Council Members Present: Pastor Ross Goodman, Maile Hedlund, Mark Olson, Dana Ramish, Heather Sheridan, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Chris Trost, George Wilson.
Also Present: Vicar Jen Soltis.
Absent: Katie Corneilson, Alison Roberts.
A quorum was gathered and we came together in God’s name at 7:40pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.
The agenda was accepted.
Mark Olson then led a devotion on Isaiah 61:1–4. Next month, George Wilson will lead devotions.
The minutes of November were accepted as amended.
We’re now just barely behind for the year, the surge of January 2011 donations having finished its run. We’re at risk of having spent up to $12000 more than we took in.
The budget process is making good progress. We have many pledges but not enough pledges. We’ll be making some calls about that. Please pledge.
Mark Olson suggests having a single 9:15 service on the morning of the 29th, followed by a Congregational meeting at 10:15. We’ll have a great sound system on loan from Harvard, a nursery for little kids, and ask youth to participate.
A family in Arlington is having great difficulties in health, family status, and foreclosure. They need help. A fund has been established to help them through the Arlington Youth Council.
Motion 1. St. Paul designates $500 to the Youth Services Gift Fund for a family in need. moved, seconded, carried.
This is an annual donation that we’ve been making for several years.
Motion 2. St. Paul designates $2000 for the New England Seafarers’ Mission. moved, seconded, carried.
In the past the Social Ministry Committee has been able to use n5 for emergencies, but directed giving to that has fallen off of late (though apparently this month someone gave $5000 to n5). Mark Olson suggests that we give the Social Ministry Committee more power to be flexible:
Motion 3. St. Paul Council gives the Social Ministry Committee the authority to spend up to $1000 from n7 for emergency requests that occur during the period of time between regularly scheduled Council meetings. moved, seconded, carried.
We also discuss how to change the general rule so that Social Ministry can spend more quickly without needing prior approval from Council, but ensuring that we keep the work of Social Ministry clearly in sight of the congregation.
Pastor Goodman speaks about baptisms, the ordination of Andrew Heisen, Carl Carlson’s funeral. The intern cluster from all of New York and New England was here.
Vicar Soltis reports that the mid-week Advent services have been going well. Her project is getting off the ground; please talk to her about participation.
Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 8:55pm.
Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen
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Next regular council meeting: 9 January 2011 at 7:30pm. The annual Congregational meeting will be on 29 January 2012. Details of timing are still in flux.
These minutes can be found online at http://evenmere.org/~bts/Church/.