Grace Episcopal Church Annual Meeting
January 23, 2022
Agenda
Opening Hymn (Amazing Grace)
Opening Prayer (Reverend Deb)
Land Acknowledgment
Appointment of Clerk and Establishment of a Quorum – Sarah Williams
Approval of the Minutes - January 24, 2021 Annual Meeting
Senior Warden’s Comments – Christina Reich
Junior Warden’s Comments – Liz Charlton
Ministry Reports
Election of new Vestry members for Class of 2024
Election of 2022 Deanery/Convention Delegates
Treasurer’s Report –Marj Leeds
Upper Lot Committee Report
Rector’s Report – The Rev. Dr. Deborah White
Recognition of Ministry
Announcement of 2022 Senior Warden
Dismissal (Reverend Walter)
Amazing Grace
Amazing grace! How sweet the sound�that saved a wretch like me!�I once was lost, but now am found,�was blind, but now I see.�
'Twas grace first taught my heart to fear�and grace my fears relieved;�how precious did that grace appear�the hour I first believed!�
The Lord has promised good to me,�his word my hope secures;�he will my shield and portion be�as long as life endures.�
Through many dangers, toils and snares�I have already come;�'tis grace that brought me safe thus far,�and grace will lead me home.�
When we've been there ten thousand years�bright shining as the sun,�we've no less days to sing God's praise�than when we first begun.
Land acknowledgement
We acknowledge that Grace Episcopal Church Martinez is seated on traditional, ancestral, and unceded land of the Muwekma, Ohlone, and Karkin peoples. We acknowledge their care of this land, the wrongful seizure of it, and offer our gratitude for our use of it. We pledge to do our part to ensure a future in which the lands on which we worship are exchanged and shared equitably, honestly, and without violence to be used to the glory of the great Caretaker of all people and all Lands.
2021 Annual Meeting minutes
Grace Episcopal Church
Martinez, California
Unadopted Minutes of the Grace Church Annual Meeting
January 24, 2021
�Vestry Members Present: The Rev. Dr. Deborah O. White (Rector), Christina Reich (Sr. Warden), Joshua Senn (Jr. Warden), Amelia Brooks, Chandra Damele, Sally Hanson, David Kennedy, Jane Ramsey, Connie Towey, Stephanie Zichichi
Parishioners Present: Approximately 45 voting members of the Parish were present, which fulfilled the requirement for a quorum. (45 computers or telephones were present in the Zoom meeting; four of them represented couples attending together, and four were non-voting staff members.)
�Call to order and Opening Prayer. The meeting was called to order at 10:06 a.m. with the singing of Amazing Grace. The opening prayer was led by Rev. Deb.
Appointment of Clerk. Sarah Williams was appointed Clerk of the Annual Meeting.
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2021 Annual Meeting minutes, continued
Minutes. The minutes of the January 26, 2020, Annual Meeting were approved without corrections.
Senior Warden Comments. Senior Warden Christina Reich indicated that she had expressed her remarks in her report but thanked the congregation for the opportunity to serve as Senior Warden.
Junior Warden Comments. Junior Warden Josh Senn expressed his thanks for the opportunity to serve as Junior Warden for the past three years.
Ministry Reports. The Ministry Reports were presented under the following headings: Service, Worship, Welcome (Evangelism), Education, Parish Life, Pastoral Care, and Stewardship. Rev. Deb encouraged the congregation to read the individual reports, asked for questions, and then thanked the ministry leaders and teams for providing reports.
Elections of new Vestry members for Class of 2023.
Rev. Deb introduced the three nominees for the three open vestry positions (3-year terms): Liz Charlton, Amy Eudy, and Sally Hanson.
There was a call for nominations from the floor. There were none. Reverend Deb then instructed the Clerk to cast a single ballot for all candidates as allowed by the by-laws.
Liz Charlton, Amy Eudy, and Sally Hanson were duly elected as vestry members.
2021 Annual Meeting minutes, continued
Nominations for Deanery Representatives/Diocesan Convention Delegates. The commitment for deanery delegates involves attendance at deanery meetings (four per year) and the diocesan convention. The Rector introduced the nominees to Deanery Representatives/Diocesan Convention Delegates: Barbara Brooks, Pat Hambly, and Jennifer Sabroe; and Jane Ramsey as alternate. She called for nominations from the floor. There were none. Reverend Deb then instructed the Clerk to cast a single ballot for all candidates as allowed by the by-laws.
Barbara Brooks, Pat Hambly, Jennifer Sabroe and Jane Ramsey (alternate) were duly elected as vestry members.
Treasurer’s Report. Marj Leeds presented the Treasurer’s Report, including the proposed budget for 2021. A deficit of $19,000 is projected; the reasons for this and possible solutions were explained. Marj encouraged anyone who has further questions to contact her. She indicated that the budget will be formally adopted by the Vestry at its February meeting.
Rector’s Report. The Rector’s Report was given as the sermon during the worship service. Reverend Deb gave a shorter version of it during the Annual Meeting and led a discussion of the long-term future of Grace. Concerns expressed included the decline in membership of all faith communities, which has been exacerbated by the pandemic and the need to focus on mission as we consider how to remain viable and continue to grow in the coming years.
2021 Annual Meeting minutes, continued
Upper Lot Committee. The Upper Lot Committee brought the attendees up to date on the exploration of possible uses that would further the mission of Grace, and Reverend Deb led a discussion of this.
Recognition of Ministry. Rev. Deb presented honorariums to Mary Canale, John Lee, Jennifer Sabroe, and Connie Towey on behalf of the congregation in gratitude for their service to the church.
Announcement of Senior Warden. Rev. Deb announced that Christina Reich will continue as Senior Warden. The Vestry will meet immediately after the adjournment to elect the Junior Warden.
Adjournment. The meeting adjourned at 11:00 a.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Sarah Williams, Parish Administrator, Clerk of the Annual Meeting
Senior Warden’s Report
Christina Reich
Dear Faithful People of Grace,
This is my very last Senior Warden Report. Three years went by very quickly and there were many things I’d hope to accomplish but funding, my own health and demands of my job, and the darn global pandemic got in the way. Yet still, I feel like I contributed as much as I could and I feel good about that.
I will continue to attend the Winter Nights Summit meetings to ensure that we continue this important ministry. The January 3 meeting was so uplifting as we heard that all but one family is now permanently housed that started the program in September, and there are 2 new families that have just entered. The Safe Parking program continues to thrive and grant funds continue to come in so the ministry is healthy and strong. Here are the current wish lists:
For Winter Nights Shelter: Winco or Safeway gift cards, gas cards (Gift cards for all programs), pillows, Lysol spray, disinfecting wipes, pillows, 4T pull ups, baby wipes, twin size fitted sheets, sleeping bags, men's and women's deodorant, gloves (for the cold weather), and umbrellas.
