RECTOR'S STEWARDSHIP ADDRESS 2006

I want to begin by thanking you all for being here tonight. It is very good to be back in the Parish Hall, with the retrofit work just finished. It may not have been the most glamorous project - but it was an amazing achievement in terms of the generous giving that came from you, the parishioners, to make it possible. THANK YOU for that!

I am reminded of what St Paul says in 2 Corinthians 8:3.5. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own free will - but first they gave of themselves to the Lord.

That really sums it up - you gave generously, because you have given first yourselves to the Lord. That is the secret to our success. We love our church, but mostly we love what happens in it, and the family which has become our family.

I don't think I am speaking out of turn, when I tell you that one parishioner was approached by a parishioner from a nearby Episcopal parish (much larger & wealthier than ours) who was stunned by the quick and generous response to our appeal. Our parishioner's response was that such a result was because we offer inspiring worship, real fellowship and definite teaching, which is all based on the gospel. From what visitors tell me, I know that is true.

Because we offer something distinctive and true, our parish continues to grow and develop. This past year has seen many new people not only worshipping, but actively participating. We are glad you are here! It also lays before us challenges, not least in responding to this growth, and continuing to celebrate our tradition.

The atmosphere at Mass, and at such gatherings as these, is lovely. We are inspired not only by our worship, but the depth of fellowship and acceptance we encounter. My heart never fails to lift when I enter the pulpit and see such a diverse and happy group which I am proud to call my brothers and sisters in Christ.

Having said all this, I have to say that we are not successful, in worldly terms, and mistakes have been made.

To begin with, I ask you to cast your mind back 12 months. At the parish dinner last year I gave an overview of where we had come from, what direction we should be heading, and 3 particular projects for the next few years. I should have kept my mouth shut!

Before any of the projects could get off the ground the Vestry was faced with the reality that our Day School was in serious financial difficulty. This was nothing new - but all the efforts we had put into saving it were to no avail. The difficult decision to close the school was made. This was followed almost immediately by the ultimatum from the City to either fix the hall, or it would be closed. Not even a glamorous project to entice us!

You know how the story ends, though. We are looking at it tonight. And not only here in the hall, for the project was over-subscribed, enabling us to do one of those projects I presented last year: the removal of the sanctuary carpet & the re-surfacing of the wooden floor. On Sunday you will see what a wonderful transformation this has brought about.

Despite these set-backs, these 2 events gave us a God-given opportunity to look at our parish and its ministry. No longer would the Vestry have to bail out the school each year. But what was to be our community outreach and mission? For decades it was assumed to be the school - but it never seemed to be much of an outreach to me. So the challenge is now before us, and has already been responded to by the Vestry. My brothers and sisters - these are exciting times for this parish. Thanks to the able management of our finances and property by Jim Mickelson, we are starting to make a profit from the school buildings and pre-school. I have insisted that such profits not go in to general income, but kept in a special account that can be used for major property works.

The 2nd opportunity for us came with the hall project. It would have been easy to pay for it out of our endowment funds - as has happened in past years. The Vestry agreed with me that this was the opportunity to stop that habit. The response to the appeal showed that the parishioners were on the same page, too!

Thus you can see that 2 serious financial situations have turned around the thinking and practices of the past.

Now here is the new challenge!

I invite everyone to seize the opportunity of this moment. I am challenging the parish to meet a balanced budget. It is now time to meet the expenses of the parish from the committed giving of its members. This is a big challenge, for the Vestry is looking at a $40,000 deficit for 2007. Rather than estimate what we need in the way of pledging, as is done in so many churches, we are going to accept a budget based on what we need to spend, and asking the parishioners to meet that. This means that those who are employed will have to increase their giving. I make no apology for that appeal - and you me well enough by now to know that I lead by example.

There are 2 more challenges I lay before you tonight. Your pledging is not just about meeting our expenses. Within the budget is a significant increase for music. Our Music Director, Robert MacLeod, approached the Vestry, seeking increased funding to allow for 4 paid singers. There was a spirited debate at Vestry, and the increase was included in the budget for one particular reason. Music is very important in our worship here at All Saints'. Many people love our High Mass because of its traditional ceremony and music. It is not found in many churches, and makes us distinctive and attractive. In fact it is part of our mission and outreach, as well as a feature of Anglocatholic parishes. This alone should encourage extra giving, and people will be able to make special donations to the music fund on their pledge cards.

Secondly, we need to build up our endowments. But we should not wait until people die! All of us can provide for All Saints' in our will - but we can also do something in the immediate future. This has been another matter that the Vestry has given consideration to. As a result, Mr Tim Riis is presenting to us a proposal called “Legacy for Tomorrow”.

So there we are! No building projects from the Rector this year - but something more challenging.

Ultimately any talk about giving and money is in accordance with the challenges Our Lord made. We give because we are grateful, because we have been blessed, and because the Church is nothing less than the Body of Christ.

But here at All Saints' there is something more going on. St Paul's comments to the Corinthians apply to us: We have given according to our means, of our own free will - because first we have given of ourselves to the Lord.