st. stephen’s episcopal church. stephen’s episcopal church is a community of faith, called to...

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church Parish Profile

3 Bayview Avenue Belvedere, California 94920

ST. STEPHEN’S CHURCH - PARISH PROFILE OCTOBER 2015 O�1

~~ Table of Contents ~~

Our Parish and Our Call ………………………………………………………………….. 3

Parish Life and Ministries ………………………………………………………………… 7

Plans for the Future ……………………………………………………………………..… 14

Outreach and Social Ministries ………………………………..………………………… 15

Facilities and Parish Staff …………………………………………………………….…… 20

Parish Finances …………………………………………………………………………….. 26

Our Commitment to Protecting Our Environment …………………………………… 28

Our Community: Description and Demographics …………………………………….. 28

St. Stephen's Church History …………………………………………………………….. 30

Diocese of California ……………………………………….………………………………. 32

General Information ……………………………………………………………………….. 33

Appendix …………………………………………………………………………………….… 34

“We wanted to attend a local parish church close to where we live, where we could be a part of a closely-knit congregation that was focused on nurturing our youth, caring for our seniors, and

spiritually feeding us all.” **

** Quotes, such as this, are included throughout the profile. Pulled from our parish survey, they are narrative responses directly from St. Stephen’s parishioners.


Everliving God, we pray for the life of our parish in this time of transition as we search for a new rector. May we be guided by your love and strengthened in our mission to serve you through ministry, fellowship, and worship. We pray for the priests we encounter on our journey. Give us grace to follow where you lead us and grant us your peace. Amen.

~~ Our Parish and Our Call ~~

Introduction

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church was founded as a mission in 1902. The present sanctuary was completed in 1955. By California standards this is a long history, and we are proud of, and grateful for, the role our church has played in the lives of its members, our community, and the Episcopal Diocese of California. Key to this role are those who have led us over the past 45 years: The Reverend John Thornton, who served as our rector from 1969 to 1982, and subsequently became the Bishop of Idaho; The Reverend William Rankin, our rector from 1983 to 1993 and who next became the President and Dean of the Episcopal Divinity School in Cambridge, Massachusetts; The Reverend James Ward, who served as our rector from 1994 until his retirement in September 2010; and The Reverend Robert Gieselmann, who served as rector from 2010 to 2015, at which point he answered a call to return to his home parish in Knoxville, Tennessee.


Following The Rev. Gieselmann’s departure in June, our parish launched a series of town hall meetings and a parish-wide survey with the dual objectives of identifying the characteristics that we seek in our next rector, as well as the hopes and aspirations the congregation considers most important as we enter the next phase in our journey. The following parish profile summarizes the key attributes which we are seeking in our next leader, and describes our parish life and programs, our outreach and social ministries, our facilities and staff, and our finances — as well as other aspects of St. Stephen’s that will provide a deeper understanding of our church and our vision for the future.

Our Mission

St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church is a community of faith, called to express God’s love in our life and worship together by exploring and fostering spiritual growth, nurturing families and individuals of all ages, addressing environmental and social concerns, and celebrating through liturgy, music, and the arts.

We extend a warm welcome to all without exception or qualification. We especially welcome those who for a variety of reasons may, in other times or places, have been or felt unwelcome. We are called to express God’s love in our life and worship together and we encourage all of God’s people to actively share Christ’s ministry of reconciliation with us.

What Now?

During the past five years our parish has experienced an exciting renewal. Attendance has grown; more parishioners have become active in the life and work of the parish; stewardship has strengthened; and a successful capital campaign was completed which addressed needed improvements and maintenance, reduced substantially the parish debt, and strengthened significantly our financial liquidity.

Building on this exciting progress and momentum, our parishioners have once again come together to discuss, prioritize, and inform a vision for the future and the qualities we are seeking in a rector.

“We came to St. Stephen’s for the sense of community – of all ages. We’ve stayed because of the commitment to families, music and outreach.”


Who Are We, and What Is Our Vision for Our Future?

“St. Stephen’s is a deeply spiritual place, which is very important to me.”

We are a community that values coming together on Sundays and throughout the week for stimulating and inspirational preaching, worship, fellowship, teaching, and music. We want to build on our foundation as a welcoming, inclusive community that nourishes our souls, energizes our mutual fellowship, and empowers our members to share their gifts in a ‘church of ministers.’ We seek to expand our avenues for welcoming newcomers and integrating everyone into our worship, educational, social, and outreach activities.

“I appreciate the inclusive attitudes and activities, and the book/bible study programs.”

Through well-attended town hall meetings and a strong parish survey response, we prioritized the following attributes which we want our parish to continue and develop further under the leadership of our new rector.

❖ A commitment to families, parishioners of all ages (especially children and youth), and to the growth of the church. We support an active youth program, including worship, social, and outreach/inreach activities. We have a strong confirmation program and summer work camp opportunities for young people. We would like to build on these to create and maintain dynamic, educational and fun youth programs, and foster a thriving youth community and outreach.

We also recognize that there is much more we can and should do, not just for our youth, but for parishioners of all ages, fostering the desire for more fellowship and adult education, and a greater emphasis on outreach as a parish, helping those both near and far.

❖ We are and want to be known as a loving community that is welcoming to all of God’s people.

❖ Our parish supports a strong music program and considers music an integral part of our liturgy and parish life. We greatly value our long-time organist and music director, John Hirten, and want to continue to support St. Stephen’s musical ministry.


❖ We are are a parish with a well educated and financially supportive congregation, recently improved and well maintained parish facilities, and a strong balance sheet. As a parish, we now aspire to become exceptional stewards of our time, talent, and treasure as we are called to do God’s work within our parish family, our local community, and the larger world that God created for all of us.

Who Are You, and How Can You Help Us Attain Our Vision?

1. You are an excellent preacher. You are thought-provoking, compelling, and inspirational. You have a deep grounding in Episcopal theology, and integrate the scriptures into thoughtful, stimulating, and spirit-filled sermons relevant to today’s world and our place in it.

2. You have vision matched with hands-on engagement. Your strong, comprehensive vision encompasses all ages (children, youth, adults, and seniors). You are fully engaged with the congregation, and especially enjoy working with children and youth. You value a comprehensive faith formation program for young people and are experienced in youth ministry. You are actively engaged, along with other clergy and lay leaders, in guiding our parishioners, young to old, into a deeper understanding of their faith.

3. You are warm and welcoming. You are inclusive, and you draw people to St. Stephen’s. You are welcoming to all, and are accessible and approachable to parishioners of every age. You are good, and kind, and loving.

“We joined St. Stephen’s because of the welcoming community and children’s program. It is more than a church – it is a complete community.”


