ALL SAINTS EPISCOPAL CHURCH - SHARON CHAPEL ALEXANDRIA, VIRGINIA Gracious God, we thank you for the blessings of our parish family and the ever-growing spirit we share through your grace. Guide us, O Lord, as you reveal yourself to us, both individually and corporately. Grant us the gifts of insight and discernment so we may share the warmth we enjoy through your love. Keep us ever mindful of the deep roots this parish has in our community and your call to spread the branches of faith ever wider. Empower us, Lord, as we spread your word, and grant us peace, safe harbor, and unity for the sake of your Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ. Amen PARISH PROFILE http://www.sharonchapel.org
Table of Contents Letter from the Search Committee... 3 Our Mission... 4 All Saints Today... 5 All Saints and the Diocese of Virginia... 6 Location and Demographics... 7 Music at All Saints... 8 Buildings and Grounds... 9 Church Ministries and Fellowship... 10 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd... 11 History... 12 The Future... 14 I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep. John 10:11 All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 2
Letter from the Search Committee Welcome to the community of All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel at this time of renewal and transformation. The church is referred to as All Saints throughout this profile. Today we are prayerfully preparing to call a new leader who will walk with us on the journey into an exciting future a deeper relationship with God and new ways of serving Him. Our seven-member Search Committee was commissioned to undertake a standard search for a Rector. Through a parish self-study, a series of focus group meetings, and much discernment and prayer, we learned a great deal about ourselves. We developed a clearer picture of our strengths and weaknesses and fine-tuned our vision for the future of this historic, treasured parish. We also identified the characteristics we would look for in a Rector to lead us in congregation development and growth, now and in the future. After 15 years with our beloved Rector, we recognize that multiple challenges and changes will take place as we move into the next phase of the life of this pastoral church. We hope and pray for a leader who not only has the skills needed at this time and in the future, but also the ability to balance these ministries with a deep and abiding spirituality. We desire To Know Christ and to Make Christ Known so that we might be the people God intends us to be. Please review our profile and prayerfully consider if God may be calling you to ministry at All Saints. We invite you to visit our website for more detailed information about our parish at www.sharonchapel.org. Sincerely, Jacqueline Woodle, Search Committee Chair Search Committee Members Amanda Boak-Riggs, Ron Field, Stephanie Graham, Juanita Illera, Stephen Num, Jim Taylor All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 3
Our Mission When members of the congregation of All Saints are asked about the mission of their parish, they immediately state a familiar theme: To know Christ and to make Christ known. At All Saints this short but extremely meaningful phrase comes to life in several ways. Each of us relies on All Saints as our spiritual home, as the place where we gain the spiritual enrichment to acknowledge and celebrate the blessings that God has bestowed upon us and the place where we gain the strength to overcome the challenges that He places before us. It is through this ongoing spiritual enrichment that we continue the progress of our individual journeys to know Christ. All Saints also is here for the surrounding community. We recognize that one way to fulfill our mission is through our commitment, care, and contributions to those who are most in need. All Saints congregants willingly offer their time, talents, and money to local nonprofits that provide food, shelter, and other essential social services to lower income members of our community, reminding us of the directive from Matthew 5:16 Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. All Saints also contributes to the worldwide community through its prayers and donations for causes and needs in other countries. All of these efforts (individual, congregational, communal, local, and global) contribute to our mission: To know Christ and to make Christ known. Our individual spiritual enrichment contributes to the spiritual family at All Saints. The members of this congregation have formed genuine, deep bonds, and as a result All Saints congregants share a deep level of affection and care for each other. Whether we are offering to provide transportation for an elderly member who no longer drives to church, sharing moments of celebration, or providing thoughts and prayers of consolation, members of All Saints support each other in meaningful ways. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 4
All Saints Today Parishioners treasure the many accomplishments and memories of the past but at the same time eagerly look forward to creating new memories as we move into a new phase of our parish history under new leadership. Our current membership is approximately 210. The number of parishioners has risen and fallen over the years. The majority of our members are over 45 years of age; however, the number of families with young children has increased in the past year or two due to the attraction of our Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program. Complete information on the Catechesis program and the Weekday After-School Montessori Program is on the parish website. The congregation of All Saints is diverse, composed of parishioners from across the United States and from around the world, including sizeable contingents from Ghana and Liberia. Most parishioners are married and live within 10 miles of the church. More than half of the membership