Minutes of the Vestry Meeting - September 21, 2015

Formation

Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer Requests

The vestry assembled in the church for evening prayer at 7:00 PM followed by offered prayers of thanksgiving and intercession.

Attendance

Present at the meeting were: the rector, Kristin Orr; the senior warden, Diane Walsh-Madden; the junior warden, Anne Edwards; vestry members Bob Burgwald, Rob Carrier, Nichole Dailor, Bob DeOliveira, Patti Pohrte, Cynthia Turnquest, Ted Stone, and Jim Whitfield; the treasurer, Debbi Huggett; and the clerk, Susan Marquis. Vestry member Hans Zigmund was absent. Landscape architect Scott Mehaffey was present for the first part of the meeting.

Discussion and Decisions — Part 1 

Columbarium Project

Scott Mehaffey distributed copies of a summary of what the vestry said it wanted to include in the project. He then presented three different plans with sketches that illustrated design options. Scott distributed copies of the plans and answered questions. He left at 8:20 PM, and the vestry continued its discussion of the options. Pastor Orr suggested that over the next week each vestry member should examine the plans, make a list of the positive and negative aspects of each of the three plans, and submit those lists to her by October 1st.

Parish Stewardship

Minutes from the August meeting

Anne Edwards moved to accept the minutes from the August 17th vestry meeting, and Bob DeOliveira seconded. The motion was approved.

Treasurer’s Report

Treasurer Debbi Huggett reported that both the revenue and expenses are on course for this year’s budget. Cynthia Turnquest moved to accept the report as presented. Patti Porte seconded, and the motion passed.

Information

Rector’s Report

As the program year began, it was nice to have Chad Senuta from the diocese’s Youth and Campus Ministry visit St. John’s yesterday.

Christian Education begins next Sunday. We are adding a low-key Sunday School program in the nursery with some high school students presenting felt board Bible stories.

Since there is only one child in the Kindergarten-3rd grade category this year, he will join the older class. Youth worship was originally designed for the K-3 group, so that will not be offered this year.

Diane Walsh-Madden and Patti Pohrte are teaching the 4th-to-sixth grade class. Cyndie Knoll is teaching the junior high group, and this year they will be preparing for confirmation.

Adult education opportunities are offered on Sunday morning at 9 AM, Bible Study on Wednesdays at 10 AM, and our Christian book club on the third Thursday of each month at 7 PM.

Dominic Barrington is the new Dean at St. James Cathedral.

Upcoming Events

October 4th — Blessing of the Animals to be held with Faith Lutheran Church at our outdoor altar

Discussion and Decisions — Part 2

Building Maintenance

Pastor Orr announced that tuck pointing on the church will begin on Wednesday, September 23rd. Payment will come from the building maintenance reserve.

Preferred Window and Door submitted a new door proposal that estimated separate costs for the door itself and for a handicap door closure. Jim Whitfield has a new proposal from A Better Door and Window. The vestry decided to table a decision until next month to give the vestry the opportunity to look at the updated proposals.

Fall Pledge Campaign

Pastor Orr said that she and the wardens have talked about the pledge campaign, and she asked the vestry for input, suggestions, and ideas.

Some suggestions included:
• Asking what would happen if people increased their pledge by just a little bit
• Reminding people of what they get here compared with what they get elsewhere
• Asking people to consider what they have gained from being part of this community
• Reminding people of the opportunity to be a member of a face-to-face community of people of diverse ages and interests
• Asking people to write down a prayer for the church based on the question, “What are you grateful for?”
• Asking people to imagine what we could do to make a bigger difference in our community if we had a little more
• Reminding people of our responsibility to keep going what our predecessors set in motion

The vestry was in favor of maintaining the traditional pledge campaign parish mailing consisting of a letter from the senior warden and a nuts-and-bolts financial page. The pledge campaign discussion will continue at the October vestry meeting.

Convention Delegates

A slate of candidates was presented for the annual diocesan convention in November. Gale Michael, Sue O’Brien, and Shirley Reilly were nominated as delegates, and Don Rubins and Doris Sheffer as alternates. Diane Walsh-Madden moved to accept the slate, and Bob Burgwald seconded. The motion was approved.

Closing

Following prayer, the meeting closed at 9:45 PM. The next meeting is scheduled for October 19th.

Respectfully submitted,
Susan Marquis
Clerk of the Vestry

Approved:  October 19, 2015