We can’t be a Church without an Annual Meeting. This is not because our by–laws require a meeting, but because God calls the church into community, and a community gets formed when it gathers. A group becomes a community when people come to know and trust and appreciate each other, when they work together for a common good cause, and, usually, when they share a meal together (without food on the table, a group is more likely a business organization).

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St. James is not just a social service agency that does its business by email; it is not just a worshiping body that says prayers together and goes home; it is not just a social club that meets for fellowship and ignores the practicalities of our common life. We are a church, so we have a place where we come to worship Almighty God (so we need to paint and heat the buildings and mow and shovel the grounds). We have a God–given job to do (so we have to discern and support our mission). We have ordained clergy and we belong to a Diocese (so we have to support them and decide how much support to give).

 

Once a year we assemble to make decisions about these things. This year’s Annual Meeting was at 11:30 a.m. on January . At the meeting, we:

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• Honored and thanked our elected representatives who are retiring from the Vestry and elect officers and new Vestry members,  

• Celebrated the recipients of the Order of the Fisherman, those who have given extraordinary service to the parish during the past year,

• Heard the financial state of the parish and vote to accept the financial report from last year and the budget proposed by the Vestry for the year ahead,

• Received reports from all the ministries of the parish with time for questions and discussion.

• Expressed our ideas, questions, comments, appreciations, concerns, and hopes.