Trinity Episcopal Church

Kirksville, Missouri June 2010

www.trinitykirksville.org
Mission: We are an inclusive community of faith, strengthened by joyful hearts and engaged minds.

Who We Are
Trinity’s congregation is
changing. About half of our
members began attending
Trinity in the past ten years.
Another thirty percent began
“In our congregation,
attending ten to twenty years genuine care for each
ago. And about twenty
percent have been with other and a shared
Trinity for more than twenty
years. In addition to these love of liturgy and
members, Trinity serves
students from Truman State worship provide an
University, A.T. Still
University, and Moberly Area essential touchstone
Community College.
for each of us.”
People who have been
with Trinity for more than Bishop Smith with confirmation class, October 2008.
twenty years have a wealth of
knowledge. They remember To understand Trinity’s the comfort of a circle of
the growth of daughters and people, we asked ourselves, friends. People need a space
sons as well as turning points “What drew us here?” A long to share what is deeply
in congregational history. In time member and a first-time important to them, to share
contrast, some college visitor may be drawn by a what speaks to them from the Table of Contents
students may not tend to be love of music. A faculty wealth of God’s creation. In Who We Are; Our Goals 1
concerned with history, but member and a retiree may be our congregation, genuine
have a lively sense of drawn by their love of the care for each other and a
Supporting Worship: Music, 2
Trinity’s social justice words of scripture. An shared love of liturgy and Preparation, Lay Leaders
commitments, such as our energetic child and a busy worship provide an essential
professional may be drawn by touchstone for each of us. Supporting Worship: Sunday 3
choice to be an Oasis School, Hospitality, Nursery
congregation.
Book Club; Canterbury Club; 4
Kirksville Interchurch Ministry

Our Goals Outreach; Fundraisers;

Communication
5

 Practice more active program.  Continue to address our Parish Finances; Stewardship and 6
hospitality in our property issues at the Care for Each Other
 Become more intentional
interactions with visitors regarding outreach and church and the vicarage. Qualities We Seek in a Vicar; 7
History
and new members. mission.  Work productively with
Brief History of Trinity; Brief 7
 Provide better care for  Develop and offer new our geographic location History of the Diocese
each other. worship and gathering and the rural nature of
Our Community: Features, 8
opportunities. our region. Demographics, Church
 Develop a stronger
children’s and youth
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 2

Supporting Our Worship—Music

The cornerstone of our music program Trinity’s active music ministry
is congregational singing, inspired by a includes contributions from a string
choir known throughout the Diocese of ensemble and a brass ensemble. Many
Missouri. The purpose of the music is to unique events throughout the year provide
bring us all closer to God and to each opportunities for musical offerings. For
other, and the variety and depth of the example, we have recently sung the Bach
music demonstrate many ways of doing cantata, How Brightly Beams the Morning
that. Most of the hymns we sing are from Star, as well as large portions of Handel’s
the Hymnal 1982 and Lift Every Voice Messiah. This past Easter, we premiered
and Sing II, but we also use music from a a work by a student composer. We
variety of other sources and traditions. encourage talented musicians, composers,
Hymns are chosen by the vicar and the and arrangers from the church
choir director, and favorite hymns may membership and the wider community to
A string ensemble playing at our service
also be suggested by worship participants. see Trinity as a place where their gifts can at Thousand Hills State Park (“the lake”).
be offered for the glory of God.

Supporting Our Worship—Preparation

The members of Altar Guild are We also have bakers who have
part of one of the oldest ministries at provided homemade bread for our
Trinity. They assist in setting the table Sunday morning Eucharist. Currently
for the Eucharistic feast and portraying two people provide this for us, but they
the various church seasons. Altar guild would love to have others join in this
members share an interest in the liturgy, effort.
in textile and needle arts, and flower
arranging. They are responsible for the
care and preparation of the altar, linens,
candles, and flowers. Kerrin Smith offers home-baked bread.

Supporting Our Worship—Lay Leaders

Lay leaders during worship service take their turns on various Sundays. Licensed lay
include acolytes, chalice bearers, Each Sunday a volunteer is scheduled to preacher
intercessors, and lectors. Acolytes vest for read the designated portions of the Old and Maria Evans
delivers a
worship and carry the processional cross. New Testament. The lector also leads us in sermon.
They also assist the priests at the altar. the reading of the designated Psalm.
Chalice bearers (Eucharistic ministers) Recently we have begun a lay preaching
assist the priests at the Eucharist by ministry and already have one licensed lay
serving the consecrated wine and are preacher. A small core of people has taken
licensed by the Bishop. up the challenge of working on new
Part of the liturgy each week is to pray worship and gathering opportunities,
for the church and the world. Volunteers including Taize-style worship.
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 3

Supporting Our Worship—Sunday School

Trinity adopted the Godly Play parents. However, as the age range of the
curriculum for young children in 2007. children increases, and as we attract more
Parents and other volunteers have enjoyed families to our church, our creative
working with the children using its volunteers will consider additional
framework. Who wouldn’t want to spend options.
time with a child who says, “Craft time is We want to make better connection
when we get to look deeply into our with Diocesan programs to help serve
thoughts and make what we see in our older children and youth. And we need to
minds about the [Bible] stories”? develop our own single-event
One of our goals is to develop a programming for those older children and
stronger children’s and youth program. youth.
We hope to continue to strengthen the
Godly Play program for young children
and to encourage the participation of
adult church members who are not Children learn to participate
in Sunday worship.

Supporting Our Worship—Hospitality

Hospitality begins with the smiling members by more openly valuing their
person who greets members and visitors interest in Trinity and by offering
alike—our beloved Lola Lampe. It opportunities for involvement that they
continues with worship participants who perceive as appropriate. We are aware of
extend the peace of God to people the dominant number of faculty and
surrounding them. A volunteer will invite students in our congregation, and we want
visitors to write their names in our guest to be especially careful that we make
book and indicate whether they’d like to people who are not in those groups feel
receive our e-newsletter. comfortable with us.
One of our goals is to practice active
hospitality with visitors and new

Supporting Our Worship—Nursery

Each year, we hire a caregiver to recruited to help, especially during the
gently guide our youngest children as summer months.
they play and rest while parents attend the We also provide nursery care during
Sunday morning service. In 2009, we activities that do not occur on Sundays.
added another caregiver for children who We know we need to be more reliable
graduated from the nursery and are about providing this kind of care so
transitioning to the worship service. parents can feel confident that their young
Parents play an active role in the care of children will be welcome when they wish
their children and sometimes substitute to attend a regular church activity or a
when a caregiver is ill or gone. Parish special event. Lola, our superb greeter, gets to know our
members who are not parents are also newest baby.
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 4

Book Club
Membership in the “book club” varies leader and participants—some have been
from book to book. Depending on the held on Sundays after coffee hour; others
book and the discussion leader, it may over an evening meal at a local restaurant.
take two to five sessions to explore the In the past year, many of us have read at
text, often with the assistance of specific least one of the following books: A Wing
discussion questions or guides from the and a Prayer (Jefferts Schori), Green
leader. Any adult at Trinity can propose a Christianity (Wallace), The First
book and/or volunteer to be a discussion Christmas (Borg and Crossan), Serving
leader, including clergy. and Giving (John-Roger and Kaye), The
We typically have four or five of these Last Week (Borg and Crossan), and
each year, and each session draws Radical Hospitality: Benedict’s Way of Scott Alberts leads discussion of Serving
between half a dozen and a dozen Love (Homan and Pratt). and Giving.
participants, depending on individual
schedules and levels of interest.
Discussions are usually scheduled by the

