Church Resource Team Meeting – January 4, 2010

This is an edited version of the minutes (confidential information has been removed).

9 MEMBERS IN ATTENDANCE

The meeting was called to order by Pastor Will and opened with prayer by Dan Waters.

The first order of business was the election of officers for the year 2010. Pastor Will called for nominations for president. Dan Waters nominated Lori Musson and Dick Spare seconded the motion. No other names were heard so a vote was taken. The vote was unanimous for electing Lori Musson as president.

As president, Lori Musson then called for nominations for Vice President. A motion was made and seconded to have Jean Spotts retain this office. A vote was taken and the motion was unanimously approved.

Likewise, nominations for Secretary were now opened. Jean Spotts suggested Merrill Umstead retain this position. The motion was seconded by Tina Etze and was unanimously approved by all attending members.

The Church Resource Team officers for the year 2010 are as follows:

President - Lori Musson
Vice President - Jean Spotts
Secretary – Merrill Umstead

A welcome to the new member of the team was given to Shawn Lilley who is replacing Galen Royer. Galen has retired following 42 years of service.

Minutes of the previous meeting were read and accepted. It was suggested that the minutes be sent to all members via email before the next meeting. This would serve as a reminder to all who have committed to something during the meeting. The idea was accepted by all and will be put into effect.

FINANCES:

The treasurer has not received year-end statements from the banks or from the institutions where we have money invested. No report could be made without these documents.

We still haven’t received a bill from the florist. The Pastor will check with Lorene.

Tina will check into transferring more money into the Jannotti pension fund since we are now into the New Year.

THE ECKER HOUSE:

There is nothing new to report.

THE PARSONAGE:

The tree work has been completed. The maple has been trimmed back and the oak has been removed.

The stand-alone dishwasher is still running, but when it does need replacing, considering cost, an under the counter one should be considered.

THE CHURCH BUILDING:

The snow blowers are working ok and Ray Kolb has been plowing both lots. Skip was asked to have The Lincoln Center move their van next to Thessalonica’s to make plowing a little easier.

Dan continues pursuing bids for installing the hot water heater in the annex. He is ready to accept the cheapest bid that has been received so far.

The non-working freezer has been removed from the basement kitchen and has been hauled away.

Lisa is trying to get a small group together to clean up the parlor.

Skip asked that once the food cabinets in the basement have been emptied, if they could be turned over to the various groups that utilize our building. One each to The Lincoln Center, Thesalonica and New Horizons. They could supply their own locks.

Skip suggested we find someone who would be willing to input all membership data into the new church office laptop computer, and than make all changes on an ongoing basis. Before this can be done though, all membership data will have to be verified. The information contained in the old computer is outdated, hasn’t been kept up and is probably 30% wrong, if not more.

The Pastor suggested that Jen Murray be asked if she would be interested in becoming involved with this process. Once all this data has been input than the Financial Secretary will have to build funds and assign envelope numbers so the financial data can be input for the year.

It was suggested that the task of inputting all membership data be completed by August 2010. Pastor Will made a commitment to accomplish this by April 1^st 2010.

THESALONICA:

Dan has given them permission to meet here on Monday nights for a prayer meeting. This will be for six months starting in January.

They have also been asked to use the nursery for the young ones instead of the parlor.

THE LINCOLN CENTER:

We are still looking for a signed lease. The Pastor will contact them.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Galen has turned over the key to our post office box. Skip volunteered to check it on a regular basis.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS:

Re-pointing of the Ecker house – revisit in the spring

The Jannotti pension fund

The parsonage furnace – continue to repair or replace

The parsonage appliances

The wet parsonage basement

Water seeping into a Lincoln Center classroom

Hot water for the annex bathrooms

Replacing the Sanctuary thermostat

Putting into service the new church office computer

Being no further business, the meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted
Merrill C Umstead

Church Council Minutes – 28 September 2009

In attendance: Galen Royer, Skip Umstead, Brad Musson, Lori Musson, Sissy Spare, Kendra Waters, Shawn Lilley, Su McDonald, Lisa Harner, Will Humes.

Pastor Will opened with prayer.

