January 24, 2021 TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH - Faith Compassion Community - St. Charles
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January 24, 2021
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TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH
318 S. Duchesne Drive
St. Charles, Missouri 63301–1655
(636) 949-0160 – FAX (636) 949-0730
www.trinity-stcharles.org
trinityepiscopal318@yahoo.com
Faith • Compassion • Community
Trinity Episcopal Church
St. Charles, Missouri
ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
On-Line via Diocesan Zoom Account
January 24, 2021
AGENDA
9:15 a.m. Agape Liturgy
Call to Order and the Rector’s Address, with Prayer for the Parish (p. 817 BCP)
Welcome to All Those Recently among Us
Introduction of Members of the 2020/2021 Confirmation/Inquirers’ Class
10:20 a.m. Brief break for Coffee and a stretch
10:35 a.m. Reconvene with Prayer for A Church Meeting (p. 818 BCP)
02 m Appointment of Secretary: Harlan Meyer, Vestry Clerk
05 m Approval of Minutes from the January 26, 2020 Annual Meeting
15 m Nominating Committee Report and Introduction of Nominees: Bobby Jones, et al
Further Nominations for Positions Listed Below:
Vestry, Convention Delegate & Alternate; Program Endowment, TEA Fund; Nominating Committee
Explanation of Polling Process on Zoom; Voting
01 m Committee Reports, by Title
05 m Stewardship Report: Tom Kuypers
10 m 2020 Treasurer’s Report: Ralph Bruns
10 m Presentation, Discussion, & Reception of 2021 Budget: Ralph Bruns & Finance Committee
05 m Junior Warden’s Report: David Westfall
05 m Senior Warden’s Report: Phil Jeffery
11:30 a.m. Possibilities, Proposals, and Potential Plans: Trinity Church in the 21st Century
Property Committee Updates: David Westfall, John Barnard, Peter Fairchild
05 m Recognition of Vestry and Staff
04 m A Minute with a Retiring Vestry Member: John Barnard, Lucinda Dennis-Itoka, Phil Jeffery, David Westfall
01 m Results of Parish Elections
Closing Prayer, Doxology, and Adjournment
INTRODUCTION
Church Staff
Rector’s Report
Parish Statistics for 2020
Notes, 2020 Annual Meeting
Senior Warden Report
Junior Warden Report
Nominating Committee Report
Nominees for Parish Leaders
2020 Church Staff
Ashley Bunton is our babysitter. She staffs the Parish Nursery each Sunday from 7:45 AM until
after the second service. She brings a love of children and a long connection with our church—
her grandmother, Rosemary Perkins, was our babysitter for more than thirty years. As required
by the Diocese of Missouri, Ashley has completed “Safe Church” training. Ashley is a college
student, majoring in early childhood education. To earn more money for school, Ashley works
nights as a part-time custodian in the Orchard Farm School District’s Early Childhood Center.
She provides a safe, warm environment for our children, ages 0 – four (and older). In 2020,
Ashely began her regular duties with enthusiasm and love. Then the church building closed. We
kept thinking that we’d be opening soon, but, as we all know, we did not reopen in 2020. Ash-
ley is still on our payroll, and she has kept in touch with the children, both recent denizens of
the Nursery and those long since part of Sunday School classes. She misses us all very much!
Michelle Heitman :Greetings, Trinity! I reached my 6th anniversary as your Parish Secretary
this year. Since March, while my work has been for Trinity, it has all been accomplished from my home in Kirkwood.
My focus this year has been to provide as much information as possible, and make that
information as accessible as possible. Our parish e-mail list has grown to nearly 200
subscribers! I hope to keep that list active and engaging, and to further improve our
communication in the future. My husband, John, and I have been married for 33 years.
Some of you may have met John this summer, when he was setting up the shade fly we
used for the “Worship on the Porch and Parking Lot.” John and I are the parents of twin
sons, age 30, James and Alex, and a 25-year-old daughter, Katie. James is an Assistant
District Attorney in the City of St. Louis. Alex, who has a degree in Communications
from UMSL, is a restaurant manager and is planning to be married in 2021. Katie
completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at Truman State University. John and I
and John are active in the Society for Creative Anachronism (SCA), which focuses on life
in Medieval times. Michelle is also an avid needleworker and is enrolled in the on-line certification course through
the Royal School of Needlework beginning Summer, 2021.
Jacob Taylor became our Minister of Music just before our 2018 Annual Meeting. He came to us in August, 2017 as
Interim Music Minister. He and John Hawn, who had resigned to accept a position in Collinsville, Illinois, worked
closely together in that transition, Jacob is creative and committed, willing to learn and to teach, and very a talented
musician. For two years, he brought enthusiasm and hard work to his role as Minister of Music. He continued the
tradition of encouraging young musicians at Trinity Church, working with the Youth
Choir and instrumentalists. He led the Handbell Choir, which took a hiatus in late
2019. In August 2019, Jacob informed the Rector that he would be resigning his
position as Minister of Music, effective the day after Trinity Sunday, 2020. Then,
COVID-19 struck! All his music planning and the work the Choir had begun for Easter
had to be stopped. Instead, Jacob jumped right in to figure out how we might still
have choral music for online worship. He found software to record the choir as indi-
viduals at home and blend their voices. At that time, however, GoToMeeting could
not produce voices and musical accompaniment together. Organ was out entirely.
The Choir was discouraged. Jacob persevered. He postponed his resignation until
Sept 1, even accompanying solo singers for August outdoor worship. He turned over
the reigns of music planning to Judy Hodge for the time-being. We miss him as our
Minister of Music, but he is still with us, as is his family. Jacob and his wife, Nalani Harlow, have two children, Rosie
Harlow and Rowan Taylor. Rosie is studying piano and Rowan started Kindergarten in 2020. We are delighted to
have them with us!