For Safe Parking Program: Coffee, Creamer - French Vanilla, Snacks-Trail Mix pkts, White Cheddar Cheez-It packages etc. Paper Plates, Solo Cups, Hot Drink Cups, Paper Bowls, Forks, Spoons, Toilet Paper, Paper Towels Beanies, Gloves, Scarfs, Gas Gift Cards & Winco or Safeway Gift Cards.
Thanks so much for the opportunity to serve on the Vestry these past three year. Thank you to each of you for all that you do.
In Christ,
Tina Reich
Junior Warden’s Report
Liz Charlton
Building and Grounds improvements and maintenance continued to be a challenge in 2021, our second year under COVID restrictions. I am happy to report that the ‘Buildings and Grounds Gang’, Stan and Michael Applegate, Chandra Damele, Dick Evans, Sally Hanson, David Kennedy, Marj Leeds, Jimmy Maniatis, Jennifer Sabroe, Josh Senn, Gary, Theo, and Nick Spenik, and Gretchen and John VanderKamp, all gave their time, energy, advice, and financial support during 2021.
�What we accomplished:
1. Four all-Parish Work days to clean up church grounds and make repairs to infrastructure, including a Reopening cleanup to clean and sanitize the church proper.
2. Ongoing stealth gardening. Thank you Marj and Stan.
3. Created and posted a Buildings and Grounds spreadsheet listing and categorizing projects, designating project leads, showing progress, and saving projects as completed. (Liz and Gary)
4. Replaced broken windows in Education Building (David).
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5. Completed Back Steps project (Jimmy and Dick).
6. Repair of door to Sacristry (Gary).
7. Tree removal on slope above parking lot (Jimmy).
8. Brush clearing (Goats)
9. Moving wood chips left on site (Gary and Liz)
10. Purchased and installed new furnace filters, acted as liaison to Republic Services (waste management), replaced water shutoff valve and piping, installed hose bib locks, conducted Grace water use study, ongoing weed pulling (Junior Warden).
It has been a pleasure to work everyone this year.
Respectfully submitted,
Liz Charlton
Junior Warden
Junior Warden’s Report, continued
Ministry Reports
Service, Worship, Welcome (Evangelism), Education, Parish Life, Pastoral Care, Stewardship
Service
Outreach Committee
St. Christopher’s Guild
Deacon’s Discretionary Fund
Rector’s Discretionary Fund (also Pastoral Care)
Traditionally called “Outreach,” or “Service” ministries, the people of Grace seek simply to help others by attending to their needs and sharing our time, treasure and talent. We follow Jesus’ mandate to fully love God and our neighbors. We believe that our actions in the world are also a form of worship. For this reason, we seek opportunities to provide for those in need of assistance and advocate for peace and social justice.
This year’s efforts continued to be affected due to the coronavirus pandemic and safety protocols.
Backpacks. We did not have the backpack/school supplies drive this year. Our local schools are no longer requesting donations of school supplies in the form we have given them in the past. We hope to find new partners to work with to continue to help local students in the future.
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Service / Outreach Annual Report 2021
Outreach Committee: Nate Brooks, Liz Charlton, Chandra Damele, Dru Grissom, Beth Ilog, Rev. Walter Ramsey (Deacon), Christina Reich, Jennifer Sabroe, Rev. Columba Salamony (Deacon).
Service/Outreach Report, continued
Loaves and Fishes. For almost 30 years, Grace Episcopal Church has provided a volunteer service team once a month to Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa County, at the Martinez dining room. L&F has served over 5 million meals and has not missed a day since the pandemic. In March 2020 due to the COVID pandemic, all of the dining rooms were closed; however, meals are still being provided. Meals are prepared at the central kitchen, packaged in to-go containers, and delivered from the central kitchen to the Loaves and Fishes dining rooms. Our team leader and liaison to Loaves and Fishes, Beth Ilog, stays in touch with our team of volunteers to keep them updated and faithfully covers the L&F incoming calls every Monday. Grace has continued to contribute to their work through regular contributions from the Rector’s Discretionary Fund.
Spirit of Giving. Hope Solutions (formerly Contra Costa Interfaith Housing) heals the effects of poverty and homelessness by providing permanent housing solutions and vital support services to highly vulnerable families and individuals. For the fifth year, in 2021 we participated in their Spirit of Giving program — an annual drive to provide Christmas gifts to families who reside in its supportive housing communities. The drive was kicked off at the end of October with an online sign-up to provide gifts to 26 clients in eight families. By the end of November we met our goal of two gifts plus a $25 grocery gift card for each of the 26 family members, and delivered the packages to Hope Solutions.
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Service/Outreach Report, continued
C.O.R.E. Coordinated Outreach Referral and Engagement is a program of the Housing and Homeless Services Division of Contra Costa County Health Services. This year our efforts were hampered due to the suspension of in-person services for the first 6 months of 2021 and the reduction of days that someone is on campus during the week. However, our collection continues, with the ongoing project of collecting donations to provide the C.O.R.E. team with needed items to distribute to individuals suffering from homelessness. Items donated have been: sleeping bags, moving blankets, backpacks, non-perishable food, bottles of water, hygiene items (soap, shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, shower wipes, shaving supplies, feminine hygiene items), socks, sunscreen, and pet food.
Winter Nights. Winter Nights is a family shelter program run by the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County that provides shelter, food, and services to families throughout the winter months. The families are sheltered at churches throughout the county on a rotating basis. Grace Episcopal participated for the first time as a co-host congregation in early 2020. After the pandemic hit and operations were adjusted to no volunteers working with families and providing only food prepared in a commercial kitchen, Grace adjusted and participated again in March of 2021 at Friends Church of Walnut Creek. Our church was very appreciated by Friends
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Service/Outreach Report, continued
Church and we were personally invited to co-host again with them but this time, due to vaccinations, we were once again allowed back into the shelter, providing homemade meals, snacks, homework help, craft activities, and groceries. We were the first church to host the families back to the Shelter in the last week of September 2021 and learned a great deal about the operation of the program as families were just starting to come in. We will be back at it for the 2022-23 season, with the date TBD.
Deacon’s Pantry and Discretionary Fund. Deacons in the Episcopal Church are called to a special ministry of servanthood directly under the bishop. They are tasked with serving all people, particularly the poor, the weak, the sick, and the lonely. Our deacon, Rev. Walter, fills this ministry in part through managing the Deacon’s Pantry, which is stocked with food, water, and other survival necessities for individuals in need who come to the church seeking assistance. Similarly, he has a special Deacon’s Discretionary Fund which he can use to assist individuals who need help with bills and other financial needs.
