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Rector’s Blog

Reflections and notes from the Rector of St. George’s, the Rev. Joseph H. Hensley Jr.

Notes from the Rector

Selected notes to the parish from the Rev. Joseph H. Hensley, Jr., rector of St. George's Episcopal Church.

GO and GO: Are you ready to STOP hearing about stewardship and giving?

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INVITING GENEROSITY

goandgo-pledgecardposterIt is stewardship season, and I know that people sometimes get tired of hearing about giving money. For those of you who have been taking note and giving for many years, what I am saying is not new. There is a lot of understand about the financial realities of a church like ours. Some of us are newer to the process though, and I want to provide some helpful information as we grow in giving. I always appreciate feedback about whether this is helpful.

By the way, I do not like “asking for money.” I do like “inviting generosity,” because generosity is joyful and life-giving. Generosity is a way that we connect with God, who is generous beyond imagining.

Our campaign goal is that 75% of our households will pledge for 2017. Last year we set a record with 70% (378 households). Participation in pledging is more important than the amount pledged. At the same time, in order to accommodate the growth we have experienced and the realities of life in a vibrant parish such as St. George’s, we need some growth in our offerings.

MINISTRY DREAMS

We have lots of ministry dreams. One of my dreams is to grow our income (right now our budget is just over $1 million) to a point where we can adequately compensate our staff and have enough staff to enable and empower the ministry we all want to do together. A big portion of our budget is spent on personnel. In a large church like ours, staff are essential. By investing in staff, we are investing in the ministry of the whole. For several years, St. George’s has gotten by with a staffing arrangement in which some staff are not paid, some are not paid enough, and all have more than enough to do. I feel fortunate to be leading a staff team that is willing to make big sacrifices to do the work they love. I would like to invest more in staff so that our ministries can continue to flourish. I’d like to hire a part-time priest so that we can give more clergy attention to pastoral care. I’d like to hire a part-time youth ministry staffer, so that clergy can focus less on logistical details and have more time to help equip youth and adults for youth ministry. These additions will require an increase in giving.

As you contemplate what you may offer in 2017, ask yourself, “Am I giving as much as I believe I can?” I can only guess at the average income level in our parish. The average pledge was $2393 in 2016. If every household in the parish gave 5% of their income, we would probably have much more than we need. The Biblical standard of the tithe (10%) may not be realistic, but there can be great joy in working toward it.

There’s more to say, and I’ll offer a few more posts along the way between now and October 21 when we hope to have all the pledge cards returned. Thanks for being generous listeners and generous givers.

Peace,

Joe+

Note from the Rector, August 25: Service Time Change, Parking

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A few weeks ago, I wrote about the possibility of shifting our third morning service on Sundays to begin at 11:15. This change provides more time for Christian education for children, youth and adults. We have been listening carefully to your feedback. After much prayer and deliberation, we (clergy, lay staff, ministry leaders, and vestry) have decided to adopt this change beginning September 18, when we return to our schedule of three morning services plus 5:30 Celtic service and 8:00 Compline.
Most of you that voiced opinions about moving to 11:15 have been enthusiastic. The fact that our children, especially, want MORE time to engage in their learning and faith exploration is wonderful. Some of you had concerns and asked that we consider an option that would give more time but would not change the timing of the third service. We did look at other options, and there are a variety of factors that made the 11:15 shift the best one. I am happy to discuss more.
In addition to the added time for education (a solid hour, plus time for transition), we will not feel as rushed on Sunday mornings. I hope to have more chances to interact with parishioners. I think there will be other, unexpected benefits if we look for them. God only knows, and with God, there is always the possibility of grace and growth with any change. I know there might be potential drawbacks, but I encourage us to look for the opportunities.
On a slightly different note, I want you to know that we are well aware of the challenges related to parking. We have a great relationship with our new Foode neighbors across the street, and yet the reality is that more people will be vying for the existing parking spots. We are looking at this issue and will have more to say about possible solutions. In the meantime, we celebrate the good problem that there are lots of people who want to enjoy downtown Fredericksburg. I know that many St. Georgians will likely wander across the street for a bite to eat. My hope is that our open doors and welcoming atmosphere may entice some diners to cross the street the other way, to come and see what God is doing in our beloved community. Keep an eye out and greet one another with joy and love.
Your brother in Christ,
Joe+