Elizabeth (Betty) Bowen is our “officially” retired Deacon (March 9, 2014) but then, who
retires from living out the Gospel! Betty continues to help out where needed in our Wor-
ship Services and is committed to her ‘Servant’ Ministry because that is the ministry of a
Deacon. Betty works in the Community Garden each summer and delivers the produce to
local Food Pantries; she helps to feed the hungry in the Share A Meal Program and knits
and distributes Prayer Shawls to those who are hurting. She continues to preach each
Maundy Thursday, and has started preaching again once a month since last July. Pastoral
Care is very important to Betty and she has written numerous notes and made many
phone calls to parishioners during the Covid crisis. Betty is Co-chair of the Memorial Gar-
den, has been the Officiant at several funeral services, and was delighted to be asked to
marry her friend’s daughter last October. Recently she has twice served as Deacon to the
Bishop on his Visitation to Churches without a Deacon. Betty says that as long as there is breath in her body she will
continue to Serve the Lord where needed.
Richard Tudor (Rich) is our Associate Priest. He is the retired Rector of St. Barnabas’
Church in Florissant, where he served for twenty years. He is also a retired Army Chap-
lain. His home-base is here. After living nearly 40 years in Florissant, Rich and his wife,
Elizabeth (Liz) live in Wentzville. Rich assists with Sunday worship at or for Trinity, cele-
brating regularly—until March 2020—and preaching second Sundays. In addition, he
assists at most special services, both online and in person. He offers a weekly reflec-
tion at our (virtual) staff meetings, now shared regularly with the parish via Chimp
Mail. On first Sundays, which resumed in August after a COVID-19 hiatus, Rich supplies
at St. Vincent’s-in-the-Vineyard, near Ste. Genevieve. Although also put on hold for
much of 2020, Rich had volunteered on Wednesdays in the Chaplain’s Office at Jeffer-
son Barracks National Cemetery. He resumed his duties in officiating at Jefferson Bar-
racks funerals this fall. In June, Rich and his wife Liz sustained a terrible blow with the
death of their son, Robert Bruce Tudor on June 17. Both Liz and Rich have been examples to us of meeting that loss
with dignity, grace, deep grief, and profound faith. Robert’s twin sister, their two siblings, and their children, were
present for Robert’s funeral and remain in close contact with Rich and Liz. In June 2021, Rich will celebrate his 50th
Anniversary of Ordination to the Diaconate (and in May, 49 years as a priest). We hope to share that event at Trinity
Church, in person!
Christy Henke Ratliff is our current seminarian at Trinity St. Charles. She came to us in
late 2018 to us from Eden Seminary; She completed a Master of Divinity degree in August
2020. She will be part of the graduation ceremonies this coming May. Christy currently is
employed as a chaplain-intern with SSM St. Mary’s Hospital in Clayton. She has preached
regularly, and when we closed for in-person worship, Christy began leading daily Morning
prayer on FaceBook Live. She continued with that ministry, adding Saturdays, through
Sept 8, dropping back to Saturdays only when her schedule made continuing daily impos-
sible. You see her online on Sundays, and occasionally leading the Sunday Forum after the
9:15 AM service. Her son, Eric, joined our acolyte teams when he and his mom came to
us. Eric enjoyed serving at the altar and being a torch-bearer, He also enjoyed attending
Sunday School. Since COVID-19 shut us down in mid-March, Eric has participated online
reading for worship, including for the three (!) Youth Services we held virtually in 2020. In
the fall, Eric started on-line school, the first three months with his paternal grandparents and a cousin a cousin from
Kansas City, in Florida! He is now home in Webster Groves, with Christy’s sister, herself working online for her job in
Overland Park, Kansas, while she supervises her nephew. Before Christy started her journey toward ordination, she
was a classroom teacher; early childhood education was her favorite. She has two older boys, Jesse and Joseph, and
one granddaughter.
I, Tamsen Whistler, have been your Rector since May 1, 1995, far longer than any of us ever imagined, I know. (She’s still here.!) This past year, 2020, has been a roller-coaster! In January 2020, I was so excited by the possibilities raised in our Annual Parish Meeting, the new directions we were taking—and the new energy I felt in this calling! Then, in February, all of you shared in celebrating my 35th Anniversary of Ordination to the priesthood. Then, COVID -19! In May, we had planned a big party for all of us io celebrate 25 years to- gether as Rector and congregation! Obviously, that was cancelled. But, on May 1, but I was surprised on line by 27 of you, plus our (then) Bishop-elect, Deon Johnson, with birthday wishes at Evening Prayer! My family and I continue to love being among you. In 2018, Bob added a new position to his list of many jobs— Engineer on the St. Louis Zooline Railroad! He loves it—and waited several months to resume that work while the Zoo repaired tunnels, tracks, modified trains, and developed new protocols to reopen in the age of Covid. As best he could, Bob continued to substitute-teach in the St. Charles and Orchard Farm School Districts and for schools in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. His part-time job with the First Missouri State Capitol Historic Site on Main Street waits for Missouri State Parks to reopen. He did referee some high school soccer matches, and has continued to work part-time with Parkview Gardens. He completed his fourth year as editor of the St. Charles County Historical Society Quarterly Newsletter. A deep sadness for us in 2020 was that Bob’s father, Bill, (William Robert Brown) died in August. COVID-19 did not cause his death, but it complicated an already sad situation, resulting in quarantine for Bob and me, symptoms for three of his siblings and their families, more heartache for his wife, Carol, and a delayed funeral. A silver lining: We held wonderful family gatherings, socially-distanced on our driveway and saw one of Bob’s brothers for the first time in 24 years. (He was last here from Michigan when their mother, Elaine Bornhorst Brown, died in February 1996!) Bill, a Korean War veteran, was buried at Jefferson Barracks with Military Honors September 28. Our son, Will, is living, working, and studying in Richmond, Virginia. He is now a full-time student at Virginia Commonwealth University. New degree program: Financial Engineering. Chelsea continues to use her systems engineering degree from Washington University in her work at Capital One. When Will finishes school, we’ll announce it, far and wide! An apt note in a Christmas card from my (1984) seminary classmate and his wife: “Who could have anticipated that we would be rethinking and retooling everything we know about the parish ministry at this point in our lives!” I am so glad to have shared the retooling process in this bizarre year of 2020 with the people of Trinity Church! —TEW
Rector’s Address to the 2020 Annual Parish Meeting
(Report on the Year 2019)
Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Charles, Missouri
January 26, 2020
The 2020 Annual Parish Meeting of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Charles, Missouri is hereby called to order. Let us pray. Almighty and ever-
living God, ruler of all things in heaven and earth, hear our prayers for this parish family. Strengthen the faithful, arouse the careless, and
restore the penitent. Grant us all things necessary for our common life; and bring us all to be of one heart and mind within your holy
Church; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (For the Parish, p. 817 BCP)
As my Grandpa Schweppe used to say, when we’d arrived somewhere or were about to do something, “Well, here we are! Isn’t this fun?”
