Session
April 16, 2009 meeting

The Session met on Thursday, April 16, 2009 with four members present and Lay Pastor, Henry Distler. Without a quorum present no affirmative action was taken and the meeting was called to order by Henry at 7:10 P.M. with a reading from the Upper Room. The message was based on the scripture verse from the Gospel of Matthew 5: 14 referring to Jesus stating that all who follow him are the light of the world and need to share that light in every corner of this world.

CLERK’S REPORT:

The financial records were audited on March 17, 2009 and are in proper order.

The installation service for the Rev. Joyce Smothers will be on Sunday, May 17, 2009.

The Presbytery Meeting is on Tuesday April 28, 2009 and we need lots of help between the hours of 3 P.M. And 7 P.M.

Received prayer concerns from Lehigh Presbytery:

- Daisy and Agnes Davies in the death of Ernest Davies, Members of Reading Washington
- Rev. George Taylor in the death of his mother – Pastor of Stroudsburg
First
- Congratulations to Mark & Erica Simmons on the birth of Alexandra
Eve - the grandparents are Steve & Cindy Simmons.

The Presbytery office has several Books of Order available for sale at $9 a piece.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Flyer announcing the following upcoming Brainerd events-

April 25 — Yard Sale 8:00 a.m. to 2 p.m.
May 1-2 — Women’s Retreat
May 16-17 — Brainerd Homecoming –Fishing Festival –Open House
(check the bulletin board for detailed information)
Information about “Open Doors to Discipleship”
Young adult mission trip to Romania in July
Worldwide Ministries Care Team’s letter of encouragement
to begin a Church to Church Partnership.

Letter from the Allentown Rescue Mission advertising a Fund Raising
Pennsylvania Dutch Dinner on Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 4 to 7 P.M. at Asbury
Methodist Church.

Received an invitation from Bethlehem First for the Installation of three Pastors
on April 19, 2009 at 4:00 p.m.

Received greetings and updates on GA from the Stated Clerk and Moderator.

PASTOR’S REPORT:

Henry notified Session of the following concerns:

Date, time, mileage from March 16 – April 12, 2009
Reminder- Keep the evaluations coming.
Worship Services:
Apr. 26 – Deacon’s Sunday
Apr. 28 – Host Presbytery Meeting 3:00 P.M. – 10:00 P.M.
May 3 – Communion Sunday with our new Pastor, Joyce Smothers.
May 10 – Mother’s Day
May 17 – Installation for Pastor Joyce Smothers

Next Session Meeting May 21, 2009 at 7:00 p.m.

MINUTES of March 19 and The Congregational Meeting Minutes of March 22, 2009 were received and approved with no additions or corrections.

FINANCIAL REPORT No report.

MINISTRY REPORTS:

Worship and Music -
The attendance at the Easter Service was just great and gave many members the
opportunity to hear the new piano/organ (clavenova). Joanne Matthews was
praised for all the hard work she does as the choir Director.

Christian Education -
Joyful noise offering and children’s chat are scheduled for April 19th. Each child
was asked to bring a canned good for the local food bank.

Christian Education board met on April 8th and decided that Sunday School will
end on June 14th and will begin again in September.

We will hold our Bible School July 13-17, 2009. More information is forthcoming. Contact Debbie Snyder if you are willing to help.

June 7th the children will be traveling to the Lehigh Valley Zoo.

An art project is planned to make gifts for Mother’s Day, On May 10th

Youth Ministry -
May 16-17, 2009 is the Fishing Festival/Open House at Brainerd Presbyterian
Center.

Applications for Brainerd Summer Camping Program are available through
Superintendent of Sunday School, Sandra Moran. Parents encourage your
children to register for a week at Brainerd. It’s an experience they never will
forget.

The Youth are making a banner which is scheduled to be completed by the end of
April.

Presbyterian Women -
The Spring Gathering will be at First Presbyterian Bethlehem on April 18, 2009
from 9:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M. All women are invited. The main speaker is Ann
Ferguson who comes to us from our G A H headquarters in Louisville, Ky.

Deacons -
As usual have done a great job with the Easter Flower orders.

Turning Point -
Remember to save those old cell phones and ink cartridges.

COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Communication -

No report.

Fellowship and Group Life -

No report.

Personnel -

Is searching for a person to fill a vacancy in the Elders Class of 2011.

Property -

No report.

Old Business -

No report.

New Business -

There was a request from the Youth Group of the Korean Church to use our
facility for a 36 hour vigil on the first weekend of May. It was a unanimous
decision not to approve this request.

The next meeting – May 21, 2009 at 7:00 P.M. .

Henry Distler closed in prayer at 8:20 P.M.

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

Session minutes archive