Note from the Rector, August 4, 2016

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This Sunday, we will hear from the Gospel according to Luke (12:32-40) as Jesus instructs his disciples to not be afraid, to sell their possessions in order to give alms. It is a challenging passage for us who have many possessions and are still often afraid of not having enough. What Jesus seems to be saying is, “If you’re worried about not having enough, then give something away.” That’s seems like strange advice, but it actually makes sense. We have all heard the wisdom that when we are concerned about ourselves it helps to focus our attention on someone else’s needs. The word, “alms,” comes from roots that mean mercy and compassion. When we’re worried about ourselves, offering relief to others through acts of mercy and compassion is often just what we need.
Please continue to pray for all the war-torn places of our world, including South Sudan. Our parishioners, Larry Duffee and his Sudanese wife, Suzi, who have been living and working in Sudan to promote education for years, are currently in Nairobi, Kenya. Larry reports that he will try to get back to Juba, in South Sudan, this weekend. Conditions are very dangerous. See his complete letter here, and you can learn more about the situation through these news articles produced by Episcopal News Service.
Giving to St. George’s is an act of mercy. When you contribute to our ministry together through financial gifts, you are making it possible for our clergy, staff, and facilities to operate so that this parish is a place of prayer, hope, and relief for anyone who comes to the door.
I invite you to learn about a young woman, Adrienne Davis, who is preparing to give of herself as a missionary with workers in Hong Kong, as part of the Young Adult Service Corps of the Episcopal Church. Adrienne has been a parishioner at the Celtic service during her time at the University of Mary Washington and has helped some with our youth ministry: To learn more and see her video, visit this link: Meet Adrienne Davis
Opportunities abound to share of our possessions (which include time, talent, and treasure) and give alms, tangible signs of mercy and compassion. The freedom to give is the freedom to love. How is God calling you to lay down your fears, give, and walk in God’s love?
Your brother in Christ,
Joe+

Special Message From the Rector

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A message from the rector about summer changes in liturgy at St. George’s, 2016

Greetings beloved St. Georgians and friends,

As we begin our summer season of worshipping together, I want to share with you some of the changes that will occur as well as some of the reasons for those changes. Although the liturgy is a sacred mystery, I do not want it to be confusing. I like to be as transparent as possible and welcome your feedback and questions.

The Sunday service at 7:45 a.m. will continue through the summer. It has been and will continue to be our most “traditional” service, and I am not suggesting any unusual changes to the liturgy. Every week is different, of course, even at 7:45! Different people and different priests mean that there is always some variety.

The Celtic service at 5:30 p.m. on Sundays will continue at its same time. Some of the prayers and responses will change as they usually do when we shift from one season to another. I do want to have a meeting with some of our Celtic service leaders this summer to reflect on the worship at this service. How has it changed over the years? How might we continue to revise what we do so that it best serves our worship of God and the needs of the worshippers?

Compline, the chanted prayer service for the end of the day, will be offered on May 29, June 12, July 10, and August 14th (second Sundays in June, July, and August) at 8 p.m. This gives our Compline choir a bit of a break.

The weekday services of noon prayer (Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday) and noon Eucharist (Wednesday) continue through the summer. Come and join the staff and other members of the congregation who gather for these brief and meaningful pauses for prayer.

Another aspect of worship that does not take a break is financial giving. Please keep up with your offerings, even if you are not here to put them in the plate on Sunday. We can arrange for electronic delivery or you can mail it to the church. Contact our business office.

