Rector’s Address for Annual Meeting

2017-10-01 – Year A – Pentecost 9-28 – Rector’s Address for Annual Meeting

The Rev. Christopher M. Klukas

Intro

• 5 Months into my rectorship – it is hard to believe that we have been with you for almost half of a year!
• We are so thankful to be a part of this community and we truly feel that this is exactly where God wants us to be.

Great Commission

• Matthew 28:18-20
  • The mission of the Church is to make disciples
  • Disciplemaking begins before someone is a Christian, and it ends in one of two ways. Death or the return of the Lord.

Vision

• Good Samaritan Anglican Church is a loving community reaching people and leading them to become followers of Christ by loving God, loving others, and serving the world.
• Welcoming Neighbors | Discipling Believers

Welcoming Neighbors

• Learning Tree – Reaching unchurched families
  • Robin Matheson has been a real answer to our prayers
  • 11 VPK students
  • 6 three-year-olds
  • Chapel program – you should hear them sing “Jesus Loves Me”!
• Food Giveaway
  • Each month we serve food to 130-150 people
  • God has blessed us abundantly this month so that we can help rebuild people’s stores of food after the hurricane
  • Car Show is coming soon – $2500 sponsorship from Florida Blue
    • Money from the Car Show will go to both the food giveaway and the mission to Cuba in 2018
• Graphic Identity Update and Website
  • In 2017, a church’s website is the front door of the church. Very few people visit a church without first visiting the church’s website. Our’s now says “welcome”!
• Newcomers Luncheons
  • First one on Oct. 17 – we hope to do this 4-6 times per year
  • Welcoming Anne Eggers
• Missional Habits Class – Oct 25, 6:30 pm – 6 wks long, 4 before Thanksgiving and 2 after
  • We can spend lots of time, energy, and money on planning events and advertising them, but the most effective form of outreach is still a personal invitation from you to your friends, family, and neighbors.
• Whatever we do, we need to maintain a focus on reaching out and serving others.
  • Others First = Life. Me First = Death. When a church ceases to have a heart and ministry for its community, it is on the path toward death. Whenever local churches are mentioned in the New Testament, they are always exhorted to be other-centered.

Discipling Believers

• “Why would God send us new people if we don’t have a plan to disciple them when they come?” – Canon Mark Eldredge
• Catechism Class
  • To Be A Christian: An Anglican Catechism
  • Lord’s Prayer | Ten Commandments | Apostles Creed
  • I intend for this to be a major way that we make disciples
  • This is also how I intend to prepare people for confirmation
    • If any of you are interested in getting confirmed this year, please speak to me about it now and plan to get involved in this class.
• Other weekly Discipleship Opportunities
  • Wednesday Discipleship Eucharist
  • Thursday Bible Study
  • Sunday School Bible Study
  • Other short-term classes
• As Christian we always need to be growing in our faith. This happens through personal spiritual disciplines, but it also happens through the church.
  • “Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.” (Proverbs 27:17, ESV)
  • “Every branch in me that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” (John 15:2, ESV)
• Discipleship of Children
  • In the scriptures and throughout most of the history of the Church, the primary responsibility for this has been with Parents passing the faith to their children.
  • The church has an important role to play as well
    • The Church disciples parents and gives them support as they disciple children
    • The Church provides a second witness to the children and lets them know that the things which their parents believe are believed by their whole church community as well.
      • Sunday School
      • Vacation Bible School
      • Thank you to everyone who has contributed to children’s ministry this year!

Conclusion

• Please pray for this Church – “Lo I am with you always” we need Jesus to give us the strength and direction to do what we do.
  • Laborers for the harvest, and harvest for the laborers
  • Financial provision “give us this day our daily bread.”
  • Pray for me and for the leadership of this church – vision and direction
• Questions, concerns, ideas? Please come and talk to me.
  • My office is not a scary place. I don’t take offense easily. And I deeply desire to know what is on your hearts.