Calvary Episcopal Church
Vestry Minutes
JULY 19, 2005
Parker Hall
Calvary Episcopal Church
Vestry Minutes
July 19, 2005
Parker Hall
Participants
Present: Nancy Anderson, H. Nicholas Baker, James
Barnes, Laina Brown, Sandra Cherry, Downey Gray, Jerrold Lyndrup, Sara Reisz,
Mary Sachs, Margaret Scharre, Jonathan Smith, David Stewart; The Rev. J. Edward
Morris, The Rev. Rhonda Lee.
Absent: James Hendon, Elyse Hensley, Andrea
Morris.
Opening Prayer
The meeting was called to order at 5:16 p.m.; Fr. Ned offered a
meditation and opening prayer.
Minutes of May meeting
Downey Gray moved the approval of the May 17, 2005 minutes of the
vestry; seconded by Corky Sachs. Motion carried. There was no June meeting of
the Vestry.
Committee Reports
Finance:
In
the absence of the Treasurer, Fr. Ned presented the financial statements
through June, 2005. Corky Sachs moved that the report be accepted; Nick Baker
seconded. Motion carried.
Fr. Ned reported that the Finance
Committee had met on July 16 and that the next meeting is scheduled for August
11. The committee discussed the results of the external audit of 2003 and noted
no red flags. The 2006 Internal Audit Committee will be composed of Jamison
McPherson, Walter I. Beale, Susan Egger and James Hill.
Stewardship:
No report at this time.
Worship:
Jon Smith drew
the vestry’s attention to the June-July written staff report for Music. Jon
reported that the Worship Committee met in June and will meet again in August.
During the June meeting some incremental changes in worship services were
discussed. He noted that the Prayers of the People are now printed out for the
lectors so that readings will be consistent and standardized. Fr. Morris noted
that the 9:15 worship service will return on September 18. Final plans are being made for this service,
and if anyone would like to offer help, talent (musicians are particularly
welcome), and/or ideas, they should contact him soon. Some of the things
envisioned for this more child-friendly service include: more children's
sermons; a more informal atmosphere yet instructive service; and music that is
simpler for young voices to sing with a mix of organ and alternative
instruments. It was noted that plans should take into consideration ways that
choir parents can participate in the 9:15 service and still get to choir
practice. The idea of “pew-pooling” was offered as one way this could be
accomplished.
Christian Formation:
The vestry’s
attention was drawn to the June-July written staff report for Christian
Formation. Registration for
classes is September 11and classes begin September 18. Christian Formation meetings and/or training
will continue in August: on Sunday, August 14, the Adult Christian Formation
Committee will and on Sunday August 21, the Children and Youth Christian Formation
Committee will. Sexual Misconduct Training (which is required by the Diocese
for all teachers and youth leaders) will be held on Tuesday evening, August 23,
from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with dinner included. Via Media is scheduled for
Thursday, September 29, through November 17, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.
Adult Formation
offerings will begin again September 18 including studies of the politics of
ancient Israel and a series studying Hospice issues. Rhonda Lee reported that
she was planning a Thursday evening Adult Christian Formation offering of short
courses entitled “Don’t Get Left Behind”. The course will begin on August 25 with the movie version of the
first “Left Behind” novels by
Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins. These books explore rapture (premillennial
dispensation) eschatology, which is one vision of how the world will end. The
next four meetings will be spent discussing the new book by Barbara Rossing, The Rapture Exposed: The Message of Hope in
the Book of Revelation.
Building, House and Grounds:
Jerry Lyndrup reported on the status of the many
projects which have been completed and the many more in the works or yet to be
begun. Of particular interest was the cleaning out of the basement and
electronic equipment stored in the loft. Some of the basement debris was the
source of the termite infestation. Jerry also reported that Clyde Warner chairs
the House and Grounds committee. Jim Barnes noted that a window should be
installed in the doors of the offices of both Rhonda and Callie. It was also
suggested that windows be installed in all the classroom doors.
Outreach:
Jim Barnes drew the vestry’s attention to
the June-July written staff report for Outreach. Jerry Lyndrup reported that
construction on the Habitat for Humanities house will begin September 23.
Calvary and nine other Episcopal and Lutheran churches are participating. The
Lutheran national office has pledged $15,000 toward this home and, therefore,
we have been asked to postpone the “Ginger Grizzle house” until next year.
Communication:
Meg
Scharre drew the vestry’s attention to the June-July written staff report for
Communication. She especially noted that the deadline for articles for the
Connection is July 24.
