Trinity Episcopal Church

The Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes, Rector

Report of 2015 for

Annual Meeting 2016

To be presented at the Annual Meeting of Trinity Episcopal Church, November 13th after 8 am Service

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Trinity Episcopal Church,

409 E. Court St., Janesville, WI 53545

Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church

The Most Reverend Michael Curry

Bishop of the Diocese of Milwaukee

The Right Reverend Steven Miller

Trinity’s Clergy

The Reverend Kathy Monson Lutes

Trinity’s Vestry

Keith SteinbeckSenior Warden

Phil WhitfordJunior Warden

2016Maggie BostwickClerk

Deb Albright

Jane-Dries Syme

2017Jenny Tschudy

Ed Schultz

Adel SmithTreasurer

2018Anne Abram

Sharon Grover

Yvonne Sanchez

Staff Members

Thelma WilcoxMusic Minister

Linda WatersOffice Assistant

Bill BostwickSexton

Katie CossmanAcoustic Music

Susan BlumerOrganist

Trinity Episcopal Church

409 E. Court Street

Janesville, WI 53545

608-754-3402

+ LOVE GOD + LOVE PEOPLE + SHOW IT+

1 Trinity Episcopal Church Annual Report 2015

Contents:

AgendaPage 4

Minutes of the 2015 Annual MeetingPage 5

Rector’s ReportPage 7

Senior Warden’s ReportPage 7

Junior Warden’s Report / Property / Prayer GardenPage 8

StatisticsPage 8

Music & WorshipPage 9

Choir – Thelma

Acoustic Music – Katie Cossman

Worship – Sharon Grover & Rev. Kathy

Lay Ministries

Acolytes/Servers – Beth Mullen

Altar Guild – Paul DeRubeis

Eucharistic Vistors – Linda Adams

Lay Readers & Prayers of the People – Linda Waters

Ushers – Linda Waters

Faith FormationPage 12

Sunday Morning Adult – Rev. Kathy

EFM – Rev. Kathy

Youth – Jenna/Yvonne

Children – Kim/Julie

LibraryPage 12

Heritage RoomPage 13

FellowshipPage 13

Contemplative Prayer

Coffee Hour

Christian Café

Knitting & Crocheting

Order of St. Luke

Prayer Chain

MissionPage 14

ECHO

First Fruits

GIFTS

Jail Chaplaincy

Lazarus House

Marketing

Meals-On-Wheels

St. Elizabeth’s Nursing Home

Website

GenerosityPage 19

Finance Committee

Stewardship

Trinity Country Fair

Lucile Wells Scholarship

Treasurer’s Report, Financial NotesPage 20

Trinity Episcopal Church Annual Meeting Agenda

November 13, 2016

between services in the church

Please sign in, there are pages coming to you.

Call to order

  • Prayer
  • Appoint clerk and tellers

Good News

  • Share your Good News story of what God is doing at Trinity.

Decisions

  • Approve 2015 minutes
  • Nominating and voting
  • Vestry
  • Diocesan convention

Information

  • Please read all of the reports in the Annual Report. This is important information for all of you.
  • Rector’s remarks
  • Recognitions and Thank Yous
  • Senior Warden Remarks
  • Financial Status Report

Discussion

  • Questions about annual report
  • Questions about budget
  • Comments
  • Suggestions

Closing Prayer and Adjourn

Minutes from Annual Meeting 2015

The Annual Meeting of Trinity Episcopal Church

Sunday, November 1, 2015

Agenda:

1. Opening Prayer

2. Minutes of the 2014 Annual Meeting and June 24th, 2014Special Meeting

3. Nominations for Wardens and Vestry

4. Elections of Wardens and Vestry; and at large lay Deputies and Alternates to Diocesan Convention

5. Financial Review to Date

6. Priest-In-Charge Remarks

7. Ministry Reports

8. Adjournment and Closing Prayer

Trinity Members Present: Rev. Kathy Lutes; Dan Heerey, Sr. Warden; Phil Whitford, Jr. Warden; Adel Smith, Treasurer; Maggie Bostwick, Clerk; ; Debbie Albright, Acting Clerk; Anne Abram; Linda Adams; Dane Albright; Gene Bostian; Bill Bostwick; Rich Bostwick; John Casper; Katie Cossman; Gene DeRubeis; Paula DeRubeis; Barbara Ertl; Gary Ertl; Polly Finch; Jean Hadden; Kathy Henry; John Holcomb; Susan Hunt-Wulkowicz; Linda Karrels; Mark Karrels; Bonnie Lehoski; Ryan Lewis; Rick Lutes; Jim McEvoy; Martha McHugh; Maxine McKilligan; Beth Mullen; Bill Roessler; Marlene Roessler; Yvonne Sanchez ; Ken Schlegel; Debra Schultz; Edward Schultz III; Jim Schultz; Madison Schultz; Warren Smith; Keith Steinbeck; Jane Syme; Jack Terry; Jutta Terry; Jayne Thomas; Carol Tidwell; Anne Wanke; Julie Westby; Karen Whitford; Monte Whitford; Suzanne Whitford; Thelma Wilcox; Sharon Williams.

