EPISCOPAL CHURCH OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
PROFILE 2008
A Prayer for the Church of the Holy Spirit
Bless us, O God, as we seek to discern your will for our congregation. Help us to speak the truth in love as we
consider our future and the role our new rector is to play along with us in the building of our faith community and the
spreading of the gospel. Enable us with your blessed Holy Spirit to move forward in faith. We ask this in Jesus’ holy name.
Amen
OUR PAST 1974-2008
It all started with “the need” in April of 1974. Jeanie Lipscomb felt the
“need” for an Episcopal church in Forsyth County, and Dr. James F
Hopewell, a theology professor, volunteered to help her start one, and
he would serve as vicar for the next 5 years. The “Forsyth County
Episcopal Fellowship” met in a local bank with the mission of
Christian sharing and community service.
On The Day of Pentecost 1974 “The Fellowship” was officially
established as a mission of the Diocese of Atlanta. Emphasizing God’s
empowerment of ministry through the Spirit, the church was named
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit, popularly known to many as
ECOHS. In 1977, to meet the needs of the new congregation, the
present site was purchased and the first sanctuary was built, and the
first service was held on Christmas Day.
* In 1978 Deacon E. Claiborne Jones became the first full-time paid
staff member, and one year later Bishop Bennett J. Sims appointed
Donald B. Clapp vicar in May of 1980.
* In December of 1981 the Rev. Bruce Birdsey became rector and
remained so until July of 1986. Under his leadership the church grew,
became financially independent, and in 1982 the church began
construction on a new sanctuary and additional facilities. As the
church grew additional staff was added, and Nancy Greene began her
long time service as part-time church secretary in 1986, a position she
would hold until 2004. The Christian Education department was
established, and a choir director was hired.
* In December of 1987 the Rev. Samuel Candler became rector and a
period of significant growth occurred both in the size of the
congregation and in the programs offered at the church. Under his
leadership and that of his enthusiastic wife “Boog”: Christian
Education expanded including Bible Study.
A Mother’s Morning Out Program began and would expand into
“The Cumming Episcopal Preschool”
Successful Outreach programs were established including lunches
for seniors, the Christmas Angel Tree for needy families, and food
preparation for “The Place”
* 1992 brought Deacon Lynda F. Moore to Holy Spirit, where she
would remain to become the first assistant rector. In 1993 the Rev.
Sam Candler accepted the call to become Dean of the Cathedral in the
Diocese of Upper South Carolina and The Rev. Lynda Moore served
as interim rector.
* 1994 Dr. Dwight E. Ogier Jr. was called as rector. He brought to the
church a strong sense of community involvement. He served until
1998.
* At the end of Father Ogier’s tenure, Holy Spirit experienced a period
of conflict within the congregation. The diocese assisted by
recommending Dr. Walter Daves as a conflict consultant.
Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 3
* 1999 brought The Rev. Roger H. Ard and his stirring sermons to
Holy Spirit as interim rector. During this time period the church
membership grew, became debt free and purchased surrounding land
for further expansion.
During this time St. Columba’s mission church was established in
South Forsyth and some of our congregation who lived in that area
became their charter members.
* 2002 brought The Rev. Melanie Mudge to Holy Spirit as rector. The
Rev. Don Harrison was hired as a part-time associate rector to direct
Christian Education which grew with the “rotation” model of Sunday
school for children and the J2A program youth. Adult education
participation increased, and Wednesday night adult sessions became
an important part of Holy Spirit. A part time youth minister was hired
to expand our teen youth program.
*After a time issues arose between the leadership of the parish and
Mother Mudge about the vision and direction of our church life.
Mother Mudge agreed to the hiring of a mediating consultant, but the
issues were not resolved. By mutual decision Mother Melanie resigned
in 2006. This was a challenging time for our congregation in terms of
morale, membership, and finances, but with honest reflection on this
matter during the interim period, we are determined to move forward
in faith and understanding to establish a healthy relationship with our
next rector.
* In 2006 The Rev. Wells Newell Graham became the interim rector
of Holy Spirit. He is helping us to look honestly at who we are, what
we need as a church, and how to “Move Forward in Faith.” During this
time the children’s education area was redone, new stained glass
memorial windows were given and installed, and a risen Christ statue
was added above the altar in the sanctuary. Adult education
participation has increased, family Lenten programs have been
established, Vacation Bible School programs have been changed to
evening programs that include families, and the expansion of the
grounds has begun with the grading of land that will house a memorial
garden, soccer field, and outreach building.