Canterbury Club
Through Diocesan funding, Trinity There are several active campus
provides a small stipend for a peer ministries in Kirksville, including
minister. Trinity provides support for Campus Christian Fellowship, Catholic
Canterbury Club as part of campus Newman Center, Baptist Student Union,
ministry. Last year, members gathered at Campus Crusade for Christ, Lutheran
the vicarage for Bible study on Sunday Student Fellowship, Flame Ministries/
evenings, often preceded by a simple Wesley House, Hillel, and the Muslim
supper from a parish member. The Club Student Association, among others. Our
has been hosted at the homes of parish group is typically three to ten students;
members. Canterbury Club members we believe we have the opportunity to
often assist with regular parish activities. grow. Canterbury Club at Activities Day at
Truman State University

Kirksville Interchurch Ministry

We donate annually to Kirksville lunches for children in need at the local
Interchurch Ministries (KIM) for those parks as part of the Food 4 Kids program.
ministries defined in KIM guidelines as Our long-time representative to KIM
those “best done in unity.” These include attends bimonthly meetings and
support for the Salvation Army and the encourages us to continue contributing to
Christian Community Food Depot, and these community-wide efforts. Our
Food 4 Kids. Each week, worship clergy are also involved in KIM activities.
participants bring donated food to the
Sunday service which is then taken to the
Food Depot. During July of each year, Priest Associate Carrol Davenport wearing
Trinity members volunteer to provide chasuble made by parishioner
Nancy Rosenberg.
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 5

Outreach
The first Sunday of each month, plate who have recently been or are currently
offerings are designated for community sheltered, so that they too can offer gifts
charities. This spring we began a year- to loved ones. There are always ideas for
long effort to help foster families in Adair outreach and volunteers who step forward
County. During Mardi Gras week, the when a potential project tugs on their
choir hosts a red beans and rice affair to hearts. For example, we hosted Waters of
support victims of natural disasters Hope riders in 2009.
(Hurricane Katrina, earthquake in Haiti). Our goal to become more intentional
Summer brings our annual involvement in regarding outreach and mission involves
the summer food program for kids who engaging more actively in our
need lunches. Through our December community, working more closely with
Mitten Tree, we provide mittens, hats, other churches in our area both
scarves and gloves to the Salvation Army individually and through KIM, and
Waters of Hope riders enjoy breakfast at
for distribution to youngsters. We also building on the style of quiet evangelism Trinity.
help purchase gifts and wrap for children that seems to work best for us.

Fundraisers
For more than 25 years, Trinity The newest fundraiser is the annual
members have gathered in the undercroft plant sale. Perennials and annuals are
on two Lenten Saturdays to create the sold to the public in the churchyard or at
much-coveted Trinity chocolate Easter the Farmer’s Market.
eggs. We make and sell from 300 to 500 We know our biggest fundraising
eggs, generating at least $1,000 for challenge will be a capital campaign to
Trinity. Our busy transition year in 2010 address property issues at the church and
meant that this effort was not organized. vicarage. We are keenly aware of the
We hope to repeat its traditional success need to make our building more
in future years. accessible. The Easter egg crew at work!

Communication
Five to six Trinity newsletters are weddings, births, and funerals.
distributed to approximately 100 e-mail Our interim pastor instituted a weekly
addresses and nine postal addresses each e-newsletter to provide more formal
year. A typical newsletter includes a means of frequent communication with
message from the vicar, an update from the congregation.
the senior warden, announcements about Recently we have made more
coming events, a reflection from a information available on our website.
member, as well as appropriate Lenten meditations were offered online to
photographs and illustrations. In between our members this past spring.
issues, emails and telephone contact
spread the word about parish news— Joanne Harwood and
Bob Reed eat barbecue and visit.
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 6

Stewardship and Care for Each Other

We strongly desire to use our time, talents, and treasure for the work of the Spirit. We begin that work in caring for each other-
balancing outreach and in-reach, supporting each other with prayer and works, preventing burnout among our members, and
sensitizing ourselves to feelings of inclusion and exclusion among us. We extend ourselves to our community and our world, with a
deep sense of gratitude for the time, talents, and treasure we have been given.
As the number of pledges has decreased slightly, the average amount of pledges has increased. We understand that in a time of
transition, there will be some decline in membership.

