Buck Mountain Episcopal Church
Announcements for April 18, 2027

Sundays 9:15 a.m.–10:15 a.m. during the Easter Season. Our topic: “Epis-co-speak.” How to speak Episcopalian. Bring your off the wall Episcopal questions! Like Carnac the Magnificent there will be an attempt to offer answers.

If you are a key holder, Vestry member, Stephen Minister, or Sunday School assistant: please complete your online Safe Church training and turn in your transcript or certificates.

Clergy have a number of responsibilities we seldom think about. On page 445 of The Book of Common Prayer it says “The minister of the congregation is directed to instruct the people, from time to time, about …” the care of their family, to make wills, while they are in health, arranging for disposition of their possessions and not neglecting, if they are able, to leave bequests for religious and charitable uses.”

Hospice of the Piedmont is offering a number of related Workshops this spring. You can see them on the events page of their website (https://hopva.org/events/). An excellent resource from the Episcopal Church Foundation is this Planning for the End of Life PDF (https://www.ecfvp.org/uploads/tools/files/Planning_for_the_End_of_Life.pdf).

Time to update our records! Several people have been asked to help with specific areas. Kate Daniels gathered a group on Saturday April 11 to work on several areas. We still have a few areas left. This is not something done by the admin person in the past. Typically church volunteers do the inventory.

The vestry researched, we interviewed, we developed an agreement with an outside bookkeeping service. The agreement was signed March 30, 2026.

All of the information from our previous data management systems is being transferred. Last week we entered 350+ names, addresses, phone numbers and e-mails for all the people (members, participants, donors) affiliated with Buck Mountain. The same information is being entered for all the businesses we work with. The next step is loading all the financial information from January 1 to present to we can have a clean set of records and reports for 2026.

Due to the data transfer the quarterly giving statements are delayed. Contact Doug Smith our treasurer if you need information about your donations in the first quarter of 2026.

The vestry appointed a Discernment Committee in October 2025 when our previous priest retired. They are guiding the process used by the Diocese of Virginia to seek and call our next priest. In January and February, the Discernment Committee convened focus groups to gather insights. The committee has developed a profile to describe our parish to our candidates. After vestry approval, it will go to the Diocese for official posting where all potential candidates can see it. Parishioners will be given the link so you can see it also. The committee is preparing to interview candidates.

Job description is available at episcopalvirginia.org/jobs-transitions/staff-positions (https://episcopalvirginia.org/jobs-transitions/staff-positions/). Please help us get the word out!

The BMECadassist@gmail.com e-mail is being read by The Rev. Mary L. Staley until we find an admin assistant. Send questions or requests about your financial/pledge to bmectreasurer@gmail.com (Doug Smith) who is our acting pledge secretary.

There are projects for all abilities—just talk to Mother Mary. We need help for the building inventory and sorting some files after Easter. Volunteers are the reason we do so much!

Coffee hour, Altar Guild, lawn maintenance, Food Pantry, AIM, Sunday School, maintaining the library, the website update, helping with worship services, and much more! Thank you to everyone who helps with all of these things.

There are openings available for hosting coffee hour after our Sunday services. Please check the sign-up sheet on the long table in front of the kitchen.

Books and Abbreviations

• “BCP” stands for the Book of Common Prayer, the red book found in your pew.
• Hymns from the blue Hymnal are marked with an “H” in the bulletin.
• Service music from the front pages of the blue Hymnal are marked with an “S”.
• “LEVAS” stands for Lift Every Voice and Sing, the red-and-black hymnal in your pew.
• Renew is the tan paperback music.

Restrooms

The building next to the sanctuary is called Deese Hall. Restrooms are located in the far-right corner upon entering.

Communion

The Episcopal church recognizes baptisms in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit from any denomination as sufficient to receive communion to receive communion. (Canon I.17.7 of the General Convention.)

Episcopalians invite all baptized people to receive, not because we take the Eucharist lightly, but because we take our Baptism so seriously. Those who are not yet baptized are welcome to come forward during communion to receive a blessing. Please cross your arms over your chest to indicate you would like the blessing.

Gluten-free hosts/bread are available. It helps if you tell the usher know before the service begins so we have what we need at the altar.

The common cup may be received in the traditional fashion (i.e., sipping directly from the common cup). You may carefully dip the bread in the wine making sure your fingers to not make contact with the wine or the edge of the cup.