Church Resources
• Tree trimmed and one to be tested.
• Gifts and Bequests 1,004.51
• Memorial 6,152.89

Leadership Resources
• Meeting scheduled -Third Monday in October

Education
• New classes started
• New curriculum being used and going over well
• Bibles to: Jackie McCalicher, Carson Hewitt, Noah Etze, Elena Richter
• Other students – invites to October 11th, Teacher dedication, – See Donna

Missions
• water filters – 268.00
• Mission ideas for November – Harvest Home/Cluster/Food bank

Bookstore:
• Maybe more bag of books sales to clear inventory

New Business
• Dishwater not working,
• Left Oven – Pilot won’t stay lit.
• Skip called about repairs and will meet with them Wednesday morning.
• Jean needs some more help for the dinner,
• Donna is doing centerpieces for the table.
• New Silverware will be purchased by Jean and Dot before the dinner.
• More discussion on kitchen use by Lincoln Center and Thessalonica
• Thanksgiving Dinner at Church – Giving Thanks – Recipes for Thanksgiving, One idea for thanks, 4:30 pm
• Bring-A-Friend – Christmas Cantata
• Hanging of the Greens – Advent 1 – November 29th

Pastor’s Report
• 10:15 am Worship – First Sunday in November
• Family Night Film – October 16th
• Reel Faith – November 20th
• Sunday Night Bible Study to resume – The Shack
• Charge Conference – Saturday, November 21st
• 12:00 p.m. S.P.R.C. Meeting
• 12:30 p.m. Charge Conference

Church Leadership for 2009

First United Methodist Church Leaders– 2009

———-

Church Council

The Church Council conducts business for the church throughout the year.  Its purpose is to oversee the administration, programs and ministries of the church, while continually keeping the church’s focus on its values, vision and mission.  The planning, implementation and evaluation of church ministries is also comprise a large portion of its workload.  It meets monthly and is composed of the following Leadership positions and Members-at-Large:

Church Council Chairperson……Lisa Harner
Church Resources Team Chairperson……Galen Royer
Personnel Resources Team Chairperson……Lori Musson
Lay Leader……Dan Waters
Pastor……Will Humes
Financial Secretary……Skip Umstead
Church Treasurer……Tina Etze
Secretary to Church Council……Faye Lachman
United Methodist Women Representative……Kendra Waters
United Methodist Men Representative……Bruce Loud

Member-at-Large……Alice Seidts
Member-at-Large……Lorene Meredith
Member-at-Large……Stacy Davidheiser
Member-at-Large……Barb Evans
Member-at-Large……Sue Simcox (Tentative)
Member-at-Large……Donna Ecker
Member-at-Large……Shawn Lilly
Member-at-Large……Brad Musson
Member-at-Large……Sissy Spare
Member-at-Large……Barb Pennock
Member-at-Large……Sandy Swann

———-

Personnel Resources Team

The Personnel Resource Team works with the pastor and staff to provide for effective leadership in the church.  It provides an annual evaluation of the church’s and staff’s ministries, consults on matters pertaining to salary and other professional concerns, and it also recruits and nominates individuals for leadership positions to the Church  Conference.  This team meets bimonthly.

Class of 2009
Jim Pennock
Sandy Lenhardt

Class of 2010
Gene Swann
Lori Musson

Class of 2011
Bob Sands
Donna Ecker

Lay Leader: Dan Waters   

———-

Church Resources Team

The Church Resources Team (Board of Trustees and Finance Committee)  has supervision, oversight and care of all property owned by the local church.  The Team also receives and administers any bequests made to the local church, and are charged with oversight and evaluation of the Church-owned parsonage. As a Finance Committee, the Team also oversees the financial health of the church, including administration of stewardship programs.  The Team  meets monthly.