has been attending All Saints for more than 10 years. There are two services on Sunday. Liturgical Rite I is celebrated at 8 a.m. and the Rite II service at 10:30 a.m., which is celebrated with all the various forms. Services are supported by acolytes, choir, lectors, lay Eucharistic ministers, altar guild, ushers, and greeters. Nursery care is provided from 9 a.m. to noon. There are informal coffee hours after each service for members to catch up on news and to welcome visitors. Parish working groups also plan parish activities during this time. Each Friday, the All Saints weekly update is published and distributed by email to all registered parishioners with hard copies available. Each issue includes a spiritual message, reports from the Senior and Junior wardens, news of upcoming events, a snippet involving church history, customs or terminology, book or movie recommendations, and other timely topics as they arise. Since its introduction last year, it has been a very welcome addition to communication within the parish. All Saints is also the home to two other faith communities. A Hispanic church, Iglesia de Diós, meets several times a week in the church, and a Korean community, Jesus Love Church, meets every Sunday. The Hispanic church community has participated in several projects including outdoor repairs, parish clean-ups, and the installation of a new brick patio. Our parishioners love their church and are dedicated to growing it, continuing beloved traditions, and adding new events and activities. As we take on contemporary challenges and expand our presence locally and in the wider community, All Saints is seeking an energetic, forward-minded Rector to lead us. Financial Information Sources of Funds $186,867 Pledges, gifts, and in-kind donations $ 33,517 Church Rental, including Gunnell Hall $ 7,926 Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Income $ 2,695 Other Income $17,724 Gunnell Hall Pledges $248,729 Total 2013 Income Uses of Funds $86,470 Clergy $20,719 Worship $23,705 Mission* $18,990 Education, including Catechesis $40,820 Administration $ 400 Fellowship $34,666 Facilities, less Gunnell Hall $21,792 Gunnell Hall Payments $247,562 Total 2013 Spending *Includes Diocese Pledge, Nets for Life, Carpenter s Shelter, and the Outreach Committee Donations All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 5
All Saints and the Diocese of Virginia The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia is the direct descendant of the first Anglican parish in what is now the United States of America. The Diocese of Virginia was organized in May 1785 and was one of the nine dioceses represented at the first General Convention in September 1785 which brought together the Protestant Episcopal Church in the United States of America. Today, the Diocese of Virginia is the largest in the Episcopal Church and includes 38 counties in central and northern Virginia. The headquarters of the diocese is in Richmond, the capital city of the Commonwealth since the 18th century, and the diocesan offices are located in the Mayo Memorial Church House, a 19th century Greek Revival mansion on West Franklin Street. The Diocese also maintains an office at the Falls Church-Episcopal in Falls Church. There are two Diocese-operated conference centers. Roslyn is a yearround conference and retreat center in Richmond located on 150 scenic acres. Shrine Mont conference center is also the home to the Cathedral Shrine of the Transfiguration, the open-air cathedral of the Diocese of Virginia, pictured below. It is open from spring through early November and hosts numerous activities, camps, retreats, and concerts. All Saints has a Diocesan Delegate and Alternate Delegate who attend Diocesan meetings, and a parishioner is chairperson of the Diocesan Standing Committee. More information on the Diocese of Virginia is at www.thediocese.net. The Diocese is part of the Third Province of the Episcopal Church. There are 15 regions in the Province determined by geography. Each has a Regional Council, an elected President, who is a lay person and an appointed Dean, who is a clergy person. The Diocese of Virginia has three bishops: The Rt. Rev. Shannon Sherwood Johnston, Diocesan Bishop The Rt. Rev. Susan Ellyn Goff, Bishop Suffragan The Rt. Rev. Edwin F. "Ted" Gulick, Jr., Assistant Bishop A corporation of the Diocese owns and operates six Episcopal college preparatory schools in five cities and towns in Virginia. The Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary in Virginia, usually known as Virginia Theological Seminary (VTS) is located nearby. VTS offers educational programs to the public and All Saints has benefited from seminarians who have been assigned to the church over the years. Visit the Seminary website at www.vts.edu for more information about VTS and their programs. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 6
Location and Demographics All Saints is located in Fairfax County, Virginia, which is part of the greater Washington, D.C., metropolitan area. The church is approximately 10 miles from downtown Washington with its many museums, galleries, theaters, and sports venues. The Cathedral Church of Saints Peter and Saint Paul in D.C. (The National Cathedral) is both the Episcopal seat of the Bishop of Washington, and the primatial seat of the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The Cathedral offers many opportunities for special services, concerts, and educational events. All Saints is only two miles from charming Old Town Alexandria, with its many historic sites, restaurants, and shops. There are numerous colleges and universities in the area, and opportunities for outdoor activities abound. Although All Saints has an Alexandria address, it is in the Fairfax County governmental jurisdiction. Fairfax County is known for its excellent schools, libraries, recreational facilities, and residential services. Approximately 1.1 million people live in the 395 square miles of the county. The median age is 37.6 and the median family income in 2011 was $119,634. There were 6.8% with incomes below the poverty level. The median market value of all owned homes in 2012 was $430,855. The average rental complex rent in 2011 was $1,433. Approximately 93% of county residents of age 25 or older are high school graduates, and almost 60% of county residents have earned their bachelor s or additional post-graduate degrees. Fairfax County has the largest concentration of technology jobs in the U.S. Many residents work for the U.S. government and for the military. The approximate location of All Saints is marked by the red star on the map to the right. For more on Fairfax County, visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov. More on Alexandria may be found at www.alexandriava.gov. