Announcements for December 31st

Center for Independence Update

On Monday night members of the vestry attended the Flossmoor Village Trustees meeting. The purpose of our attendance was to ask the village to reinstate the “Special Use” Zoning exception that had expired a couple of years ago. The Trustees agreed to grant the exception unanimously.  Also, the Trustees thanked the church for being such a good institution for the village. They were very appreciative of our efforts to help the people of Flossmoor and the surrounding area. Now that we have the “Special Use Exception” in place the vestry can begin our exploratory conversations with The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education. For more information please contact the vestry, or go to The Center’s web site at: http://www.center-for-independence.org

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Vestry Nominating Committee

The Vestry has approved Cynthia Turnquest, Alice Creason , and Shirley Reilly to serve as the nominating committee for our new 2018 Vestry members.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Outdoor Altar Tiles

Parishioners or visitors can still donate and receive an original outdoor altar tile from around the Columbarium. For more information, feel free to contact Steve Hofer if you are interested. Available tiles are still on display down in the undercroft.

From Alison Deniston

A very heartfelt thank you to all who participated in this year’s cookie walk. We would not have been successful without you baking, working, and shopping. Our profits were over $2,800 this year!

Vestry Minutes -- October 30th

Church of St. John the Evangelist

Flossmoor, Illinois

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting

October 30, 2017

Foundation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the guild room at 7:00 PM starting with Compline and followed by prayers of

intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were Interim Rector, Mike Dwyer; the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the
junior warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Rob Carrier, Alice
Creason, Shirley Reilly, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett;
and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Absent were vestry members Randy Oyster and Zoltan Sziky.

Parish Stewardship
Wardens’ Reports and Reports from Parish Organizations
—Steve Hofer is still working on getting the undercroft stair treads replaced. We cannot get the
same color treads that we have now, but there are many other color options.
—A wall in the children’s chapel has about a 1/2-inch gap at the top and needs tuck pointing.
This may run about $1,200. Steve Hofer will get more information.
—Greg Lawrence reported that the village removed a dying elm tree on the parkway.
—Fr. Jim Caldwell, our supply priest for the past four months, sent an email to Greg expressing
his gratitude for our generosity and loving kindness following a coffee hour reception and check
presented to him on his final Sunday with us. Greg will post the note on a bulletin board or in the
“e-vangelist.”

Discussion and Decisions
Pat Braker Memorial
Bill Braker arranged to have a prairie garden planted near the columbarium in memory of his
wife, Pat Braker. Now that the columbarium work is done, Bill would like to install a 6” x 12”
granite marker flush with the ground with the wording, “Pat’s Prairie, Patricia R. Braker,
1929-2014.” Bill and his family will cover the costs of a commercial gardener to care for the prairie garden. Shirley Reilly moved to accept Bill’s plan, and Mike Bond seconded. The motion
was approved.

Jim Buckman Memorial
Sue Buckman has offered to pay for 15 new, lighter-weight, rectangular tables for the undercroft,
and Greg Lawrence has ordered them. Sue asked that a plaque be installed over the closet doors
in the undercroft where extra tables are stored. The plaque will note that the tables were given in
memory of Jim Buckman. Mike Bond will call a representative of the diocese to see if there are
any churches that would like our old tables. Cynthia Turnquest moved to accept the proposal for
a plaque and to put out a sign at the Cookie Walk noting that the new tables are a memorial gift.
Rob Carrier seconded, and the motion was approved.

Pledge Campaign
The vestry discussed the campaign for 2018 pledges. Parishioners (not necessarily vestry
members) will speak during church services about what St. John’s means to them. Alice Creason
volunteered to put together a bulletin board for parishioner comments on the importance of St.
John’s in our lives. Fr. Mike will draft a letter to all parishioners similar to letters that have been
mailed in previous years. A subcommittee on pledging was established including Fr. Mike, Alice
Creason, and Debbi Huggett. Cynthia Turnquest also may participate in a limited capacity. The
campaign will start on December 3rd and continue through pledge Sunday, December 17th.

Budget Relief
The vestry discussed an idea that had been presented in previous years regarding donations of
supplies. A person could volunteer to buy and donate something specific, such as yogurt for
coffee hour or colored paper for Sunday bulletins. Mary VanSwol suggested that cards or Post-It
Notes with descriptions of specific needs could be tacked to a bulletin board, and parishioners
could take cards with them to shop and then return the supplies along with the cards signed by
the donors. The vestry expressed interest in this plan, but no action was taken.

The Feast
Although the annual January Feast of St. John celebration is popular with parishioners, the vestry
feels burned-out on it. Shirley Reilly moved that The Feast be put on hiatus for this coming
January, but it may be re-instated in the future. Cynthia Turnquest seconded, and the motion
passed. The vestry discussed having a Loaves and Fishes potluck on the day of the annual
meeting as a January fellowship event. No decisions were made about this.

Bishop’s Visit
On Sunday, November 12th, Bishop Lee will visit St. John’s and preside and preach at both
services. He would like to meet with the vestry between services. Bishop Lee will be available for conversation at coffee hour where there will be cheese and crackers and fruit as well as the
usual donuts. In the afternoon, from 2:00 to 4:00 o’clock, the bishop will hold a conversation
time at St. John’s with interested parishioners from the deanery. The diocesan staff will provide
food based on RSVPs they have received.

Christmas Services
This year Advent 4 falls on Christmas Eve. There usually are two services on Sundays and two
services on Christmas Eve. To avoid having four services in one day, probably with low
attendance at each, Fr. Mike will celebrate one Sunday morning Eucharist at 10:00 AM, and one
Christmas Eve service in the early evening. He will call Pat Smith Huntoon to see if she is
willing to lead the children’s Christmas pageant again.

