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Convenor:
Betty Dax
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Maury River Mission Community:
Bath, Rockbridge Counties;
Buena Vista, Lexington Cities
Minutes of the Meetings
Maury River Mission Community
Minutes of Meeting, January 24, 2010
Lexington Presbyterian Church
Members Present: Betty Dax (Interim
at New Providence and Community Convener), David Dax (Living Waters Member),
Skip Hastings (Pastor, Collierstown), Charles Reid (Pastor, Warm Springs),
Rob Sherrard (Mission Community Secretary, Pastor, Windy Cove), Malcolm Brownlee
(Retired Pastor and Mission Community Coordinator), Christina Tutterow (Pastor,
Bethesda), Sally Hinchman (Interim Presbyter for Shenandoah Presbytery),
Bill Klein (Pastor, Lexington), Mac Baker (Lexington), Bonny Wilson (Fairfield,
Mission Community Treasurer), Janet Scott (Collierstown), Tim Welsh (New
Monmouth), Martin Stokes (Pastor, New Monmouth), Dr. Walter Kerschl (speaking
on Haiti concerns)
1. The meeting began with prayer at the appointed hour
of 2:30 p.m. The agenda prepared by the Convener was approved as the
working document for the afternoon. No prior minutes were available
due to the Secretary’s absence at the previous meeting of the Community.
2. David Dax, Betty Dax, and Malcolm Brownlee reported
on the Living Waters return trip to Guatemala. Team members are continuing
to build relationships with the church in Guatemala and the water system
continues to work. The team is scheduled to make one more trip to complete
the cycle for the partnership and to check on the water system. Team
members reported that they had exceeded the pledged goal of $13,000 from
the Mission Community for the project. David Dax is scheduled to receive
training as a Living Waters Team Leader.
3. Dr. Kerschl reported on his experiences in Haiti.
After working in Haiti, he founded the Rockbridge-Haiti Medical Alliance.
This Alliance works in the countryside around Fond Pierre, Haiti. Medical
teams have assisted with care in that area of Haiti. Dr. Kerschl reported
on what he had heard following the earthquake in Haiti. In the general
discussion Rob Sherrard also reported on contact with Haitian friends through
the Haiti Education Foundation and Haiti Fund, Inc. (Comprehensive Development
Project)
4. Bonny Wilson presented a full budget report for 2009
and a proposed budget for 2010. In 2009, $6,222.02 had been expended
for various ministries with the largest expenditure for the Guatemala Living
Waters. The remainder of the Mission Community Money was divided and
spent at the end of the year as follows: support for 4 Food Pantries
at $257.56 each, $1,030.24 for the Ethiopian Partnership, and $1,030.24 for
the second phase of Guatemala Living Waters. Thus, total expenditures
for the year of 2009 were $9,312.73. Money available in 2010 is projected
to be $4968.
5. The Community broke into small groups: Worship,
Education/Nurture, and Mission. After meeting in small groups the Community
approved a pulpit swap on April 25 and a summer Afternoon Worship at the
Windy Cove Picnic Pavilion on June 13, 2010. In Education/Nurture the
Community decided to support a comprehensive program being planned for September
11 in conjunction with the entire Presbytery. In mission the Community
sent $500 to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance for Haiti, and will try for
hands on experience in Haiti during 2010. The Community also affirmed
its continued support for the Living Waters Guatemala project.
6. The Community scheduled the next regular meeting for
April 25 at Bethesda at 2:30 p.m.
7. The Community adjourned with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Sherrard
|
Maury River Mission Community
Coordinating Team Meeting Minutes
September 13th, 2009
New Providence Presbyterian Church
Download
Sept 13th Minutes
Budget Update for 2009
Budget
Projection for 2010
Open with Prayer – Christina
Tutterow, Bethesda Pastor, opened the meeting at 2:30PM. Others attending
were Sally Hinchman, Interim Executive Presbyter; Lisa Hedrick, Presbytery
Resource Coordinator; Roy Fauber, member of New Providence; Malcolm Brownlee,
honorably retired and MRMC Coordinator; Jerry Close, Fairfield; Olivia Patton,
Lexington Presbyterian; Bonny Wilson, Fairfield and MRMC Treasurer; Janet
Scott, Collierstown; Charles Reed, Warm Springs Pastor; Betty Dax, New Providence
Interim Pastor and MRMC Convenor; and David Dax, Lexington Presbyterian and
secretary pro-tem.