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WHO WE ARE
We are a friendly congregation united by our spiritual communion and
faith. This is attested to by our recent parish survey. Over seventy
percent of those responding said that the liturgy, the enjoyment of the
people in the church, the sermons and feeling welcome and cared
about were very important reasons for why they attend. We enjoy the
fellowship of others in social gatherings of breakfasts, picnics, dinners,
receptions, and our kite flying day and our fish fry.
Those responding to our survey paint a good picture of the individuals
who call our church home. According to the responses, we have a long
history as Episcopalians with eighty-eight percent of us having more
than fifteen years in the denomination. Thirty-one percent of us have
been at Holy Spirit for over fifteen years. We are diversified in our
occupations with sixty-four percent holding college or postgraduate
degrees. We share our views and opinions openly because we care.
The Diocese of Atlanta encompasses 55,000 Episcopalians in 93
Parishes throughout north and central Georgia. Holy Spirit is a
member of the Marietta convocation and has 306 baptized members.
We hold two Sunday services with a total average attendance of 107.
Kite Flying Day
games
Annual Fish Fry at the lake
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WHERE WE LIVE
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit is in Cumming, the only
incorporated city in Forsyth County, Georgia. About thirty-five miles
north of Atlanta, Forsyth County is comprised of two hundred forty-
seven square miles. A portion of Lake Sidney Lanier (twenty-two
square miles), one of the largest and most popular lakes in the nation,
is in the county. To the north and west are the foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains.
For the past couple of decades, the growth in Forsyth County has been
dynamic and explosive. Along with increased wealth and increased
property values have come attendant issues of congestion and traffic.
The county remains largely a commuter community, mostly utilizing
the Georgia 400/19 corridor linking it to Atlanta and other of its
northern suburbs. While changes have occurred in minority presences
in the county, the population is still overwhelmingly white. In 2008,
Forsyth County was named by Forbes.com as the richest county in
Georgia, and the thirteenth wealthiest in the United States, based on
household income. Additionally, Forbes named the county second in
the nation as a place to get ahead, based upon opportunities available.
Perennially listed as one of the fastest-growing counties in the United
States for the past decade, residents are continually adjusting to social
and economic changes, with realistic expectations that these trends
will continue
.
WORSHIP
Our congregation is deeply committed to the traditional Episcopal
liturgy, drawing fellowship, comfort, and inspiration from the rhythm
and beauty of the words of the Book of Common Prayer. We hold two
Holy Eucharist services each Sunday, said at 8:30am without music,
and sung at 10:45am with music and hymns: Rite II is the usual form,
with Rite I being used during Holy Week.
Preschool friends
Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 6
Our priest is supported in worship by parishioners of all ages who
participate in the roles of verger, Eucharistic minister, lector, acolyte,
altar/flower guild member, chorister/musician, Sunday school teacher,
usher, and intercessor. A said Eucharist is held at noon every
Thursday. Stations of the Cross is said weekly during Lent and daily
during Holy Week, Licensed Eucharistic Visitors take communion to
parishioners who are sick or shut-in after the 10:45am Eucharist.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION
“To educate is our mission”
Our Christian Education department for children is in good hands. We
offer Sunday school for 3 year olds through fifth graders each Sunday
morning. We have Children’s Church for the youth at the 10:45
service. An evening Lenten series led by Father Graham for families
and aimed at children has been extremely successful. Vacation Bible
School week for families is offered in the summer in the evening.
Risen Christ Statue over the altar
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Adult Education is led by lay leaders and is alive and well at Holy
Spirit! For the last two years we have provided the adults with Sunday
classes dealing with the topic “Reconciling Faith in A Culturally
Diverse World”, and “The Historical Perspective of the Gospel.” In
this program, we offered a variety of experiences to learn of other
faiths and an in-depth look at the gospels from a historical perspective.
The classes have been well attended. There is also a
Wednesday Bible Study and Thursday Faith Group, and we hold
Lenten Suppers and Personal Witness sessions.
