Church Council Minutes
April 5, 2010
Blackstone
Valley United Methodist Church
Church Council Meeting Minutes
April 5, 2010
GATHER
The April 5, 2010 meeting of the Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church Council was called to order at 7:07 PM in Faith Hall of the Church at 61 Linwood Avenue, Whitinsville, Massachusetts by Chairman Mike Sherry. The following members were present: Mike Sherry (Chair), Rev. Michele Ewers (Pastor), Barbara Fortin, Dean Fortin, Rev. Tom McKeown, Carolyn Mitchell, Laural Plourde, Audry Sherry and Ray Talke.
Rev. Tom McKeown mentioned how great the ecumenical service on Good Friday was, and said that Rev. Michele Ewers did a great job closing the service.
Barbara Fortin shared her view that the 24 Hours that Changed the World book study enhanced the Lenten season. The entire church council expressed their opinion that it would be a good idea to have another study next Lent.
LISTEN
Rev. Michele Ewers read “The Radical Love of Jesus” by Valerie Elverton Dixon from Sojourners magazine.
The Church Council celebrated Holy Communion.
RESPOND
A. Business
1. Minutes
The minutes of the March 1, 2010 church council meeting were reviewed.
Motion by Dean Fortin to accept the minutes of the March 1, 2010 church council meeting as presented, seconded by Laural Plourde. Motion passed by voice vote.
B. Stewardship of Our Resources
1. Pastor’s Moment – Rev. Michele Ewers
Pastor Michele Ewers stated that we need to do a better job getting people to church council. Among the ideas shared were: increased announcements, remind ministry leaders of their responsibilities, and require quarterly reports from leadership and ministry groups. Dean Fortin mentioned that he was less concerned about low attendance at church council meetings; stating that attendance is satisfactory when important issues are being discussed and the rest of the time, people are still very active in the various church ministries.
2. Staff Parish Relations Committee – Audry Sherry
Audry Sherry reported that SPRC needs to replace Todd Marston, the director of the music ministry. Todd’s last day will be June 27, 2010. Rev. Michele is working with Todd, Danielle Wilson and Mark Gentry to determine the direction of the music ministry leadership. A meeting to discuss the direction of the music ministry with the entire music ministry team has also been scheduled.
SPRC is revising the job description for the administrative assistant.
The New England Conference is currently revising the pastor evaluation process and forms. As a result, Rev. Michele’s evaluation has been postponed until September.
C. Vision and Mission
1. Children’s Ministry – Laural Plourde
The children’s ministry had its first meeting a week ago. The children’s ministry team consists of Laural Plourde, Melanie Bagaglio, Tina Beauchaine, Ann Cook and Ingrid Murphy.
The children’s ministry team would like to include programs beyond Sunday school with such things as parenting programs and additional children’s programs.
There will be Summer Sunday school this year for children in preschool through fifth grade.
The children will be making cards for Shawn Brown.
The children’s ministry team is working on developing the Fall Sunday school curriculum. Plans are to include classes for children from preschool through high school.
Two meetings are scheduled to get input from parents, older children and other parties. The first meeting is scheduled for April 15, 2010 at 7:00 PM and the second meeting is scheduled for April 22, 2010, immediately after worship.
The Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church has a safe sanctuaries policy in place and will soon institute background checks for all Sunday school teachers.
Children’s Sunday will be celebrated on May 23, 2010.
2. Brown Family Ministry – Laural Plourde
Laural Plourde thanked people in the church for putting together care packages for Shawn Brown in Iraq. The Young at Hearts group has expressed interest in sending a care package. Currently, people are signed up to send care packages through October.
Laural is sending email reminders to people who have signed up to send care packages and email messages to Shawn.
3. Summer Fellowship – Laural Plourde
Laural Plourde reported that the summer fellowship program will be back by popular demand.
The church picnic is scheduled for June 27, 2010 at the West Hill Dam State Park. There will be two worship services that day; an early service at the church and a later service at the park.
4. Communications Team – Ray Talke
Ray Talke reported that our church’s description has been updated at the “Find a Church” section of the http://www.umc.org website. Ray asked ministry leaders to check the website at http://archives.umc.org/Directory/ChurchDetails.asp?FAC=144690 and to let him know if there need to be any updates or additions.
Ray reminded the church council members to review the descriptions of their ministries on the church website at http://www.blackstonevalleyumc.org and to send him any updates or additions. Ray emphasized that the website will become a more important communications vehicle now that the monthly newsletter has been discontinued.
5. Northbridge Association of Churches – Carolyn Mitchell
Carolyn Mitchell described the recent activities of the Northbridge Association of Churches.
Carolyn also announced the ecumenical service celebrating the Full Communion between the United Methodist Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America to be held on April 11, 2010 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Worcester.
GO FORTH
Ray Talke made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Dean Fortin. Motion passed by voice vote.
Mike Sherry led the church council in a closing prayer.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:22 PM.
The next Church Council meeting is scheduled for May 3, 2010 at 7:00
PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymond A. Talke, Jr.
Secretary