Relevant

Father Jeff Jencks is the fourth rector of Holy Cross Episcopal Church since its founding in 1976. His previous parish was St John’s Episcopal Church in Cumberland Rhode Island. He served at St Johns for twenty two years including a three year period where he was Priest-in-Charge. During his tenure at St. John's he evangelized a one hundred fifty year old Church for two decades in spiritual renewal and growth. Many outstanding achievements were the products of active lay involvement including rehabilitation of Church buildings that had been left for years of decay and neglect. Today St John’s is a symbol of renewal to the Episcopal Diocese of Rhode Island.

While serving at St John’s, Fr. Jeff was heavily involved in the community. He worked with the Rhode Island Army National Guard and the Family Court to develop a program for troubled teenagers who had broken the law. Many of the teenagers who successfully completed Operation Guardian were spared time in the Youth Correctional Center. In the year 2000, Operation Guardian came in second place nationwide in the Minute Man Mike award. Because of this achievement Fr. Jeff received both the Rhode Island commendation and the Rhode Island Star medal.

In 1989 Fr. Jeff became a Chaplain in the Rhode Island Army National Guard. He recently left the 43’rd Military Police Brigade as he moved to become the pastor at Holy Cross. He holds the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. He has been called to active duty twice in the past five years, serving two tours in Iraq. He served for fifteen months during 2003 and 2004, and a second tour from August 2005 to 2006. Chaplain Jencks served as Brigade Chaplain, assuming ethical responsibilities for brigade decisions and was responsible for chaplain coverage for 14,000 Iraqi detainees, 5,000 Multi-National Force soldiers and approximately 2,000 civilian personnel. He was supervisory chaplain to seven unit ministry teams throughout the Iraqi theater of operations. His conduct resulted in his receiving the Meritorious Service Award, two Bronze Stars, four Army Commendation awards and several Achievement medals.

Fr. Jeff received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy at Our Lady of Providence Seminary in Warwick Rhode Island and his Masters of Divinity at St Mary’s seminary and University, Baltimore Maryland. After a decision to separate from the Roman Catholic Church he was received as a priest into the Episcopal Church by Bishop George Hunt in 1986. In 1986 he began to work as an assistant at Christ Church, Lonsdale, Rhode Island until he was called to serve at St John’s, Ashton, Rhode Island.

Fr. Jeff was drawn to Holy Cross because of its profile which stated that …”We hope that this profile will give you a glimpse of the loving caring nature of the people who are Holy Cross. We look forward to welcoming you, sharing our love with you, and working along side of you as you lead us in the years to come.”

Fr. Jeff has a son Micah who resides in Rhode Island. Fr. Jeff is married to Eileen, who has retired from the Rhode Island Army National Guard after 26 years of service.

Rector’s Annual Report Submitted by Father Jeff Jencks, Rector

That is why we gather together and that is why Jesus established a community of believers to share the Love that God has to offer us. It seems as though this year has brought many challenges upon us. Most will reflect upon the economic conditions and their loss of valuable assets. Some will reflect upon the future and what is in store for us. Some will become insular in their thinking about the changes in the Church and in the community and withdraw their support and giving to hurt the establishment. Even our Country has changed its leadership and is now challenged with delivering the promises they made to the American people. Wherever you find yourselves in your thinking we find ourselves together in a broken and distorted world. If you think there will be peace in our lifetime then you need to think again because there will be no peace until God restores us into His kingdom. If we become secure by our income we are reminded that we do not know the day or the hour that the Lord will take us leaving all of our material accomplishments behind! Human promises will be broken as they become tokens of the human condition that deceive us from the real truth. Eric Fromm the noted psychologist stated in the seventies that ‘despite our deep seated craving for love we still search after prestige, wealth and physical pleasures.’ In short my sisters and brothers we need Holy Cross to sustain us through this turmoil called the human condition. We need to focus on the Biblical perspective called “love”!