Class of 2009
Jerry Murray
Jim Slider
Tina Etze (Treasurer)

Class of 2010
Aram Ecker
Jean Spotts
Lori Musson

Class of 2011
Dick Spare
Merrill C. Umstead (Finance)
Galen Royer (Chair)

Lay Leader: Dan Waters

———-

Other Church Officials for 2009

Facility Coordinator……Randy Blackwell
Cluster of Religious Communities Representative……Bruce Loud
Volunteer Home Care Representative……Barb Evans
Habitat for Humanity Representatives……Sandy and Gene Swann
Missions Coordinator……Sandy Swann
Christian Education Coordinator……Shawn Lilley
Nursery, Greeter and Worship Reader Coordinator……Donna Ecker
Director of Music and Organist……Meredith Sands
Head Usher……Skip Umstead
Assistant Head Usher……Kenneth Landis
Communion……Alice Seidts
Membership……Lorene Meredith

———-

Tentative Meeting Dates for 2009   

Church Council:
Monthly – The Second Monday(or Tuesday) of the Month (plus Charge Conference)

Church Resources:
Monthly – The First Monday of the Month (plus Charge Conference)

Personnel Resources:
Bimonthly – The Third Monday of the following months: January, March, May, July, September, and November (plus Charge Conference)

Technorati Tags: Church Leadership,2009,Church Resources Team,Board of Trustees,Meeting Dates,First United Methodist Church of Pottstown PA,Leadership Resources Team,Church Council

Lay Leader’s Report to Charge Conference 2008

Another year has passed and we’re still here!  Inspired spiritual and managerial leadership have conspired to keep First United Methodist Church as a "God led" and visible congregation in a not so desirable part of town.  In the past year we have struggled but maintained our existing ministries and spiritual partnerships.  Community meals, modern worship, the Lincoln Center, Thessalonica, numerous cell ministries like the choir and the work crew, bible study, Reel Faith; all these things and more contribute to the positive spiritual life of First United Methodist Church.  The bills are paid for the moment.  This is the good news!

The "not so good" news is that attendance continues to decline.  Giving continues to decline while debt grows larger, a fact compounded by the poor economic state of our community, our country and our world.  New members are hard to find and keep.  The list of current members who are becoming increasingly more inactive grows.  People seem to find the church when they need the church but not when the church needs them.  Leadership, although caring and supportive, is having a difficult time remaining creative and optimistic especially when dealing with the constant pressures and problems listed above.  Several leaders, including myself, wonder if and when the ministry of First United Methodist Church will end?  We are not to the point of closure yet but that concern grows as each year passes.

How many times have we heard that life isn’t easy?  How many gifts in our lives, both spiritual and material, have been more appreciated after a struggle to attain them?  I think God wants it to be difficult for us.  I think that we do appreciate these "hard won" spiritual gifts more than we want to profess we do.  We’ve all heard the expression that God doesn’t necessarily give us what we want, he gives us what we need.  The gifts I’ve been given, my church family and friends, the joy found in just trying to do God’s will (often not succeeding), God’s presence in my life; these things and more could not have been possible without my covenant with God, my covenant with First United Methodist Church and my covenant with my church family.  I ask that all current church members remember the covenant (the "two way" promise) that they too made when they joined this family, seeking God’s care in exchange for their support.  I ask that all church members respond accordingly.  It is never too late.  You are never too young or too old.  Contrary to what you may believe, God has given to you the gifts that your church desperately needs.  Pray, attend, give, teach, be a friend, visit, keep a positive attitude, fix, sing, learn, clean; these are both literal and figurative gifts you have been given and gifts that your church needs now more than ever!

I pray that this day finds you well and I look forward to future time together.

Your servant in Christ,

Dan Waters
Lay Leader
First United Methodist Church

Technorati Tags: Lay Leader’s Report,Charge conference,2008,First United Methodist Church of Pottstown PA

State of the Church – Pastor’s Report 2008 Charge Conference

Annual Report of the Pastor

The report of the pastor shall include the names of all persons involved in the changes in membership and other items as outlined in the 2004 Book of Discipline (¶233, 334).  This report should cover as fully as possible the work of the pastor.  Care should be taken not to duplicate the reports of the Church Council or Council on Ministries, committees, organizations, and officers of the charge.

