2013 ANNUAL REPORT FROM THE ASSOCIATE PASTOR

Youth and children’s ministry: In 2013, the youth group continued its regular schedule of meeting for Sunday gatherings approx-imately 2 times a month during the school year. A typical gathering consisted of lunch, followed by games and singing, and then a group reflection on a topic of faith, supported by a Bible passage. The youth praise band (Alex Robbins, Emil Baggs) ac-companied the singing at the Youth Gatherings. High School bible studies occurred about twice a month and then disbanded in early November due to low attendance. 7th and 8th Grade Fellowship Nights began in the spring with increased attend-ance that lasted throughout the year. They were held approximately once a month, sometimes twice a month.

Lil Youths, the youth group for 5th and 6th graders, continued in 2013 and enjoyed increased attendance. This group was led by four Timothy Minis-ters, two of which were young adults. They met once a month, culminating in their trip to 7th Day together in March. Timothy Ministers in 2013 included: Traci and Brad Williamson, Kim and Jim Yucha, Sarah Robbins, Ginny Robbins (Lil Youths), Kristy Anderson (Lil Youths), Susan Bracken (Lil Youths), Ryan Root (Lil Youths) Ruth Hobson, Mark and Jennie Schuetze, Donna Josephson, Johanna Gattuso, and Scott and Laura Dietrick, and Susan Kirill. On February 18, (Presidents’ Day): Youth held their second annual “Christ in our City” Day of Service and completed a wildlife interaction area at the William Byrd Community House in downtown Richmond. The funding for this project was provided by a grant I applied for and received from Thrivent Financial.

January 25-27: Twenty-four Epiphany High School youth and five adult leaders attended the Virginia Synod “Winter Celebration” event at Eagle Eyrie. February 22-23: Epiphany hosted the Richmond Area Lutheran Youth (RALY) “Hunger Rumble.” Youth from approximately 6 area Lutheran congregations partici-pated, including a congregation from Norfolk. A highlight of this event was filming our own ver-sion of the Harlem Shake.

March 2-3: Thirteen Epiphany 5th and 6th graders and four adult leaders attended the Virginia Synod “7th Day” event at Eagle Eyrie. March-April: Youth4Hire, a fundraiser, was held to raise money for the summer service trip to Logan, WV. Youth Sunday was held on May 5. The texts for Easter 6C were used and the Youth Praise band and the pipe organ accompanied the worship singing. Four seniors delivered sermons (Ian Hobson, Becky Westin, Mor-gan Williamson, and Hannah Yucha).

June 5: A party for the members of the 2013 graduating senior class was held at the home of Morgan Williamson. Seniors received laun-dry bags embroidered with Scripture and the congregation website as a gift. June 23-28: Twenty-four high school youth and two adult leaders attended the Virginia Synod Kairos event at Roanoke College. Pas-tor Phillip Martin served as the event’s chap-lain. July 16: Sixteen middle and high school youth and four adults performed a half-day of service at the William Byrd Community House (Richmond).

July 28-August 2: Thirteen high school youth and three adults travelled to Logan, West Virginia, to perform a week of service pro-jects within that community. The organization that coordinated the service and Bible study was Youthworks. August 30-Sept 1: Labor Day Youth Family Camping trip held at Bear Creek Lake State Park, VA. Approximately ten families par-ticipated. Worship with Holy

Communion was conducted at the campfire on Saturday night. Rally Day for 2013-2014 was held on September 8.

October 6: Twenty-one youth and five adults volunteered at Shalom Farms and attended a cookout at the home of Betty Ottaway afterwards. October 22: Sixteen youth volunteered through the CARITAS program to prepare and serve a meal to the CARITAS guests while they stayed at Epiphany. November 2: A RALY event, “Fall Festival,” was held at Christ Lutheran Church.

November 22-24: Ten 7th and 8th graders and two adult leaders attended the Virginia Syn-od “Lost and Found” event at Eagle Eyrie. Additionally, four Epiphany college students served as leaders at the event. December 1: Youth raked the lawns of four Epiphany members and then held a get-together afterwards at the Gattuso home. December 21: Epiphany youth group went Christmas caroling to shut-ins and viewed some Tacky Lights in Richmond, followed by

