The Angelus Monthly Publication of the Church of Our Saviour November 2016 served. Each dinner they share something about themselves that nobody else knows. They prom- ise to care for each other. This band of teenagers, who come from hostile backgrounds, are invited by the adults to share their gifts of poetry, song and whatever else emerges as an interest. Brooks’ daughter, after leaving a dinner, remarked, “That’s the warmest place I can ever imagine.” Brooks helpfully points out that the kids need what every other adolescent needs, “bikes, lap- tops, and a listening heart.” The point to drive his Dear friends of Our Saviour, story home: “Souls are not saved in bundles. Love is the necessary force. The problems facing I recently read a newspaper column by this country are deeper than the labor participa- David Brooks called “The Power of a Dinner tion rate and ISIS. It’s a crisis of solidarity, a Table.” This fall Brooks has been attending a crisis of segmentation, spiritual degradation and weekly Thursday night dinner in Washing- intimacy.” ton, D.C. An astute and educated guess What our country needs are communities of would be that Brooks is dining with politi- character; places like Kathi, David, and Santi’s cians and other statesmen. I am sure his cal- dining room. We need sacramental communities endar is chock-full of these types of engage- that know deep in their bones that love is the nec- ments, but this is not what he’s been up to on essary force. We have meaningful tables here at Thursdays. Our Saviour: the tables that fill our parish hall Kathi Fletcher and David Simpson have and welcome recovery groups, children, coffee a son named Santi, who went to Washington, hours, and receptions. Upstairs, we have the D.C., public schools. Santi had a friend who Table of our Lord, where the whole world is sometimes went to school hungry so he invited to come and see what good news has invited him over for dinner and a night’s stay come to pass: that Christ has died, Christ is risen, in the guestroom. Word travelled from friend Christ will come again. His love is the necessary to friend and Kathi and David are now force that saves souls and brings life to the world. hosting 15-20 teenagers each Thursday even- May God continue to bless this community with ing for a home cooked meal around the the work of forming the character of Christ in us dinner table. A large group of the teens stay all. the night at the house. They have all experi- enced the ordeals of modern poverty: home- Yours, lessness, sexual assault, hunger, and abuse. Father Zachary Thompson+ Cell phones are banned from the table and spicy chicken and black beans are Page 2 THE ANGELUS November 2016 Events During November The Feast Days are major feasts listed in our Book of Common Prayer. The Commemoration of All Faithful Departed: All Souls’ Day November 2, 2016 7:30 pm A Gregorian Requiem will be sung in the Church at 7:30 pm, and the faithful departed will be remembered by name at the Prayers of the People. Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan Please join us this evening in commemoration of our November 13, 2016 departed loved ones. On Sunday, November 13, 2016, the Sunday following All Saints’ Day, we will be holding our eleventh annual Kirkin’ o’ the Tartan celebration at Parish Luncheon the 11:00 am Mass. November 6, 2016 As in previous years, there will be Scottish bag- pipes and drums, Scottish tartan banners, and Scottish Our regular First Sunday meal will be held after food and drink – including haggis. If you have a kilt the 11:00 am Eucharist on November 6, 2016. Those (men), a kilted skirt (women), or a tartan scarf or with last names beginning in A-H are asked to bring a necktie, be sure to wear it; and, if you would like to side dish, I-R a dessert, and S-Z a main dish. carry a tartan banner in the procession, call or e-mail Eph McLean at 770-396-5280 or [email protected] so that he can arrange to have extra banners available (they are being provided by the Saint Andrews Socie- ty of Atlanta). Due to the number of extra guests we will be Daylight Saving Time Ends having this Sunday, we are asking people to bring November 6, 2016 food for the after-service reception. About 30 mem- bers of the Saint Andrews Society will be attending, Daylight Saving Time ends at 2:00 am carrying banners, so we want to make sure that we November 6, 2016. Don’t forget to set your clocks have enough for all to share. back