All Soul’s Day
There will be a table set up for the All Soul’s Day Eucharist on November 2nd at 7:00 PM.
Parishioners may bring in photos or other mementos and place them on the table. Fr. Mike will
provide a book in which to write names of those to be remembered.

Columbarium Information
Debbi Huggett reported that the check for $4,700 written for concrete work that was not done
has been returned. There was a previous discussion about dedicating the columbarium addition
on Thanksgiving weekend, but that date will need to be moved, perhaps to the spring on a date to
be determined later.

Closing
The meeting concluded at 9:15 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for November 20th at 7:00
PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Vestry Minutes -- October 16th

Church of St. John the Evangelist

Flossmoor, Illinois

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting

October 16, 2017

Foundation
Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the guild room at 7:00 PM starting with Evening Prayer and followed by
prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were Fr. Mike Dwyer; the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the junior
warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Randy Oyster,
Shirley Reilly, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis.

Absent were vestry members Rob Carrier, Cynthia Turnquest, and Zoltan Sziky.

Parish Stewardship
Minutes
Mike Bond moved to approve September’s minutes with a minor adjustment. Alice Creason
seconded, and the motion passed.

Treasurer’s Report and Report on Columbarium
—Debbi Huggett reported that revenue is slightly ahead of budget and spending is very favorable
as a result of the open rector’s position.
—Our investment with the Episcopal Church Foundation has a current $181,000 market value
and a $210,000 book value.
—We have not received the refund from Burrink Commercial Services for concrete work not
done on the columbarium project, even though Debbi has requested it several times. She has
asked the general contractor, Premier Landscape, to ask Burrink for the refund.
—Debbi will set up a church credit card through Chase Bank.
—Promised funds from a donor of $4,000 for the columbarium project have not yet come in.
—There have been some glitches in getting the lights in the outdoor altar area to work, but parish
volunteers are trying to solve the problem.
—Currently, there are no doors on the two new seat walls. Mark Moxley is working on finding
permanent doors. If these cannot be installed before snowy weather, Premier Landscape will
install temporary doors.
—Alice Creason moved to accept the treasurer’s report, and Mike Bond seconded. The motion
was approved.

Old and New Business
Wardens’ Reports
Discussions and Decisions

Celebration of Fr. Caldwell
—Greg Lawrence suggested that the parish do something special to mark the supply priest James
Caldwell’s last Sunday with us after having been with us on Sundays for the last four months.
Steve Hofer moved to collect a $500 purse from the parish with the miscellaneous fund to cover
any collection shortfall. Bob Burgwald seconded, and the motion was approved. In addition to
the purse presentation, there will be a celebratory cake at coffee hour on October 29th.

Upcoming Parish Events
Wednesday, November 1st - Fr. Mike Dwyer’s official first day at St. John’s
Thursday, November 2nd - All Soul’s Day with a service at 7:00 PM
Sunday, November 12th - Fall lawn clean-up after the 10:00 AM service, Bishop Lee visits at
both services, and Bishop Lee holds a conversation from 2:00 until 4:00 PM at St. John’s for the
people of the deanery.

Stair Treads
Steve Hofer has chosen a company to replace the stair treads on the north stairs to the undercroft.
The bid came in at $4,500.

CICE Visit
Steve and Mary Hofer and Mike Bond went to the facility in Countryside of the Center for
Independence through Conductive Education for an information-gathering visit.

Upcoming Plans of Our Interim Rector
Fr. Dwyer reported that he plans to set up meetings soon with individuals in the parish who lead
various ministries in order to get to know people and learn how we do things.

Flossmoor Zoning Board
Greg Lawrence noted that the Flossmoor Zoning Board will meet at the Village Hall on
Thursday, October 16th at 7:30 PM and will discuss the zoning variance needed in order for the
Center for Independence through Conductive Education to use space at St. John’s. Vestry
members are invited to attend.

Church Assessment Tool Results
In the interest of transparency, the CAT results will be presented to the parish in some form. Greg
Lawrence is thinking about scheduling a parish meeting to go over the survey results.

Questions about CICE
Greg Lawrence invited vestry members to compile a list of questions they have about the Center
for Independence through Conductive Education and the impact that their space usage at St.
John’s would have on the parish. The following questions were generated:

-Can someone from CICE come to talk to the parish?
-There are many moving parts to this plan. What do we need to know?
-What kind of alterations need to be made to the building?
-Do we need active fire and security alarms?
-Who pays for alterations? If CICE pays, do we need to reimburse them if they leave?
-What is the length of the agreement?
-Who pays for custodial, utilities and other expenses?
-What changes will there be in our liability insurance?
-Do therapists at CICE carry malpractice insurance? Are they certified and licensed?
-Does someone from the parish need to be here from 8:00 AM until 7:00 PM?
-Will the CICE space usage conflict with space usage of other guest groups?
-Parishioner volunteers need to be certified by Safeguarding God’s Children.
-What is a reasonable donation for space usage? Who determines the donation amount?
-What are the donations given from other CICE locations, and what impact does CICE have on
  their operating expenses?
-How many people will be present at the month-long summer camp? What facilities at St. John’s
 will be used?
-What are their parking needs? Do they realize there is a three-hour parking limit?
-What kind of signage do they plan, and what is allowed by the Village of Flossmoor?

Parish Involvement with CICE Decision
Mike Bond, with assistance from Greg Lawrence, drew up a letter to parishioners that explains
the space usage plan. Greg explained that the plan needs to be approved by the parish through a
vote, there will be an opportunity for parishioners to write down questions, someone will develop
a brochure about the plan that can be handed out to parishioners as they leave church in weeks
before the annual meeting, and there will be a presentation during coffee hour on December 10th
or 17th.

Additional Vestry Meeting
The vestry agreed to hold a special meeting in two weeks (October 30th, 7:00 PM) to discuss
some answers to the questions generated at the meeting tonight as well as to discuss the
Christmas service schedule, the Feast, and the pledge campaign.

