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Table of ContentsRector’s Report ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3Senior Warden’s Report ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….4Junior Warden’s Report ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5Altar Guild …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….5Backpack Program ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….6Baring Society ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..7Chefs of St. John …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….7Communications and Publicity ……………………………………………………………………………………………….8Endowment Trust “A” …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9Episcopal Church Women ………………………………………………………………………………………………………11Flower Guild ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….12Funeral Reception Ministry …………………………………………………………………………………………………….13Gatekeepers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13Golf Cart Ministry …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………13Good News Gardeners ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………14Heritage, Archives, and Gift Committee ………………………………………………………………………………….14Historic Churchyard Committee …………………………………………………………………………………………….15Holy Hikes-WNC …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..15Homebound Ministries ………………………………………………………………………………………………………….17Lay Readers and Eucharistic Ministers …………………………………………………………………………………….17Meal Ministry ………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..18Needle Work Ministry …………………………………………………………………………………………………………….19Sustainability Ministry ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………191
Ushers ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………20Welcome Ministry …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..20Young Family Ministry ……………………………………………………………………………………………………………212
Rector’s ReportGreetings in the name of Christ!As we gather to meet at the beginning of our Church year, I am so very grateful for the gift of our life togetheras the Body of Christ at St. John in the Wilderness. This past year has been lled with so much grace. We havegathered for joyous celebrations and challenging goodbyes, yet they have all been lled with God’s goodnessand love. Thank you for being a part of it all. I’m especially thankful to the ministry of our Vestry and thechairs of our various ministries. Well done, good and faithful servants of Christ!I have been particularly pleased with our worshiping life together as a church. Our Sunday attendance hascontinued to rise and we have added around 45 new members this year. We have also had many beloved oneswhose earthly journeys have ended. I have been honored and humbled to grieve and celebrate departed lovedones with family and friends on many sacred occasions. Our celebrations of holy days and solemn fasts haveshaped us deeper into God’s people. Each week, I nd my life re-ordered by our liturgy and prayers. I long formore of it and hope you do as well.I have also been encouraged by your nancial generosity that has allowed us to do things like (1) Expand oursta; (2) Achieve stability with nancial reserves; (3) Reach new levels of outreach giving; and (4) Begin todream about which ministries we are called to next. Tom Griswold has made a big impact as our Treasurer tohelp with these eorts. Beyond his usual duties, he has been excellent in helping us in discerning to where Godis calling us to serve. Susan MacDonald has served as Finance Chair for the last few years. I would like to thankher for taking our nancial ministries to the next level by helping us to remember historical trends, showing usthe big picture in the present, and making details relatable for planning ahead.In terms of areas where we can continue to gain strength, I am aware of the many pastoral needs of ourparishioners. Fr. Ian has been a huge help with visiting folks during illness or isolation. Revs. Patricia andStephen Askew have organized our Homebound Ministry to make a major impact on the pastoral needs of St.John. Without their eorts, many of our folks would be less connected to the community that has sustainedthem. We are in need of more participation in these ministries of pastoral care, especially in visiting thehomebound each month with the Eucharist or an encouraging word.On the other end of the spectrum, we still have much to do in incorporating younger families into our lifetogether as a church. I hope we can draw children and parents further into our worship so they can experiencethe joyful stability of the sacramental life. I am also looking for opportunities for fellowship among this group.Our Sunday School attendance has waned a bit in recent months, so we hope to turn that around especiallysince our teachers are doing an exceptional job each week. On a positive note, we are looking at expanding ournursery spaces to allow for more room for little hands and feet.Our sta has been capable of all kinds of careful and meaningful eorts. They have been excellent stewards ofthe gifts given to the church. They have shared our stories of love and hope. They have created an environmentof warmth and welcome. I must say that we are going to miss the loving ministry of Deacon Joyce Beschta asshe and Jerry relocate to be closer to family. The impact God has made through her in this community willcontinue to ripple out for years to come.3
