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Convenors:
Christopher Crotwell

Skip Hastings

Maury River Mission Community:
Bath, Rockbridge Counties; 
Buena Vista, Lexington Cities
 

Minutes of the Meetings
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

Maury River Mission Community
Minutes of Meeting, September 9, 2007


Members Present:  Joan Whitesell (Bethesda), Malcolm Brownlee (Interim Pastor, Bethesda), Martin Stokes, (Pastor, New Monmouth), Glenn Coleman (Pastor, Hot Springs), Kerry Foster (Pastor, Mt. Carmel), Janet Scott (Collierstown), Skip Hastings (Pastor, Collierstown), Karen Duff (New Monmouth), Doug Sensabaugh (Shenandoah Presbytery Communicator), Lisa Hedrick (Shenandoah Presbytery Resource Director), Bonny Wilson (Mission Community, Treasurer, Fairfield), 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 2:40 p.m.  Those present introduced themselves to each other.  The agenda prepared by the Convener was approved as the working document for the afternoon.

2.  Our two Presbytery guests gave information on a variety of events and services related to the ministry of the Presbytery.  Doug Sensabaugh highlighted the visit of our Ethiopian partners in October and November as well as the Partnership Banquet on November 2 at First Church in Winchester.  Doug encouraged churches to update their Key Church Communicator list on Presbytery’s website. 

Lisa Hedrick spoke of the ministry of the Resource Center.  (See attached flyer.)  She noted that descriptions of all resources are available online through the Presbytery website.

3.  Bonny Wilson gave the Treasurer’s Report.  (See the attached report.)  She noted particularly that money for the Soup Kitchen Trip to Washington, D. C. had been received from another source so that Mission Community funds would not have to be expended for the trip.  She also noted that she had authorized $2,400 for the Windy Cove/Mission Community Guatemala Mission Trip based on the approval of the Mission Community via electronic and telephone communication.  This expenditure was then confirmed by the common consent of those present at the meeting.  The Treasurer’s Report was approved.

4.  Skip Hastings highlighted youth events:  Oct. 7—Middler Rally at Massanetta, Oct. 14—Food Drive in connection with World Food Day on the 16th, and the Senior High Rally at Massanetta on Feb. 8-9. 

5.  The Community discussed leadership training.  Kerry Foster and Rob Sherrard were charged to plan a one-day event for late October-November with emphasis on General Presbyter Tom Hay’s participation.

6.  Rob Sherrard thanked the Community for the financial support for the Guatemala Mission Trip.  Twelve people were involved:  8 from Windy Cove, 2 from Warm Springs, and 2 from the general community.  These folks worked at a children’s rescue home outside Guatemala City.  Members agreed to encourage those churches planning mission projects to present plans and requests for funds at the winter 2008 meeting.  The possibility of a trip to Israel was discussed.  Such a trip may be available through the Community next Spring.  Chris Crotwell highlighted local mission opportunities being planned through New Providence.  The special opportunity of tutoring at Rockbridge Middle School was discussed.  (Subsequent to the meeting, information on this opportunity was distributed via email.)

7.  Plans for a Mission Community worship service/hymn sing were referred to Carl Moore, Bill Klein, and Martin Stokes for discussion.  These three were involved in the hymn sing which was cancelled in June because of bad weather.

8.  Discussion of ministries oriented to senior citizens was postponed until the next meeting.

9.  Martin Stokes agreed to represent the Community at the next Presbytery Council meeting on October 16.  Skip Hastings distributed a CD Rom of Stewardship information.  The Community tentatively planned a Pulpit Swap for April 6, 2008.

10.  Community members set October 21 from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Lexington Church for a briefing on disaster response.  Carolynn Thalmann of the Presbytery Disaster Response Team will lead the meeting.  Preliminary questions include (a) naming a liaison from the Community to the Presbytery Team, (b) deciding whether our Community needs one or two teams, (c) members to serve on the Mission Community Response Team.

11.  Collierstown will host Presbytery on February 9, 2008 and may request help from Mission Community Churches for worship and other elements of the meeting.

12.  The Community discussed the idea of hiring a person, such as a retired pastor, to spearhead our Mission Community work.  Members will continue to contemplate the idea which will be discussed in January.

13.  The Community scheduled the next regular meeting for January 27 at Bethesda at 2:30 p.m.  Note:  The special disaster response meeting on October 21 Lexington.

14.  The Community adjourned with prayer led by Martin Stokes.

Respectfully submitted,
Rob Sherrard