Ministry Reports 2025

Church of Our Saviour
4 hours ago
24 min read

Updated: 13 minutes ago

In this special report in The Messenger, our many ministry leaders share the past year’s highlights, challenges, and their hopes for the future.

8 am Rite 1 Service

Vera Hoalim, Eucharistic Minister and Lector Coordinator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The 8 am parishioners are a committed group of members who are faithful in weekly worship and who enjoy the serenity of sacred silence and prayer. We also boast of a dedicated group of six Eucharistic Ministers and readers who are willing to take on double duty and to step up at any point to help the team. We are small but mighty, and we are blessed each week that we serve at the altar. We also continue to enjoy Alice Rucker’s organ playing and the occasional anthem sung by our choir.

What challenges did your ministry face?

We continue to face the challenge of recruiting younger EMs, as the 8 am service is generally attended by our golden agers. Some of our current EMs are also facing physical challenges, such as with prolonged standing and step climbing. The challenge is also to recruit parishioners who are willing to serve once a month as a reader or Eucharistic Minister.

What are your hopes for the future?

We hope to recruit 1-2 qualified Eucharistic Ministers and Lay Readers. We also need a refresher course on being a Lay Eucharistic Minister at Church of Our Saviour, to ensure that we know our place and responsibilities at the altar.

10 am Rite 2 Service

Joanna Cory, Verger

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

I realized that we no longer had Eucharistic Ministers visiting our parishioners who are homebound or in the hospital. Since COVID, that ministry had fallen solely to our clergy. I have since drafted a manual for Lay Eucharistic Visitors and trained seven of our Eucharistic Ministers in the protocol for taking Communion to our homebound parishioners. The Communion kits have also been standardized so that each kit contains everything needed for each visit. This will help those who have been trained grow in their ministry and will free up some much-needed time for our hard-working clergy.

What challenges did your ministry face?

As our parish continues to grow, so does the need for Eucharistic Ministers and lectors. We have had several people step away from the ministry, and we are now facing the challenge of recruiting new individuals who feel called to serve Communion on Sundays and/or read the lessons or Prayers of the People. This is not only a challenge but also an opportunity to invite more members of our parish family to use their gifts in the service of God.

What are your hopes for the future?

I am exploring the best ways to schedule meetings with our Eucharistic Ministers and lectors. With such busy lives, our participants have only precious amounts of time to give. I am hopeful that I will be able to find the best timing and format for periodic meetings so that we can continue to hone our skills together.

4 pm Sunday Holy Eucharist in Grace Chapel

Virginia Barger, Lector Coordinator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

This year's highlight -- a repeat from last year -- was having Robin Nixon commit to playing live music twice a month! Her talents truly add another dimension to our worship. We hope to hear from others who are musically inclined. We are a small and supportive audience, and we welcome you to our beautiful space in Grace Chapel.

We continued to have a variety of celebrants, and we got to know them better. We were treated to sermons from Jeff+, Tim+, Reese+, and Marilyn+. Lately, Ashley Hengst (our diocesan discerner) has joined us and has even given two sermons. We feel fortunate to have her join us during this time when she is discerning her call. When Reese Riley+ leads our service, he offers us a special healing blessing, and at one service nearly all the participants enjoyed his blessing and anointing with holy oil and holy dirt. (You have not heard of holy dirt? There is something special about it, so join us with Reese+ to see whether you can feel the healing.)

What challenges did your ministry face?

We have a small but consistent number of loyal worshipers. In fact, if we have not seen someone for a week or so, we ask about them. We have become a very caring group.

We would like more people to enjoy our special service, so for anyone who has yet to attend at 4 pm, we suggest that you to give it a try. Many people who usually attend an earlier service are pleasantly surprised at how special our service can be.

What are your hopes for the future?

We hope that our live music will continue and that more people will come to hear it with us. We are grateful that our priests are so open and willing to share their talents with us at our small service. Because we do have a variety of celebrants, we hope to deepen our spiritual relationships with them this year.

A Child’s Garden School

Lucero San Lucas, ACGS Director

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

One of the most significant highlights of our ministry remains the enthusiastic engagement and constant support of our preschool families. Their active participation in classroom activities and special events plays a crucial role in the success of our program. Their unwavering commitment was instrumental in making our Annual Fundraising Gala a wonderful success! This support beautifully highlights their love and commitment to our school. Without their involvement, our school events wouldn't be as memorable, as they play a significant role in making them special. Our families truly represent the heart of our community!

