CHURCH COUNCIL MEETINGS
PHIPPSBURG CONGRGATIONAL CHURCH (UCC)
Church Council Meeting – February 28, 2012
The monthly meeting of the Church Council was called to order at 7:07 p.m. by John Morse, Moderator. Attending were Alan Walton, Betsey Morse, Heather Hietala, Jean Flink, John Morse, Marie Harvell, Tina Tucker, Joannie Krohn, Kitty Paste, Sherry Masters, Marcia Beach and Mary Ellen Cummings. Absent were Jane Friend, Linda Totman, Sharon Bond, Wayne Beach and Mark Wilson.
As this was the first meeting with new committee chairs/members of Church Council, we introduced ourselves. Welcome to those who have agreed to serve!
Clerk Jean Flink moved and Heather Hietala seconded to accept the minutes of the December meeting as written. The motion passed.
Joannie read thank you notes to the Church that were recently received.
John Morse asked about the new website. Joannie Krohn is going to contact Maine Hosting Solutions for information next week.
Treasurer For the benefit of new members, Betsey Morse explained how the financial reports are set up. Alan Walton moved and Jean Flink seconded to accept the Treasurers’ Reports as presented. The motion passed.
Committee reports
Budget and Finance – Arrangements have been made to have Chilloa Young review the books after tax season. She will let Linda and Betsey know what she needs to do the review.
Jean mentioned that there seems to have been a discrepancy in the funding amount for the Ways and Means tent and that it is being dealt with.
Deacons – Heather Hietala reported that there are four new deacons. Sylvia Leuteman has agreed to serve as scribe. Wayne Beach and Heather will serve again as co-chairs. They have agreed to meet only six times a year and only two deacons will serve each month with a third deacon on call.
Concerts – The last concert was on February 10. The Jeff Warner performance netted $268.10, including dessert donations. A contribution of $100 was also received from Ivan Boyer.
It was suggested that a line on the balance sheet be established for special donations to the concert series. After discussion, it was agreed that this donation and others like it will go in the concert line and that Wayne will keep track of them.
Buildings and Grounds – The bell wheel has been completed and someone has been found to install it for $200.
Music – The committee met on Sunday. It was agreed that choir robes acquired from another church will be offered to a church in need.
Research is being done on a portable keyboard to be used in the LTMH.
Flower – Easter plans are in place; palms have been ordered. There will be a sign up sheet for those who wish to donate lilies for Easter Sunday. A meeting will take place on March 11 after worship.
Ways and Means – The tent was ordered and has been delivered. It will be used beginning in the summer at Heritage Days.
Old business – none
New business – John brought up the topic of parking for church events and that there is not always enough available. He asked for thoughts about how to expand parking, perhaps at the bottom of Church Lane. There was much discussion.
Goal setting by committees is encouraged to give direction for activities. John noted that this would also be good for the Church Council as a whole.
Jean Flink asked for thoughts about individual committees having fundraising. After much discussion it was generally agreed that this not be done.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Jean Flink moved and Kitty Paiste seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:10 p.m. Sherry Masters offered the closing prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Joannie Krohn, Clerk
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PHIPPSBURG CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH (UCC)
Church Council Meeting-March 27, 2012
The monthly meeting of the Church Council was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by John Morse, moderator. Attending were Alan Walton, Betsey Morse, Jean Flink, John Morse, Marie Harvell, Sherry Masters, Wayne Beach, Tina Tucker Mary Ellen Cummings, Linda Totman, Sharon Bond, Sylvia Leuteman and Mark Wilson, who opened the meeting with a prayer. Absent were Joannie Krohn, Heather Hietala, Kitty Paiste, Marcia Beach and Jane Friend.
Clerk:
It was moved and seconded to accept the minutes of last month’s meeting with corrections as follows: under Concerts eliminate the word “on”.
New Website:
Mark and Joannie have investigated the possibility of a new website for the church. Having a new website isn’t as urgent as they had thought but they are still investigating new possibilities.
Treasurer:
Linda reported that her job is becoming more difficult. There needs to be a better way to ensure that all pledges are credited in the right place. Betsy reported that we are $3,500.00 ahead of where we were last year at this time. Heating oil was more expensive but we used less this winter so we are on target. Treasurer’s report was accepted as read.
Pastor:
The clerk will send a thank you to Don Friend and Terry Gray for the rope cradle. Also the clerk needs to send a thank you to Leon Vaillancourt, 34 Webber Ave, Bath. Alan Myers will be doing minor maintenance on the Reed Organ. Peter will have the Johnson Hall ready for Easter Sunday service. Mark reported that we have lots of weddings this summer, the first one being Patty Percy on June 16, 2012. There was much discussion on parking for the church. There are many options that will be explored and reported on at a later date. Mark reported that adult study will continue. There will be an Easter Sunrise service at Popham. If the weather is good the service will be held on the beach. There will be a public breakfast after the service at the Popham Chapel House. The church services at the Phippsburg Congregational Church will change to 9:00 AM on May 6.
Committee Reports
Summer Concerts: The Bowdoin International Music Festival will be held at the church on July 17. On July 26 there will be a harpist and August 2, George Lopez will be at the church.
Flower Committee:
Jean Flink wanted to know if the $1200.00 is still available to be used for cleaning up and landscaping the south yard. It was voted for the flower committee to use the money.
Clothing Exchange and Food Bank:
Wayne Beach reported that the clothing exchange has found a new home, effective in November.
Concerts:
Wayne reported that there were 63 attending the last concert and it cleared $190.00.
Historical Records:
We have received some historical records from Fred Morse.
