Annual Meeting

Annual Meeting:

Sunday, January 26

9:00am

Click here for the digital version of the 2024 Annual Report

Rector’s Report

2024-2025 Annual Rector's Report

Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself. Mark 12: 30-31

Greetings All Saints Friends,

This has been an exciting year filled with spiritual growth, increased engagement, service to the community, and care for our physical plant. I give great thanks for all of the hearts, hands and gifts that contribute to the vitality of All Saints. We have welcomed several new young families with children, as well as many individuals and couples to membership. Worship attendance increased at all services, and the new programs launched are flourishing. It was a great privilege to host the Annual Diocesan Convention Eucharist and reception at All Saints in November, and to welcome our new Presiding Bishop.

The Child Development Center grew from 6 students last year to 27, and received several grants to help us grow even further. We hired two new bi-lingual teachers and hope to be at capacity by next year. The Child Development Center is truly a hands on ministry to the community, and we are serving these families with Christ's love. The Diocese of South Carolina presented to the Child Development Center the distinguished Bishop's Cross award for outstanding service to the community.

Katie Presley introduced new formation opportunities in person and in the evening, designed for those not able to attend daytime groups. We continue to offer Women's Bible study, Men's forum, Sunday Bible Study, Sacred Ground, Advent and Lenten studies and other small groups. The second Women's Retreat is scheduled for this Spring.

We also continue to offer several opportunities for social engagement including supper clubs, Seasonal Saints, Grill Night, Episco-Pals, Juliettes and more. We will be offering soup suppers along with a program during Lent.

We have joined with Christ Lutheran Church to offer a Cold Weather Shelter on Hilton Head and we provide much of the volunteer corps. This program, as well as the Circles ministry, is helping the underserved in very concrete ways. The Social Justice Ministry introduced movie nights with interesting and spirit- filled discussion on social issues. We held another successful garden tour with an expanded artisan market and donated to our grant recipients in the community.

We have had some staff transitions this year. We welcomed Kevin Dyer as our new Buildings and Grounds manager and he is working with a new landscape and housekeeping crew to manage the weekly maintenance. He is also managing a list of bigger projects being accomplished in multi-year phases. Kevin is a wonderful addition to our staff. We also welcomed Mollie Nichols, our Assistant Director of Music and organist. She has added even more depth and beauty to our vital music program. We said goodbye to The Rev. Pam Fahrner, and Kerry Smith, trusted and loving clergy, who gave generously of their time and talents.

We have much to look forward to in the coming year. Our foundations are strong and we are now planning the work for the future of All Saints. We are working on a list of projects to update most of our major systems in the building and refurbishing and expanding our columbarium. This year's new vestry will be creating a strategic plan which will most likely include a capital campaign.

I want to thank the wardens and vestry, clergy and staff for their incredible commitment to All Saints' Mission and ministries. Thank you to each volunteer who gives of their time, treasure and talent to do God's work. We have most certainly turned our focus towards reaching out to serve, and I give thanks for the privilege of being a spiritual guide. I can't wait for what God has in store for us as we seek to love God and our neighbors with heart, soul and mind.

With a Grateful Heart,

Denise+

Senior Warden Report

In 2024, All Saints was finally able to view COVID in the rear-view mirror; the most recent manifestation being a return to pre-COVID communion practices. Participation in our many programs and ministries is flourishing and our parish is welcoming many new members. I am convinced that we are on a sustainable, upbeat trajectory. Thank you to our Clergy and staff, Vestry and faithful congregation for your contributions of time, talent and treasure, given unconditionally.

Some of the highlights of our 2024 parish life include:

Continued growth of our Child Development Center, a touchstone for the outreach of All Saints within our community, as evidenced by receiving the Bishop’s Cross award, recognizing exemplary service, at this year’s Diocesan Convention;
Development and successful implementation of a new business model as relates to the maintenance of the buildings and grounds of the All Saints campus;
The Bishop’s visitation on Palm Sunday, which included 12 people being confirmed, received or re-affirming their baptismal vows;
A very successful Stewardship campaign, facilitated by a generous parishioner’s matching-gift challenge;
ASEC’s hosting of the Diocesan Convention’s opening Eucharist and reception on November 21, attended by 340 people; and
Bidding heartfelt farewells to Pam Fahrner, Senior Associate and Kerry Smith, Deacon.

