Vestry Retreat - Where We've Been, Where We're Headed
Vestry Retreat – Where We’ve Been, Where We’re Headed
Vestry members in April spent much of an annual retreat day thinking about where we’ve been and where we’re headed. In an exciting time when our search for a new rector is getting underway, we’re also focused on the regular needs of our parish.
Here is a brief rundown of this work:
- Families – Holy Spirit last year prioritized the return of a Sunday worship for children to underscore our welcome for families. We’ve built infrastructure – teachers, doorkeepers and a regular home for Godly Play in the Tower Room. Vestry members are optimistic that attendance by families will grow as they experience this worship style that spurs spiritual imagination. Look for a sermon time soon at our Sunday 10:15 service that showcases Godly Play for all of us.
- We agreed this area needs continued support and focus.
- Younger Adults – Welcoming people “Under 40,” the students and younger people who are frequent visitors to Holy Spirit, remains a priority. We’ve learned that creating specific events for this discrete group was not appealing. Instead, many younger people tell us by what they choose to attend that they often prefer parish-wide activities with everyone.
- We hope to keep learning what is drawing people in these ages to us, and how best to welcome everyone.
- Newcomers – We’ll continue to prioritize ways to meet and know the new people who are trying out our Holy Spirit community. Newcomer events, nametags and the Inquirers Class have really worked.
- We hope to keep learning how to meet the needs of people who are new to Holy Spirit, and/or new to the Episcopal Church.
- Marketing – With recent MTPR and Roxy Theater ads, plus more visibility via posters in our neighborhood and downtown for special events, we’re upping our profile. This year, we’re prioritizing more measurement tools, more Instagram efforts and other ways to communicate what goes on at Holy Spirit.
- Initial marketing efforts are going relatively well and need continued support.
- Social – It was easy for Vestry to say that Wholly Fun is hitting consistent home runs in terms of fun, easy and often joy-filled events. Their well-attended gatherings are great for building connections and meeting new people.
- Everyone wants to continue to support Wholly Fun and all the ways they bring us together.
- Accountability – Last year’s new All Ministries meetings helped build understanding and connection among the many ministries at Holy Spirit. Look for two of these events later on in 2025.
- We want to add to the quarterly financial reports begun last year with more regular communication about “how things are going” at Holy Spirit.
- More small group entry points – Vestry discussed creating more ways for people to get to know each other and talked about various types of ongoing small group gatherings, from book studies to last year’s Bike To Barns, regular coffee meet-ups and more.
- This area, perhaps linked to spiritual formation programming, needs some leadership from Vestry and elsewhere in the congregation.