The meeting was called to order by Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes at 11:30 AM.

Opening Prayer and Good News Stories.

Rev. Kathy Lutes opened the meeting with a prayer giving thanks for all blessings and asked for guidance.

  • Paula DeRubeis thanked the many people at Trinity who gave her help and support after her illness.
  • Dan Heerey expressed Trinity’s welcome to Rev. Kathy and her husband Rick; and
  • Linda Adams and Warren Smith expressed thanks for Kathy Lutes and her husband Rick.
  • Mark Karrels expressed appreciation for Linda Waters, Trinity’s new office secretary.
  • Bonnie Lehoski gave thanks for the Knitting Group which made her feel welcome and offered support and joy to all its members.
  • Reverend Kathy Lutes was thankful for her husband, Rick who gives her much support.
  • Jane Syme was thankful for Dan Heerey, who is completing his fourth term as Sr. Warden.
  • John Holcomb gave thanks for Trinity Episcopal Church, its members, and Jesus.
  • Adel Smith was thankful for the prayer labyrinth designed and created by Eagle Scout Jack Elliott and his parents Rick Elliott and Jenna Nash Elliott. She was also thankful for Trinity and its members.
  • Dan Heerey thanked the supply clergy: Rev. John Splinter; Rev. Charles Payson and Deacon Evelyn Payson, and Rev. Jeanette Thorp for their service to Trinity during the nine month interim period between priests.

Minutes for the January 25, 2015 Annual Meeting.

A motion was made by Rich Bostwick, seconded by Anne Abram to dispense with the reading of the January 25, 2015 annual meeting minutes and to approve them as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Minutes for the June 14, 2015 Special Parish meeting to change the by-laws.

A motion made by Warren Smith, seconded by Jane Syme to dispense with the reading of the June 14, 2015 special parish meeting minutes and approve them as written. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion to suspend the By Laws

Keith Steinbeck suggested a suspension of the Trinity Parish By law, Article Four: Wardens, Section 3; which limits election of wardens to three consecutive one year terms, in order to allow Phil Whitford to run for a fourth consecutive term as Junior Warden in 2016. A motion by Carol Tidwell, seconded by Mark Karrels, to suspend the cited by law, passed unanimously.

Nominations and Election of Wardens, Vestry, Lay Deputies and Alternates to the 2016 Diocesan Convention

Adel Smith nominated Yvonne Sanchez to a three year vestry term. Anne Abram and Sharon Grover who had previously announced willingness to serve for three year vestry terms were also nominated. Paula DeRubeis nominated Phil Whitford for a fourth consecutive one year term as Junior Warden, and nominated Keith Steinbeck for a one term as Senior Warden. Rick Lutes and Mark Karrels were nominated as parish at large lay deputies; and Linda Karrels and Anne Wanke were nominated as at large alternate lay deputies to the 2016 diocesan convention. There being no further nominations, nominations were closed.

A motion by Thelma Wilcox, seconded by Paula DeRubeis to elect Anne Abram, Sharon Grover and Yvonne Sanchez to three year vestry terms, Maggie Bostwick to a one year vestry term, Phil Whitford to a fourth consecutive one year term as Junior Warden, Keith Steinbeck to a one year term as Senior Warden, Rick Lutes and Mark Karrels as the parish two at large lay deputies, and Linda Karrels and Anne Wanke as the two at large alternate lay deputies, by acclamation, carried unanimously.

Financial Review to Date

Adel Smith explained the parish financial condition as of September 2015. She noted that Endowment funds will support the 2016 budget, and that the 2016 operating budget will be proposed to vestry at the January 2016 vestry meeting.

Priest in Charge Remarks

Rev. Kathy shared her vision that the job of Trinity is to bring others to God. With the GIFTS Resource Center having found a new permanent location, we need to find other ways of using our facilities and helping our neighbors. “What does God want us to do in this neighborhood?” She proposed that our next parish discernment committee be established to pray and reflect on this question. Rick Lutes suggested using the upper Court House Park for church sponsored community events.

