Council Members Present: Airin Cherian, Beverly Dougherty, Pastor Ross Goodman, Sergia Hay, Vicar Andrew Heisen, Mark Olson, Dana Ramish, Cindy Reuter, Alison Roberts, Brian Sniffen, Marilyn Waehler.
Also Present: Jen Nahn, Wendy Stack.
Absent: Darcie Sunnerberg.
A quorum was gathered and we came together in God’s name at 7:30pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.
We shared highlights of what’s new in our lives, emphasizing what we’re looking forward to in this new year—timed on the academic calendar: coming babies, the coming Book of Faith initiative focusing on John, weddings, music, lightning in the air, the confirmation class, the recently passed Braille memorial, the new Vicar, the new year of teaching and learning, new thingsto read and write, honeymoons, travel, so many new things starting.
The agenda was accepted.
Mark Olson then led a devotion from Rogness’ The Word for Every Day, “A peculiar people,” ending with a reading from 1 Peter 2:9.
But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Next month, Sergia Hay will lead devotions.
We sing The King of love my shepherd is (502).
The minutes of August were accepted as amended.
We’re well ahead for the year on a 13-month schedule, buoyed by a number of special gifts that leave us presently $11480 ahead. lss is behind on their rent after they paid for some repairs without contacting us. We received one payment from the Korean congregation.
We have spent about $24000 more than we have received this year, but do have about $60000 in the checking account. Ken Heyda will be closing the accounts for the next two months while Beverly is out of town.
From our by-laws:
6. Successors to resigning or removed council members shall be appointed by the council to serve until the next regular election, at which time the positions will be filled by election.
Motion 1 We appoint Wendy Stack to the Church Council seat held by Jen Nahn, to serve until the institution of Council members following the next regular elections. moved, seconded, carried.
The Social Ministry committee requests “pre-approval of $3000 from N7 to fund the advance purchase of merchandise (on consignment) to host a Lutheran World Relief Fair Trade Fair and to cover miscellaneous expenses associated with the Fair. Pre-selected packages for $2500. lwr requires payment in advance. The items are purchased on consignment, anything not sold, will be returned to lwr for a full refund. The additional $500 is to cover miscellaneous expenses. It is possible that not all the $500 would be needed but would not want to come back to the council to approve additional funding.” More information about the lwr Handicraft Project is available at http://www.lwr.org/handcraft/.
Cindy asks that the Social Ministry committee coördinate a way to deposit one cheque rather than hundreds.
Motion 2 We approve the Social Ministry committee’s request to risk $3000 from n7 to host a Lutheran World Relief Trade fair. moved, seconded, carried.
The following motion was proposed and carried by e-mail between the August and September meetings.
Motion 3 St. Paul Evangelical Church hire Kathy Johnson at Nursery Attendant beginning Sept 6th. Kathy will be paid an hourly rate of $11.50 per hour. moved, seconded, carried.
The next meeting of the Budget committee will be held October 12 at 6pm, immediately preceding the Council meeting. The committee is asking for all budget requests, including one from each committee, to be turned in to the committee by October 5.
Sexton Malong Malual has given notice he will be resigning as sexton 25 October 2009. We’ve interviewed one replacement and will announce the position publicly next Sunday.
Yesterday was Rally Day. There was much positive feedback. A big rug might have helped. About half of the expected returning students are registered. We still must recruit more teachers. We’ll begin a new organized music program as part of Godly Play. Colleen will be working with Jen for that.
Some youth have requested a youth-focused event during the Education Hour, separate from the Adult Forum, Choir, and teaching opportunities already available.
Vicar Heisen says it’s wonderful to be hear, expresses his excitement about the coming year. He’s been learning the ways of the congregation and is thankful for our patience. He had a wonderful time with the teens at Hammonasset, as well as getting to know the teens at Hillside House. We have three or four volunteer tutors and are looking for a few more. The teens will dry out eventually. Thomas and Kirsten Leinhardt were wonderful chaperones. The Book of Faith initiative will be held on Wednesday and on Sunday this year, focusing on the Gospel of John. He preaches next on the 27th of September.
Pastor Goodman speaks about how it’s great to work with Andrew, passes on a confession that Judy made that St. Paul has a reputation as an “intern processing plant.” He married three couples this month: Janna and Amir, Joe and Meredith, and Dave and Darby, more than ever in his career. He also asks about how we see the congregation and the Church handling the General Assembly’s new actions regarding the social statement “Human Sexuality: Gift and Trust.”
Bennett Layton will be baptized this Sunday. Albert Schweitzer was dropped from the Red Book’s commemoration calendar, and Pastor Goodman would like to know why.
Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 8:47pm.
Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen
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Next regular council meeting: 12 October 2009 at 7:30pm.