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St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church
545 S. East Avenue, Oak Park, IL 60304
http://stchristophersoakpark.org | 708-386-5613

NEED TO KNOW

  • 1/22/23 - Sunday Services | 8:00AM, 9:30AM, & 11:00

  • 1/29/23 - Parish Annual Meeting | Eucharist at 10:00AM. Meeting at 11:15AM

Jesus calls his disciples

FROM THE INTERIM RECTOR

Friends,

On Tuesday night, your vestry met to approve our budget for 2023 and to prepare to present to the congregation the financial challenges ahead. Marty Dunlavey, our treasurer, reported on the generous response to our warden’s letter, sharing that many new pledges came in and that many others had increased their pledge to help with our budget shortfall. The warden’s letter to the congregation is included below if you have not had the time to read it.

After a challenging week of crushing numbers, the vestry concluded that we had a structural deficit. The fact is we cannot continue to offer the services and programs that currently make up this community’s life if we cut staff. Compared to other congregations of this size in the Diocese of Chicago, we have a very low budget. Any cuts in staff would significantly impact our spiritual growth and would have very little impact on our bottom line.

As the discussions concerning our budget shortfall continued, two choices emerged:

  1. Go with the budget as drafted; hire the new rector; re-build the parishioner numbers.

  2. Eliminate one or more staff positions, reduce expenditures, and hope that only a few “abandon ship”. But, the positions we have are designed to fill real needs among our congregation.

Mark Schneider, a member of both the Vestry and finance committee shares this insight, “How could a small church have a deficit of $100,000? A combination of declining attendance and income on the revenue side, and staffing up to grow parish attendance and engagement on the expense side. This challenge has intensified over a number of years, accelerated by the pandemic. One factor that helped keep the budget balanced in prior years was an active corps of volunteers, less available today, which has shifted more necessary functions to paid staff.

“There is no quick fix: forcing a balanced budget this year would significantly alter worship services and programs that bind this parish together. Reversing these trends will demand more of all members over time: more support of programs and services that make this parish vibrant; more commitment to invite acquaintances to attend and experience this valuable house of worship. This deficit is a call to strengthen our resolve and to pray more fully.”

After a lengthy discussion, it was moved to approve a deficit budget fully aware that the work of the vestry and of the entire congregation in the coming year will be to discover ways to close the deficit gap or, by the end of 2023, prepare to make structural changes in order to produce a balanced budget. It was then moved that the Vestry’s focus in the coming months be on revenue generation because budget cuts would be devastating to the short-term and long-term success of the parish.

Next, moving forward with the search for our new rector needed to be addressed. Given the current deficit, we might assume the same deficit for 3 years so the vestry needed to assess if the congregation of St. Christopher’s has adequate cash assets to offset. The answer is “yes.” The Diocese asks the vestry to vote to commit to the use of liquid assets if needed to ensure that 3-year commitment. We need to avoid a priest being told at the 18-24 month point that the church can no longer afford a full-time priest. The following motion was moved and approved unanimously:

“While recognizing the financial challenges that St. Christopher's faces, the Vestry has concluded that the parish has the financial solvency necessary and is committed to supporting our new full-time rector for a minimum of three years.”

As the challenges ahead are scary, challenging, anxiety-provoking, and will be the focus of my remaining time with you, I do have deep faith in God, in our Vestry, and in each and every one of you that we have the talent and resources amongst us to overcome these financial realities and to move forward with confidence.

Faithfully,
Kevin

(additional notes provided by John Hillman, Clerk of the Vestry)

REGROUP, REBUILD, RECONNECT STEWARDSHIP CAMPAIGN UPDATE

As of today, we have received 48 pledges amounting to $185,520 towards our budget goal of $298,000. We currently have 70 active households which indicates up to 70 possible pledges. Consider pledging today. Your financial support and commitment empowers our vestry to begin to access mission, ministry, and future structural changes which may be needed to lessen our budget shortfall .

To participate in the 2023 Stewardship Campaign, link to our:

FROM YOUR WARDENS

Dear People of St. Christopher’s,

As we prepare for the upcoming annual meeting on January 29, we want to make you aware in advance that based on current forecasted income and expenses, St. Christopher’s is projecting a significant budget shortfall for 2023, in excess of $100,000.

We are not alone in this, as many churches are experiencing continued attendance and revenue decreases following the pandemic. Results of a survey shared with the House of Bishops revealed that nationally, pledge income has decreased by 40% vs. pre-pandemic levels, and 30% of parishioners have not returned post-pandemic.

We do not believe this situation represents an unsolvable problem; however, it is one that we need to address in order for St. Christopher’s to continue to meet the needs of our parish community and the wider Oak Park area.

