SWEEPS Council Minutes
SWEEPS COUNCIL MINUTES 07/09/2017
ATTENDEES: Fr. Mark Meyer, Sally Plaster, John and Sally Merriam, Cyril Armstrong, John Metz
Father Mark opened with prayer
SERVICE:
WORSHIP:
EDUCATION:
EVANGELISM:
PASTORAL CARE:
STEWARDSHIP:
ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
SPECIAL ISSUES:
CLOSING: John Metz closed in prayer.
Minutes submitted by Sally Plaster
ATTENDEES: Fr. Mark Meyer, Sally Plaster, John and Sally Merriam, Cyril Armstrong, John Metz
Father Mark opened with prayer
SERVICE:
- We tied the record for our biggest Laundry Love last month
- The lil’ pantry is successful. People ponder what they take. The mission to “take some and leave some” is perpetuating itself.
WORSHIP:
- Organist Joyce Kissinger will be gone next week, so Father Mark will play the piano in her absence.
- We are doing Rite 1 during July.
- There have been several memorial services recently.
- Father Mark prepares excellent homilies.
- There was discussion about 2 prayer minister position openings.
- Faith Seeking Journey (FSJ) announcements will be put in the Bellower and bulletins.
- The Building and Grounds sign-up sheet has successfully taken over our listing church maintenance and duties.
- The “Newcomer Dinner” on June 30 , 2017 served 28 guests. Everyone enjoyed the get to know you “ice-breaker”. Father Mark refreshed the ministry booklet.
- For prayers of the people, John Metz has taken Dan’s place.
EDUCATION:
- Several children have gone to camp and/or will be going to camp.
- Shirley will be the interim Education/Formation chairperson/leader.
- Faith Seeking Journey brochures were presented at the Newcomer Dinner.
- There was discussion of small group ministries in lieu of FSJ.
- The subject for the Adult Forum this summer is homelessness and veterans and homelessness.
EVANGELISM:
- On July 30th, 2017, the Diocese will send a videographer to Christ Church. DeeDee Clement, Executive Director of Loaves and Fishes, has been asked to be a presenter on the video as have some of our parishioners, resulting in a short, professionally-made video about Christ Church and our ministries to the community! The video can be on our website, you-tube and in visitor packets.
- Laundry Love: Harry Tourney from Church of the Ascension in Pueblo and Church Development Institute (CDI) Participant with Father Mark, Sally and Debi, plans to attend our Laundry Love Session July 25, 2017. The Laundry Love Ministry is creating ripples with the new ministry in Florence and possibly Pueblo.
PASTORAL CARE:
- Father Mark has had computer distribution problems with pastoral care emails to parishioners with AOL accounts.
STEWARDSHIP:
- The Building and Grounds Committee is very active. John Merriam will attend a walk-thru with the property manager and tenant of the rental house. John will share with the finance committee his observations concerning marketing conditions, roofing, fence, and plumbing issues.
ADDITIONAL ITEMS:
- Sally Merriam sat in for hospitality. Cy sat in for Altar Guild. Discussion was held about the “Service in the Park” held in August with the Lutherans.
- Cy listed concerns about staffing for Thrift House.
SPECIAL ISSUES:
- Future financial issues of Christ Church were discussed. Vestry and finance committee will be working together. $28,000 was borrowed from contingency funds last year; add another $20,000 for the current year makes approximately a $50,000 deficit.
- There was discussion at different levels of what will keep us viable. Father Mark will discuss with Ann Fleming of the diocese office about possibilities of being a part-time priest or partnering with another church. 49% of US Episcopal churches cannot afford a full time priest. Lay people have been successful with their time and energy. Ann has suggested informing the parish about the financial issue. This may begin laying the ground work for the annual meeting. Ann is willing to come talk with us.
- The diocese is the ultimate decision maker for mission congregations.
- As in Leadville, a church may have a financial issue and not a ministry issue. Think outside the box as with our Centering Prayer ministry.
- A possible way for the church to generate income is to use the building for weddings and utilize the services of a wedding planner.
- Concerning finance and the memorial structured funds, do we need a dedicated fund regarding the rental property was asked.
- John Rhode’s estate provided a gift of $30,000 and was not dedicated to a specific use.
CLOSING: John Metz closed in prayer.
Minutes submitted by Sally Plaster