All things considered, I have been overjoyed with the many ways that we have organized ourselves as a churchthis year. I hope you will join me in dreaming and listening as we ask what God will call us to in 2024 andbeyond. There will surely be ups and downs, as well as twists and turns in the road, but I look forward totraveling with you towards God in the years to come. Thank you for oering your selves, your souls and bodies,to be a living sacrice in this place. I am most of all grateful for you.In Christ,The Rev. Josh StephensAdvent 2023Senior Warden’s ReportThis has been a productive year for the Vestry of St. John in the Wilderness. We began the year in January witha retreat that focused on goal-setting. In those planning conversations the Vestry made the decision to exploreways to better support the numerous ministries taking place within St. John. From those discussions came thegoal of “Strengthening the Ministries of St. John.” Breaking into subgroups to research, plan, and launch thisinitiative, much time was invested on the part of all Vestry members, which ultimately allowed us to develop awell-constructed plan for how to best achieve this goal. One of the keys to developing our plan was invitingministry leaders to provide us with input on what their needs are and how we can go about helping meet thoseneeds. Another important focus area in this project was seeking to identify ways to better inform and connectinterested parishioners to the numerous opportunities to get involved in ministry activities.Paralleling this project was the development of an Appointments Committee. This type of committee isbecoming more and more common in the Episcopal Church and involves having a single committee work withall the parish ministries to identify and nominate church members for ministry and leadership opportunities.Much of the credit for designing this committee goes to our Treasurer, Tom Griswold. Tom spent countlesshours researching best practices for developing and implementing an Appointments Committee. I have nodoubt that this new structure will result in a more eective means for connecting parishioners to areas of needwithin the parish, thereby strengthening all of our ministries.As I rotate o the Vestry at the end of this year, I want to thank everyone for the opportunity to serve thiswonderful parish. It has been a privilege to work with Fr. Josh, Fr. Ian, and all of the Vestry members over thepast three years. Words cannot express how humbled I am for having had this honor. St. John in theWilderness is truly a special place, and I am blessed to be part of this amazing family of Christ.Respectfully submitted,John Barker, Senior Warden4
Junior Warden’s ReportOver this past year, your Junior Warden and your Sexton have been busy with the usual upkeep andmaintenance of the buildings and surrounding grounds of the Church, Churchyard, Parish Hall, WildernessRoom, and Parsonage.Following is a summary of items that were accomplished in 2023:- The hemlock tree located between the Parish Hall and the Wilderness Room was removed.- The double sink on the right-hand side of the Parish Hall Kitchen was replaced with a deeper singlesink.- The Wilderness Room hot water heater was replaced.- The new Golf Cart and Maintenance Shed was installed behind the Parish Hall.- Ongoing maintenance of the Parsonage, including the installation of a new HVAC system, painting ofthe shutters and window frames/sills, and renovation of the patio.- New A/V System was installed in the church along with an internet connection.Following are the planned projects for 2024:- New gutters and leaf guards for the Parish Halls.- Refurbish “Jerusalem Walk.”- Churchyard lighting along the walkways & paths to be replaced.- Repaint the Education Building.- Refurbish the “Parish Hall” sign.- New general signage for the church along Greenville Highway and Rutledge Avenue.Submitted by:juniorwarden@stjohnatrock.org828-694-1622 (h) / 619-208-7371 (c)Altar GuildThis year members of the Altar Guild provided support to a variety of services both indoors and outdoors atour beautiful church and at Lake Pointe Landing. Wherever we are called, members prepare, set, and clear theLord’s table with dignity and grace.We have a devoted, capable team:5
Sandra & Michael JeeryKathy NewboldCandace LewisJann & Jim CooperDiane SkeltonElaine HarrisLynn & Julianna SavageBJ McKee & George GrzendaSally HopperLynne MillerSusan GibbsLisa WillsDebby StatonElaine HoweCathryn HarrellLaurie MorrisBrenda HillyerGibson SimsWednesday Healing Service: Cathryn Harrell, Sandra Jeery, Sally Hopper, Bernie Fox, and all who step into serve.Altar Hangings & Fair Linen: Debby Staton, BJ McKee and George Grzenda; Festive Fair Linenslaundering: Sandy JonesBrass: Michael Jeery, Gibson Sims, Sally Hopper and Jim Cooper.As always we are thankful for our Sexton, Kevin Hunt. Kevin is always there willing to serve wherever needed.Thank you, Kevin.Last year, we hosted a coee for our members and invited parishioners who considered serving with us.~ Cathryn Harrell and Elaine Harris, Co-ChairsThe Flat Rock Backpack ProgramDuring the 2022-2023 school year, the Backpack Program provided over 5,000 bags of weekend food for theeight educational facilities we serve. In addition, we supplied the same bags during the summer for St. GerardHouse and Little Red Day Care. We have over 40 volunteers on our team, some from our parish, while othersare from the surrounding community.Our Empty Bowls event, held this year in August, was a resounding success. Thanks to all who helped in manyways, as well as those who bought tickets or gave extra donations. Thankfully, we are on sound nancialfooting to serve the approximately 130 children each weekend. Private donations and memorials added to ourfundraiser give us the cushion to do this work. We are currently in discussion with school counselors and Inglesabout providing a holiday food box to our families.In gratitude,Debby Staton, Coordinator6
