2009 Annual Meeting January 10, 2009 St. Brigid’s Episcopal Church, Rio Vista, California A Parochial Mission of Grace Episcopal Church, Fairfield Diocese of Northern California 2008 saw us continuing as faithful disciples of Jesus Christ - consolidating our strengths, trying new things, saying some farewells and accomplishing some goals, as we: •        Held our fourth annual meeting 1/19/08; •        Gave a free-will offering of 10% of each month’s contribution to the Diocese; •        Disbursed funds, especially featuring our yard sale to support CARE, Inc.; •        Improved and kept current our website stbrigidsriovista.org; •        Added members to our email prayer tree ministry; •        Celebrated the Eucharist weekly starting in March 2008; •        Began a happy relationship with the Rev. Donna McNiel. In 2008, we were blessed with the Rev. Donna McNiel as our dedicated supply priest.  We also welcomed the Revs. Walter Phelps, David Cavanaugh and Canon Britt Olson.  2008 certainly brought us more consistency of presiders and preachers.  Others who have served as preachers are Deacons Derek Jones and Susan Reeve, and Helen Tiernan (who introduced Age-ing to Sage-ing).  We have yet to raise up a lay preacher in our midst.  Our musician, Lee Muller, has accompanied our weekly Saturday Eucharists.  We are indebted to Lee for her skill and kindness.  Other musicians with us in 2008 were Donna Harris, Jean Farris and our new recruit Grace Bos.  Visitors to St Brigid’s services included people with personal boats docked here: the McGraths, the Jenkses and the First Mate of the Lady Washington, an educational sailing ship.  All the above located us and our worship services via the website. Evening Prayer continued on the first Tuesday of the month with Deacon Susan and Carol Dugger leading.  Deacon Susan carried the reserved sacrament to people in their homes when they were unable to join our community at services.  Special services included Ash Wednesday’s Imposition of Ashes, a dramatic Easter Vigil, and a Christmas Eve service.   We made palm crosses and had our first ever Palm Sunday service.  We have coffee and treats after all our services.  At the October Bass Festival we held our weekly service outdoors on Third Street next to the Rio Vista for Christ booth. This year St. Brigid’s continued to support a website stbrigidsriovista.org to share information about our congregation and our services and activities.  We appreciate our Webkeeper who has improved the website and keeps it current.  Deacon Susan and Chandra handled our publicity again this year with newspaper ads, articles, e-mails, telephone calls and as needed, even the U.S. postal service to inform our members and friends of our services and activities. At their annual meeting in January 2008, the people of Grace Church elected Carol Dugger as a Delegate to Diocesan Convention 2008.  This was a generous gesture on the part of our sponsoring congregation as it granted us a lay vote at convention that otherwise would not be ours for some years. Numerous members have suffered serious surgeries and acute conditions this past year.   The congregation has responded with meals, rides, support and prayers and these are signs to us of our roots being deeply planted as a compassionate community.  We have shared several meals together.  Our biggest social event was Pub Night at St. Anne’s, Stockton.  We celebrated Deacon Derek’s 30th anniversary of his ordination in October. The Drurys came back from the April Visioning Conference with enthusiasm and led us in putting on a big yard sale to benefit CARE Inc.  We have always said that community outreach is a priority and are finding ways to make that more visible.  Now we are deep in plans to hold a children’s clothing exchange in early 2009.   The importance of outreach efforts is a founding value of this congregation.  The Rev. Derek Jones is an icon of service in the community for us.  Members were involved in setting up the new Rio Vista Ministry and the third Christmas 94571.  Heather House was supported with Advent boxes.  We collected calendars for merchant seamen at the Port of Stockton. We initiated our search for a location to worship on Sunday mornings. Seven sites in Rio Vista were considered, including AJ’s Florists; the Gym back room and the Portuguese Hall.   As we meet, we anticipate a response from the Assembly of God Sacramento office to our written proposal to share space at Resurrection Life.  Meanwhile we are month to month at Lighthouse and grateful for their hospitality. What is ahead for St. Brigid’s?  With prayerful discernment and the help of our members, we are discovering our path.  In the short term, we will welcome a new leadership team with the election of the next Warden and Mission Committee.  We are challenged to: •        Identify and articulate our vision for God’s presence to be felt in Rio Vista; •        Move to Sunday morning worship; •        Attract new members, diversifying our membership as we welcome families, singles, young and older members; •        Increase the participation of members in worship services, educational opportunities and congregational projects; •        Increase our contributions and budget as we expand; •        Develop meaningful outreach opportunities and connections with other churches in the community; •        Move over the next few years toward status as an organized Mission of the Diocese of Northern California. In closing let us thank those who have supported us: •        Our gracious God for the abundance of blessings on our congregation; •        Carol Dugger, for her vast efforts behind the scenes in multiple areas of our congregational life, including our intercessory prayer group, worship committee and the training of our altar guild, and for representing us at diocesan convention; •        Araminta Blackwelder for sending the greeting cards so reliably; •        Eamonn Drury, our acolyte, joined now by his brother Forrest; •        St Clement’s Rancho Cordova for a gift of altar linen and Lenten vestments; •        All who have opened their homes to host services and other gatherings; •        All who have served as altar guild, readers, greeters and hospitality providers; •        The Mission Committee members who served with prudence and thoughtfulness. They are Warden Owen Drury, Treasurer Chandra Drury, members at large Pat Akers and Debbie McNamara; Worship Committee rep Carol Dugger, and Clerk Roz Malone.  Deacon Susan and Deacon Derek are non-voting members. Let us pray that St. Brigid’s Episcopal Church in Rio Vista will “Focus on the Mission, Stay Together, and Keep Moving Forward in the Name of Christ.”