KASKASKIA RIVER DISTRICT MINISTRY MEETING

SEPTEMBER 28, 2009—7:00 P.M.—FLORA FIRST UMC

In attendance:

Cathy Seaton, Bunny Wolfe, Bessie Adams, Tommy Vaught, Sheron L. Murray, Cheryl Cain, Steve Williams, Bill Wright, Dennis Gambill, Joyce Coffey, Mark E. Nowakowski, Marilyn Gerstenecker, Betty Stoltz, Pauline Stoltz, Brad Henson, Gary Pearce, Richard Brown, Mike Rucker, Cindy Jones, Nancy Myers

Regrets: Deetta Gaither

Cindy opened the meeting using a CD by John Michael Talbot of St Francis’s prayer.

Tommy Vaught gave devotions using I Corinthians 6:12 and talking about the changes in our society and how we need to take a new approach with our young people.

Approval of the minutes as printed was made by Joyce Coffey, seconded by Tommy Vaught. Passed.

NEW AND EXCITING MINISTRIES IN THE DISTRICT:

Covenant Care groups have been started among the clergy and a new one for clergy women has been started by Deetta Gaither in Lawrenceville County.

Landes church is having a gospel sing with Haskell Cooley, former piano player for the Cathedrals.

Brad brought flyers highlighting Jeremy Henson’s workshop in October 10^th at Olney Immanuel. This will be an interactive    

experience with both clergy and laity and is a ministry of encouragement.

Tommy Vaught mentioned the revival held in Lawrenceville; his granddaughter had been part of a healing service and found relief from pain in her legs.

Fairfield Ministerial Alliance is sponsoring a workshop for all churches entitled ‘Let’s Grow Together’.

VIM reported a trip is planned for this fall, 23 are going to Houston, Texas area to work on Hurricane Ike damage. They have 2 trips a year and would like to plan 3.

Gary Pearce reported that a house in the town of Billet blew up injuring a 15 year old boy; he had burns over 47% of his body, but through prayer was able to come home from the hospital and return to school in 3 weeks. A benefit is planned by the Zion and Billet UMCs for the family with a fish fry, proceeds to help rebuild the families house.

Fairfield First has a meal on Fridays after school for high schoolers, they had 98 last Friday.  Ellen Moore UMC has started an after school program for kids several days each week. Bessie Adams told us that 4 of the churches in the Wayne County Parish are going to start a combined UMW group. She also reported that attendance at the churches has become more stable with the use of 2 certified lay speakers, Diane Goff and Paul Rose.

Dennis Gambill of Sandoval Shalom said his Women’s Lay Covenant group has been praying for healing 2 hours a week and have had successful healings. The Shalom Zone fed 5,000 meals this summer to children.

Farina is in their 3^rd year of Impact Ministries, a club that encourages young people to eat nutritiously and to exercise, they had 45

last week.

Brad has found a new source for good inexpensive banners. He showed a banner he had made for Fruitful Congregations. Contact Brad if you want the e-mail.

DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT, CINDY JONES:

Cindy shared with us her contact information. Cindy is having office hours in the Village most weeks on Wednesday from 10:00-4:00. Fridays are her Sabbath day.

The Helpshops held on Sunday, September 27 at Salem and Mt Carmel had about 60 people in attendance. The workshops were on Finance, rural church material and Staff/Pastor Parish committees.

October 4^th will be the district celebration and Cindy’s installation. The music starts at 3:30p.m with the program at 4:00. Bishop

Palmer will be preaching along with good music and Cindy’s installation.

Cindy is in the middle of charge conferences and consultations. She would also like to attend any of the cluster meetings she can or cluster events.

A Lay Witness Mission training event is planned for November 13 and 14 at Mt Vernon West Salem Trinity in Mt Vernon.

Other future plans Cindy has are for a Grief Seminar at the UM Village in November, before Thanksgiving and an Advent Retreat for worship leaders in November.

Should she plan a Christmas or Epiphany party? Sometimes Christmas time is very busy, so Epiphany might work.

Other plans for next year are a Safe Sanctuary workshop, a meeting with Julia Wallace for cooperative parishes, a VBS equipping workshop and a confirmation retreat during Lent.

Cindy also has started a newsletter “The Kaskaskia Konnection” for pastors (anyone can read it) that have lots of information in it. It is published on the district website.

CMT STAFF REPRESENTATIVE, Bunny Wolfe:

Bunny mentioned the children’s program in Xenia; they have 60 children on Wednesday nights. They plan to raise $1000.00 for Nothing but Nets.

Kaskaskia River District has been successful in raising enough money to purchase a 4-wheel drive truck for the District Superintendent of Watercess District in Liberia.  We have extra money and will purchase a camera for him and then start raising more money for the second district a truck.

Marlowe UMC has had their last worship service and will be discontinuing. They have some beautiful pews they would like to give to a church, preferably a UMC.

NEW BUSINESS:

Due to new IRS regulations, training for church treasurer’s maybe important and may have to happen soon.

Information is out about the N1H1 flu and communion.

Cheryl Cain announced Advance training for Lay Speakers at Fairfield Ellen Moore on October 24^th. Bumper quick is leading, entitled,

“From Your Heart to There’s”. Basic lay speaker training will be held in the spring.

Brad Henson moved to allow Bunny to purchase a camera from the collected funds and take to the Rivercess D.S. in Liberia. Sheron Murray second, passed.

UMW Annual Meeting at West Salem Zion was well attended, about 110, a full slate of officers was elected and installed, and gifts were presented to Lessie Bates Neighborhood House and to Cunningham Children’s Home. The UMW officer’s update will be on November 7^th at Patoka.

UMM Rally is November 16^th at West Salem Zion, starting at 6:00 p.m., eating at 6:30 p.m. A gospel group will sing and Fred Bishop

from No Greater Love Ministry will do the program.

Dennis mentioned that there are stricter guidelines for charity toys for Christmas, so read and find out. He will send Mike the link to put on the website. You can be fined over some issues.

Cathy Seaton, chair of District Committee on Superintendency thanked Brad Henson and his church for being the greeting hosts for Cindy and Mike when they moved, furnishing them food and a stocked refrigerator.

Mike Rucker is the website manager, he posts on Thursday, so if you have something, send it to him. He will advertise an event for you if you send the info.

Marilyn announced that in 2011 there will be no hard copy calendars and the only way to have one for 2010 is to go online and order one.

NEXT MEETING: MONDAY, NOVMEBER 23, 2009, 7:00 P.M., AT FLORA UMC

DEVOTIONS: BRAD HENSON

REFRESHMENTS: BILL WRIGHT