Deacons:
It was voted that only religious ceremonies should be held in the church.
New Business:
Patty’s reception was discussed. We will need 3 or 4 to work with Betsey.
The next meeting of the Church Council is April 24 at 7:00 p.m.
Mark gave the closing prayer.
Meeting adjourned at 8:25.
Respectfully submitted,
Marie Harvell, Assistant Clerk
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THESE MINUTES ARE CONSIDERED DRAFT UNTIL APPROVED BY THE CHURCH COUNCIL AT THEIR NEXT MEETING
PHIPPSBURG CONGRGATIONAL CHURCH (UCC)
Church Council Meeting – April 24, 2012
The monthly meeting of the Church Council was called to order at 7:03 p.m. by John Morse, Moderator. Attending were Alan Walton, Betsey Morse, Heather Hietala, Jane Friend, Jean Flink, Joannie Krohn, John Morse, Tina Tucker, Joannie Krohn, Sharon Bond, Marcia Beach, Mary Ellen Cummings and Pastor Mark Wilson, who opened the meeting with a prayer. Absent were Marie Harvell, Linda Totman, Kitty Paste, Sherry Masters and Wayne Beach.
Clerk Alan Walton moved and Jean Flink seconded to accept the minutes of the December meeting with the following corrections: correct the spelling of Betsey Morse’s first name; correct the spelling of Leon Vaillancourt’s last name; include the following corrected sentence under Clothing Exchange: “Wayne Beach reported that the clothing exchange has found a new home beginning in November.” The motion passed.
Treasurer Betsey reported that with a quarter of the year passed, we have 22% of anticipated income and 31% expenditures (in part due to heating costs and the donation to the Small Mission Fund). Jean Flink moved and Jane Friend seconded to accept the Treasurers’ reports as presented. The motion passed.
Pastor - Joannie Krohn and Mark are looking into other companies for website development and hosting and will report when all is finalized. Mark mentioned that he’d like a “PayPal” button for people to use to make donations to the Church, as well as the ability to post videos.
Mark noted that the Church now has a written agreement with the Totman Library to use their parking lot from 8:00 AM and Noon each Sunday.
The Annual Meeting of the Maine Conference will be held June 21-24. Mark requested funds to cover his costs as well as those of two delegates – Heather Hietala and Jean Perkins. Mary Ellen Cummings moved and Betsey Morse seconded that $500 be allotted from 2011 surplus finds to cover these costs. The motion passed.
Mark attended Clergy Boundary Awareness Training on April 17 through the MidCoast Association.
In addition, he and Jean Perkins attended a meeting of the Religious Coalition Against Discrimination
(training about marriage equality).
The spring MidCoast Association meeting will be held April 29 – Mark and Jean Perkins are attending.
Mark noted that WellTree has looked at the Linden Tree recently and has recommendations for its care. This was referred Buildings and Grounds for their consideration.
Peter Oceretko was contacted re: painting of Johnson Hall. It was recommended that a good time to do this will be April 30 through May 12.
From Linda Totman - As the Church has traditionally taken responsibility of cleanup of the Drummond Cemetery, it is noted that Jim Totman contacted Volunteers for America, who will do cleanup by Memorial Day.
135 people worshipped here on Easter Sunday. The sunrise service at Popham Beach was also well attended. The sunrise service will be held here next year.
Mark reminded us that May 20 there is a pulpit swap, with John Potter, Wiscasset, leading worship here. Mark will be leading worship in Broad Bay UCC in Waldoboro.
Committee reports
Budget and Finance – The committee held their quarterly meeting on April 19. The 1802 Fund committee was discussed. Recommended as possible members were Roger Herrigel, Heather Hietala, John Morse, Steve Masters, Lillian Beard-Harley, Abbe Yacoben, Dill Paiste, Jean Flink and Roy Clark, with Mary Ellen Cummings and one of the Church treasurers as ex-officio members. Heather requested that her name be removed from consideration. After Mark gave a brief summary of each person’s background, the Church Council agreed with the list as presented. Members of the Budget and Finance Committee will contact those recommended.
ONA – The committee met last Sunday, April 22 and will meet again in May. The committee will give a report at the congregational meeting on May 20, with a feedback session after that.
New members – there are several people who have expressed an interest in Covenant membership. Mark said that some would wait until October to become members, as they have conflicts with the May 27 date (Pentecost/Memorial Day weekend). It was agreed to possibly change to June 3.
Branches – The deadline for the next issue is Friday, May 11.
Historical Records – The committee has decided to meet the first Thursday of each month.
Concerts – After deducting cleaning and parking, the Church’s share of net profits for the April 13 concert was $478.72 ($282 from the door and $196.72). 123 attended, matching our record for attendance at a concert – there were also several new faces. The final concert of the season is Cindy Kallet and Grey Larsen on May 25.
Food Bank – Marcia reported on numbers of people served. She also noted that the treasurer of the food bank has resigned. She reminded us that check matching will continue through April 30.
Old business – Heather reported that she will continue to take recipes for the cookbook through this weekend. The cookbook, which she hopes to have available by mid-June, will include a history of the Church and a cover photo.
New business – Jean Flink said that landscaping on the south end of Linden Tree Meeting House has been completed. Plant watering will be needed – if you’re here at the church and think of it, please take the time to water. A long hose has been hooked up to make the watering easier.
Investigation into a keyboard for the LTMH is ongoing.
The next meeting will be on Tuesday, May 22, 2012 at 7:00 p.m.
Alan Walton moved and Jean Flink seconded that the meeting be adjourned at 8:19 p.m. Mark gave the closing prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Joannie Krohn, Clerk