Diocesan Addendum to Parochial Report - 2025 Information
March 11, 2026
Q5: If Congregational Vitality is the experience of Congregational life that is transformational and lives itself out by having a positive impact in the world, what would you say is the overall vitality of your congregation?
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 5 = Strongly agree) 5
IDENTITY & PURPOSE
Q6: Our parish has a very clear sense of its identity and gifts.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6 = Strongly agree) 5
Q7: Our parish has a very clear sense of the purpose to which God is calling the parish right now.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 6
Q8: How would you describe the parish's identity, its gifts? What is unique about this parish in all the world?
We are the only Episcopal church in our community. We are friendly, loving and inclusive, welcoming all to join us for our services, social activities, and service to God’s community. Many, searching for a church, tell us they feel like they have found a spiritual home from their very first visit. We have people from all walks of life and all educational levels, yet when you visit us and stay for coffee hour, you will not be able to tell the plumber from the lawyer. We are “down to earth” and love each other dearly. All members are respected and cared for. Although small, we strive to visibly impact our community both collectively and individually with many members supporting each other and working together to provide leadership in our goal of Providing a Light for God’s World.
Q9: How would you articulate your parish's God-given purpose/calling? (How is God calling the parish to use its gifts in the world right now?)
Our Vision is, “To be a light for God’s World” and our Mission is “to invite ALL to join us, for worship and for service to God’s community.” We take this to heart and are focusing our resources and time to helping the poor and marginalized of Hart County. We made 60 purple backpacks filled with the essentials for homeless individuals, we feed approximately 70 people on the third Thursday of every month with a drive-thru or eat in program, give outreach grants (eight in 2025) to various non-profits and participate in numerous civic organizations and community events. We belong to and contribute to HIM (Hart Interdenominational Ministry) formed by several local churches to provide funds for those needing assistance with utilities, food, housing or transportation. These activities are inspirational to others and us to join and participate in spreading the Gospel and doing the work that Christ has given us to do.
Q10: Our parish is a place where those who attend experience spiritual transformation each week.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q11: Our worship is excellent and inspiring.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q12: Being part of our faith community provides a deep sense of belonging.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 6
TRANSFORMATIONAL EXPERIENCE
Q13: Our formation helps people know how to live out their faith values in practical ways.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q14: Share a story from the past year of someone's life being transformed as a result of connection with your parish community.
Recently, as we were feeding the poor and needy, we had a truck of Hispanic workers pull into our parking lot. They said that they did not need a meal, but instead, they were so touched by our efforts that they gave us a $50.00 donation. Not only are we helping feed others, but we are giving our community the opportunity to help us and others! To participate in caring for and showing Christ’s love for their fellow man. A few months ago, a young boy came inside to the kitchen and asked if we had any food left; he needed to feed two families. It was late and not much was left, but we managed to get 10 plates ready, and we helped him take them to the car. The lady who was driving broke down in tears. Recently, during the abnormally bitterly cold days of this winter, a parishioner found a family living in their car who had parked in the parking lot of the local library. Our church family offered and they accepted a short stay in a local motel before moving on. Finally, we send the grandson of one of our members to Camp Mikell every year. He says he has the best time and most fun and looks forwards to going all year. It has truly impacted his life, and he rarely misses a Sunday worshiping in church with his grandmother.
Q15: What are the places that are the strongest facilitators of spiritual transformation in your parish this past year? (e.g. Eucharist, Daily Office, other forms of worship, Christian Formation programs, Service/Outreach opportunities, Stewardship, Fellowship/Parish life events, small group connections, etc.) What is your parish offering that is MOST STRONGLY facilitating spiritual transformation in people's lives this past year? (In other words, we're not asking for all the things you do, but the top few things that are having the most impact on people's spiritual lives right now)
1.Service/Outreach such as our monthly food ministry
2. Fellowship/Parish Life such as our Sunday coffee hour and Wednesday Night Christian Formation meetings
3. Small lunch and dinner groups held in parishioner’s homes and at local restaurants that bring us all closer together, allowing us to share our lives and stories with each other.
Q16: Our parish leaders (clergy, vestry, ministry leaders) work together mutually as a team to share ministry and leadership.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q17: Reflect on how parish leaders (clergy, vestry, other parish leaders) have worked together this past year. What worked well, what needs development?
The development of our whole congregation to pull together to develop our community meals for the needy plus the homeless backpack project was truly inspiring. The meal planning is running smoothly with two groups alternating months to cook and plan. Our official name of the Committee for Addressing Insecurities in Health, Home and Companionship reflected our lofty goals, but truth be told, we were floundering and couldn’t get the word out to our target population. Then came the brilliant day in the pouring rain when we made signs, stood out in the road in front of St. Andrew’s and brought the meals out to people in their cars! We had found a plan-- a way forward. Secondly, we ordered 60 purple backpacks and filled them with protein bars, crackers, toiletries, socks, hats, gloves, scarves and quarters for the laundry machines along with a list of local resources plus a plastic sheet and Goodwill gift card-all helpful items for the downtrodden and dispossessed. We took these to the Sheriff’s Office and Police Station and anywhere else where homeless might have need. This brought in folks not just from St. Andrew’s but all over our community to participate.