Parish Life:
Sandra Cherry reported that the pictures
for the parish directory will taken September 26, 27 and 28. She reported also
that the Foyer Groups for this session will wrap up this month and new groups
will be established in January. The softball series has also ended and Alex
Redden has indicated that he is willing to coach again next year. Laina Brown
reported that a night out at the “Bats” is being planned.
Laina also announced that the “Brown’s”
breakfasts will begin again in August. She brought the vestry up to date on the
status of Griffin and John Brown and thanked all who helped out in that time of
need.
By-Laws:
Nick
Baker reported that he had reviewed insurance policies regarding the church’s
liability coverage relative to purchasing a defibrillator for Calvary. He noted
that the language was too cloudy to be conclusive. It was also noted that
recent news reports were negative regarding the reliability of home
defibrillators and have reported injuries and other problems with them.
Junior Warden:
Downey Gray indicated that he would like
to set the date and place of the 2006 Vestry Overnight now to beat the rush. He
will seek a location for January 27-28, 2006. Last year’s venue, Wooded Glen,
is first choice. The Annual Congregational Meeting is scheduled for January 15.
Downey also announced that he wanted to begin now to get Calvary people elected
to diocesan committees and positions.
Senior Warden:
Sally Reisz reported that the three sources of new revenue, 1) new and
increased pledges, 2) unrestricted gifts, and 3) fundraising, were well under
way and doing well. We are 85% of the
way to the $48,000 level included in the budget for new and increased pledges.
Unrestricted gifts to Calvary continue to come in steadily, and we are on
budget for that line item at this point in the year. The newly formed Calvary Fundraising Committee, chaired by Peggy
Silliman, met for a brainstorming session in July and is scheduled to meet
again the first week of August. Fundraising activities scheduled are: the Kroger Gift Card program, an e-Bay Sales
program for donated items, and the Yard Sale on August 20 to benefit both the
Help Ministries of Central Louisville and the participating downtown churches.
Deacon:
Rhonda Lee reported that she is spending
her time working on Christian Formation series (already reported) and doing
Pastoral Care visits.
Rector:
Fr. Morris reported that he spent some
time last month at the College of Preachers located at the Washington National
Cathedral. The course of study was on the homiletic voice of Isaiah. Fr. Morris
pointed out Will Cary’s painting now hanging in Parker Hall.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Fr. Morris noted that a “Welcome Back Picnic” is scheduled for the
Parker Hall courtyard after the 10:30 a.m. service on September 11 and that the
Annual Parish Picnic is scheduled for October 16 at the home of Carl and Ginger
Ray.
The next regularly scheduled meeting of the vestry is August 16,
2005, 5:15, Calvary Church with Nancy Anderson officiating Compline.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at
6:53p.m. with Compline officiated by Sally Reisz.
Respectfully submitted,
James M. Barnes
Secretary
Staff Reports
2005 OUTREACH, MUSIC, and COMMUNICATIONS – June-July
Outreach:
1.
Food Donations: This report
covers the period from May 10 to July 11. Note that this is two months, due to
the vestry not meeting in June. During this time, we received donations of food
worth $3964.00 The BIG donation this time was from Kentucky Harvest –
over 3500 cans, all loaded by Walt Morris and unloaded by MLD, Walt, and Leroy.
This was a donation, through Kentucky Harvest, by the employees of General
Electric.
2. Food
Distribution: During May, we gave out 98 food bags that fed 138 people.
During June, we gave out 107 food bags that fed 190 people.
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 May 11 to July 11 was
119. There were more women than men served, chiefly because there are more
clothes for women than for men. MEN, please see if you have things you can
donate. We get calls from men all the time. Thanks to all who contributed and
gave out!
4.
Breads: Bill Garnar’s bread recipes are in the new Calvary cookbook.
That’s the best we can do on breads and jellies at this time.
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!) Crisis Care has revived
with a bang! Due to a set of unique circumstances, we have prepared and
delivered upwards of 30 meals to various people in various stages of crisis.
First, we relate that BOTH crisis chairs had surgery within a week of each
other! They both received at least one meal, maybe more. Then we mention the
Brown family. We covered 12 nights with meals from 12 different people, this
organized by MLD. Callie Hausman’s mother died, and thanks to Gail Richardson,
whom I asked to coordinate that succession, at least five nights were
covered. This was an extraordinary
period of hospital stays, and I hope most were covered, or at least asked if
they would like meals. We did the best we could, especially with the rector on
vacation for part of that time. Thanks to ALL who helped. The efforts on behalf
of the Browns were gratifying and generous –donations of food, bed, bedding,
surgical gloves, wheelchair, videos, movies, and most of all, love!