Looking at the year ahead, ASEC’s physical plant will continue to receive considerable attention as we address aging infrastructure issues and look toward renovation and expansion of our columbarium. These initiatives will, in all likelihood, require launching a capital campaign in the near future.

Thank you to everyone for making All Saints such a vibrant, welcoming and faith-filled community.

Respectfully submitted,

Charlie Forbes

Senior Warden

Junior Warden Report

A common theme at All Saints during 2024 was “sharing” and it was exciting to be the junior warden during the past year. For me this was most apparent in our ministries that involved children. The Child Development Center has grown this year to 27 students - our three year old class has 10 students and our 4 year old class has 17! We have 5 staff members including the director, 3 teachers and a teaching assistant. Two of our teachers are bilingual! Parishioners have been involved throughout the year including Trunk or Treat, the creation of Christmas decorations, as well as volunteering to help in the classroom in a variety of ways. Financial donations from the parish have supplemented the DSS and ABC state grants. In addition, the Diocese awarded a grant to the school. The highlight of the year was when the school was recognized by South Carolina Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley at the annual convention by presenting us with the “Bishop’s Cross.” Instead of a cross, the school was given a picture depicting a young child being compared to the stars he is pointing at.

Also growing this year is our Children’s Chapel under the leadership of Jessie McIlwee. We now have 7 families (10 children) regularly attending on Sunday mornings during the 10:15 service, as well as 6 parishioners who volunteer to assist Jessie. They enthusiastically participate in a “discussion” of the day’s reading, as well as projects that reinforce the theme.

As the liaison to the Outreach Committee, I have the opportunity to support Lisa Ghessie as she coordinates this growing and changing ministry. The Cooking Circles (a Deep Well program) is entering its second year of operation with a growing number of cooks and helpers. We recently joined with a few island churches and community agencies to implement a Cold Weather Shelter Program for days that the temperature drops to 32 degrees. All Saints currently contributes the most “man power” as we have 39 volunteers signed up to help as needed. We continue to partner with Sandalwood Community Food Pantry and St. Andrew by the Sea Soup Kitchen to provide needed items and Thanksgiving gift cards to members of our community. Students in our local secondary schools continue to be supported through the Angel Tree. We continue to host regular blood drives and have increased our involvement with the the Dominican Republic once again. Finally, the Garden Tour has expanded to a 2 day event and increased the number of grant recipients to include the CDC. I’d add that we are seeing increased overlap in our ministries as we get to better understand the needs in our community.

As the chair of the Personnel Committee, I was involved in the changes to our Building and Grounds model, including contracting with a cleaning company and a landscaping company and the hiring of a part-time campus manager.

Finally, I will end my report by stating that it’s the staff at All Saints that makes it such a joy and privilege to be a part of this special community. Everyone works incredibly hard to support the life of the parish. I look forward to the coming year with great anticipation!

Joyce Emmett

Associate Rector's Report

To the faithful of All Saints Episcopal Church,

It is with great joy and gratitude that I write to give the Associate Rector’s 2024 annual report. We have indeed had a year full of growth, learning, fellowship, and service and it has been a blessing to be in your midst as your priest! You each continue to amaze me with your generosity and your commitment to following the teachings of Jesus. The two areas that I want to highlight in this report are Newcomer’s Ministries and Spiritual Formation. I’ll conclude with a brief report about my service outside of All Saints.

In 2024 we held two New Member Luncheons - in January and September - and welcomed over 25 new members into our midst. Our luncheons included a time of fellowship over a shared meal and a brief presentation by clergy and vestry members. These luncheons provide new members and prospective new members an opportunity to get to know one another and to hear about all the wonderful things going on at All Saints. It is our hope that each member of our parish finds a ministry to get involved with, because we believe stewardship is more than giving financially to the church - it is also giving of your time and unique God-given gifts!