Year Pledging units Amt pledged Avg Pledge

2006 35 $60,010.00 $1,715
2007 34 $64,560.00 $1,899
2008 33 $62,560.00 $1,896
2009 36 $81,350.00 $2,260
2010 30 $76,387.00 $2,546

Parish Finances
Our plate and pledge income has risen steadily since 2001, from approximately $40,000 then to over $90,000 in 2009. As a
mission parish in the Diocese, we receive Diocesan aid. Our goal is to reduce this amount each year until we become self supporting.
Our worship attendance has risen from an average of about 40 in 2001 to an average of about 60 in 2009. Our number of pledging
units has decreased slightly in the past few years, from 35 in 2006 to 30 in 2010. Our 2009 budget, 2009 actuals, and 2010 budget are
shown below.
Category 2009 Budget 2009 Actuals 2010 Budget %
Category 2009 Budget 2009 Actuals 2010 Budget %
INCOME Pledged & Plate $84,650.00 $90,443.46 $81,787.00 80.18%
Diocesan
INCOME Aid $19,000.00 $19,000.00 $16,520.00 16.19%
Misc Pl edged & Pl a te $4,400.00 $84,650.00 $90,443.46
$5,921.74 $81,787.00 80.18%
$3,700.00 3.63%
Total Income Di oces a n Ai d $108,050.00 $19,000.00 $115,365.20
$19,000.00 $16,520.00 $102,007.00
16.19% 100.00%
Mi s c $4,400.00 $5,921.74 $3,700.00 3.63%
EXPENSES
Total Income $108,050.00 $115,365.20 $102,007.00 100.00%
Clergy
EXPENSES $63,900.00 $64,361.30 $58,580.00 55.85%
Building Cl ergy $13,500.00 $63,900.00 $12,473.93
$64,361.30 $58,580.00 $17,300.00
55.85% 16.50%
Music Bui l di ng $9,200.00 $13,500.00 $12,473.93
$9,469.44 $17,300.00 16.50%
$9,200.00 8.77%
Outreach Mus i c $14,800.00 $9,200.00 $16,014.13
$9,469.44 $9,200.00 $14,550.00
8.77% 13.87%
Outrea ch $14,800.00 $16,014.13 $14,550.00 13.87%
Worship $4,200.00 $3,199.16 $3,100.00 2.96%
Wors hi p $4,200.00 $3,199.16 $3,100.00 2.96%
Misc Mi s c $2,450.00 $2,450.00 $2,699.98
$2,699.98 $2,150.00 $2,150.00
2.05% 2.05%
Total Expenses Total Expens es $108,050.00 $108,050.00 $108,217.94
$108,217.94 $104,880.00 $104,880.00
1.00 100%

2009 end of year

accounts
Checking $16,832.00
Savings $34,397.00
CDs & Investments $34,000.00
Overall Total $85,229.00
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 7

Qualities We Seek in a Vicar

We seek a vicar who is able to:  Develop lay leadership in peer ministry
and adult learning
 Motivate us, spiritually inspire us,
teach us
 Build strong complementary
relationships with a beloved associate
 Get to know us as individuals, care for priest, an active laity, and the Diocese
us, stand with us in times of need
 Help us be better stewards of our parish
 Establish a campus presence and resources, including our buildings,
explore relationships with various finances, and our time and talents
types of students attending the three
campuses in Kirksville
It also helps if you walk on water (and can We’re ready to work with you!
turn water into wine)...Seriously, it really
helps if you have a sense of humor!

Brief History of Trinity

Trinity was founded in 1870 and the building was deconsecrated and put up for
church was dedicated in 1873. This first sale. Because of the Great Depression,
church was damaged by fire in 1907. Rev. there were no buyers. Community
Putney requested Diocesan funding to members talked with the Right Reverend
match local pledges for a new church in William Scarlett who reopened the church
1915. The church was consecrated in in 1939. We have been an active mission
1917 and uses the design principles church ever since.
advocated by the Cambridge Camden The current altar was built and
Society for rural Episcopal churches. installed in the early 1980s. The sacristy Congregation in churchyard on Palm
Added American Craftsman details help was remodeled in 2003; the nursery and Sunday.
the church blend with neighboring homes. narthex were refurbished in 2004. We are
Trinity declined in mid-1920 and the currently concerned about handicapped
Diocese authorized closure in 1928. The accessibility.