Ministry Reports

All parish ministries, who had representatives at the meeting, gave verbal reports which were recorded by Debbie Albright. Written reports were submitted by some ministries. It was announced, that the recorded and written reports will be complied and made available to parish members.

Adjournment and Closing Prayer. Reverend Kathy Lutes gave a closing prayer of thanks.

A motion by Bill Roessler, seconded by Rich Bostwick to adjourn, unanimously carried.

Meeting adjourned at 12:50 PM.

Submitted by Maggie Bostwick, Vestry Clerk

Rector’s Report

Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes

We have been walking this missional journey together now for a year! We have been asking the question, what is God doing in our neighborhood, and how do we get on board with what God is already doing? In response to that question, we continue with some wonderful programs: the Pet Blessing in the garden, which attracts people from the neighborhood and the community; and the Christian Café. We tried some new things: we tried to have our All Parish Picnic in Courthouse Hill Park; and we held our Trinity Country Fair that attracted people from all over. We move forward with hosting a Trinity Winter Market, on the first Saturday of each month. What other ways do you imagine us at Trinity bearing God’s love into our neighborhood and community?

We have moved our second service to ten-thirty in the morning, to create an entire hour of Faith Formation for all. The group of adults (and some youth) that gathers has learned all about the Episcopal Church. I will begin Education for Ministry (EfM) on Friday mornings very soon. Our Sunday school for children continues as well during the time in between. Thank you to those adults who show up for our youngest ones.

We continue with wonderful work in the community: hosting GIFTS in our Ortmayer Hall, contributing to ECHO, delivering Meals on Wheels, sponsoring birthday parties at St. Elizabeth’s, providing our facility for recovery meetings, and so much more. A question that remains before us is: how do we offer our Ortmayer Hall to the community once GIFTS moves into their own building?

Our worship continues to give glory to God, in music, word, and silence. We offer two services of Holy Communion on Sunday mornings, and one on Wednesday morning. The changing seasons, Advent, Christmas, Epiphany, Lent, Easter, Pentecost, give us ample opportunity to experience the vast expanse of our Prayer Book and other authorized texts. We continue to grow in our musical abilities and repertoire, and our choir and acoustic musicians offer so much variety.

Vestry Report (Ministry Review)

by Senior Warden Keith Steinbeck

Key Vestry Accomplishments:

  • Continued commitment to vestry leadership development through shared leadership roles. Vestry meeting leadership is shared so that each person leads a meeting in a 12-month period. Also a 3-member team is responsible in creating the meeting agenda in coordination with the Priest-in-Charge and the Senior Warden. A Vestry member rotates the responsibility of leading Compline at the end of the meeting. This practice was suggested at a previous Diocesan Leadership meeting in 2012 and has been well received in developing leadership.
  • Continued community awareness of what Trinity has to offer to members of our community. Events included Trinity Pancake Supper, Trinity’s doors were open with tours during the Janesville Downtown Development event, Trinity Country Fair and Market in September, and our annual Lessons and Carols Service in December.
  • A Trinity Winter Market has been established for the first Saturday in the months of November, December, January, February, and March. For our first Winter Market on November 5, vendors from Janesville and Beloit areas have signed up to participate.
  • For another year, Trinity has been home for the GIFTS Men’s Shelter Resource Center.
  • Hosted a visit from Bishop Steven Miller the first Sunday of October.
  • Voted to try a new Worship and Life-long Faith Formation (formerly Christian Formation). Sunday Holy Communion worship services are at 8am and 1030am. Life-long Faith Formation begins at 915am. The goal of this new time schedule is to increase the number of participants for Christian Formation classes.
  • Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes, Sharon Grover, and Margaret “Maggie” Bostwick attended the Diocesan Convention representing the Vestry. Mark Karrels and Rick Lutes represented our parish at this same meeting held on October 7 & 8.
  • To prepare for audits, Sr. Warden Keith Steinbeck gathered all the records for Trinity’s Johnson Bank Building Fund account. These records were reviewed in it’s entirety, approved, and is reviewed monthly. All financial and bank account reports are and continue to be reviewed by the Vestry and the Finance Committee on a monthly basis.
  • A new series of worship services with schedule adjustments were offered during 2016 Holy Week.