What challenges did your ministry face?

Enrollment for our older age group remains challenging, largely due to the presence of alternative Transitional Kindergarten options, some of which are offered at no cost.

What are your hopes for the future?

Our goal is to increase enrollment for the upcoming school year. Our commitment is to continue creating a nurturing environment that emphasizes a supportive atmosphere. We are actively seeking ways to showcase the unique advantages of our program and connect with families who appreciate small class sizes, faith-based education, and the play-based learning opportunities we offer.

Acolytes

Hannah Riley, Acolyte Co-Wrangler

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

Our COS Acolyte Squad continues to be a joyful, lively, and unexpectedly holy group of dedicated kids and teens. Even as some of our members graduated and headed off to college, we welcomed five new acolytes and were glad to have two return. We are now 26 strong and still growing. Our acolytes share wins together, eagerly embrace new learning, and take great pride in serving at the altar.

What challenges did your ministry face?

Our biggest challenge right now is staying consistent with training and skill-building. Being on the COS Acolyte Squad is like being part of a sports team — the more we practice, the more confident and capable we become.

What are your hopes for the future?

We hope to grow our squad, both in numbers and in spirit. Charity Xia is a valued Co-Wrangler, and St. Dawn Arnold continues as our faithful laundress, helping ensure we look our best. Moving forward, we aim to keep sharpening our skills and discovering new ways to serve during worship.

Adult Formation

Kit Shenk, Adult Formation Facilitator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

A Chosen presentation called The Messengers, who were the Magi of old. Nancy Smith, on “COS Episcopal Identity” that clarified our unique personality and gifts as a church. Reese Riley led us in a discussion of the Nicene and Apostles Creeds. Father Thomas shared stories of his sabbatical. Rosemary Choate helped us with our understanding of several Proverbs. Ed Andersen educated us about the inspiring Christian Thomas Star King. We explored parables together. Our Saviour Center gave an exciting preview of their 40th year celebration. Sarah Elizabeth McCandless shared her experience in the Houston bubble that simulated a trip to Mars. The Killians led us in their annual Christmas Carol sing.

Our small group offerings this year included Men’s Bible Study led by Fr. Jeff, Journey in Joy, a women’s Bible study led by Rosemary Choate and Kit Shenk, the Spiritual Formation group led by Nancy Smith, and the grief group facilitated by Trish Healy and Natasha Wen. The Reverend Brian O’Rourke led a mid-week small group study of the book The Service Berry. Fr. Brian has also started a Community Care Support Group.

What challenges did your ministry face?

One challenge our ministry faces is building and sustaining new small group offerings. With the wonderful leadership of Nancy Smith and Clyde Beswick, we are expanding this programming, but like any new ministry, it takes time to grow participation and create a lasting rhythm for the parish.

What are your hopes for the future?

We look forward to creating more small group offerings, with the help of Nancy Smith and Clyde Beswick’s leadership.

Altar Guild

Cheryl Townsend, Altar Guild Directress

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

Here at COS, our Altar Guild as of December has 22 active members. These ladies assist at all services on Sundays as well as at funerals, weddings, and any time we are needed or requested.

In 2025 we helped with 208 regular services, Holy Week and Christmas services, 9 funerals, 2 weddings, and 23 baptisms.

This year in Advent we hosted a wreath-making workshop after a Sunday service, which earned $1400. Carrie Voris and Juli Kennedy also put together flower arrangements for clergy to take to our home-bound parishioners during Advent.

What challenges did your ministry face?

The Altar Guild is an aging workforce. We continue to recruit new members in the guild but have had difficulty attracting new members, especially younger women. We continue to write articles for the Messenger to highlight the activities of the Altar Guild with the hope that women in the congregation will join us in our work.

What are your hopes for the future?

We added two new members to the guild, and my hope is to have an installation of officers and welcome our new members. My goal is to do this during the 10 am service. Another goal is to open our guild to new members.

I am very honored to serve as this year's Directress.

Audio/Visual Team

John Ballance, A/V Director

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

As part of the 2025 Capital Campaign, the audio system for the Church, which was originally installed in 1995, was completely replaced in July of 2025. To better support the sound on our video live-stream broadcasting of our 10:00 AM services, we needed some additional microphones, which our original system could not support. In addition to replacing the original audio mixer, amplifiers, and loudspeakers, our new system includes additional microphones to better capture the choir, organ, piano, cello, and the congregation.

