Celebrating God’s loving presence in historic Old Church

Who we pray for We pray for a priest in charge who is an open-hearted, wel-

coming and warm shepherd, leader, preacher and teacher. We

desire a collaborative ministry between our priest and parish-

ioners of all ages. This mutual ministry, centered in Christ’s

love, is expressed through prayer, education, music, compas-

sion and action in Immanuel, our community and beyond.

Who we are God calls Immanuel Church to show God’s love. We follow

the way of Christ to serve the community and to foster spiri-

tual growth through worship, education, fellowship, and joy-

ful song. Immanuel Episcopal Church is a hospitable congre-

gation whose faith is rooted in God’s goodness and love. We

value kindness. We want to close the gap between the good-

ness we know from God and Jesus Christ and the needs of

the world. We love and accept one another’s diverse thoughts

and practices with open minds.

What we do

Worship – Striving for excellence in worship and music Outreach – Bringing the world into the church, and the

church into the world Joy – Knitting our community together through special

events, hospitality and fellowship Formation – Promoting education, spiritual experience and

Christian education

Caring – Nurturing each other, our neighbors and God’s creation

Searching for a Priest In Charge

Immanuel’s commu-

nicants are clear in

our desire to further

nurture, educate and

grow in our spiritual

life and in our call to do God’s work.

Two congregational sessions garnered

the following key challenges and hopes

for our present and future:

Formation Christian education for children and

adults is a key area most agree needs at-

tention. Parents want more structured

programs for children on Sunday morn-

ings particularly, and for youth on addi-

tional days. Adults state a desire for a

Sunday adult forum with a relevant,

Scripture-based educational lecture fol-

lowed by Q&A, perhaps organized in

short series to enable more participation.

We want to cultivate the spirituality of

the young and prepare them for their po-

tential impact on the community

and world.

Attendance Immanuel has many family-oriented pro-

grams, but attendance is uneven. We

want to know why. Some parishioners

think that if parents came to church with

their teens, youth participation would

increase. Some wish to explore alterna-

tive worship choices, such as Saturday

afternoon or

contemporary

services,

which might

appeal to

young adults,

singles and

families. We

want to add

new members,

including

families with children. We embrace

the exuberance of youth and believe

that each generation benefits from

one another in a unique way that

contributes to the overall wellbeing

of the congregation. Additional

members and youth will help ensure

the future of the church so that Im-

manuel remains a vital part of their

lives and the community.

Pastoral care Communicants know that one priest

alone cannot handle pastoral needs

during normal life changes or crises

affecting the whole parish. We have

a devoted pastoral care com-

mittee and Eucharistic visi-

tors. Many pitch in when

individuals face difficult

times. We expect confiden-

tial pastoral care and coun-

seling from a priest who is

an attentive, non-judgmental

listener. We appreciate emo-

tional support during life

challenges, crises and ill

health. We are predomi-

nantly boomers with an in-

terest in elder support. We would

like to develop programs that assist

the priest to meet the pastoral needs

of our parishioners.

Funding Our 160-year-old historic church

and the 30-year-old parish house

require funding for preservation.

Financial pressure on programs and

structure maintenance and/or expan-

sion must be dealt with, including a

strategic plan for the use of the

church property. Stewardship as a

spiritual and practical practice that

requires regular participation from

all would enable Immanuel to carry

out its Christian mission now and in

the future. Financial mechanisms (such as re-

vived fund-raisers) are needed to

preserve the historic structure,

lighten pressure on the operating

budget, increase staff salaries and

grow parish and outreach programs.

The Cherub School For 25 years The Cherub School has

been a major outreach program at

Immanuel. The recent addition of

pre-kindergarten classes in public

schools and the influx of for-profit

early education companies have

affected our enrollment. There have

been fewer young families coming

to our area due to the housing crisis.

This histori-

cally important

church mission

requires big-

picture think-

ing by school

administrators

and families

and church

leaders and

communicants.