The Baring SocietyThe Baring Society was established in 2019 to recognize those members of the Church family who haveincluded St. John in the Wilderness in their estate planning. It is closely related to the Endowments for theChurch and Churchyard, but its purpose is only to honor parishioners who have made legacy gifting part oftheir estate for the long term work of the Church.At the present time, there are 99 individuals and trusts that have joined the Baring Society, which was namedfor the founders of St. John in the Wilderness. Each year, an event is held to recognize these members. Thisyear, 56 individual members attended a reception on August 20that the Inn of Five Oaks in Flat Rock. A goodtime was had by all.For more background about the Baring Society, feel free to contact Ken Jones for general information;however, any discussion of a condential nature should be directed to Tom Griswold, Treasurer, or Fr. JoshStephens, Rector.Ken Jones, Memberjkennethjones1@cs.com828-674-5138Chefs of St. JohnThe men’s Chefs served 10 monthly breakfasts from January to November, nourishing approximately 800people.We currently have 25 men assigned to three teams and an additional ve substitutes. A new member joins at anaverage of once per month.The men’s Chefs in conjunction with the youth group were able to donate over 1000 diapers and an equalamount of wipes to the Children and Family Resource Center, as well as $500 to Meals on Wheels, thanks tothe generosity of the parishioners and the church.Through funds allocated by Fr. Josh and the Vestry, we were able to purchase almost $1000 worth of materials(coee mugs, bowls, trays, cups, towels, etc.) to enhance eorts to become a more sustainable entity.MonthlyJim VintJim GibbsGibson SimsStu HolcombePeter FrickeJim GibbsClint Adams7
Feb/May/Aug/NovMar/Jun/Sep/DecApr/Jul/OctDavid ChristenburyJerry TannerBill HiattMark OwenBill WilliamsDavid DetheroJerry HoltMarlin SandersSteve BrunoHilton SwingTom BullardGeorge GrzendaHarry WalkerJim CooperNelson MotesSteve SittnickJohn BarkerE.R. HaireScott SheltonCashierPete PetersenSubsMike BurgeJim OlsonDale KernEdgar HamBill Walker (May-Sep.)Communications and Publicity CommitteeNancy Cooper, Betsy Darnall, Catherine Popp, Lynn WiescholekVideo Team - Scott and Jennifer Shelton, Bill Morris, Eduard Wiescholek, Tom GriswoldJoey Popp – ChairElizabeth Christenbury – Vestry LiaisonSpreading the word about The Episcopal Church of St. John in the Wilderness outside the parish is the goal ofthe Communications and Publicity Committee. We generate news releases and send out and post informationto the community and beyond. Communication is targeted to area print and broadcast media (includinggreater Asheville)and social media. We manage the church’s YouTube channel and account. Managed by ateam of volunteers, we stream live via Facebook every Sunday morning either the 8:45 or 11:00am service.Overall the committee’s work helps inform and promote growth to all audiences.In 2023, we promoted these special events:8
● January – Church and Churchyard Tours● February – Friends of Music – Traditional Music Duo● March – Friends of Music – Lent Choral Evensong● April – Easter / Holy Week Happenings● April – Friends of Music – Becky Stone● May – Friends of Music – David Weigel (canceled)● May – The Bazaar● June – Good News Gardeners● June – Wild Wonder: Creation Care Camp for Kids● June – Friends of Music – Lucy Hoyt and Deborah Hollis● June – Feast of St. John: Celebrating Flat Rock● July – Local Artist Rebrands St. John in the Wilderness● July – Summer Scholar-in-Residence● August – Empty Bowls● October – Blessing of the Animals● October – Friends of Music – The Bs Jazz Trio● October – Hiking Retreat at Valle Crucis● November – Friends of Music – Organ Concert● December – Friends of Music – Baroque Recorder Duo● December – A Christmas Memory● December – Christmas Eve/Day Services Endowment Trust “A”The Endowment (Trust “A”) is a perpetual trust whose purpose is to provide funds for the Church underspecic guidelines. The current Investment and Spending Policy permits an annual distribution to the church,limited to 4% of the average of the investment portfolio’s previous three years’ ending values.Trustees are appointed for three-year terms beginning January 1. The current Trustees are listed below withthe expiration of their terms at the end of the year:Clint Adams 2023 John Bell 2023Lee Covey 2024 Jim Spry 2024David Christenbury 2025Tom Griswold is temporarily serving as Chair in Jim Spry’s absence.9
Performance of the Endowment (Trust “A”)Since its inception in 1990 and through this year, the Endowment has distributed $470,516 to the Church,93% of which has been for General Operations. A special distribution was made in 2019 to assist in retiringthe mortgage loan for the new Parish Hall. Allocations have also been made for International Outreach andBell Maintenance. This year, the Endowment will distribute $32,587 for the Church’s General Operations.Funds in the Endowment are held in an account managed by Wells Fargo Advisors. The Trustees meetquarterly with our Wells Fargo Account Manager to review performance and investment strategies.Investments are generally made in mutual funds aligned with investment objectives. The performance of theaccount is aected by trends in both equity and xed-income nancial markets, but consistently meetsbenchmarks established for the account. As of November 13, the account had a market value of $882,344, andyear-to-date performance is 4.42%. Performance