4. You are a compassionate pastor. You are known for your wonderful pastoral care. You are warmhearted, with a deep sense of caring about the community and a sensitivity to parishioners' needs. You are a counselor and communicator, able to empower each parishioner (young, old, or in between) to share his/her gifts with each other and the community at large.

5. You are a a skilled leader and administrator. You have excellent managerial, organizational, and delegation skills. You work collaboratively with the vestry in managing the resources of the parish in a sound and fiscally responsible manner. You guide and motivate the clergy and staff to be the best they can be.

6. You have a strong appreciation and support for music. You believe in the value of an outstanding music program and work collegially with our music director in support of our music ministry.

7. You empower and support lay leadership. You empower congregational leaders, supporting and partnering with them. You lead and inspire the laity with both head and heart.

For additional information on the parish survey, please refer to the Appendix.

“My children brought me to St. Stephen’s. I stayed because I found a much needed and loving community.”


~~ Parish Life and Ministries ~~

Worship Services

St. Stephen’s Regular Service Schedule includes the following:

“As life continues at its torrid pace, we love that sense of consistency, peace, and warm embrace that this church and community provide.”

St. Stephen’s Annual Service Schedule includes the following:

8:00 am, Sunday Holy Eucharist, Rite I, with music

10:00 am, Sunday Holy Eucharist, Rite II, with choir

5:00 pm, Sunday (Seasonal; monthly or weekly) Holy Eucharist, Contemporary (“EvenSpark”)

8:30 am, Thursday Contemplative Prayer Group

Thanksgiving

4:00 pm, Thanksgiving Eve Sunset Eucharist (“Thanksgiving in the Wilderness”)

Christmas

10:00 am, Sunday before Christmas Children & Families’ Christmas Pageant

4:00 pm, Christmas Eve Eucharist with carols

9:30 pm, Christmas Eve Choral Eucharist preceded by carol singing

10:00 am, Christmas Day Celebration of Christmas

Holy Week

7:30 am & 7:30 pm, Ash Wednesday Eucharist with imposition of ashes

7:30 pm, Maundy Thursday Eucharist and Agape meal (hosted by the Choir)

12:00 pm, Good Friday Eucharist from the reserved sacrament, veneration of the Cross

7:30 pm, Holy Saturday Great Vigil of Easter with participatory re-enactment


St. Stephen's Christmas Pageant

Our Christmas Pageant has evolved into a wonderful costumed reader's theater for adults, children, entire families, empty nesters, and singles. We have wild animals and a petting zoo before and after the pageant in the courtyard. On the Sunday of the pageant we

combine Christmas carols, art, costumes, animals, and a large cast to enact a blended version of the Nativity story from the Gospels of Matthew and Luke. The goals of the pageant are to include as many families and individuals of all ages as possible in the Christmas story, and to have fun celebrating together.

Services Support Our services are led by our clergy, and assisted by the following dedicated laypersons:

• Acolytes — includes children in third grade and older. The Acolyte corps has grown by leaps and bounds and is an active ministry for our young congregants.

• Verger — a long-time parishioner serves in this role of assisting in the flow of our services.

• Altar Guild — has teams which make a monthly commitment to bake bread, arrange flowers, prepare the altar for Sunday and weekday worship, and maintain the vestments, vessels, and decorations. They help coordinate weddings, funerals, and memorials. The Christmas decorations, the palm arch for Palm Sunday, and the Easter decor are the creative work of this group.

• Intercessors — offer the Prayers of the People at Sunday Eucharist.


• Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Visitors — serve the bread and wine at Eucharist services and take the elements to ill and shut-in members of the parish.

• Lay Readers — read the Scripture Lessons at the services. Our lay readers range from high-schoolers to nonagenarians.

• Ushers — greet all those attending services with a ‘radical welcome.’ The ushers especially welcome and assist newcomers, in addition to all the typical usher duties. Children are junior ushers with full ushering responsibilities.

Music

The music program at St. Stephen’s is a vital contributor to the worship, outreach, and community-building ministries of the parish.

Over the past three and a half decades, St. Stephen's has developed a distinctive music program. Worship music from the choir and organ is considered an artistic gift to God, reaching high performance standards that match the aesthetic expectations of the parish. Congregational music is traditional and hymn-based. Anthem selections range from Renaissance a cappella pieces through the centuries to more contemporary selections from a large music library. In addition, St. Stephen’s is privileged to have a Frobenius organ, which was custom-made in Denmark for our church, and dedicated in 1989. This organ is an extraordinary musical instrument, which is well-known among other organists in the Bay Area.

“I love the music more than anything else.”


John Karl Hirten, director of parish music, joined St. Stephen’s in June 1995, and brings his extensive academic and performance experience to enhance our musical worship. His continuing musical outreach to the children of the parish currently includes a children's choir that processes and recesses with the adult choir and sings during Eucharist, on the second Sunday of the month. In the past, John led a teen bell choir, and has offered Christmas pageant performances and Halloween concerts. John has preserved St. Stephen's outstanding musical legacy and continues to explore and expand the scope of our musical ministry.

The worship choir numbers twenty–two and includes four modestly paid section leaders. Other members of the choir are active in the San Francisco and Marin music communities, singing with the San Francisco Symphony Chorus, San Francisco Lyric Chorus, the San Francisco Bach Choir, the Marin Symphony Chorus and Chamber Chorus, and Marin Chamber Singers. Several have been singing at St. Stephen’s for a decade or more.

St. Stephen’s music ministry partly funds itself with an annual Choir Christmas Concert. Other performances and services, such as Evensong, occur occasionally.

The American Bach Soloists (www.americanbach.org) was founded at St. Stephen’s in 1989, and serves as Artists-in-Residence here. Regarded by many, including the Washington Post, as "the best American specialists in early music … a flawless ensemble," they have recorded twenty esteemed CDs. St. Stephen’s also serves as one of their subscription series venues, which include Berkeley, Davis, and San Francisco. Various other artists have chosen St. Stephen's as a recording venue for its quiet, acoustical quality, well suited to both instrumental and sung music.

St. Stephen's also serves as a music venue for occasional touring musical groups and provides rehearsal space to the Marin Men's Chorus.


http://americanbach.org

Christian Education and Programs

“Welcoming, warm community of faith.”

For Children

St. Stephen’s has an active and vibrant Children’s Ministry which is supported by both St. Stephen’s staff and a dedicated team of parent volunteers.

Nursery (Birth - 3 Years): The nursery, staffed by caring childcare professionals and parent volunteers, is open every Sunday from 9:00 am until noon. Our facility is well equipped with safe, quality toys and craft materials which promote their physical and spiritual development.

