June 19, 2018 Minutes The Vestry of St. John’s Episcopal Church, Elizabeth City Parish, was called to order on June 19, 2018 at 6:30 PM. Present were members Bill Brown,Charlie Edmonson, Duncan Garnett, Senior Warden Bob Harper, Rosemary Hobart, The Reverend Mark Riley, Steve Rous, Darius Rowe, Ruth Simmons, and The Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander. Those absent included Junior Warden Whiting Chisman, Jr. and Pat Dennehey. The meeting started with a discussion of God’s response to Job’s complaints. Minutes of the May 2018 meeting were approved with the correction that Duncan Brown should be Duncan Garnett, Linda Curtis, Treasurer, reported that the audit will be given to Beth Moore, CPA, to be done for $5,000. A checklist will be sent;and, hopefully, it will be completed quickly. Expenses are over budget which is attributed to oil, gas, and some other line items. Income looks OK. We were reminded that Whiting has switched the oil to PAPCO after being over budget for the year. We have received a gift of $500 for coffee hour/breakfast. Paypal contributions have caused expenses that need to be heavily considered in the next budget. Charlie thanked the Vestry for selecting him to fill the unexpired term of Lloyd Thomas. The architect at the Hoffman House has drawn a mural for the Hoffman House in an effort to help DHDP beautify downtown. He has indicated that he will see that we get funding. Linda said that there are City initiatives that will help pay. DHDP will put in $5000. Steve Rous moved that we favorably consider the concept if it will not encumber us financially. Charlie seconded the motion which was passed with with an amendment that there is no cost and no maintenance required on our part. The Reverend Samantha Vincent-Alexander , Rector, gave her report. Delegates to the 2019 Annual Council are Bob Harper, Pamela Martin, Mary Pat Croft, and Pat Dennehey with Sandy Smith, Charlie Edmonson, and Nancy Beach selected as Alternates. Samantha welcomed Charlie Edmonson to the Vestry. Nathan Houser,our new sexton, started today. He will be introduced to the congregation on Sunday. Due to low registration for Vacation Bible School, we will not go forward with it. The curriculum will be used for the first month of Sunday School in the Fall for the whole church. The Summer focus will be on the music camp. We now have ten guitar students in the Music Academy. The City’s Fine Arts program is closing, and we hope to pick up people. The Hampton Roads Music Academy is vetting the teachers. Rosemary Hobart and Charlie Edmonson will help with plans and the business aspect of the program. St. John’s did the beer pull at the Block Party on Saturday. Bettyrene Pope secured volunteers. We made $413. Unless someone agrees to be in charge next year, we probably will not do the beer pull again. Hope was expressed that one of the younger members of the congregation would choose to lead the effort. The Reverend Mark Riley, Assistant Rector, gave his report starting by giving each of us a copy of all of the feeding programs in Hampton. Mark said that a gate has been put at St. John’s second site on the HU property. A pass code is necessary to enter. Police can be called for entrance. Charlie will check on whether we own the property. We were not informed that HU was putting up the fence. Allen Outlaw,from CNU, wants to dig on the site. Thirty five people have signed up for Rise Against Hunger. We need fifty. We have $500 from last year and $1000 from Outreach. We need $1500 from the congregation. The Charitable Trust will fund what is necessary to cover expenses. Help will be needed to pack up on July 15th. Saturday, June 23rd, is St. John’s day for the Habitat for Humanity house. People can talk to Mark or Parkie Rice to help off site. Work will be done from 8:30 AM until 3:30 PM with safety instruction given at 8:30 AM. On line sign up is available. The absent Junior Warden, Whiting Chisman,Jr., provided his report to Bob Harper. A few days of work on the parish house have been lost due to weather, but work is progressing with a target completion of the end of July. The Senior Warden reported that several Vestry members would be serving the Wednesday Summer lunch tomorrow. There is money in the budget to take care of it, but donations will be accepted to offset the cost. Th Vestry Retreat has been rescheduled for August 24 and 25. The facilitator will be The Reverend Conner Alexander. July 8th and 10th, there will be usher training for safety and various other procedures. CPR will not be included this time. There will be details on the defibrillators. Steve reported on Stewardship. He discussed having a grid on the back of the pledge cards with 3,5, 8, and 10 per cent figures to show the suggested amounts for pledges based on income. Samantha hopes to raise $25,000 more this year so that we don’t deplete the reserves from the Hoffman House. Steve asked about the benefit of a Stewardship luncheon or dinner. Another option is a celebratory or thank you meal. There was no report from Evangelism or Christian Formation. For Outreach, Ruth reported that we have a number of things going on including the Habitat house, RAISE, Summer Lunch, and comfort bags packed to be given at the Summer lunch. Rosemary said that Inreach has met to coordinate the calendar for the year. Charlie is now assigned to work with the music program Darius is pleased that the youth will not serve as acolytes in July and August. Charlie said that we need ten new layreader robes. Bill moved and Duncan seconded the motion that the Memorial Fund be asked to pay for them.
Samantha will be at General Convention July 3-13. Samantha led us in prayer.