Calvary Episcopal
Church
Vestry Minutes
March 15, 2005
Parker Hall
Participants
Present: Nancy Anderson, H. Nicholas Baker, James
Barnes, Laina Brown, Downey Gray, James Hendon, Jerrold Lyndrup, Andrea Morris,
Sara Reisz, Margaret Scharre, Jonathan Smith, David Stewart; The Rev. J. Edward
Morris.
Absent: Sandra Cherry, Elyse Hensley, Mary Sachs.
Opening Prayer
The meeting was called to order at 5:20p.m. Fr. Morris offered a
meditation.
Minutes of Vestry Retreat
sessions
Sally Reisz moved the approval of the February 18 and 19, 2005
minutes of the vestry; seconded by Jerry Lyndrup. Motion carried. The notes of
the remaining sessions of the vestry retreat were also received.
Committee Reports
Finance:
Andrea Morris presented the
financial statements through February, 2005 noting that two accounts are being
renamed for clarity: 3003 will now be Fund Balance/Consolidation and 5294 will
be Interest Expense/Third Street. Jim Barnes moved that the report be accepted;
Jerry Lyndrup seconded. Motion carried. The minutes of the March 10 Finance
Committee meeting were received. Andrea announced that the audit of 2003
financial statements should be completed soon. The audit will be reviewed by
the Audit Committee who, along with the auditor, Susan Savitch, will be asked
to present it to the Vestry, hopefully at the April meeting. Sally Reisz and
Andrea Morris will review a newly created report, a Sources and Uses of Funds
Statement, to determine whether it will be a clearer report of financial
transactions than the usual financial statements.
Stewardship:
Andrea noted that, to date, 29 new or
increased pledges have been received totaling $15,544. Jamie Hendon noted that
a determination needs to be made as to how to keep separate the follow-up on
the original 2005 pledges and the follow-up on new or increased pledges. Sally
Reisz suggested that no further follow up is needed on the original pledges.
These pledges were the basis upon which the 2005 budget was built and the
original campaign should be considered closed. Only the newly opened new and
increased pledge campaign results need follow-up. Laina Brown raised concerns including that some members of the
congregation are already stretched financially and they cannot give anything
more. Jamie Hendon said that stewardship committees usually work to include
both a level of sensitivity and a level of equality. He also noted that next
year’s campaign dates are nearly upon us and we simply need to move beyond this
year. Responses to the letter are still coming in as are new pledges that need
follow-up. The bulletin, Connection and website will report current pledge
results so as to keep the congregation informed. After discussion regarding how
to account for a pledge received from a long-time member who had not received
the original pledge information, it was determined that any 2005 pledge
received after the February vestry meeting would be considered a result of the
letter and be considered as new or increased pledges.
Worship:
Jonathan Smith drew the
vestry’s attention to the March written staff report for Music pointing out
especially that Palm Sunday, Holy Week and Easter begin the coming Sunday. He
said that the Worship Committee meeting scheduled for March 8 had to be
cancelled because a number of the committee would have been absent.
Christian Formation:
The vestry’s attention was
drawn to the March written staff report for Christian Formation.
Building, House and Grounds:
Jerry Lyndrup and Nancy Anderson reported
that March 23 is Calvary Beautification Day for cleaning up the grounds,
building and facilities for Easter. Jerry reported that the tuck pointing
project is scheduled for completion as of Holy Saturday. Jerry reported that he
has had good response from potential members of the 2005 House and Grounds
Committee.
Outreach:
Jim Barnes drew the vestry’s attention to
the March written staff report for Outreach. He indicated that he has received
great response from potential 2005 Outreach Committee members and that the
committee would have a chair selected by the April vestry meeting.
Communication:
Meg Scharre drew the
vestry’s attention to the March written staff report for Communication. She
pointed out especially the deadline for submitting material for the next
Connection. Meg reported that publicity for the Lenten Series was especially
good. She also reported that Andy Frazier is working on the new logo and that
work on other printed material is continuing.
Parish Life:
Laina Brown reminded the Vestry that May 20
and 21 is scheduled as Calvary Camp at All Saints. Registration forms are
available at the church and on the web. She reminded the Vestry that this was a
Calvary Camp—not just for kids, not just for families with kids. Age appropriate
activities are being planned to accommodate all members of the congregation. As
reported earlier, participation in the softball league is becoming financially
prohibitive.
By-Laws:
No
report at this time.
