At its productive meeting on February 12, 2020, the SsAM Vestry heard from four guests; went over reports from our rector, music director, and finance and property committees; moved forward on strategic initiatives, formed a nominating committee, planned the Shrove Tuesday Pancake Supper, assigned vestry liaisons to various ministries, and set a June 14 date for our annual meeting.
DISCUSSION GROUP PROPOSAL
Ann Tate and Joyce Bembry want to screen a movie, “Just Mercy”, at SsAM, followed by discussion. They came before the Vestry to get a sense of whether its members liked the idea. We did! Planning for this is going forward.
PROSPECTIVE VESTRY MEMBER
We were delighted to welcome to our meeting a member of SsAM who is considering serving on the Vestry, someone with experience with youth, outreach, and finance. This prospect stayed for the first 40 minutes of the meeting without running out screaming, so we are optimistic he will decide to serve. If he chooses to join us, he will serve through mid-June, 2021, taking the place of Sam Lamptey, who had to step down for personal reasons.
25th ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
Pat Hampton reported that the 25th Anniversary Committee has met and will have an official kick-off announcement some time after Easter, perhaps with a meal. This committee is ambitious! They are in the process of creating 13 task forces: Grants, Social Media Activities, Marketing and Communications, Fundraising, Music and Liturgy, History Projects, ECW Ministry, Historical Archival Displays, Other Ministries at SsAM, Chris White Art Gallery, Diocese of Delaware, Community Partners, and Rector/Vestry/Staff. ACTION ITEM: Contact Pat Hampton to volunteer!
RECTOR’S REPORT
Fr. David, still jet-lagged from his flight back from the Holy Land, noted that our Senior Warden, Rachel Gaskell, is now attending the weekly SsAM staff meetings. He also reported that the weekly Wednesday Healing Service has been discontinued due to lack of attendance. One idea is to incorporate healing prayer as part of our Sunday morning worship service. New is a series of 1-on-1 meetings on Tuesday afternoons between Fr. David and interested parishioners. These are part of Fr. David’s 2020 Personal Faith Development offerings. They include Faith Formation Classes for Youth, Quiet Mornings, Adult Confirmation and Newcomer Classes, and a Lenten program on the Book of Common Prayer.
FINANCE
The Vestry had two executive meetings since its last regular meeting, to go over the 2020 budget line by line. That done, we hope to be able to finalize the 2020 budget in March.
MUSIC
The choir will be singing at the 10:30 a.m. service on Carnival Sunday, February 23, accompanied by guest instrumentalists. You are encouraged to wear beads, masks, hats, and costumes! Special organ recitals, sponsored by the Friends of the Katherine Esterly Organ, are scheduled for 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, March 15, and at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, April 24 and Saturday, May 30.
PROPERTY
The roof replacement project is complete and an update to our HVAC system is being considered. A hole in chancel floor beneath old organ has been repaired, at an unexpected expense of about $3,500.
INITIATIVES
The Vestry is talking about approving strategic initiatives to increase membership, hiring a Youth Minister, and pursuing Invite-Welcome-Connect ideas. The primary question before the Vestry is whether we feel called to spend more to grow the church? If so, how much? To move forward on this, the Vestry will have an additional meeting later this month, before our next regularly scheduled meeting on March 12.
NOMINATING COMMITTEE, ANNUAL MEETING
Our annual meeting will take place on June 14. There will be one worship service that Sunday, at 9:30 a.m. Four new vestry members will be elected at that meeting, to serve until June, 2023. They will replace Jenna Christy, Norwood Coleman, Nana Soto, and Linda Whitehead, whose terms are ending. To that end, Fr. David appointed them, the outgoing members, to find nominees to replace them. ACTION ITEM: Recommend someone to serve! Thank the four retiring Vestry members for their service!
SHROVE TUESDAY PANCAKE SUPPER, 5:00 to 7:30 p.m., February 25
This is a Vestry-sponsored event, so expect to see Vestry members playing active roles. There will be chicken, green beans and, of course, pancakes! We are not selling tickets ahead of time, only at the door. Take out dinners will be available from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.; sit down dinners, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $15. Norwood Coleman’s band will perform with guest artists. ACTION ITEM: Contact Jenna Christy or the church to volunteer for the kitchen crew, food prep, set up, money collection, and clean up.
VESTRY LIAISONS
We have paired vestry members with ministries: Finance: Rachel • Strategic Planning: Rachel • Administration and Communication: Danny & Peggy • Facilities: Peggy & Danny • Stewardship and Fundraising: Patty • Worship Ministries: Jenna, Tom • Music Ministries: Mary, Norwood • Advocacy & Community Outreach: Linda, Norwood • Faith Ministries: Patty & Rachel • Fundraising: Nana & Danny • We still need to appoint a liaison to the Fellowship Ministry.
Our next vestry meeting is Wednesday, March 12, at 6:30 p.m. ACTION ITEM: Pray for us!
Sincerely yours,
Danny Schweers, Peggy Shane, and Dan Young
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NOTE: This Vestry View article is our second of many. The SsAM Vestry wants to connect with you about the issues that come before it. We are sending the Vestry View out by email, posting it on the SsAM website, and including it in the Weekly Vision. ACTION ITEM: We want your comments!
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