Welcome to the 2020 Annual Parish Meeting of Trinity Episcopal Church in St. Charles. We have been in St. Charles since 1836, so this year,
184 years. Whether we have held 184 Annual Meetings, I don’t know. We should have done, but we don’t have all 18-plus decades-worth of
records to tell us, one way or another. At any rate, here we are on a chilly January morning, celebrating the year just past and moving to-
gether into the future. We may run toward that future, walk briskly, or slowly, or be carried, kicking and screaming; but forward is the only
direction we called to go. God is always doing something new—and as one bible commentator says, “Christians are always beginning some-
thing.”
The readings from Holy Scripture today provide a framework for looking at who we are as disciples of Jesus Christ and where we’re going in
our efforts to share God’s mission in Faith, with Compassion, and as a Community called to serve the world.
The passage from Isaiah should have a familiar ring: The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of
deep darkness—on them has light shined. That’s a portion of the first reading on Christmas Eve. We read these words again on the Eve of
the Epiphany. Our first hymn this morning was a paraphrase of this passage. Isaiah the Prophet is speaking in his own time to his own peo-
ple, [attacked and oppressed, not only by other nations, but also by their own people, the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Isaiah offers a prayer
of thanksgiving to God with the people of Judah] once caught in conflict, now tasting freedom, finding courage and joy. Christians believe
that what Isaiah said then—in the Eighth Century BCE (BC)—applies to us, 21st Century CE (AD), today. The promises of God shine into our
darkness in the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Matthew’s Gospel makes this connection for us this morning. Jesus has moved to Capernaum, Matthew tells us. Capernaum is in the land of
Zebulon and Naphtali, the Galilee of the Gentiles. It is here, in Matthew’s Gospel, that Jesus begins preaching the news of God’s reign and
calling his disciples.
Jesus walks along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. He sees Peter and Andrew in their boat, casting a net into the sea. They are right in the
middle of fishing for fish—perhaps they even have a catch in their net. Jesus calls; they drop their nets and follow. Jesus continues along the
shoreline, now with Andrew and Peter trailing. Jesus calls out to James and John, twin sons of Zebedee. They are in the boat with their fa-
ther, mending nets, repairing them so that they will be useful again. James and John hop right up and follow Jesus, leaving Dad, and the
boat, and the nets. Jesus calls; they respond. They respond immediately—no questions asked. They leave their profession—no promise of
food, clothing, or cash.
They leave their families—no turning back. Jesus calls; they respond as if they’ve been waiting the words all their lives. “Follow me, and I
will make you fish for people.”
Jesus called and kept right on moving. He “went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the
kingdom and healing every disease and every sickness among the people.” It must have been tremendously exciting. The four fisherfolk
probably had to run to keep up!
So, who are we as disciples of Jesus Christ? And where are we going?
The Annual Parish Meeting is one place to consider these questions together. As we reflect on the joys and sorrows, missteps and accom-
plishments of the past twelve months, we also begin a new time—a new year, a new decade. We begin with excitement, hope, and some
trepidation. We always have to say goodbye to something when we say hello to something new. The Holy Spirit is moving, stirring things up,
urging us toward new beginnings and real possibilities for change. We need to listen to each other with genuine curiosity and mutual re-
spect. We need to listen for God as we share ideas and gather facts and set priorities and pray some more. We need to pray and listen, pray
and listen, pray and listen.
2019 was quite the year at Trinity Church. We had floods and leaks and funerals in our building, but also lots of fun. We tried some new things, including a Tenebrae service on Holy Tuesday night, complete with a candle “hearse” and a surprising noise; a Halloween Campfire Sing, held inside without a campfire. We cooked hamburgers on a pancake griddle, hotdogs in old electric frying pan, and S’mores in the microwave. Our cooking procedures even brought a visit from the fire department! Thirty-five people sang songs, danced, told ghost stories, and applauded young musicians, story tellers and dancers. We didn’t have a costume contest, but we should have. For eight weeks in the winter, Trinity Church was the site for a pilot class called “Living Mindfully in Christ,” led by Episcopalian Sandra Mil- ler, MSW, LCSW, using Henri Nouwen’s book, The Dance of Life. The class was so well-received, it was offered again in the fall. Our Spiritual reading group read When Bad Things Happen to Good People, and our Bible Study and Sunday classes went further and deeper into what it means to be disciples of Jesus. Out of discussions in the Sunday Forum, a group of people who want to work further on applying Christian faith to matters of concern in the areas of health care and violence, racism and poverty, trafficking, homelessness, and pollution, formed a once-a-month group, Coffee, Tea, and Advocacy to address those issues. Our young people made Easter Baskets with loving notes to sur- prise children and youth in detention served by Episcopal City Mission. And, we continued our Cookie Shower ministry to ECM, including wireless composition books for journals. Weather was a bigger factor than usual in January and February. Because eight inches of snow on our parking lot had not been plowed, we actually cancelled services on January 13. Two intrepid souls came anyway—Jack Hauser and Bill Warren. We didn’t cancel services on Feb 10, but we didn’t hold them, either. That Sunday, Bob and Barbara Gossow, Jacob Taylor and I—and of course, Bill Warren—were the only people who tried out the ice rink in the parking lot. Friday night, March 15, of the Vestry retreat was cancelled for snow and ice, so Phil and Paula Jeffery and Bonnie Curnow had a couple of weeks-worth of meals to freeze. On the other hand, we had a good turnout for the 2019 Annual Meeting, baptized Cassandra Lietch, and hosted the diocesan art exhibit on Baptism—eight pieces, including