Family dinners were a treasured part of my childhood. It was a beautiful ritual of designating a particular time for dinner, stopping work at that time, washing hands, sitting down, and then enjoying a meal and conversation together. I wonder how common such meals are these days, when we have much more to distract us than when I was growing up. I sincerely hope that even today people are able to put down their smartphones, turn off the TV, and share food and fellowship together.
This is, after all, a part of what we do every Sunday (and even on weekdays) at the Mass. The Mass is a meal, but much more than a meal. It was no coincidence that Jesus chose to gather his disciples (and later, the Church) around food and the act of eating. But the Mass is no ordinary meal. The Mass is not a time for social conversation or casual dining. And so, although we are called to deeper communion with one another at every celebration of the Mass, we must also designate other times in which we can have real conversation, check in with one another, and deepen our bonds of fellowship.
This is one reason our annual parish meeting is so important. True, it is partly a business meeting. We review the previous calendar year, with its accomplishments and challenges. We introduce the vestry-approved budget for the coming calendar year. We elect new vestry members and lay delegates to diocesan convention. But it is much more. It is our family meeting.
I’m aware that some family meetings are contentious and painful. Sometimes, letting those emotions out is necessary to heal, but I can assure you that our recent family meetings at Good Shepherd (and this year’s family meeting!) are not so. I am surprised anew nearly every day with what God is working out within this parish, through your hearts, minds, and many gifts. Undoubtedly, we have challenges, as does every parish. But we are well on our way to finding an even greater place of financial stability. And we are a growing parish, which is quite rare in the Episcopal Church these days and especially because of the COVID pandemic.
On Sunday, January 22, after the Sung Mass, we will hold the 2023 annual meeting. There will be coffee and food, as usual. I encourage each and every one of you to attend. Please make it a priority. This is your opportunity to hear and learn about all the things that happen quietly under the radar in the parish. I want all of you to understand the decisions behind the 2023 budget and to know the financial challenges we face, not so that we can wallow in anxiety but so that we can work together, fervently, to move to greater financial health. It is already happening, but there is much, much more work to be done. We will also do something different in the second part of this year’s annual meeting. We will highlight the many ministries of the parish, noting where we could use more participation, and we will invite you to prayerfully consider taking on a new ministry if your particular gifts align with it. Representatives from the various ministries of the parish will be present to answer questions.
As I noted to the vestry in my report for our January meeting, I believe we have turned a significant corner in the life of this parish. It is now time to share ministries even more broadly among all who worship here. This will help prevent burnout among some. It will make our parish stronger, and it will ensure that ministry here can be sustainable in the long run.
Please mark January 22 in your calendars. Because we are still a small parish, every single person matters enormously. Your participation in the meeting is an investment in the future of the parish, so that God can continue to bless ministry here, further the sacramental witness of the parish, and advance the proclamation of the Gospel. Let’s rejoice in what God is doing among us, and I’ll look forward to seeing you on Sunday, and especially on January 22!
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle