St. John's Lutheran Church
Founded July 4, 1775- An ELCA Congregation
101 W. Martin Street
Martinsburg, WV 25401 Office: 304.263.9291 FAX: 304.263.4559
Pastor James D. Riley, Jr. E-mail: ShowFaith@AOL.com

St. John’s Lutheran Church Congregational Council Meeting Minutes September 14, 2009

I. Call to Order. Andy Banks called to order the regular meeting of the St. John’s Lutheran Church Council at 700PM on 9/14/09 in the lounge.
II. Attendance: Members present: Andy Banks, Mary Nicole Bennett, Beth Chapmen, Linda Gillet, Jane Kelley, Linda McQuaid, Kandi Ruth, Lori Taylor, Roger Wall, and Bill Agee. Members Absent: Sam Boynton, Priscilla Horner, Jennifer Moss, Teddy Roberts and Scott Wood
III. Devotions –Andy Banks presented the devotions for the evening, telling of the recent death of his wife Joanna’s father-in-law, and how the FLYTE group performed service in New Orleans, and how God’s work in done often in mundane tasks. I
V. Minutes of the last meeting were accepted as read (Taylor/Chapman)
V. Financial Report presented by Bill Agee. Expenditures through August exceed offering by $53,157. The Mustard Seed has a YTD excess fees over expenditures of $3,027.72. The cost of the FLYTE Youth Gathering in New Orleans was $17,112.00; all covered by fund raising, congregational giving and FLYTE members’ contributions. To date $85, 000.00 has been withdrawn from Endowment. (Accepted Gillet/Wall)
VI. Pastor Report. July and August-11 visits to members, 3 visit to shut-ins with Holy Communion, 6 hospital visits to members, 0 chaplaincy program hospital visits, 7 counseling appointments with 4 families, and 6 prospect visits.
Funeral: July 3 - Kenneth D. DeGraw, Jr. at Poor House Farm with a private burial Baptism: August 23 - Robert EJ Smith, son of Tammy Colette Garlow Smith and William McNeal Smith in St. John's.
Wedding: July 11- Tonya Nicole Potter and Brian Alan Murphy in St. John's.
New Members: Ann Elizabeth Myers Cloud wishes to join St. John's. She is currently a member of the Winchester Avenue Christian Church. Mrs. Marcia Lou Frey Post wishes to join St. John's. She is currently a member of Our Savior. Lutheran Church in Colony, New York. Amber Leigh Post wishes to join St. John's. She currently is a member of Prince of Peace Lutheran Church in Huntsville, Alabama. She attends Shepherd College. Daniel Joseph Ballantine and Kathleen Nicole Brennan Ballantine wish to join St. John's. Daniel is a medical student at City Hospital and has transferred here from Lewisburg, West Virginia. All were accepted into the congregation with open arms by council (Taylor/McQuaid).
Luther Hall Requests: October 10- Baby shower Annette Haarman Mann. November 28- Baby shower -Jessica Horner Herbert Approved without fees (Taylor/ Ruth)
A Letter from Bishop Dunkin: This letter is in reference to the recent action taken by the ELCA convention concerning the status of clergy in this church. The bishop wishes each church to be made aware of his desire to visit any congregation wishing to further discuss this action of the national church.
Pastor Away October 4: Pastor Riley will be in Connecticut to conduct the wedding of Linda’s cousin and also visit her mother in Walpole, Massachusetts. Approved (Agee/Ruth)
VII Committee Reports:
a. Christian Education: (Linda McQuaid) Volunteers are needed to serve as substitute teachers in Sunday School. Erica and Daniel Propst will chair the 2010 Vacation Bible School.
b. Social Ministry: From Minutes of 9/10/09 (Linda and Ken Cottrill) Pastor Karen Erskine-Valentine (Social Ministries program development director Trinity United Methodist Church) discussed their projects with the hope that we could do some joint effort. One of their projects is the Library at the Regional Detention Center. The Committee agreed to work on multi-organization database for Thanksgiving and Christmas food baskets. “Back Packs” with school supplies will be given to the Children's center. “Feed the Homeless" dates: Sep 26, Oct 24, Nov 21,and Dec 19. The Tea held on June 13th was an outstanding success with over 75 people attending. Pie Social-Will be held on Nov 15th.
c. Evangelism: Linda McQuaid reported that scarecrow is being made for the downtown project.
d. Worship & Music: Choir Robes were dry-cleaned.
e. Memorial: $ 2,533 raised from Script Cards. Distributions $1,500 Luther Hall Flooring, $600 A/C repair
f. Property: There are many volunteers for many church activities, but special thanks should be given to Roger and Sue Wall, Buddy and Gail Newman, Ron Weinrich, Ned Feltner and Ken Cottrill for the repair, painting, plumbing, etc. projects recently completed saving hundreds of dollars of the Property Budget. Andy Banks is to meet with the Sexton to discus the new working hours and any problems that exist.
g. Stewardship: no report
h. FLYTE: Beth Chapman has resigned from FLYTE Group. Banks is to discuss this with the other leaders.
i. Mutual Ministry: No report.
VII. Old Business: Linda Gillett told of her upcoming missionary trip to Tanzania. During this trip, Linda and fellow Lutherans of the Maryland Synod will be medically and spiritually ministering to all they meet. Each Sunday through October 11, the congregation will be will be given an opportunity to support this project. (Agee/Ruth)
VIII. New Business: Millie Dunmire requested that ½ of Lenten Folders go to 2010 Relay for life
IX. Adjournment: There being no further business the congregational council adjourned, followed by the Lord’s Prayer

Respectfully Submitted, Bill Agee recorder