Church:  First United Methodist Church
Charge:  Same
District:  Central   
Annual Conference:  Eastern PA
For the period beginning October 14, 2007  and ending November 15 , 2008

I.    BAPTISM

    1.    Number of infants baptized since last report?    3
    2.    All others:    Children, youth, and adults?           1

II.    MEMBERSHIP

    3.    a.    Who has been received into preparatory membership since the last report?  5
            Sophie Alice Hopko – September 14, 2008
            Leah Elizabeth Blackwell – September 14, 2008
            John Rogers, Jr. – January 1, 2008
            Ryan Lee Lenker – September 21, 2008
            Trent Lee Lenker  – September 21, 2008
        b.    Who has been removed to full membership, to the constituency role, and otherwise?
            N/A

    4.    Who has been received into full membership since the last report?  (Record as a supplement.)
        a.    On confession of faith or restored?
        b..    From other United Methodist churches?
            Jon Hopko – January 1, 2008   
            Shelly Hopko – January 1, 2008
            John Rogers – January 1, 2008
            Stacy Rogers – January 1, 2008
        c.    From other denominations?

    5.    Who has been removed since the last report? 
        a.    By action of the Charge Conference, or trial court, or by withdrawal?
        b.    By transfer to other United Methodist churches? 1
            Robert Burns – May 1, 2008
        c.    By transfer to other denominations?   6
            Douglas A. Schaeffer – May 1, 2008
            Betty Schaeffer – May 1, 2008
            Brian C. Schaffer – May 1, 2008
            Robert Albright – May 1, 2008
            Joan (Burns) Shallenberger – May 1, 2008
            Margaret Heil – November 1, 2008

        d.    By death?  6
            Norman Lepperd    October 25, 2007
            Janet Wisser    October 31, 2007
            Anna Merkel    December 25, 2007
            Margaret Scheffey    March 24, 2008
            Irwin Pike    June 16, 2008
            Charlotte Miller    September 12, 2008

——————–

Reflection on the State of First UMC

It seems as though this has become an annual refrain, but First UMC finds itself in a time of transition and change.  We continue to suffer declining attendance and giving, though this seems to have leveled off this year.  Our financial reserves, however, have reached the point where we cannot sustain a budget that is greater than our annual income.  This will necessitate some changes for our congregation in the year ahead, as well as in the years to come.

There are only two ways to substantially reduce the budget of our church: by relocating to a less expensive to maintain building or to reduce the monies spent for pastoral support.  The rest of our budget is bare bones and cannot be cut further, and currently we cannot fully fund our connectional ministries at the levels asked for given our financial situation.  Over the next few months, we will seek to address these issues in our church  meetings and in consultation with our District Superintendent, in order to determine the path we should follow toward our future.

I continue to be proud of the spiritual growth I have seen in our membership, and an increased willingness to face the problems we face in an open and non-conflicted manner. Our Tuesday morning Bible studies and Reel Faith gatherings are well-attended and a source of mutual learning for all involved.  Merry Sands continues to resource our vital church music ministry, and our Chancel Choir and Alleluia Ringers add much to our worship services and provide an excellent source of fellowship for those who participate in them. And though we lost our Worship Band (except for our excellent drummer Rob Sands) to Temple UMC when Jim Jannotti became that church’s pastor, we continue to hold a small but important modern worship service attended by approximately 15 people weekly and supplemented by contemporary music videos. 

This past year we held yet another successful VBS program off-site and at the home of Aram and Donna Ecker.  Over 30 kids participated some evenings, and almost as many youth and children helped to make the program a success.  Other highlights of the year included our Annual Church Picnic, a Church Yard Sale and luncheon that raised over a thousand dollars for our church’s ministry (as well as provided another great fellowship activity for church members), and, of course, our worship services which provide the foundation for all our work here at First Church.  Whether it is Sunday morning worship or special services like Maundy Thursday or Good Friday or Christmas Eve, worship at First Church is vital and inspiring.  In this regard , I  have also developed and publish weekly a devotional guide for members of our church to use during the week for their edification and to prepare for the next worship time together.

