Seeing what God sees

for our lives together.

St. Matthews
Episcopal Church, Westerville

2013 Annual Report

Table of Contents

1. Vestry Members & Terms; Vestry Convention Delegates (to be handed out as insert) 2. Priests Report 3. Senior Warder Report

4. Junior Warden Report

5. Global Outreach: PIMIL Report 6. Local Outreach: Ministry Summaries 7. Congregational Reports 8. Budget Report (to be handed out as insert)

Vestry
Clifton Flemister, Senior Warden, Worship & Prayer Kerry Wimsatt, Junior Warden, Strategy Kevin Aldridge, Fellowship (Koinonia) Marc Hopper, Service Harold Patrick, Stewardship Term ends 2015 Term ends 2015 Term ends 2014 Term ends 2014 Term ends 2015

Bryan Swift, Christian Formation

Rebecca Wright, Communication Donna Johnson, Secretary Rebecca Wright, Treasurer

Terms ends 2014

Term ends 2015

Ballot (if needed)

Nadya Richardson, Discipleship (Membership) Term ends 2013, running for 2nd Term

1. NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR 2. BALLOTS HANDED OUT (If nominations from the floor exceed two names) January 19, 2014 The Vestry voted to have no more than 10 and no less than 8 vestry members with the goal of 10 members by 2015.

+++

Vestry Convention Delegates and Alternates

Clifton Flemister Delegate Emily Savors Delegate

On the Ballot
(The top two will be Delegates and the bottom two will be Alternates) Marsha Adkins Kevin Aldridge Harold Patrick Nadya Richardson

Rebecca Wright

1. NOMINATIONS FROM THE FLOOR

2. BALLOTS HANDED OUT

Priests Report
Dear St. Matthews family, It goes without saying that what you have experienced in 2013 is above and beyond the average parish, and St. Matthews is not your average parish. To come to the painful reality of the need to leave a building with both happy and sad memories was no easy decision, but the financial impact of assuming a mortgage far beyond your capability was the catalyst to move on. I celebrate your commitment to each other and seeing the church beyond the walls. I am in awe of your love for God and determination to stick together. To move, not only once, but twice, within three months was a challenge but in the end, it put us in a position to stabilize, save money for the future, and give us a base camp in Central College Presbyterian to plan for an exciting and affordable future. I thank God for both Respite Connections who gave us the bridge space and Central College who has given us the work space. I thank you, St. Matthews, for effusing me with such joy and opportunity to serve you; it is truly an honor to be your priest in these transition times, and I am very blessed. I have rarely experienced such a faithful and committed group of Christians who are determined to not only survive but thrive in spite of everything you have endured. I truly look forward to every day that I work with you as we plan the path to our new home and beyond. I see your gifts to be centered on your radical hospitality, your racial diversity and inclusion, your committed care for each other, your total love for serving the Westerville area, your rich Episcopal tradition, and your multi-generational family focus. I have watched your love for God grow into a love for children, the poor, families, Westerville, the diocese, me and my family, and the future. As I have learned of your rich and challenging history, I have been inspired by your resiliency and your determination to learn from the past but commit to the present and future. Marie and I had the unprecedented opportunity to experience you as a church as quiet newcomers sitting in the back who just needed an Episcopal community to worship with while our lives transitioned. I then learned of your upcoming transition with Mother Jennifer and the opportunity to offer myself as servant priest, and then found myself appointed by the Bishop as your Priest-in-Charge five months into 2013. There is no question in my mind that God has brought us both together for such as a time as now, and I am grateful to God, St. Matthews, and the Diocese for the opportunity to lead with you. I would be remiss if I did not honor the work of Mother Jennifer as she transitioned out as your Rector during this past year. I thank her for her gracious welcome and her collaborative partnership with me as we worked for a seamless transition. I thank the diocese as well for letting me be your Priest -in-Charge. St. Matthews, God is truly with you and I look forward to an amazing 2014 of Gods leading and our dreams coming true. I ask you to pray and work. I ask you to use your imagination and see St. Matthew s as a unique Episcopal presence for the Westerville area. I ask you to discover what God has in store for your life as you are called to be a growing church. Yours in Christs service, The Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Kovitch +