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 7
Music at All Saints The music director of All Saints is responsible for music during the 10:30 service on Sunday and other major services during the church year. Special choral presentations are offered during the Christmas and Easter seasons. When available, the Youth Choir is integrated into some of these special services. The music director rehearses the talented and dedicated adult choir once a week on Thursday evenings and before the Sunday service. The music director accompanies the choir and congregation from our cherished two manual, foot-pedal board, 18 rank, mechanical key action Hook and Hastings Tracker pipe organ. The organ was built circa 1865 in Boston, Massachusetts, and is one of the few extant in the Washington area. It was purchased by the Rev. Louis Bradford as a gift to the church and installed with the most recent building in the 1960s. It has since featured prominently in our services and also attracts interest from the neighboring community. We recently completed significant repairs to the organ and anticipate future maintenance to ensure that it remains a key component of our services in the future. Music is central to our Rite II worship experience, and further enhances the liturgy. Parishioners at All Saints enjoy singing and, in addition to the 1982 Episcopal Hymnal, we recently received a gift of pew copies of Lift Every Voice and Sing, in memory of a beloved parishioner. Because of the African-American origin of these supplemental hymns, we are using our Yamaha digital piano as accompaniment while exploring this welcome gift. Our Music Director Meredith Meersman has been the music director/choir master/organist for All Saints for the last four years. Her background includes 17 years of classical piano study and eight years of percussion study in her hometown of Ventura, California, and at Pacific Lutheran University, Tacoma, Washington. Since the age of 12 Meredith has played percussion in many symphony orchestras; at age 16 she performed a piano concerto with the Ventura County Symphony Orchestra. It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, proclaiming your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. For you make me glad by your deeds, Lord; I sing for joy at what your hands have done. - Psalm 92:1-4 All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 8
Buildings and Grounds All Saints sits at the top of tree-lined Wilton Hill, along Franconia Road. The church building is divided between the administrative wing and narthex, the sanctuary, and our parish hall, Gunnell Hall. Sanctuary Our sanctuary seats approximately 180. Overlooking the sanctuary from the rear of the church is a beautiful stained glass window showing the Good Shepherd, pictured on page 2. Administrative Wing The administrative wing flanks the sanctuary to the right and houses the narthex and entrance to the church. It is here that the church office and comfortable rector s office are housed, at the end of a long hallway. There is also the ample sacristy, the choir room, and the nursery. Gunnell Hall Our parish hall, Gunnell Hall, is an open communal area with a sizable kitchen and is used for hosting parish social events. It is also rented occasionally to local organizations for their events, and has provided a venue for many summer day camps in addition to our own Vacation Bible School. New banquet-style chairs were recently purchased for future events hosted in the Hall. The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd is housed on the second floor of Gunnell Hall. Rectory Our rectory was provided to the parish in 1966 by a generous benefactor. It is a spacious brick center-hall colonial home on a wooded, one-third acre lot approximately two and a half miles from the church property, in the Bush Hill Elementary School District. It has four bedrooms, two and a half bathrooms, a large kitchen with eating area, a separate dining room, screened porch, two fireplaces, and a full basement. The Vestry is currently engaged in upgrades of the Rectory and has expressed willingness to consider alternatives to use of the Rectory by our future Rector. Recent and Planned Improvements We completed several improvement projects in 2013 including new flooring in the narthex and the sanctuary and the replacement of the red carpet on the altar and the nave. The outdoor grounds were also improved. Aged asphalt in the long driveway leading up to the church was patched and repaired, and a swale was constructed to improve rain water drainage and prevent future damage. In Fall 2013, through a generous bequest from a member of the congregation, the patio directly behind the building was replaced with attractive stone, providing an outdoor venue for future parish events. Bishop Susan Goff blessed and dedicated this patio during her visit on the occasion of our patronal feast, pictured above. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 9
