MEETING OF THE BOARD

Neepawa United Church

November 17, 2020

via ZOOM

Present: Jane Goudie, Bert Lowry, John Lea, Bob Durston, Brian Bailey, Linda Hart, Pat Fedoruk, Susan Phillips, Nora Kaye, Ella Jarvis, Judy Elgert, Betty Ebner, John Douglas, Chad McCharles

1. Call to order – Jane called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm.

2. Opening Meditation – Chad read a passage from the book The Time is Now – A Call to Uncommon Courage by Sister Joan Chittister, followed by an opening prayer.

3. Additions to the Agenda –

The following changes were made to the agenda:

- add to New Business: appointment of a NUC Board Member to the NUASM Nominating Committee

- move Policy and Procedure Manual Revision from Old to New Business

4. Adoption of the Agenda

Bert Lowry moved adoption of the agenda as amended, seconded by Pat Fedoruk. Carried

5. Adoption of the Minutes – One change was made to the Oct. 20, 2020 Minutes. Under 7L) Special reports, the sentence “Sunday School teachers are paying for their own materials so no expense to the Board” was changed to “Sunday School teachers are paying for the subscriptions to “Sermons for Kids”.

Nora Kaye moved adoption of the corrected Oct. 20, 2020 minutes, seconded by Betty Ebner. Carried

6. Correspondence

- Heather Lee, on behalf of the Committee on Community of Faith Support, sent info on the Covenanting of Faith Agreement between the Neepawa United Church and Prairie to Pine Regional Council. She thought we might want to change the agreement to reflect our current situation as NUASM. She included suggestions for changes that could be made.

- Susan Phillips agreed to review the current agreement and revise it. She will let Heather know that we are making changes. Susan will consult with the Implementation Committee on the changes and send the revised document to the NUC Board before the December Board Meeting.

7. Committee Reports

A) Pastoral Care – Betty reported

Sympathy Get Well 1 Yr Ann of Death

Oct. 5 3 5

Question about how Betty gets her supplies now the Church is closed. Bob gives her stamps and she has cards at home.

7B) Mission & Service Susan reported

- The mitten tree will be up in the Narthex

- The Nativity Scene will be up outside at the Church in time for Advent.

- Susan plans to put the following information in the announcements and newsletter sent out:

• People are encouraged to give White Gifts, mittens, cash donations for the Salvation Army foodbank and for toys for Christmas hampers

• A reminder that items from the Gifts with Vision catalogue can be ordered. She will supply a link.

• The M&S Committee will be happy to pick up items that people wish to donate.

 C) Ministry & Personnel – Brian Bailey noted that the Salvation Army will not be having its kettles out for donations this year. He encouraged everyone to send a check to the Salvation Army in Neepawa.

- The M&P meeting had to be cancelled due to new RED code for COVID. Brian spoke to employees and they seem to be weathering the storm. The M&P Committee will call a new meeting once conditions are favourable.

D) Treasurer –

• Bob applied for the $5,000 provincial bridge support grant

• The wage subsidy is applied for by the Anglican Diocese

• Bob Reported that the ZOOM license has been purchased with Chad and Dawn Gardy as hosts. The projector for the CEC has also been purchased.

• We are in a deficit position at the end of Oct. St. James’ has been donating $2,000 a month starting in July. The UCW has not made a donation this year since they have not been able to have any of their fundraisers.

• Bob indicated that we are still waiting for more responses to the Fall Canvas

• Bob will purchase gift cards for Christmas gifts for staff and some volunteers.

• Bob Durston presented the Financial Report to the end of October 2020.

• He also included the preliminary NUC budget for 2021. It includes a line for NUASM in the amount of $1,500. This amount will be available for the Worship Committee and Sunday School. We will need a motion to allow the NUASM to spend the $1,500 on Worship and Sunday School with invoices being given to Bob to pay.

Income $115,907.94

Expenses $123,490.36

Deficit $7,582.42

Moved by Bob Durston, seconded by Ella Jarvis, that the Treasurer’s Report be adopted. Carried

E) Property John Douglas reported.

• The heat tapes have been plugged in

• The heat systems have all been serviced

• Yard work is complete

• The snow clearing list for weekends has been sent out to volunteers.