Sunday School (Pre-K to 5th Grade): Our classrooms are bright and well-stocked spaces where children can gather and worship in their respective programs. All classes are framed by song, prayer, and the giving of thanks for personal blessings.

❖ Pre-K, K - 3rd Grade: Our younger children’s class uses Godly Play, a storytelling curriculum based on the stories of the Bible, parables and liturgical actions. It is taught by a team of two trained teachers (St. Stephen’s staff and/or parent volunteers).


St. Stephen’s Children, Youth, and Family Ministry Charter

To support the spiritual hunger of all children, youth, and families in our church and community, and because we believe God is real and active everywhere and our Episcopal tradition calls us to serve others, we:

✞ Create safe, welcoming environments to explore a relationship with God and gain the tools to encounter life’s joys and challenges;

✞ Invite everyone to lead and learn, pray and play, wonder and worship; ✞ Strive to model God’s comfort, love, and acceptance.

❖ 4th - 5th Grade: We seek to support each child’s developing relationship with God through sharing the stories of the Bible, addressing daily issues of life for this age group, and building friendships with other children. The Workshop Rotation Cycles curriculum is being introduced this year, which incorporates hands-on activities to help the children learn.

For Youth

We are the church home for a number of young people from Belvedere, Tiburon, Mill Valley, and other towns in Southern Marin. St. Stephen’s strives to create a safe and supportive environment in which these young people can explore their faith, deepen their knowledge of scripture, and share the joys and concerns of their daily lives. Our youth minister leads the 6th–12th graders in a variety of spiritual, social, and service opportunities. We take advantage of our beautiful natural environment and youthful energy to explore the outdoors and discover the goodness of the Gospel.

Sunday School (Middle School and High School):

Our middle school and high school students meet on Sundays throughout the school year for bagels and Sunday School. Youth share what is going on with their lives, and learn through the Bible that God is good, active, and empowering.

Youth Mission Trips and Community Service:

”The Mission Trip meant ‘giving back’ and being able to help someone less fortunate than myself.”

In addition to weekly worship and participation in periodic service projects, “overnights,” and retreats, our high school youth participate in

annual mission trips. High school students have the opportunity to deepen their f r i e n d s h i p s a n d relationship with God, while serving in disadvantaged areas of the country. For the past two years, our mission trip


joined with a neighboring town’s congregation to work on a Habitat for Humanity project in Taos, New Mexico.

Youth Confirmation:

Preparation for the sacrament of confirmation at St. Stephen’s is open to all baptized persons 8th grade and up. Our Youth Inquirers program begins in January and continues through early June, when candidates are confirmed at Grace Cathedral in San Francisco.

The program, directed by the rector with assistance by the youth minister and others, includes lessons, as well as guidance by sponsors from the church, who support the candidates’ spiritual formation. The dedicated commitment by parish clergy to the confirmands, during their preparation, is an important and valued element.

For Adults Adult Education

St. Stephen’s provides multiple opportunities for adults to meet and explore educational activities. A lay-led Adult Education committee sets the direction and organizes adult education and formation opportunities throughout the church year. On most Sundays, an adult class meets following the 10:00 am service. Offerings have included book reviews and presentations by members and guests.

The current program rotates themes on three Sundays per month: (1) Family Life, (2) Book Group, and (3) Bible Study. Bible Study includes presentations and discussions that are both clergy and lay-led. This hour has also been used periodically by the rector for Baptism preparation and Inquirers’ classes. From time to time, St. Stephen’s also hosts a Contemporary Forum that has covered topics ranging from Islam, to Social Justice, to Climate Change. In addition, small groups have formed in the past for Bible discussions on weekday evenings.

“Exceptional congregants, high level of intelligent conversation and program, sensational music, commitment to outreach, caring/loving atmosphere.”


~~ Plans for the Future ~~

Prior to The Reverend Gieselmann’s arrival in 2010, the vestry launched an ambitious series of projects under the banner, Growing Our Congregation (GOC). All of the GOC initiatives related to the vestry’s desire to reverse the gradual decline in attendance and financial pledges that had occurred over the previous three to five years. Some of this decline was clearly related to the national economic downturn starting in 2008, but the vestry also concluded that our church was in need of a fresh approach. Growing Our Congregation had three primary areas of focus: Excellence in Leadership, Congregational Vitality, and Exemplary Church Programs. From an enhanced commitment to children and youth programs, to revitalized efforts to welcome newcomers to the church, to better supporting seniors and parishioners in need, the GOC provided a detailed and prioritized roadmap to growth.

Due to the dedicated efforts of The Rev. Gieselmann, the vestry, and the congregation, these initiatives were very successful, gaining additional momentum each year. Today, Sunday attendance is up meaningfully, with balanced participation by both (growing) young families and long-standing senior members. As a result, the church today has a thriving congregation and stands in an excellent financial position.

The vestry has maintained many of the key themes from the GOC, while fine-tuning and adding new initiatives to best serve the congregation and community today and tomorrow. Certain key areas of focus are:

Church Programs:

• Children and Youth Programs • Music Program • Earth & Altar/Garden Initiative • Adult Education


Community:

• Outreach Programs • Newcomers Welcoming Programs • Camp Create

Underscoring the continued commitment to children and youth programs, the church’s new interim rector and interim assistant rector both have successful backgrounds in youth education, and the church has also hired a new Sunday School coordinator. With more new young families moving into the community each year, the church is always looking for ways to improve its children and youth programs. The church is also committed to continuing to expand its community outreach programs.

“We came to St. Stephen’s for the children’s programs and baptisms. We stayed for the sense of community, friendships formed, family traditions, and spiritual growth.”

~~ Outreach and Social Ministries ~~

St. Stephen’s reaches out in many different ways to assist those in need – within the parish, in the local community, and worldwide. The church has a long history of active involvement in local outreach, having been instrumental in the establishment of Hospice of Marin (the first hospice organization in the Western U.S., and now known as Hospice by the Bay), and the Canal Ministry in San Rafael.

Inreach

Thrift Shop The shop, located in Lower Ark Row in Tiburon, has been operating for more than 40 years. In 2014, it contributed $15,550 in unrestricted funds to St. Stephen’s, one of five organizations operating and benefitting from the store. St. Stephen’s volunteers staff the shop on Thursdays, and every fifth Saturday. Donations come from all parts of our wider community, and the shop is well known for its treasures. Several members of St. Stephen’s serve on the Board, which employs a shop manager and monitors the operations.