since February 2009, at the commencement of Wells Fargo’sactive management, is an annual average of 7.9%.Development ActivitiesThe Trustees have designed and are pursuing a plan to “maximize current and future benets of theEndowment.” This plan embraces specic strategic measures, communications, and coordination with theBaring Society. The objectives are to increase awareness among Parishioners of the purpose and benets of theEndowment and thereby encourage gifts to the Endowment.Before designing the plan, the Trustees conducted a benchmarking exercise to identify best practices used byother churches in the management of their endowments. This study resulted in interviews and materials fromsix churches throughout the Southeast. Recently, additional guidance was obtained from Trinity EpiscopalCathedral in Columbia, SC.Among the highlights of the implementation plan are the following:● Baring Society Appreciation Reception: Coordination with the Baring Society for a gala on August 20with 50+ attendees, including prospective members and guests.● Endowment Brochure: update and republication of brochure mailed out in July.● The Voice Articles: The April edition featured “The Endowment: Reecting God’s Love for FutureGenerations” and the July edition featured “Baring Society Appreciation Reception.”● Sponsorships: For 2024, the Finance Committee endorsed sponsorship by the Endowment of theSummer Scholar program, the Feast of St. John, and the Fall Fellowship Festival at Kanuga.The Trustees have adopted the following policy concerning restricted gifts or gifts for a particular purpose:Since gifts to the Church Endowment are in perpetuity, donors are encouraged to make unrestrictedcontributions. Thereby, funds are available for changing, unanticipated, and new needs of the Church.Gifts for particular purposes are also welcome and have indeed been made for International Outreach,Bells Maintenance, and Churchyard Maintenance. In planning a gift for a particular purpose,consideration should be given to the long-term or ongoing needs of the Church.10
Finally, in October the Vestry took several actions related to the Endowment including “reactivating” Trust B.This Trust is held in an investment account, but has a distribution policy that permits unrestricted withdrawalsas the Vestry directs. The Vestry placed it under the management of the Endowment Trustees and authorizedthe transfer of the Rivers Stone Estate gift to the Trust. Further details are contained in the Treasurer’s Report.In addition, the Vestry adopted a policy for future Legacy Gifts which, if not otherwise restricted, will beallocated to Trust A.Thanks go to John Bell and Clint Adams for their service as Endowment Trustees. Unfortunately, Jim and Leewill not be able to continue as Trustees due to health concerns. We thank them also for their service.The ultimate aim of the Endowment is to enhance the ability of the Church to sustain its mission intoperpetuity and continue God’s work in coming generations.Submitted by Tom Griswold,on behalf of the Endowment TrusteesEpiscopal Church Women (ECW)The Episcopal Church Women had a busy 2023. Our focus has been to be a friend to all of the ladies that are apart of St. John in the Wilderness and to oer support to our community with emphasis on women andchildren. In hosting January and September luncheons, we were able to meet some of our new members andto discuss upcoming events. We gave helping hands this year by making cookies for Empty Bowls, assistingwith the Angel Tree, packing gifts for the children of Head Start at Christmas, writing Sunshine Notes to thosewho needed a “Thinking of You”' card, delivering poinsettias to homebound parishioners, and sendingbirthday ecards.The Bazaar took place in May after a long hiatus due to COVID-19. The gathering of items began in Februaryand ended on May 20. Hours and talent and many working hands made this year a success and raised $15,105!Not only did the Bazaar bring in a lot, but also Books for Good donated over $6,000 thanks to thecoordination of Bettie Orr. In November, our raised funds were disbursed in the following ways:● Children in Need - $1500● Discretionary funds of Father Josh and Father Ian - $2000● Make a Dierence Grants - $12,500○ Recipients included the St. John Angel Tree, Apple Country Woodcrafters, the Flat RockBackpack Program, Children and Family Resource Center (Scholarships for Single Parents),MemoryCare of Asheville (Scholarships), St. Gerard House, Safelight, and VocationalSolutions.Now that a new year is here, new leaders and exciting events are being planned for 2024.~ Linda Giltner11
Flower GuildThe Flower Guild is a ministry funded by memorial donations and parishioners’ largesse. No money isrequired from St. John in the Wilderness’s budget. Gaston Motes (gtmotes01@gmail.com, 828-243-9091) is incharge of assigning the memorial dates and instructing the givers as to how to proceed. The donations are sentto the Parish Oce, marked for “Flower Guild,” and the Parish Administrator keeps track of the memorialsand publishes them in The Voice and weekly bulletins. We also put special requests in the service bulletins forEaster and Christmas donations. These two seasons are our largest expenses, usually running in the $2,000range. For these two events, if you want to give an honorarium, rather than a memorial, it is invited. More thanone memorial may be accommodated per Sunday. People usually have a special date they are connecting with,so they often share with others.There are 45 Sundays that require owers, including “Refresh” or “Rose” Sunday in Lent (which we havecelebrated the last six