All present introduced themselves. Sally said that she was getting
acquainted with all the congregations and would also being doing the same
with the various Mission Communities. She will participate in the
upcoming elder training and the Shenandoah 2010 efforts. She will
send all the sessions surveys to obtain current information.
Lisa handed out flyers about the Ethiopian Partnership Celebration to be
held on November 6th at Massanutten Church. She also talked about
the upcoming visit from Nuhad Tomeh, missionary to the Middle East, who
will visit churches throughout the Presbytery beginning October 2nd.
His visit to the MRMC will be to the Hot Springs Church on October 5th.
Minutes of the last meeting – The minutes
were read and approved.
Treasurer’s Report- Bonnie Wilson – This
was taken out of order and presented under Old Business as part of the discussion
about the 2010 budget.
Coordinator’s Report- Malcolm Brownlee
Malcolm referred to the elder training to be held on November 14th at New
Monmouth Church. He also referred to the youth activity event to be
scheduled – probably for April 2010. Finally, Malcolm talked about
the upcoming follow-up Living Waters for the World (LWW) trip to Guatemala.
Committee Reports
• Mission Fair – Bonny Wilson
Bonny summarized what has been planned by herself, Janet, Martin Stokes,
and Skip Hastings for the October 4th event to be held at New Monmouth.
Announcements have been sent to all the churches. There will be a
worship service and multi-church choir. The event is aimed at both
youth and adults. A silent auction will be held to raise money for
Living Waters, and donations should be sent to Heather Carter at the Presbytery
office. A number of churches will have displays showing their mission
activities. LWW will also have a display.
• 2010 Educational event- Olivia Patton and Janet
Scott
Olivia talked about the event that will be held in late February.
It will include 10-12 workshops and worship. Deb Klein will conduct
a workshop on spirituality, and there may be someone from UTS to discuss changes
in the church. Other religions and women’s studies are also likely
to be discussed, as well as ethics and character building. Presbytery
staff members will participate. (Janet confirmed what Olivia said.)
• Youth- Olivia Patton and Janet Scott
Olivia talked about a youth event to be scheduled in April. The following
ideas are being considered: having someone from the Fellowship of Christian
Athletes come, holding a cookout, going to Douthat State Park or Lake Robertson,
and possibly conducting a gleaning. Contact will also be made to people
at W&L and VMI.
Old Business:
• Guatemala Living Waters
o December plans– David Dax, Roy Fauber – Roy
gave a summary of the May Living Waters for the World (LWW) trip in May
and an overview of the vision for developing a long-term relationship with
La Iglesia Alianza, the church where the Living Waters system was installed
in May. He stressed the need to make this project something that the
MRMC churches take as their own mission. Therefore, the follow-up
trip to Guatemala in December is planned to include two new people from
the MRMC to get to know the people of La Iglesia Alianza. Details about
the trip are attached herewith.
David noted the array of issues that the folks at La Iglesia want to address
as time goes. He also stated that he would be attending a training
program at LWW’s Clean Water U in California the first full week in October.
o Finances- Malcolm Brownlee – Malcolm discussed
the current status of LWW financing. In summary approximately $11,100
has been given or promised, with about $2,900 to be raised. Malcolm
encouraged people to hold more fund-raisers and to see if their churches
will provide additional financial support. He entered a motion that
the Maury River Mission Community recommit itself to raising the full $13,000
that it had pledged for the LWW trips to Guatemala. The motion was
seconded and passed. (The previously agreed on per capita amount from
each congregation was $2.70 over a 3-year period).
o Pancake breakfast- Malcolm
Brownlee – This event will raise more funds for LWW. Volunteers
will be needed to start set-ups at Applebee’s at 7:30AM Saturday, September
26th, and tickets are available for the 8:00-10:00AM time period.
o Silent auction- Malcolm
Brownlee -- He displayed numerous items will be available for the silent
auction at the upcoming Mission Fair.
