October 19, 2022
Consistory Meeting Minutes
Present: Annie, Cari, Shannon, Jim, Mike T., Mike C.
Excused: Sandy
Absent: Dave
Mike Terner led us in devotion over John’s Gospel, and Jesus washing the disciples’ feet; a call to us for servant leadership
Agenda approved for this evening
October 5 meeting minutes- we voted on them with a few typos corrected- Jim raises the question of whether WRC would want a full-time rather than part-time pastor. Several points came up regarding a discussion with the budget and FOC, etc. Minutes passed.
Committee reports in brief- property upgrades, Bob Carelli, friend of Mike Cooter and John from Houst- have done a lot with replacing the windows, improving the driveway and and parking lot, painting the food-pantry rooms, working on the concrete for the parsonage carriage house / garage. Roof is done, all in one day.
Annie said we raised $600+ from the yard sale, and she requests that the cleaning staff be paid extra for a one-time deep cleaning of the storage room off the fellowship room- there’s mold on the walls, etc., and it needs a scrub-down. We’ll confer with Hetty and Arturo on that. Cari will follow up.
Mike C. says there will soon be a bridge between the backyard property and the backyard of the parsonage. Curtains still need to be cleaned- Cari, Krista, Marlene, Shannon, Annie all pitching in with that.
Mike C. says we are still looking for a painter and he has done some of it already. Also there’s a ceiling project underway for the sanctuary- that relates to the sound and attic: it’s not insulated, so in the summer it gets too hot. Now we will be insulating it so that the summer time will be cooler in the sanctuary.
The roof cost was higher because they had to replace some plywood = $11,300. Mike Cooter brings up that we need the fellowship room cleaned now since the 12-step groups will be using it.
We need a system for replacing toilet paper and paper towels; we also need someone walking through and adjusting thermostats- Mike T. will follow up with property committee.
Mike Terner- addressing the high-value artwork items in the church: he called Emery & Webb, he says we are covered. The deductible is $2500. If we want to take extra measures. Mike T. will follow up and get the numbers on an additional rider.
Mike C. will follow up the Pike nativity in the Carriage House.
Josh Weber wants to help with a bunch of property projects but not yet be on the committee.
Consistory Prayers Open and Close-
Tues. Nov. 9 Annie open
Jim close
Mon. Dec. 6 Shannon open
Mike C. closes
Jan. 4 Sandy
Dave
Stewardship- follow up from before; Kristal Denisulk could design some WRC cards for us (Cari and Jim) to write thank-you notes. Only Carol and Sandy will see the actual amounts people give, as “Incomes Receivable” and “Treasurer/Bookkeeper.” Annie will follow up with Kristal.
Cari and Jim are following up on stewardship letter to draft this week and get out by end of October. Ideas to include: after 18 months, getting back to “new normal,” sense of openness and light, rainbow of promise, because of the gifts of people- the building is improving and a children’s program is emerging. It can inspire other people to give. Now is the time for us to rejuvenate our commitment. We’ve had so many “moments for giving.” You’re part of a new spirit of commitment. Tie it in to the kids, the youth, the next generation. Covid has been especially hard on them. Invest in the children. Alive and not dead. Our zoom worship connects us. Online giving is up!
Re: events for things at church- communicate when someone is needed or staff are expected. Opportunity for outreach- good for pastor to be there for part of it. Cari will follow up and try to coordinate with Annie. 2x year
Discussion re: unlocked doors- property committee can follow up on that.
Short-term and long-term solution needed: for things like snow removal, property supervision, etc. November/December Consistory meeting we discuss proposal for a part-time Property Maintenance Manager. 5-10 hours a week.
We went through the updates from Cari on the agenda.
First Friday of December we have an open house- chamber of commerce?
Dec. 3, Hetty and Krista might do music, and Annie and Jo will make hot cocoa, congregation makes cookies; Shannon will follow-up.
HCM retreat- try for Jan. 20 or the 27 instead of the 14th. Cari will ask.
Nov. 9 – see if Rev. Jen can zoom in with us and tell us about General Synod.
Consistory members: up for re-election, Annie, Mike T. / Sandy might be rotating off?
Possible people:
Barbara Schildhorn
Karen Jabs
Marlene Hass
Marie Raymond
Helen Chase*
Neil Ericksen*
Beth Champion*
Roy Kenyon
* Not yet a member
Annual Report Potluck after church – the final Sunday of Jan. (unless that’s the retreat)
The Mike’s will be there to help on 10-31 for the kids thing on the parsonage porch
For golden notebook event at WRC on 11/20-
Jeffrey Davis is an author, team culture consultant, educator, and CEO of Tracking Wonder Consultancy. For over 25 years, he's inspired thousands of change-makers, leaders, and creatives to unlock their best ideas through the pursuit of curiosity, innovation, and wonder. He writes for Psychology Today and other outlets on the intersections among creativity, work, and human flourishing. He has taught and spoken at numerous conferences, universities, and centres. He’s author of the books Tracking Wonder (Coming out with Sounds True in November, 2021), The Journey from the Center to the Page (Penguin; Monkfish Publishing) the poetry collections City Reservoir (BarnBurner Press) and Coat Thief (Saint Julian Press), and other books. Jeffrey believes in the power of wonder to transform lives, spark influence, and help human beings thrive creatively in times of rampant challenge and change. Ultimately, he challenges people not to give up on their ideals and dreams. He lives with his wife and two daughters in a farmhouse in the Hudson Valley of New York. To learn more, visit trackingwonder.com.