one by Choir Member Lori Cooper and one by Parish Secretary Michelle Heitman. Easter Day was our high- est Sunday attendance, which is to be expected, and we had other well-attended Sunday services; but more than a few others were very sparsely populated. I failed to note the weather or other factors on those days; but when you look at our parish statistics in the Annual Re- port, you will see that our overall attendance dropped a bit more in 2019. I know I’m preaching to the choir, but we need to reverse that trend. We need to come to church. We need each other, everyone. We are less when you are not here. Of fourteen funerals recorded in our service record book in 2019, twelve were held at Trinity Church. Rich Tudor presided at a funeral home; an ELCA pastor presided at one service here; I presided at the eleven others here and one at Christ Church Cathedral. I also preached at the funeral of my friend and former teacher, Laura McCord, held at Emmanuel Church in Webster Groves. We had an additional parish- ioner death in December, Shirley Grimes, whose funeral has not yet been planned. In the categories of illness and death, 2019 was a very hard year for all of us. We lost dearly beloved people, pillars and fixtures of this worshipping community. Whether we had time to say good- bye or were faced with very sudden death, we grieve the losses. Our families and friends have had their own griefs and struggles—and we, of course, share those as well. [Read list of those who died] Probably the biggest shock was Ruby Quarterman’s sudden death. She was my predecessor’s widow and a con- stant presence at Trinity Church—even from summers in Wyoming—for more than 40 years. I’m pretty sure that this is the first Annual Meeting she’s ever missed. I mentioned leaks and flooding. We had those, too. Our roof leaked into the church, and more seriously into the Christian education closet next to the St. Hilda Room, which then leaked through the ceiling into the Jackson Kemper Room, where the Music Minister has his office and where the Vestry counts the money. Pieces of drywall fell, three buckets were necessary, and a bowl. This summer, we had a flood of water spreading into the parish hall from near the elevator. Rick Lackey solved the mystery and stopped the flooding by clearing the drain in the well between the elevator hallway and the rest of the building, bailing water, literally, in the pouring rain. We had another leak in the portion of the basement we call the catacombs. We didn’t know about that one for quite a while. It came from a burst pipe to the outside faucet. Every time we turned on the hoses, the water ran down the wall into a garment bag, filling it and pouring over the floor in the Altar Guild’s storage area. Most of the old vestments were mildewed beyond saving, and the whole room has a mold problem that needs to be addressed. We’re keeping it under control by leaving a door open, a door which ought to be shut and locked. The pipe is fixed, however. Our insurance company paid about $74,000 for a new roof, and for siding panel replacements on what some people call the west wall and some people call the south wall—it’s that end of the building. Our deductible was $2500. We upgraded the roof and decided to replace more than just the few rotting plywood panels approved by Church Insurance by putting Hardie Board siding on that whole end of the build- ing and on the lower half of the wall in the Memorial Garden, right behind this wall. The insurance settlement included painting the drywall on the ceiling in here, as well as repairing, replacing and painting the drywall in the closet and in the St. Hilda Room. Insurance did not cover the new siding project, nor the painting we had done for the whole building after that. Other major work not covered by insurance but nec- essary for the continued stability of the building included replacing rotting glulam beam ends under the eaves of the church roof and repair- ing and sheathing the support beams in the back of the building.
So how did we pay for all of that, not to mention our new electronic sign and the new electrical wiring from the building to the street? And what has given us the possibility to consider major changes as real possibilities, not pipe dreams? In 2018, our then oldest parishioner, Mary Jane Wagner, died at age 97. Mary Jane was a quiet person. She used to come to church with her friend Betty Wilson. They sat in the back, Mary Jane with a cushion, because her serious arthritis made pew sitting extremely difficult. She told me more than once when I would visit her and take her Communion, that she would be leaving something to Trinity Church in her will. She showed me the will once, and then gave me a copy of it to hold onto in our funeral planning files. I thanked her, and frankly, thought not a great deal more about it. Mary Jane was a lovely person who enjoyed a visitor. Even though she could hardly move sometimes, she always had hot tea in china cups, good chocolate, or Pepperidge Farm cookies, also with chocolate, or a muffin. Tea was a lovely part of the ritual of a visit to Mary Jane Wagner. After Mary Jane died, we received notice that we were, indeed, included in her will. Ralph will tell you the percentage of her estate when he gives his report, but the portion was and is substantial. Two thirds of her bequest is intended for the building; one third—and this is daunting, to say the least—is left to the discretion of the Rector. No part of the bequest can be used for operating expenses—and that’s as it should be. We need to continue to support the daily work and witness of Trinity Church in St. Charles, to take care of our regular bills and to keep up the maintenance on our property, without relying on gifts that drop from the sky. On the other hand, Mary Jane Wagner’s bequest has already taken care of the last $133,000 of the White Fund Loan from the diocese; the new electronic sign and a great deal of the rest of the massive repairs beyond the reach of our insurance policy. Our Deacon, Betty Bowen, always tells us to trust in the Lord, not to worry about whether our needs will be met. We are grateful that Betty continues to be right here to remind us of this fact. We are grateful to Mary Jane Wagner for such a generous, amazing gift! We want to change the name of the Re- ception Area to Mary Jane Wagner Hall, and, if in the future we can honor her further, we will. Did I mention fun? We had a lot of it. St. Patrick’s Day happened on St. Patrick’s Day—Pete Rankin and