What challenges did your ministry face?

The computer equipment which is used every Sunday to capture and publish the Church service live-stream is nearing the end of its life and is stalling during the service with increasing frequency. Upgrading that equipment is becoming a critical need in order to reliably being able to record and publish the Sunday service.

Additionally, the audio and video equipment is operated every Sunday by a dedicated team of volunteers, including several of our Church youth. Recruiting and training volunteers to operate the equipment every Sunday and for special services, such as weddings and funerals, continues to be a challenge.

What are your hopes for the future?

I have three hopes for the future:

First, to upgrade the computer equipment used for the Church live-stream.
Second, to make the Forum presentations more accessible, to acquire and configure an additional computer that could record and publish a live-stream from Cleaver Hall.
Third, to find additional volunteers willing to dedicate one Sunday a month to operate the audio and video equipment.

Children's Ministry

Hannah Riley, Associate for Congregational Life

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

Children’s Ministry continues to be a ministry full of joy and healthy chaos. See below for the highlights of Chapel and SPARK.

Children’s Chapel: This service occurs during the 10 am Holy Eucharist on Sundays and averages over 20 kids every week (up from an average of 5 kids four years ago)! Some highlights include “ascending” Jesus into the trees using a pulley, announcing the coming of the baby Jesus by putting fliers on parishioners’ cars, our All Saints’ Sunday procession, and learning songs during our chapel time with Music Director Bob Crocker.

SPARK: SPARK (Speech and Reading Kids) is our version of Sunday school, occurring after the 10 am service. In 2025, we had a year of modules starting in January and ending in December (with a break in August). Each module explored a different theme, from oral reading to gardening. Just a few of the many highlights include our annual Spooky Saintly Scavenger Hunt, the Family Campout, Bell-tober, the Shrove Tuesday talent show, our amazing Christmas Pageant, and the return of Vacation Bible School (VBX).

What challenges did your ministry face?

The biggest challenge is the age range of kids. We have kindergarteners and 5th graders all in the same group at times. For the first time in years, we are ready (and have enough kids!) to figure out a way to split our young people into age-appropriate groups, staff those groups, and keep up the momentum of the wonderful ministry.

What are your hopes for the future?

My hope is to continue to grow our Children’s Ministry. With the help of the Rev. Brian O’Rourke, we assembled Commission on Children and Youth Ministry to reimagine what this ministry looks like for our young people. I look forward to helping create a fun and safe community for our kids that helps them grow spiritually and creates lasting friendships and positive church memories.

Chinese Ministry

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Ni, Associate for Chinese Ministry

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

2025 was a year of continuing development of Chinese ministry. During this year we tried to improve the English class for the Chinese members, thanks to our English teachers. We realized our plan to start a new program of family Ministry and resume adult Sunday school. We welcomed the delegates from the Diocese of Taiwan to visit COS, Jubilee Homes ministry, and OSC’s Kids Campus. We continued our large gatherings to celebrate July 4, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve, as we do every year. Although the immigration policies were not friendly to the immigrants and many Chinese parishioners faced severe challenges and lived in fear, our Sunday service attendance and pledges increased.

What challenges did your ministry face?

During 2025, no challenge was bigger than the impact of federal immigration policies on our Chinese parishioners. A few families stopped attending Sunday service due to their fears. Many had to change their jobs, and some had interviews in the immigration office or immigration court hearings but were still waiting anxiously for the results. In 2024, we strived with hope to help new immigrants to settle; in 2025, we struggled to help the most vulnerable among us survive and to ease their fear and frustration.

What are your hopes for the future?

While we continue hoping that the connections between our English-speaking and Chinese-speaking members will be strengthened, we particularly hope that the situation of our newly immigrated siblings can be improved and we can further help them to deal with their daily struggles and nourish their spiritual growth.

Grief Group

Trish Healy, Co-Facilitator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The group continues to be a resource for both our members and people from neighboring communities who come seeking solace and support.

Debra Fetterly, who has been with us since the first day, has grown through her own healing with such compassion for others experiencing loss that she now serves as a facilitator of the group, along with Natasha Wen. I continue to attend as a resource participant.

Every Friday, Debra sends a reminder invitation to the group of fifteen, offering an encouraging reflection and quotes of wisdom about grief.

What challenges did your ministry face?