Closing
The meeting ended with prayer at 9:20 PM. The next vestry meeting is scheduled for October
30th, followed by the regularly scheduled meeting on November 20th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Announcements for December 24th

Center for Independence Update

On Monday night members of the vestry attended the Flossmoor Village Trustees meeting. The purpose of our attendance was to ask the village to reinstate the “Special Use” Zoning exception that had expired a couple of years ago. The Trustees agreed to grant the exception unanimously.  Also, the Trustees thanked the church for being such a good institution for the village. They were very appreciative of our efforts to help the people of Flossmoor and the surrounding area. Now that we have the “Special Use Exception” in place the vestry can begin our exploratory conversations with The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education. For more information please contact the vestry, or go to The Center’s web site at: http://www.center-for-independence.org

Practicing Our Faith Book Club

In December, the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister, a book that "explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart." The book club will meet on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00pm in the Guild Room to discuss the book. New members are always welcome!

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Outdoor Altar Tiles

Parishioners or visitors can still donate and receive an original outdoor altar tile from around the Columbarium. For more information, feel free to contact Steve Hofer if you are interested. Available tiles are still on display down in the undercroft.

Vestry Nominating Committee

The Vestry has approved Cynthia Turnquest, Alice Creason , and Shirley Reilly to serve as the nominating committee for our new 2018 Vestry members.

St. John’s Christmas Eve Pageant

Our Christmas Eve Mass will have a pageant! We will be using the book by Nikki Grimes, “Voices of Christmas” as our guide. There is still time to join the fun; we will meet after the 9:00 service this Sunday (12/24) to pick out/organize our props in the Adult Formation room. We will then meet back in that room at 4:40 pm to check in before the start of the service. Children of all ages are welcome; this is an opportunity for anyone who ever wanted to be in the pageant but never was brave enough to raise their hand or did not have a Christmas Pageant at their home church when they were younger.

From Alison Deniston

A very heartfelt thank you to all who participated in this year’s cookie walk. We would not have been successful without you baking, working, and shopping. Our profits were over $2,800 this year!

Announcements for December 17th

Center for Independence Update

On Monday night members of the vestry attended the Flossmoor Village Trustees meeting. The purpose of our attendance was to ask the village to reinstate the “Special Use” Zoning exception that had expired a couple of years ago. The Trustees agreed to grant the exception unanimously.  Also, the Trustees thanked the church for being such a good institution for the village. They were very appreciative of our efforts to help the people of Flossmoor and the surrounding area. Now that we have the “Special Use Exception” in place the vestry can begin our exploratory conversations with The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education. For more information please contact the vestry, or go to The Center’s web site at: http://www.center-for-independence.org

St. John’s Christmas Eve Pageant

Our Christmas Eve Mass will have a pageant! We will be using the book by Nikki Grimes, “Voices of Christmas” as our guide. Children of all ages are welcome. This is an opportunity for anyone ever wanted to be in the pageant but never was brave enough to raise their hand or did not have a Christmas Pageant at their home church when they were younger. We will meet briefly this Sunday after church to get organized. Please let Pat Smith-Huntoon know if you are interested. You can just show up to the meeting this Sunday, call or text her, or email her. 

Pledge Sunday – December 17^th. Please remember to bring your completed pledge cards with you this Sunday.

Practicing Our Faith Book Club

In December, the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister, a book that "explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart." The book club will meet on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00pm in the Guild Room to discuss the book. New members are always welcome!

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Outdoor Altar Tiles

Parishioners or visitors can still donate and receive an original outdoor altar tile from around the Columbarium. For more information, feel free to contact Steve Hofer if you are interested. Available tiles are still on display down in the undercroft.

Vestry Nominating Committee

The Vestry has approved Cynthia Turnquest, Alice Creason , and Shirley Reilly to serve as the nominating committee for our new 2018 Vestry members.

Announcements for December 10th

A Note from Fr. Mike

My Dear Sisters and Brothers,

Can you believe Christmas is just around the corner? In a few days we will begin a new Liturgical Year on the First Sunday of Advent—a time of preparing ourselves, not just with presents, trees, and food, but internally as we celebrate The Word of God made real in flesh and bone—God becomes one of us! A miracle, a gift, and the food of Eternal Life.

This year, December 24^th is not only Christmas Eve but also the Fourth Sunday of Advent, so we need to tweak things a bit. Liturgically, Christmas Eve begins at sundown on the 24th. So…this year we can gather at 9:00am for a Eucharist (without music) to celebrate the Fourth Sunday of Advent. At 5:00pm we will gather for a Family Eucharist with Choir and a Pageant (still working on details). On Christmas Day we will again gather at 10:00am in celebration with hymns. There will not be a 10:00 pm Eucharist.

If you have any questions or concerns please feel free to contact me at any time. Let us all prepare well for the coming of Jesus into our lives.
                                                                                                                     
Peace and All Good,

Fr. Mike

Center for Independence Update

On Monday night members of the vestry attended the Flossmoor Village Trustees meeting. The purpose of our attendance was to ask the village to reinstate the “Special Use” Zoning exception that had expired a couple of years ago. The Trustees agreed to grant the exception unanimously.  Also, the Trustees thanked the church for being such a good institution for the village. They were very appreciative of our efforts to help the people of Flossmoor and the surrounding area. Now that we have the “Special Use Exception” in place the vestry can begin our exploratory conversations with The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education. For more information please contact the vestry, or go to The Center’s web site at: http://www.center-for-independence.org

Practicing Our Faith Book Club

In December, the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister, a book that "explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart." The book club will meet on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00pm in the Guild Room to discuss the book. New members are always welcome!

