Jessie Ventura opened the meeting with a prayer at 7 pm. The meeting was held in the Great Hall.

Vestry Present: Lea Hutchins, Jessie Ventura, Matt George, Kathy Means, Larry Norfleet, Tom Stevens, Carl Kuntz, Sue Breakie, Becky Roberts, Seth Cosans, John Garton and Sandy Lind.

Absent: Bill Hickman

Matt George moved; seconded by Sue Breakie to approve the minutes from our November meeting and also the budget workshop meeting. Motion passed unanimously.

Carl Kuntz spoke first. Sue Breakie has come to the worship committee with the opinions of several, that the 9:30 am service is too long for families with children. The service currently is more Rite II than the informal contact service. Lea Hutchins agrees it’s too long and we’ve lost some of the informality. Can we shorten the number of verses sung for the hymns?   Maybe shorten the readings? What is our priority?

Carl raised the issue of phone messages in the church office. How will we handle whe

n the rector/parish admin are out of the office?

Carl distributed a letter from the bishop describing the standards to guide pastoral practice blessing civil unions. Vestry members should read the letter and we’ll discuss at the January Vestry meeting.

Treasurer’s Report

3 resolutions

• pass the budget for 2012 (this reduces the budget by $45,000).
• use money from Master A account ($50,000) to pay our expenses.
• put money back ($21,000) into the Alice Biggs account.

Larry Norfleet motioned; seconded by Kathy Means, to approve the use of Master A and move money back into the Alice Biggs account. Motion passed unanimously.

Matt George motioned; seconded by Becky Roberts, to approve the 2012 budget. Motion passed unanimously.

Larry distributed copies of the auditor’s report to Vestry members.

2012 pledge info - $125,686 has been pledged by 80 pledging units (compared to $149,540 and 88 pledging units for 2011).

Worship (Kathy Means)

Christmas program is underway.

Schedule is as follows - pageant at 4:30 pm and candlelight service with music at 10:30 pm on Christmas Eve. Christmas day at 10 am (Rt I) in the chapel. New Year’s day at 10 am (Rt II).

Soon to be on FaceBook.

Church School (Lea Hutchins and John Garton)

Lea is very excited about the Christmas pagaent. New approach this year, with the youth (YAC, J2A and Rt 13) working with the younger children. Many from YAC, J2A and Rt 13 helped Grace George prepare for the community Thanksgiving dinner.

John said the youth “lock-in” last Friday night went well and had good participation. One child has been added to the catechesis class.

Communications/Outreach/Welcoming/Hospitality (Kathy/Jessie/Sue/Becky)

Updates from the committees will be printed in the Messenger beginning in January, to help boost committee participation.

The community Thanksgiving dinner was well attended.

Collecting stuffing for Christmas outreach. They received a large donation of stuffing from Kraft.

Gifts for the adopt-a-family are going very well.

Property (Matt George)

• trying to organize space downstairs (below the Great Hall).
• currently getting bids for new cleaning service contract (need one-time company for the interim).

Stewardship (Seth Cosans)

• thank you’s to contributor’s of the golf outing
• follow-up on 2012 pledges. Seth will get the list from Larry and follow-up with people either by e-mail, letter or visit.
• looking for additional fund raising ideas.
• continue collecting receipts from Pat’s pizza.

Personnel (Kathy Means)

• Lois and Kathy have been informed of changes for 2012 - each will work 16 hours/week.
• volunteers won’t be in the office alone.
• letter to parish will be published in the Messenger and sent via e-mail.

Annual Meeting is scheduled for January 22, 2012. The Vestry will review the agenda for the meeting at their January meeting. Matt George continues to look for new Vestry candidates.

Tom Stevens discussed interim priest candidates. More to be discussed at the January meeting.

Lea Hutchins brought up how we should follow-up on “to do’s” from Vestry meetings to insure that things are getting done. Maybe we should go back to using the heading “old business” in the Vestry minutes. Tom Stevens will work with Sandy Lind (secretary) on a potential process.

Respectfully submitted,

Sandy Lind

Secretary