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Session News (current and archived)
June 2005 Session NotesThe Session met on Tuesday June 21st and will hold its next regular meeting on Tuesday, August 16th at 7 pm.PLEASE NOTE: Session voted to hold Sunday School from 9 to 9:45 am starting in September. There will be an adult class then as well. Nursery will still be held at the time of worship. SPECIAL NOTE FOR YOUTH: The Session approved the potential summer day trip for Presbyterian youth and friends to Old Forge Water Park. REMINDER: The Clearfield, PA Church group will be using the center as home base while they work on a Rural Rehab project starting July 9th. We will have a luncheon with them on July 10th after worship. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Daily Vacation Bible School will begin on August 15th. MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Session approved the following dates for special events:
The average attendance for the five Sundays in May was reported as 119. Richard Hutchinson was received into membership in the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton, SC. The baptism of Nikolas Skylar Aquitante, infant son of Jason and Nicole Aquitante during worship on June 12th was reported. Pastor Rich reported on the program at the National Pastor’s retreat and his participation in the celebration of the 200th Anniversary of the founding of the Mount Vernon Church. The Finance Committee reported that proceeds from the Rummage Sale and the Personal Service Auction were $1,100 and $3,400 respectively. Session approved the recommendation that, when the Pastor is away, the front page of the Parish Life insert be used to provide information about committee, religious or spiritual activities in the Parish or beyond.
The matter of signs was discussed. To get the size sign we desire, a variance will be necessary. May 2005 Session NotesThe Session held its May meeting on the 15th. The Session received correspondence from the Presbytery of Northern New York thanking the Congregation for its contribution to Tsunami Relief. Also received was a notice of a conference on A Church for Our Time at Ghost Ranch from June 26 to July 3, and at the Montreat Conference Center from August 8 to 12. The Session approved administering the Sacrament of Baptism to Nikolas Skylar Aquitante, son of Nicole and Jason Aquitante, during Worship on June 12th. Session approved the transfer of membership of Dick Hutchinson to the Lowcountry Presbyterian Church in Bluffton, SC. The Youth Group did a Mission Project at the Helping Hands Facility in Hannawa Falls on Sunday May 22nd. It was the consensus of the Session that Coffee Hours following Worship are a very important part of our fellowship and should continue through the summer. (BE PREPARED TO VOLUNTEER OR SAY YES IF YOU'RE ASKED TO HOST). Our church family graduates from colleges and universities will be honored for their accomplishments during Worship on June 26th. The
Mission Committee reported the following special offering totals: The Mission Committee has reserved $500 from its budget allocation for a local (our church) rehab project. The committee has authorized payment of $360 to MINC, $1,000 to Rural Rehab, and $500 to Helping Hands. The Session discussed the further support of the continued education of our Tanzanian student, Prudence Rukwago. The Session approved the changing our website host from twcny.rr.com to a host that allows the use of PHP. The reasons for this include both an increase in online storage space and ease of updating. The Personnel Committee reported that it had completed the evaluation process and reported comments not related to the Pastor's evaluation to the appropriate committee chairs. The Stewardship Committee reported the following pledge totals for 2005: Operating Fund - $139,186, and Second Century Fund - $10,198. At their meeting, the committee discussed Memorial Gifts and the lack of response on the Stewardship Covenants. The Worship and Music Committee reported that it had approved moving the announcements to the opening event in the Sunday service to improve the flow of worship. Also, it was noted that a gift of new Communion Linens had been received. The Christian Education Committee had plans complete for being in charge of the worship service on June 12th. Also, they plan to have the determination of how the $1,700 ($850 raised and $850 matching money from Mission Committee) for the Heifer Project are to be spent.
The next meeting of the Session will be June 21st. April 2005 Session NotesThe Session held its April meeting on the 19th The Session received correspondence from the Victim Assistance Center of Jefferson County thanking the Church for the grant from the Mission Reserve potion of the Second Century Fund. Also received were announcements of the Wee Kirk Conference to be held at Laurelville Mennonite Church Center in Mount Pleasant, PA and a Peacemaking Conference for 19 to 39 year olds to be held at Ghost Ranch Conference Center in Abiqui, New Mexico June 20-26. (All of this correspondence is posted on the bulletin board as you enter the Center) Session gave the Membership Committee permission to send “good luck” boxes of goodies to our students away from their Potsdam home. (Let either Bonnie or Dawn know names - we don’t want to miss anyone!) The Mission Committee noted that the Church School raised over $800 for the Heifer Project through various activities. The Mission Committee will match the amount raised. The children in Church School will then decide, based on the total amount, what animals are to be given Once again the Session gave approval for the Clearfield, Pa Church to use the Center for “home base" July 9th thru July 16th while they work on a Rural Rehab project. (We will host this group for a luncheon after worship on July 10th. Helpers and food are needed: contact Neil Johnson.) The Personnel Committee received 66 replies to the Pastoral Review Instrument and is engaged in assimilating the responses prior to meeting with the Pastor Rich. Responses that relate to Christian Education and Worship will be reported to those committees. Buildings and Grounds reported that the new doors to the Connection will be painted when weather permits. The boiler circulating pump has been replaced and recommendations for changes in the system will be made by Hyde & Stone. Session requested that the Worship and Music Committee explore the concept of "Emerging Worship" and make recommendations for possible ways to incorporate its spirit into our regular Worship Service. (A statement by the PCUSA Office of Theology and Worship regarding "Emerging Worship" is posted on the bulletin board as you enter the Center and will be included in the May Parish Paper) Session approved requesting members and friends to defray the cost of a copy (copies) of our new hymnal Sing the Faith as a Memorial (cost $ per copy to be determined). An appropriate plate will be inserted inside the front cover of each copy so memorialized. New Communion linens and oil based ‘candles’ also represent opportunities for memorial gifts. The Session gave approval to the Finance Committee to hold a Spring Rummage Sale June 2nd (remember this as your spring cleaning uncovers items no longer in use). Also as another fundraiser, permission was granted to hold a Personal Services Auction after Worship on June 12th. (Details to be announced - Ray Toland will head up this project) Scott Theisen is participating in a Youth Mission Trip to Washington, DC and he will be relating his experiences during Worship in the near future. Both Presbytery and Synod are in the exciting state of considering Mission Redesign Next meeting will be held May 15th.
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