• Touchwood is under contract to clean sidewalks for Mon to Fri. this year, with volunteers on weekend. Another possibility discussed was to hire Corey Middleton for $300 a month for 5 months, 7 days a week. To be discussed in Sept. 2021 as a possibility for next year.

7F) UCW Nora Kaye reported

• The first General UCW meeting since March 4th was held on October 21st.

• It was decided that there will be no UCW Christmas Party this year, and after some discussion it was decided that UCW will not do Christmas Cookie Trays in December. 

• Instead of cookie trays it was suggested that we send a Christmas card with the Christmas Morning Baggies (if the Worship Committee is doing baggies this year). It was moved that we would use a Christmas card designed by Susan Drayson. The card will be printed by the Neepawa Banner Press and will have " designed by Susan Dayson" added at the bottom of the card.It was also thought that perhaps we could include a few other items such as an " In Memorium " for the women we lost during the past year and perhaps a Christmas story or poem

• Fund raising was also a topic for discussion. UCW has generated no funds since February 2020 because of COVID-19.It was suggested that all UCW members could consider the money they spend each year baking and cooking for church suppers, brunches and funerals and perhaps make a donation to UCW that would approximate that amount. It is hoped that contacting the UCW members will be completed soon.

• In October, soup that was left in the freezer from the Soup/Biscuit and Pie Lunch in February 2020 was donated to the South Quill Food Bank in Erickson.. The Food Bank was most grateful.

• Throughout the Pandemic various UCW members have been phoning church members that do not receive the Church Newsletter by email to keep them informed of the activities and status of the church.

• UCW looks forward to the New Year when, hopefully, we will be able to resume some of our "normal" activities.

G) Pastoral Charge Supervisor’s Report John Lea reported

As John listens to the Reports to the Board, he is impressed with the Board and it flexibility during this time of COVID and the ability to still “be” the Church. With Chad in place, John is looking forward to being able to back off a little and has already noticed fewer calls to him. He appreciates Chad’s contributions.

H) Trustees – nil

I) Worship Committee – under New Business

J) Stewardship – under Old Business

K) Prairie to Pine Region - Susan reported that 4 NUASM members are taking part in a webinar called "Preaching the Big Questions". It's a 3 week program and this week's topic is Angels. Sessions have been recorded. If interested, let Susan know.

L) Special Reports – nil

M) Minister’s Report Chad submitted the following report.

- Chad added that an Advent Workshop for the congregation via ZOOM is being planned for the beginning of Dec. The workshop is on leading prayers during the Sunday Service.

N) Acceptance of all reports was moved by Susan Phillips and seconded by Nora Kaye. Carried

8. Old Business

A) Organizational Chart

Jane asked us to review the Organizational Chart prepared by the Implementation Committee. Discussion re:

Past Chair: NUASM Board does not have this position but NUC Board would like to keep this position in the event we do not have a Vice-chair.

Treasurer: NUASM lists a Treasurer position but Bob suggested that the Neepawa United Church and St. James’ Anglican Church treasurers send their monthly financial reports to the NUASM Board before their Board Meetings and only attend NUASM Board meetings if there was a question.

8A) continued

Mission and Service: Susan felt that there should be a PWRDF rep on the NUASM board as well as Mission and Service. This question will be taken back to the Implementation Committee.

Stewardship: This position was listed on the NUC Board and the NUASM board. Question arose about duties. Linda will send stewardship info prepared by Murray Hart to Board Members.

9. New Business

A) Worship Committee

• Pat Fedoruk asked for direction on when the Church should be re-opened. It was agreed that we should have live services as soon as the COVID level in our area allows it. The Board is supportive of the decisions that the Worship Committee makes.

• The Board felt that the Christmas Eve Service should be done virtually even if live services are possible.

• We will have the Blue Christmas Service in person if possible and virtually otherwise.

• Chad reported that Judy Elgert, Carolyn Durston, and Chad are recording Sunday Services mid-week for the following Sunday. The program would then be available on Sun. morning on NACTV.

Pat submitted the following written report:

Worship Committee Report to NUC Board November 17, 2020

The Worship Committee was meeting via Zoom on November 10, trying to put modified Advent plans in place, when the announcement came that the Province of Manitoba would be in covid code red status on November 12.