Church Ministries and Fellowship Building and Grounds Many generous parishioners participate in ministries focused on the upkeep of our building and grounds, including Helping Hands, Kitchen Care, and Landscaping. Nourishing the Body and Spirit Spiritual, emotional and personal needs of parishioners are supported by several parish ministries: All Saints Women of Faith, the Prayer Chain, Book Club, Coffee Hour Hosts, and Angel Food. Fellowship and Parish-wide Communication This aspect of parish life is supported by the Special Events Committee and the Weekly Parish Update. Our outreach to the local community as well as to the world-at-large includes varied opportunities for service. Christ has no body on earth but yours, no hands but yours, no feet but yours. Yours are the eyes through which Christ s compassion for the world is to look out, yours are the feet with which He is to go about doing good; and yours are the hands with which He is to bless us now. - Saint Teresa of Avila The work of our parish is led by our Rector, Vestry, and other lay leaders who are supported by various groups within the parish. Christian Education Programs such as Adult Christian Education and the Catechesis of the Good Shepherd provide a forum for Bible study and faith development for adults and spiritual growth and nurturing for children and youth. During the past few years, the Adult Education Program studied other faith traditions and Christian denominations in detail by inviting discussions with clergy, visiting other congregations for events and services, and by inviting members of other faiths to visit us in kind. Youth Ministries Ministries specific to the youth of our parish support world-wide efforts to prevent disease and injury in third world countries. These ministries include Nets for Life and Art for Humanity. Parish-wide Ministries The entire parish is involved in several programs of outreach to the community and the world: Our Little Roses, a Christian program that runs a school for girls in Honduras, the Women-to-Women Ministry of the Diocese of Virginia, Hands across the Ocean, Koinonia, and United Community Ministries. Community Volunteers Parishioners aid others by serving dinner at Carpenter s Shelter and at the Fairfax County Nurturing Parenting Program. Parishioners also conduct a monthly Sunday worship service at Sunrise Assisted Living. Other community outreach activities include selling Christmas trees, a crafts bazaar, and hosting an annual Red Cross blood drive. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 10
Catechesis of the Good Shepherd The Catechesis of the Good Shepherd (CGS), built on the work and methods of Maria Montessori, is an approach to the religious formation of children that is based on the conviction that God and the Child are in relationship. The Catechesis presents age-appropriate themes from the Bible and our liturgy with manipulative materials the children use to internalize and ponder the great mysteries of our faith. CGS is a vibrant and active demonstration of All Saints commitment to the education of young children. This program was established in 1998 with a grant from the diocesan Mustard Seed Fund and provides children from ages 2 through 12 with the guidance and vocabulary to enable them to become aware of their relationship with God and give expression to it. The CGS Atrium, a place of prayer and celebration, is located on the second floor of Gunnell Hall and is specially designed with child-sized furniture, including a prayer table for gathering, a model altar, as well as materials to deepen their familiarity with more parables and the liturgy itself. Adults and family members are encouraged to assist and support atrium efforts with many finding their volunteered time a source of enrichment. The Catechesis also offers parental support in the form of Mother and Toddler Groups, Toddler Pre-K Atrium, and weekday afterschool care and outreach. Davette Himes, a Catechesis of the Good Shepherd Trainer, administers and manages the CGS program. Her leadership and commitment have empowered others to spread this important ministry here at All Saints and beyond. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 11
History All Saints has had a historically significant presence in this part of Fairfax County since 1849. Originally known only as Sharon Chapel, it began life as a small frame chapel erected 165 years ago on a parcel of land on Wilton Hill, given by the Froebel family of Wilton Hall. Mrs. Froebel established a Saturday school in this building to teach Christian morals and ethics to the young ladies of rural Happy Valley, as this area was known. On Sundays, the Dean of the Virginia Theological Seminary graciously provided Seminary students to lead worship services that were attended by Christians of all denominations. Sharon Chapel has the distinction of being the first mission of the venerable Seminary, where for 110 years students from the Seminary cared for the needs of this rural mission. Many priests-to-be and future bishops received their early training in preaching and other ministries at Sharon Chapel. The Seminary closed down during the Civil War, and the Froebel land was occupied by the Union Army as a reconnaissance point watching for Confederate troops coming up Telegraph Road. Anne S. Frobel, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. John Jacob Froebel, kept a diary of events during this period that has been published as The Civil War Diary of Anne S. Froebel: Of Wilton Hill in Virginia, in which Sharon Chapel is prominently mentioned. Among the earliest burials of this time were those of two young brothers who died in 1861 after discovering an unexploded shell left over from a nearby battle. Burials on the chapel property continued after the war ended, and the church cemetery has existed ever since. The chapel accidentally burned in 1864. When the Seminary re-opened in 1866, seminarians directed the construction of a new chapel using lumber salvaged from nearby Fort Lyon, part of the