Senior Wardens Report

Dear Fellow St. Matthews Brothers and Sisters, The past year, 2013, was one of much change and adventure. The move from our 233 State Street to Respite Connection on Strawberry Farms Road was by far the largest change. We all know this move was necessary and inevitable. It was not possible to continue to depend of the Diocese to assist us in paying the bills. On hind sight, it is apparent that we, and the Diocese, could have handled the events leading up to the move in better ways. The lesson we take away is that looking at things

through rose colored glasses is not always beneficial.

The building is up for sale. Once the building is sold, we shall apply for, and receive, funds that will assist us in our future home search. Also, our priest, The Rev. Jennifer West retired and moved, with her husband Ben, back to Rhode Island. Mot. Jennifer served us well, helping us through the healing process from the 2007 congregational split. We hope both of them a happy retirement, and good health. On June 1st, Mot. Jennifers successor joined us. The Rev. Joseph Kovitch has brought an attitude that we need. God gave us a good healer in Mot. Jennifer, and now he has given us a good builder. Fr. Joseph comes with the building credentials we need. He has put into place the foundation programs and processes which will take us into a revitalized St. Matthews. We worshipped at the Respite Connection facility for several months. While calling around, looking for office space, Fr. Joseph found that Central College Presbyterian Church, on Sunbury Road, had space. They offered it to us, rent free. While the move to the new office was underway, Central College also offered us the use of their recently remodeled chapel, also rent free. We have now been in this beautiful building for several months. Early in their marriage, my parents moved a lot. Their goal was to make each move an upward step. We have done this in the two moves we made in the last six months. We are now in a place where we can rest a while and find the best final move. The opportunity to make this an affordable, non-rushed, and practical move is ours. However, let us remember that, St. Matthews mission is to serve our members, Westerville, and God. We should do only those things that help us do these to the fullest. Clifton L. Flemister Senior Warden

Junior Warden Report

To the Families of St. Matthews: As we settle in to our temporary home here on the Central College Campus, we are beginning to mark this time, our time here as a new chapter one in which we are no longer encumbered with the many distractions that were taking away from our calling to make St. Matthews home in the first place. We are beginning to look around to see an atmosphere of calm and of possibility in ourselves, our neighbors and friends, and in the Westerville community at large. We are now much lighter on our feet, and our vision of a new permanent church home is coming into view. This view, my friends, is being sharpened by the wondrous leadership of Fr. Joseph, and by many of you who have stepped forward and have offered yourselves to a calling of God whether it be to a task, to help a friend or family member, or to the sharing of your treasure, or all of the above. Our most pressing task in 2014 is to firm up our Ministries, with our Youth and Outreach Ministries being a fundamental starting point to our mission of growth. Who are we as a group? What are we offering to our general community, and to our children, in particular? These are but two of the very important questions that must be answered positively in 2014. We have done a much better job of drawing up an organized presentation for our Sunday service, but we still have some work to do. Please prayerfully consider all the ways that you can be an active part of our church team, whether its being a member of the altar guild, or being an usher or a greeter any help would certainly be appreciated. As we begin our conversations with Central College Presbyterian Church regarding seeking out a parcel of land for our future home, please know that I, along with our Way Forward Team led by Gregor Scott, will be keeping you updated regarding specific timelines of future plans. In Gregors synopsis of The Way Forward, he mentions 2014 as a stabilization period --- indeed, this is so true. Let us focus on the here-and-now, i.e. development of ministries, outreach, and Sunday service schedule because as we concentrate on these specific areas, we turn our attention to what really matters: the spiritual development and human relationships of our church family. Blessings to all. Kerry Wimsatt Junior Warden