Junior Warden:
Downey Gray
reported that he is working on a follow-up to the current status of an earlier
bequest to Calvary. No other report at this time.
Senior Warden:
Sally
Reisz noted that a thank you note had been received from Nick Baker regarding
flowers sent on the occasion of the death of his mother, Roberta. She reminded
the vestry liaisons that committee chairs are needed as quickly as possible and
that she would like some suggestions for chairs of the 2006 Stewardship
Committee, the Newcomers Committee, and the Fund Raising Committee. The vestry
provided several. She also reported that the Lenten recital series CDs would
become available as soon as practicable as one of the first fundraising
activities. Kroger Gift Cards were suggested as another possible activity. The
Art Show is still a viable source of fundraising, but not as originally
contemplated. She reported that the Audit Committee has subdivided into the
Fine Arts and Insurance Subcommittee, the Legal and Canonical Compliance
Subcommittee and the Minutes Review Subcommittee. Along that line, Nick Baker
reported that an inventory of the contents of the sacristy safe has been
completed and is in his position and that he is reviewing existing insurance
policies to determine coverage limits and to make recommendations in that
regard.
Rector:
Fr. Morris
reported that the Lent-Easter Calvary Connection was in the mail. He also
reported that the Reverend Doctor Robert Wright, Professor of Ecclesiastical
History at The General Theological Seminary, will preach on Palm Sunday. He is
also the National Church Historiographer and probably knows more about Calvary
Church than anyone here. He was also Ned’s mentor at General. Fr. Morris also
reported that Noon services are planned for Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday in
Holy Week; that the Maundy Thursday service is at 5:30 (Rhonda Lee as preacher)
and the Good Friday service is at Noon.
Fr. Morris said
that he was grateful and concerned regarding the Barney Crawford incident
during last Sunday’s service. Ned said he will personally talk with Barney if
and when he next appears and will work to set up a better resolution to the
situation.
Fr. Morris was
asked regarding contingency plans for the baby’s arrival – early, on time or
late. Fr. Morris said he has Fr. Humke on board for April 3 (due date), April
10 and April 17. He had not yet made plans for Palm Sunday, Holy Week or Easter
as Halstead and William were both late.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
None
Announcements:
None
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the vestry is April 19,
5:15, Calvary Church with Jonathan Smith officiating Compline.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
(7:20p.m.) with Compline officiated by Jim Barnes.
Respectfully submitted,
James M. Barnes
Secretary
Staff Reports
2005 OUTREACH,
MUSIC, and COMMUNICATIONS – March
Outreach:
1. Food
Donations: This report covers the period from February 10 to
March 9. During this time, we received donations of food worth $2172.00!Thanks
to Walt Morris, the BIG donation was over 2,000 cans of food via his trucks
through Kentucky Harvest. (Yes, the hallway outside the Food Closet is crowded
at the moment – it won’t stay that way!) FYI, the 1,080 White Castle
Cheeseburgers have all been given away, in less than a month!
2. Food Distribution: During February, we gave out 85 food bags that fed 117 people.
That’s less than last month. We at HMCL are working on moving back to the Kling
Center, so if anyone knows the new director there, please put in a good word
for us. The venue at Christ Church Cathedral simply doesn’t serve the people
who need to be served, for most live too far away.
3. Clothes Shops
for Women and Kids:
Thanks to clothing contributed exclusively by Calvary people, and thanks to the
intense interest given to this project by our weekday volunteers, the number of
people clothed at Calvary given out from February 10 to March 9 was 64. Thanks
to all who contributed and gave out!
4. Breads: Bill Garnar is making bread for the Lenten
Series!
5. Book Aid: Books continue to come in, and are well cared for
by David Webb, with advice from Timmons Owens.
6. Crisis Care (Outreach of sorts!) Jean Dietz has been making calls to the church
some Wednesdays and then following up on those who are sick or in crisis. We
are very much in need of people to make hot meals, for some in crisis have not
received them. Please volunteer to help Nancy Anderson and Jean Dietz with this
most valuable ministry of Calvary. Lois O’Hara continues to write welcoming
notes to those who sign the guest book.
7. The Refugees: An attempt to reach Lilamani Perera’s niece
recently has not brought results as yet. The Sherifis will host hospitality
hour next week.
MUSIC:
1.