• Elder Training- Christina
Tutterow –
Christina outlined the officer-training event to be held on November 14th
at New Monmouth Church. This will include presentations by Malcolm,
Sally, Betty, Carl Moore, and possibly Bill Klein, on various aspects of
denominational polity.
• 2010 Budget – Bonnie gave reports on both the
current budget and the 2010 budget. Both were approved by the assembly.
These are attached with these minutes.
New Business – None was brought up
Next meeting – January 17th, 2:30PM, at
Lexington Presbyterian.
Adjourn with Prayer – Malcolm adjourned
the meeting with prayer.
Respectfully submitted, David Dax, Secretary Pro-tem
|
Maury River Mission Community
Minutes of Meeting, June 28, 2009
Hot Springs Presbyterian Church
Download Minutes
- Adobe format
Members Present: Betty Dax (Interim
at New Providence and Community Convener), David Dax (Living Waters Member),
Skip Hastings (Pastor, Collierstown), John Shillingburg (Summer Intern, Collierstown),
Glenn Coleman (Pastor, Hot Springs), Rob Sherrard (Mission Community Secretary,
Pastor, Windy Cove), Malcolm Brownlee (Retired Pastor and Mission Community
Coordinator), Christina Tutterow (Pastor, Bethesda), Doug Sensabaugh (Presbytery
Communications Coordinator), Lou Dolive (Ethiopian Partnership Committee)
1. The meeting began with a fellowship lunch hosted
by the Hot Springs Church. Transition to the business part of the
meeting came with an appropriate prayer shortly after the appointed hour
of 2:30 p.m. The agenda prepared by the Convener was approved as the
working document for the afternoon. Prior minutes were corrected to
indicate that Olivia Patton is Director of Christian Education at Lexington,
not the Associate Pastor. In the absence of Treasurer Bonny Wilson,
there was no general treasurer’s report.
2. Lou Dolive gave a report on changes to the Ethiopian
Partnership ministry. Lutheran Churches involved with the Ethiopian
Synod are withdrawing some funding for the Synod as part of a restructuring
program. This withdrawal will mean that Shenandoah Presbytery’s I-Care
scholarships will be even more important to our Partnership. Education
of young people is one of the primary ministries of the Synod and I-Care
program.
3. The Community discussed its Mission Fair scheduled
for October 4 from 2:30 to 5:00 p.m. at New Monmouth. A festival of
booths highlighting church ministries will take place from 2:30 to 4 p.m.
This part of the Fair will also include a silent auction to benefit the Living
Waters program. A worship service will follow featuring a combined
choir from the churches and celebrating the Lord’s Supper. This event
will be advertised as the first event of a revived Mission Community.
4. David Dax reported on the very successful Living
Waters trip to Santiago, Guatemala. Team members from the Community
included David and Betty Dax, Malcolm Brownlee, Wistie Jobe, and Roy Fauber.
The water system has been installed, and training was offered on maintenance
of the system as well good water hygiene. One main point of the program
is to build a lasting relationship with the church and community there.
The local church is part of the Evangelical Protestant Alliance Church.
The Mission Community Team or part of them will return within a year to check
on the water system and continue to build relationships with the people.
On September 26 from 8 to 10 a.m. there will be pancake breakfast at Applebees
in Lexington to benefit the Living Waters program.
5. Olivia Patton, Janet Scott, and Malcolm Brownlee
are working toward a comprehensive education event for 2010. Two groups
(See previous minutes.) are planning leader training for the fall:
one group in the Lexington area and one group in the Bath County area.
6. The Community scheduled the next regular meeting
for September 13 at New Providence at 2:30 p.m.
