Church Council Minutes
January 9, 2012
Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church
Church Council Meeting Minutes
January 9, 2012
GATHER
The January 9, 2012 meeting of the Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church Council was called to order at 7:03 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, Dean Fortin, Rev. Thomas McKeown, Carolyn Mitchell, Donna Moody, Glenn Moody, Jean Rousseau, Sela Rousseau, Ray Talke and Shannon Wheeler.
LISTEN
Chairman Mike Sherry led the church council in prayer.
RESPOND
A. Business
1. Minutes
The minutes of the November 14, 2011 church council meeting were reviewed. Motion by Peg Codner to accept the minutes of the November 14, 2011 church council meeting as presented; seconded by Carolyn Mitchell. Motion passed by voice vote.
B. Vision and Mission
1. First Aid, CPR and AED Training – Ed Simoncini (presented by Mike Sherry)
Mike Sherry presented a course description, proposed schedule and fee structure for the first aid, CPR and AED training to be provided by Ed Simoncini. It was expressed that the training should begin after Easter.
2. Methodist Stitchers – Peg Codner
Peg Codner announced that the Dress Ministry has expanded its scope and will now encompass all kinds of sewing. In light of this change, the Dress Ministry has been renamed Methodist Stitchers. The Methodist Stitchers will be supporting the Dress a Girl Around the World charity.
3. Operation Suitcase – Carolyn Mitchell
Carolyn Mitchell announced that the fourth and fifth grades Sunday school class will be doing a community service project at Operation Suitcase on Sunday, January 15 from 12:00 to 12:45. They will be emptying bags of donated clothing and hanging them on racks.
4. Church Leadership Workshops for Laity and Clergy – Carolyn Mitchell
Carolyn Mitchell reviewed the Church Leadership Workshops for Laity and Clergy to be held on January 28 at the Blackstone Valley United Methodist Church. All laity is invited to attend the workshops and may choose to attend one of six workshops in the morning and one of five workshops in the afternoon. The cost to attend is $10, which includes workshop materials, a continental breakfast and lunch.
Carolyn would appreciate assistance in setting up for the workshop and in breaking the workshop down.
5. Discernment Process – Rev. Michele Ewers
Rev. Michele Ewers opened the discernment process portion of the meeting in prayer and reviewed Matthew 28: 16 – 20.
Rev. Michele asked the church council to categorize and group the 22 areas developed during the last church council meeting:
We are called to be / commissioned to be:
·
Outward and inwardly focused
· Supportive of members
and non-members
· Developing our faith,
understanding and love
· Balanced between our
faith community and the outside community
· Innovative and take
risks
· Be in fellowship – it
can be a catalyst to bigger things
· Supportive of youth
and family
· Developing our
spiritual strengths / prayer
· Authentic – must come
from the heart
· Doing succession
planning with children / youth
· Humble – set a good
example
· Supportive of youth so
that they learn how to focus on being the Body of Christ
· Take care of self and
to take care of others
· Constant prayer
· Keep improving our
spirituality
· Bible study
· Worshipping God
· Understand God
· Supporting one another
· Continued spiritual
growth
· Take the Great
Commission seriously
· Become witnesses to
Jesus’ love.
There was extended discussion about organizing these items. It was the sense of the church council that our ministries primarily serve one or more of the following constituencies:
·
Self (personal, individual)
· Church family
· Community
· World.
Rev. Michele asked the members of the church council to review all of the existing church ministries and to determine which of the 22 areas each of the ministries address and to determine which of the above constituencies were served by each ministry. She would appreciate having members of the church send their list to her at Pastor@blackstonevalleyumc.org before the next church council meeting.
GO FORTH
The Church Council celebrated Holy Communion.
Rev. Michele Ewers closed the Church Council meeting in prayer.
The meeting was adjourned at 8:27 PM.
The next Church Council meeting is scheduled for 7:00 PM on Monday, February 6, 2012.
Respectfully submitted,
/s/
Raymond A. Talke, Jr.
Secretary