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Wednesday Update

The Wednesday Eucharists meet at 9 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., Fr. Mike will lead a weekly bible study class. This is an all-parish class for both men and women. If you can, please bring your own NRSV bible, but don’t worry if you forget or don’t have one.

Outdoor Altar Tiles

Parishioners or visitors can still donate and receive an original outdoor altar tile from around the Columbarium. For more information, feel free to contact Steve Hofer if you are interested. Available tiles are still on display down in the undercroft.

Vestry Nominating Committee

The Vestry has approved Cynthia Turnquest, Alice Creason , and Shirley Reilly to serve as the nominating committee for our new 2018 Vestry members.

Announcements for December 3rd

Practicing Our Faith Book Club

In December, the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister, a book that "explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart." The book club will meet on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00pm in the Guild Room to discuss the book. New members are always welcome!

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Wednesday Update

The Wednesday Eucharists meet at 9 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., Fr. Mike will lead a weekly bible study class. This is an all-parish class for both men and women. If you can, please bring your own NRSV bible, but don’t worry if you forget or don’t have one.

Small Group Surveys

Please take a few minutes and fill out the small group availability form located in the Sunday leaflet.  Each small group will last for approximately 90 minutes. You can place the form in the offering plate or give it to a search committee member.

Cookie Walk – December 2^nd

Get out your baking supplies and whip up a few batches of homemade goodies because St. John’s will be having its annual Cookie Walk on December 2^nd from 9:00-11:30 a.m.! Please bring the cookies and candies to the undercroft on Friday, December 1^st between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and sign in so we know who to thank. If you aren’t baking this year, you can contact Alison Deniston to help out with set up or cleanup of the undercroft.

Outdoor Altar Tiles

During the cookie walk, there will be an opportunity for parishioners and visitors to donate and receive an original outdoor altar tile from around the Columbarium.

Announcements for November 26th

The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education

The Vestry of St. John’s has begun a preliminary conversation with The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education, a 501 C-3 non-profit corporation dedicated to helping people with motor disorders. This includes people of all ages with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and other motor dysfunction like stroke victims. This past summer the Center offered a 4 week “summer camp” for the first time in the Homewood / Flossmoor area. As a result, these preliminary conversations began after The Center for Independence approached St. John’s as they began looking for a location in the area that would best fit their needs. We would like our members to join us in exploring whether or not this program would be a good fit for St. John’s and our outreach within our greater community. We look forward to having more conversations about the Center for Independence Through Conductive Education in the coming months. If you would like more information about this conversation, please contact a vestry member and look for announcements regarding future meetings. Your input is anticipated and appreciated by the Vestry. They have a wonderful website where you can get more information on their program and services. www.center-for-independence.org.

  

Practicing Our Faith Book Club

In December, the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister, a book that "explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart." The book club will meet on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00pm in the Guild Room to discuss the book. New members are always welcome!

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Christmas Basket Program

Just a reminder that this year’s deadline for dropping off the Christmas Baskets at St. John’s will be no later than Wednesday, November 29, 2017.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Wednesday Update

The Wednesday Eucharists meet at 9 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., Fr. Mike will lead a weekly bible study class. This is an all-parish class for both men and women. If you can, please bring your own NRSV bible, but don’t worry if you forget or don’t have one.

Small Group Surveys

Please take a few minutes and fill out the small group availability form located in the Sunday leaflet.  Each small group will last for approximately 90 minutes. You can place the form in the offering plate or give it to a search committee member.

Cookie Walk – December 2^nd

Get out your baking supplies and whip up a few batches of homemade goodies because St. John’s will be having its annual Cookie Walk on December 2^nd from 9:00-11:30 a.m.! Please bring the cookies and candies to the undercroft on Friday, December 1^st between 10:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., and sign in so we know who to thank. If you aren’t baking this year, you can contact Alison Deniston to help out with set up or cleanup of the undercroft.

Announcements for November 19th

The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education

The Vestry of St. John’s has begun a preliminary conversation with The Center for Independence Through Conductive Education, a 501 C-3 non-profit corporation dedicated to helping people with motor disorders. This includes people of all ages with conditions such as Cerebral Palsy and other motor dysfunction like stroke victims. This past summer the Center offered a 4 week “summer camp” for the first time in the Homewood / Flossmoor area. As a result, these preliminary conversations began after The Center for Independence approached St. John’s as they began looking for a location in the area that would best fit their needs. We would like our members to join us in exploring whether or not this program would be a good fit for St. John’s and our outreach within our greater community. We look forward to having more conversations about the Center for Independence Through Conductive Education in the coming months. If you would like more information about this conversation, please contact a vestry member and look for announcements regarding future meetings. Your input is anticipated and appreciated by the Vestry. They have a wonderful website where you can get more information on their program and services. www.center-for-independence.org.

Thanksgiving Day Service —November 23^rd at 10:00 am. Lector is Andrea Barrera. LEM is Kristy Petersen.

a

Practicing Our Faith Book Club

In December, the Practicing Our Faith Book Club is reading Between the Dark and the Daylight: Embracing the Contradictions of Life by Joan Chittister, a book that "explores the concerns of modern life, of the overworked mind and hurting heart." The book club will meet on Thursday, December 21 at 7:00pm in the Guild Room to discuss the book. New members are always welcome!

Respond Now

The Daughters of the King are collecting personal items for the men and women that receive assistance through Respond Now. Suggestions: soap, shampoo, body lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, deodorant, etc. Both full and travel-size are needed.

Christmas Basket Program

St. John’s is once again participating in the ReVive Center for Housing and Healing’s Christmas Basket Program. We are asking parishioners and church organizations to please volunteer and sponsor a family to provide them with a merry and memorable Christmas. Sign-up sheets and family packets are available in the undercroft. This year’s deadline for dropping off the Christmas Baskets at St. John’s will be no later than Wednesday, November 29, 2017.

