1 Saint Francis United Methodist Church April 30, 2017State of the Church Saint Francis United Methodist Church April 30, 2017
2 Discovering Christ . . . Serving OthersMission Statement Discovering Christ Serving Others Gathering in the presence of Christ. Growing as disciples of Christ. Giving as the body of Christ. Going to share the Good News of Christ.
3 Desserts with Donna Questions: What does SFUMC do well?What is the Biggest Challenge/Opportunity over the next months? If you had a magic wand that could perform a mid-size miracle for the church what would it be? How has Saint Francis helped you grow spiritually? 10 Listening Visit and 158 people
4 2016 Key Areas of Focus We conducted our first Leadership Summit in January 2016 using this data. The two areas required our greatest attention were the youth program and discipleship. Hire a Minister or Family Life Developing job description, process for hiring, interviews Hired Vicki Meigs-Kahlenberg in June 2016 Launching Common Tables Pastor Cameron preached our Lenten Series on “Cultivating Community” Launch 5 Common Tables We will launch our second set of tables on May 11th
5 State of Discipleship Pastor Cameron preached 2016 Lenten Series on “Cultivating Community” Five Common Tables Launched in May 2016 Launch of Second Cohort of Common Tables on May 11th Launching Common Tables Pastor Cameron preached our Lenten Series on “Cultivating Community” Launch 5 Common Tables We will launch our second set of tables on May 11th The heart of "church" is finding community. We believe that church is the community of the Spirit, people bound together in Christ to be in relationship with God, with one another, and with the world. We believe that this sort of community doesn't just appear out of thin air.
6 Discipleship These Tables are groups of people, meeting weekly or at least every other week to: eat together, search Scripture and pray together, give thanks together, and serve together.
7 Common Tables Reflections
8 State of Family MinistryFeel the Fire Fan the Flames Be the Light SPARK: Pre-K through 4th grade children’s ministry IGNITE: 5th and 6th grade pre-teen ministry BLAZE: 7th through 12th grade youth ministry This year, we have realigned our children’s and youth ministries to better serve their developmental social, emotional and spiritual needs. SPARK: Pre-K through 4th grade children’s ministry IGNITE: 5th and 6th grade pre-teen ministry BLAZE: 7th through 12th grade youth ministry
9 Multi-Generational Fellowship & ServiceServe ‘n Splash with Brown Bag Ministry Saint Francis Night at the Durham Bulls Advent Wreath Workshop & Chili Cook-off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Saint Francis Evening at the Movies to See “The Shack” Because growing relationships is the key to growing spirituality within our community of faith, we’ve continued to provide traditional and new opportunities for multi-generational fellowship and service. Serve ‘n Splash with Brown Bag Ministry Saint Francis Night at the Durham Bulls Advent Wreath Workshop & Chili Cook-off Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service Saint Francis Evening at the Movies to See The Shack
10 Reimagining the Role of YouthSPARK Family Fun Night PJ Party (this event helped to provide Book Fair sales totaling over $1700 to help support our SFUMC Preschool) Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party (together we cut over 500 pairs of shoes and raised over $800 to help support families in Uganda) Dodging for Dreams 1st Annual Dodgeball Tournament (14 teams from our congregation and community came together to battle it out to raise funds for ASP that totaled over $1400) We’ve begun re-imagining the role of youth in our church. Our 7th through 12th graders now have a strong voice in driving the direction of their evening youth program. In addition to gathering each week for devotional time, they strive to share their love of service and fellowship with the entire congregation. This year, BLAZE Youth have planned, volunteered their time, and inspired others to join them in the following events: SPARK Family Fun Night PJ Party (this event helped to provide Bookfair sales totaling over $1700 to help support our SFUMC Preschool) Sole Hope Shoe Cutting Party (together we cut over 500 pairs of shoes and raised over $800 to help support families in Uganda) Dodging for Dreams 1st Annual Dodgeball Tournament (14 teams from our congregation and community came together to battle it out to raise funds for ASP that totaled over $1400)
11 Expansion Continues Events Teams—SPARK, IGNITE & BLAZE are actively listening to our children, youth, congregation, and community. Graduate Transition Mentors—Looking for individuals or families to help with graduating youth transition to life after youth group. Looking to expand the “Adopt a High School Youth” We’re still expanding our reach. Phase I of our Family Life improvement plan is underway, and there is plenty more to come. We are in the process of establishing the following… Events teams: These teams for SPARK, IGNITE & BLAZE are active in listening to our children, youth, congregation, and community for ideas and supporting to the leaders of these groups to help us provide quality fellowship and service programming that meets the needs of today’s families. Behind the scenes or on the front lines, there is a role for everyone who wants to get involved! Graduate transition mentors are individuals or families who help our graduating youth to transition to life after youth group by supporting them, connecting & communicating with them, and praying for them over the summer and into their next phase of life. Next year we are hoping to expand this “adopt a high school youth” opportunity to include all students in 9th through 12th grade to build relationships and a sense of belonging from our church family that they can rely on through high school and beyond!
