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St. Martin's Episcopal Church | ![]() |
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Vestry Minutes
Thursday, November 15, 2007
In attendance were vestry members:
Ginger Ambler, Sandy Dunton, David Feldman, Doug Finch, Melinda Hagaman, Lois
Headden, Carolyn Ito, Cindy Jordan, Sarah Noble, Gary Osborn, Richard Reeves,
and Dorsey Smith Also attending were
Shirley Smith Graham, rector; Edith Edwards, register. Absent: Kent James, Michael Terrien and
Lloyd Woods, Treasurer.
We used the discussions at dinner to
replace the personal check-in.
The meeting was called to order by
Cindy Jordan, Warden, at 6:45 p.m.
Doug Finch opened the meeting with a
prayer.
Spiritual Nurture: Shirley used a reading from Meditations
for Vestry Members by Coleen McMahon.
The section on duties of a vestry with emphasis on being a servant
leader were read.
The Minutes for October were approved.
Proposed Budget: A discussion of the proposed budget
including the discretionary items followed.
Cindy suggested the Vestry should think about what items we should cut
from the “soft money.” The budget will
be voted on at the December Vestry meeting.
Richard Reeves handed out the minutes
from the Finance Committee meeting. He
said the stewardship drive has been very successful. So far 50% of households are pledging.
Richard also distributed a copy of the
audit report. A copy of this is appended
to these minutes.
Bell Tower Memorial Garden Committee: Gary
Osborn. Gary did a walk- through of the
Memorial Garden this week with Jim Holcombe, small contractor with lots of
experience for Mr. Holcombe to give estimates for the following:
* Handicap access from the church to
MG (from one of the doors at the rear of
the choir
section - probably brick pattern matching existing.
* Rental of a metal detector to find
brass grave markers hidden by land shifts
and/or overgrowth.
* Clearing of "abundant"
overgrowth.
* Changing of white chain to black
(rope or chain).
* Repair of
numerous plaques - due to bolts securing them rusting and
breaking
off - Future bolts will be stainless.
Budgeted funds available :
$5000.00 Mrs. Dassell & Dr. Winneberger fund for
handicap access and general improvements.
$
750.00 (interest only) the Lake
fund - general maintenance.
Memorial Gift Committee: Catherine
Palmer has agreed to meet with a committee to update the list of needed items
for suggestions for use of memorial gifts.
The following tasks forces are under review:
Carolyn
Ito is setting up a procedure for the nomination of delegates to Diocesan
Council.
Cindy
Jordan is reviewing the Facilities Use Policies.
Shirley
Smith Graham and Cindy are reviewing the policies for wedding and funerals.
Gary
Osborn is looking at the policy regarding the Memorial Garden.
The Personnel Policies have been reviewed and a draft
is done which will be presented in December by Cindy Jordan.
Annual Meeting: The annual
meeting will be on December 9, at 10:00 a.m.
There will be the usual three services.
Everyone should get a report of their areas of ministry in to Tim Terry
by Dec. 2, so they can be compiled for the annual meeting.
The December Vestry meeting will be on December
20. The newly elected members will be
invited to attend. They will have seat
and voice at that meeting.
On January 5, their will be a new vestry member
orientation from 10-12 a.m. Current
vestry members are also invited to attend.
The Vestry Retreat will be on January 11,12 and 13, at
Roslyn Conference Center in Richmond.
The focus of this retreat will be on long range planning.
There will be a “Hail and Farewell” party on January
26, at the home of Jack and Edith Edwards.
A “Mutual Ministry Review” with Shirley will be in
February, 2008. Dorsey Smith will do the
research to determine what this review entails.
Areas of Ministry:
Stewardship: Sarah
Noble. As of November 10, there
had been 101 pledges received totaling $310,000.
Outreach: Carolyn
Ito. Vibrant Life Ministries held a meeting in October
at St. Martin’s Church. There were 33 people at the meeting representing
approximately 13 of the 56 churches in our community who support Vibrant
Life. The meeting was well organized and the testimony of one of the men
who has been significantly helped through the program was very moving.
The present monthly income does not cover
expenses. Grants are pending. Vibrant Life purchased four houses and
would like to purchase the White Lion Motel to house families. St.
Martin’s along with Bruton Parish and Hickory Neck are supporting one of the
houses. This involves furnishing the home and working with the
residents. Volunteer opportunities such as dinners with and mentoring the
residents will continue to be listed in the Cloak.
The Heifer Project has concluded for
now. Our contributions purchased an arc, water buffalo, and pig.
Cherub Tree project will be held this year. Parishoners will choose a child's
name and purchase a gift.
An
officer with the Shop with a Cop contacted the
church about this project. Children who are at risk for becoming involved
with the police are taken shopping with an officer to help forge positive
relationships. St. Martin’s was asked to contribute to this
cause. More information is needed before making a commitment.