Bible Study/Fellowship Group

This Bible study group will meet at members' houses for a pot luck dinner and fellowship once a month. Kids are welcome! The first meeting will be in January. If you are interested in joining, please contact Mary VanSwol, and state whether you prefer Saturday or Sunday from 5-7 pm. An official time will be announced closer to the date.

Wednesday Update

The Wednesday Eucharists meet at 9 a.m. Then, at 10 a.m., Fr. Mike will lead a weekly bible study class. This is an all-parish class for both men and women. If you can, please bring your own NRSV bible, but don’t worry if you forget or don’t have one.

Small Group Surveys

Please take a few minutes and fill out the small group availability form located in the Sunday leaflet.  Each small group will last for approximately 90 minutes. You can place the form in the offering plate or give it to a search committee member.

Lynn Ruschhaupt would like to add a thank you to the landscaping crew that worked on the front and back yards of the Rectory. Their hard work is much appreciated in helping us keep our grounds looking their best!

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting -- September 18, 2017

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the guild room at 7:00 PM starting with Evening Prayer and followed by prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the junior warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Absent were vestry members Rob Carrier, Cynthia Turnquest, and Zoltan Sziky.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes
Bob Burgwald moved to accept the minutes from the August meeting with a correction regarding a materials substitution for the columbarium walkway. Shirley Reilly seconded, and the motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that revenue is pacing a tiny bit ahead of expectations. Year-to-date expenses have been less than expected, largely due to the open rector’s position. Mary VanSwol moved to accept the treasurer’s report; and, after a second by Bob Burgwald, the motion passed.

Information, Discussion, and Decisions

Letter Tiles
Steve Hofer has collected old tile squares with embossed letters from the columbarium area and suggested that they could be auctioned at the next annual parish meeting.

Parish Photos
Steve Hofer, Debbi Huggett, and Anne Edwards continue taking pictures for St. John’s Facebook page.

Interim Update
Greg Lawrence spoke with Fr. Mike Dwyer last week. Greg asked the vestry to contact the wardens or the church office with ideas concerning what the interim might need to know about what goes on at St. John’s in November and December. Alice Creason asked about combining the usual three Christmas Eve and Christmas Day services into, perhaps, two services since attendance is low; and the choir would like to have a less hectic schedule. This will be determined after Fr. Dwyer arrives. Greg has figured out how to make the lapel microphone work for use during sermons as Fr. Dwyer requested.

New Plant Watering
There are new plants and grass seed around the outdoor altar area that need to be watered every three days. Shirley Reilly moved to put a notice in the “e-vangelist” asking for help and to put a sign-up sheet in the undercroft. Alice Creason seconded the motion, and it was approved.

Columbarium Project Payment
Payment for the columbarium work may come due before promised contributions come in. Debbi Huggett suggested that a $7,500 contribution that she and Frank made to the accessibility fund in memory of her father be transferred to the columbarium fund. Alice Creason moved to transfer $7,500 from the accessibility fund to the columbarium fund on a temporary basis to cover the bills due. After a second by Shirley Reilly, the motion was approved.

Columbarium Sub-Committee
Greg Lawrence suggested that the vestry appoint a columbarium sub-committee to work on issues such as urn size, plaques, burial charges, and so forth. The vestry will re-visit this issue at the October meeting.

Interim Contract
The senior warden said that Andrea Mysen and Bishop Lee have signed the contract with Fr. Mike Dwyer.

Convention Delegates
Greg Lawrence presented a slate of delegates for the November diocesan convention. They are: Steve Hofer, Sue O’Brien, and Shirley Reilly as delegates, and Gale Michael, Don Rubins, and Doris Sheffer as alternates. Mary VanSwol moved to accept the slate, and Bob Burgwald seconded. The motion was approved.

Stair Treads
Steve Hofer reported that he has received three bids and is expecting one or two more on the repair work to the treads on the north stairs to the undercroft. The bid amounts vary from $4,000 to $5,300. Steve is more impressed with the work described by the higher bidders. Shirley Reilly moved that Steve should determine the most qualified company and arrange for the work to be
done at a cost not to exceed $5,500. Mike Bond seconded, and the motion passed.

Columbarium Consecration
Greg Lawrence said that the vestry would come back to the issue of a columbarium/consecration date.

Church Credit Card
Shirley Reilly, the person who does most of the supply purchasing for the church, noted that we need a corporate credit card for the church. Pastor Orr cancelled the previous one. Shirley offered to investigate deals, rates, and cash back for various cards.

Center for Independence Through Conductive Education
Greg Lawrence, Steve Hofer, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mike Bond met with the executive director and the south/southwest project manager for the Center for Independence Through Conductive Education. They are looking for space in our building to run their program. They ruled out the atrium, although they may want to use the atrium kitchen or the undercroft kitchen sometimes. They would like to use the office at the south end of the education wing, the adult education classroom for therapy, and the high school room as a waiting room, as well as hallways and stairways. For now, they expect there to be five to six children and three adults. They want more space (how much was not reported) for a portion of the summer for a summer camp involving about 40 children.
There was a discussion about what effects this move would have on the functioning and finances of our church.
The diocesan treasurer told Greg that the church insurance company covers liability on the property and that the church needs to have a Hold Harmless agreement with those who use the facilities.
The Flossmoor city council planning committee needs to approve a variance for building use. Steve Hofer made a motion to write a letter to the Center for Independence Through Conductive Education facility in Countryside requesting financial information, new construction accommodation needs, and equipment information. Mike Bond seconded the motion, and it was approved.

