Vestry Pages

 The Episcopal Church of the Atonement

Mission Statement

Recognizing that God is the source of all that we are and all that we have, our call is to provide a loving, accepting environment so that we may share, through Jesus Christ and by power of the Holy Spirit, God's unconditional love among ourselves and community, and continually nurture and develop our spiritual awareness through celebration, prayer, worship, formation and play.

Vision Statement

Jesus said, "The first commandment is this: Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is the only Lord. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength. The second is this: Love your neighbor as yourself. There is no other commandment greater than these."

 

Vestry Stewardship Statement

We believe that all that we are and all that we have is a gift from God. We believe God entrusts us to be joyful and generous in our giving. We dedicate ourselves as followers of Jesus Christ and support of the Biblical teaching to give our time, talent and treasure to this parish community for God's work.  We are grateful for this parish community. We invite and encourage the congregation to join us on this journey of stewardship, trusting in God's abundant love and grace. 

 

Our Vestry

Ken Grim (2008) Senior Warden
Rick Calderella (2009)) Junior Warden
Bill Monk (2008) Treasurer
Howard Grimes (2008) Evangelism and Incorporation
Richard Herren (2009) Buildings and Grounds
Bill Gurley (2009) Children's Christian Formation
Clara Blalock (2010) Liturgy and Music
Rosalie Chamberlain (2010) Outreach
Jack English (2010) Parish Life
Lesley Ann Drake - Clerk  

 

Musings
While our rector is away on Sabbatical, the  Musings have been submitted by others in leadership.

I think individual accomplishment is a good thing. I had better think that, I’m a painter and painters usually don’t collaborate on their work. When I sign my name to a painting it is always something done by me and only me. If the painting is a success I have most likely put my heart into the piece. I work in a studio complex with other artists who are also working solo, trying to find that place where experience, gift and inspiration get
together. We call that place the zone. The zone doesn’t happen every day for me but when it does I know everything’s good.

The life at the studio isn’t all a solitary event. At 12 noon someone will call out “lunch time” and we gather to eat together. This is our life as a community, a group of somewhat diverse people who have been brought together by a common interest. We take care of each other too. I have two communities in my life, one the supportive      community I have on Bennett Street, the other the group that gathers on Highpoint Road.      One feeds my creative self, the other my spirit. Being a part of the community at Atonement has never felt like a solitary event. We are a community of faith and my being a part of this group helps me grow in my understanding of God’s presence in my life. My hope is that we have a sharing family congregation and that we can grow together and get to a place we might all refer to as the zone. We are so lucky to have a belief system that gives us the opportunity to gather for worship, meals and shared friendship.
I see life in a community of faith as a shared experience, a free gift of grace and love that is unconditional, our love for each other and God’s love. What more can we ask for? What better place can there be? I guess when it happens we can call it the zone.

We sing each Sunday in our Communion Hymn

All who hunger, sing together, Jesus Christ is living Bread.
Come from loneliness and longing. Here in peace we have been fed.
Blest are those who from this table live their days in gratitude.
Taste and see the grace eternal. Taste and see that God is good.

Clara Blalock
Vestry Liaison for Liturgy & Music, Chair of the Evangelism Committee, and Chair of the Art Ministry

 

June Vestry Minutes

Click here to download Vestry Minutes

 

May Treasurer's Report

As I get more comfortable in understanding the finances of our parish and the complicated report formats as presented through our accounting software, I will begin presenting different areas of our parish finances to better acquaint you with our total financial picture. The numbers in this report will be an overview of our finances. Next edition, I will provide a comparison of monthly giving for the past few years.

Flash Analysis – May, 2008

Total Pledges:
This Year – May – 11834; YTD – 6989
Last Year – May – 14280; YTD – 79031
 
Pledges Prepayments – LY – 7719; TY – 15,500

Non-Pledge Revenue:
This Year - May – 3379; YTD – 18919
Last Year - May – 2960; YTD – 19774

Total Operating Revenue
TY – May 17240; YTD – 104264
LY - May – 17240; YTD – 106254

Income from Investments
This Month – 5021
YTD – (11134)

I will be on vacation the next 2 Sundays. When I return on July 6, I will make myself available to anyone in our church family to answer questions or take feedback from you about our Parish Finances. Come see me in the Parish Hall on that day.

Thanks, Bill

Parish Treasurer

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Annual Parish Meeting - December 9, 2007