Pleasant Hill Church of the Brethren Congregational Business Meeting            Monday, April 26, 2010

 

The Congregational Business Meeting took place in the chapel with 22 persons in attendance.

Linda Reininger, Church Moderator, called the meeting to order and began the meeting with a personal testimony of God’s care for her during her illness. She then opened with prayer.

 

Minutes: Linda Reininger asked for a motion to approve the minutes of the last Congregational Business Meeting. Terry Gindlesperger made a motion to accept the minutes, seconded by Tracy Rhodes.  Motion Carried.

 

Approval of Agenda: Linda Reininger asked to have the agenda approved. Ed Jones made a motion to accept the agenda, seconded by Pete Smith.  Motion Carried

 

Old Business: None

 

Executive Committee: Ed Jones reported the Executive Committee had met and Mary Cairns was hired as Nursery Care Coordinator. She has been working for two weeks and everything appears to be going well.

 

Nurture Commission: Heather Smith reported that the Easter Egg Hunt was held outside this year. Mary Cairns (Nursery Care Coordinator) was hired and everything appears to be going well. Heather asked that parents of nursery aged children please use this service.  Plans are underway to prepare for Graduation Sunday. Please contact the office of any graduates two weeks prior to Graduation Sunday on June 6, 2010.

 

Youth: Lexi Jones reported on the following Youth activities: Held the Sweetheart Meal at the Church, participated in the 30 hour famine, Sr. High Youth attended the Winter Blast at Camp Harmony, conducted a “Souper Bowl” collection at the Church, enjoyed a Super Bowl Party at the Youth room, held Easter Sunrise Service and hosted the breakfast, 6 Youth attended a Dodge Ball tournament at Camp Harmony (came in 3^rd place), about 20 youth attended the Skillet and Toby Mac Concert at the War Memorial. The Youth are currently preparing for Creation Fest 2010. They will be holding various fundraisers. A car wash will be held May 22. National Youth Sunday is May 16^th. Lexi will be speaking about what it is like to be in the Youth Group from age 12 to 18. There will be skits and dances. Sarah Perrine will be preaching.

 

Witness Commission: Patty Toth reported. $100 was given to Celebrate One, as has been done in the past. Volunteers from Pleasant Hill helped at the Family Kitchen on March 20 that was organized by Ginny Babel. Ron Beachley asked that each congregation in the district make three household kits for Haiti. The Witness Commission made one out of their budget, the Better Half Class made one and the Bintrim family made one. Thanks to Pastor Russ for taking the kits to the District Office. The idea of purchasing $25 Saving Bonds for each new baby in the Church is being considered. This would include babies who have been born in the last year. $25 was donated to the Special Olympics. Pastor Phil suggested sending post cards to all families in the 15906 zip code area to promote Pleasant Hill Church. The Witness Commission is considering sending these on a quarterly basis to cover upcoming events. Jessie Rager is checking on pricing and other details. As always, if you know of someone in need, please contact the Commission.

Linda Reininger commended the Witness Commission on the good job they are doing. She also shared the importance of giving through the Brotherhood so needy people are not charged for the help they receive.

 

Stewards Commission: John Plunkard reported. Since the last meeting, the big projects have been the blinds in the chapel and Sunday school rooms. Budget Blinds did the work. Tammy has been starting to replace incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs. This is being done to do our part to be more energy efficient. The light inside the stained glass window was replaced and the fixture was adjusted. May 15 has been selected as the next workday at the church. The stewards would appreciate help with the projects for that day. Tom Thomas has donated wood and John will be making new hymnal holders for under the pews. The floor tiles in the women’s upstairs bathroom will be replaced. If time permits, the men’s bathroom tiles will also be done. Storm doors and entry door at the parsonage will be replaced. Also planned is work at the picnic grove. This will include evaluating the condition of the roof (and taking measurements for roof replacement) and addressing the need for real bathrooms. Discussion was held on the original plans for the bathrooms. If anyone knows where the original drawings are, please contact one of the Stewards. Barry will be contacting companies for estimates on replacing the roof. The Stewards will be working with the Music and Worship Commission about a large outdoor cross for next Easter. John and Mike have done some measuring for the cross (which may be 16 foot high). It would be placed on the site where the nativity set is placed.