PRE-SCHOOL The ECOHS pre-school is a growing, thriving institution with more
than 30 students. It meets 4 days per week in the classrooms
downstairs. There are programs for one, two and three year olds which
emphasize learning through socialization and play. The four year old
program follows the GA Pre-K curriculum.
YOUTH We have a small but dedicated group of middle and high school aged
youth. This group has participated in several youth pilgrimages and
missions. They have gone to Washington DC, England, and New
York, which has helped to bond this group together. Currently the
program is focusing on confirmation for the young people. Seven
young people were confirmed at the Cathedral in March of 2008. The
youth meet on Sunday mornings between the 8:30 and 10:45 services
in the “shed”. We are struggling to keep our youth interested due to
nearby churches that have developed programs that are attractive to
our youth and the non-church activities that our youth are so involved
in . The program is being led by a small but involved group of adults.
We have a tradition of a Youth Sunday on Mother’s Day. At the
services, the graduating seniors give the sermon and this is always well
received. Our survey shows an interest in growing our youth program.
Confirmation Day
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PASTORAL SUPPORT The Pastoral Support Ministry supplements the priest’s role by sending
notes, making phone calls, hospital and home visits, and prayer. The
In-reach program takes meals to parish families during times of trouble
(death, illness, surgery) or times of celebration (birth of a baby or
adoption of a child). An Intercessory Prayer Chain is available for
those who have immediate prayer needs, and is implemented through
phone calls and e-mail.
Parish Family Weekend
PARISH LIFE Breakfast Hospitality is a way for our parishioners to congregate after
Sunday morning worship, and it creates a welcoming climate for
newcomers and visitors. Gatherings such as Adult Foyers, which
include a Summer Garden Party and a Christmas Party, monthly
Men’s Group, monthly ECW, Ladies’ Lunch, and Reading Club offer
other occasions for fellowship among our church family.
Annual events include: Wednesday Lenten suppers, Hugo “Dutch”
Janhz Memorial Kite Flying Day, Fish Fry and Boat Blessing, our
Parish family weekend at Camp Mikell, Low Country Boil, and an
Outreach Fundraiser Pig Roast. We have numerous committees in our
church to supplement many aspects of Parish life. Some of our
committees include: Worship, Stewardship, Christian Education,
Building and Grounds, and Communication. Our main sources of
communication are the Sunday bulletin, Sunday announcements
provided by our rector, our Parish newsletter, “The Dove”, our web
site at www.episcopalholyspirit.org, and visitor pamphlet and
newcomers booklet.
Dance winners at
retreat
Look for this sign to events off site
Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 9
STEWARDSHIP
The stewardship committee of Holy Spirit seeks to help the
congregation better understand the meaning of stewardship in all areas.
It is our belief that stewardship is not limited to our gifts of money
alone. Each fall, ECOHS holds its annual every member pledge drive
where parishioners are encouraged to renew and often increase their
commitment of treasures, time, and talent.
Our operating budget is developed with input (requests) from each
parish ministry. This information is evaluated by the vestry and the
finance committee with the pledge results being used to develop a
budget that best meets the needs of our parish. Our vestry works very
hard to operate under a balanced budget. There was a slight surplus in
2007 due to the expenses being less than income. The following chart
shows the proposed budget numbers for the 2008 fiscal year. The other
numbers are actual amounts.
STEWARDSHIP AND EXPENSES:
ECW annual fundraising auction
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OUTREACH
Since the founding of ECOHS, Outreach has been especially important
to our perception of our role in our community and the larger world.
Almost all of our parishioners participate in this important expression
of our communal life in Christ.
Our offerings to our community include:
A non-food items pantry distributing assistance to the needy on
a monthly basis. Our storage area is currently housed in a lean-
to shed attached to the Youth building. New facilities on site
are currently being planned.
Provision of traditional foodstuffs (turkeys, hams, and all the
usual trimmings) to our Pantry clientele, at Thanksgiving and
Christmas
Preparation and serving of a substantial lunch for senior
citizens at The Place, a nearby social services charitable
organization, at approximately six week intervals.