an hour! Thanksgiving November 24, 2016 All Saints’ Sunday 10:00 am Ingathering Sunday November 6, 2016 Holy Eucharist will be said in the Church at 10:00 am on Thursday, November 24, 2016, in All Saints’ Day is a festival of the Community thanksgiving for our creation, preservation, and all the of the Body of Christ, both past and present. It com- blessings of this life. memorates all saints, known and unknown. It is also The first settlers knew in whose hands their known as “All Hallows’ Day,” from whence comes very survival lay, and gave thanks to Him for it. Let “All Hallows Eve” or “Hallowe’en,” the previous us keep this national Day of Thanksgiving by offering evening. to God the thanksgiving He Himself commanded us to offer, in gratitude for all His gifts to us. November 2016 THE ANGELUS Page 3 Treasurer’s Quarterly Operating Fund Report $250,000 The annual budget and revenue and expenses for the operating fund through the $200,000 quarter ending September 30, are summarized in the table below and illustrated in the nearby $150,000 chart. Revenue is about 3% lower than the $100,000 budget year-to-date, and expenses similarly lag by about 3%. Overall, operating expenses $50,000 continued to exceed revenue slightly. This is considered typical for our parish, $- as there has historically been a slight increase 2016 Actual Y-T-D 2016 Budget Y-T-D in revenue at the end of the year, as final pledge payments are received and more visi- Operating Revenue Operating Expenses tors are present. The lag in expenditures is also in keeping with the experience of prior years. Personnel expenses, which are generally set at the beginning of the year, are generally paid evenly over the course of the year, except for items that are paid annually or quarterly (e.g., insurance). Programs are somewhat uneven and the amounts are relatively small. Administration includes a couple of major items that are usually incurred later in the year as programs re-engage. Expense for the physical plant is under budget overall; most utilities have generally been lower than projected and expenses for repairs have remained lower than budgeted. Outreach includes our diocesan assessment, which is set at the beginning of the year and paid evenly over the course of the year. Operating Fund 2016 Actual 2016 Budget Over/(Under) 2016 Annual Y-T-D Y-T-D Budget Y-T-D Budget Revenue Contribution Income $ 160,624 $ 166,343 $ (5,719) $ 221,790 Non-Contribution Income 34,464 34,781 (317) 46,375 Total, Operating Revenue $ 195,088 $ 201,124 $ (6,036) $ 268,165 Expenses Personnel $ 112,174 $ 111,214 $ 961 $ 148,285 Programs 3,832 6,563 (2,731) 8,750 Administration 13,488 15,066 (1,578) 20,088 Physical Plant 52,863 55,544 (2,680) 74,058 Outreach 19,508 19,732 (224) 26,309 Total, Operating Expenses $ 201,865 $ 208,118 $ (6,253) $ 277,490 Net Revenue (Expense) $ (6,777) $ (6,994) $ 217 $ (9,325) Thanks be to God for the gifts of each and every one who supports this parish and its ministry in any way he or she can. “Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always hav- ing enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.” II Corinthians 9:7-9 Page 4 THE ANGELUS November 2016 There were several noteworthy financial items that occurred in the past quarter that are summarized below: * The parish’s financial accounts were reviewed again this year by Burge & Associates, CPAs. Based on the parish’s revenue level, an annual examination of business practices and financial condition is required by the Diocese. This annual examination follows specified “Agreed-upon-Procedures” pre- scribed by the Diocese and performed by an outside accounting firm. The purpose of this examination of the parish’s business practices and financial condition is to ensure that resources are being managed in a prudent and sound manner and to identify opportuni- ties to improve processes and reduce risks. (Diocesan policy was developed to comply with national canon on parish audits.) The findings for 2015 were rela- tively minor, including the need to maintain our paperwork files in better order and to recruit addition- Readings for November al volunteer help. We have taken steps to address these issues. The vestry accepted the report and it was November 2, 2016 forwarded in a timely manner to the Diocese. TBA * The Rev’d Jerry Keucher led the vestry and November 6, 2016 stewardship committee in a working retreat on Satur- Daniel 7:1-3,15-18 day, August 27.