The vestry will meet Tuesday to discuss options for reducing the shortfall. We will not make any final decisions at the vestry meeting; however, we will be preparing a list of options to be presented at the annual meeting on January 29. This list will likely include possible staffing and/or programmatic reductions. Additionally, we may need to put the rector search on hold until the budget shortfall is significantly narrowed, as we need to show long-term financial solvency before the diocese will approve the position posting.

What can you do?

  • If you have already pledged, we would ask you to prayerfully consider whether there is room in your budget for an increased pledge amount. If you are able to give more, please email Marty Dunlavey with your new pledge amount.

  • If you have not yet pledged, we would ask you to prayerfully consider making a pledge of $25-50/week, for an annual total of $1300-$2600.

We ask for your continued prayers as we continue planning for the upcoming year.

Sincerely,
Jennifer Urso, senior warden
Deb Maue, junior warden

NOTIFICATION OF ANNUAL MEETING

Third notice is given by the Vestry, our governing board representing the members of the St. Christopher’s Episcopal Church Oak Park, that the 111th Annual Meeting of the parish will be held at 11:15AM, Sunday, January 29, 2023. The purpose of the Annual Meeting is to elect Vestry Members, Convention Delegates and Alternates, to receive and review the Annual Budget for the Parish for 2023 as agreed to by the Vestry, to hear an update from the Search Committee, and to transact such other business as may lawfully come before the said Meeting.

All members and friends should plan to attend. In accordance with our congregation’s bylaws, to be eligiblabe to vote, the congregant must be known to the rector, attend worship services regularly, and be a giver of record.

One worship service will be celebrated prior to the Annual Meeting at 10:00AM. Child care will be available.

Last Friday, at the Friendly Tap.

FAMILY AND YOUTH NEWS

MOVIE NIGHT January 27 at 6:30 p.m. featuring the first Harry Potter movie.

YOUTH GROUP Feb. 5 at 4-5:30, Sky Zone in Elmhurst. Parents need to complete a waiver online, please do so here.

HARRY POTTER RETREAT March 17-19, 2023 . Youth, families and adults are invited to gather at Stronghold Castle in Oregon, IL. Adults and family registration form is here. Youth registration form is here. Questions, please email Jen Enriquez

"A fruitful connection for teaching faith can be made between J.K. Rowling's baptism and receiving a Hogwarts letter. The letter doesn't make one magical, nor does baptism make a person into the image of God. Our sacraments do not create our identity, but they name and feed our identity and direct us toward our destiny to be one with God as Christ is one with God." -The Rev. Dr. Patricia Lyons, Teaching Faith with Harry Potter

CONFIRMATION CLASS FOR SEEKERS convenes during Lent. Young people and adults are welcome to explore their faith and the teachings of the “Episcopal branch of the Jesus movement” - Presiding Bishop Curry . Anyone interested in confirmation,please fill out this form

BOX FLOAT MAKING commences soon. Shoe boxes needed!

WINTER CLOTHING DRIVE: Look for the blue bin in parish hall to drop gently used jackets, sweaters, gloves, and other winter gear. New items welcome as well!

LINK HERE to register your kids for Sunday school. Same info we’ve asked for in the past, fewer trees killed!

SIGN UP HERE to help out with formation and service projects. We need folks to help out so that we can keep our kids safe and lay a foundation for families to grow in faith, together and at church. We are all ministers! What might your role be? Youth who wish to help out with formation should also sign up! Contact Jen with questions.

Fellowship at The Friendly Tap

ROTA

Readings
Hebrew Scripture: Isaiah 9:1-4
Psalm: 27:1, 5-13
Christian Scripture: 1 Corinthians 1:10-18
Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23

Altar Guild: Linda Dempsey & Joan Radovich
Lockup: Kelly Clissold

8:00AM
Service Minister: Bob Jones
Preacher/Presider: Kevin M. Goodman

11:00AM
Acolyte: Jane Pearson
Hebrew Scripture: John Hillman
Christian Scripture: Howard Anderson
Prayers of the People: Peter Curtain
Lay Eucharistic Ministers: Bill Pearson & Julie Dulski (swap requested)
Healing Ministers: Trish Joy & Peter Walters
Ushers: Howard Anderson & Don Gillies
Preacher/Presider: Kevin M. Goodman

EMAIL

Kevin M. Goodman, interim rector
interim@stchristophersoakpark.org

Uziel Hernandez Martinez, parish administrator
office@stchristophersoakpark.org

Jennifer Enriquez, director of children and youth formation
kids@stchristophersoakpark.org

Richard Sobak, organist/choirmaster
organist.choirmaster@stchristophersoakpark.org

Christa Creps, musician for children and families
tunesmith@stchristophersoakpark.org

Emily Culbertson, Marilyn Huebel
search committee co-chairs
search@stchristophersoakpark.org

Bob Wyatt
priest.associate@stchristophersoakpark.org

Announcements for the weekly “Messenger” and Sunday bulletin must be received by the office by 12noon, Wednesday. Email complete written announcement to: office@stchristophersoakpark.org