Church of St. John the Evangelist
Flossmoor, Illinois
Minutes of the Vestry Meeting
October 30, 2017
Foundation
Evening Prayer and Thanksgiving & Prayer RequestsThe 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