In person worship services are cancelled until further notice. Our virtual services will be taped on Wednesday to give time for Judy to get them transferred to our digital platforms and hopefully for NACTV to slot in Sunday morning.

The sound and camera crew have been working diligently to get the technology fully working.

Our committee meets virtually again on December 8. We would like to have opinions from the Board as to what activities we should proceed with.

December 13 was planned for White Gift Sunday, an M&S outreach project to the community through the Salvation Army Christmas hampers. As of November 16, the SA plan is to distribute only gift cards and toys to the qualified recipients, (no food).

We are uncertain as to how we should handle the annual Christmas morning service take home package (baggies). This is a brief written service with a tealight, two teabags and two small candy canes in a bag. Besides being available to our church families, these baggies were distributed in past years with the UCW cookie trays and to the larger community through the Salvation Army Christmas hampers. Salvation Army is still willing to accept these items, (150). We could assemble 80 to 100 for NUASM to have on hand should we be able to resume live worship. An additional 70 or so would be made available to the UCW ladies for delivery if they so choose. We would require approximately 300 in total, at a cost of .50 to .75 per bag.

The choir will not be Christmas caroling this season.

Blue Christmas service has been scheduled for Thursday December 17 at 7 pm. This is a very special annual service, open to the community, that needs to go forward. We will plan for it to be done virtually, however, if the covid restrictions are eased by then it will an in person service with live streaming. We may not be able to get an extra programming slot at NACTV for this service. We will do our best to get publicity out once we know the status of services. Usually, invitations are mailed to bereaved persons, posters are placed around town and to the ministerial association.

9A) continued

Christmas Eve service – If this can be in person worship, two services may be required, 4 pm and 7 pm. (Friday), to accommodate attendance. Attendees would have to register with the church office for the purposes of sanctuary capacity numbers and contract tracing. Of concern is the potential for too many family guests from unknown locations to attend. Prairie to Pine Council may not endorse live Christmas eve services this year.

It should be noted that there will be extra expenses for sound crew and pianists to produce the Blue Christmas and Christmas Eve services.

Rev. Chad will be hosting, via Zoom on December 2 at 7 pm, a training for scripture readers. This Advent activity will help those who volunteered as readers to write Prayers of the People.

Christians consider Advent to be a season of waiting – waiting to celebrate the birth of Jesus. The year 2020 will be recorded in history as a year of waiting, making alternate plans and waiting some more for the corona virus to be controlled. Please continue to uphold each other, our faith family and our communities with prayer and safety considerations.

B) Appointment of a NUC Board Member to the NUASM Nominating Committee

Bert volunteered to be on this committee. Other members are Anita Ong, Jackie Snider and Lynda Lowry

C) Policy and Procedure Manual

Bob Durston volunteered to revise the NUC Policy and Procedure Manual and send it out to board Members before the Dec. Board Meeting.

D) Nominating Committee for 2021 Neepawa United Church Board

• Bert is currently trying to fill positions on the Board.

• The following people have terms that go for one more year: Jane as Pres., John Douglas as Property, Ella as Member at Large, Jan Bailey as a trustee. John would like a trainee in Property.

• The following agreed to continue for another 2 year term: Linda as Secretary, Bob as Treasurer, Judy Elgert as Member at Large.

• Jan /Nora will be the UCW reps for one more year.

• Bert indicated that he needs to fill the Vice Chair and Stewardship positions.

E) 2021 Neepawa United Church Board Meetings

A motion was made and passed to have NUC regular Board Meetings in Jan., May, Sept. and Nov. and have the NUC 2020 Annual Meeting on Feb. 14, 2021 at 11:30 am after Church Service with Committee reports to be submitted to Dawn by Jan. 14, 2021.

10. Moment of Levity

11. Next scheduled Board Meeting is December 15, 2020 at 7:00 pm via ZOOM.

12. John Lea gave a closing prayer and blessing.

13. Jane adjourned the meeting at 9:10 pm.

MOTIONS

#1.Motion made by Bert Lowry and seconded by Betty Ebner. That the Neepawa United Church regular Board Meetings be held in Jan., May, Sept. and Nov. and that the AGM be on Feb. 14, 2021 at 11:30 am after Church Service with Committee Reports submitted to Dawn by Jan. 14, 2021. Carried.