7. The Community adjourned
with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Sherrard
|
Maury River Mission Community
Coordinating Team Meeting Minutes
January 11, 2009
Fairfield Presbyterian Church
Download Minutes in Adobe Format
Convener Betty Dax opened the meeting
at 2:30PM with prayer. Introductions and sharing followed.
The following people attended from MRMC: Jerry Close,
Lisa Hedrick, Doug Sensabaugh, Malcolm Brownlee, Carol Mish, Janet C. Mayo,
Martin Stokes, Bonny Wilson, Wallace Bechner, Olivia Patton, Janet S. Scott,
Betty Dax, and David Dax, Secretary ProTem. Mac Sterrett of the Living
Waters Team also attended.
Minutes: In the absence
of Secretary Rob Sherrard, reading of the minutes of the November 9th Mission
Committee meeting was postponed.
Finances: Bonny Wilson
gave a report of MRMC’s finances. The current balance is $5,400.00.
It was moved, seconded, and passed to allocate $2,000.00 to the Living
Waters project in Guatemala for the first year phase. It was also
approved to allocate $2,000.00 for each of the following two years, with
the commitment to raise $7,000.00 from the various MRMC churches.
Old Business:
• Living Waters: Malcolm Brownlee
and Mac Sterrett gave an update on the Living Waters project in Santiago,
Guatemala. It will be a small-scale water purification system designed
to serve about 500 people. The water is ozonated rather than treated
with chemicals. The system will be installed in a local school building.
The relationship between MRMC and the school will be formalized through
a covenant pursuant to which MRMC will be the initiating partner and the
school will be the operating partner. MRMC will travel annually for
three years to assure that the system is being maintained appropriately.
It was moved, seconded, and approved that “Convener Betty Dax be authorized
to review the contract with Living Waters for the World and sign it as
the representative of MRMC.”
The Living Waters Team will teach the women of the community the elements
of sanitation and keeping their water clean. The women, in turn,
will teach the children. Applications to travel will be accepted
until January 31st. Travel requirements (passport, inoculations for
tetanus, hep-A&B, etc.) will be posted on the ShenPres website.
Contact should be made to local health departments. Malcolm will speak
to the LexPres Outreach Committee on January 20th at 7:00PM about the project
and at Bethesda Church on the 21st at 7:00PM.
It was moved, seconded, and passed that “A committee be formed to review
the applications of those who wish to go on the Living Waters Mission trip
to Guatemala and to choose the members of the team. This committee
will be composed of Malcolm Brownlee, Chair, Skip Hastings, Rob Sherrard,
Dan Woodworth, and Rhonda Ritchie.”
It was also moved, seconded, and passed that “The team which goes on
the Guatemala Living Waters Mission trip be authorized to organize an Applebee’s
pancake breakfast or some other appropriate fund-raiser.”
Mac Sterrett passed around flyers that describe Living Waters and the
crisis for which it is designed to address. Mac will answer any questions
about the program. His e-mail address is shown above.
• Magnetic Church Conference:
Information was passed around to everyone concerning this program, which
will occur Friday & Saturday, February 20th & 21st, at Tinkling
Spring Church in Fishersville. It will be presented by Andrew Weeks,
a lay evangelist and is intended to help people learn about new member
ministry.
• Baja California and Friends of Barnabas:
There was some discussion of these activities, but no decisions were made.
New Business:
• Disaster Response: There
was some discussion of mobilizing a Disaster Response Team (DRT) for MRMC
to work with the ShenPres DRT, but no decision was made.
• Committee Activities: Olivia
presented a list of potential projects that the Nurture Team believes are
worth pursuing, such as a youth rally and nature camp project, serving
at Campus Kitchen at W&L and at the Presbyterian Home in Rockbridge
County. Adult activities such as a mission fair, multimedia training,
elder training, and spirituality seminars were also suggested.
