2007-02-deaconer

Church Council Minutes
January 18, 2007

Janet Kohlmorgen called the meeting to order at 7:10 pm. The meeting opened with prayer.

January Council Meeting Minutes were presented and accepted the council.

The Treasurer’s Report and the Edwards Report were presented and accepted by the council.

Pastor’s Report: No report from the Pastor was available. Jim was away.

Old Business:

Fund Raiser - Jane Hannon presented the concept of a Town wide yard sale sponsored by the church. The church will advertise the yard sale and supply a map indicating locations of yard sales. To participate and have your home listed on the map for the yard sale individuals will be asked to ay $10.00 to be listed on the map. Maps, coffee and donuts will be available at the church on the morning of May 5th. The council agreed on the concept and a date of May 5, 2007 was selected. Jane agreed to help organize, but support was needed. It was agreed that each church committee would be asked to supply one person to assist with the planning and work of organizing this fund raiser.
Retreat - The dates for the retreat are Friday evening May 18th and Saturday, May 19th. The speaker has already been engaged. Janet asked for any suggestions on how to improve the retreat. Suggestions included not having any long breaks in the program and having more interactive sessions, rather than just being talked “to:.

Deacons’ Report:

The deacons meeting minutes were presented. Deacons are looking for additional members.

Trustees:

The Trustees have finalized the budget to be presented to the Congregation at the annual meeting.

Trustees have formed a new committee of Trustees to form the frame work of a financial long range plan for the church. It hopes to have a least the concept in a format to present to the Congregation.

Christian Education:

No report from the Christian Education Committee was available

Membership and Evangelism:

No report from the Membership and Evangelism Committee was available. (no December meeting)

Mission Ministries Team:

The minutes of the December meeting were available.
Coffee sales the last Sunday of the month have done well.
The mission committee has lost their large bulletin board. Please make someone aware if you know where it might be.

Music:

The minutes of the Music Committee were available.
The organists’ contract has been finalized and given to the church treasurer.

Pastoral Relations:

No report from the committee was available.

Publicity:

No report was available.

LVA/EC:

No report from the LVA was available. The first meeting of this group for 2007 will be the 1^st Monday in February

Men’s Club

Council was reminded of the upcoming Men’s breakfast

Church Events

Book Discussion Group - A new book has been selected and there will be information regarding the discussion times at a later date.
Coffee House - The first coffee house was well attended. They are planned for the 2^nd Friday of the month until June.

Following a closing prayer, the meeting was adjourned at 9:15 pm
Next Meeting – February 15, 2007

Respectfully submitted,
Cynthia Childs, Secretary Pro Tem

Diaconate
January 11, 2007

In attendance were Sue Chatwin, Sue Campbell, Sandy Harding, Phyllis Groezinger, Jean Raymond, Steve Chace, Barbara Wells and Rev. Jim Melhorn.

Barbara will be the Deacon of the Month for February. Assisting her with communion will be Jean Raymond, Sue Chatwin and Sue Campbell. Jean Raymond will be Deacon of the Month for March and Phyllis will assist with communion which will be by intinction.

Standard Reports

Cards and Flowers - Sandy sent encouragement cards to Bernice Ferwerda, Gladys Gorts and Marcie Miller. Get well cards were sent to Jean Benson and Trudie Kalinen and thinking of you cards went to Marge St. Pierre and Jean Benson. Sue Chatwin said that Susana Pettus sent an acknowledgement for receipt of a church sympathy card, The Deacons received a thank you for money sent to a family in need and Don & Aurora Smith sent a thank you Christmas card for the get well wishes of the congregation. Sympathy card was sent to Susanna Pettus.
Coffee Hour - The coffee pots are being locked in the Men’s Club closet after coffee hour and it is expected that eventually there may be a lock on the kitchen door to prevent the continued loss of items from the kitchen.
Budget - The Deacons gave the unspent portion of their allotted budget funds to two families in need. Due to the fact that the 2007 church budget will be balanced, the funds for most committees have been cut including the Deacon’s budget.
Ushers & Greeters - Penny Chace will continue to schedule ushers and greeters. Barbara suggested that the Deacon of the Month contact ushers, greeters and scripture readers prior to the Sunday that they will serve.

Unfinished Business

The Deacons were pleased with the Christmas services which included many nativity scenes and Mexican customs. The gospel folk group was well received.

Sue Chatwin said that the plaque for Mary William’s donation of the altar rug is ready and may be mounted on a board in the entryway. N & R was not able to engrave the Salt of the Earth Award and Ella Dale plaques so a new source must be found.

New Business

Ways to save money were discussed.
The Deacons were asked to review the membership list for accuracy. Discussion about the level of talking before the Sunday worship and how to encourage a period of quietness before the service. Jim will mention it at the next Sunday service.

The meeting closed at 8:15 P.M. with Jean reading her nephew Zach’s inspiring composition. Phyllis Groezinger will close with prayer at the next meeting, which will be on February 8th at 7:00 P.M. in the vestry. The March meeting will be on the 22^nd due to members being away earlier in the month.

Respectfully submitted,
Barbara Wells, Secretary

Trustees
January, 2006

The Trustees met on January 9 with Norman May, Jane Hannon, Cynthia Childs, Dave Marr, Marcie Miller, Ed Gagnon, Jim Melhorn and Nancy Bogar present. Jim began the meeting with a prayer.

Win Brown attended the meeting to go over the A.G. Edwards portfolio. The account is doing very well, and no changes were made at this time. The Secretary’s and Treasurer’s Reports were accepted as presented.

Old Business:

New Financial Plan

Because of the “balanced” budget presented to the Council and the cuts that had been made, a plan was presented to the Board for a means to increase our pledging and improve our financial needs over the next several years.
A Sub-committee was formed to discuss the plan in greater detail.

Town Wide Yard Sale – Trustees were very enthusiastic over this fund-raiser and are hoping to make it a yearly event. Plans at the moment are to hold it during the month of May.

Meeting adjourned at 9:00 pm. Next meeting will be Tuesday, February 13, 2007, at 7:00 pm.

Respectfully submitted, Nancy Bogar, Secretary

Christian Education Committee
January 14, 2007

In attendance: Amy Lanza, Lisa Galante, Jim Melhorn and Jeff Sonnega

Discussed the Christmas Pageant and Christmas activities and all agreed everything went well and was enjoyed by all.

Curriculum was ordered for the K-3 Classes

Youth Group Activities – we will brainstorm ideas for upcoming activities and try to arrange something soon.

We have someone interested in the Youth Group Advisor position, but the budget money was not approved for this year. Trustees may come up with a plan. We shall wait and see.

Fundraisers were discussed and we decided that each committee is welcome to do their own fundraisers, but a Church-wide fundraiser was not in the plans at present.

All Sunday school teachers and advisors are welcome to join our committee meetings that are held the 2^nd Sunday of each month at 11:30 am. Comments, feedback and suggestions are always welcome. We appreciate their time and effort for our children and anything we can do to help, or make things better, are our top priority. Amy Lanza will try to call them on a regular basis to touch base and get feedback.

Submitted,
Amy Lanza

Music Committee
January 14, 2006

The Committee met January 14, following the Sunday Service. In attendance were: Chair Mary Lu Mathis, Tony D’Ambrosio, Bob Popple, and Mary Jane Sawyer.

Mary Lu reported that Robin Dinda has accepted our request to be the featured artist at our Organ Recital this year, which is scheduled for October 21, at 3 PM. Mr. Dinda is the husband, and performing partner, of Renea Waligora, who performed beautifully at this year’s concert. The group is excited to have secured this commitment. Mary Lu will contact the town to arrange for use of the church hall, for the reception which will follow.

Tony has completed revision of the Organist Contract, and has presented it to Council. Bob signed it during our meeting.

The Committee discussed the first "Common Grounds" musical evening, which was held Friday in the church hall. We will encourage and support future evenings, feeling that such offerings are an important musical contribution to church, and to church/town relations.

Mary Lu will discuss with the Treasurer invoices for organ and piano tunings, which appear to remain unpaid.

Tony reviewed the 2007 annual budget.

Our next meeting is scheduled for February 11.

Mary Jane Sawyer - for the Committee

Mission Ministries Team
January 14, 2007

The Mission Ministries Team met Sunday, January 14, 2007 at 11:30am. Present were Laura Henrikson, Mary Alice D’Ambosio, Una Bigelow, Marie Marr and Rev. Jim Melhorn. Laura opened the meeting with a prayer.

Laura reviewed the correspondence that had been received and Mary Alice gave a Church Council report. The Mission Ministries Budget has been severely cut and will present a challenge to be workable. Fund raising will be needed.

The sale of Equal Exchange Coffee is going very well. Laura is working to set it up so we can order on line. It was decided that Marie would take an inventory and then keep it up to date, deducting sales and adding deliveries, so we will have a little more information and control. We have a new storage area in the Men’s Closet. Una, Mary Alice and Marie will set up and sell coffee at the Fellowship Hour on January 28. We will also try selling coffee at the next Common Grounds Coffee House.

The Mission Ministries Team will sponsor a Chili Supper on Saturday February 3^rd, at 6pm. We will serve chili, cornbread, salad, dessert and beverages. We will ask for volunteers to make dessert.

Speakers from the Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter will provide the program. MATS mission is to provide temporary housing, support and referral services to homeless persons; and to educate the community on issues of homelessness and advocate for possible solutions. In the first 6 months of 2006, MATS sheltered 15 people from Antrim, Peterborough, Rindge, & Washington, NH. and had to refer 32 people to other shelters

A free will offering will be collected at the Chili Supper and donated to MATS.

It was decided the next meeting would be February 11, at 11:30am. Rev. Jim closed the meeting with a prayer.

Respectfully submitted,
Marie Marr, Acting Secretary

Men’s Club
January 21, 2007

Thanks to Chef Ken and helpers Dave, Ed and Charlie for a sumptuous breakfast! Dave called the meeting to order. Tony gave the Treasurer’s Report. Martin explained the Community Transportation meeting at the VFW on Jan. 24. All that can attend should to see what we can do for our community. A gift to LK for her school trip was approved as was a gift to the college Valentine boxes program. A Superbowl get together was discussed. There will be no party but if anyone wants to join Tony please give him a call. Norm will lead the Valentine’s dinner/ dance project. The event will be held at the Woodbound Inn on Sat., Feb. 10. Admission is $15 per person payable to the Mens Club – see Tony. There will be a signup sheet at church. Ed and Tony will lead the Scout Breakfast project. Scout Sunday is also Superbowl Sunday. Dave will check on alternative date possibilities. Dave also has the list of materials for Ed/Tony. A St. Patrick’s Day event was discussed. Dave will sense interest. The next meeting will be Mar. 18.

Submitted by Charlie Eicher

Kids Corner

Extras From the Editor

&
Special Articles

The Quiet Sermon

A member of a certain church, who previously had been attending services regularly, stopped going. After a few weeks, the pastor decided to visit him.

It was a chilly evening. The pastor found the man at home alone, sitting before a blazing fire. Guessing the reason for his pastors visit, the man welcomed him, led him to a comfortable chair near the fireplace and waited.

The pastor made himself at home but said nothing. In the grave silence, he contemplated the dance of the flames around the burning logs. After some minutes, the pastor took the fire tongs, carefully picked up a brightly burning ember and placed it to one side of the hearth all alone. Then he sat back in his chair, still silent. The host watched all this in quiet contemplation. As the one lone ember's flame flickered and diminished, there was a momentary glow and then its fire was no more. Soon it was cold and dead.

Not a word had been spoken since the initial greeting. The Pastor glanced at his watch and realized it was time to leave. He slowly stood up, picked up the cold, dead ember and placed it back in the middle of the fire. Immediately it began to glow, once more with the light and warmth of the burning coals around it.

As the pastor reached the door to leave, his host said with a tear running down his cheek, "Thank you so much for your visit and especially for the fiery sermon. I shall be back in church next Sunday."

~ ~ Book Discussion ~ ~
The Memory Keeper’s Daughter by Kim Edwards

Sign-up sheet, summary and preliminary discussion questions are available at Sunday coffee hour or on the church web-site.
Several discussions sessions will be held in March to accommodate day and evening schedules.
Come join us for fun and fellowship!

Your Hosts: Marcie Miller (899-5419) and Carleen Eicher (899-9892)

Hat and Mitten Tree

Thank you to everyone that contributed to the tree. I will be delivering the items on January 7th to Kerry with Warming Families.

The following items were collected:

13 hats
1 sweater
1 slipper socks
2 hat/glove sets
20 mittens
10 gloves

I know these will help keep others warm this winter!

Submitted by Penny Chace

CHILI SUPPER

February 3, 2007

6 PM

Town Hall

Free-will Offering to Support MATS

Learn about the

Monadnock Area Transitional Shelter

Sponsored by The Mission Team

Save these dates

Annual Church Meeting - Sunday

March 4, 2007

Church Retreat - “Talking Faith”

May 18 and 19, 2007