Service/Outreach Report, continued
Homeless Action Coalition (HAC) brings community together to help Martinez residents experiencing homelessness build confidence, enjoy life and get on a path towards a new home, job and way of life. An outgrowth of the Martinez Homeless Task Force, the HAC is incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. As a result of Rev. Deb’s participation in this group and Rev. Columba’s participation with the Friday Showers and Camp Hope, they have strengthened their relationship with the Martinez Police. We hope to continue to work with HAC to do our part to alleviate homelessness in our community. A needs list is posted in Grace Notes as needed to assist HAC with the collection of clothes, food and hygiene items.
The Episcopal Impact Fund. EIF supports organizations that address the root causes of poverty in the San Francisco Bay Area, both financially and through mentorship and guidance. Inspired by the teachings of the gospel, we share a vision of a world without poverty. This year’s EIF Night of Light, the organization’s annual fundraiser, was held via Zoom. Reverend Deb was one of the sponsors of the event. We continue to support EIF through donations from the Rector’s Discretionary Fund.
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Service/Outreach Report, continued
Rector’s Discretionary Fund. In addition to these active ministries, Grace supports local organizations and fellow parishioners by contributing to the Rector's Discretionary Fund. The Rector's Discretionary Fund has been used to help Grace congregants with paying bills, and has also provided financial support for Episcopal Community Services, The Episcopal Impact Fund, Hope Solutions, Loaves and Fishes, The Contra Costa Food Bank, Monument Crisis Center, The Homeless Action Coalition, CORE, and other Episcopal and local organizations. On a more global scale, we supported earthquake relief for victims in Haiti, rebuilding from fire in Northern California, and social justice work through the Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County and the Diocese of California. Many thanks to everyone who supported these endeavors with their time, talent, and treasure!
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St. Christopher’s Guild
Annual Report 2021
�St. Christopher’s Guild is comprised of the women of Grace Episcopal Church and is dedicated to hosting fundraising events to raise money for groups that provide services to those in need of assistance. Because of the pandemic, St. Christopher’s Guild did not hold any of its traditional events this year. Its officers remain:
Jo-Ann Lee – President
Connie Towey – Vice President
Leslie Kolesa and Stephanie Zichichi – Co-Secretaries
Worship
Altar Guild
Eucharistic Ministers
Lectors
Acolytes
Choir
Healing Ministers
Worship and Liturgy Committee
Submitted by: John Lee, Rev. Deb, Rev. Walter, Rev. Columba Salamony (Seminarian), Barbara Brooks (Altar Guild), Arthur Omura (Music Program)
Overview: We are a "sacramental" church, honoring the importance of scripture but emphasizing the primacy of community through the Holy Eucharist. For this reason, worship is the primary activity of Grace Episcopal Church.
This past year has presented many challenges as we have adapted to the COVID-19 pandemic. We can proudly say that not only have members of Grace been able to make the choice to attend services virtually during spikes in the pandemic, but we have incorporated several geographically distant worshippers into our congregation as members, with some taking on the ministry of reading!
Summary:
Restricted activities continued throughout the year and we have continually adapted to state, diocesan and Contra Costa County guidance. The Regathering Committee continued to make proposals related to how Grace would worship as the pandemic restrictions evolved. This committee worked in conjunction with those on the Worship and Liturgy Committee to assess and implement state, county and diocesan guidelines. Many thanks to Jennifer Sabroe and and Gary Spenik for serving on this committee in addition to Marj Leeds and Arthur Omura.
Worship and Liturgy Annual Report 2021
Worship and Liturgy, continued
Early in the pandemic we chose to continue to have Holy Eucharist as our primary Sunday worship service. This selection was made based on the theology stated above – i.e., that The Episcopal Church is primarily sacramental in nature with Holy Eucharist serving as one of our two sacraments. We continued practicing Spiritual Communion, with the Rector receiving on behalf of the congregation for the first part of the year.
Reopening - Starting with Easter, the Pandemic restrictions were modified so that we were able to reopen our doors following state, local and diocesan restrictions. We continued to simulcast of the one Sunday service for those who wished to reduce their exposures. We installed a large screen TV near the pulpit to allow lay readers to continue to record their participation remotely and share both with remote viewers and those present in the sanctuary.
Worship and Liturgy, continued
Interactive online services continue and include Morning Prayer, Compline, and Evening Prayer. Currently there is a service available 6 days of the week. Many thanks to the Rev. Walter Ramsey, who leads Compline twice weekly, Field Education Student the Rev. Columba Salamony, who leads Evening Prayer weekly, and Jennifer Sabroe, who leads Morning Prayer biweekly.
Worship and Liturgy, continued
The Rev. Columba Salamony was our Seminarian. His report:
I am glad to have had another year to continue to get to know the congregation at Grace. I continue to enjoy working with various projects, including Outreach, and serving on Sundays at our hybrid worship.
Last year, my formative education at Grace focused on adult education, preaching, liturgical leadership, and church administration. For this academic year, we are focusing on similar areas: pastoral care, preaching, and leadership. Like everything we do, these experiences are helping us all to understand the role of the church in the changing 21st century.
Through the course of 2021, I hosted a few Faithful Forums, as well as continued leadership of the Monday Evening Prayer service which has a very faithful following. Late in the year, Rev Deb and I began a Sacred Ground Circle with members of Grace, Saint Anna’s, and some community members. This has been a very invigorating experience and I look forward to the next half of the curriculum.
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I close with thanksgiving for Rev Deb and her mentorship and for the care and support shown to me by Grace and its congregation.
Joyfully,
Rev Columba Salamony, Seminarian
A virtual visit with the Bishop was held on March 14 as part of his regular biennial visit to our parish.
Worship and Liturgy Ministries
Eucharistic Ministers (EMs) assist at the altar and distribute the wine during the Holy Communion. A special recruiting effort resulted in 5 new parishioners volunteering to be trained and certified. A first session was scheduled for 3/22/20 but was put on hold until the first Quarter of 2022.
Acolytes
Acolyte duties have been performed by Faith Burt and Theo White-Spenik. Additional acolytes have been identified and a training will be conducted during the first Quarter of 2022.
Altar Guild
Altar Guild is up and running with a more normalized schedule for our weekly teams this past year. We have six people working regular duty over four weekends, with three more “on call” for extra help. This means we’re working with, if not a skeleton crew, definitely one with some ribs showing. Working with partners again (except for Melissa Rodrigue-Kennedy, who nobly forges on alone) has been the great benefit of loosened restrictions.