Benisha Brudy drove up the bidding. We had lunch-and- learn. We had Trivia night. We had the priceless sale. We had the St. Nicholas Sing Along. We played outside, climbed our beloved crab apple tree, applauded the children of the Montessori preschool when they sang for the Bible study class. We ate dozens of doughnuts, drank gallons of coffee, consumed pounds of cheese and crackers. We made sure to have food at every event and almost every meeting. We laughed and joked and prayed together. Your Vestry had two meetings most months to develop a plan in relation to Invite Welcome Connect, a ministry you will hear more about later in the meeting. Out of that, came the picture directory—no, it’s not yet fin- ished—as well as a proposal you will hear for connectivity, and an openness to the big possibilities which now lie before us. Who are we? Disciples of Jesus Christ. What are we called to do? Follow Jesus. How do we follow Jesus? We get out of our boats and start walking. That’s the hard part. How do we use the gifts and talents we have, and the material resources entrusted to us, to serve our community and make Trinity Church an inviting, welcoming place to connect with others within and outside this congregation? Earlier I noted that facing change is scary. I said that we need to listen to each other with genuine curiosity and mutual respect. Genuine curiosity? That means we really want to hear what the other person is telling us. It’s a spiritual discipline to listen, even—or especially— when we think we already know what the other person is going to say, and that we don’t want to hear it. Listening with curiosity and mutu- al respect means that we’re not filing our nails or thinking of our own pet project or surreptitiously glancing at our phone and tuning an- other’s project out. We want to know their story; we want them to know our story. We want to listen with the ears of trust and hope. That kind of listening is required of those who fish for people. When the disciples jumped out of their boats to follow Jesus, they started a great adventure. [Theologian and mystic, Joseph Campbell says “Great Adventure” (capital G, capital A) Is a life-changing journey.] Peter, Andrew, James, and John made a new beginning. They were curi- ous and hopeful and so drawn to the person of Jesus Christ that they couldn’t, and didn’t want to, do anything else. That’s how we need to approach his call to us in our own day and time. It’s a great adventure to be who we are and where we are. It’s a great adventure to drop everything and turn to Jesus Christ. We have been on parts of that adventure all our lives. Baptism is the starting point. But God is always doing a new thing. And Christians are always beginning something. We’re beginning something, together. The disciples dropped one kind of fishing to take up another. They spent the rest of their lives learning how to fish for people—and they died casting their nets into a hostile sea. Following Jesus is not easy. Really listening and working with each other is not easy. Knowing what do to and how and when to do it is almost never easy; but it is always our task. Discernment requires courage, strength, flexibility, patience, and hope. With Faith, Compassion, and Community we have all of that. God the Holy Trinity gives us everything we need to fish for people. Well, here we are! Isn’t this fun? The Rev. Tamsen E. Whistler, Rector
2020 PARISH STATISTICS
Total Sunday Holy Eucharists: 46
Total Sunday Daily Offices: 36
Total Weekday Holy Eucharists: 40
Total Weekday Daily Offices: 299
Total Special Services (Agape Liturgy, Healing Services, Blessing of Animals, etc.): 33
Total Number of Worship Services: 454
Membership Information Recorded in 2020
New Members by Letter of Transfer (LOT) or Record of Baptism – 0
Documents for Transfers Out – 0
Baptisms – 0
Confirmations, Receptions, Renewals of Baptismal Vows: Christ Church Cathedral, St. Louis – 0
Prospective Confirmands: Richard Cooper, Mildred Oberlin (adults); Vivan Jones (under age 16)
Proposed Dates for 2020 Confirmation: May 17, July 18, October 25—all cancelled
Marriages – 2
April 18 Julia Rose Vogel and Adam Joseph Hansen *TEW (Trinity Front Yard. Ten people, six feet apart, masked)
October 24 Leslie AnnJones and Sean Michael Dowell *EAB/TEW (LiUNA Event Center, Afton, MO, masked, distanced)
2020 Burials & Memorial Services Recorded in Trinity Church Parish Record Book - 3
Services held at Trinity Church, and with the Rector presiding, unless otherwise noted
Apr 17 Dolly Naomi Hood *EAB/TEW (Baue Funeral & Memorial Center) Dec 23, 1940—April 10, 2020
July 1 Mary Ann (Alexander) Webb *TEW/EAB (Trinity Church Memorial Garden) Aug 14, 1924—June 18, 2020
Aug 5 Rose Mary (Bozoian) Crews *EAB (Schrader Funeral Home, Ballwin) Jan 14, 1932—July 24, 2020
2020 Deaths for which Funerals will be held in 2021:
April 15 Barbara Ann (Chapman) Kendall
June 10 Alvin H. “Al” Westfall, June 10
Dec 28 Robert Francis Gossow (funeral was held Jan. 6, 2021 at Trinity Church; will be recorded in 2021 statistics)
*TEW = The Rev. Tamsen E. Whistler, Rector
*EAB = The Rev. Elizabeth A. Bowen (EA Bowen)
*RBT = The Rev. Dr. Richard B. Tudor (RB Tudor)2020 ANNUAL PARISH MEETING
Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Charles, Missouri
January 26, 2020
MINUTES
9:15 a.m. THE SERVICE OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST
The Rev. Tamsen Whistler, Rector, calls the meeting to order during the 9:15 a.m. service after reading of the Gos-
pel. She delivers the Rector’s Address in conjunction with the sermon. At the end of the Eucharist, she calls a recess
for lunch and announces we will reconvene in the Church at 11:15 a.m.
10:45 a.m. Recess for Brunch in the Reception Area
Tamsen reconvenes the meeting at 11:30 a.m. We watch an Invite, Welcome, Connect video. Tamsen appoints
Christy Henke Ratliff, seminarian, Secretary of the Annual Meeting. Notes from previous annual meeting are re-
viewed, designated the official Minutes, and approved unanimously.
Tamsen welcomes new members and recognizes Confirmation candidates. Vivian Jones, 8th grader, is the lone Con-
firmand at this point. Part of Confirmation preparation is to attend the Annual Parish Meeting, help in any way pos-
sible, and later, answer written questions about what went on at the meeting and why we have one.
NOMINATING COMMITEE REPORT
presented by Jan Peery
Candidates were presented for the following offices:
Vestry: Skip Brownlow, Jeff Leitch, Deanna Miller, each for a three-year term, ending in
2023.
