DEACONS MINISTRY TEAM MINUTES

October 21, 2010 Meeting

 

The meeting was opened with prayer by Mel Parish at 7:00 p.m.

 PRESENT: Moderator Rusty Smith, Austin Breck, Bea Connor, Pat Felhauer, David Medina, Mike Bartholomew, Mel Parish, Rosemary Maddox, Corina Armendariz, Ken Osborne, Janice Sherman, and Rev. Norm Story.

 EXCUSED: Marianne Maley, Paul Vaughan, and Theresa Armendariz

 ABSENT: Debbie Austin, Cindy Tafoya, Ralph Miller, and Sam Bartholomew

 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of the September 16th meeting contained two errors: The statement "The door opener for the bus garage has been installed." is incorrect. Regarding the hamburger fry, the sentence should read "...Pat and Larry will donate a sheet cake in honor of the 70th wedding anniversary of Larry's parents." The minutes were approved as corrected.

 PASTOR'S REMARKS: Rev. Story emphasized the importance of shepherds making contact with their sheep at least four times a year, stating that the shepherds' Number One Job is to love and nurture the people in the congregation.

 MODERATOR'S REMARKS: Rusty said the shepherds program is a great program, but he sees himself as a partner in walking with Christ rather than as a shepherd.

 CORRESPONDENCE: A thank-you letter was received from Casa de Peregrinos expressing appreciation for the recent check for $625.

 TREASURER'S REPORT: Janice said she was taken by surprise to find that the Deacons have carryover funds. The carryover was $3,907 through April 2008 and is $8,467.05 as of the end of September. The $3,000 that was authorized to be donated to the garage fund has not yet been used. It was suggested last month that the Deacons might want to increase some of their benevolences in view of the amount of the carryover funds.

 Austin mentioned the request for financial assistance from La Casita, to which the Deacons gave $200. Norm explained that the Mission Team will look into the request at their next meeting; Lloyd Kirschenman, who is on the Board of Christo Rey and who made the request, was not present at the last Missions meeting. However, the Missions Team agreed to donate 40% of the Peacemaking Offering to La Casita.

 Pat suggested increasing our donation to Community of Hope because we get frequent requests for the type of assistance that Community of Hope has in the past provided.

 Rev. Story reported that $500 of a $1,200 loan made to a member of the Spanish Congregation has been repaid. There was a discussion of making a discretionary fund available to Rev. Hawkins to assist members of his congregation in need in the future.

 Ken mentioned another request for assistance by a family, new to the church, which is in dire need of household items.

 IT WAS MOVED by Austin and SECONDED by Mel, THAT we leave the $1,200 in a discretionary fund for Rev. Hawkins; THAT we make a one-time donation to Casa de Peregrinos and to El Caldito Soup Kitchen of $500 each; and THAT we make $500 available to purchase household items for a family in need. THE MOTION CARRIED BY UNANIMOUS VOTE OF THOSE DEACONS PRESENT.

 COMMITTEE REPORTS:

Ushers  The sign-up sheets for November and December were passed.

Transportation:  Rusty said the run is taking quite a while because the bus is picking up more people.

Special Events:  See Hamburger Fry under Old Business.

Soup Kitchen:  Jacque Parks' team worked this month and all went well. The food donation to Casa de Peregrinos last week contained several types of single-serve food items which are useful in preparing special food packets for the homeless, and playground equipment which was delivered to the Gospel Rescue Mission.

Transient Meals:  All is going well.

Visitation:  No report.

Building & Grounds:  Rev. Story said the carpeting and other inprovements in the sanctuary are being delayed until after Christmas. Extensive changes are planned in the choir and pulpit area.

Congregational Life:  Over one hundred people attended the recent International Potluck Dinner. Trunk or Treat is coming up on the 31st, and plans are being made for Fellowship Hour and for Thanksgiving. A gentlemen has memorized the Gospel of John and will recite it at the church on February 13th. Ushers will be needed for the performance.

Christian Education:  David said the meetings are well attended and things are going smoothly.

Missions:  Rev. Story advised that the visit from Rev. Amy Robinson of Pasos de Fe, scheduled for October 31st, has been postponed to a later date.

Music and Worship: No report.

Administration:  The budget is in good shape, about $500 in the black.

 OLD BUSINESS:

Hamburger Fry October 24th:  Austin and Rusty will cook the hamburgers, and Pat will oversee activity in the kitchen. All available Deacons should be on hand by 9:00 a.m. to help set up tables and prepare the food. Cake mixes and frosting were handed out to people who will make cupcakes.

 CPR Training:  This project was considered earlier and was postponed until the end of summer vacation.  Rusty will follow up on it.

 NEW BUSINESS:

Boy Scout Casa de Peregrinos Project:  The Boy Scouts would like to put baskets in the entries for a "Toys for Tots" project. Concern was expressed that this would take away from the Christmas Basket Project which will entail Christmas trees being placed in the entry. Rev. Story suggested the possibility that people might be asked to bring toys for donation to the office.

 NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be November 18th.

 ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 p.m. by recitation of the Mizpah Benediction.

 Submitted by Rosemary Maddox

 NO ACTION ITEMS FOR SESSION

 ADDENDUM TO DEACONS MINISTRY TEAM MINUTES

 A short time after the above meeting was adjourned, Moderator Rusty Smith sent an email to fellow Deacons requesting that they  consider a motion similar to that made at our October 2009 meeting: "...that we plan to give Christmas baskets to 15 families this year."

           It was MOVED by Pat and SECONDED by Corina THAT we plan to give Christmas baskets to 15 families this year. THE MOTION CARRIED by unanimous vote of those Deacons responding.

 RM