Brief History of the Diocese

The Diocese was founded in 1841 to are in St. Louis, adjoining Christ Church Book of Common Prayer, the ordination
serve nine congregations throughout the Cathedral. of women, and the full inclusion of gay,
state of Missouri. After the Civil War, the Since the early 1900s, the Diocese has lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered
diocese grew to 51 congregations and 40 addressed compelling social issues, in- members.
missions. In 1886, the Diocesan Conven- cluding homelessness during the Great The diocese also has a strong history
tion approved splitting it into eastern and Depression, social reform and prison min- of international cooperation. Currently,
western sections. The current Episcopal istry in the 1930s, and civil rights issues our companion diocese is the Diocese of
Diocese of Missouri is the eastern section, throughout the latter half of the 20th cen- Lui in southern Sudan. Similar relation-
comprised of 47 congregations in 54 tury. Social issues continue to be debated ships with the Diocese of Puerto Rico and
counties, headed by the Right Reverend vigorously in recent years, including in- the Diocese of Nigeria were successful.
George Wayne Smith. Diocesan offices ternal issues such as the use of the new
 Trinity Episcopal Church - Page 8

Our Community: Features

Kirksville is a rural town of just over 17,000 people. It adjoins three large conservation
areas in northeast Missouri. The area offers several recreation opportunities for the outdoor
enthusiast, such as swimming and boating at Thousand Hills State Park, hiking and biking,
hunting and fishing. The city manages indoor and outdoor swimming pools at the Aquatic
Center, open year round. A local YMCA, a cardiac rehab and fitness center, and student
recreation centers at Truman State University and A.T. Still University also serve the
community. The city and interested citizens are currently planning for a walking/biking trail
that would run from city center to Thousand Hills State Park.
Northeast Regional Medical Center (109 beds) serves the area through 70 active
physicians, including specialists in over 30 areas. Kirksville is also home to the founding
college of osteopathic medicine, A.T. Still University. Kirksville R-III school district has an Along the trail at Thousand Hills
State Park (photo by Tim Barcus).
early childhood center, primary school, elementary school, middle school, and high school, as
well as an area technical school.
The cost of living is approximately 26 percent below the U.S. average. Housing is
generally perceived as affordable. The median cost of a three-bedroom home is $105,000.

Our Community: Demographics

Kirksville’s population is less diverse than the U.S.
population, with approximately 93-95 percent of Caucasian
origin, and small numbers of African-Americans, Hispanics,
and Asians. Poverty levels, both individual (30%) and family
(14%), are higher than the U.S. average.
The average household income is reported differently by
For more information, go to:
various sources; the highest is $44,227 per year, still lower www.kirksvillecity.com;
than the U.S. average. Adults in the area are more highly www.kirksvillechamber.com;
educated than the U.S. average. Fourteen percent have www.truman.edu;
http://www.atsu.edu/kcom/index.htm
advanced degrees and eighteen percent are college graduates.

Our Community: Church Environment

According to Claritas and Percept, the Kirksville area is slightly higher than the national
average in the percentage of people who are somewhat involved in church activities (34%)
and strongly involved in church activities (35%). Most households (86%) have a
denominational or affiliation preference, slightly above the national average. Overall church
style preferences in worship, music, and architecture are split between traditional and
contemporary.
Church outreach program preferences that exceed the U.S. average include sports and/or
camping programs, twelve-step programs, food pantry/clothing resources programs, and
spiritual retreats. There are approximately 35 Christian churches.
Each year, over 6,000 students are welcomed to the area-graduate students seeking degrees
in osteopathic medicine and areas of the liberal arts as well as undergraduate students
attending Moberly Area Community College and Truman State University. Many students
explore various denominations while in Kirksville. Hope to see you here!