Encounter God 2019 ANNUAL REPORT About this report This report is organized in sections that correspond with the broad ministries of our church: Worship, Care & Connect, Grow & Equip, and Go. Each section has ministry highlights from 2019, as well as a look ahead to where God is calling our ministries to Encounter God in 2020. A detailed financial report from 2019 is available in the annual meeting or by contacting Marilyn Patterson, chief financial officer, [email protected], 713.354.2215. Our Organization INTERIM RECTOR Bishop Gary Lillibridge WORSHIP MINISTRY CONNECT MINISTRY GROW MINISTRY GO MINISTRY Steven Newberry Kim Jameson The Rev. Reagan Cocke The Rev. Greg Buffone CARE MINISTRY EQUIP MINISTRY OPERATIONS MINISTRY The Rev. Louise Samuelson The Rev. Charlie Holt Suzanne Boué 04 Table of Contents About this Report..........................................................................2 Encounter God .............................................................................4 St. John the Divine in Action .........................................................6 SJD Leadership ............................................................................18 05 06 Enclosed in this brochure are the annual reports from our ministries in 2019. Our 2019 theme, “Draw Near” was intro- duced last January, and we enhanced that with a particular focus on “Living Thanks, Giving Thanks” throughout the year. I am very grate- ful to all who made 2019 a very focused and successful year of ministry in so many ways. Thank you, thank you. I look forward to the coming year and discover- ing what God has in store for us; and what we, in turn, have to offer our Lord in thanksgiving and through faithful discipleship. God always invites people into partnership for spreading the Good News, and what a privilege and sa- cred responsibility it is. Our 2020 theme is “Encounter God: Truth, Hope, Rest, and Love.” The foundational aspect of this partnership is found in encoun- tering God. As we encounter God as 2020 unfolds, may the eyes of our hearts be enlight- ened so that we know the hope to which God has called us (Ephesians 1:18). And then, may we joyfully respond by offering and present- ing ourselves, our souls and bodies, as living sacrifices unto God (Romans 12:1 and the Book of Common of Prayer, page 336). Bishop Gary Lillibridge Interim Rector 07 Worship in 2019 1,159 worship services held with over 48,000 worshipers 381 parishioners volunteered as acolytes, altar & linen guild members, Lay Eucharistic Ministers, usher 6,383 People guild & associate vestry worshiped together at members, flower guild Holy Week, Easter, and members, & prayer ministers Christmas Services 08 children Children 80 experienced music, & Youth storytelling, and art at 45 Choristers Summer Fine Arts Camp Began a rebrand of the Contemporary Service 2,185 • Reached out to current people attended Entersect service attendees for their produced events including: thoughts and opinions Christmas on the Boulevard Re-named the service • • Holy Week Messiah concert “The Table” • & church-wide art project The Table seeks to offer a • Draw Near Weekend service to reach our neighbors. Worship Experience It will be true to our Anglican • All Saints’ Evensong roots, contemporary in • 5 Taizé services practice, and offer a relaxed atmosphere to worship God. THE Tat STABLE JOHN THE DIVINE the at STABLE JOHN THE DIVINE Encounterat ST JOHN THE DIVINE God in 2020 • Continue to offer and elevate our many diverse worship experiences. • Offer Mozart Requiem as Concert Prelude to Holy Week. • Offer Contemplative Prayer opportunities: Five Taizé Services and All Saints’ Choral Evensong. • Celebrate the 15th Anniversary of the Létourneau Pipe Organ in a series of three concerts. • Continue to reach out to our community during the holidays by offering Christmas on the Boulevard. 09 Care & Connect in 2019 St John the Divine thrives on relationships and the Connect Team is happy to help you find your place to in the vibrant life of this church! 80Ambassadors Introduced the welcomed, engaged, and Mourner’s Path connected parishioners & six-week grief process for guestson Sunday mornings and people mourning the loss of a loved one. at special events 2000 meals served while our community CONNECT-ed at Summer Sunday Brunches over 1,000 people attended Christmas 10 on the Boulevard 61 baptisms 15 tech-savvy youth 68 trained seniors on their adults & youth 27 were confirmed or received tech devices at Senior Tech Workshops 31 Lay Eucharistic Visitors made Prayer in 2019 saw: 500+ visits • 8 Sessions of Second Sundays of Prayer 40 Stephen MInisters made & Care with 250 total participants. 