One tradition that St. Mark’s has maintained since 1948, is the Annual Meeting in January. During this meeting, clergy, staff and parishioners gather to take stock. The parish listens to reports about the activities of the past year, the current financial picture is explained (including the budget for the upcoming year), and the hopes and plans for the next twelve months are presented. Food is shared, and slide shows capture highlights from the past year’s events as the parish launches into a new year.
Although there’s occasionally some drama at annual meetings (usually around budget matters), generally they are a time of celebration and pretty much the same from year to year! Here’s a few highlights from 60 years ago – January 10th, 1961. Some things will sound very familiar, because the basic agenda for the Annual Meeting is still very much the same. Some things are very different because of course the parish was very different 60 years ago!
After opening with a prayer, the treasurer presented the budget for the upcoming year, answered questions from the floor, and the budget was then voted on and approved by those in attendance.
The slate for the new Vestry was presented and voted on, the next Senior Warden was announced, and delegates were elected for the Diocesan Convention.
The Rector and others gave reports that highlighted some parish activities from the past year:
- St. Nicholas Chapel was dedicated, and thanks was given for the cross, windows, altar candle sticks, painting and other gifts given to create the chapel.
- The Parish Census counted 565 family units, 71 baptisms, 53 confirmations, 15 marriages and 31 burials
- The 1960 budget was $70,812 and expenses exceeded income by $1,128. For 1961, the budget was $82,500 with $74,000 in pledges. The Rector’s salary was $7,000.
- The Churchwomen of St. Mark’s were exceptionally busy. Activities includes sponsoring the Dumont family (who were refugees from Holland), hosting two Boar’s Head dinners, hosting weekly coffee hours after the 9am and 11am services, creating 52 Christmas stockings for the children at Canon Kip Center in San Francisco, hosting a Christmas party for one of the wards at Agnew hospital, and raising $2,500 to help balance the parish budget by running two Rummage Sales, selling 45 dozen cookies at Castilleja School, and hosting a Dessert Fashion Show, a Fall Festival and a variety of luncheons and dinners.
- A men’s group called the Brotherhood of St. Andrew worked on various parish and diocesan projects including Acolyte’s Breakfasts, Men’s Corporate Communions, and work at the Veteran’s hospital.
- There were 24 members of the Acolyte Guild – no girls – all boys age 13-18. There was an affiliate group called the Acolyte Mothers who cleaned, laundered, pressed and repaired the vestments (a “duty happily done because of our pride in these young men in God’s service”).
- Organist and Choirmaster, C. Thomas Rhoades, reported there were 32 in the Senior Choir. They gave several concerts, including Handel’s Passion of Christ, monthly Evensong Concerts, and Mozart’s Seventh Mass. Canon West directed the Junior Choir.
- There was Sunday School for all ages, Senior and Junior “YPF” (youth groups), a Boy Scout and Cub Scout troop.
- The women of the Altar Guild prepared for the services and cared for the vestments, linens, chalices and other vessels used in the service. St. Mary’s Guild was the Junior Altar Guild. Girls learned the tricks of the Altar Guild trade and baked thousands of wafers for St. Mark’s weekly communion services. They also made an annual pilgrimmage to Grace Cathedral and a retreat to St. Dorothy’s Rest. Members were required to be high school age, “alert, intelligent, faithful, devoted and just completely wonderful.”
- 160 men served as greeters in the St. Mark’s Usher’s Guild.
And finally, the parish celebrated the upcoming installation of a new gallery section of the Philbrick organ in time for Easter of 1961, and adjourned with a closing prayer to enjoy fellowship and a spectacular potluck supper!