The Life Together Team

The Life Together Committee was formed to provide St. Matthews parish with a way to adhere to the standards set forth in the Code of Ethical Relationships, to hold both priest and parish to the highest levels of accountability, and increase effective communication throughout the parish. This Code of Ethical Relationships is a resource document to help connect us with the knowledge and support we need to do the right things and to make sound, informed decisions. While no such code can cover all situations or answer all questions, it can guide us in our consideration of the effect of our actions. The Code is a living document that will be subject to ongoing refinement as we continue to grow in faith and knowledge under the loving grace and care of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Guiding principles for St. Matthews include accountability, honesty and integrity, shared responsibility, open communication, and respectful conflict resolution. The goals of the Code are to:

Articulate the key values that underpin St. Matthews ministry, policies and operational practices; Assure that our communities are safe places for children and adults; Clarify the behavioral expectations of parish members, and, in particular, those who hold positions of leadership and responsibility within the Church; Establish a standard of professional accountability for Church leaders presently ministering at St. Matthews, as well as an aid in the training and education of new leaders.

The Life Together Team has spent 2013 developing a Parish Manual of best practices and a Code of Ethical Relationships. We will continue to create a working document combining both best practices and ethics in conjunction with both vestry and congregation, in the coming year. Our goal is to have a working draft by Easter 2014.

Annual Report: Partners-In-Ministry-In-Liberia (PIMIL)-2013 Submitted by the PIMIL Council St. Matthews Annual Parish Meeting February 2, 2014 975 Sunbury Road, Westerville, OH

PIMIL is an outreach educational ministry established in January 2005 at St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Westerville, Ohio in order to offer scholarship assistance to families of indigent children affected by the Liberian Civil War (1989-2003). Today the ministry is funded by families, individuals, organizations and sixteen congregations that include three congregations from dioceses other than the Diocese of Southern Ohio. Through education, the mission of PIMIL is: Build lives Restore hope Enable dreams and Participate in the Millennium Development Goals (MDG)

PIMIL is also involved in school infrastructure repairs due to the war. A summary of the financial narrative of donations and other activities are outlined below.

Donations:
Congregations: $ 4,274.00 Individual Donations: $ 13,513.50 St. Matthew's 4th Sundays: $ 1,078.98 Luncheon / Fund raiser: Total receipts $ 3404.00 Expenses $ 748.22 Profit $ 2656.28

Sponsorship Donations of Liberian artist Lawson Sworh at Luncheon and in DSO:

Expenses: Balance: $ 1500.00 $ 1234.93 $ 265.07 - Voted by sponsors for tuition of grandchild, Faith Sworh

Tuition:
Fiscal Year Scholarship Assistance: $ 16,650.00 st 1 Semester 2011/12: $ 8,175.00 nd 2 Semester 2012/13:$ 8,475.00

Administrative Expenses: (Liberia)

1 Semester 2011/12:$ 525.00 nd 2 Semester 2012/13: $ 500.00 Operating Expenses: $ 1,531.05 (Ch. Calendars, shipment, postage, Skype Calls, Supplies, Website maintenance, Diocesan Convention)
st

Bank Fees: Bank Fees: Balance School Funds:

$ 101.24 (US) $ 200.00 (Liberia) $ 2,179.54

(PIMIL Report cont.)

Infrastructure School Improvements:

St. Johns, Worthington: $ 2,250.00* School project12/12/13: $ 150.00 (Administrative Expense)
*Funded by grants from the Millennium Development Goals of St. Johns Episcopal Church, Worthington, Ohio.

Escrow Funds for school projects:

$ 2,400.00

Students Sponsored:
K-Elementary: Junior High: Senior High: Higher Education: Nursing: Vocational: Graduation: Total 43 students 12 students 10 students 6 students 2 students 2 students (3) (factored in at higher education) 75 students 35 sponsors

Sponsorship of Students:

Leadership: We are grateful for the establishment of the PIMIL Council that has included leadership from sponsoring
congregations so far of the Columbus deanery: St. Albans, Bexley, St. Johns, Worthington, and Trinity, Columbus. The involvement is yielding productive results.