I see love in this family called Holy Cross and I have witnessed it firsthand as your pastor. The prayer shawl ministry heals those who have been broken by disease and sickness. Your hands as they weave together the yarn become a symbol of the grace that Gods surrounds us with. Wherever they have been sent; to Mississippi, Rhode Island, Oregon, Texas, New Hampshire and Pensacola, they represent the fact that our love goes outward to those who are held bound by sickness and despair.  The Angel tree represents our giving to someone we do not even know. How wonderful that is that someone is less fortunate will receive not only a gift but a treasure! Our ministers at the altar from, readers, greeters, acolytes, vergers, and altar guild tell us that we are at a sacred meal that has been prepared with love from those who serve our community. Our ministers that bring Holy Communion to or sick and confined to their homes tell us each Sunday that someone will receive the gift of Jesus Christ in the breaking of the bread and the sharing of the cup. Our Christian education from our youth ministry, Vacation Bible School, weekly Sunday programs including Adult education remind us of our walk with God that must be  spiritually  nourished.. Our music ministry that has been lead for so many years with love and grateful voices reflect the heavenly choir on this earth! The manual efforts to maintain our buildings and grounds reflect the beautiful surrounding that God has giving us to walk in. I suspect that it is by no means a coincidence that God has made this ground Holy in His sight.

We are blessed by daily prayer through the Daughters of the King and the Brotherhood of St Andrew. By your prayers you sustained me during my surgery and healing. You are God’s gift to this family! The shepherd groups sustain a monthly mission to check our members during crisis times. Our vestry reflects the community’s goals and ambitions as it maintains order and leadership within our church structure. I am grateful of their dedication to the mission of Holy Cross which is guided by the Holy Spirit; we walk in Christ’s image to serve our loving God and one another through worship, witness, and works.  I wish our vestry members who have so faithfully lead us during these past years the gift of knowing that they have served the Lord faithfully and have benefited us all by their labor of love.

We move into the year ahead with re-vitalized and new ministries:  Episcopal Church Women (ECW), Stephen Ministry, and the Cross .  The ECW will enrich our women with faithful companionship as they journey toward the kingdom of God. The Stephen Ministry will assist me in the monumental task of providing pastoral leadership during times of personal crisis. We also have a vision for a worship that involves people that have yet to be reached by Christ and His Church. Can we rethink what we have learned over past generations to include those who have no foundation in the life of Christ while not sacrificing our liturgical integrity? I think we can with the grace of God who will lead us in a bold direction.

I want to thank all of our family that “created “Wednesday night meals. I am so blessed to walk into our parish dining room and to be blessed by the food, service and love that has prepared the food that we share.

I want to thank those that have given the gift of themselves…that is those that have given blood to the blood bank. As Jesus gave his blood for the forgiveness of our sins you give your blood so that someone may have life.

Let us think about building this year... if this were to take place I will invite friends from Rhode Island along with members of our community to help build a home for someone to live in. I also have construction skills that have not been “used” in years. Can you picture me making ice tea for all of you workers? Now that is Southern hospitality!

Many things have changed this year especially with how we have met our parish needs within our office. Exceptional works regarding the many demands that have placed upon our office staff reflect their integrity and mission to our church family. I want to remind you of our excellent web sight and its many facets that have drawn new families to our Church. I hope that we continue to enhance our many gifts that the Spirit has placed within us.

You have supported us this year with your sacrificial pledging. Unlike some communities we continue to be blessed by your abundant giving during these most difficult times. I thank you for you have stored treasures in Heaven. I thank all that gave their labor freely so that we could maintain our economic goals to remain debt free this year. Thank you for the gift of air conditioning when the system failed leaving us a reminder of just how discomforting humidity is here in the Gulf!

In short I am so blessed to be your pastor. I am blessed to have the prayers of Mother Shirley Humphrey and Fr Bill Buice and all of my Church family and friends from all over the country that has been my support during my illness and recovery. I am so grateful for our priests who have chosen to be with this family! Thank you for serving our Savior here at Holy Cross.

In closing lets continue to love each other, being patient with our shortcoming and forever grateful of our strengths in Jesus our Savior.

Love,

Fr Jeff