Closing

The meeting ended with prayer at 9:35 PM. The next vestry meeting is scheduled for October 16th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting -- August 21, 2017

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the guild room at 7:00 PM starting with Evening Prayer and followed by prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the junior warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Absent were vestry members Rob Carrier, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, and Zoltan Sziky.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes
Bob Burgwald made a motion to accept the vestry minutes from the meeting on July 31st. Mary VanSwol seconded, and the motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report
Treasurer Debbi Huggett reported that collections have been continuing as expected, even in the absence of a rector. Expenses have been lower since we are paying only for supply priest work on Sundays rather than a full-time rector’s salary with pension and health benefits. Mary VanSwol moved to accept the treasurer’s report, and Bob Burgwald seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Wardens’ Reports
Steve Hofer reported on several projects that he has completed. In the guild room, the plaques on the picture frames that were missing dates of service for two rectors now have been engraved. The carpets in the guild room and the rector’s office have been cleaned, and the missing letters on the parish office sign, which is on the lamp post by the Leavitt Street sidewalk, have been replaced. Tomorrow, Steve will get another bid for repair work on the treads on the north undercroft stairs.

Greg Lawrence has talked with Andrea Mysen from the diocesan office about hiring Fr. Michael Dwyer as our interim rector, which she approved with all diocesan standards having been met. The wardens have a letter of agreement drawn up. Bob Burgwald moved to approve the agreement, and Mary VanSwol seconded. The motion passed, and Fr. Dwyer will begin his work at St. John’s on November 1st.

Discussion and Decisions

Columbarium
Debbi Huggett presented an update on the columbarium project’s progress. The exposed aggregate color that the vestry subcommittee had chosen for the walkways is not available, so a substitution is necessary, and it could involve a change in color and/or material. There were no vestry objections to this change.

Rector Search Process
Greg Lawrence reported that the search committee is working on gathering data on the parish by means of the Church Assessment Tool (CAT) survey, which requires funding. Cynthia Turnquest made a motion to approve $500 for the CAT survey interpretation. Steve Hofer seconded, and the motion passed. On September 10th, the search committee will set up computers in church that parishioners can use to fill out the survey. The survey also can be completed at home on personal computers. The vestry and search committee will meet together with Andrea Mysen on October 10th or 11th to go over the interpretation of the collected CAT data.

Sunday School
Greg Lawrence noted that there have been volunteers to teach the preschool class, and Cyndi Knoll will be leading confirmation class for the junior high group. Teachers still are needed for the intermediate class.

Brochure
Bryan Burke developed a brochure about St. John’s that will be available at SWIFT (South West Inter-Faith Team) events. Greg Lawrence passed around a mock-up of the brochure for the vestry to see.

T-Shirts
Glynis Keene has contacted the senior warden about ordering and selling t-shirts printed with St. John’s information that could be worn, for example, to the Fun Run sponsored by the Homewood-Flossmoor schools. The shirts could raise some funds for the church as well as advertise the church in the community. With no objections coming from the vestry, Greg will tell Glynis to go ahead with her plans.

Center for Independence Through Conductive Education
A person from the Center for Independence Through Conductive Education approached Cynthia Turnquest about the possibility of our renting space to them. They were in an office building in Homewood until recently and are looking for a new location for their weekday program of classes for people of all ages with physical disabilities such as cerebral palsy and spina bifida. There are many unknowns at this point. Mary VanSwol made a motion for the vestry to investigate this further, and Steve Hofer seconded. The motion passed with one abstention. Cynthia Turnquest and Mike Bond will gather more information and report to the vestry next month.

Additional Wardens’ Reports
Looking forward to a new rector, Steve Hofer said that the Art Corner in Homewood has frames for $75 that match the frames around the pictures of the rectors on the guild room wall. Steve salvaged some bricks from the outdoor altar to sell at auction some time in the future. The office has several databases for different mailings. Steve talked with the office manager about updating the lists.

Closing

The meeting ended at 9:05 PM. The next vestry meeting is scheduled for September 19th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting -- July 31, 2017

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the Guild Room at 7:00 PM starting with Evening Prayer and followed by prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the junior warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Absent were vestry members Rob Carrier, Alice Creason, Cynthia Turnquest, and Zoltan Sziky. Members of the Search Committee joined the vestry for only the evening prayer session before leaving to conduct their own meeting.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes
Shirley Reilly moved to approve the minutes from the July 17th vestry meeting, and Mary VanSwol seconded. The motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report
There was no formal treasurer’s report since the report for the month of July was covered at the meeting on July 17th, but Debbi Huggett noted that she has created two additional accounts to cover the Search Committee and Interim Priest categories.

Information

Wardens’ Reports and Reports from Parish Organizations
—Steve Hofer is looking into re-working the sign on the lamp post that should say “Parish Office” but is missing some letters.
—Also missing are the leaving dates on the plates attached to the photos of two rectors on the guild room wall. Steve has been researching the costs of engraving these dates.

Discussion and Decisions

Landscaping
The vestry discussed various landscaping needs around the church, excluding the columbarium area. There is overgrowth of plants around the entrance by the parish office, the hedges around the sidewalks and alley on the south lawn need to be cut low or removed, there are some high limbs on trees that are dead and need to be removed, and the trees around the flagpole may need to be removed. Greg Lawrence has received one bid on the hedge work. Mary VanSwol moved to enable Randy Oyster to get estimates for the above-mentioned landscaping work with the help of Harold Keene and Lynn Ruschhaupt. Steve Hofer seconded, and the motion was approved.

Carpets and Stairs
Steve Hofer received an estimate of $241.50 for carpet cleaning in the guild room and carpet and furniture cleaning in the rector’s office. The guild room cleaning would involve lifting the carpet and cleaning the pad underneath in order to prevent the stains from rising up through the carpet again. Mary VanSwol moved to have the cleaning done as proposed, and Bob Burgwald seconded. The vestry approved the motion. Steve also got an estimate for repairing the stair treads on the north staircase to the undercroft. Depending on the quality of materials used, the cost would run between $2,800 and $3,800. The vestry decided that at least one more estimate is necessary before making a decision.

