Session
September 18, 2008 meeting

The Session met on September 18, 2008 with nine members present, Lay Pastor, Henry Distler. With a quorum present the meeting was called to order by Henry at 7:10 P.M. reading from Matthew 18:21-22 a passage on forgiveness and continued with Standards of Ethical Conduct for Ordained Officers in the Presbyterian church followed with prayer.

CLERK'S REPORT:

The Girl Scout Troop Agreement was signed and returned.

Prayers are needed for Ed Gehres and his wife Evelyn. Ed underwent brain
surgery and he is the past General Presbyter of the Philadelphia Presbytery.

Permission was granted to a group of Presbytery members to use our church on
September 30th for a book study.

Permission was granted to the Girl Scout Troop to have a sleep over on October
17th.

CORRESPONDENCE:

Letters were received from the 218th G.A. Meeting from Rev. Gradye Parsisms, Stated Clerk, Rev. Bruce Reyes-Chow, Moderator; Rev. Byron Wade, Vice Moderator; and Rev. Steve Schusett, Teaching Presbyter of Lehigh Presbytery.

Flyer advertising a travel trip to Ethiopia November 5-15, 2008.

Thank you from Rev. Steve Schusett and Robing Mathias for hosting a Jeremiah Initiative Meeting.

Flyer from Rutgers’s University advertising a conference on “The Heart of the Church’s Missional character led by Dr. George R. Hunsberger.

Letter from Brainerd listing upcoming events with flyers attached.

Flyer from the church on the Mall advertising a regional gathering of Evangelical Presbyterians featuring Mr. Chris Haw.

An invitation to participate in the CROP WALK October 12th.

Letter from Church Financial Services regarding how to conduct a financial campaign.

October 10—12 is a retreat at Kirkridge “Courage to Lead” at a cost of $400.

PASTOR'S REPORT:

Henry notified Session of the following concerns:

• Date, time, mileage from August 21- September 17, 2008
• Pastors’ met on September 9th and 16th.
• October 19th is the Elder Gathering at Emmaus Presbyterian Church
• Mission Project for the fall is a Harvest Home collection of non-perishable items.
• Peacemaking brochures will be distributed on September 28th and the envelopes on October 5th.

Worship Services:

Sept. 21
Outdoor Worship Service, Sunday School Promotion, Children’s Chat and distribution of Bibles. Deacon Sunday

Oct. 5
Worldwide Communion - Rev. McElroy, Children’s Chat and the tiny tots will sing.

Henry met with Christian Education Committee on August 27, 2008.

Oct. 5 and 12th Henry will be on study leave attending Princeton Seminary to complete his Pastor’s Training requirements.

The next session meeting is October 16, 2008 and the Rev. Keith Brown will be the guest speaker.

MINUTES of a Special Meeting August 7th, and regular minutes of August 27th
were received as presented with one or two minor corrections.

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

MINISTRY REPORTS

Music & Worship -

Choir is planning a Basket Bingo for May 8, 2009.

Christian Ed -

Permission was granted for the Turning Point Walk in Lehigh Parkway on Oct. 4th and for a visit to Strawberry Acres on October 26th after Sunday School.
September 14 was the start of the Sunday School year and 5 of our confirmands returned to a Sunday School Class, there were full classes and we received one new member.

New Members Class -

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

Presbyterian Women -

On October 18, 2008 the P.W. 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 P.W. Gathering in Louisville. The invitation is open for anyone interested in attending.

Deacons -

Will be meeting with Session in November.

Turning Point -

The project of collecting Cell Phones and ink cartridges is an ongoing project.

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Communication -

The pictures of previous Pastors will be relocated in the Pastor’s Office and the one bulletin Board will take their place while we will be purchasing an enclosed bulletin board for current events and important church news. The worship times for our winter schedule have been changed in the newspapers.

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 -

If you receive a call from the committee to fill an expired term of office pray about it before you say no.

Property -

September 20th is interior clean up day. A surge protector will be purchased.
The repairs on the garage will be done by Mark Scherer and Howard Hartman.
The carpets in the Christian Ed wing will be cleaned prior to Thanksgiving
The sound system and camera for the chapel are in good working order.
A lengthy discussion took place concerning the outer appearance of our grounds and building. The committee will research and determine how to proceed according to priorities. They will meet September 25th.

Pastoral Nominating Committee -

This is an ongoing slow process of reviewing DVD’s, making telephone & E-Mail contacts to find by the time we are ready to set up personal interviews they have accepted another call. Keep praying that we find the right match.

Safety Committee -

This committee is assigned to draw up policies and procedures to use as a protection for our children. Criminal checks are being made for all those people who are in direct contact with children. Check In and Out forms are in use for those who bring and pick up children at Sunday School. Insurance coverage is being verified for those drivers who transport children on day trips.

Nursery School -

A committee will meet with the Nursery School Director.

Old Business -

The Rev. Charles Colson of Faith Emmaus has served as Moderator of our Session and is retiring. The Session voted to give him a monetary gift of $1,000 in honor of his retirement.

The next meeting – October 16, 2008 at 7:00 P.M. .
Henry Distler closed in prayer.

Barbara R. Quigg
Clerk of Session

Session minutes archive