Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Today's Events
| 6:00pm |
EYC
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The 2010 Annual Parish Meeting
came to order on Sunday, January 17th at 11:20 a.m. in Comfort
Hall.
- Vestry Election Deacon Dick Almos, Jack Ashton,
John Hopton, and Emmett Martin served as tellers for the election.
Brian Baker, Sudee Campbell, Raúl Cortés, John
Giangrosso, Nancy Ritzmann, and Cecile Torbergsen had been
nominated prior to the meeting. Instructions were given to mark
four names on the ballot. The tellers retired to the Morgan
Library to tally the votes, while other business continued. 72
ballots were collected, of which 71 were valid. Brian Baker, John
Giangrosso, Nancy Ritzmann, and Cecile Torbergsen were elected to
four year vestry terms. The ballots wil be kept on hand for one
month in case of a call for a recount.
- The congregation heartily thanked David Daigle,
our outgoing senior warden, and Burt Kemp, Gwen Losh, and John
Stevenson, whose vestry terms are expiring, and Alex McPherson and
junior warden Jacques Walker who have submitted letters of
resignation. The vestry will name parishoners to fill the two
unexpired terms.
- Carl Ritzmann delivered the finance report. Last
year, we operated on a deficit, but within the operating fund; we
did not have to dig into reserves. For 2010, we have gained 14 new
pledges, but lost 24 larger (on average) pledges from 2009, at a
significant loss in pledge income. The bottom line is that our
pledged and other anticipated income is only 2/3 of our budgeted
expenses.
- In addition to the written report booklet , we
heard brief oral reports from the Music Director, EFM, Welcome
Team, Altar Guild, Men's Club, ECW, VBS, St. Clare's, and
ESL teams.
- Beverly Stubblefield gave a Search Committee report.
The search committee began receiving a selection of
candidates in August, and is conducting telephone interviews, and
apparently a few on-site interviews. Beverly stressed that we must
"become what we want to find"; one practice interviewee
described our parish as "stodgy". If we wish to attract an
energetic rector, we must be an energetic parish.
The Vestry
met following the Annual meeting in Morgan Library. Ten vestry
members and the Priest-In-Charge were present. The vestry:
- Accepted the resignations of the two absent vestry
members, Alex McPherson and Jacques Walker. Fr. Ernie asked the
vestry to prayerfully consider their replacements and make
suggestions in the next week.
- Selected all new officers by acclamation. The new
senior warden is Gus Michel, the junior warden is John Giangrosso,
the vestry secretary is Lisa Carvin, and the treasurer is David
Daigle.
- Determined a meeting schedule for the next few
months of the third Sunday of each month. We will revisit the
meeting schedule as the summer approaches.
- Also, Fr. Ernie discussed his expectations for the
vestry. He asked that vestry members on duty also serve as
ushers/greeters; that the vestry members wear a distinctive name
tag regularly; that all vestry members pledge to give regularly to
the parish; and that they participate in one or more Christian
Education classes. He also indicated that business as usual will
not be the order of the day, but that those who expect things to
be the same "can just leave now". (No one left.)
Prayer for our new bishop
God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, Father of mercies and God of
all comfort, dwelling on high but having regard for the lowly,
knowing all things before they come to pass: We give you thanks
that from the beginning you have gathered and prepared a people to
be heirs of the covenant of Abraham, and have raised up prophets,
kings, and priests, never leaving your temple untended. We praise
you also that from the creation you have graciously accepted the
ministry of those whom you have chosen.
Therefore, Father, make N. a bishop in your Church. Pour out upon him
the power of your princely Spirit, whom you bestowed upon your
beloved Son Jesus Christ, with whom he endowed the apostles, and by
whom your Church is built up in every place, to the glory and
unceasing praise of your Name.
To you, O Father, all hearts are open; fill, we pray, the heart of
this your servant whom you have chosen to be a bishop in your
Church, with such love of you and of all the people, that he may
feed and tend the flock of Christ, and exercise without reproach
the high priesthood to which you have called him, serving before
you day and night in the ministry of reconciliation, declaring
pardon in your Name, offering the holy gifts, and wisely overseeing
the life and work of the Church. In all things may he present
before you the acceptable offering of a pure, and gentle, and holy
life; through Jesus Christ your Son, to whom, with you and the Holy
Spirit, be honor and power and glory in the Church, now and for
ever.
Amen.
Pledge Envelopes are in!
Get yours from the blue card table outside the office. If you do not
have envelopes and would like them for your 2010 donations, please
contact the office during regular office hours.
Our food bank
is always finding need. Please remember the food bags on your next
trip to the grocery store. Christ Church distributes approximately
two to three bags of much needed food per week. Monetary donations
for the food bank are also appreciated. See the
list of contents
for the bags.
John Stevenson
Do you have time to lend a hand? Help Christ Church continue to
make a difference in John and Marky Stevenson's lives! If you
have a few hours to spare during the week, John conitinues to need
daytime companions to lend a hand and make sure that all is well.
Please sign up on the volunteer calendar located on the table by the
phone in Comfort Hall.
1534 Seventh St.
* Slidell LA
70458 * (985) 643-4531
Follow this link for contact information