2018 A N N UA L R E P O R TDrawing Near

About this reportThis report is organized in sections that correspond with the broad ministries of our church: Worship, Care & Connect, Grow & Equip, and Go. Each section has ministry highlights from 2018, as well as a look ahead to where God is calling our ministries to Draw Near in 2019.

We are excited to report that we exceeded 2017 income by more than $300K. A detailed financial report from 2018 is available in the annual meeting or by contacting Marilyn Patterson, chief financial officer, mpatterson@sjd.org, 713.354.2215.

Our Organization

WORSHIP MINISTRYSteven Newberry

INTERIM RECTORBishop Gary Lillibridge

GO MINISTRYThe Rev. Matt Marino

CARE MINISTRYThe Rev. Louise Samuelson

GROW MINISTRYThe Rev. Reagan Cocke

EQUIP MINISTRYThe Rev. Charlie Holt

OPERATIONS MINISTRY

Suzanne Boué

CONNECT MINISTRYKim Jameson

About this Report..........................................................................2

Drawing Near ...............................................................................4

St. John the Divine in Action .........................................................6

SJD Leadership ............................................................................15

Table of Contents

04

05

Let me begin by thank-ing you all for the warm welcome that you have extended to Catherine and me. Since we joined you on January 3rd, it has been a pleasure to begin to get to know you as individuals as well as to

begin to understand the ministries, hopes, and strong history which frames our corporate life.

I look forward to seeing what our Lord has in store for us in 2019. Partnering with Christ in his continuous redeeming and reconciling work is a true honor, and one to which I have dedicated my entire adult life. What a blessing it is for me to now share a bit of our journey together.

In this brochure, you will fi nd the ministry reports which involved and reached so many in 2018. One of the greatest privileges that the Christian life includes is to take a blessing that we receive and then put that blessing into mo-tion so as to be a blessing to others. You can see this happening throughout the ministry reports attached.

I look forward to a strong and faithful 2019, under our theme for this year, “Draw Near.” Having this as our focus will enable us to grow deeper and closer to God in Christ, and grow in our love of neighbor in countless ways. Our 2019 “Draw Near” focus can be nicely summed up in the words of Hymn 654: Day by day, dear Lord, of thee three things I pray: to see thee more clearly, love thee more dearly, follow thee more nearly, day by day.

Lord, make these words more than words, and give us the Spirit of Jesus.

Bishop Gary LillibridgeInterim Rector

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7,620 Peopleworshiped at

Holy Week, Easter, and Christmas Services

Worship in 2018

acolytes, prayer ministers, readers, ushers, lay

eucharistic ministers, andaltar guild, linen guild,

wedding guild, funeral guild members

311

Youth Lector Guild Established

the youth read in church services one Sunday a month

photo courtesy Greg Buffone

07

drawing near in 2019

38 Children& YouthChoristers

photo courtesy Greg Buffone

12 VolunteerParishMusicians

played at the 5 pm service

2,100people attended Entersect produced events including:

• Christmas on the Boulevard• Holy Week concert• Canterbury Choir concert• Organ Plus Psalm Concert• Psalm art event• 2 Evensong services• 4 Taizé services

• Collaborate with the Prayer Ministry in the Drawing Near to God Weekend interactive worship experience.• Amplify our Holy Week experience by adding visual art inspired by the text of Handel’s Messiah.• Continue to offer and elevate our many diverse worship experiences.

4joined the ContemporaryBand in the Hall Life Center

NewMusicians

Care & Connect in 2018

was re-invigorated as it opened its doors to all for prayer and refl ection

The DeForest Chapel

attended Christmason the Boulevard(along with two camels)

1,000people

attended Christmaspeople

attended Christmas

,people

,over

pastoral carehotline launchedhotline launched

60Ambassadors welcome, engage, and connect parishioners & guests

160 People participated in New Member Dinnershosted by the Episcopal Church Women

100 People welcomed at 3 diff erent Welcome Coff eeshosted by the Episcopal Church Women and Ambassadors

St John the Divine thrives on relationships and the Connect Team is happy to help you fi nd your place to in the vibrant life of this church!