We Grow with God’s Help

In 2012 the two-year-old Garden of

Grace grew well over a ton of fresh

produce for the Cornerstone outreach

program at St. David’s, Aylett. Our

Cherub School is a valued source of

early childhood education for area

youngsters ages 2 ½ to 5. An annual

medical mission trip to Honduras, the

poorest country in Latin America, is

led by two physicians in our congre-

gation. Music in the Old Church an-

nual community performances, led by

Minister of

Music Jimmy

Hicks, draw

performers

and audiences

from many

denomina-

tions.

Additional outreach programs include

the annual Thanksgiving service with

neighboring Baptist and Presbyterian

churches, meals for the Men’s Shel-

ter, service at the homeless sheltering

program CARITAS, seasonal TGIF

suppers, summer parish breakfasts,

Vacation Bible School, the Immanuel

booth at the Hanover Tomato Festi-

val, food collection baskets in the

narthex, two Immanuel cookbooks

and the Old Church Garden Fair in

the spring. The Old Church Foundation awards

scholarships to three Hanover County

high school graduates selected by

schools. The Bud McCaul Scholar-

ship is managed by the Foundation

for education grants to youth and

adults in the parish.

mas presents for area poor,

auctions and Parking for Jesus,

an urban valet service. We also

sponsor Boy Scout Troop 531,

which has done many service

projects for Immanuel, where

the troop meets.

Immanuel has a program

for middle and high school

students. This year’s major

youth project was a youth

pilgrimage to Liverpool,

England, for which teens

raised 90% of the cost. Liv-

erpool teens will visit

us in 2013. Teens also

sponsor fund-raisers

for their pilgrimage

and service projects

such selling tickets for

the low-country boil,

sponsoring the Angel

Tree to collect Christ-

Outreach

Youth

Worship & Christian Formation

We hold two Sunday services -- 9 a.m., with music and

sermon, and 11 a.m., with choir and child and adult ser-

mons, followed by a reception. Child care is offered from

10 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Children and teachers leave after the Children’s

Sermon and return for Holy Communion at

the11 a.m. service. Adult Christian education is

held between services September through May.

Accessible well-informed Scriptural education is

an important part of sermons at both services. The church

holds a healing service on the last Sunday of the month, an

annual blessing of the animals in early fall, a congrega-

tional procession on Palm Sunday and a children’s Christ-

mas pageant. There is a cadre of young acolytes, choir mem-

bers, adult Eucharistic ministers, ushers, chali-

cers, lay readers, adult altar guild members,

nursery volunteers, pastoral care visitors and

reception hosts. An Education for Ministry (EfM) is in its

fourth year, with 11 participants. There is also a Lenten

Quiet Prayer Group for centering, contemplative prayer.

2011 2012 as of 12/11/2012

Actual Budget Actual Budget

Current Year Pledges $ 139,842.41 $ 161,220.00 $ 125,712.00 $ 159,400.00

Total Income $ 205,923.25 $ 206,190.00 $ 183,968.00 $ 205,370.00

Total Payroll $ 136,026.31 $ 136,048.41 $ 112,901.00 $ 143,223.00

Total Operating Exp $ 40,554.50 $ 43,047.60 $ 32,668.00 $ 40,598.00

Total Outreach $ 16,372.92 $ 17,745.00 $ 16,669.00 $ 16,700.00

Total Bldgs & Grnds $ 8,977.98 $ 12,000.00 $ 9,964.00 $ 8,550.00

Total Expense $ 201,931.71 $ 208,841.01 $ 172,202.00 $ 209,071.00

Net Income $ 3,991.54 $ (2,651.01) $ 11,766.00 $ (3,701.00)

Income and Expenses 2011 and 2012

Average Sunday Attendance 2002-2012

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

2002 2004 2006 2008 2010 1/1-

12/4/2012

$100,000.00

$120,000.00

$140,000.00

$160,000.00

$180,000.00

$200,000.00

2002

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

2009

2010

2011

1/1-

12/4

/201

2

Pledge Income Received 2002-2012 Includes Current, Past and Accelerated Payments

0

20

40

60

80

2002 2006 2010

Pledging Units

A Spark of Vitality

Immanuel has a spark of vitality for

which we are deeply grateful. We

honor the gifts of love, respect and

commitment to Immanuel that pre-

ceded us. These gifts still character-

ize our church family, which nour-

ishes and adds to them with loving

care. We have a momentum gener-

ated by recent rectors who taught

by word and example that we are

all God’s ministers. As we grow,

we want to build on this energy and

channel our

strengths and re-

sources so that

we can be even

more effective at

doing God's

work. To help guide our future efforts, we

recently completed a re-visioning

process to define our mission, vi-

sion and priorities for the next few

years. We look forward to sharing

our vision with a new priest. And

we warmly welcome his or her tal-

ents, insights and leadership as we

discern our individual and collabo-

rative call to be Christ in the world.

Fellowship

Immanuel builds fellowship

into everything. The annual

fall Steak & Oyster Roast

(with silent and live auc-

tions) attracts as many non-

members as communicants

and is the major source of

outreach funding. The an-

nual May parish retreat at

Shrine Mont attracts parish-

ioners to our diocesan camp.

We host suppers, picnics,

breakfasts and get-togethers

that usually include food.

We describe ourselves as fun-loving, relaxed, genuine,

welcoming, and supportive

of one another and our com-

munity.

“Some people might say that we're ‘just a little

country church.’ But when you look

at all we do, we're more like

‘the little country church that could.’ ” Immanuel Parishioner

We want to build on this energy and channel

our strengths and resources so that we can be

even more effective at doing God’s work.

Immanuel has a long history

of calling priests of varied

ages who are compassion-

ate, caring and emotionally

mature. We anticipate a col-

laborative leader who can

help us identify our gifts,

recognize community needs

and inspire communicants to act on

them.

Spiritual shepherd We are convinced that a per-

sonal spiritual life and ongo-

ing theological study are the

foundations of active Christian minis-

try, and are the sources of strength of

character and personal warmth, and

informed preaching and teaching.

Effective administrator A change in priest and the recent re-

tirement of the beloved parish adminis-

trator open opportunities to reorganize

parish procedures and management

practices -- after first knowing us be-

fore offering major changes. The in-

terim parish administrator, a skilled

computer expert and the parish co-

treasurer, has converted PC publishing

to Mac. The new priest should have

competent computer skills or be will-

ing to upgrade proficiency. The priest

will work with Vestry, Wardens and

staff to improve organization and fos-

ter growth. Effective communication

skills are essential.

Character Parishioners described the personal

attributes they most enjoy in priests in

these words: Educated. Good listener.

Counselor. Creative. Down-to-Earth.

Sense of humor. Visitor to shut-ins,

hospitalized, and those in crisis. Good

preacher/ teacher who makes sermons/

Sunday school/music relevant to life.

Student of changes in church doctrine.

Participator in major parish events and

community and outreach efforts. Col-

laborator with and supporter of staff

members and Cherub School director.

Willingness to develop a

presence in our commu-

nity and to live among

us for a number of years.

Pastoral heart We seek an active lis-

tener who maintains a

priestly vow of silence.

He or she should be well

-trained, comfortable

with pastoral care and willing to iden-

tify needs and to reach out during

times of individual or congregational

crisis. Parishioners who practice pas-

toral care, and those who may be

trained, can help further our care of

one another. This attention would in-

clude spending time with our parish

family, school children, youth and eld-

ers. The same pastoral atten-

tion would extend to self-

care.

If you are interested in discerning

your call to be Immanuel’s priest in

charge, please send your Letter of

Interest, OTM portfolio and resume

to Lindsay Ryland, Diocesan Transi-

tion Officer, at lryland@the dio-

cese.net.

Our Ideal Priest In Charge

Old Church Parish was established in 1684 in the

Colonial Era. The present American Gothic Re-

vival brick sanctuary was erected in 1853. The

church is a Virginia Historical Landmark and has

been placed on the National Registry of Historic

Places by the U.S. Department of the Interior. The

rectory was built in 1957 and the parish house in

1982. The St. Francis Garden for cremated remains

was added to the cemetery in 1998.

A Brief History of Immanuel

Ministers are “All the People of Immanuel” Communicants feel empowered to suggest to the Vestry

and to execute projects that carry out our mission.