FIRST CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH OF ROYAL OAK

COUNCIL MINUTES

JANUARY 19, 2010

 

Members Present  Tim Gorman, John Miller, Ann Mooney, Kathy Peterson, Milly Palmer, Don Gavin, Bill Newman and Kevin Cooper.

 

Members Absent: Kris Hood, Laura Gibbs, Bill Marin, Felix Schneider

 

Guest: Bob Higle

 

The meeting was called to order by Moderator Tim Gorman at 7:00pm and opened by John Miller with a prayer.

 

Bill Newman moved and Kathy Peterson 2nd a motion to approve the December minutes.  Motion Passed.

 

Minister’s Report: The 2010 Mission Mazahua planning is progressing and George Gormly will serve as administrator. Anticipated increased flight costs will approach $5-600.00 and will be delayed until Summer this year. He enjoys working with the team coordinating Bob Higle’s “in care program” and a discussion was held regarding the timing and financial obligations for holding a Viconage Council and Ordination Ceremony should the process be approved by the Congregation at the meeting on March 7th. Project E3 continues forward.  A comedy night in April, a game night in February and a theater program are in process.  January 10th started three week series on the gifts of the Magi. Boy Scout Sunday on February 7th will celebrate their 100 year anniversary. We will commission new Pastoral Care Ministers on February 14th. A quiet Ash Wednesday service is planned for February 17th. Covenant Class expects 6 to 10 students meeting weekly with two over night sessions culminating with the students joining the Church on June 6th. Wired Word will continue with a possible daytime group added. Presented and discussed the possibility of a Baptism Renewal service suggested by Karen Burke. John is investigating an offer to present a Parent Talk seminar as an outreach effort to the community. Our stewardship campaign continues forward and should provide us with a solid budget in 2010 for the January 31st Budget Meeting.

 

Christian Education: Workshop Rotation is finishing the “Joy of Christmas” rotation and will begin the “Prodigal Son” rotation while planning for the next “Stewardship” theme. They discussed championing the Christmas Craft Fair and will continue consideration. Middle School PF is planning for their Souper Bowl of Caring activity. The Senior High PF is asking to host the Michigan PF Retreat in January 2011.

 

Deacon’s: Kevin Cooper dynamics reported that Barb Deiss had 71 contacts with 35 people this past month. Bob Higle will be Worship Leader on February 28th. A discussion was held about a Blessing of the Animals service.

 

Outreach: Don Gavin reported that the KIVA investments has benefited 10 business women since July 2007 and currently have 5 loans outstanding. BCO will serve dinner at Cana Lutheran Church Warming Center on February 3rd. Miriam Circle will prepare the meal. First Baptist and Genesis Churches have merged and BCO will partner to serve lunch to those in need on May 29th. A review/evaluation of the 2009 Mission Partners is underway and will likely recur every two years from now on.

 

Trustees: Bill Newman submitted a written report; Total receipts through November 30 were $306,855 and total expenses were $276,613.  We now have a positive balance for the operating fund of $16,036.  The board approved a contract for custodial services with All Purpose Cleaning.  Don Gavin and Dave Palmer will be supervisors and contact persons.  A final 2010 budget was approved. Ann Hoyt sent thank you letters to custodial volunteers. The Craft Show formerly held at the YWCA was approved to be held in our Social Hall and Narthex. Bill submitted his expected resignation as Chair after this current year.

 

Women’s Fellowship: Ann Mooney submitted a written report.  Miriam Circle will do inventoey of the kitchen at their March meeting. Rebekah Circle will inventory the small kitchen in the Fellowship Room. Food costs were $141.00 for the successful Christmas Workshop. Tentative dates for the Fall Rummage Sale are October 13-16th. A cost of $300.00 was approved to repair carpet wrinkling near the drinking fountains and coat racks. Help is needed organizing miscellaneous items stored on the stage. Harmony Circle sold all nuts at Christmas time. Lydia has Soup Sale scheduled for January 31st to benefit Haiti earthquake victims. Miriam is also serving next Kiwanis Luncheon meeting. Rebekah served funeral lunch for the Sibille family with prepared sandwiches from Hollywood Market at a reasonable cost of $59 for 40 servingings.

 

Member’s at Large: No reports 

 

Music: No report.

 

Vice Moderator: Milly Palmer presented the final 2010 budget, approved by the Trustees, for endorsement.  Don moved to accept and endorse and Bill seconded. Motion was approved. A lengthy discussion was held on converting the PV to electronic version that could be emailed and posted on the website. Concerns were heard and a long term process was agreed to be implemented by the end of the year.

 

New Business: John presented the new FCC web site design for input and comments. The progress so far was well received and accepted.

 

 

Meeting adjourned at 8:50

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Tim Gorman for Felix Schneider

Senior Minister’s Report to the Council

January 19, 2010

(I have starred items for special emphasis on Tuesday)

 

I am so thankful for the great work of our Stewardship and Budget committees for this year.  We have created an honest and achievable budget, including reasonable giving levels.  We have positioned ourselves for continued reflection on stewardship during this year that is not directly connected with a pledge drive.  We have seen a shared vision of how to proceed together financially, giving us the opportunity to discuss how to move together in other facets of our shared ministry with confidence.  I believe we are ready to press forward together and pursue all that God has for us. (so I’m in favor of endorsing the budget. J )

 

The 2010 Mazahua trip has a new plan.  George Gormly has come on board to serve as an administrator for all the little details of such a trip.  He has begun investigating flights and information, along with creating a database of interested people.  Flight prices have finally gone up after historic bargains for the past two years.  $500 to 600 looks more realistic for travel this time out.  Following a survey by George of interested folks, we did not have a group for February.  We are now pursuing a summer trip, either on our own or in concert with another group.  At least three of those who could not attend in February indicated they may be available later in the year.  The goal numbers will depend on whether we go on our own or join another group.  The timing is made more available by the Alaska location for this year’s NA meeting that will not be possible for me.  We should know more by your February meeting.

 

*I am enjoying working with the team appointed by Council to work with Bob Higle.  I am looking forward to updates on the adult Bible study class Bob and Noel Maddy are working on.  I know they continue to add new faces to the group.  The team approached Council about the next steps in this process and a congregational meeting was set for March 7.  Bob will preach that day and a discussion about ordination will be the agenda for the meeting.  I will co-officiate at the communion table with Bob on February 21.  We will still work with an Honorary Deacon to serve together but share the preaching and table service.  If the congregation moves toward ordination during our March 7 meeting, we will need a plan.  The team is moving forward to create a timetable and associated budget for the next steps.  My question to Council: can the budget for this come in the form of our single Endowment Allocation request for 2010?  It seems fitting to me, as it would be outside our budget and not a regular activity.  It would alleviate pressure on individual givers and help this process to move forward smoothly.

 

 “Project E3” continues forward.  A comedy night in 2010 will take place in April. A theatre program in early 2010 will be publicized soon.  A game night in February is in the next PV. We will follow up with other project leaders to gauge their progress.  I believe people are taking initiative to bring groups together and I hope this continues to grow.

 

Here are some notes on recent services and upcoming stuff: 

 

a.      *Comments on recent worship services?

 

b.       For Christmas Eve this year, we continued to have a ‘lessons and carols’ format as we have recently. Jeannie Sherman made several batches of candles for our choir members to use. We finished with Silent Night and a quiet departure.  There were a few comments that the service was long, and a few that the service did not speak directly to children.  Others noted the beautiful music and enjoying the story.  At least one person did not like using the Genesis texts and wanted less scripture.  Others noted they enjoyed the readings.  Deacon feedback?  (Note: we will need to purchase medium size white candles to use as tapers next year.  We have quite a few small candles but need larger ones for worship leaders and college students)

 

c.      I was off on December 27 with Will Lange in the pulpit.

 

d.      On January 10, we started a three week series around themes of the Gifts of the Magi.  I hope that holds together for everyone over these next two weeks.  We will prepare for the Budget Meeting on January 31 in worship that day too, featuring the theme of my initial comments in this report.

 

e.      On February 7, Boy Scout Sunday will be special as the Scouts celebrate 100 years of history.  One Scout from our troop would like to share a five-minute history of Scouting as part of the service.  While our norm has been a brief mention during the announcements, I believe this would be fitting to the service.  This will likely happen just after the Congregational Response in the service as its own element of the service.

 

f.        On February 14, we will commission our new Pastoral Care Ministers and re-commissioning our current PCM’s.

 

g.      On February 17, we will mark Ash Wednesday again with a quiet service in the sanctuary.  It will be a little different this year since this is the middle of the school Winter Break so Melissa will not be here.  We will explore the musical possibilities over the next few weeks.

 

Covenant Class for 2010 is coming together now.  Between 8 and 10 students are in this group. We will have 11 sessions and two overnights.  The overnights will work around Mark Schuster’s schedule so our male chaperones will be covered.  Females will be needed and welcomed!  Regular sessions will be Sunday afternoons from 3 to 5PM.  The class will join the church on June 6.

 

Our Senior High PF program began again with our dinner and program format on January 3, continuing to extend invitations to new students and renewed interest.  I am enjoying this leadership team and think we are balanced in terms of time commitments. We had five students last Sunday and hope to continue to add more in the next few months.

 

The FCC website process is back on track and should produce a new site in early 2010.  I believe we will have a demo front page to look at this evening.  I can arrange a viewing in the office if nothing else is ready.  I am excited for this new tool that will help our communication and our sense of community.  I thank all those who are on this team offering their time and thoughts.

 

*The Wired Word has been continued for another year.  I am advocating for a daytime group if there is an interested team of people to lead discussions.  I also am planning for a Bible discussion group based on the African Bible Study method, a simple yet profound approach to scripture.  I hope weekly that group can look at the texts for the following Sunday and share their responses to those passages.  Once that is going, I would like to begin another daytime Bible study, topic and format TBD.  Recently I viewed a church website with a simple solution: the minister offers the same study twice, once in the day and once at night.  (should have thought of that before…I will see what fits my schedule)

 

Through some recent discussions with Karen Burke, I asked us to consider a Baptism Renewal service at some point in the future.  This idea came out of Karen and I talking about how to mark our faith in community.  We have worked to talk about what value this might have here at FCC and how we could share these ideas.  We continue to look into the possibilities of a baptism reflection or ritual in the future.

 

*For long-term planning, I am working to offer a Parent Talk seminar series as an outreach effort to the community.  I am looking into working with Community Education or Continuing Education to organize a class.  I firmly believe there is value in sharing these materials, and value in partnering with community agencies.  I hope to have something together for this Fall.

 

 

 

Peace-John Miller