years). This does not include Advent greenery, as we do it once and refresh it as the seasonprogresses. For Lent we are currently doing sticks and thistles. In summer, we often use owers fromparishioners’ gardens. Weddings and funerals that are near the weekend usually leave their owers, so alongwith careful procurement of owers by members of the Guild, these help toward stretching our funds. Thesuggested donation amount has been $75, but the average is closer to $85 even with all the careful procurementendeavors.We put out invitations to donate memorials a couple of times a year. The bulletin has been used, as well as TheVoice. We have back-up funding from being remembered in an estate legacy some years back, but we work tokeep being successfully self-funded. We are holding our own. We have been making a point of, whenever wecan, using products that can be reused in the Parish Hall/Oce gardens, and nurturing some plants for reusein the Church the next year.We are still operating with one person doing both arrangements (except where the team is a couple), due toconcerns about COVID-19 and the small area we use to create our arrangements. Each person does oneSunday per month, which comes out to about 11. We have a fth Sunday member who also lls in whenneeded. The exceptions are Christmas and Easter, when all available members participate. We have just lost oneof our wonderful members, Carol Sims, and are in need of a replacement. Since we cannot work in teams yet,the new member needs to be able to work on their own after orientation sessions. If any of you have asuggested candidate, please contact Bay Chamberlain at 202-258-0431 or mbcgbkc@yahoo.com. We are verysad about our loss.An enormous “Thank You” goes out to Kevin Hunt, our WONDERFUL sexton! As with elsewhere at St.John in the Wilderness, he can always be counted on and knows and does so much that is necessary andhelpful.~ Bay Chamberlain12
Funeral Reception MinistryThe Funeral Reception Ministry consists of three teams of parishioners that take turns putting on receptionsin the Parish Hall following funerals held in the Church. These dedicated volunteers provide refreshments andserve at the receptions. Tables for food are set with linens, owers, and lovely silver serving pieces given to theChurch over the years. After the reception, leftover food is sent home with the family. These receptions are agreat comfort to grieving families, who might otherwise feel obliged to feed visiting friends and relativesfollowing the death of their loved one.Seven funeral receptions have been provided since the last Annual Report.Respectfully submitted,Brenda HillyerCoordinator, Funeral Reception MinistryGatekeepersYour team of six SJW Gatekeepers opened the churchyard and church building some 53 Sunday mornings plusholidays, and many other special occasion service days. We as always make sure there is access to the parking lotand to the Church building proper.We assure there will be light, heating/cooling, and sound, so our parishioners can be comfortable and are free totake part in the services. We also verify the bulletins are available, and that the readings for the Lector arecorrect. We look forward to continuing this mission in the coming 2024 calendar year.R.S.Dick ZecherCommittee ChairGolf Cart MinistryThe new cart shed has been installed on at ground and is beautiful! Thank you to Will Rodriguez and all ofthose involved for making this happen!This year we had two dedicated cart drivers retire (Herb Quarles and Jerry Beschta) and gained an energeticnew driver Kathryn Whitten. The current drivers are: Jim Olson, George Grzenda, BJ McKee, Mark Owen,Jill Owen, Marlin Sanders, Steve Hutcherson, Scott Bell, Chris Kanipe, Jason Blackwell, Tom Savage, NancyCooper, Brian Kester, and Kathryn Whitten.~ Jill Owen13
Good News GardenersThe Good News Gardeners ministry was formed early in 2023 as a new manifestation of St. John’s “GivingGarden,” when we made the strategic decision to partner with the established Foster Education Garden at theKanuga Conference Center.Members from St. John and others from the community met at the garden on the fourth Tuesday of eachmonth from March through September. Father Josh and Father Ian took turns leading us in prayer and liturgyat the start of each workday. Mary Kait Brown, the Environmental Programs Specialist at Kanuga, led us in thetasks needed each month to grow vegetables, herbs, and owers.As the growing season started, we prepared the planting beds, assembled growing structures, mulched thewalkways, turned compost, nurtured the warm-weather plants in the greenhouse and planted cool-weatherseeds. As the season progressed, we trimmed vines, planted warm weather seeds, and continued mulching. Nosurprise to any gardener, there was always weeding to do as well.Later in the summer we began to harvest what we had helped to grow. From there we helped bring produceout to the Community Food Pantry in Edneyville on a weekly basis, giving a total of almost 200 lbs of producefor the season.We concluded the season by removing nished plants, removing and organizing fencing and plantingperennials.Thank you to everyone who joined us in 2023. In 2024, we hope to develop additional partnerships and to seemore participation. Come grow with us!~ Kathryn WhittenHeritage, Archives, and Gift CommitteeOver the past year, the Archives Committee continued its work on a project that began in 2022 to read,summarize, and record documents from the early years of our parish. This includes letters and notes betweenpriests, parishioners, Vestry members, bishops, contractors, etc., as well as other ocial documents such asbills, contracts, receipts, etc., dating back to the founding of St. John in the Wilderness. Hundreds ofdocuments have been recorded.We are also transcribing minutes of Vestry meetings dating back to the 1830s and will be transcribinginformation from early parish registers (these are the books that record names of members, baptisms,conrmations, weddings, burials, etc.). The information we uncover is helping to create a betterunderstanding of the history of our parish.In the past, a number of historians have used our archival holdings to conduct research and publish books andother informational documents, but until now, there has never been any eort to transcribe documents intodigital format. Eventually this information will be made available to researchers via online media.14