Anasazi Anasazi, a Navajo word meaning “elders” or “wise ones,” is an inreach program for seniors and others at St. Stephen’s. They meet bi-monthly for lunch and a program. Some recent programs included “A Photographic visit to the other Holy Lands,” “Blooming Where You are Planted: A Diplomat’s Life,” and John Roosevelt Boettinger’s “Reflections and Intimate Experiences of the Legacies of My Grandparents: Franklin Delano and Eleanor Roosevelt.”

Eldercare Originated by two parishioners in 2014, a team of volunteers reaches out to older parishioners who cannot attend services regularly. On a monthly basis the volunteers call, send notes, or bring plants to these parishioners to let them know that they are remembered and cherished. There are currently 12 elders on the visiting list, and the volunteers rotate through the list.

Soul Food A team of volunteers assists parishioners in acute need (illness, life changes, etc.) with meals, transportation, and any other help required. A weekly check-in with the associate rector determines the needs of the week, and the “Angels” spring into action.

“The church’s commitment to the community and larger world, has led me to stay.”

Outreach

Camp Create For the past 15 summers, St. Stephen’s has offered a week-long arts camp to local underserved and at-risk children. Teen counselors and professional artists give the campers daily classes in painting, drawing, print-making, dancing, singing, story telling, and multi-media artistic expression. This past summer, 60 campers participated and were provided transportation, two meals, and snacks daily by volunteers. In support of Camp Create, 75 parishioners contributed financial gifts, and 500 volunteer hours were logged. Campers and their


families are continually delighted with the camp and never want it to end. Given Camp Create’s strong reputation in Marin County, St. Stephen’s has successfully solicited grant money from a number of local foundations over the past several years, enabling continued enhancements to the camper experience.

Food and Nourishment Programs in Marin Homeward Bound/Mill Street Shelter, San Rafael: Volunteers provide dinner monthly for 60 homeless people and families. St. Stephen’s has been contributing for over 25 years, making this our oldest, most continuous food assistance program.

Rotating Emergency Shelter Teams (REST)/Southern Marin Hot Lunch Coalition: St. Stephen’s volunteers provide monthly dinners at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Tiburon from December to April, and monthly lunches year-round.

St. Stephen’s Gives Thanks: Each Thanksgiving, St. Stephen’s collects bags of food and turkey gift cards for Ritter House, the “Marin Homeless Safety Net” in San Rafael. In 2014, we collected and delivered 54 complete Thanksgiving meals.

Earth and Altar Parish Garden: St. Stephen’s’ vegetable garden, created in 2014, donates fresh produce to Ritter House and a food pantry in Marin City.

Giving Tree: During Advent, parishioners purchase child-specific gifts and place them under a tree in the parish hall for distribution at Christmas to low-income families in the Canal District of San Rafael.

External Charitable Organization Sundays Periodically, St. Stephen’s invites guest speakers from outside charitable organizations to make presentations about their work. Special collections are taken at the time to supplement a donation from the budget. Organizations represented recently have included Casa de Angeles (a Guatemalan orphanage), and Freedom House (a Bay Area network of safe houses for victims of human trafficking).

“I heard that it was a compassionate church. I’ve stayed 30 years.”


Siempre Unidos Founded at St. Stephen’s over a decade ago, Siempre Unidos ministers to HIV/AIDS patients in Honduras. St. Stephen’s parishioners support this ministry financially — as individuals and through an annual collection. Even the children have raised money for gifts that make a difference, such as a new chicken coop and a flock of chickens. We welcome the annual visits of The Rev. Pascual Torres, Siempre Unidos’ administrator, who reports on their valuable work.

Social Ministries

St. Stephen’s parishioners enjoy time together outside of Sunday Services, fostering friendships, offering companionship, and helping to further a feeling of family within our congregation. We celebrate together and with our neighbors, and take part in many activities that deepen our connection to St. Stephen’s, our fellow parishioners, and the wider community.

Coffee Connections, St. Stephen’s program to connect all parishioners in the coffee hour after church, has been highly successful. Every parishioner is randomly assigned to one of 16 teams that, thrice annually, provide food and hospitality after the 10:00 am service on Sundays. Food and decorations provided by each team, often with a Church- or national calendar-related theme, have turned a previously staid coffee hour into – reportedly – “the best lunch in town!” The result is an increased sense of community, lively conversations, new friendships, and a welcoming atmosphere.

The Welcome Committee introduces newcomers to the parish, and ensures that they are fully engaged with St. Stephen’s. Individual visits and receptions, hosted by parishioners, further integrate newcomers. In addition, new members are automatically assigned to a Coffee Connections team, and are further encouraged to investigate St. Stephen’s ministries to choose one or more to fit their inclinations and talents.

St. Stephen’s offers many opportunities for fellowship. The Knitting Group meets bi-weekly to crochet/knit items for donation to places like the Seamen’s Church Institute, the Well-Baby Clinic at Marin Health & Wellness, and Wildcare. The Outing Club meets monthly for hikes or museum


visits. St. Stephen’s schedules an annual all-parish weekend retreat at the Bishop’s Ranch in Healdsburg where all ages participate in discussions and worship, play and take meals together, and rejoice in the outdoors.

Our Multi-Media Artists in Residence (AIR) program offers artistic parishioners of all ages with an opportunity to share their art with monthly exhibits in the foyer.

Every two years for the past 20 years, St. Stephen’s has presented the Art Angels Fair, a one-weekend arts appreciation, social, and fundraising event. Art Angels showcases the talents of local artists and artisans in a variety of media and brings local communities into our church. It is a wonderful opportunity to support local artists, get to know our neighbors, and raise funds for the parish and outreach programs in a festive and congenial atmosphere.

Begun in 2013, the parish’s Earth and Altar ministry cultivates an appreciation of the earth’s resources and our stewardship thereof. We added solar panels to the roof, encourage recycling and composting at church and at home, and started a vegetable garden, bringing families together to connect with the earth on a spiritual level while planting, harvesting, and donating vegetables to our local

food pantries. Children are particularly welcomed and encouraged to be active gardeners. The St. Stephen’s social committee schedules events throughout the year that encourage our parishioners to celebrate, socialize, and invite neighbors to our church. These are wonderful opportunities to have fun while raising community awareness of St. Stephen’s. In the past couple of years, we have entered floats in two Tiburon Labor Day parades, thrown a Mardi Gras party, an Oktoberfest, Christmas parties including caroling through the neighborhood, a square dance, and celebrated the Blessing of the Fleet on opening day on Belvedere Lagoon.

Through festive and fun activities, St. Stephen’s social ministries promote spiritual fellowship within our parish and foster ties with our local community.


