A Word from the Pastors | 6-15-22
Church Council.
Your elected servant-leaders gathered for a Zoom meeting on Monday, June 13, 2022. One of our twelve Church Council members, Rev. Clesha Staten, has decided to discontinue her participation on our Council. We are full of gratitude for her willingness – and the willingness of each of our Council members – to have served beyond the normal three-year term to help St. Peter’s journey through these different and difficult COVID times! What Clesha and every member of Council has contributed is truly a testimony of love for the Lord and commitment to his mission!
Some notes from that meeting:
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- Pastors. A brief oral report was given about events attended (a non-member funeral; a middle school graduation; the ordination of former seminary field education student at St. Peter’s, Meagen Esterby, called to be Pastor of University Incarnation Lutheran Church in West Philadelphia); current building use activity; plans for a Vacation Bible School, August 1- 5; possible vacation trip in July by Pastor Gwen (if her passport renewal arrives in time). The Pastors are excited, also a little anxious, as they prepare for Sunday’s fresh new experience of “hybrid worship” which will include live human beings back in the sanctuary on a Sunday morning!
- Finances. A written report was presented and detailed by Ben. After five months (January – May) BUDGET INCOME was $63,677.06 and BUDGET EXPENSES were $72,862.33, a deficit of $9,185.27. As always, utilities, compensation, and commercial insurance are the largest expenses. [For comparison, last year after five months our income was $75,708.41, our expenses were $72,282.40, and we had a small surplus.] Ben explained that the consistent, responsible weekly support that has been the solid foundation of our congregation’s income over many years has trended down this year, a result of the deaths of some generous givers…a result of persons experiencing these challenging economic times… and also perhaps a result of persons “falling out of routine” during COVID-related absence from the building and activities of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church. From Ben, “We are not yet at a critical cash flow crisis, but we do face a challenge.”
- Hybrid Worship. The Pastors spoke about the May 23 special Church Council meeting that focused specifically on this. We selected Sunday, June 19 at 10:00AM as the start of “hybrid worship” that would include connection and interaction between our “in-person” worshipers gathered in the sanctuary and our “remote” worshipers in their homes both near and far away. Vaccinations and masks will be encouraged but not demanded. Communion distribution will be altered, and our usually energetic Sharing of God’s Peace will be subdued. Fellowship time with refreshments downstairs will be delayed for a few weeks. Some functions related to worship – choirs, acolytes, ushers, Altar Guild, communion assistants, readers, prayer leaders – will be planned and reorganized as we get a fresh start. We anticipate some adjustments in the first few weeks as we gather together physically after two years and as we also include those who are not in the building.
- Property.
- The roof repair by John P. Donnelly Roofing was completed at a cost of just $850! Our flat roofs were still in surprisingly good condition.
- The bathroom sink in the parsonage was replaced (entire drain pipe broke off, old pedestal was not securely attached to the floor) by Reliable Plumbing.
- Church Council had a February bid of $19,932.08 from James Doorcheck, to replace two sets of outside entrance doors (the lower Church Office entrance and the Briar Road entrance), and the quote was to expire on June 15. Due to some cash flow concerns, Council elected to presently replace just the Briar Road entrance doors.
We ought to thank God for the blessing of still being alive… the blessing of still being a congregation… and the blessing of gathering the resources and having the opportunity to move forward into a new experience of worship that will be in but also beyond the sanctuary. That’s exciting!
With our sincere love and humble gratitude,
Pastor Neil & Pastor Gwen