Nominating Committee: Bill Cramer (3 year term, ending in 2023)
Diocesan Convention Delegate: Jackie Halter (3 year term, ending in 2023)
Haynes Fund Member-at-Large: Susan Goddard (year year term, ending in 2023)
TEA (Trinity Educational Assistance) Fund Member-at-Large: Rebecca Jones (3 year term, ending in 2023).
Ballots are distributed and voting opened for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, ballots are collected and counted.
Invite●Welcome●Connect
presented by David Westfall
Invite: The electronic sign
Welcome: Welcome dinner
Connect: belonging…this is our most challenging area.
VIDEO highlighting the components of IWC and the potential impact to our faith community.
Tamsen offers an invitation on behalf of the Vestry to participate in IWC.
Electronic Media
presented by David Westfall on behalf of Robert Bowen
*Webmaster ministry chair is open.COMMITTEE REPORTS BY TITLE Stewardship Report: Tom Kuypers reports that there are 52 out of 71 pledges submitted. There are 19 non- responders, all of whom have committed in recent Worship Campaigns and whose probability is high that they will yet do so. If they contribute just $1000 per pledge, we will break $190,000, a sum that matches our recent success- ful outings. “We’re in good shape.” 2019 Treasurer’s Report: Ralph Bruns presents a power point of the treasurer’s role, the cash flow statement for 2020, and information about the Mary Jane Wagner Trust. The budget as approved by the Vestry is presented, dis- cussed, and received. Junior Warden’s Report: David Westfall described the anticipated activity in 2020, which includes a redesign of the nave and chancel, an updated computer network, and a modernized sound system. Senior Warden’s Report: Phil Jeffery reminded us that our calling is to take care of the community and challenged us to continued and further outreach. Music Ministry Note: Jacob Taylor announced that he will be stepping down as Minister of Music sometime after the Lenten and Easter Seasons. Jacob received a standing ovation for his ministry and service to Trinity St. Charles and will continue to participate in worship and the life of the parish. POSSIBILITIES, PROPOSALS, AND POTENTIAL PLANS: TRINITY CHURCH IN THE 21ST. CENTURY Worship Space Refurbishment and Possible Alterations: Peter Fairchild reviewed the repairs needed for the church and presented four potential plans for refurbishment, renovation, and restoration with an estimated cost of $100,000. Parish Hall and Commercial Kitchen: Bill Cramer presented about the potential for a ground level parish hall and commercial kitchen. Sound System Improvements in the Church (Worship Space): Rich Cooper explained the need to improve and mod- ernize the current sound system and how an updated sound system can serve people of varying abilities. Building-Wide Connectivity: Harlan Meyer explained the need for updating the connectivity throughout the build- ing and the positive impact this will have in all areas, including worship and education. RECOGNITION OF VESTRY AND STAFF Results of the Balloting are announced. Everyone is elected. Vestry members were recognized and asked to give a brief phrase to describe their time on Vestry. Outgoing and incoming members were applauded and given a fish from Tamsen, as a reminder that we are fishers of people. The meeting is adjourned at 1:15 p.m. with the singing of the Doxology. Respectfully submitted, Christy Henke Ratliff, Seminarian
Senior Warden Report
Senior Warden Report to the 2021 Annual Meeting for the Year 2020
I would like the start by thanking God for the many blessing we have received this past year! For our Clergy, Tamsen our Rector, Rich our
Associate, and Betty our Deacon for the Care, Support, Love and Spiritual Guidance they tirelessly give to the Vestry, Staff and most im-
portantly the members of Trinity Episcopal Church, our family. I would like to thank Trinity’s Staff, Jacob our Minister of Music for most of
the year, Michelle our Office Administrator, Ashley our Nursery Attendant and for Ralph our Treasurer. For the outstanding job they do with
little recognition and not nearly enough praise. What would we do without them?! I would also like to thank all the ministry chairpersons,
the members of all the ministries here at Trinity! I will not begin to name them all. Finally, I want to thank the Vestry of Trinity for their love
and dedication to the members of Trinity.
Wow!!!! Who could have predicted the year we have experienced in 2020??? Coronavirus or Covid-19, whichever you prefer to call it, was
not at all what we expected the year 2020 to be like. Virtual Church services, Outdoor Church on the Porch, Morning Prayer on Facebook
Live, Evening Prayer and Compline on GoTo Meeting, Confirmation moved multiple times, Vestry Meetings via GoTo Meeting, the Annual
Diocese Convention on Zoom and on and on. When I closed my report last year with “I look forward to 2020 and sincerely hope that you all
do as well,” this is not at all what I meant.
The 2020 Vestry Retreat was postponed for the second consecutive year and was finally held in multiple two-hour sessions via GoTo
Meeting. This put us all at quite a disadvantage, however we have learned much from this and have been successful at virtual meetings. This
Vestry is dedicated and resourceful and was not about to have any setback discourage them.
The Vestry has 3 primary roles; 1) To Administer Funds, 2) To Maintain Buildings, 3) To Choose Leadership and Representatives. Included in
these roles is to facilitate Communication, to give Leadership in Parish Programs, Ministries, and Worship and To Pray for the Parish and Its
Leadership.
Trinity Episcopal Church has accomplished much this past year. To mention a few, we have learned to worship together apart via GoTo
Meeting. It might sound funny but there have been many that have been able to worship with us that under what we have known as
“normal” circumstances would not have been able. Because of this even when we can use the Church for worship as we have in years past,
we will continue to broadcast the services for those who might not be able to attend in person. Our ability to do this would not have hap-
pened this soon if not for 2020. We have ordered new Pew Chairs for our worship space and have finally agreed (I think) on a remodeling
plan for the Sanctuary. We also have an incredibly talented group working on plans for a new Parish Hall which we hope will be in the not-
too-distant future. In addition, we have an Air Purifier System on our Heating & Cooling systems so all the air we breathe is germ free. We
have purchased a fogging machine to clean the church between services, the Pre-School and meeting rooms to prevent chance of illness.
