Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - May 16, 2016

Formation 

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests

The vestry met in the church at 7:00 PM for Evening Prayer and then reconvened in the undercroft meeting room where everyone offered prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance

Present: the rector Kristin Orr; the senior warden Anne Edwards; vestry members Bob Burgwald, Rob Carrier, Alice Creason, Nichole Dailor, Randy Oyster, Ted Stone, and Zoltan Sziky; the treasurer Debbi Huggett; and the clerk Susan Marquis Absent: the junior warden Steve Hofer and vestry members Cynthia Turnquest and Hans Zigmund

Parish Stewardship

Minutes

Anne Edwards moved to accept the minutes from the April vestry meeting, and Rob Carrier seconded. Following a vote, the motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report

Debbi Huggett reported that we are about 3% behind in income. While we have spent a little more than budgeted, some of that is due to timing. For example, with 1/3 of the year gone, we have paid 1/2 of our insurance premiums. Bob Burgwald moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, and Rob Carrier seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Rector’s Report

—Pastor Orr expressed thanks to the many people who decorated, sang, and brought food to celebrate Pentecost. She also thanked Lynn Ruschhaupt and others who helped do yard work on Blue Jeans Sunday at the beginning of the month.
—The rector will take her vacation from July 12th through August 2nd. The Rev. Stacy Alan will serve as supply priest for two Sundays during this time, while The Rev. Sam Portaro will serve for one Sunday.
—Pastor Orr is in the process of writing letters to the District 161 PTO and the Flossmoor Police Department to gently remind them that holding a race (as was done recently) that circles a church on a Sunday morning is a problem.
—We always are looking for ways to improve communication. Some suggestions to this end were to post news on the church blog and for the senior warden to write some comments for the e-vangelist.
—Pastor Orr thanked Cyndi Knoll and her helpers for hosting the diocesan ECW meeting. Many attendees relied on the lift to move between levels of the church.
—The lift is not closing properly and needs repair. It is out of warranty. Pastor Orr will look for someone to repair it and will call the company for recommendations.

Wardens’ Reports and Reports from Other Parish Organizations

The junior warden, Steve Hofer, was not at the meeting, but he submitted a written report on his work on the history of St. John’s. He has read and summarized the vestry minutes from 1947 to 1990. When this part of the project is finished he will begin interviews of parishioners. Steve also reported that he has talked with Lynn Ruschhaupt about landscaping. The south end of the education wing will have all new shrubs and native plants.

Upcoming Parish Events

Saturday, May 21st, 11:00 AM - confirmation at St. James Cathedral
Sunday, May 22nd after church - parish picnic and food garden planting

Discussion and Decisions

Columbarium Project

—Pastor Orr met with the village inspector and learned that we will need just the basic construction permits for the project.
—The vestry columbarium subcommittee (Pastor Orr, Rob Carrier, Anne Edwards, Cynthia Turnquest, and former vestry member Mark Moxley) will meet next week.
—Pastor Orr has started seeking construction bids.
—The wardens and rector decided to leave columbarium space costs as they are at least until construction is complete. Nichole Dailor volunteered to check on local columbarium space charges. Pastor Orr will speak with other clergy at the upcoming deanery meeting about columbarium costs to families at other churches.
—Current urn size limitations are 10” x 10” x 10”. The vestry may want to consider changing the size limitations later.

Broadening and Nurturing Parish Relationships

As a follow-up to the recent vestry retreat, Pastor Orr commented that fellowship is a strength of this parish, and she reminded vestry members to consider a do-able task to help in parish communication. Some of the tasks that vestry members reported having done were sharing personal stories, attending coffee hour, occasionally attending the 8:00 AM service (for someone who normally attends the 10:00 AM service), getting out of the pews during the Peace to greet others, working next to someone at an event, and starting to take photos of parishioners to post on the bulletin board.
At the retreat, the vestry decided to initiate a godparent program in which each vestry member focuses on one ministry and provides support to it through encouragement and prayer. Pastor Orr would like two sentences submitted occasionally for the e-vangelist describing what is happening in the groups. Organizations and their godparents are as follows:
Acolytes - Nichole Dailor
Altar Guild - Bob Burgwald
Choir - Hans Zigmund
Daughters of the King - Rob Carrier
Landscaping - Steve Hofer
Men’s Group - Randy Oyster
PADS - Ted Stone
Rector - Anne Edwards
Sunday School - Cynthia Turnquest
Youth Group - Alice Creason
Vegetable Garden - Zoltan Sziky 

Closing

Looking forward, Pastor Orr said that stewardship discussions will start earlier this year than in the past.