The Archives Committee members include Clint Adams, Kim Sanders, Dick Zecher, Ann Stringeld, andJohn Barker.Respectfully submitted,John Barker, ChairHistoric Churchyard CommitteeThe Cemetery Trust was established in 1962 and amended in 1973 as a perpetual trust to provide funds frominterest earned on the Trust principal to be used to provide perpetual care for the cemetery and churchyard ofSt. John in the Wilderness. The Historic Churchyard Committee was set up to manage the aairs of thecemetery. This committee is composed of individuals who share a commitment to the maintenance andperpetual care of this sacred ground. Over the years, the funds have been invested under professionalmanagement from which monies are withdrawn to cover the annual maintenance cost. Under a policy similarto the General Endowment of St. John in the Wilderness, the funds available are limited to four percent of theaverage three years ending balance of the investment portfolio to assure funds will be available in perpetuity.As a Trust, the investment guidelines are in accordance with the current Uniform Prudent Management ofInstitutional Funds Act (UPMIFA) of North Carolina.The market value of the portfolio as of October, 2023, was in excess of $440,000 after distributions to theoperating expense account in 2023 of $8,000. The Trustees of the Cemetery Trust for the coming year areDavid Dethero, Pete Petersen, and Deacon Sandy Rex. Deacon Sandy has agreed to serve as Chairman of theChurchyard Committee for 2024, after many years of outstanding leadership by Ken Jones.Submitted on behalf of the Historic Churchyard Committee.Rev. Sandy Rex, DeaconChairmanHoly Hikes-WNCDuring lockdown, St. John in the Wilderness sought ways to celebrate the liturgy in safe, outdoor settings. Agroup of parishioners inaugurated a series of monthly hikes to explore the abundance of ridges and waterfallsthat surround our “wilderness.” In 2021, the Vestry voted to join a nationwide liturgical-based ministry knownas “Holy Hikes.” This ministry is led by Episcopal parishes and includes some Lutheran churches. The localprogram is administered by a SJW volunteer, Cynthia Easterling.Our chapter is known as Holy Hikes-Western North Carolina (WNC). It is the only chapter in the nation thatschedules monthly hikes. Parish members serve as hike leaders who plan routes and scout trail conditions.Typical hikes include 12-18 participants, are 2-6 miles in length, and are rated as easy-to-moderate. During thehike, Fr. Josh or Fr. Ian lead us in a liturgy. The group then enjoys lunch or snack “in the wilderness.” HolyHikes are open to the public and are inclusive of all faiths and backgrounds. About 20 percent of participantsare not directly aliated with St. John in the Wilderness. In 2023 the most well-attended hike was BullingtonGarden Trails that included over 40 participants.15
During October 22-25, 2023, Holy Hikers-WNC inaugurated an annual retreat program at Valle CrucisConference Center. Organized by Father Josh, participants included many SJIW parishioners, as well as othersfrom the WNC Diocese and neighboring states. The 2023 theme was “A Retreat on Wilderness, Discipleshipand Hudson Stuck.” Patrick Dean, author of A Window to Heaven: The Daring First Ascent of Denalipresented daily seminars on Hudson Stuck’s discipleship as one of the rst Episcopal priests in Alaska and as amember of the team that made the rst ascent of Denali. Fr. Josh led the group in Morning Prayer andCompline. Participants were also oered several choices of hikes led by Valle Crucis sta or by Ed Blackburn.The 12 hikes scheduled in 2023 were primarily held on the second Tuesday of each month. Weekday hikesallow participants to seek out waterfalls and summits that tend to be crowded during the weekends; however,Holy Hikes-WNC also scheduled special weekend hikes to include students and working adults. Sincestewardship of the wilderness is a goal of this ministry, Holy Hikers volunteer with the Friends of DupontState Forest trail maintenance crew.2023 Holy HikesJanuary: Firetower/Brissy Ridge Loop Trail, Paris Mountain SC State Park (Leader: Cynthia Easterling)February: East Fork Chattooga River Trail, Ellicott Rock National Wilderness (Leader: Ed Blackburn)March: Rumbling Bald Loop, near Chimney Rock State Park (Co-Leaders: Polly Morris and Scott Bell)April: Rainbow Falls Trail, Jones Gap SC State Park (Leader: Jim Olson)May: Friends of DuPont State Forest Volunteer Trail Maintenance DayJune: Cookout at Father Josh’s House (Hike canceled due to Rain)July: Bullington Gardens Pollinator, Shade and Fairy Garden Trails (Co-Leaders: Patrice and Germ German)August: Strawberry Gap Trail, Hickory Nut Gorge State Trail System (Co-Leaders: Meg and Jerry Holy)September: Laurel Park Urban Walk (Co-Leaders: Catherine and Joey Popp)October: Holy Hike Retreat at Valle Crucis including ve hikes near Valle Crucis and Grandfather MountainNovember: John Rock Trail, Pisgah National Forest (Leader: Father Josh)December: Little Bradley Falls near Green River Gamelands (Leader : Father Josh)16