~~ Facilities and Parish Staff ~~

Church Facilities

St. Stephen’s Church is the only Episcopal Church serving the adjoining towns of Tiburon and Belvedere. It is located on Belvedere Island, a residential community connected to the Tiburon peninsula by two land causeways. The church is surrounded by residential homes.

The sanctuary of St. Stephen’s Church was completed in 1955. It is a Modern Gothic structure with ceilings of a height approximately three times the width of the church. The interior focus of the sanctuary is a larger-than-life wood sculpture of Christus Rex, a redwood carving by a local artist commissioned by the church. The sanctuary has a normal seating capacity of slightly over 200, and can accommodate up to 275 people for concerts and holiday celebrations.

The acoustics of the sanctuary are renowned throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, which is a major reason that the church serves as a primary performance venue for American Bach Soloists, the church’s Artists-in-Residence. (See www.americanbach.org for further information.) Local lore says that Paul Simon’s hit song,

“Bridge over Troubled Water,” was recorded in the sanctuary because of the church’s extraordinary acoustics.

A traditional choir loft above the narthex overlooking the nave accommodates the Frobenius organ. The organ’s 1,676 pipes, combined with the structural dimensions and arrangement of space, provide ideal conditions for the presentation of sacred and classical music.

“The choir is a wonderful community within a community with incredibly talented people who work hard and support each other while filling the church with beauty.”


http://www.americanbach.org

A new parish hall building was completed in 2004 at a cost of $4.5 million, with over 12,000 square feet of space. This building is connected to the sanctuary, and includes classrooms on the lower floor, a parish hall and commercial kitchen on the main floor, and a conference room and staff offices on the upper floor overlooking a large courtyard. The church also has two parking lots, one adjacent to the parish hall, and the

other located directly across the street from the sanctuary.

Church Rectory

The church-owned rectory is located at 7 Sierra Court in Tiburon on a quiet cul-de-sac with only two other homes, and less than a five minute drive from the church. The rectory is a two-story ranch house with three bedrooms and three baths (including an over-sized master suite and bath), separate office or TV room, outdoor deck overlooking the back yard, and a two-car garage. The house is located in the Reed Heights area of Tiburon, with spectacular views of San Francisco and Richardson Bay, Sausalito and Mt. Tamalpais. The house is in the Reed Union

School District (K-8th), and the Tamalpais Union High School District (9th-12th), two of the highest-rated public school systems in the Bay Area.


Church Staff

The Reverend Robert Gieselmann (Rob) joined St. Stephen’s in 2010 following the retirement of The Reverend James Ward, who had served as our rector for 16 years. Rob first moved to California in 2005 to become the rector of Christ Church in Sausalito, a neighboring community. Thus, he was known to many of our members prior to joining St. Stephen’s. During Rob’s five years at St. Stephen’s, the church experienced a period of growth in membership and in its many programs for the congregation and surrounding community. Rob was a beloved leader of our congregation. In June of 2015, he was called

home to the Church of the Ascension in Knoxville, Tennessee — his home parish where he had been baptized and where he had been sponsored for seminary.

Shortly before Rob’s departure, the vestry called The Venerable Malcolm Manson to assume the duties of interim rector until a new rector is called.

The current staff positions at St. Stephen’s are as follows:

• Rector (full-time, currently filled by an interim rector) • Associate Rector (3/4 time) • Children’s Minister (10 hours per week) • Youth Leader (4 hours per week) • Director of Parish Music (3/4 time) • Finance and Accounting Manager (3 days per week) • Communications Associate (3 days per week) • Events Coordinator (independent contractor) • Sexton (independent contractor)

St. Stephen’s is fortunate to have three additional Episcopal priests as members of our parish congregation (The Reverend Zoila Schoenbrun, The Reverend Richard Schaper, and The Reverend Elaine Reichert), who are frequently available to serve as supply clergy and carry out various volunteer activities for the church. Other members of the congregation fill a variety of volunteer positions in the parish (including altar guild director, usher coordinator, and webmaster).

“I came when my first child was to be baptized. I stayed because of the amazing sermons.”


Below are brief biographical sketches for our current staff:

The Venerable Malcolm Manson, Interim Rector Malcolm, a native of England, completed his undergraduate and graduate degrees at Oxford University and was ordained as a priest in 1978. He is the current Archdeacon for Schools in the Diocese of California. He has previously served as an associate priest at St. John’s Ross and Christ Church Sausalito, and as interim rector at St. Mary the Virgin in San Francisco. However, most of Malcolm’s professional career has been devoted to education. He has served as headmaster at Marin Country Day School (1969-1982), the Oregon Episcopal School (1982-1990), the Cathedral School for Boys in San Francisco (1990-1999), and the Bay School of San Francisco (2004-2009). Malcolm was also a founding board member of Marin Academy in 1971, and was the key force behind the founding of the Bay School of San Francisco in 2004.

The Rev. Wendy Dawson Cliff, Interim Associate Rector Wendy is a fourth generation Marin County resident. She and her husband are raising two teenagers and a sweet, but neurotic dog. Her first career was in marketing and publishing before she followed a lifelong dream to become a middle school teacher. A cradle Episcopalian, she left church as a young adult, but returned as a parent and was eventually employed full time as a layperson developing youth and family ministry programs in the Diocese of California. During seminary, she especially enjoyed interfaith chaplaincy work in hospital, prison, and hospice settings. Collaboration is central to her sense of ordained leadership where she feels called to focus on spiritual formation, pastoral care, and service in the community. Wendy is active in the Marin City community working for equity in education, serves on the Board of the Marin Interfaith Council,

and also works part-time with Braid Mission in San Francisco, a new church that’s gathering mentors to support youth in foster care. She spends any free time hiking, making books & cards, and cooking gourmet meals.


John Karl Hirten, Director of Parish Music John Karl Hirten has been a church musician since the age of 15, when he was the cantor at his home church. He apprenticed at Trinity Church, Wall Street (NYC), then served as organist at St. James Cathedral (Brooklyn, NY), and music director at Old St. Mary’s (San Francisco). He also has been organist at the Fordham University Chapel (NY), Congregation Beth Israel Judea (SF), and adjunct faculty member at Golden Gate Baptist Seminary in Mill Valley. A published composer, his works range from orchestral to choral and liturgical. John celebrated his 20th year as the director of parish music at St. Stephen’s in June 2015.

“Music: number one reason why I came and why I stay.”

Sam Gerner, Youth Leader Sam Gerner grew up in Seattle, and then moved to California for school because he wanted to live by the ocean. He graduated from UC Santa Barbara in 2011, and while there he became active in Christian ministry and started a house church. This was a formative faith experience, which ignited his passion for youth ministry. He currently lives in San Francisco, and has had the opportunity to work with at-risk youth as a counselor and as a systems analyst. His favorite Bible chapter is Isaiah 11.