PIMIL Annual June Luncheon Fundraiser:

This is the major activity of PIMIL. The purpose of the event is three-fold: To share inter-cultural experience with the community To augment donations of sponsors provided for scholarship assistance of the students in Liberia To express appreciation to the donors and friends for their involvement in PIMIL PIMIL is grateful to the Mayor of the city of Westerville for her yearly endorsement of the event. We are grateful to Nikki Wimsatt for providing the meal for the US menu. She was ably assisted by their wonderful three children: Jack, James and Annie. We are also grateful to Kerry Wimsatt, who, for the second year has assumed the cost of the printing of the tickets for the fundraising. We are thankful for the vitality of the youth of St. Matthews for their fundraising efforts. Finally, we are grateful to St. Matthews, the PIMIL Council, and participants, who, performing different tasks resulted in the resounding success of the annual event. We look forward to a continued collaboration in 2014. We acknowledge with profound appreciation, the following persons for their special services rendered to PIMIL. They are completing their term of commitments: Carolyn Mullen, PIMIL treasurer, and Bob Zust, Sr. treasurer of St. Matthews. Bob provided oversight of recording and reporting PIMIL funds sent to the parish. We welcome with appreciation, Rebecca Wright, treasurer of the parish who will assume the duties as treasurer of PIMIL. After experimenting with co-chairmanship of the Council, we welcome Harold Patrick who graciously consented to be the Chairperson of the PIMIL Council. Profound thanks and appreciation to the sponsors and other supporters for embracing and sustaining PIMIL. Finally, we express thanks to the former rector, Jennifer K. West for her leadership and moral support of PIMIL. We welcome our new rector, the Rev. Dr. Joseph G. Kovitch for the visionary leadership he is providing for PIMIL. His vision includes a trip to Liberia in 2015!

Special Events:
The quarterly publication of the Newsletter by Mike Shimko Diocesan Convention Exhibit Annual Church calendars and soccer balls directed to Rt. Rev. Jonathan B.B. Hart of Liberia. The calendars are for the clergy and laity of the diocese while the soccer balls are to enhance the recreational program of the children in the rural areas.

Ministry Summaries
In the midst of the transition, we have begun to develop growing fresh expressions of many other ministries. Childrens Ministries: In the coming weeks and months we will be growing our outreach to our children and families. We will grow a concept of what is called Messy Church where we gather one Saturday a month for music, crafts, and bible teaching. We will also continue to expand our First Friday

Family Fun Night offerings. Sundays will be a time for an early gathering a half hour before worship and
an emphasis on family worship. Youth and Confirmation Ministries: In February we will begin Confirmation Conversations with Father Joseph one Friday per month at a local Panera or coffee house. We will also provide community service experiences for both youth and their family to share in during the month as a time to not only serve but discover how to apply our monthly conversations. These two monthly offerings will be for both those who are in the confirmation cycle and those who are not. Sundays will be a time to gather a half hour before worship for conversation and family worship. Mens Group: We continue to grow our monthly men s gatherings and will continue to grow retreat opportunities as well as ecumenical outreach. Central College has proven to be a partner in our ecumenical pursuit. Community Service: We are continuing to grow our commitment to feed the hungry at His Place and W.A.R.M. We are determined to address the issues of social justice when it comes to racial profiling, poverty, disability, and many other forms of disenfranchisement. This area will be a growing mission in the coming year. Other areas of growing commitment are:

Membership Communication Worship and Music Ministry Strategy Fellowship, Community Outreach

Altar Guild
Gerrie Zust, Altar Guild Chair The year 2013 was challenging for our congregation, especially for the Altar Guild. We adjusted to several worship spaces: our former sanctuary at 233 S. State, Respite Connections, and the barn and chapel at Central College Presbyterian. A special thank you to Drew Zust for his help in packing the sacristy for the first move. Members of the Altar Guild prepare the altar area for worship and care for the vessels, candles, hangings, and linens. Thank you to Bernice Boyer who has offered to launder the linens. Many members of the St. Matthews congregation have commented on how pleased they are to be worshipping in such a beautiful sanctuary. A special thank you to the Altar Guild for all they do to make that a reality. With two of our numbers away for extended periods of time, we would welcome additional people (women, men or youth) who feel called to this ministry. (Training is available!) Currently , there are eight adults aided by several young peopleand some helpful bystanders.