Spiritual Formation continues to be an important part of our purpose as a parish and 2024 offered us many opportunities to gather together in depth as we grow our understanding of our own faith. During the 7 weeks of Lent, over 15 parishioners gathered weekly on Zoom for a study entitled “Life Transformed.” Together we reflected anew on the loving actions of God as recounted in the Easter Vigil readings. On Monday evenings in the fall, several parishioners gathered with me in the library for a deep theological study on the Trinity. Using ideas from Richard Rohr’s The Divine Dance and The Work of the People’s “Exploring Trinitarian Spirituality,” we discussed how the Trinity - Father, Son, and Holy Spirit - influence our everyday life and way of being in the world. 2024 marked a shift into the deep waters of spiritual formation and I am honored to lead you into those waters. Our Christian faith calls us to deeper knowledge of self and God and together we will continue to explore, learn, and grow.

I continue to serve as pastor to the Child Development Center by holding a brief weekly chapel service for our 4K class. The class has gotten so big that we now do 2 services! Our organist, Molly Nichols, started co-facilitating children’s chapel with me by bringing in songs and other musical elements. I am grateful to Molly for her time and gifts! Our CDC Director, Meghan, continues to work with me to find events for parishioners to get involved in such as 4K graduation, the Blessing of the Backpacks, Trunk or Treat, and Christmas parties. It’s been a joy to watch the CDC grow and to see how our parish continues to love on those families!

And finally, I’d like to offer an update on my wider Church involvement. I am in my second year of a three-year term on Diocesan Council, where our main focus is implementing the Strategic Vision as adopted at the 2023 Diocesan Convention. I have been asked by Bishop Ruth Woodliff-Stanley to serve on the Diocesan Youth Commission, which I eagerly agreed to. In the Fall of 2024, a New Clergy Group, aptly named “Transitions in Ministry” was formed, which included newly-ordained clergy and clergy new to the diocese. Led by the Rev. Canon Phillip Linder and the Rev. Canon Ryan Currie, this group of about 15 clergy meets monthly, in-person and on Zoom, for professional development and support. I continue to serve in the Army Reserve as a chaplain and I am incredibly grateful to the All Saints clergy, staff, and parishioners for your support of my call to serve America’s Soldiers. I spent three months away during the summer at Fort Jackson, SC for the next level of my training as a chaplain. Many of you prayed, emailed, and called during that time, expressing your support. I now serve as the battalion chaplain for the 11th Psychological Operations Battalion in White Plains, MD, where I provide spiritual support for about 500 Soldiers.

Well, as you can see, 2024 has been a full year! This report is but a small reflection of the ministry that All Saints is deeply involved in, both inside and outside of our walls. I am humbled by my vocational calling and the opportunity to serve as your priest, to serve the Diocese of South Carolina, and to serve Soldiers and their Families. I ask your prayers as we move into 2025 and seek to be a place where all of God’s beloved can find a place to belong.

In Christ,

Katie+

The Rev. Katie Presley

Associate Rector

All Saints Preschool

Director Meghan Theobald

The past year has been a remarkable period of growth and achievement for All Saints Child Development Center. Our community continues to thrive, and we are excited to share highlights from the year and plans for the future.

Enrollment Growth and Future Plans

The Center has experienced significant growth, with enrollment reaching 27 children. The demand for our services is evident, as we currently have a waiting list for the 3-year-old room. Based on enrollment projections for the 2025-2026 school year, we are planning to open a second 3-year-old room to meet this need. Additionally, we are delighted that several siblings of current children are already enrolled for the upcoming year, further reflecting the trust and satisfaction of the families we serve.

Support and Recognition

We are deeply grateful for the unwavering support of the diocese and congregation. Their contributions have been instrumental in our continued success. This year, we were honored to receive the “Becoming Beloved Community” Spotlight Award from the Bishop at the Episcopal Diocese Convention. This recognition underscores the dedication of our staff, volunteers, and community members who work tirelessly to make the Center a place of joy and growth for the children.

Community Engagement

Our community events have been a highlight of the year. We extend our heartfelt thank you to all the volunteers who helped create a wonderful Trunk or Treat event, bringing joy and excitement to the children and families. A special thanks to the Daughters of the King (DOK) for their invaluable contributions. Their efforts in volunteering at the Center and helping the children create advent calendars and pine cone ornaments were deeply appreciated and added a meaningful touch to the holiday season. Last but certainly not least, the children and their families would like to personally thank two members of ASEC who provided each child with a Christmas dress or sweater to wear home for the holidays, we are grateful for you.

