Presenting our profile (September 2003 issue of Saint Andrew's Net)

September 2003

Presenting our profile
As the bishop prepares to appoint a vicar, here’s what we have prepared to introduce Saint Andrew’s, both to the bishop and to prospective clergy.

Active Communicants: 175

Average Sunday Attendance: 85 to 90

2003 Total Pledged Income: $136,500

2003 Pledges: 72

Total Budgeted Income for 2003: $182,360

History: Saint Andrew’s was established in 1975. The same group of people who began Canterbury UCI initiated this mission. We remain loosely connected. Our membership includes about 25 professors, staff, and graduate students from the UCI campus. We have a short, but conflicted history. We are actively working toward healing and need to continue this process.

Demographics: We represent a wide range of professions; however, many of us are educators and engineers. We tend to be politically liberal. The majority of this congregation is Caucasian, but many speak first languages other than English (including Armenian, Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Afrikaans, Dutch, Arabic, Hindi, Farsi, and Nigerian [languages]). Our congregation includes those from infancy to the elderly with a fairly even distribution throughout. There are currently 12 children 2 years old and under.

Ministries:

OUTREACH: Once a month the plate offering is designated for a specific outreach recipient. Response to outreach projects and appeals is generally higher than for other activities. The Saint Andrew’s Children’s Center is our primary outreach. It is a developmental education and childcare facility, which serves 175 children from 6 weeks to 6 years old. It has 55 employees and an annual budget of $2.5 million. It operates 12 hours a day, 5 days a week.
CHRISTIAN EDUCATION: This is an area that needs some attention, especially improving Sunday school attendance. We have a youth group of about 12, mostly girls in 8th and 9th grades. We have recently organized three small study groups to expand opportunities for Christian Education for adults.
There are also SPIRITUALITY GROUPS for men and women which meet monthly.
We have all the typical Episcopal worship ministries, such as: ALTAR GUILD, USHERS, LAY EUCHARISTIC MINISTERS, ACOLYTES, and CHOIR.

Worship: Last summer’s survey found that worship is the number one reason our communicants come to church. Theologically progressive, we are sensitive to the use of language in liturgy. We do use the BCP [Book of Common Prayer] with some modifications for more gender inclusive language, The Hymnal 1982, WLP [Wonder, Love, and Praise] and LEVAS [Lift Every Voice and Sing II], as well as a variety of other liturgical and musical resources, including the Supplemental Liturgical Materials. We have no Rite I service. However, for most parishioners, preaching is more important than liturgy.

Buildings and Grounds: Saint Andrew’s is located on 3.5 acres in the Woodbridge village of Irvine. We are currently focusing on buildings and grounds to revitalize worship and community space. These projects have also been an opportunity to build community within our congregation as well as with associated groups. A Korean-language congregation also uses our facilities, as do several community groups.

Finance: We have worked steadily over the past two years to implement financial procedures that are clear and easy to understand. While great improvements have been made, a watchful eye is necessary to maintain good financial management.

Challenges: Maintaining church attendance and continuing involvement in things we commit to.