In the upcoming months we will be:

•    publishing an updated church directory (January 2009)
•    consolidating our Servant Leadership and Ministry PIE Teams into a single Church Council to meet monthly
•    holding our second “Bring a Friend Sunday” this year on December 14th, with a service focus on the music ministry of our church and a luncheon to follow.  We will also be holding another “Bring A Friend” Sunday during Lent 2009
•    instituting a series of prayer gatherings during the Lenten season of 2009
•    developing a membership contact ministry for our congregation utilizing the leadership of our church to periodically reach out to members of the church with a phone call, a card, and/or a visit
•    seeking any additional opportunities to raise money for our church above and beyond the funds we receive from Thessalonica and the Lincoln Center.
•    prayerfully discerning where God may be calling us to go as a congregation given the realities that we face, while also trusting that God is faithful and will provide a way for us to be the church he has called us to be.

Technorati Tags: State of the Church Report,Annual Pastor’s Report,2008,First United Methodist Church of Pottstown PA

Vacation Bible School

Surfin’ Thru the Scriptures
Join us for wet and wild bible adventures Monday, July 7 – Friday, July 11, 6:00-8:00PM at the Ecker residence. Crafts, snacks, action packed bible stories and more!  Preregistration forms are available for  Grades K-6

Please plan to get involved … Volunteers and supplies needed.  Details and list for needed supplies will be posted next week. See Donna Ecker or Shawn Lilley for more information.  Thank you

This article was written in springnote.

A Powerful Reflection – a Sermon for Pentecost and Memorial Day

Jim Standiford shares a good sermon on the inter-relationship between Pentecost and Memorial Day in a sermon that can be found here.

Some of the highlights of his message include:

Today we celebrate an odd coupling, the coupling of Memorial Day and Pentecost. It is a time that causes us to reflect, to reflect on ourselves. Our national calendar is full of days of reflection and remembrance. The Fourth of July, Labor Day, Thanksgiving, and Memorial Day are but a few of those. On this Memorial weekend we reflect. We reflect back on those who have served this country and given of their lives. We remember with gratitude their families and the sacrifices they have made. We remember those who have gone before us who have served, and who have returned to be part of our country and to be strong citizens. We think of those serving presently around the world on our behalf. For all of these people we give thanks. We are grateful for their sacrifice. We are moved by their commitment. On this weekend we remember them and we remember their answer to the call of their country. We dedicate ourselves again to liberty, not just for ourselves, but for all people. This is Memorial weekend. It is a time to reflect and be grateful.

This is also Pentecost, the birthday of the Church. This is the day in which the Holy Spirit was given to the disciples as they were gathered in Jerusalem. It is a day in which we celebrate a part of our religious tradition, a part that also causes us to reflect. The disciples were gathered in Jerusalem not to celebrate Pentecost, as you and I know it, but to celebrate the Jewish Pentecost. The Jewish Pentecost was a joyous celebration. It was a celebration of the ending of the wheat harvest in the late springtime. It was a time when the people got together and reflected on how good God had been to them through the abundance of the earth, and they gave thanks.

Later on in the history of the Jewish people, they added another note to Pentecost. The other note was that they celebrated the gift of the law. Speak about an odd couple, wheat harvest and law being celebrated in one day? But that’s the way our fore parents saw things. They saw both the wheat harvest and the law as nurturing, as giving life, so they gave thanks to God for both of those things together.

In the passage we have from the Gospel of John today, Jesus is preparing his disciples for what will come. It’s his last talk with them. As a part of that last talk he is evidently talking about the nature of God. Philip, one of the disciples, says, “Lord, show us the Father.” It looks as though Jesus got a little perturbed with Philip. He is incredulous. “What do you mean, ‘Show us the Father.’? How long have you been with me? How many times have you seen people healed, people fed, lepers cleansed, the homeless housed, those who were lonely befriended? How many times have you seen the love of God working in our midst? How can you say, ‘Show us the Father.’” What Jesus is saying to Philip and the other disciples is to reflect on what we’ve been doing, reflect on our ministry. Look at it. See what it has caused in the lives of people.

As Jesus prepares his disciples for the time when he won’t be there, he calls them to reflect, to look back and understand their own activities and their own ministry. Then he says, “When I leave God will send the Holy Spirit, and the Spirit will be with you, and the Spirit will teach you everything. One of the things the Spirit will teach is how to reflect. The Spirit will remind you of everything I have taught you.” The Spirit is the one who leads us when we are called to reflection.

Again, to read more, please click here.