Sam: "What did the Mission Trip mean to you?" Youth: "It meant team building, community building ... and we also built a house."

Marie Cavanagh, Children’s Minister Marie Cavanagh is a board-certified chaplain with the Association of Professional Chaplains, and is an ordained minister with the United Church of Christ. She studied theatre arts for her undergraduate degree from Emerson College in Boston, and received her Master’s in Divinity at Earlham School of Religion, a Quaker seminary in Indiana. She completed her clinical pastoral education residency at Kettering Hospital in Kettering, Ohio. Marie has always held a strong interest in children’s spirituality, having read extensively on the subject since her son Gabriel was born seven years ago.

“The happy children.”


Dee Bell-Becker, Communications Associate Dee joined St. Stephens in 2012, after retiring in 2011 from 4.5 years as parish administrator for Christ Church Sausalito. She gained experience in media communications as executive administrator for Foote, Cone and Belding, where she worked with the senior vice-president/publicity, the executive vice-president for the Levi 501 Blues Campaign, Alaska, and the National Semiconductor accounts. She currently creates the publicity for her own recording/performing career as a nationally-recognized jazz vocalist. Dee completed her B.S. in Art Education at Indiana University, with a concentration in inner city education, graphics and ceramics. She has also been a full-time music K-6 teacher and a middle school music and art substitute in Marin County.

Donna Stewart, Finance and Accounting Manager Donna grew up in a large family in Alaska surrounded by mountains, glaciers, fiords, forests and wildlife. She was baptized in the Juneau Methodist Church, but during a solo pilgrimage along the California Coast, she had an epiphany that drew her to the Episcopal Church. Her great grandfather, The Rev. George Stewart, was a pre-Civil War Episcopal missionary who rode horseback throughout Mississippi, preaching and planting churches. Donna earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Alaska, and her Business Administration degree from the College of Marin. Her sole proprietorship, Data Tech, has provided controller and cost accounting services for many Bay Area companies. Donna performs one of her flute preludes for the 8:00 am Sunday Service twice a month from September through May.

Church Vestry

The vestry of St. Stephen’s is composed of 12 lay members plus the rector. The 12 lay members are each elected for a three-year term on a rotating basis (i.e., four new members each year). The vestry meets monthly, and is headed by a senior warden chosen by the rector. A junior warden is elected each year by the vestry members. New members of the vestry are nominated by a nominating committee, and elected at the parish’s Annual Meeting in January of each year. The treasurer of the church, who is not required to be a member of the vestry, is also elected annually at this meeting.


~~ Parish Finances ~~

St. Stephen’s is one of the ten largest parishes in the Diocese of California. Pledge and plate income constitute 80% to 85% of the church’s total annual income. A member of the vestry leads the church’s annual stewardship campaign, which occurs in the early Fall of each year. The average pledge per family for the 2015 year was $3,100 (as compared to an average pledge within the entire Diocese of about $2,400). A chart illustrating the number and average amount of pledges, as well as attendance at St. Stephen’s over the past ten years, is depicted below:

Stewardship and Attendance Chart

*Includes three services on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

There is some variation in the church’s total income year-to-year because certain fundraising events are not held annually. The most significant such event is the Art Angels Fair, a community art exhibition held biennially at the church. This art sale is a major community event in Belvedere and is attended by a large number of people from the surrounding communities. The event produced a net income for the church’s operating fund of slightly over $37,000 in 2013. The church’s total income reflects a significant increase over the past ten-year period (growing from $557,000 in 2005 to a budgeted income of $683,000 for 2015).

The church’s three largest assets are the church sanctuary, the new parish hall (completed in 2004 at a cost of $4.5 million), and the rectory. The capital campaign for the new parish hall was launched in 2000, and received $4 million in pledges within one year. Another capital campaign with a goal of $1.5 million was launched in early 2013, and reached its goal by the end of that year. The funds from this campaign were targeted for a new sanctuary roof, the waterproofing of the sanctuary walls, major organ repairs, the funding of a new maintenance reserve, and several other projects.

10 yrs ago 7 yrs ago 5 yrs ago 2014

Number of Pledges 176 172 150 179

Average Pledge $2,700 $2,800 $2,800 $3,000

Average Sunday Attendance 159 139 126 167

Christmas Attendance* 480 417 545 594


The church’s only debt is a $485,000 mortgage on the church rectory (which has an a p p r a i s e d v a l u e o f approximately $2 million).

The St. Stephen’s Endowment Fund has a current balance of approx imate ly $555 ,000 . These funds are invested with t h e E p i s c o p a l C h u r c h Foundation, and a distribution to the church’s operating fund is made each year equal to 5% of the average value of the endowment fund over a three-year period.

The St. Stephen’s Legacy Society was established in 2007. It is comprised of over 30 families that have now named St. Stephen’s in their w i l l a n d e s t a t e p l a n s . Although there can be no certainty in these matters, we estimate that the current value of these future bequests is now substantially in excess of $5 million.

The chart to the upper right reflects the church’s income and expenses for the year ended December 31, 2014 and the budget which has been adopted for the 2015 year.

“We have stayed because it is a wonderful church – great community/family values and very well run and organized.”


Income and Expense Chart

2014 2015

Actual Budget

Income:

Pledge campaigns $524,762 566,000

Plate income 17,838 16,000

Fundraising events 13,615 45,000

Facility rentals 28,692 32,000

Endowment income 23,600 25,600

Other income 34,861 11,483

Total Income $643,368 $696,083

Expenses:

Clergy 241,492 252,698

Administrative 79,668 91,450

Maintenance & utilities 68,842 71,864

Music personnel & programs 105,552 111,255

Worship 12,828 7,700

Diocese assessment & fees 91,097 100,426

Children, youth & education 21,718 31,423

Outreach & miscellaneous other 21,009 16,344

Total Expenses $642,206 $683,160

Net Surplus (Deficit) $1,162 $12,923

~~ Our Commitment to Protecting the Environment ~~

In support of the Episcopal Church’s recommendation that all Episcopalians work toward the reduction of our carbon footprint, in early 2014, St. Stephen’s arranged for the installation of solar panels on the roof of its parish hall. (See picture below.) Over 75% of the church’s annual energy consumption is now provided by these solar panels.

Members of St. Stephen’s then took the lead in proposing and designing a program which was adopted by the Diocese of California to encourage and support all congregations in the Diocese to install solar panels on their church property. This program has been extremely successful within the Diocese, and should serve as a model for other dioceses around the country.