Supply of “back-to-school” kits consisting of backpacks and
school supplies for disadvantaged children in our community
An Angel Tree each Christmas to fulfill the Yuletide wishes of
needy children in this locale
A very talented and productive Knitting and Crocheting Guild
that meets weekly to create caps, comforters, bibs, and tiny
blankets for premature babies born at local hospitals. They also
make stoma covers for cancer patients and watch
caps/balaclavas for our military personnel on active duty in
Iraq and Afghanistan.
Use of our Parish Hall for regular AA and NA meetings
Additionally, our parishioners provide physical and financial support,
usually via the Diocese of Atlanta, in the event of natural disasters
such as the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.
Knitted caps and blankets fr preemie newborns
Knitting and crocheting group
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BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
The Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit stands on nine acres at the
corner of Pilgrim Mill Road and Oakwood Circle. The current
sanctuary was built in 1987 and connects via a hallway to the kitchen,
restrooms and the parish hall. To enhance the Sanctuary of our
worship space, this past year we have added the Stations of the Cross,
a statue of the Risen Christ over the altar, and several new specially
designed stained glass windows which were funded as memorials with
one time donations.
ECOHS has added an additional 50 paved parking spaces, a
fenced youth soccer field, as well as new access to the interior of the
site. This will open the site to some “sweat equity” projects like the
outdoor worship space, outdoor pavilion and an outreach building.
The memorial garden will be completed with monies from the garden
fund. Downstairs are the parish and rector’s office plus six classrooms
around a central play area and the nursery area. The preschool uses
the Sunday school classrooms during the week. The bell tower in the
front of the church was added as a memorial to Hugo “Dutch” Janhz, a
driving force in the church’s early days. There is also a small detached
building called the “shed”, which houses the outreach nonperishable
supplies, and where the youth meet. The church was painted in 2007
and a new roof was installed in 2008. Overall the facilities are very
well maintained with regular grounds maintenance (grass cutting,
shrubbery trimming etc.) done by parishioners, and the interior of the
youth building was recently refurbished.
Bell tower and parish hall
Memorial window New paved parking area
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THE FUTURE WE ENVISION 2008
Through our Parish Survey we discovered that:
Sixty-four percent of the parishioners responding stated they
would like to see our church add additional members
Sixty percent want to see more youth activities
Fifty-five percent stated they like the “small church
atmosphere” and that is why they attend
Sixteen percent responded that they want to see the church
remain the same size
Because we are called to grow and spread the Good News of God’s
Love. Our challenge is to keep the small church atmosphere as we
grow in numbers, and in faith in Christ. Parishioners say they attend
because they are very happy at Holy Spirit, and like the fellowship,
welcoming atmosphere, and the spiritual setting. We would like to
grow in membership, and increase youth involvement and ministries.
The future of the Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit not only
encompasses the current parishioners but the future parishioners to do
God’s work.
Other comments in our survey suggested that even though we are
good at outreach, there is still more to do.
With past history in mind, we need to listen to God’s voice, to the
parish survey responses, and move forward in faith.
THE RECTOR WE SEEK
We have experienced the challenges that most parishes do. As a
family, at this time in our community, we seek a leader who will
help us grow in faith and membership. We have always shared our
strengths and opinions in the hope of helping and improving as
individuals and as a parish. Therefore, our desire is to find a rector
who will:
Help us create an atmosphere that promotes spiritual
growth.
Listen to all and make common sense decisions.
Have the faith and ability to hold us together when
challenges arise
Help us build consensus on important issues while teaching
us how to understand and live the Christian Faith.
Help us to build and share leadership in our church.
Be outgoing and communicate effectively with us as a
group and as individuals.
Care for us with strong pastoral skills.
Understand the struggles of Christians in everyday life, and
present strong sermons with a clear message to help and
guide us.
We seek a rector with whom we can grow in faith, while enjoying the
wonderful life God has given us. We look for our journey to be one of
serving together, praying together, learning together, and having fun
together.
Episcopal Church of the Holy Spirit 13
Vestry Members
Kathy Gibson, Sr. Warden
Russ McClelland, Jr. Warden
Alice Bryan
Chad Cartwright
Shannon David
Steve Howell
Beth Jones
Hal Neal
Carmen Smith
Discernment Committee
Greg Plank, Chair
Joan Anderton
Bruce Cross
Carol Franklin
Bill Kukarola
Brian Lewis
Kathy Mello
Nancy Tarrer
Zack Wilson
The Rev. Rob Wood, Consultant