Looking Ahead

As we move forward, we remain committed to providing a nurturing and enriching environment for the children in our care. We look forward to welcoming more families and continuing to serve as a cornerstone of early childhood development in our community. The upcoming year holds great promise, and we are excited about the opportunities that lie ahead.

In closing, we thank everyone who has contributed to the success of All Saints Child Development Center. Your support, time, and dedication have made all the difference. Together, we are building a bright future for our children and community.

With gratitude,

Meghan Theobald
All Saints Child Development Center

Finance Commission

Bob Colegrove, Chairman

Becky Forbes, Treasurer

In 2024, the financial condition of All Saints remained sound, although we expect 2025 to present challenges relating to aging infrastructure. Following are the highlights of 2024.

Operating Revenues totalled $935,154, including $833,478 in pledge revenue, exceeding the revenue budget by 4.3%. Operating Expenses overall were $923,282, exceeding the budget by 3.3%. Fortunately, the “Bridge the Gap” campaign provided unbudgeted revenue to offset unbudgeted expenses related to improvements in Buildings and Grounds management. The end result: a modest surplus of $11,872.

Funds designated by donors for specific purposes provided $40,300 to offset operating expenses, such as Altar Guild, Flowers, Music, etc. Most notable was $24,337 related to improvements to the Columbarium.

Funds designated by donors for outreach beyond our walls enabled ASEC to make contributions of $46,719 to a variety of charitable causes. The annual Garden Tour alone provided a total of $35,175 to seven local charities.

The Child Development Center received four grants totalling $138,000 which provided additional staff and needed furniture and equipment for the growing Center, including replacement of failing heating & air conditioning units. No operating revenues were used to support the Center in 2024.

- South Carolina Department of Social Services $70,000
- South Carolina ABC Quality Program $24,000
- Episcopal Diocese of South Carolina $20,000
- All Saints Foundation Annual Distribution $24,000

The All Saints Foundation received $280,000 in new contributions in 2024 and, with the help of a favorable investing environment, ended the year with a market value of $1,133,600.

Stewardship

Dana Duncan

This year’s Stewardship Campaign Report will be outlined in two sections. First, the amazing and generous conclusion of the 2024 campaign, and second, an update to the 2025 campaign.

2024 – Bridge The Gap

For several months, the pledge receipts were stuck at $750,000 and were $50,000 short of our budget goal. Then we received exciting news! One of our generous parishioners stepped up and pledged an additional (they had already pledged!) $25,000, as a matching pledge, to help All Saints achieve its budget goal of $800,000. To meet this challenge, the stewardship team launched its “Bridge The Gap” campaign to help raise $25,000 in matching pledges. We were so fortunate that we received $30,000 in matching pledges and exceeded our target.

A huge thank you to our generous challenge donor and to all our equally generous members who stepped up with matching pledges to make our, “Bridge The Gap,” campaign an incredible success!

2025 – To Welcome, Bless and Serve

Our theme helps us recognize and celebrate where we are on our faith journey at All Saints. The theme is not only inward focused, but is outward focused as well. Outward, in that we are asked. How do we welcome? How do we Bless and Serve others? This is the power of this year’s theme and supports us, as we expand our ministries well beyond ourselves.

Our stewardship budget goal for 2025 was set at $820,000 by our Vestry and we are well on our way to meet this financial challenge. Prior to this annual meeting. We have received 175 pledges totaling $764,293 and represents 93.2% of our budget goal.

We still have work to do. Currently, there are some outstanding pledges, and the Stewardship team will follow up throughout January and February to help close the gap for 2025.

This has been an outstanding stewardship campaign, and we are so blessed by your support and generosity. Thank you for all you do for All Saints, and beyond!

Building and Grounds

In mid-May, 2024 ASEC transitioned from a full-time Building and Grounds staff member, to our new model of a part-time Campus Manager. Tom Sellman was hired as an interim CM in June, leaving in August. In September 2024, Kevin Dyer was hired as our permanent CM, and has been an amazing addition to our ASEC family. Much of the routine maintenance, i.e., landscape and cleaning services, were transitioned back to outside vendors and we also changed HVAC vendors, to Lang 72 Degrees. As we enter 2025 the primary focus will be our aging HVAC systems and our elevator system.

