerful way! Wrestling Lessons Chaplain Don Seeterlin

Lately I have been experiencing many growing pains with my lawn mower. I have had a significant amount of repairs and maintenance to perform on this machine. So much so that I have joked that it might be a good idea to add another sport to the Summer Olympic schedule: ‘lawn mower wrestling’. Each time I am faced with a new challenge I have the choice of either rolling up my sleeves, saying a prayer, and beginning the task at hand, or simply giving up, throwing in the towel, and walking away. Because I have been able to harvest a significant amount of parts from a similar dead-lined machine which we purchased for the express purpose of using the parts, the only real investment has been my time, attention, and patience. Ironically, even though this has caused me much sweat and a few unchristian remarks, in the long run this continuous wrestling has been a blessing. I am much more confident in facing challenges of all sorts, and much more at ease with the idea that I will most likely be able to solve the problem as long as I keep an even head and listen to the ideas that seem to appear. These answers are to me the result of the many prayers I mentioned. Reflecting on this, I have noticed some interesting parallels between faith and my lawn mower. Like faith, the wonderful gift from God which is free and offered without strings, my lawn mower was originally a gift. When we first receive the gift of faith, it is new to us, and fills a void in our lives. When I was offered the mower, it was still in good condition and filled a need in my life. Since both were a gift, it was completely up to me whether I treasured them and experienced all of the blessing they could offer, or simple set them aside and therefore allow them to waste away. Over time I have had to invest time and energy in the machine in order to keep it running and continue to be a blessing to me. Faith, like my lawn mower, also requires time and dedicated attention in order to reap the surest rewards. The more effort I spend on working out challenges with the mower, the stronger my sense of ability to handle these challenges, and to find a successful solution. The more effort I invest in my faith, the stronger my understanding of God’s love and presence becomes. Many times the questions of faith may at face value seem to be unchristian, but in reality they can be the harbingers of the deepest insights. The mower is a physical creation and will ultimately lose its usefulness due to wear and tear. Faith, on the other hand is not of this world, and so this world has no control over it. The more one uses their faith, the stronger it can become. Where the power of the mower’s engine is a result of internal combustion of limited resource, faith’s power is ever renewable and the direct result of the limitless love and energy of our heavenly Father. Through wrestling with my mower, combined with many prayers, I am more confident in my God given mechanical abilities. Through wrestling with my faith, I am ever more confident in God’s love for me and His never ending presence in my life. How about you, what have you been wrestling with lately? Happy Wrestling! Blessing of the Animals All creatures great and small are welcome at the Blessing of the Animals on Sunday, October 21 at 9 am! Bring your beloved animals for a blessing and service of Holy Eucharist as we celebrate all of God’s wonderful creation! Music Notes by Sarah Bland Choral Scholars Update Camp Dates set for It is a pleasure to welcome back the Choral Scholars for Fun at Camp Chanco 2019! this new program and academic year! These eight singers Plan ahead for next year’s camp sessions! Chanco’s are all students at the College of William and Mary. Their residential camp offers a wealth of traditional activities, choral training combined with their beautiful voices gives including high and low ropes courses, zip lining, archery, strong music leadership to the traditional, sung Eucharist at pool activities, swimming, canoeing, kayaking, and our 11:15 service. It is especially rewarding for me to direct sailing, as well as nature instruction and arts and crafts them in classic sacred anthems, often unaccompanied. classes. Camp Chanco is the spiritual heart of the Their inspiring a cappella singing of the psalm is a Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia, and is frequently highlight of the service for me. This year several new named as the best summer camp in the state. members have joined the group. Soprano Mina Parastaran, their new administrator, is beginning her third year with the Registration will open soon – visit chanco.org. Scholars. I invite those of you who usually attend at 8:00 or 9:00 to come to the late service one Sunday and experience the special beauty of this Eucharist. HNC Evensong with the Schola Cantorum Singers In November our congregation will have the opportunity to experience another fine collegiate choir from William and Mary. On Sunday Nov. 4 our morning celebrations of All Saints’ Day will continue in the evening with 5:00 pm Evensong sung by The Schola Cantorum. This student directed chamber choir, founded in the spring of 2010, is TREASURER’S REPORT dedicated to singing sacred and secular music of the 08/31/2018 • Fred Boelt Renaissance and of the Twentieth Century. Much of this Budget Income $297,633.33 repertoire is derived from the university chapel choirs at YTD Actual Income $308,355.00 Oxford and Cambridge, especially from their evensong Budget Expense $309,740.67 traditions. The Schola Cantorum often sings Evensong at YTD Actual Expense $304,961.51 Bruton Parish Church and at the Wren Chapel where the The month of August finished in the red by $4,341.37. Pledge acoustics, aesthetics and 18th century English architecture income was considerably under budget, but as I continue to point out, we have received a number of pledge prepayments this year. make ideal spaces for this Anglican service. We look Therefore, I think year-to-date figures give us a better idea of forward to welcoming them to Hickory Neck! where we stand. Pledge, non-pledge and loose plate figures were all over budget for the year. Expenses were under budget by $4,779.16, and 2018 Backpack Drive even operating on a deficit budget, we are in the black by $3,393.49 at the end of eight months. Our annual season of stewardship is here. This year, the theme is Blessed to Belong to Hickory Neck Episcopal Church. Consider God’s rich blessings and the spiritual nurture and fellowship that we receive. Then consider how God can be repaid for all that he provides. Talking money may seem a bit crass at this point, but the time is now to plan for the 2019 expenses of the church. Budget preparation looms ahead and letting us know how you can help will be a huge benefit to our Vestry as they wrestle with funding for