Homebound Ministries“We who are many are one body, because we share one bread and one cup”With these words, St. John in the Wilderness sends out Eucharistic Visitors almost every Sunday to sharecommunion with the homebound. Over the past year our homebound ministers have taken communion andmade pastoral visits over a hundred times! Currently we serve around 16 homebound parishioners, but thatnumber is uid as needs change, or there are deaths in the parish. Some of our homebound ministers go asteams; Eucharistic Ministers and Pastoral Visitors together. The clergy of St. John also make visits, and theyoer monthly services of Holy Eucharist at Lake Point Landing and Carolina Reserve. One of our EucharisticMinisters conducts a Vespers Service at Carolina Village.Always looking for ways to expand our ministry, we have one parishioner who enjoys sending birthday cardsand periodic notes to the homebound. We include the names of the homebound in our birthday prayersduring the service once a month. In addition, we have begun to interview and write articles about thehomebound for The Voice, so that newcomers can get to know those who are not able to get to church and sothat others won’t forget them.This past year we have held two training sessions for Eucharistic and Pastoral Visitors. We always need to trainand license more parishioners for this ministry, as some of those who have served so faithfully need to step backbecause of changes in life circumstances. If you are interested in serving or can recommend someone, pleasetalk to Fr. Josh, Fr. Ian, Patricia, or Stephen. Those who have served in this ministry can tell you what arewarding experience it is not only for those whom we visit, but also for those of us who serve!Yours in Faith,The Rev. Stephen Askew & The Rev. Patricia Tanzer AskewCo-ChairsLay Readers and Eucharistic MinistersDuring 2023 the Lay Readers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers of The Episcopal Church of St. John in theWilderness assisted our clergy in weekly worship services, funerals and other services and celebrations.Lay Readers publicly read the scripture. Typically a reader reads passages from the Old Testament, Psalm, andNew Testament. These passages are predetermined so that passages best align with particular seasons (Lent,Advent, Pentecost, etc.), holidays (Easter, Christmas etc.), or other designated day (All Saints’ Day, The Feastof St. John, etc.).Our Parish Administrator provides us with copies of the texts which are read during regularly scheduledservices, and we are greatly appreciative of her hard work to help us in this ministry. Texts for funerals,weddings, and other services are often selected by family members and can be based on the wishes of the family.Any parishioner may read the scripture publicly. During 2023 we have worked to enlarge the number ofindividuals who serve in this important ministry.17
Lay Eucharistic Ministers assist clergy with the administration of the sacrament of the Eucharist. Often thesame person serves as the Lay Reader and the Lay Eucharistic Minister in any given service.Lay Eucharistic Ministers are trained by our clergy and licensed to assist with the holy sacrament ofCommunion by our Bishop.Presently we have 12 members who are licensed as Lay Eucharistic Ministers who are active and willing toserve. They are:John BarkerElizabeth ChristenburyMark DelkLori GriswoldE. R. Haire, Jr.Sandra JeeryCandace LewisSusan MacDonaldJudy PetersenAnn StringeldWill RodriguezBill TaylorDuring 2023 several members who were licensed Lay Eucharistic Ministers have become unable to serve for avariety of reasons.Several of our Lay Eucharistic Ministers also serve in other ministries as ushers, greeters, or as member of thechoir. Their service in these ministries limits their availability.We welcome individuals who would like to become Lay Readers and Lay Eucharistic Ministers and arepresently seeking individuals who feel called by God to join this ministry. Readers can be young or old orin-between, new to our parish or a long-time communicant. If you feel called to join us, please speak with meat 828-778-6809 or markdelk@aol.com.Respectfully Submitted,Mark DelkCoordinatorMeal MinistryOur Meal Ministry serves our church community by providing meal service to those in times of need. We servethe needs of those who are battling an illness, grieving a loss, and welcoming a new baby.The Meal Ministry committee has grown this past year to 24 active members who are committed to providingmeals to our parishioners in need. In addition, we have streamlined the organization of meal giving by usingMeal Train. We have served over 50 meals this past year.~ Janelle Walker18