7.
The Refugees: Maki Sherifi had surgery last month and it was a difficult
time. We are, as usual, grateful to Lou and Ted Mussler for all their support
and attention to this family.
8.
CHOICES: We received a request from the Board of “Choices” for Calvary to
have a representative added to their Board. Susan Baker has agreed to do this.
CHOICES is a group whose purpose is to help homeless women and children.
Presently, they own two houses on Marshall Street and have been given a third.
Five women live in one; two families in the other at present. The Dickinsons
will host a fundraiser for this group at the Bach Haus on August 14 at 4:00
p.m., giving a 45 minute organ recital. The vestry is cordially invited to
attend.
9.
YARD SALE: On August 20, the Help Ministries of Central Louisville will have a
Yard Sale at Calvary. Proceeds will benefit both HMCL and Calvary, to be
divided 50-50. Items are to be brought to Calvary beginning August 7. Huyett
Hurley and Peggy Silliman and I are in charge of this event for Calvary, and we
hope to raise a great deal for our Fund-Raising project. Please be thinking of
items you would like to donate. Other fund-raising projects underway will be
reported by that committee.
MUSIC:
1. The CD featuring
highlights of all five Lenten 2005 recitals has generated over $2,000 so far,
with proceeds earmarked for the new copier (a GRAND machine!). A cookbook has
also been sold (52 recipes on 32 pages) with recipes from Lenten lunches dating
all the way back to 1987!
2. We are so
fortunate to have our adult choir singing ALL SUMMER LONG. As far as I know, we
are the ONLY Episcopal choir in Louisville to sing all summer. Bravo! We have
also had violins, bagpipes, and other diverse offerings, and will continue that
over the summer as we can. We are grateful to the children’s choir and to the
violin ensemble as well, who made music for Confirmation and other times.
3. We also thank
Lynn Thompson, not only for his recording and creation of the CD, but also for
assisting me during the month of May when Melvin Dickinson was out of
commission due to surgery. We wish him well as he is now back in his position
as Professor of Music at Western Illinois University.
Communications:
1.
THE CALVARY
CONNECTION deadline is July 24.
2.
The copier is now in place and is doing a wonderful job. We
now can staple, do front and back, sort, and recognize the people in the
pictures we reproduce!
3.
Webmaster Jim Barnes continues to do a fantastic job of
updating and adding to the Calvary website. As of July 11, over 12,221 visitors
have logged in to our website since March 31, 2003.
Margaret
Dickinson
Chistian
Formation Report to the Vestry
July 2005
Though summer had commenced, June proved to be a time of continued
Christian formation. Gail Richardson,
Stephanie Walton, and Tessa Long contiuned conducting programs for children,
including Godly Play stories, creating prayer crosses, and journeying with a
finger labrynith as part of a Spirituality Center. In August, we will be offering not only new paper making projects,
but also a weaving project in preparation for a new Alleluia Banner to be used
during Lent and Easter, as well as a special musical opportunity.
Also in June, we were very pleased to have eight youth and adults
be confirmed by Bishop Gulick: Willis Brangers, Sara Gray, Steve Koppen, Tori
Long, Eleanor Lloyd, John MacLean, Molly Isaac-McLeod, Mark Richardson. We look forward to continued Christian
formation with the newly confirmed, as well as all others who participate in
Calvary's worship, liturgy, music, fellowship, and education.
In preparation for the new year, storage and supply rooms are being
organized. Teachers and youth leaders
and being recruited. Program plans,
publicity, etc. are all in process. If
you have any ideas or suggestions, please don't hesitate to contact me. Jerry Lyndrup is helping organize
refurbishing for several classrooms, including painting, etc.
Before we know it, Fall will return and classes will resume. Be looking for the new 2005-2006 Calendar of
classes and special activities ahead.
There will be many new and exciting fellowship and learning
opportunities ahead!
Christian Formation meetings and/or training will continue in
August. The schedule is as follows:
Sunday, August 14 the Adult Christian Formation Committee
will meet in Parker Hall at 9:00 a.m.
Sunday August 21, the Children and Youth Christian Formation
Committee will meet at 9:00 a.m. in Room 212
and training, including Sexual Misconduct Training (which is required by
the Diocese for all teachers and youth leaders) will be held on Tuesday
evening, August 23, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Including dinner.
Callie A. Hausman
Director of Christian Formation