Session
August 21, 2008 meeting

The Session met on August 21, 2008 with eleven members present, The Rev. Dr. Charles Colson and Commissioned Lay Pastor, Henry Distler. With a quorum present the meeting was called to order by Henry at 7:00 P.M. He opened with prayer and devotions reading from Matthew 16: 13- 20 emphasizing the importance of confidentiality.

CLERK'S REPORT:

Tomorrow, Friday August 22, 2008 we are hosting the Jeremiah Initiative Meeting.

Our church has been chosen to be the shelter for The Growing Tree Day Care Center’s Emergency Operations Plan.

Ann Bodish has transferred her membership to Hope Lutheran Church in Cherryville.

Thank you letters were sent to Laurico and Leidy’s Inc. for their generous donations to our Blue Grass/ Pork Barbeque event.

Presbytery would like us to support our Missionaries in the field by joining The Mission Challenge for ’08 which suggest $1 per day for a total of $365.00 for the year.

General Assembly has requested each Presbytery to vote on the proposed amendment to the Permanent Judicial Committees request to change the number of members from 7 to 9, Our Presbytery will vote in September.

A letter was received from Presbytery informing us that we will be hosting the Stated Meeting on April 28, 2009.

There will be a meeting (Ms. Discernment Meets Mr. Roberts) at the Best Western Country Cupboard on October 17 – 18, 2008 in Lewisburg, Pa. The cost is $25.

Presbytery invites officers and members to pray for the following:
Elder Albert Der Movsesian
Rev. Dianne Kareha and her granddaughter Savannah
Gradye Parsons, Stated Clerk of PCUSA
Rev. Steve Gordy

Lehigh County Council of churches sent an invitation for our congregation to join with them in “Weigh In Against Hunger Program.” Indirectly we are already involved because we send our Harvest Home donations to the Coplay and Whitehall Food Banks.

PASTOR'S REPORT:

Henry notified Session of the following concerns:

• Keep those evaluations coming
• $500 was donated to the Allentown Rescue Mission.
• The Elder Gathering is scheduled for October 19, 2008 at Faith Emmaus.
• REMINDER time change from 9:30 to 10 A.M. on Sunday, September 14, 2008.
• Henry mentioned that if you or anyone you know would be willing to serve on a
  Presbytery Committee to contact him as soon as possible.
• The next Session Meeting is September 18, 2008.

CORRESPONDENCE:

MINUTES of June 18, and Special Meetings of June 22 & 29, 2008 were received as
presented.

FINANCIAL REPORT for June and July 2008 were received and reviewed. Reports were filed for Audit.

MINISTRY REPORTS

Music & Worship -

REMINDER OF TIME CHANGE – September 14 Morning Worship will begin at 10 AM.
September 21 will be an outdoor worship service.

Youth Group -

Thanks to Sandy & Carl Moran, Kevin and Julie Berk for taking the youth group on a field trip this summer...

New Members Class -

Will begin in September. Contact Henry if you know of someone wishing to join our church family.

Presbyterian Women -

Barbara R. Quigg gave a verbal report on her trip to the Synod PW Gathering at Waynesburg College in June ...

On October 18, 2008 the PW of Lehigh Presbytery will travel to Westminster Village for their Fall Gathering. The speaker will be Pam Bowman. All Presbyterian women are invited to attend. Ladies this is your chance to join with fellow sisters of the faith for a day away from household responsibilities so that you may share a bag lunch, and enjoy fellowship, friendship and end the day in worship. COME ONE! COME ALL!

The summer of 2009 is just around the corner and plans are already being made for Churchwide PW Gathering in Louisville. The invitation is open for anyone interested in attending.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Communication -

Session voted to have all the pictures of previous pastor’s removed from the hallway and transferred to the Pastor’s Office to make way for a current event bulletin board.

Please note sign-up sheets are placed in the vestibule for those who are willing to sit in the nursery during worship and for those who are willing to read scripture during worship.

Committee Chairs and Officers were requested to supply Tammy with current information needed to update the Web-Site.

Fellowship/Group Life -

There is a possibility we will have a Basket Bingo in the spring of 2009.

Personnel -

Staff performance reviews were completed Salary reviews will be scheduled prior to year end.

Nominating -

It’s that time of year again when you might be contacted to serve on one of the boards. Please, if at all possible and you feel qualified, say yes, don’t be so quick to say no to God’s call....

Property -

Get ready for Fall House Cleaning. A group of volunteers will evaluate what items are being used and set aside for folks to come and examine them before being discarded.

There was a gas leak in front of the church on August 21st that was repaired promptly.

The Christian Education wing roof is in dire need of repair. The cost of repairs was quoted at $11,000 plus.

The phone system was out of order for a few days. AT&T quoted $215.55 for their replacement.

The exterior needs paint and caulking.

A surge protector will be purchased.

The garage is falling off its foundation and Heffner Contracting will be contracted to check it out.

A clean up day needs to be scheduled for ground maintenance.

Carpets in the Christian Education wing are scheduled to be cleaned.

Pastoral Nominating Committee -

PNC is hard at work reviewing DVD’s and PIF’s as well as phone interviews. This is not an easy task trying to stay within our salary limitations and longevity of the candidate’s commitment.

Safety Committee -

A new committee appointed by session to prepare guidelines for the safety of our children.

Old Business -

Sue needs to hear from anyone who will be hosting meetings, when and time slots so she can set the thermostats for winter.

New Business -

The Rev. Dr. Charles Colson will be retiring in September. Session expressed their thanks and extended him well wishes.

The next meeting – September 18, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. .
Rev. Colson closed in prayer.

Barbara R. Quigg
Clerk of Session

Session minutes archive