09

drawing near in 2019

125Easter egg packages and poinsettias delivered to older parishioners

• Promote community at parish-wide connection events.• Invite the entire church family to a prayer ministry led Draw Near to God Weekend in March.• Launch The Mourner’s Path six-week grief process for all who are mourning a loss.• Train nine new Stephen Ministers to continue to care for our parishioners.• Continue to help every person in our church discover their God-given gifting and purpose through a spiritual gift class.

Prayer Initiatives in 2018 include:

• the kick-off of Second Sundays of Prayer• weekly prayer with homeless neighbors

at Lord of the Streets• the creation of an active Order of St.

Luke chapter focusing of the healing Luke chapter focusing of the healing Luke chaptermiracles of Jesus

• the mobilization of the Daughters of the King who now pray during all our services and major meetings

Everyhas an assigned care receiver, to whom they provide a listening, caring presence.

Stephen Minister

70adults & youth

were confi rmed or received

baptisms37

REV. CHARLIE HOLT

THE

STRONG FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH

NEWCOVENANT

and the

EARLY CHURCH

Grow & Equip in 2018

180VBS Volunteers

over half of them youth

4 SumnersSeries Speakers

ESL Classes grew from

4 to 75 75 75students350 kids attendedVacation Bible School

and produced and produced one Core bookone Core book

launched

5 Core classesCore classes

Launched Life GroupBible Studies

800400400

Crucifi ed Life participants

Resurrected Life participants

Spirit-Filled Life participants

11

REV. CHARLIE HOLT

THE

STRONG FOUNDATIONS OF FAITH

NEWCOVENANT

and the

EARLY CHURCH

drawing near in 2019

63 attended Senior’s Ministryeducation programs

25 young professionalswent on pilgrimage to the Holy Land in December

11people ministered to100kids and teachers on the Family Mission Trip

• The Lenten Life Groups will feature new curriculum, Draw Near, by the Rev. Charlie Holt, with video lessons featuring St. John the Divine members.• The Easter Life Groups will follow a Book of Revelation study by Meg Rice.• Expand The Core by offering new sections.• Travel in pilgrimage to Egypt this March.• Offer opportunities for families to draw near together through varied parent and student classes.

375 people attendedthe Global Leadership Summit

242 from outside SJD

people

Average Sunday schoolattendance spring & fall of 2018(Adult, Children & Youth)

347approximately 40% of people attending the two 9 am & 11 am services

$12,950210 people attended the Youth

Red Candle Dinner where

was raised for youth missions

35 GO Grantsgiven to Life Groups to continue to help Houston heal after Harvey

8,8,8 469people served in our

community bySt. John the Divine

outreach volunteers, GO Life Groups, and Harvey Bunkhouse

Go in 2018The world’s need • Our unique contribution • For God’s glory

Created a new strategic mission team to give lay oversight and alignment to all our outreach endeavors and re-charted local outreach and world missions teams.

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grants awarded to these 10 world missions partners:SOUTH ASIAAbba House — NepalCrossway Ministries — NepalHigher Ground Ministries — NepalBridges to Pakistan — Pakistan

SOUTH AMERICAAmistad Mission — Bolivia

CENTRAL AMERICAFaith in Practice — GuatemalaMexico Medical Missions — MexicoNew Life School — Guatemala

CARIBBEANHaiti Education Foundation

AFRICAThe Mustard Seed Project — Rwanda

The world missions committee has provided missionary grants to Christina Eickenrohtand Mary Frances Dunlap

grants awarded to 5 grants awarded to 5 organizations though the Special Outreach Fund:

Eyes on Me

Seminary Scholarships (3)

School Support - Makarios School

Texas Christian Community Development Network

St. Isidore Episcopal Church

drawing near in 2019• Identify strategic opportunities to mobilize.• Engaging entrepreneurial problem solving to develop innovative solutions.• Measuring the impact of mobilization in our community and with our partners.

grants awarded to these 10

# grants awarded& agencies helped

outreach/mission agencies to serve Houstonand the world

81

grants awarded to these 54 local organizations: CAMPUSCRUIntervarsity (UofH)

CHILDREN AND YOUTHArrow Child & Family Care (Freedom Place)Boys & Girls CountryToday’s HarborCasa de Esperanza de los NiñosCovenant House

EDUCATIONArchway AcademyNehemiah Neighborhood CenterSmall Steps Nurturing CenterYellowstone Academy

EPISCOPAL SEMINARIES/LEADERSHIPSeminary of the SouthwestTrinity School for MinistryWycliffe Hall