2024 projects completed included, but were not limited to:

Railings leading up to the front of the church were repaired;
Termite inspection was completed;
New keypad was installed on the back door of the kitchen;
Fire Sprinkler inspection completed;
Internal doors re-keyed;
Gutter guards were installed on the back side of the CDC;
Kitchen deep cleaned;
Roof repaired and trees removed after October storms;
The peace pole was moved to front entrance of sanctuary;
Fire & Alarm system was serviced;
Carpets cleaned in Sanctuary for SC Diocesan Convention; and
Elevator inspection occurred and repairs completed.

HVAC

Vendor changed to Lang 72 Degrees in late October 2024 and a full diagnostic of our (18) units took place in November. Of the 18 units, 3 are located in the CDC facilities and were in need of replacement, which took place at the end of December 2024. Funding for the entire CDC project came from grants.
ASEC-Specific Units: The remaining 15 ASEC units range in age from 1 to 25 years and, with few exceptions, could fail at any time. While the majority of units are long past their average life expectancy (11.2 years), several were deemed to require immediate attention. (3) units were replaced and (4) units were repaired in January 2025.

Late Spring/Summer

After many deliberations, several Vestry members and clergy worked together to design a new business model for Building and Grounds. In light of the breadth of B&G responsibilities, the full time manager was replaced in June. In his place, after obtaining a quote from 3 landscape contractors, a professional landscape company was contracted to maintain the lawn and all of the grounds landscaping; also contracted was a professional cleaning company for the building. A “part-time” campus manager, Tom Sellman, was hired to oversee this work and address other needs in and around the church. The clean up work that ensued after this new model was in place was visible to all, especially considering the mess from Tropical storm Debbie.

Fall

When Tom unexpectedly left for “full time” employment elsewhere, Kevin Dyer was hired as his replacement on Sept 19. He came to us with extensive past experience, working for a New Jersey Episcopal church; they highly praised his work ethic as outstanding. He set to work immediately and has continuously communicated with staff and those on the B&G committee. Some of the work he’s overseen before late November’s Diocesan convention included:

Overseeing exterminator work (wasp nests, termite bait stations)
Painting the church front porch ceiling, rails, and trim.
Overseeing the installation of new security cameras.
Constructing a new Peace Pole, painting it and placing it in the ground.
Planting cyclamens, ferns and Dusty Millers in the ground between front steps.
Having Arborcare quickly remove a large pine that Hurricane Helene pushed over, obstructing Meeting St. Also removed were two huge limbs dangling over handicapped parking spaces.
Cleaning debris from all HVAC areas to make way for Lang 72 inspection.

December

Two huge trees, an oak and pine, were removed from the sidewalk area going toward Gordon Mann Hall near the parking lot. Their root systems were cracking, raising, and buckling the sidewalk in two areas, causing a trip hazard and potential liability. Also removed was a giant pine only 4 feet away from the church’s right front portion; it was cracking the nearby cement.

Other tree maintenance was also completed that included:

Cutting away lower limbs all around the parking lot, with tree canopy raised to about 12.’
Removing numerous, upstart young pines behind the chapel, and around the CDC entrance and playground.
Removing a Gum tree whose leaf debris filled the utility enclosure by the kitchen entrance and also the HVAC units.

Respectfully submitted,

Anita L. Hill

Chief Clerk of Vestry, Liaison for Grounds

Worship Report

Acolytes & Lay Readers - Thanks to the gifts of time and talent generously offered by our congregation, the Altar Services ministry was able to seamlessly support our clergy at the altar as needed throughout 2024. Cindy Tull assumed responsibility for the administration of the ministry with the departure of Kerry Smith in October.

The Altar Server responsibilities document was updated to include the new routine for processing in with the choir among other minor edits. There are18 Altar Servers at this time: seven who serve solely at 8:30; nine who serve only at 10:15; and two who can serve at both services. We have seven who can carry the cross for 10:15. There was one new server added to our roster in December.

We are looking through the inventory of albs and cintures with the goal to remove any extras from the very full closet, find another area to store the overflow and ensure they are all laundered on a regular basis. Cindy Tull

Altar Guild - Altar Guild membership is currently holding steady with approximately twenty-three members of both sexes. We have enough volunteers to double up on Sundays 10:15; this practice allows for a reduced work load and fun fellowship for the partners.

