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If you didn’t attend the 174th Annual Meeting -- we missed you!
A link to the Annual Report for 2025 is here:
Here are a few of the key highlights from the meeting:
• We elected four new vestry members -- Scott Carter, Rita Davis, Eric Rabe and Jessica Caverly Rae!
• John Black, outgoing Accounting Warden, reported on the ongoing strength of parish finances and endowment. 2025 ended with a modest surplus. The 2026 Budget approved by vestry is balanced with 4% increases in revenue and expenses. Our 2024 fire insurance claim is closed and was fully covered by our carrier. We have more capital repairs and equipment replacement ahead in 2026.
• Charlie Merwin, our continuing Rector's Warden, described ways that we will celebrate our 175th Anniversary this fall and shared thanks for clergy, staff, and volunteers for their efforts to sustain the growth and excellence of our programs.
• Peter Vanderveen, began the Rector’s report by noting how many members of The Redeemer, who had formed its character and given the church its vitality, had died in the last year. It marks the passing of a great generation. Peter challenged us to think about the ongoing work of the church as "prosaically heroic" — it reflects the ongoing dedication of many members who, by their varied efforts in ways small and great, help us accomplish much. He thanked the staff and the vestry for their leadership, especially the retiring members: Lisa Raymond, Win Shafer, Joe Spadaro, and John Black.
• Peter asked us to think forward 175 years: how do we imagine The Redeemer then? And who could have imagined the church as it presently is when it was first begun. We have inherited so much. We need to think of how we can move the church forward for those coming long after us. It’s a great privilege.
• One significant part of “prosaic heroism” is the maintenance of programs that build the congregation. The Music programs are integral to the life of the parish. The current organ is failing and is in need of replacement. This was emphatically noted by every candidate interviewed for the position of Director of Music two years ago. Andrew Senn located a pristine, historical instrument in California that was being sold at a price far below market value. Due to the generosity of two families, we were able to purchase the instrument, which is now in storage in the undercroft. This was a deep and generous investment in The Redeemer’s future. Peter described this as “prudent and exciting.” In the next several years, we will be looking to install the instrument.
• Peter concluded the meeting by stating that celebrations of The Redeemer’s 175 years will be largely scheduled for the fall, particularly the month of November, beginning with the observation of All Saints Day and reaching a culmination with the Christmas Village event.
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