Office Manager
The last day that the office manager, Betsy Sloan, will work is this Thursday, August 20th. Last Wednesday, Sarah Lawrence, daughter of Greg Lawrence, started training to take over the job. Because of Sarah’s family relationship with the senior warden, Shirley Reilly made a motion that junior warden Steve Hofer would be Sarah’s supervisor. Bob Burgwald seconded, and the motion passed with one abstention from Steve Hofer.

Parish Photos
Greg Lawrence suggested that parishioner photos in a directory would be a good idea since we will have new clergy and since we have not had a photo directory for some time. The vestry discussed compiling the directory soon or waiting until a new rector is in place. No decisions were made.

Columbarium
Debbi Huggett reported that the columbarium construction project is underway. She has done a census and discovered that 134 people are interred, and 22 more have reservations. The four teak benches have arrived, and the vestry will need to determine whether or not to make them available for memorial naming rights, and if so, how much to charge. Debbi will determine with the contractor how far the aggregate walkway will extend toward the public sidewalk.

Opening and Closing the Church
Greg Lawrence distributed a three-page checklist of items to do when opening and closing the church on Sunday. Vestry opening and closing volunteers have signed up for dates through the end of August.

Interim
Greg Lawrence spoke with Director of Ministries Andrea Mysen, who suggested that we offer an interim priest a salary of $45,000 to $55,000. Greg Lawrence spoke on the phone with one of the interim candidates and discovered that there would be timing difficulties for him in taking this position. Greg is continuing to set up interviews.

Convention Delegates
St. John’s must submit the names of three delegates and three substitutes to the diocesan convention by September 30th. Greg will ask former delegates and substitutes if they are interested in attending the convention again this November.

Closing

The meeting ended with prayer at 8:55 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for August 21st.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting -- July 17, 2017

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests
The vestry met in the Guild Room at 7:00 PM starting with Evening Prayer and followed by prayers of intercession and thanksgiving.

Attendance
Present at the meeting were the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the junior warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett, and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Absent were vestry members Mike Bond, Rob Carrier, and Zoltan Sziky. Search Committee co-chairs, Donna Blackburn and Tracie Moxley were present for the first few minutes of the meeting when Search Committee issues were discussed.

Parish Stewardship I

Minutes from the June Meeting
Shirley Reilly moved to approve the June 19th vestry meeting minutes, and Mary VanSwol seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Wardens’ Reports
— Steve Hofer announced that the groundbreaking for the columbarium project is set for Monday, July 24th.
— Steve arranged for a cost estimate to replace stair treads on the north stairs to the undercroft. The estimate is scheduled for Wednesday, July 26th. On Thursday, July 27th, a carpet cleaning company will come out to do an estimate of carpet and furniture cleaning.
— On Sunday, July 16th, the vestry met to choose Search Committee members from among those parishioners who volunteered to be on the committee. Greg Lawrence announced that he had contacted all of those chosen, and all agreed to serve. The committee consists of co-chairs Donna Blackburn and Tracie Moxley, and members Bill Bestow, Stuart Creason, Anne Edwards, Jayne Goode, Glynis Keene, Tom Senesac, and Eric Turnquest. Before next Sunday, Greg Lawrence will contact those who volunteered but were not chosen in order to tell them about the vestry’s decision and thank them for their willingness to serve. Mary VanSwol made a motion to accept the members of the committee, and the motion was seconded by Steve Hofer and approved by the vestry.
— Greg will notify Andrea Mysen at the diocesan office that the committee has been approved. The committee will be commissioned at both the 8:00 AM and 10:00 AM services on July 30th.
—Greg distributed a letter of resignation from the office manager, Betsy Sloan. Greg will meet with her on Wednesday to determine her last day, then he will advertise the position, giving parishioners a chance to apply for, or recommend a candidate for, the position. Alice will send out an e-blast to inform the parish.

Parish Stewardship II

Treasurer’s Report
The treasurer reported that the parish looks like it is in better shape than it is because some funds came in late for Pastor Orr’s “purse” but have not yet been forwarded to her, one pledge was paid for the remaining six months of the year, and there may be some outstanding expenses for the Ice Cream Social and Farewell Brunch. The planning committee for the brunch, all of whom were at the meeting, stated that they were not turning in any of their expense receipts. Debbi reported that the approximately $4,000 remaining in the Vicki O’Neill gift after paying for the new missal stand will be deposited in the Endowment Fund. The $15,000 that the ECW donated to the columbarium project will be reclassified from the ECW account to the columbarium fund. Other pledged donors for the columbarium (Braker, Lawler, and MacAdam) have been contacted to request their checks. Steve Hofer moved to accept the treasurer’s report, and Alice Creason seconded. The motion was approved.

Discussion and Decisions

Columbarium Project
Debbi Huggett reported that the Pat Baker garden of prairie plants near the pathway will remain intact, but a couple of large trees must be removed. Cynthia Turnquest volunteered to enlarge two copies of the columbarium plans to poster size for
placement in the undercroft and the foyer near the columbarium. Frank So and Debbi Huggett will be available at coffee hour on Sunday to discuss the plans with any interested parishioners.

Opening and Closing the Church
Greg Lawrence passed around a sign-up sheet for vestry members to volunteer either to unlock or lock the church on Sundays for the remainder of the summer. The church should be unlocked no later than 7:30 AM.

Fourth of July Ice Cream Social Report
The Ice Cream Social broke even financially thanks to parish cash donations to cover expenses. The vestry discussed having one balloon twister next year rather than two since there were not enough kids to keep two twisters consistently busy.

Letter to Kristin Orr
Steve Hofer crafted a letter of appreciation to Pastor Orr, and vestry members signed it.