~~ Our Community: Description and Demographics ~~

Community Description

St. Stephen’s Church is located in Marin County, a county of approximately 260,000 residents just across the Golden Gate Bridge from San Francisco, and adjacent to the vineyards of Napa and Sonoma. Over 1/3 of the county’s land is dedicated to national and state park lands (including Point Reyes National Seashore, the Golden Gate Recreation


Area, and the Muir Woods National Monument). The communities of Belvedere and Tiburon are bounded on three sides by water, and are only 10 minutes north of the Golden Gate Bridge.

St. Stephen’s sits at the corner of Bayview and Golden Gate Avenues in Belvedere. Belvedere consists of two small hilly islands located on the south side of the tip of the Tiburon Peninsula, a narrow peninsula that extends into San Francisco Bay, which includes the towns of Belvedere and Tiburon. Both towns are incorporated with separate city governments. The two towns meet at the Belvedere Lagoon, and the communities are nearly synonymous. Approximately 2/3 of the parishioners at St. Stephen’s come from these two towns, with the

remainder primarily coming from other communities in Marin County.

Belvedere and Tiburon are among the highest per capita income cities in California. Both are commuter towns, connected by fast ferry services to San Francisco. Tiburon has become a tourist destination with a concentration of restaurants and clothing shops, and ferry service to the California State Park on Angel Island.

The quality of life on the Tiburon peninsula is appealing and includes wonderful weather, proximity to a city noted for its cultural activities, distinguished local schools, world-class universities, excellent medical facilities, a relaxed life style, and astounding natural beauty. Marin County is known for its distinctive natural setting and environmental and agricultural heritage. Surrounded on three sides by water, Marin encompasses abundant, beautiful, and rich environmental resources.

“It is the best church I have experienced in 83 years, so why would I not stay? The congregation (with its wide range in ages), the music program, concern about those less fortunate, and the

environment. I think any new rector would find this church a blessing.”


Community Demographics

Demographics from the most recent National Census for the combined communities of Belvedere and Tiburon are as follows:

Tiburon and Belvedere Demographics

~~ St. Stephen's Church History ~~

Before there was a parish, there was a mission. Before there was a mission, there was a vision in the 1880s to serve the small fishing community of Tiburon/Belvedere. After 19 years of adjunct services from Sausalito, St. Stephen’s Mission held its first services in 1902. After 48 years as a Mission, during which time Tiburon/Belvedere expanded and developed, and under the visionary leadership of The Vicar Reverend Mohr, St. Stephen’s became a

Total Population 12,474

Ethnicity

White 89%

Asian 5%

Hispanic 4%

Other 2%

Median Age 49

Persons Age 65+ 23%

Persons Below Poverty Level 5%

Education: Age 25+ Residents

High School Diploma or Higher 97%

Bachelor Degree or Higher 77%


parish in 1951, and The Rev. Mohr became its first rector. He continued the expansion of St. Stephen’s, most importantly in a visionary new Modern Gothic church structure a half-mile away from the original Mission, “a sanctuary … so worshipers are encouraged to look ahead at the ‘gateway to the Throne of God’,” focused on the magnificent suspended Christus Rex. The Rev. Mohr retired from St. Stephen’s after 16 years as vicar and rector in 1961.

Through the changes of the 1960s, including the March 1965 “Trip to Selma” by The Reverend Llewellyn White who was then rector of St. Stephen’s (1961-1968), the area continued to transition into a residential suburb. The tenure of The Reverend John Thornton (1969-1983) was marked by significant outreach efforts to the ill and needy, including the establishment of Hospice of Marin (the first hospice is the Western U.S., and only the second in the entire country) and the Canal Ministry in San Rafael in 1982. In 1983, The Reverend William Rankin became rector. Known for his riveting sermons, he focused on congregational ministry, stewardship and expanding youth programs, while also serving as Chairman of the Board and reenergizing the Canal Ministry (which subsequently became part of the Canal Alliance). The Rev. Rankin oversaw the renovation of the sanctuary and the installation of the current Frobenius organ. The Reverend James Ward arrived in 1994 and served St. Stephen’s for 16 years. His tenure was marked by a healthy growth in parish families, culminating in a $4M capital campaign to rebuild, expand, and modernize the parish hall and associated areas, which opened in 2003.

After The Rev. Ward’s retirement in 2010, The Reverend Robert K. Gieselmann was called as rector in 2011, and, working with the vestry and other lay leaders, successfully launched a significant growth effort, both in membership and in depth of spirituality. Hallmarks of his ministry included his warmth, engaging sermons, and pastoral care. In 2012, a new capital campaign launched (Honoring Our Legacy) to fund critical infrastructure projects, retire debt, and establish a significant maintenance reserve. At the same time, the parish chose to honor its commitment to Earth and Altar by installing solar panels and starting a garden, the produce of which is donated to local food banks and homeless shelters.

In the Spring of 2015, The Rev. Gieselmann was called to his home parish in Knoxville, Tennessee. St. Stephen’s bade him and his family Godspeed in a bittersweet farewell in June 2015. The church is currently ably led by The Venerable Malcolm Manson as interim rector.


~~ Diocese of California ~~

The Diocese of California is the oldest diocese in California. It serves a diverse community of faith encompassing the greater San Francisco Bay Area. Approximately 27,000 lay Episcopalians and nearly 500 clergy call the Diocese of California their home. The Diocese includes 80 congregations and is organized into six deaneries. The Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, and Southern Alameda deaneries cover their respective counties; the Peninsula Deanery consists of all of San Mateo County and a small portion of Santa Clara County.

In its history of over 165 years, the Diocese of California and its members have founded a hospital; hosted the first Head Start program in the country; provided more supportive housing for the homeless than any other diocese; founded Interfaith Power and Light; pioneered the return of the Peace in the Eucharistic service; re-introduced the Great Vigil of Easter into central liturgies of the Episcopal worship; and more recently brought forth the modern Labyrinth Movement, and the practices of the Open Table and Ashes to Go.

The Right Reverend Marc Andrus was elected as the eighth Bishop of California in 2006. Bishop Marc has called our diocese to the Beloved Community Vision — a call to the radical inclusivity, justice and peace of Christ’s ministry and words. For more information about the Diocese and its ministries, see www.diocal.org.

The members of St. Stephen’s have consistently been active in the Diocese and its many programs. There are currently three members of St. Stephen’s serving on the 22-member board (executive council) of the Diocese, and a member of St. Stephen’s has served as the elected treasurer of the Diocese for the past seven years.

“I came because of the beautiful music, the preaching, and the children and youth program. We stayed because of the inclusive, open, and transformational theology, as well as the community of

fellow seekers”


http://www.diocal.org

~~ General Information ~~

For more information about St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, please visit our website at ststephenschurch.org.

