PASTOR’S REPORT – 2006

This is my first report to you as the pastor of the Orange Presbyterian Church. Even though my time among you only covers the last quarter of 2006, there are things to report, observations to be made, and questions for all of us to consider for 2007.

On the last day of August I moved from Charleston, West Virginia, and found myself in the midst of a tempest. Tropical Storm Ernesto was in full force as the moving van pulled up in front of my new home on September 1. Fortunately, the sun returned and friends from Charlottesville and Blacksburg showed up to help empty boxes.

I was welcomed by an avalanche of greeting cards created by the children and youth of the congregation. What I saw in those cards warmed my heart – some drew self-portraits, some had pictures taped inside, a number of cards had hot air balloons (I guess word had gotten out!), and all of the cards had friendly words of greeting and welcome. Those cards were taped to the wall outside my office for several weeks so that others could share in my bounty.

We have had a busy time during these first months – commissioning a work camp to go to New Orleans to help with rebuilding, gleaning in the fields, a stewardship dinner, becoming acquainted with the area hospitals, and the list goes on. In November an administrative commission of the Presbytery of the James led the installation service as I was formally installed as your pastor. It was a treat to invite a couple of friends to sit with the commission – a minister/ friend to preach the sermon and another friend, who is a daughter of this congregation, to deliver the charge to the congregation. Thanks to the Presbyterian Women for a wonderful reception.

The Advent/Christmas season is a special time around here. The sanctuary and narthex are beautifully decorated, Karen Seale, the parish administrator, and I hosted an Open House, we had special services with special music, and the children performed their Christmas pageant. What a wonderful sight to see us tightly packed into a circle for the Christmas Eve candlelight service.

I am active member of several ministerial groups – the local Orange County Ministerial Association and the Charlottesville Area Pastoral Support group (CAPS), a group of Presbyterian pastors and educators who meet monthly for lunch. And I was elected to the Board of Directors of the Orange County Habitat for Humanity in the fall.

We face many challenges in the coming year. After a long time the Presbyterian Weekday School Board is active and re-energized with their task. We meet regularly to consider the needs and challenges of the preschool. There are many other areas that need our attention.

There are always questions before us to offer a challenge: Who are we as a congregation? What does it mean to be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ in this time and in this place? How are we being challenged in our faith to be good stewards of creation?

Let us approach 2007 with renewed zeal and energy to serve the Risen Christ:
“…and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being
 rooted and grounded in love.” Ephesians 3:17

Faithfully,
Denise M. Hall

Annual Report of Music Department 2006

The music department at Orange Presbyterian Church has had an active year in 2006 and worked hard to make the music program a live and vital part of the ministry of the church. We have three active choirs and an instrumental ensemble.

The adult choir has about 16 members with an average attendance of 12 to 15 in regular worship services. We sang in 39 regular services and three pick-up choirs sang during the summer. This Christmas we again presented the candle light service on Christmas Eve and also Christmas Eve morning. The Christmas Eve service was attended by 146. The adult choir sang twice at the Orange County Nursing Home.

The Youth Choir sang in five worship services but did not participate at the King’s Dominion Choral Festival last spring.

The Adult Handbell Choir continues to improve and has played in five worship services and attended a Festival in Culpeper.

The Instrumental Ensemble has added two members this year and has played in five worship services.

For our new pastor’s installation service we utilized three of our music groups: the Instrumental Ensemble played and the Youth and Adult Choirs sang.

The piano restoration fund to restore the Andrews Steinway grand piano has been slowly growing. We have received around $6,000.00 as of December 31, 2006 and we hope to make a concerted effort to finish the fund raising in 2007.

The members of all our groups look forward to continuing their commitment to making music a vital part of our services and worship to the glory of God.

Respectfully submitted,
Albert E. Packard, Director of Music Ministries

Mission and Outreach Committee

The Mission and Outreach Committee worked to support and promote mission at local levels and throughout the world.  We did this by helping to support and organize two mission trips, one in June to provide a vacation Bible school in Emerald Isle, North Carolina, and the second in November to rebuild in New Orleans, Louisiana.  Locally we held special drives for the food pantry and gave $2,000 for a much needed portable wheelchair ramp to Rapidan Better Housing and $1,000 for continued growth of Blue Ridge Presbyterian Church (both amounts from the Benevolence Endowment Fund).

We continued to keep informed and in our prayers Mike and Nancy Haninger with Mike’s healing journey. Presently they are returning to the Congo to continue God’s work.  They are supported through the Medical Benevolence Fund.

This year was the first year our committee was responsible for the four special offerings: One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peacemaking, and Christmas Joy.

In January, 2007, despite the snow, we held a mission fair to bring awareness, inspire and educate our congregation on OPC’s commitment to mission both near and far.

Thanks to the Mission and Outreach Committee consisting of Carole Sue Graves, Jean Berckman, Elinor Vasquez, Dottie Tysinger, Cindy Reid and Denise Hall for their hard work and commitment.  Thanks also to the congregation for their generosity.

Respectfully submitted,
Alice Crane 

2006 Endowment Committee Report

The Endowment Committee met our Merrill-Lynch representative in December to review our accounts. We were pleased with the attention our funds received from the manager, and have confidence in his ability to manage our accounts. All our funds showed growth for 2006.
Listed below are our funds and balances as of February 10, 2007. If you are interested in making a contribution to these funds, or in establishing another fund, please see a member of the Endowment committee or elder.

Members: Margaret Thompson, chair; Ralph Graves, Winnie Higgins, Marc Hogan, Lavinia Phillips, & Jim Reid.

1. The Mission and Benevolence Fund: The income (throughout this document, the word “income” means interest, dividends, and capital appreciation) of this fund will be used to extend the mission and benevolent work of the church, including religious, charitable, or benevolent purposes. Income from this fund will not be used as a part of the benevolences portion of the annual budget. The original gift of $39,000 is restricted principal that may not be used. ($44,198)

2. The Building and Property Fund: The income and/or principal of this fund will be used for capital improvements, emergency maintenance, and repair of the physical facilities, including the organ and the grounds of the church. The fund is not to be used for normal operating expenses of the church, except as required by the terms of a specific gift. The original gift of $39,000 is restricted principal that may not be used. ($54,936)

3. The Hazard Gift - The income from this fund is to be used for upkeep of the Fellowship Hall and kitchen, i.e. the former sanctuary building. The original gift of $100,000 is principal that may not be used. ($146,761)

4. The Bailey Gift - The income from this fund is to be used for upkeep and improvement of the sanctuary. The original gift of $10,000 is principal that may not be used. ($15,367)

• The Joseph A. Hebrance Scholarship Fund: Distribution will be made each August from this fund to two students selected by the Session. It will be an amount equal to 5 percent of the average of the previous three years’ account value as of December 31. ($28,947)