Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - April 17, 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 were the rector Kristin Orr; the senior warden Greg Lawrence; the junior warden Steve Hofer; vestry members Mike Bond, Bob Burgwald, Alice Creason, Randy Oyster, Shirley Reilly, Zoltan Sziky, Cynthia Turnquest, and Mary VanSwol; the treasurer Debbi Huggett; and the clerk Susan Marquis. Vestry member Rob Carrier was absent. The vestry also was joined by Shay Craig from the diocesan staff.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes
Mary VanSwol moved that the minutes from the March meeting be accepted. Shirley Reilly seconded, and the motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report
Debbi Huggett reported that collections are ahead of expectations largely due to some 2016 pledges being paid late and some 2017 pledges being paid in full. Expenses are below budget, but this is largely due to timing issues. Bob Burgwald moved to accept the Treasurer’s Report, and Steve Hofer seconded. The motion was approved.

Information

Rector’s Report
— Part of the O’Neill bequest may be used to buy a new missal stand.
— Pastor Orr expressed thanks to all of the people who took on extra responsibilities during Holy Week, including Gale Michael, who oversaw the agape meal, the Altar Guild, the acolytes, and the choir.
— The ushers’ badges that Steve Hofer donated have arrived. Pastor Orr will put a note in the “e-vangelist” stating that the badges were given in memory of long-time usher Dick Keller.
— We still are awaiting an estimate of costs from a general contractor regarding the columbarium.
— Pastor Orr announced that she will be leaving St. John’s to accept a position at the Yellowstone Episcopal Parishes in Montana. She will mail a letter to all parish members on Wednesday and make an announcement in church on Sunday. Her last day at St. John’s will be June 18th. The vestry will meet with Andrea Mysen next Monday at 7:00 PM. Andrea is the transitions minister in the diocese; and she will help explain the process of saying good-bye, finding an interim, and searching for a new rector.
—The vestry retreat scheduled for April 29th has been cancelled.

Discussion and Decisions

Fund-raising
Shay Craig is the Associate for Resource Development for the diocese. She spoke with the vestry about raising funds to ease our budget deficit. She made the following points:
— For the annual giving campaign, stand up the first day and talk about what ideas have arisen organically from discussions in the parish.
— Listen throughout the months about why people come here and what “feeds” them.
— Develop impact statements. For example, a financial statement could be that we donated X number of dollars to PADS. An impact statement could be that we fed X number of people. Concentrate on impact statements.
— Report on one thing, such as one mission, per month.
— List impact statements in pledge letters. Include information such as, “If St. John’s weren’t here, X number of people would not have been fed.”
— Every reminder should come with a thank you. In fact, every request should be balanced by seven expressions of thanks.
— Send handwritten notes to thank parishioners for paying off their pledges.
— Bring in other “pockets” (donors) rather than asking the same people who have given to give more.
— Plan a late summer or fall event for fund-raising. Build onto an existing event or add a new event.
— Know in advance how much money you need to raise at an event.
— Encourage parishioners to bring someone from outside of the parish to an event. The job is not to make them stay but to come here for something. Shay said that we should not have a scarcity mentality because we are in a good financial position relative to many other parishes. She offered to meet in the future with a St. John’s finance committee.

Closing

The meeting ended with prayer for Pastor Orr led by Shay Craig. The next vestry meeting is on May 15th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Approved by the vestry:  May 15, 2017

Announcements for May 21

Parish Picnic This Sunday
The annual parish picnic is this Sunday, May 19, on the south lawn following the 10:00 am service. Hamburgers and hot dogs will be provided; bring a side or dessert if you can. Please join us for fellowship and help plant the parish food garden.

Celebrating Children – Final Day of Sunday School
We will celebrate all children of the parish as we commemorate the final day of Sunday School this Sunday during the 10:00 am service. Thank you to the children who participated and to teachers Cyndie Knoll, Diane Walsh-Madden, and Patti Pohrte.

Adult Sunday School Class Will Not Meet This Sunday
The Sunday morning adult Bible study class will not meet this Sunday so that we can help with picnic preparations. This class is finished for this year. Thanks to all who participated.

