St. Andrew’s Vestry Meeting

September 14, 2008, 12 p.m.

PRESENT: Marianne Welton, Mark Louttit, Dick Dabrowski, Don Ulsch, Yvette Nasworthy, Sue Hildreth, Fr. Alan MacKillop, Mary Medeiros

ABSENT: Linda Kaferle, Jeanne Cassin

Meeting opened with prayer

The Priest-in-Residence reported that Bishop Arthur Walmsley will take services on September 21^st and Phil Welton will lead worship on September 28^th while Fr. Alan is on vacation. Suggested we consider more lay-led services on Sundays when he is away as a cost-cutting measure. Noted that the Worship Commission does not exist any more, with the Priest-in-Residence and Minister of Music now working together planning services. Prayers were asked for Fr. Bill Gannon, who has at times taken services at St. Andrew’s but is presently ill with Lyme Disease and Shingles.

The Emerging Church, a course addressing how to attract and speak to the generation of people who are presently unchurched, will begin on the first Tuesday in October, led by Fr. Alan and Phil Welton. They will begin with the book, “Transforming Congregational Culture” by Anthony Robinson, recommended by the bishop

The Rev. Katherine Black is organizing a diocesan effort to support a health clinic in New Orleans and has invited church members to meet with her on October 15^th in Boston as an ongoing work to assist those devastated by hurricane Katrina; Outreach and other committed parishioners will be involved.

Last week’s congregational meeting to look at the state of St. Andrew’s Church went well. It was not long and several people asked questions and expressed concerns. A brief review will be printed in the October X-Press. There has been good church attendance all summer, however, there are more shut-ins needing attention now.

The Senior Warden reported on the contract with the Korean Church, which began March 1^st for a term of 6 months at no cost to them. After September 1^st, they will be asked to contribute an amount still to be negotiated, after we estimate what it costs us to have them use the church. It was suggested that a letter be sent, asking the leadership to sit down with us to talk about this. Also, it would be a good idea to have the two congregations get together socially and perhaps ask them to participate in the Fair.

It was decided to obtain an estimate of how much it would cost to repair the cracked stained glass window in the chancel. It cost $2,500 new ten years ago.

The Vestry will begin donating to a purse for Michael Smith, our former Minister of Music, which will be added to by parishioners. Dick and Carolyn will plan a Sunday morning reception for him when this has been done and he is able to return to participate at the 10 a.m. eucharist.

It was agreed unanimously to ask Al Colburn to take $4,250 out of our investments to pay $2350 towards our third quarter Outreach commitments and $1900 towards three months of our 2005-2006 diocesan assessment. (After researching this, it was determined that the $2350 for Outreach commitments is a duplication of an approved money request voted at the 7/15/08 meeting which never got withdrawn from Investments)

A verbal report was given by Yvette Nasworthy (Christian Formation).

OTHER ITEMS:

Carolyn Smith will chair the Harvest Fair, which may be somewhat different than previous Fairs but with the same spirit. The date has not yet been decided.

The Stewardship Committee is planning a dinner for the church family on Friday evening, Oct. 24^th to launch the stewardship drive.

Sue Hildreth mentioned that elderly parishioners are unable to hear announcements made by people other than Fr. Alan after church, and they should probably use a microphone. Most announcements are printed in the bulletin, so there do not need to be many announced after church.

The Blood Drive to be held on Tuesday, October 14^th, will be held in the Ayer Town Hall as our parish hall was deemed to small, but volunteers from St. Andrew’s are still essential.

Erica MacKillop, clerk pro tem