Jeff Leitch and committee have been working on the re-opening plan to present to the Diocese Office so once we are permitted to, we will
be able to resume services in the church. Despite all we have endured in 2020 we have been Blessed this year. We all pray that in 2021 we
will be Blessed once again.
There are many ideas and plans to continue to maintain and improve the Physical, Spiritual and Outreach parts of Trinity, which you all will
learn about as the year progresses. Stay tuned and stay enthused and ready to help Trinity continue to do Gods Work in our community and
the world for many decades to come.
I look forward to 2021 and sincerely hope that you all do as well.
May God Bless you all and keep you safe always!
Respectfully submitted,
Phil Jeffery
Senior Warden, Trinity Episcopal Church, St. Charles, MOJunior Warden’s Report – 2020 2020 – What a year! It has been quite a year as your Junior Warden. The year started with the announcement of improvements inside the church after having so much done outside. At the Annual Meeting, several presentations were made covering a series of grand improvements – a new sound system (Rich Cooper), updated internet connections (Harlan Meyer), new chairs to replace the pews, and major changes in the Sanctuary! (Peter Fairchild and David Westfall) Even a street-level parish hall idea was raised (Bill Cramer). Then, in March, the COVID-19 pandemic began, and everything changed! We were told to stay home, do not go to work, shop only when you must. Even the churches were locked down! We quickly switched to worshipping on-line using a GoToMeeting, borrowed from Mark Vogel. Soon afterward, we acquired our own copy of GoToMeeting and as they say, “the rest is history.” Also beginning in March, a new website was debuted with instructions on how to wor- ship in the new world. The Rev. Tamsen Whistler and all her helpers figured out the process and we went to one service – online. Many thanks to Mark for his assistance in getting us setup. The new sign out front advertised the web address so people could find us. Michelle sent emails more often informing us of what was happening and how to help. This continued until August when we started doing worship outside “On the Porch” and continued the on-line worship. The vestry continued to meet and even did our annual retreat online over a long weekend. Decisions were made on replacing the pews with padded chairs and major changes would be done in the sanctuary. The top three steps inside the communion rail would be removed in a safety move. Eventually, it was decided to retire the communion rail and we would receive the Holy Eucharist at stations on the main floor, in front on the Sanctuary. No steps needed to be climbed! During all this, the vestry and others continued to work on the church designs. During the summer and early fall, the internet connections in the church were upgraded. Discussions and decisions were made on replacing the pews with chairs. Slowly a plan emerged on what the Sanctuary would look like. The red carpet will be replaced, an extension into the Nave would be constructed and the altar would move from behind the communion rail to new central place on the extension. It would be closer and lower! The chairs would bring a flexibility to wor- ship that is not possible with pews. We could change the chair placement and even the altar’s location based on the worship season. As you entered the nave and looked forward and move your eyes upward toward the Cross, a new view would appear! You would look across the Baptismal Font – see the Altar, then the Tabernacle and the Cross. The whole world of Christianity would be right there! A big change for the church was the upgrading of the network and internet connections through-out the building. These changes were led by Harlan Meyer and his helpers. A provider switch from AT&T to Spectrum (Charter) resulted in an increased connection speed and stabil- ity and it even resulted in replacing the phone system for an ongoing cost savings. More on this activity in the report by Harlan. An important health safety improvement was made to the church. John Barnard led the vestry discussion and oversaw the installation of an enhanced air cleaning system as a direct result of the COVID-19 virus. A UV-C (ultraviolet – c) air cleaner was added to all HVAC systems in the church. It has been proven to destroy all viruses and mold that circulate in the air. An air cleaning fogger was also purchased to clean the spaces between uses, again killing the virus. In the middle of August, we returned to two services – one “On the Porch” and its online presentation. It took a few weeks of practice to get it figured out, but we did it. We had chairs, hand sanitizer, masks, a shade tarp, a video camera, microphone, and electric piano. (Thank you, Judy Hodge.) That style of worship continued until it was too cold to sit outside. Indoor worship was still off-limits as the virus was not de- feated, and our Bishop insisted on staying as safe as possible.
Building Committee
Chair: David Westfall
Members: John Barnard, Peter Fairchild, Phil Jeffrey, Gary McKiddy,
Jeff Leitch
The committee has been active in deciding the changes in the Wor-
ship space over the past year. Peter Fairchild and David Westfall de-
veloped several different concepts for the design of the worship
space. At a meeting in September, we discussed the seating arrange-
ments of single and double seats, a modesty panel at the front row
and removal of the top three steps. Not knowing when the COVID-19
pandemic would be over, and cold weather would force us back in-
side for worship, every other pew would be removed to provide so-
cial distancing. The pews could be purchased (as a donation to the
chair fund) or given away to people or other churches.
The results of the discussions were presented to the Vestry at a spe-
cial meeting in October and approved. The initial chair order was
placed in November 2020 and we expect to get the chairs in January 2021.
A subset of the committee met in December with Rick Kuhn (Kuhn Construction Company) to discuss the construction phases, how to
proceed, and requested cost estimates for the different components of the worship space project.
This is the plan for the Sanctuary. The choir will remain in the back of the church. The chair placement is only an idea at this time.
NOMINEES FOR PARISH LEADERS
Nominating Committee Report – 2020-2021
Chair: Bobby Jones
Members: Bobby Jones, xx, xx, elected by Annual Meeting; Phil Jeffery, John Barnard, Da-
vid Westfall, Lucinda Dennis-Itoka, retiring members of the Vestry
The Nominating Committee this year was charged with finding 4 replacements for motivated
and dedicated Vestry members who had their terms expire. We are losing Senior Warden,
Phil Jeffery; Junior Warden, David Westfall; and two other members, Lucinda Dennis-Itoka and John Barnard
As is the case with most aspects of our world over the past year, things were a bit different in our communication and search
for new members. The nominating committee sent over 50 group emails to one another communicating thoughts and feelings
about who could be ready to serve. Those members of the committee then reached out to the potential candidates over
phone, text, email and kid drop offs to ask them to think and pray about committing their time and service to Trinity. The nomi-
nees for the Vestry are Jennifer Bax, Rebecca Jones, Karen Graham and Jacob Taylor. The committee is very proud of the candi-
dates we have found and look forward to their leadership over the next three years.