The challenge is that, in this format, we can’t spend as much time as we would like with each individual. However, Natasha has generously opened her home twice so that everyone could gather for lunch after the group, allowing time to share more of our stories and to get to know one another more deeply.

What are your hopes for the future?

We plan to continue offering the group weekly and are grateful to experience God’s presence among us.

Greeters

Charlotte Van Fleet, Greeter Coordinator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The joy of meeting our guests — some family members, some “checking us out,” some traveling through. A friendly welcome demonstrates we do welcome newcomers.

What challenges did your ministry face?

It's the same each year: identifying COS members who enjoy (or learn to enjoy) meeting our guests and who are willing to be at the church door 15 minutes early, and stay 15 minutes after the service.

What are your hopes for the future?

Completing our roster. We have one 8:00 am and one 10 am vacancy. Having two members at each door is the ideal. We are excited to announce Rex Botengan as our new chair for this wonderful ministry.

Handbells

Alice Rucker, Handbells Director & Organist

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The ministry of handbells is challenging and exciting. I work with a wonderful group of interested, dependable, and responsible players who enjoy playing handbells for church. Seeing the players growing in their abilities is always a highlight. Our members are Debbie Anderson, Sara Dooley, Phyllis Scorcia, and Kim Sirean.

In October 2025 we had a month of Sundays called “Belltober” that was initiated by SPARK. Each week we offered fun and interesting times for children to experience hand chimes and bells. After a month, they played along with the song “He’s Got the Whole World in His Hands.” It is hoped some of the children will want to be regulars with chimes/bells.

We have a space at our tables for anyone who wants to learn to play bells. No previous experience needed. It will be wonderful to have a children’s group when that happens.

Healing Service

The Rev. Tim Hartley, Associate for Recovery Ministries and Pastoral Care

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The Wednesday Healing Service meets online via Zoom. Every Wednesday a committed group of parishioners meets at 11:30 am, with new people joining throughout the year. The format was officially changed to include a discussion of the Gospel lesson from the previous Sunday. The service ends with group healing prayers.

What challenges did your ministry face?

The Wednesday Healing service is a wonderful midweek offering for our community. Making sure people who might benefit from the service know about it is something we think about regularly.

What are your hopes for the future?

Whether it becomes a regular weekly practice or is a place you stop by for some needed prayers from time to time, the Healing Service will be there. We hope it will continue to grow, and we look forward to introducing a fellowship time after the service at some point in the future.

Journey in Joy

Rosemary Choate, Co-facilitator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

One the highlights from this year’s women’s Bible study was the variety of lessons. We studied seasons 1–5 of the television series The Chosen, The Imitation of Christ by Thomas à Kempis, and the books of Hebrews, Genesis, and more. We were also pleased by the level of attendance, with 38 members — 27 regulars, 11 participants joining from home — and growing!

What challenges did your ministry face?

We did face our challenges: avoiding partisan political discussion, ensuring our three Chinese speakers were fully included, and integrating Roman Catholics, Evangelicals, and other denominations into an Episcopal framework.

What are your hopes for the future?

We hope to continue expanding and welcoming even more members while developing friendships outside the class setting.

Jubilee Homes

The Rev. Tim Hartley, Associate for Recovery Ministries and Pastoral Care

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

Our third annual fundraiser dinner was held in May. Hosted by actors Bradley Witford and Amy Landecker, it was a huge success. The event raised much-needed funds to support the homes and introduced new people to the amazing work we do. The event honored the former residents of the Fair Oaks house who were celebrated by Bishop John Taylor.

What challenges did your ministry face?

With our Fair Oaks house destroyed by the Eaton fire, we are faced with the challenge of navigating the next steps. Our hope is to build something bigger and better to continue to do the good work of this important ministry. Our challenge will be raising the needed funds to bring our vision to fruition, but we are confident it will all work out.

What are your hopes for the future?

Jubilee Homes has provided safe, secure, and sober housing for thousands of people recovering from addiction over the past 20+ years, and we look forward to continuing that service over the next 20 years.