o our programs and facilities.

C Stewardship materials will be distributed in early October. We urge

d each of you to spend some time reviewing the items in the packet

J and then pledging as you are able. Even a non-pledge helps us to

n have an idea of what to expect. But, please do plan to share your

o “harvest” with God. It takes the sum total of the gifts of every

n parishioner to ensure that the Light shines ever brighter from our

i e Holy Hill. Vestry Highlights Lauris Zeni, Register James and Janell Nickols! The regular monthly Hickory Neck Church Vestry Meeting was held on Thursday, September 13, 2018, at 7:00 PM in the Wilkinson Center. Rev. Jennifer Andrews-Weckerly updated the Vestry on the opening of the Kensington School. The school officially opened on August 20, 2018, with most families starting on September 4, 2018. The school is operating at maximum enrollment. She also informed the Vestry that the Church Safety Task Force will hold a workday on September 22, 2018, to develop a safety manual specifically for Hickory Neck. The expectation is that the work of the Safety Task Force will be completed by the end of 2018. Rev. Charlie Bauer reported on the work of the Stewardship Committee, thanking Chairman Larry Kelley James and Janell Nickols have made Hickory Neck for his leadership. The Stewardship letter and brochure, Church their new home. James Nickols retired in April which will be included in the Pledge Packets, are being from 44 years of ministry. He spent the last nine years finalized. Stewardship parties have been coordinated for as pastor of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Norge. the parish, which will be held the last week in September In addition to his Master of Divinity degree, James has and the first two weeks in October. Each parishioner will two other master degrees plus a third in Christian receive a personal invitation to a party where stewardship Spirituality from General Seminary in City of New will be discussed and dreams of the parish will be solicited. York. He served as Navy Chaplain for 27 years and Charlie extended a heartfelt thank you to Gerry Hassig for was on board the USS California (CGN-36) in 1980 coordinating the collection of backpacks and school during the failed Iranian hostage rescue attempt supplies for our Burnt Ordinary neighbors as well as to the “Operation Eagle Claw.” James continues to preach many parishioners that attended and assisted with the and fills requests for supply priests in the area. distribution. Janell was ordained in the United Church of Christ in 1979. She was a Navy Chaplain at the Naval Hospital in Kent Ross, Vestry Liaison for Evangelism, reported on the Portsmouth when she met James. She spent four years work of the Newcomers Ministry and Communications on active duty. Later, Janell earned her teaching Ministry throughout the last 6 months. He particularly certification and taught in Morongo Unified School highlighted the smooth transition of the leadership of the District in California and for 21 years in Williamsburg- Nuggets from Jim Izzo, content editor, to Beth Brown, and James City County Public Schools. Janell retired from from Rebecca Zoellner, to the new layout editor. He teaching at the end of the 2017 school year. Janell applauded the team for the timely production of the loves to sing and has joined the HNC choir. September edition of the Nuggets. The Nickols have two adult children, Jennifer Wilkins, The next regular meeting of the Vestry is scheduled on who lives in Gloucester, Va. and Joel, who lives in Thursday, October 11, 2018, at 7:00 PM in the Wilkinson Orlando. Center.

Grand Celebration Picnic September 2018

Photo Credit: John Rothnie Kensington School Ribbon Cutting Ceremony

Photo Credit: John Rothnie