St. Andrew’s Vestry Meeting

May 9, 2007, 7 PM

Peabody Room

 

Present:  Jeanne Cassin, John Ferrillo, Marilyn Guest, Russ Harris, Dwight Harshbarger, Sue Hildreth, Linda Kaferle, Fr. Alan MacKillop, Marianne Welton, Jim Western

Absent:  Dick Dabrowski, Yvette Nasworthy

 

I.                   Opening Devotions and Prayer

II.                Motion Approved to Accept 4/18/07 Meeting Minutes as Presented

III.             Priest-in-Residence Report

A.     Susan Leeming announced through a letter to approximately 80 parishioners that she is leaving the church due to her on-going struggles with the Episcopal Church

1.      Fr. Alan and the members of the Vestry are sad to see her leave but hope this action will bring her peace

B.     Fr. Alan attended the annual clergy conference held on the Cape at the end of April

1.      The Most Rev. Katharine Jefferts Schori, our presiding bishop, and Bonnie Anderson, President of the House of Deputies, spoke

C.     New sanctuary lamp has been installed

D.    Fr. Alan along with many parishioners attended the U2 Eucharist on April 29th at St. Andrew’s Church in Framingham

1.      Powerful presentation of the UN’s millennium goals using Bono’s music

IV.              Mission

A.     Newly added agenda item to further our understanding of the role of the vestry through an on-going discussion of God’s mission for St. Andrew’s

1.      Fr. Alan hopes to investigate the possible implementation of many ideas identified at the diocesan convention held at the end of March

2.      Discussed the possibility of having a Spanish speaking priest from Salem, MA, lead a Spanish service at St. Andrews

a.      ACTION ITEM:  Fr. Alan will check with Eric S. from Young Life to see if he can help determine whether the demographics are such to warrant a Spanish service in this area

B.     Russ introduced the idea of having an energy audit done that would help the church economically as well as to help the environment as a whole

C.     The powerful film, Tender Mercies, to be shown next Tuesday

D.    Tri-parish Ascension Day Service being organized by Rev. Marsha Hoecker, rector of Trinity Parish in Shirley, to be held at St. Andrew’s

V.                 Wardens’ Report

A.     Russ distributed a packet of possible church sign designs prepared by Broadmeadow Sign Studio in Groton

1.      The consensus was to go with the red sign

2.      ACTION ITEM:  Russ will bring the designs of the additional signage (Parking & Parish Hall) as well as a complete quote for the church sign to the next vestry meeting

B.     Russ inquired (on John’s behalf since he came late to the meeting) about our desire to have John and friends perform a concert in the fall as a fundraiser for the church

1.      After some discussion, it was decided that September, 2008 would probably be the best time for it, should we decide to go ahead

2.      ACTION ITEM:  John will think about the possibility of doing a Jazz concert or a concert with some “lighter” classical music

VI.              Treasurer’s Report

A.     April is in the black

1.      Due to Easter and people catching up with their pledges

B.     Motion approved to accept the April Treasurer’s Report as presented

VII.           Old Business

A.     Access Ramp

1.      Motion approved to replace Manny Lindo with Jim Western as project manager

a.      Many thanks to Manny for carrying the project to this point and to Jim for accepting the challenge of bringing it to completion

2.      Proposed Contract Change

a.      ACTION ITEM:  Fr. Alan to ask contractor for a bid for “labor only” since we might be able to get discounted materials from Moore’s Lumber

i.                    ACTION ITEM:  Jim Western to check with Mary Medeiros and Moore’s regarding discounted materials

b.      Jim proposes using a Purchase Order rather than a contract

3.      Next Steps

a.      ACTION ITEM:  Fr. Alan to request Manny’s ramp plans from Kim Lindo

b.      ACTION ITEM:  Jim and contractor to meet with building inspector

c.        ACTION ITEM:  Jim to clarify whether the canopy above the door needs to be taken apart and how that will impact the bid

 

 

B.     Vestry Retreat

1.      To be held on June 16th from 9 AM to 4 PM

2.      ACTION ITEM:  Linda to choose the menu for lunch

a.      Vestry members responsible for the cost

3.      ACTION ITEM:  Fr. Alan to discuss a possible honorarium with Marsha Hoecker (who will be the facilitator)

C.     Rectory Rental

1.      Subcommittee met on Sunday to discuss the possibility of applying for Section 8 which would allow us to rent to lower income people and be assured of a monthly payment (approximately 70% of the rent) by the state

a.      John is not comfortable with making the rectory an outreach project; the church needs the income from its rental

b.      Section 8 could help do both

2.      Further discussion needed by the subcommittee of the possibility of splitting the house into two smaller units and replacing the steam furnace with two gas furnaces

D.    Insurance Review

1.      ACTION ITEM:  Linda to include a request in the X-Press for someone with insurance expertise to oversee the policy

VIII.        Commission Reports

A.     Christian Formation

1.      Nancy Barringer has requested more volunteers to teach Sunday School and is looking for someone to fill the paid nursery school position

B.     Communications

1.      Investigating advertisement costs in newspapers

2.      Investigating town-wide mailing costs

3.      Deciding on approximately five postcard mailings per year

C.     Outreach

1.      Outreach Fair to be held June 10th after the one 9 o’clock service

a.      ACTION ITEM:  Fr. Alan to check if there is a plan for food afterward

b.      All the charities we are supporting have been invited, as well as the Esperanza Academy in Lawrence that we are considering

D.    Pastoral Care

1.      John would like to see an additional LEMBE to help deliver the Eucharist to house-bound parishioners

2.      ACTION ITEM:  John will ask Judy Adams if she would like to be on the Pastoral Care Commission since she coordinates rides to church

 

 

E.     Stewardship

1.      Meeting scheduled on June 3rd to work on 15-month calendar for September fundraiser 

a.      ACTION ITEM:  John to put pictures of St. Andrew’s on a diskette for use by the calendar committee

IX.              New Business

A.     Tri-parish activities

1.      Ascension Thursday Service

2.      Canoe trip from Nashoba Peddlers on June 15th for youth and adults with pizza following at Trinity Chapel in Shirley

3.      Common Cathedral

a.      Making plans to provide food for homeless following church service on Boston Common one Sunday during the summer

4.      Planning U2 Eucharist in the fall in this area (venue TBD)

X.                 Next Meeting – Wednesday, June 13, 7 PM

XI.              Closing Prayer

XII.           Adjournment

 

Respectfully submitted,

Linda Kaferle