Feedback on Supply Priest
Parish response to the supply priest has been positive.

Interim Priest
The diocese sent Greg information on three candidates for our interim rector. There are obstacles with all three involving such things as timing, housing, salary, and distance. The vestry will continue discussing this issue at the next meeting.

Other Discussion Not on the Agenda
— Shirley Reilly announced that Sue Buckman would like to fund the purchase of a dozen new lightweight tables for the undercroft in memory of her late husband, Jim. Shirley has contacted ministries that might be interested in taking and moving the old tables. We do not yet have a proposal for specific replacement tables, and no motion was made to make a purchase yet.
— Shirley Reilly said that our dishwasher is expensive to service, and it is hard to find someone who is qualified to service it. She will check prices on replacement models. At present, our dishwasher is working, and it has the advantage of short cycles, allowing for fast clean-up after coffee hour or a special event.
— Shirley and Lynn Ruschhaupt have looked at the gardens around the church that will need weeding this season and have suggested that the areas be divided into sections and that parishioners can volunteer to care of specific sections. Cynthia Turnquest made a motion to ask parishioners to care of portions of church grounds, and Alice Creason seconded. The motion was
approved.
— The vestry was reminded to keep thinking about possibilities for a fundraising event, possibly to be held this fall.
— Mary VanSwol suggested that the number of Christmas services be reduced. This issue can be re-visited after the interim rector is installed.
— Greg Lawrence suggested that there is a need for a building and grounds vestry subcommittee, and Randy Oyster volunteered to be in charge of the committee, the members of which have not yet been determined.

Closing

Following prayer, the meeting ended at 9:35 PM. Because there are many issues to decide this summer, the vestry will meet again in two weeks, July 31st, at 7:00 PM.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Minutes of the Vestry Meeting -- June 19, 2017

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 at the meeting were the senior warden, Greg Lawrence; the junior warden, Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mary Van Swol; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett, and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Absent were vestry members Rob Carrier, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, and Zoltan Sziky. Parishioner Frank So was present to speak about the columbarium project.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes
Mary VanSwol moved that the minutes from the May meeting be accepted. Cynthia Turnquest seconded, and the motion was approved with one abstention from a vestry member who was not present at last month’s meeting.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that our revenue collection is fine according to our current budget, although May collections fell off by $7,000. Our expenses look artificially low due to payment timing issues. This should resolve next month. The checking account balance has been reduced by about $25,000 after we made deposits for the columbarium and concrete work that will start soon. Donations were accepted and deposited for Pastor Orr’s parting “purse” gift, and then a check was issued to her for approximately $3,600. Mary VanSwol moved to accept the treasurer’s report. Steve Hofer seconded the motion, and the vestry approved it.

Wardens’ Reports and Reports from Parish Organizations
—Steve Hofer led evening prayer for the vestry tonight, and he will continue doing so in future months.
—Greg Lawrence announced that he has arranged for supply priests through October 25th.

The Rev. Andrea Mysen, Director of Ministries for the diocese, will celebrate the Eucharists on June 25th, and the Rev. Nicholas Romans will celebrate on July 23rd. All other Sundays will be covered by the Rev. Jim Caldwell. The office manager will electronically send the “e-vangelist” and the weekly bulletin to the Rev. Caldwell every Thursday.

Upcoming Parish Events
July 4th — St. John’s holds the annual community ice cream social from 10:00 AM until noon (with help needed before and after).

Discussion and Decisions
 
Interim Rector
The senior warden has spoken with Andrea Mysen at the diocesan office about candidates for our interim rector. Andrea has given us the names of three candidates, and the vestry will chose from among them. Greg asked the vestry to let the wardens know about questions they have, and he will ask Andrea about the question of what to do about providing the rectory vs. providing a housing allowance.

Search Committee
Greg Lawrence opened a discussion about the process of setting up the rector search committee. We need co-chairs and about six others to serve. They should be people the parish trusts and people with good judgment, spirituality, and understanding of the the fabric of the parish. The vestry decided that the wardens would choose the chairs, and the vestry as a whole would choose the members of the committee. Greg asked the vestry to submit three or four names of co-chair possibilities to him by this Sunday (June 25th).

Columbarium
Parishioners Frank So and Debbi Huggett will oversee the columbarium construction as on-site supervisors. The project is to break ground in early to-mid July. St. John’s has issued deposits to the construction and concrete companies. Before she left, Pastor Orr contacted people who earlier agreed to donate to the project, and they are submitting their donation money. Mark Moxley, through his landscape supply company, is providing materials at a low cost; and he will suggest vendors for the purchase of four teak benches. Mary VanSwol moved to delegate the authority to choose the benches to Frank and Debbi. Cynthia Turnquest seconded, and the motion was approved.

Letter to Pastor Orr from the vestry
The agenda item regarding the vestry writing a letter of thanks to Pastor Orr was mentioned but not discussed.

Fire alert system
This agenda item was tabled until next month’s meeting.

Visit to the rectory
At some point the vestry will need to tour the rectory to see what needs to be done before someone else takes residence. A date will be decided later.

July meetings
Because the vestry has some time-sensitive decisions to make, Greg Lawrence suggested that there be two meetings in July. Steve Hofer moved that the vestry meet on the Mondays of July 17th and July 31st, both at 7:00 PM. Alice Creason seconded, and the motion was approved.

Garden
Ted Stone has been watering the vegetable garden. Steve Hofer will talk with Ted about continuing the watering. Debbi Huggett and Shirley Reilly have volunteered to harvest the vegetables that then will be donated to the local food pantry.

Website
Alice Creason is the new webmaster for St. John’s website (www.st.johns-flossmoor.org).

Closing

The meeting ended at 9:00 PM. The next vestry meeting is scheduled for July 17th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry