Minutes for December 13, 2011 -- St. Paul’s United Church Council

 

 

Present:  Sheila Anthony, Mary Barr, Dan Bell, Brenda Crawford, Rev. Patsy Henry, Elaine Lazier, Nancy Moore-Carr, Marni Pedersen, Jeannette Pixley, Dawn Sieben.    

Regrets:   Erma Bracken, Liz Bruce, Robert Galbraith, Liz Hughson

Call to order: 7:00 p.m. by Sheila Anthony.

Opening devotion:  Dawn Sieben     Next month’s devotion:  Brenda Crawford

Adoption of Agenda:  Moved by Brenda Crawford, seconded by Jeannette Pixley.  CARRIED

Minutes of September 13, 2011 meeting:   Nancy Moore-Carr moved, Elaine Lazier seconded the adoption of the minutes as printed.  CARRIED

Business Arising / Discussion from the minutes:

a)     Dawn Sieben has accepted the position of vice-chair of council.  Marni Pedersen will assume the duties of clerk of council in the new year. 

b)    Elaine Lazier will present a list of names of non-active adherents and       members at the January meeting.

c)     Sheila Anthony will be placing the “Messages for the Minister” box at the back of the sanctuary when it is completed.

d)    An inclement weather phone tree was distributed by Nancy Moore-Carr.

e)    Marni Pedersen is organizing the packing of 34 Christmas hampers on Dec. 21, at 9a.m.  Dawn Sieben and Jeannette Pixley will pick up toys from the Salvation Army on December 19.  Sheila Anthony will call the 34 families involved.  Brenda Crawford will collect the turkeys donated by Costco.

Correspondence:  a) A woodworking refinishing flyer will be filed in the office.    b)  The Oddfellows/Rebekahs made a generous donation to our Christmas food hampers.  c)  An anonymous donor requested the purchase of a children’s bible “in memory of all babies taken much too early”.  The surplus funds to be used towards something for the church kitchen.  Rev. Patsy Henry has selected 2 beautiful bibles and $140 remains for the kitchen purchase.  d)  The Frontenac Rug Hookers made a generous donation and thanked us for the use of the upper room for their meetings.  e)  Angie Billings-Brammer donated generously “knowing that churches don’t heat or repair themselves” and thanked us for the work done in our communities.  Nancy Moore-Carr sent thank you notes in reply.

Reports:

a)     Minister’s Report:  Rev. Patsy Henry baptized Ella Helen Popkie, daughter of Adam Popkie and Lori Bedard, December 11.  Sheila Anthony and Jeannette Pixley were thrilled to assist in the baptism.  Rev. Patsy Henry will conduct a funeral for Audrey Sigsworth on December 17th.  A service to dedicate the children’s bibles will be planned for the spring.  Rev. Patsy Henry’s covenanting service is in the planning stages. 

b)      Worship & Pastoral Care, Education & Outreach:    The Sunday school pageant is on December 18th, followed by a potluck lunch, and visit from Santa.  A community carol sing and food drive will take place December 15th, at 6:30.  Sunday school classes will resume in the new year.

c)     Finance:  General Fund deficit as of November 30th:  -$1,285.50.  Bank balance end of November:  $20,195.91.   Jeannette Pixley questioned the $125 Anniversary expenses from 2010.  Nancy Moore-Carr will check the records.  Nancy Moore-Carr moved adoption of financial report.  Marni Pedersen seconded.  CARRIED.    

d)    Property & Maintenance:  a) Trinity United has produced an Accessibility Policy which they will share with St. Paul’s.  Property and Maintenance will make the necessary adjustments and appoint an accessibility officer.                b) Projects to be pursued:  Contact steeple jacks or Presbytery to find a professional to fix the bell; have the septic tank pumped; Sheila Anthony would like to contact Queen’s to have an air quality test done.  The 2nd dehumidifier will be re-situated in the downstairs hall, and the bulb in the kitchen light will be replaced.    

e)     Social Planning & Fundraising:  Very successful turkey dinners were catered for the Sydenham card club and the Wonder Women fitness group.  Leftovers went to an individual recovering from a 3-month hospital stay.  The cookie tin campaign was a huge success.  Marni Pedersen thanked the ladies who baked and especially Suzanne Hoag for her salesmanship.  Elaine Lazier reported that gift card sales for the year were approximately $1500.  Elaine has agreed to continue this fund raiser next year.  She will approach the company to see if cards are available for Wal-Mart and Michaels.   Dan Bell requested a calendar of St. Paul’s events for 2012 for the township publication:

February 25th:  Turkey dinner 4:30-6:00 (Jeannette Pixley & Brenda Crawford organizing).

May 5th:  Funtastic Street Fair  9:00-2:00

June 23rd:  Strawberry/Ham dinner:  4:30-6:00

July 28th:  Cold Plate dinner/Cake Bake Competition  4:30-6:00

October 13th:  Roast Beef Dinner  4:30-6:00

October 14th:  Anniversary Sunday

November 10th:  Christmas Craft/Bake Sale  9:00-2:00

December 1st:  Pancake breakfast/Santa Claus Parade

  

f)      Presbytery:  Report submitted by Dawn Sieben :  Appendix A.

g)     Manse:  No current problems.

New Business:  

a)     Marni Pedersen’s son will assist with putting plastic over the windows in the upper room to help conserve heat.  Brenda Crawford is looking at new flooring options for the upper room.  Marni expressed her appreciation to Eileen van der Zwan, Elaine Lazier and Jean Pritchard for their help in sewing pageant costumes.  A committee will be struck in January to plan ways to improve the upper room.

b)    Food bank contributions may be made at various local businesses.  We will be more diligent in putting up our sign on the 3rd Sunday of each month.  Sheila Anthony agreed to take any food donated at St. Paul’s to the food bank in Sydenham. 

c)     Everyone will assume responsibility in making sure the heat and lights are off when the building is empty.

d)    Sheila Anthony will be requesting committee reports be completed as soon as possible.

e)    Our new administrative assistant, Leona Andrew, begins work Wednesday, December 14th.  Sheila Anthony will arrange an appropriate thank you for Julie Goodfellow, who has been acting assistant since Katharine Hennig’s departure.   

 

 

 

Adjournment:  8:38 p.m.

Next Meeting:  January 10th, 2012

 

 

 

____________________________                    ____________________________

Clerk of Council                                                                        Chair of Council

Nancy Moore-Carr                                                      Sheila Anthony