Before Christmas, five of us met for a meeting and lunch to plan for the holiday, confirm schedules, and look at long term needs. A gratifying amount of visiting also occurred.
We all enjoyed the new and beautiful royal blue altar vestments during Advent, the gift of St. John’s Yalesville, Connecticut, and the equally beautiful job done by Stephanie Zichichi in making alterations to fit it for our altar. Many thanks, Stephanie, for a job well done.
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Altar Guild Report, continued
Thanks again to our fair linen guru, Elaine Quigley, and Columba Salamony and Theo White-Spenik, who continued this year to fill in as needed to ensure we were set up for Eucharist. Thanks to Marj Leeds, our super-decorator.
Finding new members will be a goal for the coming year, not only because many hands make light work, but because the work of the Altar Guild provides a unique chance to serve -- sometimes madly detailed, often contemplative, and always rewarding.
Barbara Brooks, Altar Guild Director
Lectors and Litanists
Lectors read the lessons and Litanists led the Prayers of the People at Sunday services. At Grace we have 35 people involved in this ministry. Staring in Advent of 2020, we enlisted most of the 35 to participate in recording the weekly readings and prayers, which continued until reopening after Easter 2021. Those who cannot attend in person have continued to participate via recordings.
Healing Ministers
Although on hold, we thank the Healing Ministers Leslie Kolesa, Marj Leeds, Elizabeth Richards, Christina Reich, and The Rev. Walter Ramsey.
Scheduling Ministries
Parish Administrator Sarah Williams has now taken over responsibility for scheduling lay readers, acolytes, and other service personnel.
Music Program
Music at Grace has been up and down this year. In-person services have returned, as has congregational singing. The choir, on the other hand, has had trouble mustering the usual numbers. This seems to be mainly because of momentum: former regulars have continued other activities begun during the pandemic hiatus or have grown used to having free evenings. Also, choir members are far more likely to stay home from church or rehearsal if they feel even slightly ill or suspect they may have been exposed to someone with COVID. Our numbers have been
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Music Program Report, continued
severely depleted, and the usual remedies: open rehearsals, recruitment campaigns, hymn-sings, etc. have all been curtailed or forbidden by ongoing health-related restrictions on public gathering and singing.
I have had to adjust our repertoire to take these limitations into account; preferring more simple, homophonic music or music which is already well-known. This strategy has been so far successful: Christmastime this year went well, capped by an excellent lessons and carols service. But the choir cannot thrive in such conditions. I believe the solution is to increase the difficulty or unfamiliarity of the music (rather than the complexity) by incorporating novel forms: chant melodies in the Latin and Anglican traditions, folk music traditions, musics from other branches of the church and possibly other religions, and music from more diverse historical periods. Preserving the dignity of the liturgy or the traditions of the Episcopal Church are no longer top priority, if they ever were. Now we must innovate, or risk becoming defunct.
Arthur Omura, Music Director
Worship & Liturgy Committee
At Grace, we try to maintain a balance between continuing and treasuring our liturgical traditions and growing and maturing as Christians by experiencing new worship patterns. Reverend Deb, with the counsel of the Worship and Liturgy Committee, changes the liturgy seasonally, usually including a different form of the Prayers of the People, a different Eucharistic Prayer, and changes in the Service Music.
The purpose of the Worship and Liturgy Committee is to provide counsel to Rev. Deb related to worship at Grace. We attempt to represent the opinions of parishioners to Rev. Deb, offer our own perspectives, provide representation for our ministries, share potential impacts for proposed changes, and present her with some of our liturgical history. We have also served as a sounding board for her approaches to a variety of liturgical issues. The members are Arthur Omura (Music), John Lee (EMs, Lectors), Marj Leeds (Music, EMs), The Rev. Walter Ramsey (Deacon), Barbara Brooks (Altar Guild), Sally Hanson (Vestry) and Columba Salamony (Seminarian). We meet monthly on the Third Thursday.
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Worship and Liturgy Report, continued
We have continued to meet monthly in 2021 via Zoom. That has proven to be effective in providing the above listed purpose and goals.
Rev. Deb and the Worship and Liturgy Committee are delighted to receive feedback about our liturgical planning.
Submitted by:
Barbara Brooks
John Lee
Arthur Omura
The Rev. Columba Salamony
Rev. Deb
Welcome (Evangelism)
Ashes to Go
Website
Facebook page
Greeters
Welcome (Evangelism)
(Christina Reich, Welcoming Committee Chair; Susan E. Bremmer Greeting Committee Chair, Rev. Deb)
The nature of how we we welcome folks into Grace has shifted many times during the pandemic but our wonderful Grace parishioners have continued to find ways to invite others into our midst.
Coffee hour has happened online, outside, and inside with hosts offering snacks and coffee. We could use more folks to sign up as hosts. Please let Tina Reich know if you are willing to take on this happy ministry. It is so easy to do and we have a very clear instruction sheet.
A project still on hold as a result of pandemic shifts this year is a new welcoming booklet for new parishioners. We have the outline worked out but need to begin filling in the content. We also have new online parishioners! Rev Deb continues to reach out personally to each of them and we need to develop a process for parishioners to follow up and welcome as well.
Greeters. Greeters not only greet individuals and hand out church bulletins when people step into the Narthex each Sunday for church services, but also are responsible for the offering collection and ushering people up for communion. It is the goal of the greeters to make everyone who comes to Grace Church feel welcome and to help them navigate the Episcopal service, if needed, and to invite newcomers to coffee hour. First impressions are lasting impressions, and I want to thank all of our greeters for their voluntarism and enthusiasm.
2021 brought a fresh wave of COVID cases but we were able to have in-house church services for the first time in almost a year! I want to thank our greeters for their professionalism as we were asked to check the vaccination status of our parishioners and visitors before they entered the church. I know we all felt a bit of trepidation in doing this, but everyone was cooperative and the system went very smoothly.
We are down a few greeters and if anyone would like to volunteer, please contact me as we will be doing training in the beginning of 2022.
Susan E. Bremmer, Greeting Committee
Ashes to Go. On her first day in 2017, Rev. Deb initiated “Ashes to Go,” an all-Episcopal Church effort to share our Ash Wednesday liturgy, meaning the reflection provided in the receiving of ashes took to the streets of Martinez. Each year we try to serve more people. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic we were unable to perform Ashes to go this year.
�Contra Costa Interfaith Network. Locally, we are part of the Contra Costa Interfaith Network. We have developed a good working relationship with several local agencies. Rev. Deb now serves as the Vice Chair of the Interfaith Advisory Council of the Martinez Homelessness Action Coalition. This year Rev. Deb gave the blessing at the Multifaith Thanksgiving Service, held online.
