Minutes:
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| 26.
| Prayers and Apologies (please inform Stephen or Elizabeth)
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| 27.
| Approval of last meeting's minutes & any matter arising from these (& not otherwise on the agenda)
The minutes were approved. Matters arising were:
- the FNAC cheque still has not been done for the auditor
- Tilly’s bibles: they have been transferred to Pastor Osacr Nkundi
- Siret n° : We now have one !
- Chaplain’s apartment: progress being made !
- Website: a meeting between Mark, Stephen and Elizabeth is planned
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| 28.
| Sermon series & home groups and plans for the autumn
- Sermons: The sermon series on the 10 commandments is starting. One commandment will be treated every week. Feedback is being asked from the congregation. Different “special Sundays” such as Harvest festival and Remembrance Sunday in fact fit in very well with the commandments.
- Home Groups: Home groups have started for the autumn. Dante is overseeing this.
- A special “study” day on Islam will be organised with speaker Nick Van Wingerden. Some discussion as to whether to combine this with the away weekend took place. In the end it was decided to have a day’s study. It was thought we’d reach more people in this way.
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| 29.
| Away weekend
Several dates were discussed, it was impossible to find a suitable date not clashing with already planned events this term.
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| 30.
| Supporting the Lewis family
The date for flying is the 25th. Carine very much appreciated the “send off” party organised for her by Marie. Everyone is encouraged to sign the card and book special dates on the calendar to pray for them. A rota of people for postcard writing could be set up. Before they go, they should appoint someone as their special “contact person” for St Marc’s. At present they are feeling positive and supported.
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| 31.
| Children & youth work for the autumn
Loreena returns from the States with material for study. The “youth” group is now too spread out in age to have teaching for all. It was thought that the older ones could help the younger ones.
There are 2 groups for children’s ministry: Montserrat & Dona and April & Julie. The subject of promoting some crèche children to Sunday school was brought up, and it was thought that the younger ones (only just 3, or not quite 3 yet) should stay one more year in the crèche.
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| 32.
| Student & 20s ministry
There are quite a few new students this year, notably Hannah East who was here a while back. The idea is to make up a group of students and young adults (in their 20s) for fellowship, walks, visits, etc. Lilan seems to be taking the lead in this, which is very encouraging. Sadly Emile and Angela are going to the States quite soon.
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| 33.
| Staffing St Marc's Centre & "La Source"
- St Marc’s : now St Marc’s has its office, there should be people in it for a “permanence”. The idea is to have people from each church. (see below item 36 for la Source).
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| 34.
| Welcoming newcomers & encouraging fellowship
- Jason has brought back some “welcome” material from his church in the states. The first suggestion is to have one “old” person and one “new” one welcoming at the door every Sunday.
- Mark and Carine are moving their belongings out to Carine’s parents house on Sept 20th.
- Vincent and Laure are moving house on Sept 29th and looking for helpers.
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| 35.
| Confirmation of our Child Protection Officer (Alison)
The council is happy to confirm Alison as CPO. Jason wondered whether ther could be a deputy. No one who works with children within the church can be the CPO, as the possibility exists that people might want to lodge a complaint about them. It is a good idea for the CPO (or deputy) to be able to speak french.
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| 36.
| Request from Pastorale Evangélique for gift from each member Church of 150 euros, for exhibition at La Source and to cover general deficit
- The pastorale évangélique is a group of 15 pastors who meet regularly and decide on common activities. For instance there wil be a common service on 28th October at the patinoire and, there is the exhibition at la Source.
- La Source : La source is a Christian information centre just next to the “musée” tram stop. They are looking to get more oecumenical. They have a mini training program for staff. In October there are going to be posters in there about the evangelical movement. They are asking for 150E money to fund this. This was voted.
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| 37.
| Any other matters
- Rota : Marie has now taken over the rota and, having been away for a while, sometimes has dufficulty identifying people. Could we do another photo album? Or have badges? A “lighter” solution was suggested: putting up photos (with names) on the board.
- 21st October: the service will not be in St Marc’s but in the Temple Réformé rue Hébert.
- Penny proposes we think about uncluttering our lives: making to do (and not to do) lists for instance.
A couple of upcoming events:
- 10th november is the square dancing evening.
- Carol serive on 16th December
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| 38.
| Closing prayer
The meeting ended in prayer.
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