2006-2007 Stewardship Campaign: Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

Building

Building is central to St. Dunstan’s past, present and future: from the Spring of 1948, when St. Paul’s Episcopal Church in downtown San Diego was pulled apart and re-established as St. Dunstan’s near San Diego State University…to April 1967 when the community gathered to dedicate the church’s new home on Park Ridge Boulevard…to today as the church seeks to expand Christian education with the future Haddon Youth & Education Center. Each step in St. Dunstan’s journey has built upon the success of the past. Vestry’s Stewardship goals for 2007 continue to build Christ’s Kingdom for the future.

Yesterday…In 1948, three families (10 people) gathered within a private home with a priest, for Christmas Eve services.

Parishioners enjoy Coffee Hour on the new patio

Today…Father Fred Bartlett and Father David Montzingo tend a healthy, growing congregation of 850 members, with aid from two honorary assistants. This past year, St. Dunstan’s hired Brian Hughes to direct exciting new youth programs. Tomorrow…With Stewardship campaign funds, St. Dunstan’s plans to hire a third full-time priest who can expand programs for youngsters and young adults and can reach out to students at Patrick Henry High School and San Diego State University.

Evangelism to local community

Yesterday…In 1978 the Parish house was built to provide a meeting place with additional rooms for classes and Youth. In 1988 the parish house was expanded to include more classrooms and bathrooms. In 1996 the Columbarium, with a Memorial Wall and garden was built. In 1998 the sanctuary received needed refurbishing and the courtyard was remodeled. In 2001, completion of the Ministry Center provided needed office space and the vacated office space became classrooms in the church building.

St. Dunstan's Columbarium

Today…A wide range of adult and child-based programs that offer bible study, church history, parenting classes, confirmation/membership class, vacation bible school and other forums facilitate community members’ journey with the Lord. With growth in the congregation, many evangelical programs are stretched to the limit. Since January 2006, ten new families have joined St. Dunstan’s parish. Currently Adult Education classes are limited by the number of available classrooms.

Tomorrow…St. Dunstan’s needs to answer the challenges of growth. The Childrens Ministry 2006 budget contained $500 for educational material. The 2007 budget should increase to $900 to cover additional curriculum materials. ChristCare training for small group leaders is urgently needed. Fr. Fred, Diane Godwin & Heather Rishel should attend training in St. Louis in Spring 2007, requiring an additional $3000. With ChristCare Leadership Training for church leaders completed, a goal of five new small groups for 2007 will provide education and fellowship options for members, friends and the community at large. Building the Haddon Youth and Education Center is central to St. Dunstan’s future. Should a Capital Funds shortfall occur for construction costs, financing debt service maybe required for a building loan.

Outreach:

Community/National/International

Water damage in Grace Church's day care center

Yesterday…Whenever a disaster occurred, Outreach Ministry responded with donations through the Episcopal Relief & Development to: 9/11 in NY, the Indonesian Tsunami, the Gulf Coast hurricane disasters, Bishop Shalita School for AIDS orphans, Alliance for African Assistance. Locally, cookies were baked for the prison program Kairos. (There is always a response to our Diocesan Episcopal Community Service needs.) St. Dunstan’s sent donations to help Grace Episcopal Church in New Orleans resume worship services in the Nave, Chapel and Sunday School services.

Today…Through a strong series of outreach ministries, St. Dunstan’s contributes to such programs as: MetroTeen Shelter, the Friend To Friend Day Center for San Diego Homeless; magazines, hats & scarves for the Stella Maris Ministry to merchant seamen; food cards for East County Crisis House; Casey’s Place in our neighborhood for after school children & youth; Episcopal Community Service Food Bank; two Camp Stevens camperships for children; Julian’s Anchorage for battered women & children; furnishing one apartment in El Nido for a woman and her family after Julian’s Anchorage; FISH, a transportation service for the elderly in East County; St. Jude’s Ranch for Children (soup can labels); St. Luke’s Refugee Network, helping our Sudanese community assimilate to their new country; Voices For Children, ensuring abused, neglected and abandoned children a safe and permanent home and the Interfaith Shelter Network’s Rotational Shelter that St. Dunstan’s hosts every year.

Temporary home of Grace Church New Orleans

A Community Disaster Preparedness Workshop was held in September to help residents of our area better prepare them for any major disaster could strike and change our lives.

Tomorrow…Foremost is to support the rebuilding of the Day Care Center at Grace Episcopal Church, New Orleans through Lenten offerings and fund raisers such as a Mardi Gras party, a Baja Cruise in April and a special golf tournament in Fall 2007. With the new Haddon Youth and Education Center, additional adult education programs can be added for members, friends and neighbors. Internationally, Outreach Ministry is committed to supporting the agricultural work in Niger (International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics). Over the next 4 years, it proposes to develop 150 hectares (2.47 acres each) with 3 different crop mixes in different micro-climates in Niger. The Outreach goal is $2000 per year, beginning in 2006. The Costs of Tomorrow Achieving St. Dunstan’s goals for 2007 will require us all to dig deeper into our pockets. Salary and benefits for our third Priest (in addition to already pledged amounts), increases in COLA, insurance, and utilities, along with the program cost increases noted earlier, result in a projected budget of $653,254. This is an increase of $79,065 over the 2006 budget. Shall we continue to build Christ’s kingdom at St. Dunstan’s? As we pray over our 2007 pledge, let us remember Christ’s words: “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matt, 6: 21)