Q18: How have parish leaders (clergy, vestry, other parish leaders) engaged in team development and relationship-building this past year?
Each year our new vestry has a two-day retreat where they share a meal and get to know one another better on Friday night and then hold a Saturday work session to focus on personal and parish spiritual development. The Committee for Addressing Insecurities in Health, Home and Companionship plus our Newcomer’s Committee were the results of the 2025 retreat.
Q19: Our parish has regular practices around discerning next steps, taking action, and reflecting on actions to make adjustments.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q20: How has your parish practiced listening this past year: listening to God, to each other, and to neighbors, in order to discern your next most faithful steps?
We have been listening to God, our community and neighbors through our Outreach Grants to Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, Christian Worship Assembly Homeless Center, Northeast Georgia Council on Domestic Violence, HYDRA (Hart Youth Development Resource Association), Hart Habitat for Humanity, YMCA (helping with sponsorships, especially for after- school care and summer programs for needy and low income families), Anointed Hands Ministry (helping to fund food purchases for homeless individuals and families), and Hart Partners-Family Connections ( supplying food backpacks and a book for children during the summer months). God has led us to “the least of these” through our Thursday night drive thru meals and homeless backpacks. We’ve started meeting together in groups of eight to share a meal at each other’s homes for the next six months mixing in new folks with longtime members. We are having a really good time hearing back stories and sharing laughs. We thought this a way to stay close while waiting for a priest in charge.
DISCERNMENT PRACTICES
Q21: Reflect on the actions the parish has taken toward accomplishing call. What have you learned about the impact of those actions and what to do next?
Reflecting upon our call or vision to be “light for God’s World” and of service to others, we have many thriving missions as described above and below. All have impacted our community in positive ways and energized us to continue these plus look out for other opportunities. Most of all, when we faced the challenge of affording and replacing a very capable and effective retiring priest, who was then serving two congregations, a stewardship program that emphasized both the need for the church to grow and the need for each of us to consider what our tithe should be, our church community again responded financially with the same enthusiasm we were showing in our community outreach ministry. This effort should allow us to continue to grow, not only our numbers, but our effectiveness in spreading and living the Word.
Q22: If our parish were to cease to exist, the neighborhood around the parish would notice its absence.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q23: What ministries does your parish have that are investing service, presence, or relationships in the neighboring community around/outside the parish?
We have the following ministries that are investing service, presence and relationships in and out of our parish:
• Eight local grants to non-profits
• Meals for needy on Third Thursday of each month
• Hart Hope and Freedom
• Membership in HIM (Hart Interdenominational Ministry)
• Membership in civic organizations such as Pilot, Kiwanis, and Golden K
• Homeless backpacks
• Summer food backpacks and books for children
• Allowing our church to be used as the meeting place for many local organizations
• Dinner groups
• Our service is live on YouTube
• (Tuition paid 2016-2024 for a Haitian girl to attend school, but in 2025 we suspended this aid --we hope temporarily -- to unrest in Haiti and closing of the schools)
• Hart County food pantry-workers plus food
• Blessing of the Animals in conjunction with the Humane Society
• Women’s Detention Center Christmas gifts
• Christmas gifts to residents in local nursing homes and rehab centers; in 2025 the Prayer Shawl Ministry knitted caps for these residents
NEIGHBORLINESS & WITNESS
Q24: Describe the impact these ministries have on the neighboring community.
Active social service is a hallmark of our parish. We feed the hungry, minister to the needy through many outlets, and serve God through Prayer Force One (a group of prayer warriors who daily pray for the needs of our church members and community.) For the size of our church (50-60 attendance on Sundays) we are proportionally the most involved in Hart County, sharing the blessings we have with others and receiving the blessing of giving.
Q25: The community around our parish knows who we are and what we stand for.
(scale 1 = strongly disagree 6= Strongly agree) 5
Q26: This past year, how has your parish told the story of God's faithfulness and transformation to those outside its walls?
Outside our walls we have the following:
• Homeless backpacks
• Summer food backpacks and a book to children
• Eight grants to local nonprofits
• Provide sandwiches and soup for Hart Hope and Freedom-a recovery center for addicts
• Monthly Thursday night meals
• Food Pantry
• Blessing of the Animals
• Prayer Shawl Ministry
• Senior Center (funded their bowling and lunch field trip)
• Quarterly contribution to HIM (Hart Interdenominational Ministry)
• Our four registered nurses support various local health ministries
• Providing individual leadership through time, talents and funds to a host of community projects and organizations which reflects the health of our spirit gained through our discipleship training received in our little church.
Q27: Share a story from the past year about how people have responded to the parish's witness in the community.
The Christian Worship Assembly (CWA), a mostly African American congregation, is establishing a resource center for the Homeless in our community complete with showers and laundry facilities. They are also planning temporary housing for homeless families and access and assistance to the internet to help with job searches. Last fall CWA had a dinner to raise funds. One of our members bought a table and invited seven of us to join her that night in support. Another parishioner, hearing of this, donated $500 to Outreach hoping for a match, which it did!
We were a witness in our community both in our concern for the homeless-needy and the need for cooperation and interaction with churches of different races and denominations. As Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “The most segregated day of the week in the South is Sunday.” A shame but true! We may be small but we are mighty in the service of the Lord.