May 2010
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Tangible Benefits

Several months ago I received a phone call from a bank officer on behalf of someone who was considering making a pledge to the church. The bank representative had two questions.

First, is a pledge legally binding? No, I assured her, it is not.

Second, are there any benefits, goods or services attained from the making of a pledge?

I know that the correct answer to that question, from the bank’s perspective, is no. Unlike the local public radio station, we do not give away CDs, tote bags or T-shirts to those who make donations to us. There are no tangible items whose value must be deducted from a financial donation before it is claimed on a tax form.

Still, I had a hard time answering no. “Yes, there are definitely benefits,” I said. There was a long silence on the other end of the phone, until I finally gave the answer she was expecting.

I’ve mulled over that question and the “correct” answer a lot. What “benefits, goods, or services” are attained from belonging to a church, or more specifically, to St. Dunstan’s?

At our annual parish meeting a few weeks ago we talked about some of the benefits we’ve experienced the past year -- the arrival of Tom Gibbs on the staff; the excellent Christian education opportunities for children and adults; the moving worship services; the many chances for fellowship; the opportunities to serve others in the community and the world; the physical beauty of our land and worship space.

As I listened to all that goes on in this place I was struck by the richness of life here. The benefits of being part of this community are many. As I said at that meeting, as I begin my seventh year at St. Dunstan’s this summer, I feel blessed and very fortunate to be serving God in this place with all of you.

But I also confessed that frequently in the past year I have gone home on Sundays feeling discouraged. The primary reason for that feeling has been the low attendance at church.

There are two components to the attendance issue. The first is our on-going efforts to attract new members to the church. There are elements beyond our control that work against us here – primarily the number of other Episcopal churches in the area, our location off the beaten path, and the high cost of advertising.

But through our excellent website, announcements in local papers and Episcopal publications, and my op-ed pieces in the AJC, new members do find their way to us. We are committed to continuing to do all we can to spread the word about St. Dunstan’s and bring new people into our fold.

The second component is of greater concern – the low attendance of our members. Most clergy reluctantly concede that attendance will be down in the summer, but when those low numbers continue into the fall and spring it is troubling. That is happening to us.

St. Dunstan’s is certainly not the only parish facing this problem. Most clergy I know have similar concerns. On any given Sunday most churches may have a third of their actual membership in attendance. But in a small church like St. Dunstan’s, when only a third of the members, or fewer, are in attendance the congregation is sparse.

When I raised these concerns at the annual parish meeting, I acknowledged that there are no magic answers to these questions, and no simple fix. But it is important that the issues be raised.

I know that St. Dunstan’s is important to everyone who reads these words – whether you haven’t missed a Sunday in months, or whether you haven’t been here in a month of Sundays.

We all have the sense that the church will be here for us when we need it. I hope that is true. But as Helen Branch, one of our founders, reminded us at the annual parish meeting, just because St. Dunstan’s is here today doesn’t mean it will always be here.

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Announcements

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Prayer for Pentecost

 

Like the murmur of the dove’s song, like the challenge of her flight,
Like the vigor of the wind’s rush, like the new flame’s eager might:
Come, Holy Spirit, come.

 

To the members of Christ’s Body, to the branches of the Vine,
To the church in faith assembled, to her midst as gift and sign:
Come, Holy Spirit, come.

 

With the healing of division, with the ceaseless voice of prayer,
With the power to love and witness, with the peace beyond compare:
Come, Holy Spirit, come.

 

Amen

 

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New Vestry Members

Rick Beard, Sibley Fleming, and Wayne Hood were elected to the vestry at the annual parish meeting. Sibley and Wayne were both serving unexpired terms, and will now serve a full three-year term. Congratulations and thanks to them. And congratulations, too, to our new wardens – Renee’ Kastanakis, senior warden; and Wayne Hood, junior warden.

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Medical Mission Help Needed

Dear St. Dunstan’s Friends,

I hope you are doing well and enjoying this spring weather! I am traveling to the Dominican Republic for two weeks in May on a medical service trip. I am very excited to share this experience with you. I appreciate any help you may be able to give me in sponsorship money. I am trying to raise $1,885 for the trip. To learn more about the program go to islonline.org to see pictures and information about the success of past trips. My sponsorship program is being organized through Good Samaritan Medical Missions and they are a 501c3 organization, so any donation you make will be deductible. All donations should be sent to Good Samaritan Missions at PO Box 355, Moravian Falls, NC 28654. On the back of the envelope, please write “Emily Bent, May 15-28, Dominican Republic.” GSM only sends receipts for donations over $250, so be sure to save your check copy or cleared check.

I leave on May 15th and return May 28th. Any donations made by the 28th will be applied to my trip. I will send you a follow up letter after my return to tell you about my experience. Contact the church if you have any additional questions about the trip. Thank you so much!

(Emily, the daughter of Rick Bent and Renee’ Kastanakis, just finished her sophomore year at Georgia, where she is a pre-med student.)

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Overnight Peacemakers Camp
for 10-14 year-olds

This summer, kids who want to change their world are invited to a special camp, July 26 - 31.

Middle school and home school teacher Marilyn McGinnis and outdoor educator Jonah McDonald will team up to guide kids in a meaningful week in the Americus, Georgia area.  Using Koinonia Partners as our home base, we'll be part of a community with a long and dramatic history of work for civil rights and racial equality. We'll venture out into the Americus/Plains area each day to visit other places and people who are working hard to make a difference in areas of housing, fair trade, sustainable agriculture and international peace.  We'll talk about issues and ideas, problems and solutions, and we'll mix in plenty of team-building, outdoor fun and relaxation.

If you or another family you know would be interested in learning more, check out our website. Sure Foot Adventures also has several other camps and adventures this summer, which you can peruse at the site. Thanks!

Vicki Ledet

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Episcopal Church Women

St. Dunstan’s Episcopal Church Women (ECW) will meet in the parish hall on Wednesday, May 19 th at 10:30 AM. Katharine Hilliard-Yntema, MD, vocational deacon and master gardener, will present the program on Gardening and Spiritual Renewal. Dr. Hilliard-Yntema’s personal ministry at Budd Terrace integrates worship and the garden. Bring a salad to share for lunch and any pass-along plants that you’d like to swap. We welcome all friends of the parish to share this great morning of worship, learning, and fellowship with St. Dunstan’s ECW.

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We are still tracking very well against both our expense and income budgets. While some of our contributors have given large portions of their pledges, these are being transferred as in the past into income on a monthly basis, so that they do not distort the figures. Similarly, certain quarterly bills are now being applied to expenses on a monthly basis. This was done in the past – nothing new here – but I am applying it to some other mid-sized costs so that income and expenses appear more level from month to month.

~Dick Harris

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