For many years, the practice at St. George’s has been to combine the 9:00 and 11:00 Sunday morning services into one service at 10 a.m. during the “summer” (roughly Memorial Day through Labor Day). It is a time when church attendance tends to drop as people are traveling more (although I certainly encourage you to come to church when you are in town!). It is also a good opportunity for the members of our congregation who attend these two services to be back together for a few months. One larger service rather than two smaller ones makes sense. The choirs and chamber ensembles get a break over the summer and will also join back with the rest of the congregation. It is impossible to make everyone happy all the time, and it is a challenge to combine two very different liturgies into one service. Our solution last year was a sort of “hybrid” of the two. This year, we are going to alternate weekly (with a couple of exceptions) between a 9 a.m. liturgy (drawing from the Book of Common Prayer and the Episcopal resource, “Enriching our Worship”) and the 11:00 a.m. liturgy (following The Book of Common Prayer). This is a decision made by myself along with Gay Rahn, Carey Chirico, and John Vreeland and in consultation with our worship and music commission. At Eucharist, on the Sundays we use the Book of Common Prayer service, we will use Prayer C which is more participatory. The 9:00 jazz band will take a break for most of the summer as well, although they will play on June 12, July 10, and August 14. On the Sundays we use Enriching our Worship without the jazz band, we will have music led by the grand piano and perhaps a few instrumentalists. It will be simpler and less jazzy but still participatory and filled with spirit.

Christian formation on Sundays also takes a break over the summer, although we will have occasional opportunities for adults, youth, and children. Keep an eye on the announcements and newsletter. We will still gather for fellowship after the morning services. Coffee continues!

I hope that those of you who love one service or the other will take this chance to experience worship in a different style and to connect with other members of the parish that you do not see as often or have not met at all. We are blessed with so much variety in this parish, so many expressions of God’s gifts. May God bring us together in our variety and remind us that we are one Body in Christ. Thanks be to God for all of you and for all the ways in which we worship God together.

-Joe+

Note from the Rector, May 19, 2016

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Greetings beloved St. Georgians,

For many of us, the recent changes in weather have been unsettling. It has, at times, seemed more like fall than spring! In our society, changes in technology, politics, religion, economics (and the list goes on) can make it seem like everything is coming apart. Wouldn’t it be nice if there was someplace we could go to escape the changes? For some of us, church is that sanctuary. Churches, however, change too, and St. George’s has been through its fair share in the past ten years. Some people have embraced the changes. Others have found them difficult to bear. My hope is that the church can be a place where we faithfully engage with change, even if we find it uncomfortable. This Sunday is Trinity Sunday, a day to celebrate that our God is somehow one God with three personalities in perfect unity with each other. The Trinity reminds us that God is not merely a monolithic being. Nor is God a committee of three individuals. The mystery of the Trinity is that somehow God not either/or but both/and. God’s self is constantly changing, constantly in dynamic motion among the three members of the Trinity. At the same time, God is also changeless in God’s love and mercy.

One of the societal changes before us involves the reality that some of us do not fit in an “either/or” way into classifications of male and female. Transgender persons have long been part of our families, neighborhoods and churches. Recently, the bishops of the Episcopal Diocese of Virginia released a statement about how they are encouraging Episcopal schools to respond pastorally about these complex issues. I commend it to you (click here to read it). Their guidance extends to churches as well. Our vestry is currently considering how to amend our St. George’s welcome statement to make it clearer that our parish definitely welcomes transgender persons (along with people of any race, nationality, sexual orientation, and tradition). It is a challenge to say these things simply, and we will take our time to find the words that feel right. I know that some of us may feel less comfortable engaging these kinds of questions and changes. I believe that we can do this together as brothers and sisters in Christ, with God’s help.

I will have more to say soon about another upcoming change…the shift to summer schedule! In short, when we shift on May 29, our main Sunday service will be at 10:00 a.m. instead of 9 and 11. Over the summer, we will alternate weekly between a 9:00-style service and an11:00-style service (the Jazz band , however, will be playing three times during the summer). As always, I welcome your feedback, comments, and questions. I look forward to being with you this Sunday for the end of the program year, the revealing of prayer partners, compassionate parenting, Rite 13 celebration, chamber orchestra concert, and, of course, the celebration of the changing and changeless Holy Trinity!

-Joe+