�Contra Costa Deanery. On the diocesan level, the Contra Costa Deanery has been meeting online during the pandemic. We were well represented at our Diocesan Convention in October by Barbara Brooks, Pat Hambly, Jennifer Sabroe, Rev. Walter and Jane Ramsey. Rev. Deb is the President of the Standing Committee of the Diocese. Marj Leeds is now the Secretary of the Executive Council of the Diocese. Rev. Walter is the Contra Costa Deanery clergy representative to the diocesan Nominations Committee, and Barbara Brooks is the Treasurer of the Contra Costa Deanery.
Welcoming (Evangelism) report, continued:
Website: 2021 was the year we finally got our new and improved website up! Many thanks to the talents of the Communications committee: Chandra Damele, Ann Fisher, Jennifer Sabroe, Sarah Williams, and Rev. Deb we were able to launch Grace’s new face to the world by Thanksgiving 2021. We encourage you to spend an hour (or more) looking at this beautiful and inviting site, which has already brought in some new folks. You can also find shortcuts to our community directory, Realm; donate to Grace; and check out the Vestry minutes and back issues of Grace Notes. Same address, new look and content: www.gracechurchmtz.org
Online presence: We broadcast our Sunday morning service on Facebook at this link: https://www.facebook.com/Grace-Episcopal-Church-Martinez-133825503357323. We also use it post previous sermons, interesting articles, and parishioner news. We are also on Instagram (@graceepchurchmtz) and Twitter (twitter.com/GraceEpChMtz). Check us out and share, share, share!
Finally, a MAJOR factor contributing to a welcoming environment is the multiple virtual opportunities we have at our church! Please invite others to these activities as a way to get to know us. The power of a personal invite is undeniable. Huge thanks to Rev. Deb and her family for the beautiful online services and the many, many other efforts that are underway. However, this level of involvement is unsustainable in all these efforts. Please consider how you can contribute, as we are all responsible for being a welcoming congregation. Please contact me with your ideas!
Education
Faithful Forums
Wednesday Bible Study
Sacred Ground
Godly Play
Youth Group
Book Group
Education
Amelia Brooks, Vestry Liaison, Faithful Forums; Columba Salamony, Faithful Forums, Sacred Ground; Marj Leeds, Godly Play; Jennifer Sabroe, Book Club; Rev. Deb, Bible Study, Sacred Ground, Faithful Forums
In year two of COVID church life, Grace Episcopal Church continued despite the many obstacles the pandemic has thrown at us. We were able to move to a hybrid model of services, requiring in person attendees to be vaccinated and masked for the general safety of younger children who cannot receive the vaccine, and for the rest of us. Livestream services continues allowing members who are unable to attend in person and new members to safely attend services. Godly Play was briefly held outdoors and in September resumed in-person.
FAITHFUL FORUMS: Due to the hybrid model of services Faithful Forum has been limited. Faithful forum focus either on community concerns or theological topics. They are held after church either in-person and via Zoom when in-gatherings were not restricted. Our forums included topics on Gender Identity, LGBTQ history, what does the Bible really say about homosexuality, and Nora Lee Gipner presented her work with the Homeless Action Coalition..
SACRED GROUND: In response to social justice movements in the country,we banded together with St. Anna’s Church in Antioch and started two Sacred Ground circles. Sacred Ground is a film- and readings-based dialogue series on race, grounded in faith. Small groups are invited to walk through chapters of America’s history of race and racism, while weaving in threads of family story, economic class, and political and regional identity. The 10-part series is built around a powerful online curriculum of documentary films and readings that focus on Indigenous, Black, Latino, and Asian/Pacific American histories as they intersect with European American histories.
Sacred Ground is part of Becoming Beloved Community, The Episcopal Church’s long-term commitment to racial healing, reconciliation, and justice in our personal lives, our ministries, and our society. This series is open to all, and especially designed to help white people talk with other white people. Participants are invited to peel away the layers that have contributed to the challenges and divides of the present day – all while grounded in our call to faith, hope and love.�
BIBLE STUDY: This group was able to move back into the Chapel but remained on Zoom as well, becoming a successful hybrid service. Topics this year included The Book of Exodus, Advent poetry, an introduction to Contemplative Prayer, and learning a Jewish perspective of Jesus’s teachings.
THE GRACE BOOK CLUB meets in the evening on the third Wednesday of the month and is open to anyone who is interested. During the pandemic, meetings were held on Zoom until August 2021, when restrictions eased and made it possible to resume meeting in person at Smooth Season restaurant. Book Club participants in 2021: Sally Applegate, Barbara Brooks, Pat Hambly, Beth Ilog, Amelia Lytton, Pamella Nave, Jane Ramsey, Christina Reich, Judi Richardson, Melissa Rodrigue-Kennedy, Jennifer Sabroe, Fran Trant, Phyllis Weston, Ellie Wynn
The books read in 2021:
The Little Old Lady Who Broke All the Rules, by Catharina Ingelman-Sundberg (January)
Because of Winn-Dixie, by Kate DiCamillo (February)News of the World, by Paulette Jiles (March)
No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency book choice, by Alexander McCall Smith (April)
Esperanza Rising, by Pam Muñoz Ryan (May)
The Four Winds, by Kristin Hannah (June)
The Storied Life of AJ Fikry, by Gabrielle Zevin (July)
The Guest List, by Lucy Foley (August)
The Book of Eels, by Patrik Svensson (September)
Loveboat, Taipei, by Abigail Hing Wen (October),
The Midnight Library, by Matt Haig (November)
The Paris Library, by Janet Skeslien Charles (December)
Meetings and book selections are publicized in Grace Notes weekly e-newsletter, as well as Sunday bulletin announcements, with an open invitation to all who are interested.
EDUCATION FOR YOUTH
Youth group is on hiatus due to the fact most of our children at Grace are elementary age. We will come back strong once all the kids are older. There has also been discussion on collaborating with neighboring episcopal churches in combining youth groups, which will be further discussed when the time comes.
BAPTISM AND CONFIRMATION
There were three Baptisms this year, despite the pandemic. We have several people interested in Confirmation, and are hoping that will happen in 2022.
GODLY PLAY REPORT
Godly Play also made a comeback to in-person ministry. With some safety adjustments (meeting outside beginning in May and running through the summer and fall months), our children were able to begin seeing Ms. Marj and one another again. This year they learned more about how our color-coded church year works, the historical figures whose stories tell us about the origin of our religion and, of course, the great feast days of the Church. We even had a traditional Christmas pageant (with socially-distanced shepherds and sheep) this year! Many thanks to storyteller and substitute Chandra Damele for her willingness to step in at a moment’s notice, and to our parents who faithfully bring their children each week. Our numbers returned to their pre-pandemic state very quickly upon our return from online Godly Play.