Reflections on the Lectionary: John 13:31-35

As soon as [Judas] had left, Jesus said, “Now the Son of Man is glorified, and God is glorified in him. And if God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself and will glorify him at once.”

“Little children, I am with for but a little while longer. You will seek for me, but, as I said to the Jews, so I say to you now, ‘Where I go, you cannot come.’”

“A new commandment I give to you: Love one another. Just as I have loved you, so you should also love one another. By this all will know that you are my disciples, if you have love toward one another.”  (My paraphrase – to read my other paraphrases of scripture, please go to Word and Table)

- – - – - – - – - -

Context, if not everything, is extremely important.  Take this passage from John.  It is part of Jesus’  last discourses with his disciples before his betrayal, arrest, and crucifixion.  As such, these words have some commonality with the words that a dying person might speak to their loved ones who have gathered at the deathbed, hoping to receive some final words of instruction or wisdom. 

We also need to bear in mind the events that have transpired just before Jesus gives his new commandment.  Two things stand out.  One, Jesus has just humbled himself to wash the disciples’ feet.  When he finished this task, over the initial rejection of Peter, Jesus says, “You call me Teacher and Lord, and you are right, for so I am. If I then, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also ought to wash one another’s feet. For I have given you an example, that you also should do just as I have done to you. Truly, truly, I say to you, a servant is not greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them.
(John 13:13-17 ESV)”

The other important event that immediately precedes Jesus’ giving of a new commandment is Judas leaving the fellowship of the the disciples in order to betray Jesus.  It is Judas’ leaving that prompts the gospel writer to say, “And it was night.”

So it is after Jesus has given an concrete example of servant ministry and after Judas has left to carry out his work that Jesus gives his disciples a new mandate: to love one another as he has loved them.  Of course, in a few hours he will once again demonstrate his love for them.  When he is arrested in chapter 18, Jesus will offer to peacefully go with those who arrest him in exchange for them letting his disciples go free.  This is in addition, of course, to his subsequent sacrificial death for all.  “When I am lifted up, I will draw all people to myself.”

Unlike many teachers and leaders in the history of humanity, Jesus teaches and leads by example.  He never asks his followers to do anything that he himself would not and does not do.  When he tells us to love each other as he has loved us, we know exactly what such love entails.

Technorati tags: John 13:31-35, Easter 5C, Jesus’ teaching, love, lectionary, daily devotion, example, servanthood

Devotion for Sunday, April 15, 2007

Sunday, 4/15/2007 “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!” ELW 373 and LBW 130 As a trumpet player, I can’t help but involuntarily shudder as I come across probably our best-known Easter hymn. Half asleep with bleary eyes, I would stumble in the dark to the balcony of our home church for countless sunrise services. There, we’d greet Easter morning with the bright sounds of my trumpet accompanying the church organ as the opening worship song. I can’t help but think of the disciples on that first Easter morning. Half asleep with bleary eyes and weary hearts, they were not greeted with lively music or shouts of “Alleluia! He is risen!” No, I suspect the morning on which they found that empty tomb was a quiet one – a silence that belied the truth of the amazing miracle of our risen Lord. And yet every voice and every horn in heaven was sounding! Risen Lord, even in the quiet and dark times of our lives, may we hear the bright sounds of your resurrection. Amen. Dan Dornfeld Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Bismarck, N.D. Master of Divinity , 2006 “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today!” ELW 373 and LBW 130 1 Christ the Lord is ris’n today! All on earth with angels say; Raise your joys and triumphs high; Sing, O heav’ns; and earth, reply. 2 Love’s redeeming work is done, Fought the fight, the battle won. Lo! The sun’s eclipse is o’er. Lo! He sets in blood no more. 3 Vain the stone, the watch, the seal; Christ has burst the gates of hell. Death in vain forbids his rise; Christ has opened paradise. 4 Lives again our glorious king! Where, O death, is now your sting? Once he died our souls to save; Where your victory, O grave? 5 Hail the Lord of earth and heav’n! Praise to thee by both be giv’n. Thee we greet triumphant now: hail, the resurrection, thou! 6 King of glory, soul of bliss, Everlasting life is this: Thee to know, thy pow’r to prove, Thus to sing, and thus to love! return to devotion

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