Senior Warden Report December, 2020

by Mike Davis

You’ve all heard the analogy of the duck and what’s really going on; above the surface, smooth movement – below the surface, paddling like crazy.  Senior Wardening (is that a word?) has been mostly below the surface these last few months, as administrative tasks take up a lot of time but there are not a lot of flashy announcements to make as a result.  There are some flashy results elsewhere, though, so keep reading.  For now, Paul and I are preparing for the December Vestry meeting, considerations for the 2021 budget, Annual Meeting, and so on.  Speaking of Paul, let the record show that – even though his start date was Nov 23 - he was ON THE JOB almost as soon as he got here the week before; dealing with parishioner needs, Diocesan plans for a ‘distanced communion’, and more.  Thanks, Paul.

Flashy results.  I would like to recognize a couple of parishioners who have gone above and beyond for St. Stephen’s recently.  First, Ryan Nevius has led the migration from our old website – adequate but hard to keep up to date – to a new Squarespace platform site that is attractive, well organized, and most importantly easier to maintain!  Ryan’s work started with extensive maintenance on the old site, selection of a designer to build our new site, constant work with him as the site was imagined and realized, and finally taking it live.  Thank you, Ryan.  ALSO: we are looking for some motivated believers in quality communication to learn how to update and improve content on the new site.  We have a training session with the designer that was taped a few weeks ago, and that can get you started.  In particular, if you are a member of a committee that relies on quality communication through the website, let Ryan know and sign up to get trained.  You can do it!!

Also; Lonnie Fisher, chair of Outreach and recent surgery patient, has passed the Outreach baton to Susan Anderson-Ray and Sharon DeHaven.  Lonnie has chaired this committee for years, and it’s now going to take two capable people to fill her shoes.  This committee has been primarily concerned with distributing Peasant Market funds, and so a year without Peasant Market seems an ideal opportunity to think more broadly about all the outreach activity that St. Stephen’s generates, and to plan for a future that may put very different demands on our Outreach efforts.  Bravo to Lonnie, and thank you Susan and Sharon for taking this on.  PS – if you’ve never heard Lonnie tell how May handed off this leadership role many years ago, ask her sometime...it’s a ‘model’ for how transitions work!

Finally, some Vestry members who are doing more than just going to Vestry meetings.  Michael Reeves and Mary Jane Simpson have stepped up to offer a Saturday evening Compline at 5PM.  A wonderful way to end the week.  Also, Michael is leading the Wednesday noon Prayers formerly led by Eric Davis.  These ‘alternate’ services are short, meaningful, and contemplative...I encourage you to participate at your next opportunity.

Another Vestry person, Steve Sontum, has taken on one of the ‘geekier’ tasks I can imagine – cleaning up the parish list of members, friends, affiliates, etc.  An organization like ours doesn’t just have ‘members’; we have a variety of relationships between individuals and the church, and for many reasons we may want to look at those differences separately.  Regardless, we have been lax as a parish in keeping careful track of who is connected to St. Stephen’s, and how, and thanks to Steve and those who assisted him we will have a better base to work from.

Wishing you an Advent of peace.

Mike