Parish Life
Trivia Night
Thanksgiving Dinner (CANCELLED)
Oktoberfest (CANCELLED)
St. Patrick’s Dinner (CANCELLED)
Opening Weekend
Halloween Party
Advent Dinner
Men’s Group (inactive during the pandemic)
Once again, it has been difficult to get together in 2021. As a result of COVID restrictions, our annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner, Oktoberfest, and St. Patrick’s Dinner were all cancelled.
We were able to have one last indoor Trivia Night during a period in which COVID restrictions were lifted to allow that early in the year. A few of us were able to meet at the church for a “pandemic picnic,” sitting in our lawn chairs and visiting for a couple of hours. We were also able to have an Advent pasta brunch one Sunday this past December. Again, we could not celebrate our many dinners and get-togethers for most of the year. Ms. Marj put together an excellent modified Opening Day party for our first day back to Godly Play. We did without a movie and a bouncy house, but we “Sunday Sundaes” instead! We also had a great Halloween multi-generational get-together in October, with children and adults working on a trivia scavenger hunt together. We are optimistic and still looking forward to our dinners together in the parish hall or maybe a few more picnics when weather permits. Maybe in late 2022 we will once again be able to have our Bocce picnic and barbeque.
Stephanie Zichichi
for the Parish Life Committee
Parish Life
Stephanie Zichichi and David Kennedy
Pastoral Care
Eucharistic Visitors
Casserole Patrol
Cards
Funerals
Weddings
Pastoral Care is one of the primary duties of a parish priest and Rev. Deb sees it as a crucial aspect of her ministry at Grace. She tries to make herself available to anyone in need of counseling or comfort and to be fully present to them and to the Holy Spirit in each unique situation. She has been privileged to be with Grace Parishioners at life’s beginnings, endings, and many points in between.
�Obviously, given the pandemic and fraught political situation in this country, Pastoral Care needs continued in 2021 and the people of Grace came together to help one another. Both the Casserole Patrol and the Deacon’s Pantry continued to provide food for folks who needed it during difficult times.
Many thanks to The Rev. Columba (our Seminarian) and The Rev. Walter (our Deacon) who provided coverage for pastoral care when Rev. Deb was called away this year.
Pastoral Care
Given the shifting restrictions of COVID protocols we did what we could for those who were ill. We attempted to fix some glitches with The Grace Phone Tree, which was organized by Parish Administrator Sarah Williams last year as an effort to contact EVERY member of Grace and check in to see how folks are doing.
In this year of multiple “lockdowns,” GRACE NOTES became more important than ever, allowing us to stay in touch and update parishioners about changing service times and statuses.
Parishioners continued to make phone calls, e-mails, and send cards to those who were ill or unable to leave home.
Our Eucharistic Visitors, who are trained to visit and bring Eucharist to the homebound, made a comeback this year. John Lee faithfully kept in touch by telephone with individuals who are homebound, while Marj Leeds and Stan Applegate resumed bringing Eucharist to those who are unable to receive it at church services.
If you are in need of pastoral care, please call Rev. Deb at 925-228-6574. If it is an emergency, you will receive instructions for contacting her during off-hours.
Stewardship
Stewardship Campaign
Rector’s Discretionary Fund
Deacon’s Discretionary Fund
Buildings and Grounds
Finance Committee
Vestry
Diocesan and Deanery Representatives
Office Staff (also Welcome)
The term “Stewardship” refers to the way we care for God’s creation. Thus, it can really be used to talk about any and all of the ministries of Grace because they demonstrate how we care for one another, the larger community, and the world around us. At Grace, we primarily use the word Stewardship to discuss our financial and physical resources (Budgeting, pledge drive, and Buildings and Grounds).
This year our pledge drive was led by Amy Eudy, Sally Hanson, and Jane Ramsey. Many thanks to them for their work.
In terms of the financial aspects of our stewardship campaign this year, you can find that information in the Treasurer’s report.
Stewardship
There was no formal meeting of the Finance Committee this year due to the pandemic. Treasurer Marj Leeds and Rev. Deb created the 2022 budget, which was reviewed by the Vestry in January. The full budget appears later in this presentation.
At Grace, it is traditional for the Junior Warden to take the lead in caring for our property. This has been difficult due to the restrictions of the pandemic. Our Junior Warden, Liz Charlton, has taken faithful care of our grounds. We thank her for her service as Junior Warden.
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Reports on the Rectors’ and Deacons’ Discretionary Funds are provided in the Outreach section of the Annual Reports.
Facility Use Report
Submitted by Dru Grissom, Facility Use Coordinator
facilityuse@gracechurchmtz.org
�To organize and collect required documents from groups to rent our facility as a way to fulfill our mission to welcome, support, and serve others and to generate income for our church within our national church guidelines. To keep church calendar updated with dates and to reschedule conflicting church calendar dates.
Currently, we have two groups with meetings throughout the year when COVID 19 guidelines allowed and one group that meets once a year but has been put on hold since April, 2020. We work with nonprofit groups and individuals from the parish in the event it is opened to the congregation as a church event with Rev. Deb’s approval. We are still currently working with Las Trampas to supply parking for their vehicles on our upper lot. We did not open our facility for voting in 2021 due to COVID.
Voluntarism (Vestry, Deanery/Diocesan Convention Representatives, Office Volunteers):
When we conduct our Stewardship campaign we remind one another that Stewardship is not just about money; it is about time and talent as much as it is about treasure. Stewardship is our commitment to care for all of the resources that we have, including our buildings and grounds, worship materials, educational materials, funds, and, most importantly, our people. All forms of volunteerism at Grace are acts of stewardship. Serving on our leadership board (the vestry) or representing Grace to the larger church (through the deanery or at the diocesan level) are gifts of time that benefit the church tremendously. Similarly, those who help put together bulletins (whether in person as used to be the case or virtually), mail letters, transfer items from our old website to our new, or clean out the refrigerator (bless you Applegates!) are doing important acts of service that keep the church alive and well.
VESTRY CANDIDATES
Ann Fisher
Dru Grissom
Shannon Kleinschmit
Jes Senn
Ann Fisher
Hi Folks,
I am Ann Fisher and am excited to put my name on the slate for the vestry. As some of you know, Marj Leeds is to blame for me finding Grace Episcopal Martinez as my spiritual home.