A mission fair will be scheduled for sometime in October. Wallace,
Bonny, Martin, Carol, and Janet have agreed to plan this event. It
is intended that both youth and adults be participants. Martin also
indicated his willingness to promote multimedia training. A workshop
on that will be held by the Presbytery on February 28th. It is expected
that this is an area that both youth and adults will be interested in.
Bonny of the Worship Team suggested that worship be incorporated into
any and all such activities. It was also suggested by Betty and Malcolm
that mission, nurture, and worship are all essential parts of these activities
and should not be separated out from them.
It was also decided that a pulpit swap be scheduled for Sunday, April
26th. Martin has already begun to initiate that effort.
• Local Mission Efforts: There
was discussion about the Mission Next Door program hosted by New Providence
Church and participated in by Timber Ridge, Fairfield, Bethesda, Mount
Carmel, and Asbury Methodist. The program could serve as a model
for other congregations that would like to help their neighbors who need
help repairing their houses.
Janet noted that Collierstown Church has looked into a program being
undertaken in Texas called Backyard Mission, which is very much like Mission
Next Door.
No decision was made on this subject, but these types of missions will
be studied and promoted throughout MRMC.
• The next meeting is scheduled for 2:30PM, Sunday,
April 26th, at New Providence Church. The meeting was closed with prayer
at 4:30.
Respectfully submitted,
David Dax, Secretary Pro tem
463-4930
January 13, 2009 |
Maury River Mission Community
New Monmouth Presbyterian Church
Minutes of Meeting, November 9, 2008
Download Minutes in Adobe format.
Members Present: Betty Dax (Interim at New Providence), Janet
Scott (Collierstown), Skip Hastings (Pastor, Collierstown), Doug Sensabaugh
(Shenandoah Presbytery Communicator), Bonny Wilson (Mission Community,
Treasurer, Fairfield), Rob Sherrard (Mission Community Secretary, Pastor,
Windy Cove), Martin Stokes (Pastor, New Monmouth), Horace Douty (Interim
at Oxford), Malcolm Brownlee (Retired Pastor), Lisa Hedrick (Resource Coordinator),
Olivia Patton (Director of Christian Education, Lexington), John Haney (Pastor,
Parish of the Pastures), Punker Robertson (Supply at Williamsville and
Westminster), Wistie Jobe (Bethesda)
1. Convener, Betty Dax, opened the meeting with
prayer at 2:35 p.m. Those present introduced themselves to each other.
The agenda prepared by the Convener was approved as the working document
for the afternoon. Bonny Wilson presented the Treasurer’s Report.
Bonny noted that $1,150 remained of the $6,000 available for the year.
After discussion the Mission Community voted to distribute the remaining
money between four area Food Pantry programs: King’s Way and Rockbridge
Area in the Lexington vicinity, Craigsville, and Windy Cove.
2. The Mission Community reaffirmed its commitment
to the Living Waters program through Shenandoah Presbytery. Betty,
Bonny, and Doug Sensabaugh agreed to work together to clarify which Presbytery
account held the money which had been sent from the Community and Community
churches for the next Living Waters Project in Guatemala. Additionally,
the Mission Community appointed Malcolm Brownlee as its representative
to the Living Waters Guatemala Team. Malcolm will be part of the
planning team and then will search for 3 to 4 more folks from the Mission
Community to join the team for the second phase of the Project. First
trip will be in December 2008 and the second trip will be in the Spring
of 2009
3. The Mission Community considered the idea of
a part-time coordinator for the Community. The Community referred
the matter to a task force that had been previously appointed. The
task force was instructed to work on two issues: (1) refining the
job description of the coordinator and (2) applying for extra funds from
the challenge grant for mission communities. The task force will report
at the next meeting of the Mission Community.
4. The Mission Community broke up into focus groups
in the areas of worship, mission, and nurture to begin planning ministry
for 2009. These small groups met for about 20 minutes. Members
of the small groups agreed to meet prior to the next Mission Community
in order to present some definite plans for ministry in January.
5. The Community scheduled the next regular meeting
for January 11, 2009, at Fairfield at 2:30 p.m.