Note: Because there is a wedding taking place at 2:00 on May 15^th, the Stewards are planning to work at the Church in the morning and the grove in the afternoon.

 

Music & Worship Commission: Marsha Smith reported. Daffodils were purchased for Daffodil Sunday for anyone who wanted to purchase them or make a donation, Palms for Palm Sunday and flowers. There were 64 flowers purchased for Easter and three donations were taken. Money was split between Camp Harmony and Haiti. The Cross at the front of the Church will not be taken down until after Pentecost. The 3^rd octave of used hand bells has been purchased and added to the existing bells. Discussion is ongoing about having the bells cleaned. Flowers will be provided for Mother’s Day on May 9. Donuts or cookies will be purchased for Father’s Day on June 20. On May 30^th, the memorial photo service will be presented. Please have your photo’s turned in by May 23^rd.

 

Approval of Reports: Pastor Russ made a motion to approve reports, Tracy Rhodes seconded the motion.  Motion Carried

 

Deacon Report: Cindy Gossard reported. The deacons participated in the Healing Service and offered anointing for anyone who needed or requested it. Deacons did preparation for the afternoon and evening Communion services. June 1 will be the next Deacon’s meeting.

 

Treasurer Report: Pete Smith made copies of the report available to everyone. Pete advised that the giving was down in March but better in April. Pete discussed the budget with those in attendance. Pastor Phil will contact Albright United Methodist Church personnel for the name of the contractor they used for their new roof.

 

Renewal Team: Marsha Smith reported. The Team has been meeting to find ways to encourage the use of the disciplines. The soup and sandwich dinner was held to get feedback on what people liked about Pleasant Hill Church and what could be improved. The Team will provide that information at a future time. Tracy Rhodes shared how excited some the kids were about the Church and the things they enjoyed at Pleasant Hill.

 

Camp Harmony, Vision Task Team, Disaster Relief, Brethren Home, BBT, Living Memorial Trust Fund – No Reports.

 

PASTOR’S REPORT 1/26/10 – 4/26/10

Pastor Phil is on vacation, there was no written report available.

Activities:

                Holy Week activities

                5 baptisms on Palm Sunday evening:

                                Daniel Shaulis, Denise Shaulis, Michael Shaulis, Katelynn Horner, Ed Kozuch

                Good Friday Services

                Communion, Love Feast

                24 hour prayer vigil

                Sunrise service – thanks for Pastor Russ and the Youth

                Cantata

                1 funeral service – Mardel Rager

                1 wedding – Shailen Sehgel/Allison Rager 3-20

                3 consecrations – Willow Niveah Blue Chamberlain 3-28, Jordan Brianne Rager 4-11,  Jonathan David Babel 4-11

Pastor Phil will be on vacation from 4-13 back in the office 5-4

Will Participated in public reading of the Bible in Ebensburg

Will participate in Celebrate One on May 6, National Day of Prayer

Firemen will use fellowship hall on May 8 for a spaghetti supper

Upcoming weddings:         

                May 15 Nick Graham/Renee Horner

                May 22 Joe Ryan/Tracy Deyarmin

                May 29 Chuckie Watroba/Tiffany Swope

                June 12 Josh Smith/Emily Saylor

Preached three times outside the congregation:

                2-7 Presbyterian Home, 3-10 Atrium Manor, 4-11 Church of the Brethren Home

               

Associate Pastor/Youth Director’s Report: Russ Peruso

Hospital / Anointings – 8

Pastoral Biblical Advising Sessions – 24

In Office Visits –18

Home Visits - 8

8:00 services – 12

10:30 services -- 12

Youth Bible Studies Small Group (Teaching) – 13

Youth Sunday Schools (Teaching) - 10

Youth CBYF Meetings – 11

Youth Organizational / Planning Meetings – 5

Special Youth Events – 8 = Sweetheart Meal, 30 hr. Famine Collection, Sr. High Winter Blast, Souper Bowl Collection, Super Bowl Party, Easter Sunrise Breakfast, Easter sunrise Service, Dodge Ball

Pastor’s Meetings – 5

Preached/Taught at – Jan 29^th at Thomas Mennonite Church. Easter Sunrise, Sunday April 18^th, All youth group meetings and 1^st period 4 times a week during school at JCS.

