Council Members Present: Sergia Hay, Mark Olson, Dana Ramish, Alison Roberts, Pastor Ross Goodman, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Darcie Sunnerberg, Marilyn Waehler.
Also Present: Vicar Andrew Heisen, Ken Heyda, Bob Waehler.
Absent: Airin Cherian, Beverly Dougherty,
A quorum was gathered after the budget meeting and we came together in God’s name at 7:34pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.
We shared highlights of joys and concerns in our lives: the simple pleasures of home at house and city and church after travel, the wonder of modern communications technology keeping family together across the globe, research grants, new starts in work, the wonders of nature1 , travel, children, students, health of family.
The agenda was accepted.
Sergia Hay then led a devotion on Gordon Nasby’s2 Sunrise in the West and on Romans 11:33:
O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out!
Next month, Marilyn Waehler will lead devotions.
The minutes of September’s meeting were accepted as amended.
Cindy Reuter has resigned as Financial Secretary as of September 23. Bob Waehler has agreed to fill in as Financial Secretary for the remainder of her term.
Motion 1 We appoint Bob Waehler to serve as Financial Secretary through the next elections or until a long-term replacement is appointed. moved, seconded, carried.
Bob Waehler reports that we’re slightly ahead of expectations for the year, various building-related defaults buoyed by some special donations and by the new tower rental.
The budget committee is Bob Waehler, Dana Ramish, Mark Olson, Norma Ofsthun, Ken Heyda, Pastor Goodman, and Vicar Heisen.
Bob reports that this is the best-justified budget plan we’ve produced in decades. Rather than just a top-level chart of expenses, we’ve looked further at who will be spending exactly what. We’ve also discussed hiring a director of administrative services to do the bookkeeping rather than having a volunteer Treasurer do the bookkeeping. This bookkeeper would be supervised by an elected Treasurer. This role might also lift some administrative responsibilities from the Pastor.
The budget committee will likely meet again in November. No date has yet been announced. We expect to share the proposed budget with the congregation shortly after that meeting.
We have more than $64000 income-less-expenses. We are overdrawn by $15 in the Hammonasset account, but expect that to be fixed very soon.
We have over-spent on our intern relative to we budgeted, due mostly to contract differences: we pay this intern’s Social Security. This is also the first month showing the transferred property funds.
The steps will be replaced soon. Alison asks about adding a visibility strip. Several council members recount previous problems with granite steps elsewhere.
Their reports given, Bob and Ken depart.
St. Paul has a long history of involvement and support of Camp Calumet; providing a Pastor to serve as Chaplin for a week in the summer, St. Paul youth and adults on staff, St. Paul kids attending camp, congregational retreats and of course, family camping.
The social ministry committee is seeking approval for $1000 from n7. This is a donation to support the Camp Calumet 50th Anniversary Fund, “18,250 Moonlit Nights.” There is a celebration planned for Nov 1 at Trinity in Worcester.
Motion 2 We approve $1000 from n7 to support the Camp Calumet 50th Anniversary Fund, “18250 Moonlit Nights.” moved, seconded, carried.
Pastor Goodman speaks about the proposed position of a director of administrative services. It’s expected that this role will complement Mary-Ellen’s role as Parish Administrator. The Book of Faith Initiative continues its attempt to improve Biblical literacy in the Lutheran church and in this congregation. Uptake has been quite limited. We discuss a number of ways to grab and hold more of the congregation’s attention.
Clearwire has expressed more interest in placing a Wi-Max cell on the roof. We’re engaged in continued discussion with our neighbor and the town about the appropriate dividing line between his parking spaces and ours. The Iftar dinner went wonderfully, though the acoustics in the basement could clearly use some work.
October 31 is the 10th anniversary of Pastor Susan Henry’s ordination here at St. Paul. Pastor Goodman and Susan Lee visited Redeemer Lutheran Church in Woburn to help with their conversations about becoming a Reconciled in Christ congregation. In the wake of the elca’s recent social statement, a few families have spoken to Pastor Goodman about concern over the church’s position. He says “The Pastor’s number one job is to keep the flock together.”
The Natural Church Development chain has called; he’s been coaching the Pastor and ncd team of First Lutheran Church in Portland, Maine as they focus on need-based evangelism. This repays his commitment to the Synod for his training in the ncd process last year.
We have had one intern-supervisor retreat, four baptisms, a new mutual ministry committee assembled from scratch3 , an installation of an intern4 .
The last Sunday in October is Reformation Sunday. We ask people to come in their work clothes (hazmat suits and uniforms are most welcome!) or to lay a symbol of their vocation on the altar.
Vicar Heisen expresses his thanks for the congregation’s welcome. This Sunday is the 10th anniversary of the Lutheran-Catholic Joint Declaration of Justification. In honor of that, the confirmation class will be visiting St. Camillus next weekend.
The program at Hillside House is off to a good start. They’re shaking out their staffing difficulties, and the congregation here is responding generously to support and help at the house. They’ll open their house on the evening of the Sunday before Thanksgiving (22 November). The congregation can particularly help with winter clothing, Christmas gifts and activities, and with academic tutoring.
Committee reports are due to Mark Olson or to Mary-Ellen by the first of December so as to be incorporated into the Church’s report.
Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 9:15pm.
Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen
_________________________________________________________________
Next regular council meeting: 9 November 2009 at 7:30pm.