6. The Community adjourned with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Sherrard
|
Maury
River Mission Community
Lexington Presbyterian Church
Sunday, April 6, 2008
The Mission Community met at 2:30 with the following people present:
Christopher Crotwell (Convener), Jim Bennett, Malcolm Brownlee,
Glenn Coleman, Kerry Foster, Skip Hastings, Bill Klein, Bill Koogler, Linda
Koogler, Mary Sue Oas, Janet Scott, Bonny Wilson, Martin Stokes, (Secretary
Pro Tem)
Opening Prayer: Christopher called the meeting to order and opened
with prayer.
Introductions were made around the table.
Christopher reminded everyone that the next meeting will be held
July 13 at New Monmouth
Treasurer’s Report: (Bonnie Wilson) Distributed a report (Items
without entries not shown below.)
Contributions:
Presbytery ....................$6,000
Budget
Expenditures:
Mission Support ($3,850)
Soup Kitchen Trip.......$ 500 $800.00 (Deposit to National
Seminar Center)
Local Churches/other
ongoing mission..........$3,350
Fellowship ($1,850)
Pres. Youth Prog. ..........$ 500 (Invoice - Laura Holbrook)
Local Youth Events.......$1,250
Music Events...................$ 100
Miscellaneous ($300)
Operating Expenses........$ 300
Balance.......................................$5,200
Pulpit Swap: (Martin Stokes) Only
four of the six ministers who were on the list for the pulpit exchange
actually participated. Christopher Crotwell preached at Mt. Carmel;
Kerry Foster at New Monmouth, Carl Moore at New Providence, and Martin
Stokes at Fairfield and Timber Ridge. Larry Miles (McCutchen/Ben
Salem) had spoken with Malcolm Brownlee (McElwee/Bethesda) and decided
not to swap because the first Sunday of April
was Ben Salem’s communion Sunday. They preferred to celebrate communion
with their own pastor. The next pulpit swap will take place April 2009.
Worship: (Carl Moore) Martin reported
that there has been an expressed interest in pursuing the joint church
music event with the contingency plan to hold the event inside in case of
inclement weather. Homemade ice cream was to be included. By
common consent it was agreed to hold this event at Timber Ridge on June
1, 2008. (Martin called Carl Moore and this event is now on their calendar)
Youth: (Skip Hastings) Skip reported
on the up coming youth rally on May 18, 4:00 p.m.- 6:30 p.m. at Lexington
Presbyterian. Laura Holcomb, Society of St. Andrew, a Youth based gleaning
project out of Big Island, Va. will be the guest speaker. Olivia
Patton will lead recreation and Martin Stokes will lead the music.
Call Olivia at 540-463-3873 by May 12 with the #'s from your church for
the pizza count.
Admission Charge ---Bring 3 canned goods per person attending. We'll
donate the cans to the area food bank.
(Note: Our Hunger Action Enabler, Doug Sensabaugh, has told us
that money donated [instead of canned goods] is seven times more effective
because of the purchasing power of the food banks. Please consider
that as an alternative)
Mission Trip: (Bonny Wilson) Trip
will be taken August 13-17 to Washington DC. Call Carl Moore for more info.
Disaster Response Plan: Christopher
reminded people about the presbytery’s DRP. It will be a future
topic.
Officer Training: (Kerry Foster)
Information on the 2008 event will be coming up soon.
Living Waters for the World: (Skip
Hastings) Their meeting was held at Lexington Presbyterian just prior
to our meeting. They showed a good video. Only four churches were
represented at the meeting. To obtain a copy of the video, contact
Doug Sensabaugh or Ron Knutson. (See blurb* below)
Living Waters II (Bill Klein) The project leaders are asking
our Mission Community for $13,000 over the next three years and 5 people
to serve with the project.
Motion #080406A - A motion was made, seconded, and approved to donate
$2,000 per year for three years (total $6,000) from our budget for the
Living Waters Project and challenge the churches of our Mission Community
to provide the balance of $7,000 and the five people to work on the project.