Calling All Graduates
If you or someone in your family is celebrating a graduation, at any level, this spring please let the parish office know so that we, as a parish community, can celebrate their accomplishment. Please also include a brief statement of future plans, if known. Deadline for submissions is June 1

No Ascension Day Service This Year 
Because the Rector will be out of town, there will be no service this year on Ascension Day, May 25. We will celebrate Ascensiontide Sunday, May 28.

Wednesday Morning Service on Hiatus
This year the Wednesday morning service of Holy Eucharist with healing will be on hiatus for the summer. The last service was May 17. It will resume in the fall.

Reflection for May 21

Witness
Many in our world today can relate to the passion of Christ, but what to make of the resurrection of Christ amidst the killing fields that continue to be reported, even in this morning’s newspapers? If we as Christians are to have integrity and authenticity, and authority, then we must be able to give witness to the resurrection of Christ in ways that can be understood and experienced today, and among those who do not know or claim Christ as their Savior (which is the vast majority of this world).
Br. Curtis Almquist; Brother, Give Us a Word; Society of St. John the Evangelist

Announcements for May 14

Thank You to Landscape Helpers
A huge thank you to Lynn Ruschhaupt and all of the volunteers who helped spread five cubic yards of mulch on St. John’s grounds last Sunday. It looks great.

Vestry Meeting
The vestry meets Monday, May 15, beginning at 7:00 pm in the church.

Calling All Graduates
If you or someone in your family is celebrating a graduation, at any level, this spring please let the parish office know so that we, as a parish community, can celebrate their accomplishment. Please also include a brief statement of future plans, if known.

Parish Picnic Next Sunday May 21 (Volunteers Needed) 
During the 10:00 AM service on May 21 we will celebrate the final Sunday of Sunday School. Then we will gather on the south lawn for the annual parish picnic and planting of the parish food garden. Volunteers are needed to help set up for the picnic. Please contact Cyndie Knoll if you can help.

No Ascension Day Service This Year
Because the Rector will be out of town, there will be no service this year on Ascension Day, May 25. We will celebrate Ascensiontide Sunday, May 28.

Practicing Our Faith Book Club
The Practicing Our Faith Book Club is meeting on Thursday, May 18 at 7pm in the Guild Room to discuss Truth Speaks to Power: The Counterculture Nature of Scripture by Walter Brueggemann, which “invites readers to take a closer look at the subversive messages found within the Old Testament.” New members are always welcome.

Reflection for May 14

Almighty God, our heavenly Father, who settest the solitary in families: We commend to thy continual care the homes in which thy people dwell. Put far from them, we beseech thee, every root of bitterness, the desire of vainglory, and the pride of life. Fill them with faith, virtue, knowledge, temperance, patience, godliness. Knit together in constant affection those who, in holy wedlock, have been made one flesh. Turn the hearts of the parents to the children, and the hearts of the children to the parents; and so enkindle fervent charity among us all, that we may evermore be kindly affectioned one to another; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen (Book of Common Prayer, p. 828).

Announcements for May 7

Blue Jean Sunday This Sunday, May 7 
Wear gardening clothes, bring your rake and help beautify St. John’s landscape for spring. Helpers are needed to clear out beds after the winter and spread mulch. Following the 10:00 AM service.

Recycle Plastic Easter Eggs
If you have now empty plastic Easter eggs left over from St. John’s Easter egg hunt or others, you may bring them to St. John’s to be used next year. A collection box is near the parish office.

Mark Your Calendars: Parish Picnic May 21 
During the 10:00 AM service on May 21 we will celebrate the final Sunday of Sunday School. Then we will gather on the south lawn for the annual parish picnic and planting of the parish food garden.

Reflection for May 7

Grant us grace, our Father, to do our work this day as workers who need not be ashamed. Give us the spirit of diligence and honest enquiry in our quest for the truth, the spirit of charity in all our dealings with our fellows, and the spirit of gaiety, courage, and a quiet mind in facing all tasks and responsibilities (Reinhold Niebuhr, 1892-1971).