Warden’s Word

Dear Immanuel Family,

From February 28 to March 1, your 2025 Vestry met for a retreat to worship together, build our bonds in Christ, and discern God’s priorities for Immanuel in this coming year. How did we seek to discern God’s purposes? On Saturday afternoon, we broke into small groups to identify potential priorities, and then we reconvened to consolidate the groups’ lists. We followed this with a time of prayer, asking for wisdom and the guidance of the Holy Spirit. After seeking God, we voted on the potential priorities, and we together identified fourteen items. You will note that priorities with the same number of votes are given the same ranking. For example, there were two items with the same number of votes that are ranked “5”.

At the vestry meeting on Wednesday, March 26, we reviewed the 2025 priorities, made small wording adjustments, and assigned each priority to the appropriate Ministry Liaison for leadership and oversight. Here is the list of priorities identified for 2025:

2025 Vestry Priority	Ministry Liaison
1.     Hiring a Worship Leader	Worship Becky Ragon and Vickie Morse
2.     Implement The Art of Neighboring	Outreach Father Travis Hines and Jazmyn McGinley
3.     Seek a Youth Leader	Discipleship Kathy Oravetz
4.     Offer Monthly Family Nights	Outreach Jazmyn McGinley
5.     Refresh our Immanuel Website	Communications Jerry Fitzsimmons
5.     Study Parking Solutions	Building and Grounds Scott Ankers
6.     Develop information sessions on Membership	Community Janice Flynn (with support from Becky Ragon)
6.     Implement process to provide information for Visitors and Newcomers	Community Janice Flynn (with support from Becky Ragon)
7.     Solidify Administrative Processes by strengthening support with ministry leaders and Vestry liaisons; educate ministry leaders on processes, i.e. financial stewardship, building use, etc.	Administration Deb Tomchek
7.     Establish a Welcome Team	Community Janice Flynn (with support from Becky Ragon)
7.     Start ministry to Military Families	Outreach Jazmyn McGinley
7.     Study feasibility of a new outdoor computerized sign	Communications Jerry Fitzsimmons
8.     Create a marketing plan for our new Mission Statement	Communications Jerry Fitzsimmons
9.     Convergence of Contemporary and Traditional Music	Worship Becky Ragon and Vickie Morse

Now, we invite you to join with us in working on these priorities. Some priorities require more study and information (e.g., considering a new computerized sign for our church). Some require a more detailed plan to implement (e.g., hiring a Worship Leader or refreshing our website). Some need immediate attention, especially our process for welcoming visitors, providing information to visitors and those interested in becoming members, and a clear description of the membership process.

If the Spirit of God is nudging you towards one of these priorities, please contact the Ministry Liaison for further information and learn how you can become involved. You can also speak with Scott or me, if you would like. We need your help and look forward with grateful hearts to what God plans for Immanuel in 2025.

Yours in Christ,

Deb and Scott