(This will amount to 90 cents per member per year for three years)
Communication within the Community:
(Malcolm Brownlee) A suggestion was made that a convener (coordinator/facilitator)
be hired to help the mission community carry out it’s work. A concern
was raised about keeping track of events in our mission community. Martin
reminded everyone that our events are listed on the presbytery web site.
A discussion followed regarding the purpose and work of the mission community.
A paid convener position was considered. By common consent, a study
task force consisting of Christopher, Bill, Martin, Rob, Malcolm, and
Bonny was appointed to study the idea and report back to the July 13 meeting.
The study task force will meet Thursday, April 17, at Lex. Pres. at 9:00
a.m.
Request from Windy Cove for help
with their mission trip to Guatemala. There are 12 people on their
team.
Kerry proposed a gift of $1200 ($100 per person)
Motion #080406B - A motion was made, seconded,
and approved to grant Windy Cove $100 per person (up to $1200) for their
mission trip to Guatemala.
Skip thanked the committee for the $300 gift which had been offered
to Collierstown. However, the gift will not be needed.
Closing prayer - Linda Koogler
For your Calendar
April 17, 2008 - 9:00 a.m. Paid Convener
Study Task Force at Lexington Presbyterian
May 18, 2008 - 4:00 - 6:30 p.m. Spring youth
rally at Lexington Church
June 1, 2008 - 3:00 p.m. Hymn sing for all churches
at Timber Ridge
July 13, 2008 - 2:30 p.m. MRMC planning team
meeting at New Monmouth
April 2009 - Pulpit Swap
*Shenandoah Presbytery
LIVING WATERS TEAM
Financial Support Request
The Shenandoah Presbytery LIVING WATERS TEAM is a Presbytery-sponsored
program under the Worldwide Ministries committee of Shenandoah Presbytery.
Only one percent of all water on earth is available for human consumption,
agriculture and industrial use. Half of the water available for drinking
and cooking is contaminated. As a result, three million people die
each year: more than one half are children!
The LIVING WATERS TEAM VISION is to use the gift of clean water
to bring together congregations of the Shenandoah Presbytery and others
interested in mission with our sisters and brothers in need of clean water.
The Living Waters Team enables the Presbytery's churches to provide
pure water in those areas of less developed countries where clean water
is not available. This program is available through a partnership between
the local Presbytery church or group and those who are to receive the
water. The Living Waters Team installs water purification systems developed
by the Living Waters for the World mission program of the Synod of Living
Waters.
The Shenandoah Presbytery Living Waters Team needs ongoing financial
support to carry out its Mission of providing equipment, know-how and
technical support to install water purification systems. The complete program
includes both hygiene and Christian education. The Living Waters Team is
presently working on programs in Mexico, Guatemala and surrounding regions
of Latin America.
To accomplish these objectives, the LIVING WATERS TEAM would like
to request the financial support of all churches in the Presbytery. To
achieve ongoing yearly progress, the Program would benefit from predictable,
continuing funding from our member churches.
The cost of a pure water installation is $15,000 to $20,000, depending
on project location and water condition. The objective of the LIVING
WATERS TEAM is to install a minimum of 2 systems per year. With
the assistance of all churches in the Shenandoah Presbytery, this objective
will be met.
Recognizing that there are churches of differing sizes in our Presbytery,
and that each church must choose what programs it can support in addition
to its regular budget needs, the LIVING WATERS TEAM would like to suggest
the following for your consideration. For those churches that annually
contribute up to $5,000 in support of the Presbytery budget, please consider
an annual contribution to the LIVING WATERS program of from $100-500. For
those churches contributing a greater amount to the Presbytery budget,
we would ask you consider contributions of $500 or more to the LIVING WATERS
TEAMS Programs. Annual financial support, whether it is in the amount of
$100 or $1,000, will create an ongoing fund for the installation of new LIVING
WATERS water purification systems each year. Donations to the LIVING
WATERS programs can be made directly to the Presbytery.