Future Challenges:

  • Review Church buildings for updates
  • Increase Church membership by 10% promoting that Trinity Episcopal Church is a church for ALL.
  • Review previous use and develop new ways to utilize Ortmayer Hall.
  • Update Trinity’s Facebook page to help promote our church and events to people outside of Trinity.
  • Preserving our heritage by reviewing all contents of the Trinity Heritage Room and the Trinity Library.

Junior Warden’s Report

Phil Whitford

Key Accomplishments:

  1. Thanks to Richter Electric, we now have LED lights throughout the main floor of the church.
  2. Thanks to Paul Benish we have a new floor in the Library as well.
  3. We bought 15 round tables for Ortmayer Hall.
  4. New gutters were put on the garage and we touched up the paint too.

Future Challenges:

  1. Tuck pointing all buildings
  2. Clean windows in Ortmayer Hall

Statistics Advent 2015 through All Saints 2016

Compiled by Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes

Baptisms (2)

Edward Mumm

Emmaleigh Dawn LaMae Guernsey

Weddings (0)

Confirmation and Received (0)

Burials (8)

Jeanne M Godar

Alan Charles Vogel

Anthony “Tony” Longtin

Charles Luckow Pember

Jayne M Thomas

Leonard Griffith

Kathleen Ann Lund

Daniel Adamany

New People

The Rev. Peter and Janet Irvine

Wendi Mogensen, Ronan, Raanan, Ranae, Emilie

Cindy Moore

Katie and Steve Mumm, Eddy

Dylan Thomas

Debbie Maher

Lundberg Family

People who have moved or we no longer see

Paul and Pam Benish moved to Madison

Gail and Tom Heiting moved to Reedsburg

Others

Jean Hadden has moved to Huntington

John Holcomb has moved to Huntingon

The average attendance on the four key Sundays, 1st Sunday in Advent , 1st Sunday in Lent, Easter Sunday including the Easter Vigil, and Pentecost Sunday is 97.

101 Services of Holy Communion on Sundays and principle feasts,

48 Services of Holy Communion on Wednesdays,

4 Morning Prayer on Wednesdays,

1 Advent Lessons and Carols.

In Lent, 5 services of Compline, 1 Service of Darkness, 1 Maundy Thursday, 1 Good Friday, Easter Vigil and Easter Sunday.

9 Services of Compline at Vestry meetings, and 1 service of Holy Communion at Vestry retreat.

2 Vespers services at Cedar Crest.

4 Anointing at the Time of Death.

1 Pet Blessing, with 12 animals and 17 people.

Communion was brought to people in the hospital or in their homes 15 times serving 36 people.

Music & Worship Committee

Choir: Thelma Wilcox

THREE Accomplishments:

  1. The Choir provided special music at the 9:30 service either three or four times each month from September to June. They also sang for several special services.
  2. The Choir presented its annual service of Lessons and Carols on the last Sunday of Advent.
  3. Several Choir members are now acting as Cantors for the Psalms throughout the year.

THREE THINGS WE DREAM ABOUT FOR THE NEXT YEAR:

  1. We would like to add more members in the Choir, particularly in the soprano and alto sections.
  2. As always, we will plan to continue to improve on our musical skills.

Acoustic Music: Katie Cossman – No Report

Worship – Sharon Grover

This year, with guidance from our Priest-in-Charge, Kathy Monson Lutes, the Vestry divided the work of the parish into commissions, or committees. We were asked to take on leadership roles in one of these committees, giving consideration to our gifts and passions. I chose the Worship Committee because of my love for the framework of the liturgy, as found in the Book of Common Prayer, and for the peace and spirituality that flows from this sense of common prayer.

Under Rev. Kathy’s direction, the Worship Committee has taken on these tasks:

● Rev. Kathy distributed a music-in-worship survey in an effort to determine how parishioners feel about the way that music is, or can be, incorporated into our worship services at Trinity. The Vestry considered the results and agreed there were no surprises in the survey results.

● Guided by the lessons, psalm, and gospel appointed for the day, Rev. Kathy selects the hymns for our Sunday Eucharist and welcomes input from anyone in the parish.

● In an effort to “regularize” the Sunday Eucharist according to the seasons of the church year, we have discontinued what were called “Praise Sundays.” The acoustic musicians that made up the Praise Band, have been invited to join with other acoustic musicians to provide music one Sunday per month, using the service music chosen for the season and the hymns selected for that Sunday, inserting their choice of offertory and communion music.

● Rev. Kathy conducted a liturgy training session for those who participate in making our services so wonderful: Altar Guild, Lectors, Ushers, and Eucharistic Ministers. Acolytes had a separate session with Rev. Kathy and Beth Mullen.