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| Minutes for the Church Council Meeting
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On: Wednesday 21st September at 20h00
| At: St Marc's Church Centre
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| Present:
| Stephen Coffin (Chaplain), Alan Golton (Asistant Chaplain), David Bailey (Churchwarden), Mark Lewis (Churchwarden), Alison Coulavin (Synod Rep),Valerie Golton (Synod Rep), Elizabeth Cherhal (Secretary), Joseph Agu, Frank Jenkins, Claire Naylor, Dan Wilhelm
| | Absent:
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| | Excused:
| Marie Colbert, Richard Sheppard (Treasurer), John Stinton, Stuart Wilkins
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Minutes:
| | 52.
| Prayer,Apologies
| | 53.
| Approval of last meeting's minutes & Any Matters arising
The minutes were approved.
Matters arising: Julie Brownrigg has volunteered to “dress up” the noticeboard.
Contact list: each member of the council now has a copy of the whole list. Some more names were filled in.
| | 54.
| Church Vision
Follwing the last meeting, emails were exchanged between Stephen, Alan and Claire. What are we actually trying to produce? The welcome document (with the tree on it) has a clear statement of faith on it, therefore there is no point in paraphrasing that. The aim is to describe the heart of church life with a mnemonic “slogan” that we all can remember without having to look it up. Claire’s proposal (words all beginning with G) was thought to be more in line with this idea, but maybe a bit too long. Dan Wilhelm indicated that his last church had such a slogan, in fact it was very similar to Claire’s proposition. The next meeting should decide.
| | 55.
| Children's & youth matters
Stephen reports on having made two phone calls to referees, and encountering no problem. It seems we are not getting ourselves into anything too “heavy” here. In reply to a question from Dan it was explained that the referee must have know the applicant for at least one year.
Claire reported that the Sunday school teachers had held a meeting, and requested that we uphold them in prayer. In september/october they have managed to have two adults for the 3-5s. They are thinking of using walky talkies to contact each other in case of emergency.
There are up to 60 children in Sunday school with a potential group of 17 3-7s. Parents are encouraged to look at the folders and bring them back the following week.
Volunteers (parents, or any other member of congregation) should be called on to help clearing up. There is no reason why the teachers should do it.
The syllabus and teaching is going well.
Regarding the youth group, their monthly youth service is a success and they would like to aquire a small video projector. This could perhaps come out of the 2500E budget for youth work. Several people stressed that it would be helpful to have one.
| | 56.
| Church committee reports
- Social/Catering: the new tables are much appreciated. The committee is providing refreshments for the games evening and taking care of the flower festival.
- Evangelism: the next men’s supper will be on 18th november. The speaker should be ? Patterson from Lyon. Dan said that sometimes the speakers are too “strong” and could put people off. Alan said that he could understand that, but you must sometimes expect a christian message in such an occasion. For instance, it seems that Dr Brad Kay was much appreciated, and yet his message was very strong. Alan is also organising a men’s walk, but so far he has had little feedback on this proposition.
- Events: A games evening is organised on 15th october, and a scottish dancing evening is also in preparation.
| | 57.
| International Student Worker
Sally has now arrived, and her appartment is in Tour Mont Blanc, Bd Mal Leclerc. Stephen is to meet with her soon. She is enrolling in a CUEF course (french for foreigners).
Howard and Donna Diehl will not be with us quite yet, as their fund raising is not going as well as they hoped.
| | 58.
| Making prayer a priority in Church life
How to put more emphasis on prayer ? Stephen asked for suggestions from people’s experience in other churches. The prayer chain could be reinstituted, but it must not turn into just a “prayer for the sick” chain.
Claire proposed that small groups commit themselves to praying about a topic. For instance there could be groups praying for the different committees.
Mark’s organisation of the prayers at Regan and Rebecca’s leaving party was cited as a good example. He made a list of items to pray for and contacted a few people and asked each person to pray for an item.
Again the idea of prayer ministry at the end of services was brought up, and it was stressed that the notices should be given before the last hymn.
| | 59.
| Treasurer's report
The treasurer was in england, but 2 matters were brought up:
- Response to the Niger appeal from Tearfund. The council (contacted individually) had approved giving to this.
- Paying speakers: Alan brought up the fact that a church rule needed changing. The rule stipulates that any committee activity should be auto-financed. This should not include evangelism, because speakers need to be paid, and this makes the meal price too expensive, and therefore can discourage people from coming. The church budget should have a heading for such activities.
| | 60.
| Any other matters notified to Secretary or Chairman
- Badges: Jen Bateman suggests we wear badges every Sunday. With such a changing population, this would help people know who is who. The general feeling among the council is “why not” ? Jen is encouraged to go ahead with this.
- Covenant players: This is a group of actors who organise sketches and performances in (or out of) services. They want to come to Grenoble. Their prices are 300E down for a performance, or 175E plus the collection. They are in the habit of contacting anyone whose phone number they know, usually at rather short notice. Anyone contacted by them should refer them back to Stephen. To quote Claire: “They are good, devoted, but slightly disorganised”.
| | 61.
| Closing Prayer
The meeting ended in prayer.
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