Church Council Minutes
May 3, 2010
Blackstone
Valley United Methodist Church
Church Council Meeting Minutes
May 3, 2010
GATHER
The May 3, 2010 meeting of the Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church Council was called to order at 7:05 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), Peg Codner, Anne Farley, Tom Farley, Barbara Fortin, Dean Fortin, Glenn King, Bob Marseglia, Rev. Tom McKeown, Carolyn Mitchell, Laural Plourde, Jean Rousseau, Sela Rousseau, Steve Shangraw, Ray Talke, Wade Warner and Danielle Wilson. Liz Hallfelder of Usborne Books was also in attendance.
Chairman Mike Sherry thanked everyone for attending and commented on the good attendance.
Jean Rousseau announced that Dave Nadreau attended the Walk to Emmaus a week ago and that Kim Nadreau will be going this coming Thursday.
Mike Sherry complimented Danielle Wilson on her outstanding solo during Sunday’s worship service.
Rev. Michele Ewers thanked the church for generously giving to the pastor’s discretionary fund during Communion Sundays. Rev. Michele shared some examples in which she was able to use the discretionary fund to help people in need, including recently helping a woman who had lost her job and had her utilities turned off. Rev. Michele was able to provide her with some grocery store food cards and to help her restore phone service.
Mike Sherry mentioned that we are still collecting a large number of “Blue Bags” each “Blue Bag Sunday” with food for distribution to local food pantries.
LISTEN
The Church Council celebrated Holy Communion.
Rev. Michele Ewers led the church council in prayer.
RESPOND
A. Business
1. Minutes
The minutes of the April 5, 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. Vision and Mission
1. Children’s Ministry – Laural Plourde
Laural Plourde announced that the new children’s ministry team held its first two meetings to discuss plans for Sunday school and the children’s ministry.
The church will be holding summer Sunday school this year for children in preschool through 5th grade. The summer Sunday school will have a “service” theme and will review many of the church’s ministries. Summer Sunday school will begin June 6, 2010. No Sunday school will be held on May 30, 2010 and September 5, 2010.
Commission of Sunday school teachers will be held on September 12 and the Fall term will begin on September 19, 2010. The Sunday school will be lectionary based for the younger students.
The older children expressed a desire to help teach the younger children during Sunday school, rather than have their own Sunday school classes. The children’s ministry team will help train the older children to help and may introduce some short classes for the older children.
Melanie Bagaglio will be the administrator of the CORI background check process for all Sunday school teachers.
The children’s ministry team will be sponsoring some fellowship programs for children. A movie night for kids is scheduled for September 17 and a craft day for kids is scheduled for November 20, 2010.
The children’s ministry is planning to expand its programs in 2011. For example Melanie Bagaglio may lead a 4 – 6 week program on parenting tips.
2. “Reach for the Stars” – Laural Plourde
Laural Plourde introduced Liz Hallfelder of Usborne Books to discuss the “Reach for the Stars” read-a-thon program.
The “Reach for the Stars” program is designed to encourage children from preschool through high school to read (or be read to) at least 30 minutes a day. Children will be asked to solicit pledges that they will read (or be read to) 300 minutes over a two-week period (30 minutes each weekday). Children will keep half of the pledge money they raise and may use this money to purchase their own books. The other half of the pledge money will be used by the church to purchase books for homeless children.
There will be a two to three week promotion of the event before the two weeks reading period begins in July. A book fair will then be held at the church following the July reading period.
Laural asked the members of the church council to support the children during this program.
3. Brown Family Ministry – Laural Plourde
The Wilson family will be putting together and sending the May care package to Shawn Brown. Laural circulated a sign-up sheet for weekly emails to Shawn. Laural has been sending reminders to people who have signed up to send emails and care packages.
4. Women, Work & Worship – Peggy Codner
Peggy Codner reviewed the plans and schedule for the Women, Work & Worship ministry.
The Women, Work & Worship ministry will begin making school bags to be donated to needy children on Saturday, May 22, 2010. The school bags will then be filled with school supplies in July and distributed to the children. A beginning sewing class will also be held on May 22.
On June 26, the Women, Work & Worship ministry will be teaching and making cards and scrapbooks.
On July 24, the Women, Work & Worship ministry will be teaching basic knitting and crocheting.
On August 28, the Women, Work & Worship ministry will be teaching quilt making.
On September 25, the Women, Work & Worship ministry will begin planning for the Holiday Fair (tentatively scheduled for November 5, 2011).
Peggy also mentioned that the dress ministry is continuing. They are working on new delivery routes. 26 dresses have been given out so far and three children’s dresses will be available at the next clothing swap.
5. Pastor’s Moment – Rev. Michele Ewers
Rev. Michele Ewers announced that she sent out an informal newsletter this week.
Rev. Michele also announced that she received a complaint by Marlene De Vies of 3 St. James Court about children playing outside during the afterschool program at the church. Balls have been going over the fence into Ms. De Vies’ yard and allegedly damaging some plants. Rev. Michele stated that the issue has been mentioned to the managers of the afterschool program.
6. Church Picnic – Wade Warner
Wade Warner announced that the church picnic will be held on June 27, 2010 at the West Hill Dam State Park. We have a pavilion reserved from dawn to dusk. There will also be a volleyball court and swimming available. The United Methodist Men will be providing the food.
There will be two worship services that day; an early service at the church and a later service at the park.
C. Stewardship of Our Resources
1. Board of Trustees – Steve Shangraw
Board of Trustees Chairman Steve Shangraw announced that the three 330 gallon heating oil tanks in the boiler room are starting to deteriorate. The tanks are used to supply the oil-fired burner used to heat the sanctuary.
The Board of Trustees would like to convert the oil-fired burner to a gas-fired burner and remove the existing oil tanks. This would alleviate the problems with the oil storage tanks, save money on cleaning the burner, and the conversion to natural gas would result in a more consistent price for heating. The Board of Trustees estimated the cost of converting the burner and removing the oil tanks at $6500.
Glenn King moved that the church allocate up to $6500 for converting the sanctuary heating system from oil to gas and removing the three existing oil tanks from the boiler room. The motion was seconded by Rev. Michele Ewers. The motion was approved by voice vote with no dissentions.
GO FORTH
Mike Sherry led the church council in a closing prayer.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:28 PM.
The next church council meeting is scheduled for June 7, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Raymond A. Talke, Jr.
Secretary