In 2007 when my Dad became septic after chemo, Marj and the Grace family were among many who added Dad to their prayer lists. When he recovered, Mom and I said he had to go to church that Christmas to give thanks. He chose Grace because it's Marj's church and as he put it, "Marj is a great broad, and she doesn't preach at me. Her church must be good." He is right about Marj and Grace.
Grace Episcopal Martinez was there for us in our time of need and it has always felt like home to me so I would like give back by being on the vestry.
Thank you for being so welcoming and for your consideration.
Shannon Kleinschmit
I was born in Texas and baptized and confirmed Roman Catholic, but in adulthood I was happily received into the Episcopal Church by our own Bishop Curry. My wife and I were married in the Episcopal Church and our three daughters were baptized at Grace.
I have been in public service my entire life. I have served in the Army, on active duty and in the National Guard, for over twenty years during which time I have been deployed overseas for multiple years. I have been a police officer, and currently work as a civilian for the Coast Guard. My family and I live within walking distance of Grace and my mother-in-law, wife, and three daughters are all regular attendees.
I believe I would do well on the vestry because I am committed to service and our community at Grace, and because I am able to effectively lead and perform as a member of a team. I am adaptable, handy, and practical. I will be a good addition on any project.
Dru Grissom
Dru is the Facilities Manager at Grace. She was born and raised in the Bay Area and has attended several Episcopal churches, starting with St. Michael’s and All Angels in Concord. She was confirmed at the Church of the Resurrection in Pleasant Hill and landed at Grace Episcopal Church while in high school. Both of Dru’s parents were very involved in the church. They both sang in the choir and led Human Growth groups in the 60’s. Dru is a widow who raised two daughters and now has five grandsons. She is a Registered Nurse with a specialization in Labor and Delivery, who recently retired after almost 40 years, mostly at Kaiser Walnut Creek. Dru likes having more time to spend with her family, attend Grace church more regularly, and become more involved with parish life. She enjoys reading historical romance novels, crocheting, baking, and traveling (not necessarily in that order). Dru’s no-drama personality is a welcome asset to the nerve center of Grace.
Jes Senn
I’ve been a member at Grace Church since I was 2 years old. Grace has been a big part of my life. I got married in 2015 at Grace and all 3 of my children have been baptized at Grace too.
I have been the Youth Group leader for several years and also serve on Altar Guild. I have helped with several functions we have done for Grace which have been fun. When I was younger I also helped out in the church nursery.
For the past 2 years I’ve been working for a Private Country Club in Food and Beverages. During that time I’ve learned so much about hosting events, meeting the needs of others, and learning how to grow myself.
When I’m not working you can usually find me chasing after my kids, binge watching my favorite shows, "Grey’s Anatomy" and "Chicago Med," learning about wines, and spending time with my family.
Deanery Representative/Diocesan Convention Delegates
Barbara Brooks, Pat Hambly and Jennifer Sabroe as Representatives;
Jane Ramsey as Alternate
Barbara Brooks
Barbara is running for a sixth term as one of Grace’s Deanery and Diocesan Convention delegates. She has volunteered as a delegate because she feels it is important to have both representation in the larger church and to participate in the dialogue and democracy that is a hallmark of the Episcopal Church.
A member of several parishes since toddlerhood, she landed gratefully at Grace about 20 years ago. She has served as a Godly Play storyteller and on Vestry, sings in the choir, is a member of the 150th anniversary committee, treasurer of the Contra Costa Deanery, and the director of the Altar Guild. She and husband Paul have two children and a cat, all of whom served as inspiration for Barbara’s book, “War and Peace, or The Cat Should Sleep Where She Wants,” plus another cat getting in the way at this very moment.
Besides traveling, hiking, reading, watching movies, and swimming, Barbara has finally finished the first complete draft of what she calls “The Novel That Would Not Die” and hopes to publish a book of short stories in the next year or two.
Pat Hambly
Pat Hambly has served on the Vestry and has been a Deanery and Diocesan Convention Representative for more than ten years. She also serves as a Eucharistic Minister. Pat was born in South Haven, Michigan, and is a “cradle” Episcopalian.
Pat became a member of Grace in the early 80’s. Pam and Claude Nave brought her to Grace when she was looking for a church home. Pat immediately felt comfortable at Grace, because it followed the liturgical tradition she was used to, had activities for her children, and was accepting and welcoming. Pat has enjoyed being a Deanery and Diocesan Convention delegate because it provides an additional perspective on the workings of the church “Grace is a very welcoming and open Christian community” and she is proud to represent the parish to the greater church.
Jennifer Sabroe
I was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area and have been a member of Grace since 2007. A “cradle Episcopalian,” my family attended St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in Berkeley, until my teen years. My husband, Ron, and I have been married 46 years, and are retired from the Lafayette School District. I have served on the Vestry, sing in the choir, participate in the Book Group and Wednesday Bible Study, and lead Morning Prayer twice a week. This year I retired as part-time Volunteer Parish Administrator. I was appointed as an alternate Deanery/Diocesan delegate in 2019 and became a full-fledged delegate in 2021. I enjoyed the learning experience and the opportunity to be involved with the wider church community, as a representative of our vibrant community here at Grace.
Jane Ramsey
Jane currently serves on the Vestry but is also enjoyed her first year last year as a Deanery/Diocesan Convention Alternate as well.
As an Episcopalian since my childhood, I have seen a lot of change, both in liturgy and doctrine, since my confirmation in 1963. Since the Church is a living organism, I believe change is something that should be expected and helps the Church and its people evolve with continuing relevance, with respect rendered toward long traditions of faith and practice.
In 2018 and 2019, I worked with Reverend Deb to write some of the articles about Grace Episcopal Church for the Martinez Gazette.
My daughter and my grandchildren are truly the lights of my life. Being a part of their busy lives gives me the opportunity to see the world in refreshingly new ways and keep my finger on the pulse of the future.
My work as a registered nurse in Women's Health requires me to work with many different people of all ages and widely divergent backgrounds to help them achieve their healthy best. In such work, communication skills are of key importance for patients and the staff who care for them.
I thank the people of Grace for considering me.
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Treasurer’s Report
The 2022 Budget
Rector’s Report
This year the Rector’s Report will be given as the Sermon at the
9 a.m. service on the day of the Annual Meeting.
An abbreviated version with illustrations can be found here.
Once a year in Jewish communities around the world, people gather to sing, dance, and feast together for the day of Simchat Torah, the Celebration of the Law. Now, prior to the pandemic we used to have snacks at our Annual Meeting, and I do know a few people (who we call “Canon Wonks”) who like to read our church rules, but I can’t actually imagine any one of you singing or dancing when we read our bylaws. We simply don’t have this kind of excitement for the rules. Which is fair, since watching court television or a few hours of CSPAN suggests that the people charged with making and protecting our laws don’t have a lot of interest in them either. I had a conversation with one of our local police officers recently and I asked him about pursuing someone who had stolen something from our property, and he said, “We hardly bother anymore because we know that even if we catch them the DA won’t charge them.”
