Saint Benedict Episcopal Church

There are some exciting things happening around St. Benedict that will continue to help us grow into our future.  The Bishop’s Committee continues to be a group of very dedicated leaders who do excellent work together.

As you may know from the Patronal feast and also past Benedictions, the Bishop’s Committee with the help of our diocesan consultant, Peter Pitarys, recently finished a Mutual Ministry review that helped our congregation to know what responsibilities belong to me, your Vicar and what responsibilities the Bishop’s Committee has taken on.

As we have completed this task, the next step will begin this autumn as we begin to prepare a Strategic Planning team that will be putting together a long range plan for the future of our congregation.  We will be working with  the same diocesan consultant that helped us with our Mutual Ministry Review. The team asked to this work consist of: Peggy Carmichael our Vicar’s Warden from the Bishop’s Committee, Ron Shively, Ron Thompson, Judy Provencal, Susie Zych and our Vicar. This group will convene in September.  So you can look for more information to follow in the months ahead.

In addition, the OWLS of St. Benedict were convened over the summer to do some work as well.  What’s an OWL?  An OWL is the Old Warden’s League of our parish.  A warden is the name given to the chair people of our governing body our Bishop’s Committee.  The OWLS will be helping to put together larger administrative pieces for St. Benedict.  Some of the tasks that this group have taken on are: cleaning up our archives, reviewing our bi-laws, and updating our policies.  The OWLS serve in an advisory capacity to our Bishop’s Committee and are off to a very good start.  If you are a former warden of St. Benedict and would like to be involved, it is not too late.  There are many projects that could use your leadership.  Contact Peggy Carmichael for more details.

Also newly formed is the Buildings and Grounds team that are currently working on policies and procedures for our grounds and our building.  Once this group has done some work on  the procedures of our grounds, they will be turning their attention to the interior design of our building and considering how we might best use our building and space.  Mary Moore and Gary Grewell are the BC members that are working very hard on this project with the help of Ralph Provencal, Bob Carmichael, and Dervin Ask.

In addition to all this, our Outreach Committee is also under construction as it will be working with the Rev. Jerry Shigaki, as we discern how to redevelop and reinvigorate the way we give in our community.  Our outreach committee will take on a time of discernment to help focus our outreach objectives and to determine where our passions and strengths are as a congregation. 

Doing this work of discernment on behalf of the community is not easy and we have put together a group of  people who will do an outstanding job; Mike Flothe, Maureen Paxton, Meredith Blundell, Pam Raymond, Sue Anderson, Pat Basta and their fearless leader, Jim Zabel from our Bishop’s Committee.

There are many things to give thanks for in our community.  Most of all, I am thankful for YOU, the treasure of this community—you the church, the people that make up the body of Christ in this place. You are more precious than fine jewels and gold.  Thank you for all the ways you serve in this church.