12 Vicki Meigs-Kahlenberg to learn more and get involved!Contact Vicki Meigs-Kahlenberg to learn more and get involved! Please contact Vicki if you would like to get involved as a regular Sunday morning or evening mentor or if you are interested in learning more about these other opportunities to serve our Family Life Ministry.
13 Continuing the ConversationA group of 5 people met monthly to determine next steps for eight months Question—What is this congregation uniquely called to do in this community? It was the role of the Church Council to determine that by virtue of their role as the keeper of the vision and mission of the church We need our key leaders to be in place longer than a year We would need some help Invited Rev. Dr. Laura Early to conduct three meetings which we completed yesterday
14 Visitor Trax Developed process for tracking visitors in conjunction with Evangelism Committee Redesigned pew pads Offered gift with information about the church Meet and Greet with Pastors Follow-up phone call Assignment to a shepherd Invitation to join CONNEX Welcome card sent Visitors need to make 6 connections in order to feel apart of the community
15 Congregation Care Establish process for nurturing and caring for members of the congregation Developing a single contact to be assigned to member Utilized the Care Network Currently using Stephen Ministers without care receivers Upcoming: Looking to expand congregation care leaders. If you are interested in learning more, join them for lunch after 10:30 worship on May 7th.
16 Reimaging Health CollaborativeInvited to join Cohort 2 through Duke Divinity School The goal is to educate, resource, and support the ongoing health and spirituality of our community. Launched Healing Circles that go beyond support groups applied more broadly to all aspects of suffering, grief, loss, and mental health Lenten Study based on the Stations of the Cross created by artist Mary Button and Service of Prayer for Reconciliation. These stations, focused around issues of mental health and mental illness. Launched Healing Circles Discover the best ways to remove obstacles to healing, alleviate suffering, deepen the capacity to heal. The first is a series of Stations of the Cross, created by artist Mary Button. These stations, focused around issues of mental health and mental illness, will be posted outside on our beautiful campus and available for individual devotion (a map of the stations will be shared this week). Service of Prayer for Reconciliation. From nearly the beginning of the church, we have held these spaces of prayer as a time to practice confession and repentance, and to share in reconciliation together.
17 Social Concerns Unity Dialogue related to HomosexualitySunday School Class – “American Original Sin” Racial Taboo (2017) Monthly Discussion based on the PBS Series “Many Rivers to Cross” (2017) Sunday School Class—”Dismantling Isms” (2017) Upcoming: Courageous Conversations—Faith, Family, and Incarceration” on Wednesday, May 10th
18 Missions Sent 35 youth on ASP in 2016Held our 3rd Annual Great Day of Service Missional Giving Relief Efforts to WV, NC, LA--$12,000 DORCAS for Rent Assistance--$6800 Shepherd’s Table--$1500 ASP--$2,000 New Mission Chair in Larry Zoller Organization of a new Missions Team (2017)
19 Communications the scoop
20 Why CONNEX “EVERYTHING SAINT FRANCIS” Primary Communication ToolAvoid outdated lists Avoid transmitting viruses Our ministry leaders are able to share real-time news, information, and pictures “one click” to get involved, to give, to serve, and submit prayer requests
21 CONNEX Currently have 511 total users479 Users engaged on CONNEX in the past 6 months 121 users are between 55-65 115 are older than 65 305 logged on last month 202 logged in last week The average user is active in 7 different groups
22 2016 Highlights Cary Classical Concert Series (2017)Two concerts performed by Tony Lee Donations in the amount of $4000 benefitted ASP and the Saint Francis Educational Scholarship Fund. Trustees Installation of new Choir Loft Completion of Welcome Center New Projector (2017)
23 Finances YTD Fiscal Year (000) Revenue $793 66% Expenses $840 70%NET PROFIT/(LOSS) ($47.5) Pledged Revenue $572 Non-pledged Revenue $210 58% Changed our fiscal year from a calendar year to a Jun-Jul timeframe is the first full year
24 Finances Refinanced the Mortgage—10-year fixed rate Debt Reduction$1,038,857 in June 2014 $947,142 in June of 2015 $877,698 in June 2016 $837,762 in March 2017 Stewardship Campaign of Total pledges increased 13% Average pledge increased from $4600 in 2015 to $5100 in 2016
25 Conclusion Connection ConversationsConversations to learn gifts and graces of our community Help our community live out their discipleship Continued work of the Church Council in leading the vision and mission of this church We need your help to continue ministry WE HAVE SO MUCH TO THANKFUL FOR AND TO CELEBRATE!
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28 COMMUNITY Beginning Membership 1532 1445 Removed by Charge Conference2014 2015 2016 Beginning Membership 1532 1445 Removed by Charge Conference 110 Received by Profession of Faith 17 2 11 Received from other UMC Churches 10 15 13 Received from other denominations 4 Removed by transfer 5 16 23 Removed by death 1 6 TOTAL PROFESSING MEMBERS 1449 AVERAGE WORSHIP ATTENDANCE 433 352 340
29 “communis” COMMUNION COMMUNICATION COMMUNITY
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