HEALTHEpiphany Community Health Outreach Services (ECHOS)Hospitality Apartments (HRDF)

HOMELESSThe BeaconLord of the Streets (LOTS)Mission of YahwehOpen Door MissionSEARCH for the Homeless

HUNGERChristian Community Service CenterCCSC Capital CampaignInterfaith Ministries (Meals on Wheels)Kids’ MealsL.I.F.E. Houston

INNER CITY MINISTRIESAgape Development MinistriesAgape Capital CampaignIglesia de San MateoRestoration Community ChurchThe FORGE for Families

MENTAL HEALTHBo’s PlaceBrookwood CommunityHouston Aphasia Recovery CenterPalmer Drug Abuse Programre: MindThe Council on RecoveryVita-Living, Inc.

OTHERRector’s Outreach Fund

PREGNANCY AND ADOPTIONHouston Pregnancy Help CenterLifeHouseThe Source for Women

PRISON MINISTRIESAlpha HoustonBridges to LifeHis Father’s Heart MinistryNo More VictimsPrison Entrepreneurship ProgramWorkFaith Connection

SENIORSAmazing PlaceHolly Hall Retirement CommunityCarePartners (The Gathering)

YOUTH CAMPINGCamp Allen Capital CampaignCamp for AllYellowstone Scouting Cub Scout Pack 255Young Life Greater Houston

grants awarded to these 12 Harvey recovery partners:grants awarded to these 12 Harvey recovery partners:GO Grants to SJD Life GroupsAgape Propery Repair TeamEast Harris County Empowerment CouncilFree Indeed International ChurchFriends of Northside (Attack Poverty)Kerusso Grace Church

Led2ServeLiving ParadigmNorthshore Community Fellowship of FaithPlant with PurposeUnited Health PartnersWorld Vision

drawing near in 2019

Operations in 2018

• Creating Ministry Support Groups to help bring parishioners together who have a common love and interest for particular ministries.• Replacing the HVAC system thanks to the support of the Memorial Endowment Fund (learn about the fund at sjd.org/give/legacy-giving).• Streamlined ministry support throughout our organization.• Continued technological enhancement to amplify parishioner engagement with one another and the church.14

LaunchedContemporary Service Livestreamand satellite livestream community at The Hallmark.

Generosity Up!2018 off erings 102% An increase of more than 300K from 2017Thank you for your generosity!

Financial, Technical & Administrative Support

to all ministries ofSt. John the Divine

132services livestreamed in 2018

Bishop Gary Lillibridge, Interim Rector

The Rev. Reagan W. Cocke, Associate Rector

The Rev. Charlie Holt, Associate Rector

The Rev. Matt Marino, Associate Rector

The Rev. Louise Samuelson, Curate

The Rev. Gregory J. Bu� one

Clergy

Vestry

2018

August Al-Uqdah, IISr. Warden

Devera Allday

Paula Douglass

Laura Goehrs, Clerk

Chaille Hutcheson

Charles Ofner

2019

Melissa Grobmyer

Eileen Hairel

Grant Hall

Bill Kinney

Jim Loftis, Jr. Warden

Barbara Strobel

2020

Andy Breckwoldt

Drew Burgoyne

Craig Childers

Chap Hutcheson

Carolyn Kirklin

Patty Shepherd

Officers

Michael Young, Treasurer

Scott Weber,

Chair of Endowment Fund

Associate Vestry

2018 – 2020Jerry Boldra

Laura Borda

Max Buja

Travis Chulick

Randy Dolan

Heather Firestone

Emily Hodges

Dave Jeans

Amy Johnson

Ewing King

Karina Patman

Jennifer Roberts

John Rosson

Bryan Sanchez

Hadley Smith

Elizabeth Toedt

2017 – 2019Todd Saha, Sr. Warden

Ryan Miller, Jr. Warden

Josh Baker

David Barringer

Trevor Brock

Tony Brown

Scott Butler

Charles Conrad

Stephen Gilley

Hirschel Hamner

Meghan Jones

Caroline Kennedy

Melissa McWilliams

Cristina Montalvo

Philip Tardy

Len Wehrung

SJD Leadership

2450 River Oaks Blvd — Houston, Texas 77019

713.622.3600 — sjd.org