Li Tim Oi Center

The Rev. Dr. Thomas Ni, Associate for Chinese Ministry and Director of the Li Tim-Oi Center

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

In 2025, the Li Tim-Oi Center devoted significant energy to helping churches and our Christian siblings in dealing with immigration hardships. The Center provided the Chinese members of COS, St. Thomas’ Episcopal Church in Hacienda Heights, St. Gabriel’s Episcopal Church in Monterey Park, and other Chinese Lutheran, Presbyterian, and independent churches more than one thousand English-Chinese bilingual Red Cards, which people can carry in their purses or pockets and show to law enforcement officers if they are stopped by them. We also translated a handbook for laity and pastors on how to prepare their church for the possibility of visits from ICE or other law enforcement officers; this we provided to St. Thomas’ and St. Gabriel’s churches and to a Chinese Christian organization for online ministry. We also prepared materials for inclusion in a serial short video introducing U.S. constitutional rights to new immigrants.

What challenges did your ministry face?

We’re always short on qualified Chinese-speaking lecturers to teach the lay leadership training courses. Another challenge is finding a time suitable for people in different time zones.

What are your hopes for the future?

Our biggest hope is that we can start the partnership between the Li Tim-Oi Center and the Diocese of Taiwan. Rev. Joseph Ho, a visiting clergy member from Taiwan, has agreed to teach an online course on how to reach out and serve the community base with regard to the experience of the Taiwan Diocese. We also hope to provide a course on immigration and Chinese ministry in the Episcopal Church this year.

Men's Bible Study

David Waller, Men's Bible Study Donut Chair

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The Men’s Bible Study began in September 2024. We meet weekly on Monday from 8:30 am to 10:00 am. Our study uses the Collect, Epistle, Psalm and Gospel readings for the following Sunday as the starting point for our discussion. We have from 12 to 15 men who attend regularly, and occasionally have 1 or 2 visitors.

What challenges did your ministry face?

Because we meet on Monday morning, most of the men who attend regularly are retired. Perhaps more men would attend a Bible study if offered at a different time.

What are your hopes for the future?

Perhaps starting another Bible study at a time that men who aren’t retired could attend.

Music Ministry & Choirs

Bob Crocker, Director of Music

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

We thank the people of Church of Our Saviour for the budgeted support and extraordinary giving outside the budget which have enabled us to grow and thrive this year. Your support of our program through special events like the Tea and Lessons and Carols, through holiday giving to the Rector’s funds for Christmas and Easter, and through regular support especially for music from a number of households has enabled us to strengthen the 10:00 am choir.
We were able to support weekly worship at 8:00 and 10:00 with choral and vocal music, including during the summer months.
We were able to meet the musical opportunities of special services like Rite 13, Advent Lessons and Carols, our many bilingual services, Evensong for Lent I, Ash Wednesday, Christmas Eve and Day, Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, the Vigil of Easter, and Easter Sunday.
We were able to increase the scope of our work with children and young people, including work in VBX, routine weekly music in Children’s Church with occasional performance in Sunday worship, and preparing young woodwind players to play in the Christmas Pageant, the Fundraising Tea, Shrove Tuesday, and weekly worship, and occasional SPARK children’s educational enrichment programs with a musical focus.
We have done more adult education, including a six-week music reading class and several adult education forum presentations.
Our 10:00 am choir has become larger, musically more accomplished, and more consistent in attendance and achievement.
Our Music Committee has improved the effectiveness of fundraising efforts like the Music Tea, Advent Lessons and Carols, and direct appeals to households to support our work. Thank you to Patti Teele and Stephen Bock, outgoing members, and to current members Debbie Andersen, Sara Dooley, Juli Kennedy, and Sarah Long.
We continue to receive extraordinary help and cooperation from clergy, congregational life, maintenance, worship, vestry, and finance professionals and volunteers.

What challenges did your ministry face?

We continue to rethink music program policies, practices, and routines to meet the needs of a vastly changed music ministry.
Recruitment for choir continues to be a challenge, especially for tenors and basses. Please consider singing with us. It’s fun and meaningful, and the people are cool.
Fundraising lags behind our program’s needs. We would be delighted to tell you more about our program if you want more information.

What are your hopes for the future?

Increased designated giving for music.
Stable financial support for four professional section leaders for choir.
Written policies for music events, employment, funerals, and weddings updated.
Complete the state of the organ report under way.
Rationalize piano and harpsichord maintenance schedules.
Choir will continue to grow, particularly in the number of volunteer men, through musical excellence and by being a great place to know people, to learn, to laugh, and to serve.