a Christmas party in the Star Lodge. High School students stayed overnight for a Lock-in. In addition to the continued use of Face-book and email to publicize youth group events, we started using a new Twitter ac-count, @eyg_youth. In August 2013, Mark Schuetze was hired in a temporary role as “Youth Ministry Assis-tant” in order to help me with the adminis-trative tasks of the youth group. In the spring of 2013 I continued to share chapel responsibilities at ELNS with Christy Huffman until I had to hand it over com-pletely after the retirement of Chris Price. College Student Ministry: Epiphany members who are students at college/university students gathered for fellowship and ministry at different points during the year, including a catered Christmas supper in the Star Lodge (January 3) and an Easter morning breakfast in the Star Lodge. The youth group also sent “care” packages to freshmen and sophomores in the spring semester. Epiphany college students also met for supper in late June. University of Richmond Lutheran Campus ministry continued to enjoy excellent participation. This campus ministry continues to be congregation-based, meaning that our chief ministry site is Epiphany’s building and students are encouraged to take part in whichever congregational ministries they like. Volunteers from the congregation offer rides from campus to worship on a weekly basis during the school year. One student

(Alexis Witt) began the discernment process to en-ter seminary. Other participated in the hand-bell choir and served as communion assistants in wor-ship. Other activities included gathering off-campus for several meals during the semester. Leadership of this ministry was shared between Phillip and Diaco-nal Minister Christy Huffman. In the Fall, I handed over most of the organization of this ministry to Christy Huffman, although I did lead the Christmas gathering and attended one campus ministers’ lunch while she was on maternity leave.

Young Adult ministry: YA-LL (Young Adults-Living Lutheran) continued to meet under two main venues, albeit with very spotty attendance. Three meetings of “Luther on Tap” were held throughout the year. Discussion topics included “Pope Francis: a New voice for the church?” and Mumford & Sons lyrics. A Christmas gathering with games at the Center of the Universe Brewing in Ash-land. Young adults also gathered for “Lunch after Church” three times during the year. The 30/40-Somethings group met a few times during the year. They held a Chili-Chilly Game night in mid-March (games and chili in Price Hall), a Beginning of Summer Picnic in early June at Dunncroft/Castle Point Park. The annual Pizza and Pumpkins event was held on Sunday, October 27, with a very large turnout. I began a very informal group to play pick-up basketball games in Price Hall during the summer of 2013. We met and played three times.

Other ministry areas We continued expand the congregation’s social media presence through Facebook during 2013. I also helped the rest of the staff regularly update the website. In addition to leading the new men’s lunch group that I began in 2012, I took over leadership of the two other Men’s lunch groups once Pastor Chris retired. Some of that leadership was shared with the interim senior pastor. The Epiphany Garden, a ministry of the Community service team, expanded in 2013 to include thirteen 4’ x 10’ plots. Two plots were reserved for the congrega-tion to grow vegetable produce for the HHOPE pantry and LAMB’S Basket. The oth-er eleven plots were each tended by Epiphany members and a member of the neighborhood. At one point, over 100 pounds of potatoes and 50 pounds of green beans were harvested and distributed through the HHOPE pantry. The garden was watered by the generous donation of 3 large rain/water barrels.

Overall, my roles within the congregation shifted significantly after the retirement of Pastor Chris Price. I shared many duties with the interim senior pastor, Ken Ruppar, but I took on more responsibility for funer-als, leadership of the Wednesday healing service, and hospital visitations. Ministry to the wider church community: I continued to serve as a board member for the newly-constituted Lutheran Partners in Mission, the organi-zation which helps coordinate ministry between the Synod and its constituent institutions (LTSS, Lutheran Family Services, etc.). I resigned my position on the board in mid-summer after Pastor Chris Price resigned so I could concentrate more of my time and energy at Epiphany. I served as a voting member from the Virginia Synod to the 2013 ELCA Churchwide Assembly in Pittsburgh. One of the highlights of that trip was electing Elizabeth Eaton as the new Presiding Bishop of the ELCA. Pastoral Acts: I presided at the following in 2013: 4 baptisms: Milo Nicolas McAnally Reese Becker Dix John Larson Waller Leo Christian Stanwix Afton Marjorie Long 2 weddings: Steven Crouch and Leslie Smith Scott Jenkins and Tiffany Schifflet 8 funerals/memorial services: Joyce Bondurant Adam Drescher Ray Rothermel Shirley Van O’Linda John Buehler Debra Wilson Nancy Whitlow Nancy Minnigh 13 Confirmations: Emily Joy Bartholomew, William Bice, Rachel Bracken, Grant Gorsline, John Dietrick, Katherine Gattuso, Holly Long, Jeffrey Newkirk, Emma Sparks, Michael Troxel, Matthew von Schmidt-Pauli, Stephen von Schmidt-Pauli, Malcolm Wake Respectfully submitted, Phillip Martin