Sabbatical Planning Team notes 4/30/08

Attendees:  Connie Morton-Ewbank, Thelma Hutton, Angie Robidoux, Sue LeSueur, Beth Bell Lavoie

Agenda: 

• Review Susan’s Narrative
• Review requirements for Parish Narrative
• Begin building Parish Narrative

Connie compiled a comprehensive search for materials on worship and liturgy available through the church lending library and distributed an 18 page list.  WoW!  Thank you Connie!

Grant Proposal Brainstorming

Part A Section 1 thorough 5 Proposal Narrative – Sue will write

Sue distributed a draft of her sabbatical narrative – Part A Sections 1 through 5

Part A Section 6- Proposal Narrative

·         Worship is where congregational life begins, and ends for many. Worship is not a Sunday thing.  The Holy is with us constantly, therefore worship is unceasing.

·         “Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength, for pardon only and not for renewal.”  BCP Eucharistic Prayer C

·         Worship is the oldest, finest Anglican tradition – everything we do has its roots in worship, empowering us to go out into the world to share the Good News.

·         We propose to interweave the Congregational Renewal plans to “explore the evolution of worship and worship space through the development of Christianity” with Sue’s objective to “explore the dialectic between Celtic Liturgy and its impact on culture.”  Much of the congregation’s renewal will include workshops, retreats, speakers and study groups.  The outcome of our study will enable us to spiritually refresh our worship and physically refresh our worship space.  As early worship was focused around the table/home with Jesus active with us and among us, we plan to provide for study and workshops around the table at meals and in our homes.

·         Questions for our Study

o        When does worship begin?

o        What does it involve?

o        Why do we do it?

o        Where do we hope it leads?

·         Guest Speakers:  Charles Fulton or John Denson to speak on the “American Airlines layout of worship space.”  We need to budget for speaker, travel and accommodations, local speaker $100 plus travel and accommodations?

·         Hymn Sing with Gladys and guest musicians – (Nick) budget $500.

o        Provide a collection box that parishioners can drop a list of favorite hymns

o        New hymnals “My Heart Sings Out” Pew paperbacks estimated $12 each, would need 75, total est. $900.  

Part A Section 7- Proposal Narrative

Plans for celebration of Pastor’s leave taking and return

Irish Dinner with Fiddler music

Leave taking dinner - $300 for food, $100 for music

(Check out Peddler’s Daughters in Nashua – they have Irish Stew with Guinness)

Study Series:  “That the World May Know” DVD series by Ray Vander Laan, start series during sabbatical and bridge with Susan’s return  $120 to $150 for DVD’s

Parish Retreat for Sue’s Return

Saturday to Sunday noon. (Doesn’t have to be on site overnight, can be held at church or Searles Castle or Barbara Harris Center on Sat and back at church on Sunday)

Parish Presentation of Congregational Renewal

Sue’s presentation of Quest

Need funds for projector - $675

Part A Section 8 – Proposal Narrative – Sue will write

PowerPoint presentations

Retreat

Conversations in place of sermons both before and after sabbatical

Part B – Congregational Information

Section 1

Founding:  1901

Years at current location:  44

Illuminating or distinctive historical events in the life of this church:

Helped start a mission in Londonderry in 1987 – St. Peter’s Church

Synagogue begin sharing space in 1993

Transfiguration sold parcel of land to Etz Hayim in 2008 to create an interfaith campus

Meeker Endowment received in ??

Headstart 2005

Started Middle Ground Student Lounge in ??

Section 2

Members:  Sue to review parochial report

Average Sunday worship attendance:  48

Section 3

Last 4 pastors:

Thomas Vanderslice – 2000 to 2002

John Bonell – 1990 to 2000

Allan Monroe – 1987 to 1990

Kendrick Child – 1982 to 1987

Section 4

Lay Ministries, both internal and outreach, in which the church is involved

Outreach:

Food Pantry

Soup Kitchen

Our Little Roses

Antrim Girls Shelter

Lutheran Social Services

United Thank Offering

Gifts to Children of Incarcerated Parents

Prison Ministry

Prison Concerns Ministry

Upper Room

Millennium Development Goals

Episcopal Relief and Development

Community Care Givers

Groups:

AA Young at Heart

Girl Scouts

Music and Drama

Heifer Project

Headstart

Toddler’s Play Group

Youth Orchestra

Internal:

Mary Ellen’s Kitchen

Committee to Cook Corn beef

Mabel’s Guild ECW

Bible Study

Interfaith

Awesome Mountain Camp

Interfaith Study

Thanksgiving Service

Traditional ministries

Altar Guild

Sunday School

Adult Ed

Pastoral Care Committee

Lay Eucharistic Ministers and Visiting Eucharistic Ministers

Worship

Leadership

Childcare

Acolytes

Section 5 

Connie to compile summary annual budget from the church budget

Part C – Pastoral Information

Sue to provide

Supply:

If clergy is retired, we may not have to make a contribution to the pension fund.  Sue is checking on emergency coverage for funerals, so that maybe we can plan for ⅓ coverage vs. ½ time.

Actions for Next meeting

Sue to finalize her portions of the narrative and provide parochial report data.

Sue to register on Lilly Grant website and see if there is an editable version of the proposal template. 

Connie to compile summary annual budget for 2008

Beth to prepare parish narrative portions

Next Meeting:

5/7/08 in Sue’s office at 6:30 PM.  Objective of the meeting is to finalize the proposal. We will order subs for dinner.

Submitted by Beth Bell Lavoie