Our Saviour Center

Eimie Tsumura, Development Coordinator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

Our Saviour Center’s Food Pantry distributed over 872 tons (1,743,161 pounds) of food to 41,933 households — a total of 107,320 individuals. This was possible thanks to the 3,046 volunteers who contributed 9,942 volunteer hours.
Our Emergency Temporary Shelter provided 90 families with a total of 630 nights in a pre-approved motel, sheltering 216 children and 132 adults.
A total of 290 students from TK to 8th grade were enrolled at the Dorris Dann Kids Campus program throughout the Spring, Summer, and Fall programming in 2025.
A total of 49 high school students were hired as Educational Assistants at DDKC through the Dorris Dann Leadership Academy program, 17 of whom graduated from high school in June of 2025.
El Monte Soccer for Success saw a total of 928 students enrolled during the Spring 2025 season and 831 students during the Fall 2025 season.
Our Saviour Center celebrated its 40th anniversary in October of 2025 surrounded by longtime friends and supporters of the center. In September of 2025, the Best Buy Teen Tech Center held its soft opening. Since then, we have had 16 teens registered and received 114 visits to the BBTTC. In that time, we have also held six workshops for the DDKC middle school participants.

What challenges did your ministry face?

This past year has brought on many challenges directly affecting our community and impacting every program at Our Saviour Center. There has been a considerable increase in clients seeking food due to the LA fires, immigration raids, and the sudden pause and resumption of SNAP benefits, leaving us with less to distribute toward the end of each day. Additionally, there is a growing need for Emergency Temporary Shelter, but due to recent cuts to our federal grants, the number of families we can help is being limited. The decades of service our buildings withstood over time have weathered its foundations. From plumbing issues in our Food Pantry to leaky roofs at DDKC, fixing these issues has been difficult due to the financial strain it poses..

What are your hopes for the future?

Despite challenges, Our Saviour Center is determined to aid our community. The need is obvious and ever-present, and we as an organization are working our hardest to offer respite in these unsteady times. Furthermore, 2026 will be an especially significant year for Dorris Dann Kids Campus with the grand opening of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center in addition to celebrating its 20th anniversary. These achievements are only possible thanks to friends of the center, and we hope with their continued support, we can uplift our community for years to come.

Property & Grounds

John Vandercook, Property Chair

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The most significant highlight for the Property & Grounds team this year was the successful launch of the 2025 Capital Campaign. Five critical projects were identified as priorities for renovation, repair, safety and replacement across our campus. The total estimated cost for these projects is $529,000.

North Parking Lot: Renovation efforts will focus on improving the functionality, safety and appearance of the North Parking lot, ensuring it meets the needs of our community and visitors.
Tree Maintenance: A comprehensive maintenance plan has been put in place for all 161 trees on the property, addressing their health and safety.
Cleaver Hall Exterior Drainage and Landscaping: Work has been completed where improved drainage and landscaping help to preserve the building and enhance its surroundings.
Historic Rectory at 531 W. Roses Road Roof Replacement: The roof needs replacement to maintain the integrity and longevity of this important structure.
Hedge Replacement: The existing ficus hedge on the northeast side of the parking lot will be removed and replaced with tall hopseed bushes, providing a sustainable and attractive boundary for our grounds.

Our COS family has responded to date with a huge outpouring of donations totaling more than $105,000. Thank you.

What challenges did your ministry face?

Budgeted expenditures and planned maintenance are the goal each year. The 2025 budget year, due to years of deferred maintenance, brought sobering maintenance and repair of unplanned expenses of more than $360,000, versus the planned budget of $140,000.

What are your hopes for the future?

Caring for our 159-year-old historic and beautiful campus of six acres and twelve buildings will aways require a great deal of expense. As we are getting in front of the deferred maintenance requirements and can plan for ongoing repairs and maintenance, I am hopeful that with all our help we will be able to provide more stability and sustainability with our property budget.

The Sacred Garden

Carrie Voris, Sacred Gardener

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

2025 saw continued growth in the garden!

The biggest excitement in the Sacred Garden came from all of the flower beds being outfitted with drip irrigation.
The property committee continues to evaluate plans and vendors for pathways, electricity, and water to the SG so that we can rent the space out.

The SPARK kids spent a bunch more time in the Garden as they helped release ladybugs on Earth Day, helped turn compost piles, planted seeds, and even made their own garden bed from scratch!

Many Sunday altar arrangements throughout the spring and summer were composed solely from our SG flower beds, saving the Altar Guild $ throughout the summer months.
In May we hosted a Mother's Day bouquet-making event for the SPARK kids to pick flowers and design their own bouquets for their parents.
A lot of the beds have several year-old perennial plantings that are completely self-sustaining and need minimal maintenance from our SG crew.
We have a faithful crew who helps out at often in weeding, feeding, planting, and maintenance in the Garden.