Hannahs Guild
Marie Kovitch

A Womens and Girls Ministry was formed in August 2013. A survey was made available, asking what types of events or services were of interest to each person. Marie Kovitch compiled and relayed the results and also sent informational emails through the end of the year.
Gerrie Zust invited all the women and girls to her home on September 28 for an ice cream social and movie night (Mama Mia). It was well attended and enjoyed by all! A monthly gathering at a restaurant topped the survey, so a Second Saturday Luncheon was created, and two were held by years end, both at the Bob Evans Restaurant. Additional interests from the survey will be discussed and scheduled in the new year.

The Womens and Girls Ministry was renamed Hannahs Guild. Anyone with questions about, or ideas for, Hannahs Guild should contact Marie Kovitch at missizjoe.kovitch4@gmail.com.
For our 2013 holiday season, Gerrie Zust opened up her and Bob's beautiful home and provided us a "Christmas Tour" of their many decorations, collections and traditions. It was both fun and warm, touring a visual display of family memories and gifts to each other. 2014 will see Hannah's Guild continuing our Second Saturday Luncheons as well as additional socials that allow all generations to get-together, and choosing a service project to Westerville. Lent will provide a weekly Wednesday evening study on worry from the book Calm My Anxious Heart. Other plans will develop as we move forward!

Intercessors/Prayer Chain
Gerrie Zust, Marie Kovitch Intercessory prayer and anointing is offered during the 10:30 AM service of communion. If you feel a calling to this ministry, please contact Fr. Joseph. (This ministry is an expansion of our Prayer Chain and Prayer Ministries.) An email Prayer Chain was created in August 2013 by Marie Kovitch as an extension of the existing prayer ministry led by Gerrie Zust. Congregants were invited to take part in two ways: 1) by being part of the Prayer Chain as one who will pray as requests come in, and 2) by utilizing the ministry by asking the Prayer Chain to pray for specific needs. By year end, the Prayer Chain members (in addition to Gerrie and Marie) were Cherie Patrick, Donna Johnston, Jerrilynn Kaiser, Bernice Boyer, and Mother Abby Flemister. It is a privilege to pray for each other, and we hope our church family will utilize this ministry as much as possible. Prayers remain confidential with Prayer Chain members unless we are told otherwise. Those interested in being a Prayer Chain member of those needing prayer should contact Marie Kovitch at missizjoe.kovitch4@gmail.com.

Stewardship
Harold W. Patrick, Vestry
The Stewardship of Gods resources of Time, Talent, and Treasure is fundamental to our faith and foundational to our ministry. It is the works that James 2:17 tells us evidences that our faith is not dead. I am pleased to report that St. Matthews Episcopal Church, Westerville has spoken loudly and clearly through our 2014 Pledges and our Treasure works are alive and well! Congratulations to the entire congregation for a collective effort that glorifies God and strengthens our church and our ability to be that Episcopal presence in Westerville of which our Vision Statement speaks. . Now our attention must be turned to Time and Talent. Review our significant legacy below and then declare our RIGHT NOW through your contribution of Time and Talent as you are called by God. After all, it s all Gods anyway! ACOLYTE CHALICIST COMMUNITY EVENTS FLOWER GUILD GREETER LAY READER PIMIL PROPERTY USHER ADULT FORMATION CHOIR FELLOWSHIP FUND RAISING HIS PLACE MUSIC POPCORN STEWARDSHIP WARM ALTAR GUILD COMMUNICATION FINANCE GARDEN HOSPITALITY PEWS PRAYER TECHNOLOGY WASHERS

YOUTH LEADER