Civil War defenses of Washington, located near the present-day Huntington Metro station. Services then resumed at the rebuilt Sharon Chapel, the second Sharon Chapel building, which stood until 1903 when it was replaced by a third frame chapel. The third chapel is shown in both pictures on this page. In 1868, The Rev. Phillips Brooks, a Virginia Theological Seminarian who preached at All Saints wrote the lyrics to the beloved Christmas hymn, O Little Town of Bethlehem. His inspiration, a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, was set to music by church organist, Lewis Redner. Sharon Chapel s evolution to a parish church began when it was made an aided mission of the Diocese of Virginia and was assigned its first full-time priest in 1959. The congregation consisted of just twenty-five communicants, but was poised for growth as Happy Valley and its environs evolved from a rural area of small truck farms to suburban homes occupied largely by government workers. Recognizing its growth, the Diocese of Virginia admitted Sharon Chapel as a Mission church in 1961. As the congregation grew further, the small chapel became inadequate for the needs of its membership, and in 1963 the church building in which we now worship was constructed. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 12
After 125 years of serving the people of what became known as the Franconia area of Fairfax County, just outside the city limits of Alexandria, the Diocesan Annual Council accepted our petition for parish status in April 1974. All Saints was chosen as our patronal name by the parish, and we have been All Saints Episcopal Church- Sharon Chapel ever since, a name that captures both our history and our still-significant presence in the area. Since the 1960s, much has been done to expand our facilities. In 1968 the parking lot was first paved, and in 1971 Gunnell Hall was added to meet the educational and social needs of the evolving parish. Gunnell Hall was updated and expanded in the 2000s to add a second floor to house our wonderful Montessori-based Catechesis of the Good Shepherd program for young children. Above: Sharon Chapel Sunday School Picnic at Cameron School, sometime between 1907 and 1910. Below: Parishioners today celebrate Pentecost by decorating the church with red balloons. A great strength of All Saints-Sharon Chapel is its mixture of families and individuals of all ages, some of whom have generations of history in this area and some who have just arrived. We are open to all and cherish the broad diversity of people who come to us from all over the U.S. and the world. We consider All Saints central to the unity of our lives and the continuing love and fellowship we share on this historic hilltop. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 13
The Future Because of our desire to share the good news of Christ more widely, All Saints top priority in the future is to grow its parish family -- and to identify a permanent rector whose skills fit this priority. It is widely acknowledged throughout the congregation that All Saints needs to attract younger congregants, both singles and families. Almost 43% of respondents to All Saints recent self-study survey were age 65 and over, indicating that we need an infusion of younger members to allow us to continue to move forward effectively with our mission. We seek a rector who has the vision necessary to reshape existing programs and introduce new initiatives to enrich and grow the parish. One of the key factors in attracting new congregants will be our ability to provide ministries which will attract and retain young people. We seek a rector who is comfortable with and inspirational to young people and who brings new ideas which will make young people feel more engaged in the church. While attracting more young people to our parish family is a major objective, we also believe that we must continue to acknowledge the efforts and experiences of current, long-standing members who have been the pillars of All Saints for generations. We seek a rector who will appreciate the history of the parish while seamlessly integrating new ideas and who will connect with members at all stages of their lives. Another key factor which will impact our future growth is our ability to use social media effectively to market All Saints to its surrounding community. Many members of the congregation have expressed interest in using Facebook and other forms of new media to spread the word about All Saints. We seek a rector who will embrace new ways to promote and communicate All Saints services and activities in the community. Of course, the goal is not only to attract new members to All Saints it is also to retain new members, and our self-study survey indicates that effective sermons are extremely important to maintaining attendance on Sundays. We seek a rector who will inspire our congregation with his/her preaching by making scripture relevant to people s everyday lives and experiences. The parish acknowledges that our overall administrative infrastructure needs improvement (a need which will become even more important as the parish grows in the future). We seek a rector with strong administrative, organizational, and supervisory skills who brings a basic understanding and comprehension of parish financial issues. And finally, we recognize that these objectives are not an individual effort; we know that the permanent rector and the congregation will need to develop a strong relationship to make these goals a reality. We seek a rector who values relationships and who will bring a collaborative approach to leading All Saints into the future. If, after reading this description of our church, you feel that All Saints may be where you are being called, please send your Ministry Portfolio to the Search Committee at saintssearch@cox.net. We look forward to your response. All Saints Episcopal Church - Sharon Chapel, Parish Profile 14