Vestry: Four people, three-year terms, ending with Annual Meeting 2024
The Vestry, with the Rector, is the governing body of a parish church. Trinity’s Vestry meets on the Second Thursday of the month, generally
excepting July. Diocesan Canons: “The Vestry shall take charge of the property of the Parish; attend to and regulate all its temporal concerns;
provide for the support of the Rector, and, in the case of the Rector’s death, resignation or removal, supply, with the Bishop’s advice and con-
sent, the Rector’s place as soon as possible. The Vestry shall also assist the Rector in the proclamation of the Gospel, the public worship of
the Congregation, the nurture of persons of all ages, the alleviation of human suffering and promotion of justice ... “Jennifer Bax
I have been a member of Trinity Church St. Charles for 12 years and have taught the Godly Play (ages 3 - 3rd
grade) Sunday School class for the last 10 years. The 2020-2021 school year would have been my 11th year
in that class, but due to the church building closure, we were unable to have in-person Sunday School this
year. I have previously been on the Vestry and was Senior Warden for 2 years. I have studied with Rich
Tudor for the last 1.5 years, with the intention of becoming a licensed Lay Preacher.
I have a B.S. in Mathematics from Illinois State University and was a Business Analyst for 17 years, as well
as a high school mathematics teacher for 2 years. I currently serve as a Board Member and have a seat on the Synchro Oversight Com-
mittee for Metro Edge Figure Skating Club, Co-Chair for Saeger Middle School PACK, Treasurer for Saint Louis Synergy Synchronized
Skating Club and am an active volunteer for St. Louis Alliance for Period Supplies. I have been married to Nathan Bax for 22 years and am
mom to Annalesa, who is 13 and in the 7th grade at Saeger Middle School.
Karen Graham
My name is Karen Graham and my husband, Rob, and I have been attending Trinity Episcopal in St. Charles for
the past two years. Coming from a different protestant tradition, I deeply appreciate the emphasis placed on
scripture and communion in the Episcopal service here at Trinity. In the fall of 2019, my husband and I
participated in the small group Mindfulness class and retreat that was offered at the church. This class as well
as a focus on contemplative prayer have had a significant impact on my spiritual journey, and I look forward to
more opportunities to be involved with small groups at Trinity. I have a passion for missions and have had
many opportunities to serve in Central America, mostly Belize, over the past 12 years. I am eager to serve in
outreach ministries here at the church such as FISH and the garden ministry.
On a personal note, Rob and I have three grown children and four grandchildren. I work as an IT professional
in software development and tutor high school math on the side. I enjoy flower gardening, photography, and
baking (gluten free :). I am thankful for the opportunity to serve on the Vestry and look forward to serving the
church family at Trinity.
Rebecca Jones
Rebecca has been attending Trinity since 2006. She married into the Janey, Bob Sr., and Bobby Jones Jr. family
and is the mom to Vivian and Scarlet.
Rebecca serves as the Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs at University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy
(formerly St. Louis College of Pharmacy) where she works with out-of-classroom support for students in areas
such as tutoring, counseling, and disability services. In her spare time Rebecca most likes to spend time with
family, go for runs, and work in the yard (where she seems to easily catch poison ivy).
Jacob Taylor
I am Jacob Taylor, I am 28 and have a wife (Nalani Harlow) and two wonderful children (Rosie - 10; Rowan - 5).
I have been attending Trinity Episcopal Church since 2017, and I have spent most of this time as the Minister of
Music. I recently resigned from this position, and I am very excited to serve Trinity in other ways.
I work as a Client Experience professional for a contract research organization that helps develop pharma-
ceuticals. Outside of work, my time is spent helping with Rowan's Boy Scouts (I am the den leader), helping
around the house, helping with Rosie's Girl Scouts (when Nalani is busy), or spending time with the family. I love
attending Trinity, and I am very excited to serve the congregation more.(Nominees for Parish Leaders continued) Nominating Committee Member-at-Large: One person, term ending at Annual Meeting 2024 The Nominating Committee consists of three at-large members, elected to staggered three-year terms by the Annual Parish meeting—one member elected each year—together with all retiring members of the Vestry for any given year. The Nominating Committee is to begin meeting in September or October, prayerfully to consider the needs of the church for the different parish offices, and to discern among themselves who might be called to different positions of elected leadership. Having developed a group of possible nominees, members of the Nominating Committee contact those people, in person, and ask that they pray about whether or not to accept the position they are being asked to consider. Those who accept are asked to submit bios and photos by the end of December, so that they may be featured in the January edition of the Trinity Tidings, as well as to be included in the Nominating Committee’s formal Report to the Annual Parish Meeting. NOMINEE: To Be Announced Diocesan Convention Delegate: One person for three-year term. No Election in 2021 Diocesan Convention Delegates represent Trinity Church at the yearly Diocesan Convention, usually held the third weekend in November. Between conventions, delegates are active participants in Kemper Convocation (one of six regional groupings of congregations in our dio- cese) to share information and hear reports from Diocesan Council and Standing Committee, and to provide input to those diocesan leaders. NOMINEE: None for 2021 Diocesan Convention Alternate: One person for three-year term. No Election in 2021 Alternates to Diocesan Convention is expected to attend all the Convocation meetings and other gatherings expected of Convention Dele- gates, so as to be prepared to vote on issues at the Diocesan Convention in the event that a delegate is unable to attend. NOMINEE: None for 2021 TEA Fund Member-at-Large: One person, term ending at Annual Meeting 2024 The TEA Fund—Trinity Educational Assistance Fund—was established in 2013. Its purpose is to provide small grants to active parishioners under age 26 for post-secondary education or training. A 2017 grant went to Heather Braucksick. In 2018, Ben McCune and Elijah Bowen each received grants, determined in proportion to their level of involvement at Trinity Church. In 2019. NOMINEE: To Be Announced
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