Our 2014 Annual Report and the Church History are also recommended reading, and are available upon request (hardcopy).

Other websites that may be of general interest:

City of Belvedere cityofbelvedere.org/index.aspx?nid=131

Town of Tiburon destinationtiburon.org/

Reed Union School District reedschools.org/domain/115

Tamalpais Union High School District tamdistrict.org/domain/3


Applications are due to the St. Stephen’s Rector Search Committee by November 15, 2015. (See Appendix for application instructions.)

http://ststephenschurch.org

http://www.cityofbelvedere.org/index.aspx?nid=131

http://www.destinationtiburon.org/

http://www.reedschools.org/domain/115

http://www.tamdistrict.org/domain/3

~~ Appendix ~~

Rector Search Parish Survey Results

What are the characteristics we should be seeking in our next rector?

We want a rector who … Rank

What are your hopes and aspirations for our church?

We want a church that is known for … Rank

Narrative question:

What brought you to St. Stephen’s, why have you stayed, and what are your dreams for the future of our parish? **

** Responses are included as quotes throughout the parish profile.


Is a great preacher: thought provoking, compelling and inspirational 1

Has a strong, comprehensive vision encompassing all ages (children, youth, adults, and seniors), along with hands-on engagement 2

Is inclusive, welcoming, warm, and accessible 3

Is compassionate in pastoral care and sensitive to parishioners’ needs 4

Is a skilled leader and administrator 5

Has a strong appreciation for, and support of, our music program 6

Empowers and supports lay leadership 7

A commitment to families, parishioners of all ages (especially children and youth), and to the growth of the church

1

Being a loving community that is welcoming to all 2

An outstanding music program 3

Being a generous church with robust and compassionate outreach programs 4

Strong stewardship of all of our resources 5

Active involvement in the local community 6

~~ Appendix ~~ Growing Ministry, Community and Impact

Parishioner Stories


Raising children in the St. Stephen’s Community When we first visited four years ago, St. Stephen's immediately felt like home to us. We are raising three young daughters, and we were seeking an Episcopal church that would grow our children's spiritual lives and provide a community for us as a family. As we became more involved in the church, we saw that parents and children are given opportunities to serve as individuals and as families. Participating in Sunday School, Coffee Connections, ushering, and vestry has enabled us to meet and get to know many great people and new friends. ~ A.N & P. N.

Practicing Faith I am a cradle Episcopalian who believes that participation builds community and faith. At. St. Stephen's, I have sung in the choir and read lessons since 2003. I recently joined the Knitting/Crocheting Group, which makes prayer shawls for those in need, and infants' clothing and blankets for Marin Community Clinics in San Rafael's Canal District. Each ministry—singing, reading, crocheting — has brought me new friendships within the St. Stephen's community and new insights into practicing my Episcopal faith. ~~ O.D.

Radical Welcome We were recently married when we moved to Marin and my wife and I visited many Episcopal churches. After the second visit to St. Stephen's we got two calls, one from M.S., and one from The Rev. Rob Gieselmann. M.S. came to our house, brought a cake, and sat and talked to us about our faith life and St. Stephen's. Within a few days they had us plugged into Coffee Connections, Adult Education and Outreach. At St. Stephen's we have experienced a radical sense of welcome and we have stayed. ~~ J.J.

Acceptance and Care My wife and I were a mixed faith couple when we moved to Belvedere in 1973. She was a Roman Catholic and I an Episcopalian. We joined St. Stephen's with our recently combined five children and were warmly welcomed and embraced. Over the years, my wife and our rectors discussed theology, she volunteered in Outreach, and I joined the vestry. When my wife died in 2011, the St. Stephen's community wrapped its collective arms around me in friendship and support. They kept me going. Acceptance of others, and care for one another, are the hallmarks of St. Stephen's Episcopal community. ~~ D.B.

~~ Appendix ~~

Growing Ministry, Community and Impact Parishioner Stories


Sunday School I was a single parent with a son and a full-time job in the financial world. Teaching Sunday School gave me the chance to interact with my son, and helped me connect with my son over faith - by hearing the stories and learning our Episcopal tradition's tenets. That's been 17 years now. Most of the families I met through Sunday School are still part of the St. Stephen's community. We've all grown together and cherish how our children have gone out into the world to build their own communities with a strong foundation in faith. ~~ L.M.

Music I joined St. Stephen's in 2000. I have two sons, one in college and one in middle school. As a child, the music during church helped me feel a part of something I didn't always understand. When I joined St. Stephen's, music became an echoed layer of expressing praise, appreciating a lesson in a new way and recalling those experiences throughout the week. From the choir loft, as we're singing an anthem, I'll see someone gaze towards the choir in the back or reach to hold the hand of their loved one sitting next to them. Quite often, I see a parent pick up a small child and talk with them about what they're hearing. I hope they will find themselves during the week, humming a tune or reciting a phrase, and wondering why that particular part of the song is lingering in their mind and ask, "what is it saying to me today?” ~~ B.M.

Ministry and Gratitude I am a wife and mother of grown daughters, and I seek to belong to a larger community than just my family. Helping others, who are less fortunate connects me with, and lets me see myself in, the universe. St. Stephen's Hot Meals for the Homeless ministry has taught me about grace and gratefulness. One Halloween, a homeless lunch guest responded to our fun decorations, food and hospitality by playing jazz piano in the lunchroom, giving us a happy gift of grace. Volunteering at St. Stephen's to help others is how I practice my Episcopal faith and experience God's grace and for this I am ever grateful. ~~ C.B.

~~ Appendix ~~

The Application Process

Thank you for your interest in applying. Please follow the instructions outlined below:

1. Contact the Diocese of California’s Transition Minister, Denise Obando, at [email protected] or (415) 869-7804.

❖ Once you have received the clearance to apply, you are invited to begin the application process.

2. Applications must include: ❖ A cover letter expressing why you would like to be considered for

this rector position, including what excites and challenges you about St. Stephen’s.

❖ Your resume ❖ Your updated OTM portfolio ❖ A copy of two recent written sermons or a link to two audio

versions of sermons ❖ Answers to the following questions:

❖ Please explain why you believe this calling would be a good fit for your skills and interests, and how you see St. Stephen’s fitting into your longer term plans and aspirations.

❖ With respect to your abilities to serve as a rector, what do you see as your personal strengths, and in what areas do you want to improve your abilities.

3. The deadline to submit your application is Sunday, November 15, 2015.

All applications and communications with applicants will be treated with complete confidentiality. We will review applications upon their arrival, and will contact you regarding the status of your application in a timely manner.


mailto:[email protected]

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