Training for new members occurs via a new person "shadowing" an experienced member, until he or she feels ready to solo. On Saturday, December 2, 2023, we had a formal training session with Denise; she reviewed Altar protocol and also discussed the new practice of setting up the Common Cup. We also cleaned and polished silver and brass; this workday saves the church money by avoiding professional treatment of brass and silver. We were then treated to lunch in the parish hall by the rector.

We have been blessed by generous gifts from parishioners, who were consulting our AG Wish List. We have two new Ciboriums (anonymous donor); new white burse, veil, and chasuble/stole (Jeep and Shirley Pearse). Our collection of white vestments is now complete, and we are beginning to enhance our red (Pentecost and Martyr Days). Already, we have a new red veil and burse (Marjorie and Blake Robinson). Monies for additional red linens have been donated, and these items have been ordered for future delivery: red superfrontal (Roberta TeBrake); red lectern hangings (Brad Tufts, Margaret Sarner); red Deacon’s stole (Caroline McVitty), red Pastor’s stole (Colleen Beach). These lovely items will enhance the worship of all parishioners.

In addition, we replaced five worn and frayed albs and cinctures (Loni and David Sanders, Brad Tuffs, Jim Titus, Faith Hahn). I know that acolytes and servers, as well as the congregation, appreciate these generous gifts.

We also kept up with our needs for altar candles (sanctuary and chapel), credence candles, wine, and wafers, of course.

The Altar Guild is a quiet but very fulfilling ministry, and we all appreciate the honor of our call to serve God and God’s people. Nancy Binford

Centering Prayer - We continue to meet upstairs at about 10:30 on Thursdays following the 10 am Eucharist and Healing Service. All are welcome. Juliets is thriving and all newcomers and visitors are welcome to this no agenda breakfast at 9:30 the third Wednesday of each month at British Open Pub, Bluffton. Loni Saunders

Daughters of the King - The ASEC DOK Chapter currently has 18 active members. We meet monthly in a hybrid meeting (In-person and via Zoom). at the conclusion of our most recent Training Program. We welcomed 4 new members in November 2024.

During the past year we have engaged in activities as a group as well as individuals to put into practice the 3 Rules of the Order of the Daughters of the King: Prayer; Service and Evangelism. We maintain a confidential Chapter Prayer List which is updated monthly. We pray for individuals or events or situations for which members or parishioners request intercessory prayer. We participate in the Annual Lenten Prayer Vigil through attendance and assisting with some activities along with preparing the luncheon for attendees.

DOK members organized a Lenten service project to support Hopeful Horizons, a community shelter in Beaufort for women and children who are victims of abuse, assault or rape. Residents receive emotional support, and legal assistance as needed. Food, shelter, clothing and financial assistance are provided and residents receive help in job searches or needed training and financial budgeting principles so that residents can move forward with education and information that will enable them to eventually be able to function independently.

Our members are among the many parishioners who serve ASEC by contributing to our worship activities, our education and study programs that increase and enhance our spiritual growth and knowledge and support activities that assist grieving, sick or shut-in parishioners. We have provided materials and guidance to our CDC students with Advent craft activities for the past two years. We have hosted Coffee Hour on one occasion each year,

Our Order provides other opportunities to take part in the Rules of the Order by contributing to 5 different funds that support the Mission of the Order, Education for clergy and seminarians, Worship and our Junior Daughters. We have a Fall and Spring Assembly with speakers, worship, service opportunities and fellowship. Each winter the Assembly Officers and Advisory Board provide an Information meeting in a parish in each of three areas of the Assembly so members have a opportunity to speak directly with the Assembly leadership.

Interested women of All Saints may contact any DOK Chapter member—we are easily identified by our DOK cross which we wear always. Jenifer Gajdalo, ASEC DOK President

Flower Guild - The Flower Guild of All Saints has continued to function in the traditional manner throughout this year. A Volunteer rotation schedule with assignments planned for 6 months at a time, from January to June and July through December is the system we use .All guild members work at Easter and Christmas to create the more elaborate decorations.