Needle Work MinistryThe Needle Work Ministry (NWM) continued to provide knitted and crocheted items to our parishioners andbeyond who are facing challenges in their lives. Our primary focus is on prayer shawls and prayer squares, butwe also make blankets for babies/small children christened at St. John and hat/mitten sets for the Head Startchildren of Henderson County. We are adding prayer scarves and prayer shawlettes to our project list as theycan be made more quickly than a full shawl.We are working with the Homebound Ministry as some of those visited as part of that ministry may welcome aprayer shawl or prayer square. The small “pocket” squares remain very popular. As more people meet in theWilderness Room now, the basket has to be replenished often.Respectfully submitted,Judy Petersen, NWM CoordinatorSustainability MinistryThe Sustainability Ministry is dedicated to helping create the most sustainable practices at St. John in order tobe the best stewards of our environment for the glory of God. Our committee includes Lynn Wiescholek,Elizabeth Christenbury, Sarah Yeargin, Kevin Hunt, Carrie Byars, Jim Gibbs, Susan Allen, Patrice German,Kim Sanders, Debby Staton, Jan Tanner, Meg Holt, Jane Irwin, Margaret Barker, Sara Kester, KathrynWhitten, Steve Whitten, Ceil Salvadori, Luann Ham, and Cava Sittnick.There has been a widespread acceptance by the church toward sustainability such as eliminating single usepaper products and plastics. Ministry volunteers rotate monthly to collect and wash dishes during ParishBreakfasts and other special events. Water dispensers with reusable drinking tumblers are used in the oce,Wilderness Room, and Parish Hall.The Youth Sunday School continues to sponsor the recycling containers where you may deposit spent batteries(both single-use and rechargeable), cell phones, and eyeglasses.These containers are located in the hallway between the Sunday school rooms and the Parish Hall.We are thankful to the sta and clergy of St. John as they carry out the mission of sustainability on a daily basis.We continue to seek additional ways to help preserve, nurture, and better take care of our earth andenvironment for ourselves and generations to follow.Respectfully submitted,Elizabeth Christenbury19
Ushers“For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than dwellin the tents of wickedness.” (Psalm 84:10)Ushers shape the worship experience of visitors and parishioners by (1) helping to establish a warm andwelcoming environment for worship; (2) providing a friendly rst impression of our parish family to visitors;and (3) assisting in the smooth operation of the service. Currently the 8:45am Sunday service is supported byClint Adams, Debby Staton, Jerry Holt, Jerry Tanner, George Grzenda, Dale Kern, Robert and Jodi Sundeenand Jim Spry. The 11:00am service is supported by Bettie Orr, John Hayes, David Christenbury, KarenConley, John Knapp, Hilton Swing, Tom Savage, E.R. Haire, Edgar Ham, Tony Huntsinger, Ned Curtis, andSandy Gulbrandsen.In most instances, they are asked to usher on Sundays once a month and also asked volunteer to usher at specialservices, especially during Lent and Christmas, and for weddings and funerals. Ushers and substitute usherscurrently are needed for all services, but especially for the 11:00am service. Training is provided for all who jointhis dedicated group of servants of God.Contact Clint Adams at 425-478-2987 or cnav70@gmail.com to join the 8:45 ushers or Bettie Orr at828-808-9820 or bettieworr@gmail.com if you wish to join the 11:00 team.~ Clint Adams, Bettie OrrWelcome MinistryThe Welcome Ministry’s mission is to reach out to people who have shown an interest in St. John, invitingthem to experience and celebrate God’s love with us through worship, fellowship and service.The Welcome Ministry extends a personal greeting to all who ll out a Visitor Card during one of the Sundayservices, indicating they would like to know more about our Church. Brenda Hillyer contacted by phoneand/or emailed 50 individuals or couples, and followed up with them by sending a welcome letter and abrochure telling of the ministries and activities at St. John. Forty-two new members (25 family units) havejoined our church since December 4, 2023. There are an additional number of newcomers who are attendingservices and/or participating in various church activities who have not ocially joined.Newcomers’ DinnerA catered dinner for newcomers was held on September 14 in the Parish Hall. Thirty-three newcomersattended (18 households). Three more households accepted but did not come. Seventeen householdsindicated a desire to attend but were not able to do so due to various reasons.None of the attendees had children, so we did not need to provide food and activities for them as we did lastyear.20
Coee Hours after Summer ServicesJudy Petersen oversaw the coee hours from May through September, for which parishioners volunteered toprepare and serve refreshments on the terrace following Sunday services. We have 26 household units (22couples and four individuals) to thank for this service.Respectfully submitted,Brenda Hillyer and Judy PetersenYoung Family MinistryThere is so much to be thankful for in the life of the Young Family Ministry at St. John in the Wilderness! Weare eternally thankful for our rotation of Sunday School teachers and nursery workers who continue to openGod’s Holy Scripture to our children and youth in a way that is engaging and inspiring. We also give thanks atthis time for our newest member, Nick Stephens, as we celebrated his Baptism, his initiation by water and theHoly Spirit into Christ’s Body, the Church, on All Saints’ Sunday.As we move into the new church year and the season of Advent, we hope that you will join us as we prepare forthe coming of Christ. On Sunday, December 10, from 12:30 to 2:00pm, the St. John in the Wilderness YouthGroup will gather to share a meal and bake cookies for our homebound members. On Thursday, December 14,from 5:30 to 7:00pm, the Young Family Ministry will gather in the Parish Hall to share a meal and to create the“sprays” that we place on the gravestones of the formerly enslaved people buried in our cemetery. We will have aspecial liturgy to place the sprays during the formation hour on Sunday, December 17.There is so much to be thankful for and so much to look forward to. Please join us!In Christ,The Rev. Ian Williams21