Since January 25, 2010, I have prepared for and taught at our normal Sunday School Classes, CBYF Meetings, Wednesday Night Small Group Bible Studies unless we had a youth event to prepare for.

I held 5 organizational meetings for the 2010 Youth Events, regular meetings, fund raisers, teachings, and special events. I have preached at Easter Sunrise Service on Sunday April 4^th and Sunday April 18^th. I have spent a lot of time and energy on the upcoming youth and church events such as Missions trip, Creation Fest 2010, Tenebrae, Easter Sunrise Service, SVMC classes, not to mention all the other normal weekly preparing for the 3 weekly youth meetings. I am teaching on Hearing the Voice of God, Wednesday night’s small group meetings. At CBYF Sunday night we will be beginning the book studies on Every Young Mans and Young Women Battles. For Sunday School we are going through Great Talks Outlines lessons and the book of Romans. I preached on Jan. 29^th at the Thomas Mennonite Church. Sr. High Winter Blast was on Jan. 29-30. On Feb. 7 we held the Souper Bowl collection and Super Bowl party. Sweetheart meal was on Feb. 14^th. On March 12-13^th, 30 hr. Famine was held at Camp Harmony with concerts called Ampllfied on Sat. night, 14 of our youth attended both. March 20^th was the Toby Mac and Skillet concert at Johnstown War Memorial for the youth. The youth helped in the Easter Egg Hunt and Tenebrae service on April 2^nd, Easter Sunrise breakfast and held the Sunrise Service on April 4^th. With the help of God’ grace, I have been holding down the fort while Pastor Phil and Judy are gone on vacation from April 13th to May 4^th along with my usual work load. I preached on April 18^th. I have just finished my SMC class on pastoral Counseling and Care. On April 25^th the youth held a soup and sandwich after the 10:30 service. Noah Martin spoke at both services and Sunday School that day. I was worship leader.  Will be preaching on May 2^nd both services. Youth Sunday will be on May 16^th and a Car Wash on May 22nd and June 26^th. We have some big youth events in the planning for this year. My staff and I will be taking 61 youth and 10 staff to Creation Fest 2010 on June 29 to July 4. I am planning the Senior High Mission Trip on July 26-31; the Senior High youth will be going on a mission’s trip to Westmoreland, TN where they will be ministering to the community of Westmoreland.

When questioned about the number of youth from our Church who will be attending Creation, Pastor Russ explained what a wonderful outreach Creation is.

Note:  Car wash will not be held on May 22 because of the wedding scheduled for that day.

 

Christian Education Report            Amelia Derr        April 12, 2010

Worship Services- 9

Office- 5

Meetings-1

Sunday school

We started our new unit “Jesus at the Synagogue” on the 11^th.

We will be giving the fourth graders a new opportunity.  At the beginning of May we will be allowing them join the Greg Blue’s class (5^th & 6^th graders).  I have been concerned that the fourth graders may not be getting enough hands on Bible time –finding scriptures that apply to their life and situations.  There is some time given for discussion but for their ages I have sensed that they need a class that has more time for discussion.  After sharing with Greg and Charlie, Greg shared that we could try it for a month.  Greg and I will make a final decision at the end of May.  The rotation group will be smaller but I feel for the children’s spiritual development I shouldn’t be concerned about the numbers.

The children assembled 64 kits and I delivered them to the District Office.

We need to decide on a new service project.

I copied curriculum material for S.S. and distributed them along with the schedule.

We will be adding Shawn and Tracy Davis as new teachers for the video station, to replace Cassie Jones. 

 

Children’s Church  

I purchased new curriculum as we completed our last one.  I continue to copy curriculum and distribute it.

Basically children’s church has been going well.

 

Personal Activities

I will be working with the new Nursery Coordinator and have a meeting scheduled for April 13^th.

I continue to work on Annual Conference.

I continue to teach a Bible study

I’m helping my husband at Conemaugh.

 

Approval of Reports: Darlene Thomas made motion to approve reports Marsha Smith seconded.  Motion Carried.

 

New Business: None

 

Linda Reininger closed with prayer, meeting was adjourned.

Respectfully submitted, Diana Mikolic, Church Clerk