The next vestry meeting is scheduled for June 20th. Following prayer, the meeting ended at 8:50 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis, Clerk of the Vestry

Approved by the Vestry:  June 20, 2016

Announcements for June 26

Vestry Notes
During the June meeting of the Vestry we discussed the progress of the Columbarium project. Bids are being solicited, but contractors have been slow to respond. Vestry members reported on their contact with ministries in the parish as part of the Godparent project. We also talked about how to make the ministries of the church more visible to all members.

The Fourth of July is Almost Here
Every year individuals and families from the broader Flossmoor community attend St. John’s Fourth of July Ice Cream Social. We always offer special entertainment for kids. This year, our balloon twisters Skiddles and Twistina, will be back. We seek donations from parishioners to help defray the costs of providing this entertainment. You can help us offer this event to the community. Look for red, white and blue donation envelopes around the church. You may place your donation in the offering plate or drop it off at the parish office.

Help Local School Kids Start School in the Fall 
The Daughters of the King are once again coordinating the collection of school supplies for Respond Now. This year they are particularly requesting that we provide spiral notebooks, folders and backpacks. They will be assembling the backpacks early, so all donations must be in to St. John’s by Wednesday, July 20. Look for a collection box in the west foyer.

Vegetable Abundance
This week: lettuce, carrots and dill. Available free in the undercroft on Sunday.

Reflection for June 26

I’ve been visiting a lot of churches.... One thing I’ve been struck with in many of the places I’ve visited—from High Church establishments to evangelical church plants to Pentecostal prayer meetings to fringe missional collectives—is how thoroughly their liturgical words and practices assume that Christianity is the first language of the people gathered there. Words like sin, grace, gospel, atonement, salvation, offering, tithe, and communion are most used without being defined or interpreted.

To be sure, many such words are particularly beautiful and beautifully particular. Few synonyms could adequately convey their richness. So don’t get me wrong: I don’t believe that we should jettison our ancient vocabulary. Instead, we should teach it compellingly and as early as possible. When it comes to learning languages, children have a tremendous advantage. After puberty both the brain’s plasticity to internalize new construction and the mouth’s flexibility make new sounds begin to diminish. Likewise, it’s important to learn Christianity early, as a first language (“Faith in translation,” Trey Hall, Christian Century, June 22, 2016).

Announcements for June 19

Vestry Meeting
The vestry meets this Monday, June 20, beginning in the church at 7:00 PM.

Looking Ahead: Fourth of July Ice Cream Social
July 4th is only two weeks away. St. John’s Ice Cream Social is our gift to the people, young and old, of Flossmoor. Financial contributions are needed to help cover the cost of the children’s entertainment. And many volunteers are needed to run the event. Contact Gale Michael to volunteer. Look for the red, white and blue donation envelopes around the church.

Parish Office Summer Hours
Parish office hours are reduced during the summer. The office will be open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 AM – 12:00 noon and Tuesday and Thursday from 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM.

Vegetable Abundance
I (Pastor Orr) participate in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). At the beginning of the season I buy a “share” in a local farm. Each week I get a box full of whatever is ready at that time—freshly picked, locally and organically grown. Occasionally I get something I don’t like (beets, fennel). Often I get more than I need. This summer I’m going to offer the abundance in the undercroft on Sundays. It’s free; take all you can use. The point is for none to be wasted. If you wish, on occasion, to make a contribution, proceeds will go to Respond Now. This week: lettuce, endive.

