Council minutes

St. Paul Evangelical Lutheran Church
Arlington, Massachusetts

15 October 2012

Council Members Present: Katherine Corneilson, Pastor Ross Goodman, Maile Hedlund, Mark Olson, Alison Roberts, Heather Sheridan, Brian Sniffen, Wendy Stack, Chris Trost, George Wilson.

Also Present: Vicar Dan Eisenberg.

Absent: Dana Ramish

Gathering

A quorum was gathered and we came together in God’s name at 7:41pm. A candle was lit to remind us that Christ is present with us as we meet.

Agenda

The agenda was accepted.

Devotions

Brian Sniffen then led a devotion from Luke 8 and the parable of the sower.

Word

Minutes

The minutes of July were accepted as amended.

Financial Reports

Financial secretary’s report

Receipts are well ahead.

Treasurer’s report

Salaries are lower due to turnover, but don’t count on that to repeat. Property expenses are much lower than forecast, but mostly due to an easy winter. That may not repeat.

New business

Coffee Hour Funds

George proposes:

Motion 1. All coffee hour funds accumulated in p14 and through the end of November shall be used to support the Youth Meal Packaging effort. moved, seconded, carried.

Basement soundproofing

Alison asks about the basement soundproofing; is the property committee doing anything about the noise levels? Pastor Goodman addresses some of this in his report.

Pastoral reports

Pastor Goodman speaks about people moving away, three baptisms coming up in the next month, and new members. He’s done some work on the membership rolls; he’ll bring us a list of those we might reasonably prune. He’ll start dunning calls on November 11; please get pledges in. Bishop Hazelwood has been installed, and is meeting congregants for lunch in the city. The church’s process of community and connection with the clergy continues.

The property of the church needs more attention—it’s taking much of Diane’s time. Do we need more people in the Property committee? Could we find someone who can lead that work?

Margaret Payne—the recently retired bishop—will be here Sunday to baptize her granddaughter.

The new staff are wonderful. Bristol and Kira and Daniel are off to a great start.

Daniel says confirmation is under way; the young adult group is off to a slow start. They’re going apple picking this week—but Maile asks what the young adults are. The first men’s breakfast will meet at the end of October. He has a scheme for “foyer groups that meet monthly for meals. He’ll be promoting it through November and try to start in December.

Meal

Pastor Goodman gathers us in prayer and leads communion at 8:37pm.

Respectfully submitted, Brian Sniffen

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Next regular council meeting: 12 November 2012 at 7:30pm.

These minutes can be found online at http://evenmere.org/~bts/Church/.