Thank you for your prayerful consideration of these requests.
For more information contact Ron Knutson, LIVING WATERS Support
Team Coordinator
email – rcpwk@comcast.net
- telephone – 540 261 7152
|
Minutes of Meeting,
January 27, 2008
Members Present: Mary Susan
Owes (Bethesda), Kerry Foster (Pastor, Mt. Carmel), Janet Scott (Collierstown),
Skip Hastings (Pastor, Collierstown), Doug Sensabaugh (Shenandoah Presbytery
Communicator), Bonny Wilson (Mission Community, Treasurer, Fairfield),
Carl Moore (Pastor, Fairfield and Timber Ridge) Rob Sherrard (Mission Community
Secretary, Pastor, Windy Cove), Christopher Crotwell (Mission Community
Convener, Pastor, New Providence)
1. Our Convener opened the meeting with prayer
at 2:30 p.m. Those present introduced themselves to each other.
The agenda prepared by the Convener was approved as the working document
for the afternoon. The minutes from the September 9, 2007 meeting
were reviewed briefly and approved.
2. Doug Sensabaugh gave an overview of the mission
program known at Living Waters. The idea is to provide clean water
in third-world countries by establishing partnerships with communities
where the water is needed. Teams are trained to install water filtration
systems and train local people in the upkeep of the system. The
program provides for follow up to check on the water system and to enhance
the relationship with the community. The Mission Community decided
to invite Ron Knutson to give a more extensive presentation of the program
at Lexington Presbyterian Church with an emphasis on inviting representatives
from Mission Committees of Mission Community Churches. The date
of that meeting will be circulated in a future email.
3. The Mission Community reviewed correspondence
from:
a. Laura Holbrook, funds to be offset for Presbytery
Youth Work, agreed to help as necessary
b. Next meeting for Mission Next Door scheduled
for January 30 at New Providence, first project was a success with many
churches involved from the Mission Community and community in general,
New Providence was thankful for all the help
c. Confirmed the request for $1500 for the Mission
Next Door project which had been approved via email
4. Bonny Wilson gave the Treasurer’s Report.
a. $6000 had been expended for the year 2007
in the following amounts: Windy Cove Mission, $2400, New Providence
Local Mission, $1500, New Monmouth Local Mission, $606.32, Blue Ridge
Food Bank, $1000, Youth Activities, $493.68.
b. The Mission Community approved a working budget
for 2008 of $6000 including $3850 for mission support, $1850 for fellowship
and youth activities, and $300 for miscellaneous expenses.
c. The Mission Community delegated authority
to the Treasurer to transfer funds from one category to another as needed,
particularly toward the end of the year.
5. The Mission Community discussed and planned
the following:
a. Officers for 2008: Convenor, Chris Crotwell
or Skip Hastings; Treasurer, Bonny Wilson; Secretary, Rob Sherrard;
Representative to Presbytery Council, Martin Stokes; Lay Representative
to Council is still open.
b. Martin Stokes, Bill Klein, and Carl Moore
to work on a worship event for 2008
c. Pulpit swap scheduled for April 6
d. Presbytery Youth Rally, February 8 and 9
e. Mission Community Youth Trip to Washington,
D. C. scheduled for August 13-16
f. Community Youth Rally on May 18
g. Leadership Training in the fall
h. Mission Community possibilities for overseas
mission: Warm Springs to Guatemala with Diane Robertson as the contact
person, Windy Cove to Haiti during first week in August with Rob Sherrard
as the contact person
i. Discussion of local Disaster Response focusing
first on local church response
6. Collierstown will host Presbytery on February
9, 2008 and solicited help from Mission Community members. Several
assignments were made.
7. Discussion of hiring a person, such as a retired
pastor, to spearhead our Mission Community work was postponed until the
next meeting.
8. The Community scheduled the next regular
meetings for April 6 at Fairfield and July 13 at New Monmouth at 2:30
p.m.
9. The Community adjourned with prayer.
Respectfully submitted,
Rob Sherrard
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