Reflection for June 19

I spent hours thinking of something wise to write, something disruptive to do about the massacre of my sisters and brothers in Orlando. It keeps coming down to the essential truth of the Gospel: Love your enemies; pray for those who persecute you. This is the most radical starting place for restoring the moral order of society. Jesus taught other-love and not simply self-love or family-love or tribe-love…. But, as a nation, we do not believe in the commandment of Jesus, not to the point of radicalizing the national conversation about violence. Which is why the only thing I know to do is be converted to the love of God manifest in Jesus, demonstrate that love to everyone that I encounter, and trust that God can empower me in this love to act for the sake of enemies and those who persecute. Love is the most disruptive force in the universe - it always has been and it always will be. (The Rev. Paul Fromberg, posted on Facebook, June 13, 2016).

Announcements for June 12

Looking Ahead: Fourth of July Ice Cream Social 
St. John’s ice cream social is a wonderful part of the Fourth of July tradition in Flossmoor. It is our gift to the community. Many volunteers are needed on July 4th, and also for set up on July 3rd and clean up afterwards. Can you contribute time to help set up, host, or clean up for the event? Contact Gale Michael to volunteer. Contributions from parishioners help us continue to offer children’s entertainment at the event and to keep food costs low. Look for donation envelopes around the church.

Vegetable Abundance
I (Pastor Orr) participate in a CSA (Community Supported Agriculture). At the beginning of the season I buy a “share” in a local farm. Each week I get a box full of whatever is ready at that time—freshly picked, locally and organically grown. Occasionally I get something I don’t like (beets, fennel). Often I get more than I need. This summer I’m going to offer the abundance in the undercroft on Sundays. It’s free; take all you can use. The point is for none to be wasted. If you wish, on occasion, to make a contribution, proceeds will go to Respond Now. This week: carrots.

Reflection for June 12

The Jesus Movement language is a metaphor, an image. Images, metaphors, Marilou’s forms of symbolic speech are a way of helping you get at some more deep and sometimes complex things in accessible and memorable ways. This Jesus Movement isn’t a 21st-Century invention or a Michael Curry rhetorical concoction…. We’re really talking about going forward as a church by going back to our deepest roots as disciples of Jesus Christ. And in the run we will find our true strength, vitality, and integrity for faithful, authentic and effective witness to the way of Jesus in our time.

We’re really talking about reclaiming the heritage of the Acts of the Apostles. The heritage of the movement of people who were profoundly convicted by this Jesus of Nazareth because this dude really did have something to say and really did help folks get closer to God and each other. That this Jesus of Nazareth really mattered and matters (The Most Rev. Michael Curry, speaking to the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church, June 8, 2016.  You can find a fuller excerpt of his remarks HERE).

Announcements for May 5

Ice Cream Social
We’re gearing up for the St. John’s Annual Community Ice Cream Social scheduled for Monday, July 4th. Skiddles and Twistina will entertain us with their balloon creations. We will have ice cream, cold drinks, and hot dogs. All of this happens immediately following the 10 a.m. Flossmoor Children’s Parade and runs through about 12:15 p.m. Your participation is what makes this event a success. Are you able to bring in some wildflowers or flowers from your garden? Can you put up flyers around town? Can you help move tables and tents outside? Can you meet and greet our guests? Can you scoop ice cream or cut watermelon on July 3rd? Do you have a card table or two that we can borrow? How about (and this is for everyone) praying for glorious weather? Contact Gale Michael with offers to help and/or questions.

Reflection for June 5

For Graduates
O Lord, the good Shepherd who feedest thy flock in green pastures, and leadest them forth beside the waters of comfort; For thy Name’s sake bring forth [all graduates] in the paths of righteousness. Keep them from sin and from the deceits of the world, the flesh and the devil. Seek out and restore those that are astray. Heal those that are wounded. Rescue those that are ensnared. Mercifully receive again those who have wandered; and bring them all to the seven-fold gifts of thy Confirmation and the light of thy presence in the Holy Communion, that, knowing thee now by faith, we may hereafter enjoy the fruition of thy glorious Godhead who livest and reignest with the Father and the Holy Ghost, one God, world without end. Amen (James De Koven, 1831-1879).