Annual Church Business Meeting Dec. 19

We are having our annual church business meeting on December 19th at 5:00pm. This is a time to receive reports from our ministry leaders, vote in new council members, ask questions and hear what is coming next for Grace Community Church. This meeting is open for all attendees and members. Only member have the opportunity to vote.

A New Holiday Tradition

We all do Christmas Trees, listen to Christmas music eat the cookies, drink the cider and give gifts right? Ever wanted to do something more spiritual around the holidays? Check out this article on The Jesse Tree Tradition!http://www.crosswalk.com/11641703/

November 2010 Council Mtg Minutes

Grace Community Church Council Meeting

11/9/2010

Attending: Mike Moore, Chuck Baker, Guy Basso, Dave Bertolini, Jim Cross, Susie Futrell, Bob Herndon, Kristie Taylor.

Dave opened with prayer.

Council meeting was called to order by Mike Moore.

October minutes were approved.

Facilities Projects Status

Council reviewed the current budget status of facility updates.

* We have sold the old metal folding chairs.

* Our costs for master site planning will likely be significantly less than originally budgeted.

* We have obtained a bid for $1000 to replace 3 ovens in the kitchen which includes free labor. A motion was made to include 3 new stoves in the “freshening” budget as previously discussed in March and April 2010. Motion was approved.

· The exterior cross replacement will total about $1000 more than originally anticipated. Council approved the increase and will move forward to install a metal lighted cross.

· Chuck and Bob met with an interior designer for input about how to best address the fellowship hall updates. She will be getting back to them with more concrete recommendations.

Action: Chuck and Bob will bring the recommendations to the next meeting for discussion.

Action: Bob will complete bid activities and get them to Jim to plug into the capital improvement budget.

Action: Jim will bring the updated capital improvements budget to the next meeting for review.

Action: Dave will check with Tara about establishing a check-out process for church property and will send it to Kristie to distribute to Council for review.

Budget Review

The budget activity was reviewed. We are on budget for September and October.

Jim will prepare a budget planning session for next year’s planning cycle. Council will attempt to budget the cash amounts in the months the expenses are expected to be incurred to assist in careful monitoring throughout the year.

The Church Mutual insurance policy is being updated. We are required to address a few issues including the installation of a barrier at the top of the basement stairs, establishing a vehicle and driver policy, and updating and storing the asset inventory list and video record.

Action: Tara will email the vehicle policy out to Council for review. It needs to address the required age of drivers and insurance requirements per driver and vehicle.

Pastors Update:

Dave has begun his new role and is working on enhancing communication between Council, Elders, and the congregation. He is using Facebook and Twitter in addition to the use of our website for electronic communications. Additionally, his role is to communicate direction, requests, and information to the ministry leaders via bi-monthly meetings.

Pastor Guy enjoyed his sabbatical time.

He will lead a December sermon series called “Advent Conspiracy” – Worship Fully, Give More, Spend Less, Love All.

The Door Hanger outreach will occur in March leading up to Easter.

Jews for Jesus will be performing at our church on Palm Sunday.

Tim Howard is now leading a prayer ministry for GCC. The prayer team will stay after the close of Sunday services to meet with those wanting prayer. Training for the team will be Nov. 21, and the prayer activity will begin in December.

Teacher standards and training is being discussed. Charisa is hosting a teacher training in the coming months.

Library update – There are some improvement ideas that are being considered.

Pastor Guy will continue to preach from Ephesians this month.

Connections 101 will be held over the next 3 weeks.

Council member recruitment is going well.

Council Membership and Documentation

Chris Flaming has stepped down as Secretary. Kristie is filling in until a new Secretary is appointed. Angela is still on the financial paperwork and will remain as an authorized signer until the Secretary position is filled as well. This was Mike’s last meeting as moderator. His service and leadership have been greatly appreciated!

There will be a tentative church membership meeting Dec. 19 to vote in new Council members.

Food For the Hungry in Peru

While there are no additional planned trips to Peru, our church would still have the opportunity to lead groups there. Anyone interested in leading a group in the future will need to be qualified by the Elders to do so.

Food For the Hungry is no longer supporting the community of Acho Mego effective December 2010. We are hopeful that Food For the Hungry will communicate the termination of support to existing child sponsorships in that community, and we anticipate they will ask those families to assume sponsorship of another child in a different community.

The next council meeting was set for Dec. 14 at 6:30 in the Conference Room.

Chuck closed in prayer.

This is a day that many Christians today face with fear and trepidation. However, I came across a passage today that puts the election into perspective. It is Psalm 2.

1Why do the nations rage
and the peoples plot in vain?
²The kings of the earth set themselves,
and the rulers take counsel together,
against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying,
³"Let us burst their bonds apart
and cast away their cords from us."

⁴He who sits in the heavens laughs;
the Lord holds them in derision.
⁵Then he will speak to them in his wrath,
and terrify them in his fury, saying,
⁶"As for me, I have set my King
on Zion, my holy hill."

⁷I will tell of the decree: The LORD said to me, "You are my Son;
today I have begotten you.
⁸Ask of me, and I will make the nations your heritage,
and the ends of the earth your possession.
⁹You shall break them with a rod of iron
and dash them in pieces like a potter’s vessel."

¹⁰Now therefore, O kings, be wise;
be warned, O rulers of the earth.
¹¹ Serve the LORD with fear,
and rejoice with trembling.
¹² Kiss the Son,
lest he be angry, and you perish in the way,
for his wrath is quickly kindled.
Blessed are all who take refuge in him.