Yard Sale in June 2008 is the year for the every
other year yard sale. It will be held in June. Sam will contact Diane
Bishop and Mary Lour Newman to see if they will head up the effort even though
neither still attends St. Martin’s. A suggestion was made to expand on the
yard sale and develop a “tea room” serving baked goods and drinks during the
sale.
Proud Patriots Project
Proposal Anna Wolf proposed supporting the Proud Patriots project, a
non-profit organization of volunteers that supports U.S. military troops
throughout the world by sending care packages including notes and cards.
The project was approved and will begin in the new year. Brenda Wigginton,
the Williamsburg contact, will speak to the Women’s Group in January and the
project will begin in February. Anna will be responsible for the
announcements and collection and delivery of items parishioners donate.
Thanksgiving Meal
Preparation Kerry Armbruster, Emily Pease, and other volunteers will
be preparing Thanksgiving meals in the kitchen for five families. Notices
will be in the bulletins.
Due to increasing
demands on Judy’s time for caring for her parents and her mother-in-law, she
can not chair the commission. She does want to continue as a
member. A new chair is needed.
Hospitality & Fellowship: Lois Headden.
The Newcomers Committee met with Shirley Smith Graham on Thursday,
November 8th. Over the past month bread and letters have been
sent/delivered to about six families. Roma Maycock does follow up calls
with those who fill out a Newcomer Card or sign the Guest Book. On Sunday,
December 2nd there will be a reception for newcomers at 10:00 a.m.
in Miles Hall. Invitations will be sent to those who have visited in the
last six months. We hope that many of the vestry members will also attend
this event.
Worship and Music: Ginger Ambler and David
Feldman. On Wednesday, November 7 there was a meeting
of our newly constituted Worship Committee. The meeting was
co-facilitated by Shirley Smith Graham and Phaedra McNorton; Cindy Jordan was
the warden representative; and David Feldman and Ginger Ambler
were present as vestry advocates for Worship & Music. The
following people were invited to serve on the worship committee to represent
parishioners at the 9 a.m. and the 11 a.m. services and were present at the
meeting: Bev Olsen, Susan Axtell, Ruth D'Alessandro, Amy Harris, Edith
Edwards, and Jim Osbourne. Dave Douglas was absent at this first meeting.
After introductions, we each shared what we
appreciated most about the worship service(s) we regularly attend. Then,
the group separated into two group -- 9 a.m. and 11 a.m. parishioners -- to
discuss (1) for whom the worship service is designed, (2) how we want
people to experience God in the service; how we want people to experience
one another as part of the service. A third question about specific rituals,
symbols, practices, etc. was tabled until the next meeting. Shirley led
the discussion about the 9 a.m. service and Phaedra led the discussion about
the 11 a.m. service. While the small groups talked broadly about
our experiences and perceptions, the facilitators took notes to
identify broad themes that came out of the discussions. Shirley agreed to
distill those themes and bring them back to the group at our next meeting which
will be sometime in January.
Communications and Administration: Dorsey Smith.
New personnel manual has been compiled and is in the review
process. Hope to have Vestry approval in
December meeting for January implementation.
Warden’s report
Cindy Jordan asked the vestry to think about who they
would like to nominate for wardens for next year. Let Shirley know these names and also if you
are willing to be a warden. Also think
about what ministry of the church you would like to be the vestry advocate for.
Cindy presented a formula for election of vestry
members. Ginger Ambler moved that we
elect 5 vestry members this year, one of whom will serve a 2 year term. That will give us a vestry of 13 members. The next year we will only elect enough
people to make a vestry of 12. Dorsey
Smith seconded the motion which passed.
Rector’s report
Shirley thanked the stewardship committee and also the
hospitality/newcomers committee for the job they have done. The “meet and greet” neighborhood meetings
have been a great success.
Shirley and the vestry would like to commend Lloyd
Woods for the work he has done on getting us all the information about the
budget. We also thank Barbara Faubert
for her faithfulness and dependability as the pledge official.
An advisory committee for hiring an assistant rector
has been formed. Ginger Ambler is the
vestry liaison for the advisory committee.
All the staff is due for performance evaluatiion. Shirley has arranged the dates for meeting
with all of the staff to see what areas they need support in.
Items for the Cloak and Web Site
Cindy suggested that the vestry minutes be put on the
web site. The date for the annual
meeting should be included also.
Closing prayer was given by Carolyn Ito.
Meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted
Edith Edwards
8/6-8/10: Vacation Bible School
9/9 Fall Schedule Begins 7:45,9 & 11am Services
Church Picnic –10 am Refreshments Avail after 7:45 & 11am9/16: Sunday School & Adult Forum Begin
9/23: Party at Chanco - Transportation Available
9/30: 5pm Celebration of New Ministry - Details soon