Church Council Meeting

November 11, 2008

Report: Pastor John W. Soyster

Updated November 11, 2008 – 8:00 a.m.

 

I.  Activity For October 2008

 

A.  Visitation

Shut-in Communion visits: 7 (56)

Member/visitor home visits: 5 (39)

Hospital/convalescent home/jail visits: 11 (68)

Telecare calls: 5

 

B.  Meetings

Mount Cross: Church Council, Church staff, Stewardship Committee, Stephen Ministry planning, Budget Committee, Worship & Music Committee.

Conference, Ecumenical, other: Leisure Village Bible study, Conference Pastors, meet with Administrator of Alma Via. 

 

C.  Pastoral Acts:

Baptisms – 0 (11), Weddings – 2 (4), Funerals –  1 (3). Bible Studies: Sunday morning – 1 (7), Tuesday morning – 1 (11). 

 

D. Special Events: 

Stewardship “Pie with the Pastors” events, CDC Back to School night, interviewed by CLU student in ethics class, Classical Concert.

 

D.  Counseling Hours: Pre-marital – 3 (22), Pre-baptism – 0 (6), Crisis/other –  5 (47). 

 

II.  2008 Goals

 

A.  Core Value: Intimacy With God

Action:  None.  I was having pie.

 

B.  Inactive Households

Action:  None.  I was having pie.

 

C.  Strategic Planning Process

Action:  Completed. And I was having pie.

 

D.  Future Pastors

Action:  None.  I was having pie.

 

III.  Information & Action Items For Council

 

1.  Agenda.  If you have already visited the agenda page for this month’s meeting (http://www.mountcross.com/agenda-c.htm) you will notice that I have a made a couple of modifications.  The addition of a “Body of Christ Report” and moving the Treasurer’s Report down a couple of spaces.  For an explanation you can see www.mountcross.com/bodyofchristreport.htm
 

2.  Results from Pie With The Pastors.  These gatherings brought out 130 members – probably more than a stewardship dinner would have.  Who knows?  We had good pie & good conversation.  Some new members got acquainted with their neighbors, and some who had been neighbors a long time learned that those neighbors also went to the same church.  Early on it became clear that the time spent updating people that we had a long range plan and filling them in on some of its details was time well spent.  This has inspired me to begin to look for ways that we can make our mission statement and our core values more visible and more integrated into the thinking and planning we all do.  If you remember the M.A.R.K. buttons from 2003 or “Walk With Me” from 2004, you know how a short phrase or a simple visual served to keep a mission-oriented theme in the forefront.  Pastor Erik and I have begun working on this.  We welcome your input as we shape a special emphasis for 1009.  Please read over www.mountcross.com/remembermark.htm

 

3.  Mutual Ministry Committee.  The Mutual Ministry Committee serves both the pastors and the congregation.  The committee helps the pastors set and monitor goals, coordinate continuing education planning, and provides a confidential place for conversation.  It also assists in coordinating the ministry of the pastors and the ministry of the congregation.  Some time ago we decided to have the Church Council serve as the general Mutual Ministry Committee and have the Executive Committee work on specific matters.  This configuration was used in preparing for my sabbatical last year.  Council voted to continue this arrangement through June of 2007.  I suggest we renew this arrangement for the time being, rather than work at putting together a new committee.  And as Council is wrestling with budget matters, the Council probably best suited to factor into budget planning any implications arising from Pastor Erik’s sabbatical (May 18 – August 18, 2009).

 

4.  Vacation.  Well, not really.  I am going to take one evening off in December.  I am planning to play in the Camarillo Community Band for their Christmas concert (12/14) and the final rehearsal is the same day and time as our December Council meeting.

 

5.  Items to keep before us:

·         There are still some committees that have no chair (Stewardship, Caring).

·         Do we owe the congregation an update on our Strategic Planning Committee report and recommendations?

·         What will we do about the mortgage and the Congregational meeting that is in recess? 

 

6.  Dates:

·         November 16 – commemoration of 20th anniversary of the “new” sanctuary (brief PowerPoint and prayer)

·         November 26 - Thanksgiving Eve – Worship & Pie, 7:00 p.m.

·         December 7 – Hanging of the Greens dinner & concert, 5:30 & 7:00 p.m.

·         December 9 – next Council meeting.

·         December 14 – Sunday School Christmas Program & Pot-Luck, 4 p.m.

·         December 18 – CDC Family Christmas program, 6:30 p.m.

·         December 24 – Christmas Eve services, 5, 8 & 10 p.m.

·         December 28 and January 4 – regular Sunday schedule (8:15, 9:30 & 10:45 a.m.)

2009

·         January 13 - Council meeting and final budget recommendation

·         January 25 – Annual meeting – time and format to be determined.

·         May 18 – Start of Pastor Erik’s sabbatical