The big
project for February and March is the Lenten Recital and Lunch Series, the 19th
annual. This year, in addition to honoring the memory of Zilpha and Owen
Stovall, we are also dedicating Melvin Dickinson’s organ recital to Donald
Wolfe, in remembrance and thanksgiving for his support and enthusiasm for the
series. So far we have completed four out of the five Wednesdays, and record
attendance and contributions seem to be happening. Thus far, 320 people
have attended, over 30 volunteers have assisted in one way or another, and we
have taken in $1,129.75,most of which will go to further the work of the
Help Ministries of Central Louisville. A complete synopsis will be in next
month’s report.
2.
The Young
String Ensemble will play on Easter and the Adult Choir will be assisted by
strings; the Children’s Choir will sing on Palm Sunday. As always, thanks to
Judy Wilson and Elyse Hensley for directing our budding musicians, and to
Cassandra Brosvik for assisting.
3.
As a
fundraiser to get a much-needed copier, Lynn Thompson has offered to record all
of the Lenten Recitals and include highlights on a CD to be created by him and
distributed for donations. We are excited about this project, and hope that it
will make lots of money! We also project the creation of a Lenten Recital and
Lunch Cookbook, since so many people have asked for recipes.
Communications:
- THE CALVARY CONNECTION deadline is
NOON THIS COMING SUNDAY.
I especially thank the Junior Warden, the Secretary, the Seminarian, the
Rector, Callie, and John Bugbee for submitting articles early, especially
since Fr. Ned has requested moving up the mailing date to Tuesday the 15th,
a very busy time! The Easter letter will be included in this issue, along
with an envelope.
- Between
Meg Scharre and me bombarding the e-mail system, the publicity for the
Lenten Series has been great! Publicity for the Lenten Series and for the
new Thursday Eucharist has been sent to everybody we could possibly think
of at the news medias, and Lenten Series posters were made and posted
everywhere. And it worked! We are on track to set both attendance and
donation records.
- Webmaster
Jim Barnes continues to do a fantastic job of updating and adding to the
Calvary website. To date, 10,269 visitors have logged in to our website
since March 31, 2003.
- The
copier committee has met once, as reported last time. It hasn’t met since,
although we now have bids from three companies. We hope to meet soon, and
as stated above, are pleased that the CD will provide some soource of
income to fund the project.
Margaret Dickinson
Christian Formation to the Vestry
March 2005
On March 6, the teaching staff met
to discuss how the year has been going, what do we have to look forward to, and
how can we enhance Calvary’s programming.
Rhonda Lee attended the meeting and introductions were made. She also visited one of the classrooms and
she plans to visit them all so that the students can get to know her a little
better and she them. Here are a few of
the points of interest that were discussed:
- Gail
Richardson brought up a suggestion to have a “Spiritual Center” possibly
during the summer, where various learning centers or activities are
available for children and adults—an excellent idea and one to pursue.
- Children’s
artwork from last summer’s papermaking project will be framed. A suggestion was made that next year
the children make cards to sell as a fundraiser as well as making a
liturgical calendar that features a teacher every month.
The monthly meetings for the Adult
Forum Christian Formation and the Children & Youth Christian Formation
committees have been going well, with a great deal of enthusiasm present, as
well as cooperation and energy. Issues
discussed in the Adult Forum sessions include such themes as: the study of
Women in the New Testament, exploring liturgical themes, such as Lent, Easter,
etc. In the Children & Youth
committee, discussion related to ways to have more involvement of children and
youth, such as having them participate in the Calvary Beautification, possible
begin evening programming that might include programming for their age groups
as well as adults, etc.
Plans are underway for the Calvary
Art Exhibit with dedicated volunteers to arrange for artists, the actual
set-up, reception, and lecture. We look
forward to this in April, from the 17th
through the 24th.
Calvary Camp at All Saints’ also
has an exciting and dedicated team of volunteers. Registration begins this Sunday, and details for housing, meals,
entertainment, education, etc. are nearly complete.
Youth confirmation classes begin
April, which will be taught by Rev. Ned Morris and myself. John Bugbee will be attending training on
4-16 for Via Media, a video series that stimulates dialogue in a setting that
includes meal and worship as well as community-building and faith formation,
which will be the format for the Adult Inquirer’s Class, beginning April 21
from 6-8:00 p.m. Confirmation will be
on Sunday, June 5, 2005.
With so much ahead, please accept
my gratitude for all the support. There
is much to look forward to!
Callie A. Hausman
Director of Christian Formation