500+ care contacts • 160 people engaging with prayer at the Draw Near Prayer Weekend. to our church family in need Encounter God in 2020 • Promote relationships throughout our SJD community at parish-wide connection events. • Offer a new Discovery dinner and one-day class pathway to membership. • Expand our Ambassador program with recruitment and training opportunities. • Train eight new Stephen Ministers to continue to care for our parishioners. • Develop new processes and strategies to help our parish family connect more deeply with the church and with each other. 11 Grow & Equip in 2019 Life Group Bible launched Studies Thrived Draw Near leadership 500 participants and church history Disciple’s Way Core classes 350 participants 3 Sumners Series Speakers ESL Classes grew from 375 kids attended to students Vacation Bible School 75 140 representing 38 countries 125 VBS Volunteers 50 youth, 75 adults 12 25 young professionals attended engaged in a weekly study the men’s and 230 young professionals women’s 9 people retreats taught some of the lessons 290+ Young People are 266 people attended GROW-ing in their faith the Global Leadership Summit 171 children 51 SJD-sponsored 7 Wonderfully Made participants (special needs ministry) local mission partners 18 student leaders 100+ youth 2 Mini-Summits taught over100 valuable leadership lessons from the GLS people attended the Youth 215 Red Candle Dinner where was raised for people deepened their youth missions 25 $15,000 faith on pilgraimage to Egypt Encounter God in 2020 • The Lenten Life Groups will feature a study by the Rev. Reagan Cocke, Encountering Truth in the Gospel of John. • The Easter Life Groups will follow a study on 1 Peter, and the Fall Life Groups will follow a study on Exodus. • Continue to refine The Core offerings. • Travel in pilgrimage to Oberammergau in August and the Holy Land in November. • Offer opportunities for families to Encounter God together through varied parent and student classes. 13 Go in 2019 Determined the most effective outreach procedures via our outreach committees (local, world, and strategic). Deacon Greg Buffone appointed to lead this effort. 8,000+ Houstonians were helped through 42 youth & adults 3,500+ mobilized on mission trips to St. John the Divine 14 Bolivia, Belize, and Houston volunteers Grants awarded Grants awarded to these 40 local organizations: & agencies helped CAMPUS CRU INNER CITY MINISTRIES Agape Development Ministries outreach/ CHILDREN AND YOUTH The FORGE for Families Arrow Child (Freedom Place) mission agencies Boys & Girls Country MENTAL HEALTH 64 to serve Houston Casa de Esperanza de los Niños Bo’s Place Covenant House Palmer Drug Abuse Program and the world Today’s Harbor re: Mind (DBSA) Vita-Living, Inc. EDUCATION Grants awarded to these 10 Archway Academy OTHER world missions partners: Generation One Rector’s Outreach Fund Nehemiah Neighborhood Center Yellowstone Academy PREGNANCY AND ADOPTION SOUTH ASIA LifeHouse Abba House — Nepal EPISCOPAL SEMINARIES/LEADERSHIP The Source for Women Crossway Ministries — Nepal Seminary of the Southwest Higher Ground Ministries — Nepal Wycliffe Hall PRISON MINISTRIES Bridges to Pakistan — Pakistan Bridges to Life HEALTH His Father’s Heart Ministry SOUTH AMERICA Epiphany Community Health Outreach No More Victims Amistad Mission — Bolivia Services (ECHOS) WorkFaith Connection CENTRAL AMERICA HOMELESS SENIORS Faith in Practice — Guatemala The Beacon Amazing Place Mexico Medical Missions — Mexico Lord of the Streets (LOTS) New Life School — Guatemala Mission of Yahweh YOUTH CAMPING Open Door Mission Camp Allen Capital Campaign CARIBBEAN SEARCH for the Homeless Camp for All Haiti Education Foundation Yellowstone Scouting Cub Scout Pack 255 HUNGER Young Life Greater Houston AFRICA Christian Community Service Center Sonrise School/The Mustard Seed Kids’ Meals Grants represent SJD’s biblical Project — Rwanda L.I.F.E. Houston tithe – 10% of our annual budget Grants awarded to 4 Strategic Mission Team Grant: organizations though the English as a Second Language Ministry Special Outreach Fund: Disaster Relief Fund Grant (Harvey): St. Thomas Episcopal Church Global Pastor Grant Seminary Scholarships (4) The Guild Shop Grants: Amazing Place CarePartners (formerly Interfaith) Seminarian Weekend Holly Hall Retirement Community VitaLiving Wednesday Women’s Bible Study Episcopal Church Women: Lord of the Streets Bo’s Place Forge for Families Priest’s Discresionary Funds Encounter God in 2020 • A working group from the local, world, and strategic outreach committees will continue to determine and refine the most effective outreach procedures. • The Rev. Greg Buffone will continue to offer classes focused on outreach as part of our Teaching Center offerings. 15 Operations in 2019 10,916 Facilities bookings Boilers & Chillers supporting over replaced 1,000 weekly Comfort enhanced