Session
October 15, 2009 meeting

The Session met on Thursday, October 15, 2009 with eleven members present and Moderator, Rev. Joyce W. Smothers in the social room of the church. A quorum was present. Guests were Donald/Shelly Heiney and Dorothy Kehs. Pastor Joyce opened the meeting with everyone participating by reading one verse from Psalm 46: 1-11followed with an opening Litany.

NEW MEMBERS: Donald/Shelly Heiney and Dorothy Kehs appeared before session for approval to become members of this congregation. After reading their Statements of Faith they were unanimously approved.

CLERK’S REPORT:

A meeting has been called at Faith Lutheran Church on October 28 at 11:30 A.M. to discuss the future of the Whitehall Food Bank. B. Quigg will attend.

We had only one Elder to report for the Lehigh Presbytery Necrology Report and that was Paul Hodes, Jr.

Two Baptisms – 9/20/2009 Landon Jurgen Brungard and 10/11/2009 Logan Kutz Rusnock.

Lehigh Presbytery requested a copy of our Vision Statement. You can find it on the front of our Sunday bulletins.

Pastor Joyce and the Clerk of Session attended the Lehigh Presbytery Meeting at Middle Smithfield on September 22, 2009.

Reminder, check the radio, TV and the church phone for any cancellation of services due to bad weather.

Our Sunday School & Youth Group got off to a good start this year and are involved in several activities with the Catasauqua Presbyterian Church Youth Group. The first event was a Bowling outing and coming up they will travel to Seiple’s Farm, have a Halloween party and the Sunday school is selling pierogies.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Lehigh County requested to use our facilities for the Nov. 3, 2009 election.

Westminster Village Mission Sunday is March 21, 2010.

PASTOR’S REPORT:

Distributed a written report of her activities from September 18 - October 15, 2009 which included:

• Preached and led worship services
  
  
• Baptisms of Landon Jurgen Brungard & Logan Kutz Rusnock
  
  
• Attended CHES Meetings. It was decided to invite the Pastor of the Korean
  Church in the Lehigh Valley to join the group.
  
  
• Visited the shut-ins, hospital patients, and those recovering at home.
  
  
• Attended the Presbytery Meeting at Middle Smithfield and distributed a written report.
  
  
• September 19th attended Communal Discernment Workshop.
  
  
• Spoke at an ordination of a new pastor in Shrewsberry, NJ on Oct. 4th.
  
  
• Kept office hours Tuesdays thru Fridays.
  
  
• Worked with Supt. of Sunday School and Catasauqua Church to form a
  combined Youth Group.
  
  
• Conducted new member classes.
  
  
• Attended PW Circle I Meeting.
  
  
• Met with co-chairs of the Personnel Committee and the Clerk of Session.
  
  
• Participated in the Paul Hodes funeral.
  
  
• Will be on vacation December 27-29, 2009.
  
  
• Bible Study on Genesis is scheduled to begin November 17th.

NOTE: Pastor Joyce is in the Pastor’s Office Tuesday thru Friday 9:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M, for anyone who wishes to meet with her.

MINUTES of September 17, 2009 were approved with two corrections.

FINANCIAL REPORT Received Yr. to Date Balance Sheet, Financial Report, YTD Budget vs. Actual, Profit and Loss, Budget vs. Actual Reports for September Reports were reviewed and filed for Audit.

MINISTRY REPORTS:

Worship and Music -

A Memorial Service for Paul Hodes, Jr. will be held on November 22, 2009.

A survey will be sent out to all members of the congregation asking for your thoughts and ideas of returning to two services. Please take the time to reply because your thoughts and ideas are important for making a good decision.

Christian Education -

Confirmation Classes begin on October 25th.

Youth Ministry -

The bowling outing was a great success.

Presbyterian Women -

B. Quigg attended the PW of Lehigh Presbytery Gathering on October 17, 2009 at
the Reading Pennside Church.

Deacons -

A joint meeting with Session is scheduled for November 19th.

Turning Point -

Keep saving those old cell phones and ink cartridges. The Angel gift giving mission project has begun. Choose one of the Angels and make a child happy.

Nursery School -

Nothing to report.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Communication -

Mary Ann Ramey was given permission to have some more Anniversary Books
printed if you are interested in purchasing one see Mary Ann. A suggestion was made to have a new pictorial directory.

Fellowship and Group Life -

Reminder – Sauerkraut Dinner- October 31st at 6:00 P.M.

Personnel -

Annual Reviews are completed and will be reported to Session in November.

Nominating -

The new slate of officers will be presented to Session in November.

Property -

The old Pulpit Chairs have been reupholstered and they look lovely.

Matthew Jernegan has resigned as our custodian and his brother Michael and his
wife were hired to take his place.

A discussion was held concerning the lawn care and snow removal.

We received an offer for a chair glide but were unable to accept because the stairs
are not wide enough according to State and Township regulations.

Gifts of the Heart -

Christmas Joy Offering will be received December 20th.

Old Business -

No report.

New Business -

No report.

The next meeting – November 19, 2009, at 7:00 P.M.

No further business; the meeting was adjourned with a unison prayer at 8:55 P.M.

--------------------
Barbara R. Quigg
Clerk of Session

Session minutes archive