What challenges did your ministry face?

The challenge is always finding time, volunteers, and money to grow the space into what we hope could be a revenue-generating space for COS.

What are your hopes for the future?

STILL on our list for the Garden are a pathway that would make the garden more accessible for all, a privacy fence around the compost area in the southwest corner to hide the (thriving!) compost pile operations, new weatherproof tables and chairs which we can rent to guests who are using the garden as an event space, and of course … more flowers! ;)

Stewardship and Annual Giving

Rose Gonzalez, Chief Development Officer

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The annual giving campaign for 2026 was an extremely successful one, surpassing last year’s 15-year high for pledges promised. Pledging members are the pillars of Church of Our Saviour and are important to securing COS’s financial foundation today and its future. Thank you to every member of this parish whose gifts of love, time and support continue to positively impact life at COS. You truly are the hands and feet of God in our community.

What challenges did your ministry face?

While our beautiful, beloved campus remains a place of spiritual sanctuary and hope, our six acres and twelve buildings are not excluded from the ever-increasing costs of utilities, materials and maintenance, or of the upkeep of our aging facilities and rental properties. These rising costs continue to negatively impact our budget.

What are your hopes for the future?

It continues to be an honor and a privilege to serve COS under a dedicated Stewardship Committee that includes Virginia Barger, Patti Beith, Cece Horne, Linda Moore, and our newest member, Nancy Duling. Did you know that every member of the Committee has faithfully served since its inception in the 2022-2023 campaign year? They are a true testament to their love for their Church, God and this ministry.

I hope the coming year will bring more curiosity and involvement to the stewardship ministry. I think many members of this community would be surprised to learn that roles within the Stewardship Committee are based on individual preference. Fundraising, specifically making “the ask”, is very scary for most, and is the primary reason why they would never consider joining us. The reality is, however, that not one member of the Committee does anything that makes them remotely uncomfortable, including asking others for a gift. In fact, no one on our Committee is asked to “ask”!

If you are curious about stewardship or the Committee, I invite you to ask any member about their experience or to come to a meeting. We welcome you! Join us: roseg@cosepiscopal.org

Weddings

Nancy Duling, Wedding Coordinator

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

We had two weddings in 2025 (with one cancellation). Both of these weddings were officiated by someone other than a COS priest. It is enlightening to see how other officiants perform a wedding ceremony. Both of the ceremonies in 2025 were heartfelt, personal, and joyful. Also, the new folding chairs provide an elevated look for wedding receptions!

What challenges did your ministry face?

Having non-COS officiants does have its challenges. Accommodating their preferences and understanding their needs required patience from everyone.

What are your hopes for the future?

Certainly a few more weddings in the year would be nice! Also, having two sextons present for weddings with 100+ guests is a must!

Youth Group

The Rev. Brian O'Rourke, Associate

What were the highlights of the year for your ministry?

The past year marked a faithful new beginning as we relaunched the Youth Group and programs dedicated to supporting our middle and high school youth. We established a consistent rhythm, meeting regularly on Sunday afternoons at 4:00 pm. Among our most significant milestones were celebrating Rite 13 for the first time at COS and forming the Children and Youth Council, which has been instrumental in supporting the Youth Group's work. Beyond our consistent spiritual formation, highlights included a fun trip to Knotts Berry Farm in June and a lively White Elephant gift exchange at Christmas.

What challenges did your ministry face?

As we work to rebuild our program, gathering middle and high school youth for both fellowship and Christian education remains a significant challenge. Today's youth are often over-scheduled and bombarded with activities, and creating a vibrant, established Youth Group requires sustained effort. A key area for growth is balancing the high-participation, fun fellowship activities with opportunities for deeper Christian formation and education. While both are vital to holistic ministry, bridging this gap in participation is currently our most realistic and pressing challenge.

What are your hopes for the future?

Our greatest hope for the future is to continue this collaborative exploration with our families and youth to discern what a sustainable and impactful Youth Group at COS can truly look like. We are deeply grateful for the formation and dedication of the Youth and Family Council. Together, we hope to continue dreaming big, establishing a consistent program rhythm that effectively increases both overall participation and commitment to Christian education and formation. We look forward to building on our initial success with a renewed and realistic commitment to this important ministry.