Our Christmas Decorations were completed by only 4 of our members this year as other members were traveling. Jacquie, Marilyn,Joyce and Carol with assistance from Kevin were able to complete the arrangements.

The plans are to expand the guild numbers and so far we have added one new lady to our group,

If there are any questions regarding the flower guild you may contact our leader, Jacquie Jouanet. Carol Cupit

Saturday@5 - Sat@5 continues to offer a more relaxed alternative to Sunday services in the main church building. Our attendance is stable at 50 or so during the winter and a little less when the snowbirds go north. The service continues to attract new folks to ASEC, with several becoming pledging members in 2024.

Our hospitality event after each service remains a key part of the Sat@5 experience. We continue to offer food, wine and friendly social interaction time. Our group is large enough to offer multiple opportunities for meeting and chatting. But we are not so large that cliques form, which would tend to hamper integration of new folks into ASEC thru Sat@5. Of note is that our alcohol service is totally self-sustaining via a donation basket. So only folks who desire alcohol support it. Blair furnishes quarterly and annual accounting to make sure we are self-sustaining.

We continue to have great support from our members. At least ½ of our attendees participate in worship support as readers, eucharistic ministers, musicians, hospitality, altar guild and ushers. We also enjoy unwavering support from the music and altar guild ministries. Thanks to both for all their help

Sat@5 continues to conduct special services for important worship dates throughout the church year. We take special pride in staffing the Christmas Eve family service conducted in the manner of Sat@5. Over 200 folks attended this year.

We are planning several enhancements to Gordon Mann Hall that will provide a more pleasing venue for our services. These should be completed in the first quarter of 2025.

It is our obligation and honor to be an important part of the worship and new member assimilation programs of ASEC. Jim Hackett

Ushers - 2024 was again a year of busy church holiday seasons around Lent, Easter, Advent, Christmas, and Epiphany services. Happily, in November, All Saints hosted the Diocesan Eucharist with six ushers managing a standing room only congregation. This year was also saw long term usher retirements and numerous new ushers joining us. We still need more ushers, especially some who are not Seasonal Saints.

Howard Coonley

Respectfully submitted,

Howard Coonley

Social Justice

In 2024, the Social Justice Ministry(SJM) under the determined leadership of Caroline McVitty, welcomed three new members and two new neighborhood church liasons, offered Lunch and Learn programs, participated in MLK activities in January, began two new education/entertainment programs featuring social justice issues--Movie Night and Coffee & Discussion, continued serving the Child Development Center’s outreach into the community, supported the annual Lenten Prayer Vigil and spearheaded the peace pole relocation project and adoption of the National Episcopal Church pride shield on the ASEC website.

Our ASEC information-sharing liasons effort with neighborhood churches expanded and now includes: Beth Yam Synagogue, Christ Lutheran Church, St. Andrew By the Sea UMC, Latter Day Saints Church, Unity Hilton Head, Hilton Head Presbyterian, Low Country Presbyterian, Low Country Community Church and Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Low Country. Information on programs sent to and from these church communities has enriched the lives of all participants.

SJM held two virtual Lunch and Learn Programs during the year; Galen Miller presented for the MLK Committee for Justice; Meghan Theobold presented for ASEC’s Child Development Center.

We launched two new programs in 2024. Movie Night at ASEC in GMH premiered “JoJo Rabbit “in April with popcorn and an attendance of about 30. Following the movie, attendees engaged in a brief but meaty guided discussion. In November, two days after the national election, our feature was “The Hate U Give” which drew an audience of about 18. The SJM paused Lunch & Learn programming and initiated Coffee & Conversation, which is an hour-long zoomed program featuring a short documentary highlighting social justice issues, followed by a brief guided discussion. Prior to the November election, we showed “Suppressed and Sabotaged: The Fight to Vote”. The event was well attended by people from various faith communities.

The ASEC Lenten Prayer Vigil in March was themed Lighting the Lamp of Peace. One of several prayer activities took place around the ASEC peace pole. Coming out of that activity was a recommendation from the SJM to the Vestry that the peace pole be relocated to a more visible site. It was further recommended that the Vestry include a pride cuff on our peace pole as well as a pride shield on our website. The Vestry unanimously supported both recommendations which were completed by the end of November. The National Episcopal Church pride shield is now on our website and a complementary pride cuff has been added to the peace pole which was relocated to the garden bed at the front entrance to All Saints.

