Minutes of Vestry Meeting - December 16, 2013

Formation

Opening
After Evening Prayer, vestry members shared individual prayers of thanksgiving and prayer requests.

Attendance
Present were the rector, Kristin Orr; the senior warden, Audrey Ongman; the junior warden, Bill Bestow; vestry members Candice Barrera, Steve Hofer, Gale Michael, Greg Lawrence, and Patti Pohrte; treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry members Anne Edwards, Mark Moxley, and Jim Whitfield were absent.

Parish Stewardship

Approval of Minutes
Gale Michael moved that the minutes from the November meeting be accepted as presented. Greg Lawrence seconded, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that the year probably will end well financially largely because of the open Director of Christian Education position. So far we have received twenty-two pledges (70-80% of last year’s number). Greg Lawrence moved to accept the treasurer’s report. Following a second by Patti Pohrte, the motion was carried.

Information

Rector’s Report
Pastor Orr thanked parishioners for their leadership roles in various activities: Anne Edwards for her planning and leadership efforts on the upcoming patronal feast, Alison Deniston for her leadership in the Cookie Walk; all of the bakers and workers at the Cookie Walk; those who reached out to do God’s work for the Cathedral Shelter and Lawrence Hall, and Pat Huntoon for directing the Christmas pageant.
The rector noted that there should be a small savings in the new phone plan for the rectory.

Wardens’ Reports and/or Reports from Parish Organizations
Audrey Ongman reported that 118 people brought cookies for the Cookie Walk, approximately 60 people bought cookies during the event, and about $3,600 was collected.

Upcoming Parish Events
Christmas service times will be the same as usual. Information will be mailed to all parishioners. The annual patronal feast, presented by the vestry for the parish, will be held on Saturday, January 4th.

Discussion and Decisions

Accessibility Project
Architect Dan Pohrte has taken measurements in the church and is working on drawings.

Feast Planning
Gale Michael presented a timeline for feast preparations. On Friday, December 27th from 1:00 to 4:00 PM volunteers are needed to assemble the lasagnas. Other menu items will be salad, garlic bread, and tiramisu. On Friday, January 3rd and Saturday, January 4th vestry workers will set up the tables, decorate, and finish the food preparation. Everyone on the vestry is asked to participate in at least one work session and is asked to bring two plates of hors d’oeuvres to the feast itself. Frank So and Debbi Huggett will donate wine. Pastor Orr is planning to assemble a slide show focusing on St. John’s outreach activities. The theme this year is A Light in the Darkness.

Budget Meeting
A special vestry meeting was scheduled for January 5th after church for the purpose of approving a budget for 2014.

Closing
After prayer, the meeting closed at 8:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Approved:  March 17, 2014