Beloved in Christ, Grace and peace to you on this day when we gather—not only to conduct the business of the church, but to remember who we are, what God has done among us, and where the Spirit is leading us next.

Our scripture theme for this year gives us a deceptively simple charge: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Give thanks in all circumstances.

It’s a verse that sounds easy when life is smooth, but it becomes a spiritual discipline when life is full, complicated, or demanding. And yet, as we look back on this past year at St. Paul’s, gratitude is not something we have to manufacture. It rises naturally—because God has been at work here in ways both quiet and astonishing.

So today, as we reflect on the year behind us and look toward the year ahead, we anchor ourselves again in that refrain: “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

St. Paul’s has long been known as “The Church That Children Built.” But this year’s reports remind us that it is also the church that the faithful sustain, the newcomers energize, and the Holy Spirit continually surprises.

We give thanks for the people who have been here since childhood, who carry the memory of this place in their bones. We give thanks for those who joined recently and immediately felt like family. We give thanks for those who found Christ through this community, and for those who returned to faith because something here felt like home.

“Give thanks in all circumstances.”

This year, we saw committees come alive again—Community Life, Property, Stewardship, Outreach, Finance, Altar Guild, and more. We saw people step forward not because they had extra time, but because they had extra love. We saw new leaders emerge, longtime leaders continue faithfully, and outgoing vestry members complete their terms with grace and generosity.

This is the quiet miracle of parish life: God calls, and people answer.

And so we pause to say: “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

The reports this year read like a tapestry of holy labor.

The Property Committee lived its motto—“Get it done!”—and they did. A new septic system, a paved driveway, HVAC improvements, plumbing repairs, a new shed, a repaired dishwasher, and more. These are not glamorous projects, but they are the bones and breath of a church that intends to be here for generations.

The Finance Committee navigated a year of rising costs, increased diocesan share, and major property expenses—and still ended the year with stability, clarity, and hope. Pledges increased. Fundraising flourished. Investments grew. And the generosity of this parish exceeded expectations.

The Stewardship Committee invited us into “Grateful Living, Faithful Giving,” and the parish responded with a 4% increase in pledges—driven by 32 households increasing their commitment.

The Community Life Committee hosted more than 15 events—dinners, games, Boocharist, cookie exchange, Easter eggs, and more. These weren’t just events; they were moments of belonging.

Outreach continued to embody the Gospel:

• Food pantry support

• Day of Change

• Garden of Love

• Sleep in Heavenly Peace

• School 6 backpacks, socks, books, and 70 winter jackets

• A free library that sees books and puzzles swapped weekly

This is the work of a church that understands Jesus’ call to serve “the least of these.”

And so again we say: “Give thanks in all circumstances.”

This year wasn’t just about tasks accomplished—it was about identity clarified.

We began retooling processes so that St. Paul’s can thrive long after any one of us has moved on. We strengthened committees so decisions are shared, not centralized. We prepared for a future in which St. Paul’s is not only a church in Harris Hill, but a church for Harris Hill.

We welcomed new families. We saw increased attendance. We saw deeper engagement. We saw a parish that is not shrinking back, but leaning forward.

And as we look toward a diocesan election, a new bishop, and another year of ministry, we do so with the confidence that God is already ahead of us.

Because gratitude is not passive. Gratitude is fuel. Gratitude is vision. Gratitude is courage.

“Give thanks in all circumstances.”

Annual meetings are not simply about reviewing the past. They are about discerning the future. And the future of St. Paul’s is bright—not because everything is easy, but because everything is possible when a community is rooted in Christ and committed to one another.

In the coming year, we will:

• Continue strengthening our foundations;

• Expand our outreach;

• Deepen our stewardship of time, treasure, and talent;

• Welcome new vestry leadership;

• Discern our role in the wider diocese;

• And keep asking how God is calling us to serve Harris Hill with creativity, compassion, and joy

We do not do this work alone. We do it together. And we do it with gratitude.

“Give thanks in all circumstances.”

To every person who cooked a meal, balanced a spreadsheet, set the altar, cleaned a hallway, taught a child, made a sandwich, planted a flower, wrote a check, attended a meeting, prayed for this parish, or simply showed up: Thank you. Thank you! Your faithfulness is the heartbeat of this church.

And to those stepping into new roles—vestry, warden, delegates, committee members—thank you for saying yes to the Spirit’s nudge.

As we move into this new year, may gratitude be our compass, our grounding, and our song.

For God has been good to us. God is good to us. And God will continue to be good to us.

So let us go forward with joy, with courage, and with thanksgiving on our lips:

“Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” Amen.