2024 Angel Tree

Report to the Outreach Committee

Prepared by Faith Hahn – 12/23/24

Partners

Hilton Head Middle School – to benefit students identified as at risk by the School social workers. Contact: Nancy Blake, School Social Worker. 843-689-4500. Nancy.Blake@beaufort.k12.sc.us

Hilton Head High School Parents, Teachers, and Staff Organization (HHIHSPTSO) - to bolster their annual Seahawk Support Circle Holiday Bag Program benefiting students within the High School community identified as at-risk by the School social workers. Contact: Audrey Clayton, Seahawk Support Circle Chair. 843-290-5971. hhihsptso@gmail.com. A new chair, Dawn Washington, will be the contact beginning in 2025. Washingtonmichelle188@yahoo.com

Logistics

With the help of a crew of six volunteers (Barbara Colegrove, Lisa Ghessie, Charlie Forbes, Monica Jackson, Claire Carroll and Pam Cooper), trees were set up in the Narthex, Gordon Mann Hall and reception area on November 13. The tags used were created by Jessie McIlwee and featured pictures of each requested item and instructions on the flip side. Jessie also created an on-line wish list on the Church website with links to pre-selected items from Amazon; items could be purchased and shipped directly to the Church. Promotions appeared each week in the eblast and Pelican Post beginning November 14. Announcements of the purpose of the program, the availability of tags and the return deadline were also made at each of the Saturday and Sunday services. A specific itemized announcement of gift shortfalls during the final week unleashed a flurry of donations, eliminating what had looked like a significant miss of our commitments.

The deadline for gifts was Sunday, December 3, later extended to 11am on Monday. The small conference room off Gordon Mann Hall was devoted to gift storage with white curtains hung in the windows to conceal the storage. Gift cards were kept in Jessie McIlwee’s locked office.

Monetary contributions were used to bridge the gap between items requested and items donated; 30 additional backpacks were ordered on December 4. The trees were taken down on Monday, December 4; they and other Angel Tree supplies were boxed and stored in the closet off Gordon Mann Hall.

Gifts were packed and organized by school in Gordon Mann Hall on the morning of December 4 with the help of one volunteer (Leslie McGowan). A crew of five volunteers (Claire Carroll, Jen Gajdalo, Lesley Gilbert, John Gilbert, and Barbara Colegrove) delivered them to the two schools that afternoon.

Results

Middle School

Requested Donated

Total 130 144

Backpacks 20 20

Soccer balls 20 19

Basketballs 20 25

Footballs 20 22

Make up kits 20 24

Metal water bottles 30 34

High School

Requested Donated

Total 160 160

Backpacks 80 80

$25 Walmart

Gift cards 80 80

Jars of peanut butter 36

Boxes of cereal 21

Pkgs. Laundry pods 11

I was under the impression that we started the Angel Tree cycle with roughly $580 in reserve from prior years, but this may be an underestimate. According to Blair Milburn, ASEC Finance Manager, as of December 16, there was a balance of $1852.49 in the account after spending $637.70 to purchase 30 backpacks to meet our gift commitment to the High School. This would suggest that we may have received as much as $1900 in monetary donations this year.

Observations

I am unaware of any push back on the gift requests this year. I received positive feedback regarding the ease of the on-line shopping and shipping option. One non-parishioner donated $200 in gift cards after hearing about the program and being impressed by the Angel Tree page on the website.
Cash donations were up way up this year.
Having the reserve available is very helpful, reducing concerns regarding what to do if promised targets are not met by the gift deadline. However, the current reserve of almost $1900 could be reduced by half while still providing a healthy safety net. It is recommended that the Outreach Committee consider reallocating a portion of the reserve to another ministry or ministries.
The Outreach Committee should determine whether to continue with one or both of its current partners. This decision should be made no later than May 2025 so that the partners can plan accordingly and, if appropriate, a new partner or partners can be identified. It is recommended that we continue with the current partners unless any Mission changes from the Vestry dictate otherwise.
The project schedule, promotion, staff support and volunteer involvement were all well done and need little or no improvement. The mid-program announcement of donation statistics was very motivating and should be incorporated in next year’s plans.