Of course, the laws he was talking about are the laws of human beings. The law that is celebrated in Simchat Torah is the law of God- and today’s first reading is the origin story of that celebration. Surprisingly, perhaps, the people who gathered that day were not so different from Christians today: their community was shrunken and divided – far from the strong, united people it had been. In their case this was because they had only recently returned from a long exile and could not agree on how they should rebuild their community now that they had returned to their homeland. “The future of the people [was] in serious doubt. Enemies [were attacking] from the outside, but even more disruptively internal disagreements threaten[ed] to undermine the community’s future. The people form[ed] factions, arguing about who [was] in and who [was] out…their identity [came] unraveled.”[1] They needed to find something to agree on, something to bring them together. They needed to hear some scripture – and it worked. Standing together and hearing God’s law reminded them of who they were. It brought them joy.
[1] Kathleen M. O’Connor, (2009), in Feasting on the Word: Year C, Volume 1: Advent through Transfiguration (Propers 3-16), David L. Bartlett and Barbara Brown Taylor, eds. [Louisville, KY: Westminster John Knox Press], 267.
This is both inspiring and ironic, given that one of the things that divides many of us who claim allegiance to Jesus the Christ is the way in which we read and interpret scripture. I am astounded by how Bible passages are used to justify violence, hatred, and values that Jesus never espoused – like exclusion and bigotry. One wonders how, if we are reading the same texts, our beliefs can vary so significantly.
The answer is that we are not reading them in the same way. Our scriptures cover a span of twelve hundred years and have at least 44 authors. They contain inconsistent histories, and different versions of the same stories. Our formal tales of Jesus come from the letters of one person and four gospel writers, but we know that those texts were chosen from among many for inclusion in the canon by a group of politicians at a conference.
We know, then, that the Bible is a human creation and is therefore flawed, making it is easy, if it is your goal, to pick out phrases from it that seem to support whatever idea you wish to argue. Individual words and phrases in a vast sea of authors and eras, however, have little meaning.
Episcopalians believe that the Bible was inspired by God and contains all things necessary for salvation. It is to be read and considered in its entirety. It has a pattern, and that pattern is the story of the relationship between God and humanity – and, like the story of any relationship, it’s complicated. Think of the box under your bed or the scrapbook in your attic that chronicles your true love. There are shared poems and songs. Memories of people getting emotional and doing stupid things. Each partner remembers it differently, and our human memory fails us when it comes to accuracy – but the important parts – the truth of how you fell in love and fought and made up and fell in love again and, in God’s case, was willing to risk anything to be together forever are all there and completely consistent. Every word does not have to be accurate for the reality of God’s love to be true. God is – and God’s law is a sign of God’s love.
When we read scripture this way, we understand that God’s law was never meant to be hurt or exclude or to justify hatred or violence. God’s laws have always existed to help creation not to sever us from one another. From the very beginning, God has tried to protect us from our own worst instincts - and we have resisted. Scripture tells us that God keeps trying to help us find our way, to teach us how to live with one another in peace and with love. That is why at the gathering now celebrated as Simchat Torah the people cheered when Ezra read the Torah to them, because it reminded them of how they were supposed to live and how they could live in harmony with one another.
It is why we should cheer that The Episcopal Church asks us to have Annual Meetings, because it is by gathering togethering for worship and taking counsel that we remember who we are and what God has called us to do. We may follow what appears to be a mundane human agenda for our Annual Meeting, but our overall agenda is to follow the way of Jesus. Today’s scriptures -and, I would argue, all our scriptures, serve as the basis for that agenda.
Today’s reading from Paul’s letter to the people in Corinth reminds us that we are all one body. We need each other. Without everyone one of us doing our part – even those of us who think we have nothing to contribute – this parish will not survive. This has never been truer for God’s church – for Grace Church – than it is now. Our mutual survival depends on our willingness to share our gifts with one another and with the world. We are in this together. As faith communities across the world decline, we can and will survive, but only if we remain united, and only if we are inclusive and mission focused.
This might necessitate thinking in new ways. Welcoming, supporting, and serving all God’s people may require us to let go of certain things, including our ideas of what “church” looks like. Grace in the 21st century must be a place whose mission statement is truly consistent with the way of Jesus, quoted from the prophet Isaiah to the people of his own faith community, “to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, and proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” These are the items on Jesus’s agenda, and these must be the items on ours. My siblings in Christ, I firmly believe that this is the message that our scriptures have for us today on the day we gather to worship and find inspiration together: be a community of Grace; share your gifts; follow the way of Jesus, and the joy of the Lord will be our strength. AMEN
Simchat Torah:
Celebrate the Law
Scripture is the basis of our agenda
Scripture is the basis of our relationships
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another.
“Now there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit; and there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone. To each is given the manifestation of the Spirit for the common good.”
To welcome, support and serve ALL God’s people!
UPPER LOT COMMITTEE REPORT
At our 2020 Annual Meeting we introduced�A Process of Discernment for the Upper Lot
2020: Discernment
Last year (2021) we described where we were in that process
2021: The year of consulting
Ideas gleaned from discernment
From Parish:
Ultimate goal:
Multi-Use Facility which includes:
Low-income housing
2021: Working with the consultant
This year, the Upper Lot Committee and the Vestry:
Hired a consultant (DCG) to:
Result: Martinez master plan will make property unappealing to developers. Decision: pivot to attempting to find developer to lobby city with us for density variance
2) DCG produces Request for Letters of Interest, which is sent to 40 prospective developers
3) Ultimately NO developers wish to pursue a long-term lease/development partnership
4) Five interested buyers emerge. All want to construct market-rate housing on upper lot
5) Bay Area Community Benefit Organization steps forward to offer to raise money to construct small houses at no expense to church.
The Bay Area Community Benefit Organization (BACBO), a 501c3 faith-based consortium of diverse faith groups throughout Alameda County, is one of the most influential voices in Bay Area government and economic development. As an Ecclesiastical, Community Driven Organization, BACBO works with faith-based community entities of all sizes, in the area of social service delivery and community development. Our focus is to build effective sustainable ministries that have measurable impact on improving outcomes for individuals and families in Alameda County.
Recognition of Ministry
Announcement of Senior Warden
Amelia Brooks
Will the NEW vestry please remain for a few moments to elect the new Junior Warden?
Thanks be to God!
Go in peace to love and serve the Lord!