Letter from our Senior Warden

On June 22, I attended both services and gave the Vestry Highlights to everyone in attendance. What a treat to see the way the children eagerly participate in the 9:00 service! How I wish my Sunday service experience could have been like that instead of the pinches on the backs of my arms I received each Sunday from talking and fidgeting (sorry, Mom!). My thanks to Kira Skala - our Rector - for creating this terrific worship option for our families.

I attended Ken Garrett’s presentation “Journey Through Hallowed Ground” on the 22^nd as well. Janet White organized this wonderful talk and slide show - many thanks, Janet! She will be scheduling more events like this throughout the year for the 150^th Anniversary celebration so keep an eye out for her announcements.

Some of you may have noticed the bulletin board for Vestry updates that is now in Parish Hall. The Committee Chairs and I will post news items as they become available. I hope this keeps you up to date on how the Vestry is working for us all.

Speaking of Vestry service, we will be electing the new class for 2011 this fall. I invite you to consider serving on the Vestry at Emmanuel. I have found it to be a wonderfully uplifting way to give back for all of the kindnesses each and every one of you have shown me over the past 4 years. Perhaps this is a way for you to serve the Emmanuel community, too! Please see Nancy Scholl, Ross Armstrong or Hunter DeButts (our nominating committee) if you would like to find out more.

Mimi Davenport, Kira, Nancy Scholl and I met with Len Bell and Fred Stine about spearheading the 150th Special Giving Opportunity campaign in support of our 150^th Anniversary Celebration year. We are in the beginning stages of putting this campaign together but you will be hearing more about this in the near future.

Scott Christian and I continue to flesh out the 3 year Strategic Plan adopted at the last Vestry meeting. We will be finalizing this plan and will post it soon on the bulletin board.

And last but not least, a huge thanks to Helen Christian for all she does for us, including the updates on the Web site at www.emmanuel-delaplane.org <http://www.emmanuel-delaplane.org>. If you haven’t recently, check it out. She posts new information all the time.

Respectfully Submitted,
Mary Ann Patterson
540-937-3617