Minutes of meeting of Kirk Session held on 20/9/10
1 Constitution
The Kirk Session of St Michael's Parish Church, Linlithgow, met in the Kirk Hall on On Tuesday September 20.
Rev John Paton led a tribute to Iain Walker who died on 6 July 2010 who had been an Elder with St Michael's Parish Church for over 32 years.
Team Reports
6.1 Fellowship Team - Alison Millar spoke to her report. The New Members lunch has changed its name to Welcome Lunch and is being held on Sunday 21 November 2010 at 12.30pm. District Elders will deliver the lunch invites this year to encourage more attendees.
6.2
6.3 Business Team - Tom Chadwick spoke to the Income/Expenditure reports issued for the eight months to the end of August 2010. They are in line with the budget. Finance Team are looking at standing orders as there is a decrease but this is offset with the increase of Weddings and Cross House Bookings income.
The Bells are back in place and a rededication service is taking place on Sunday 26th September. The work was completed as budgeted.
Stewardship Campaign will start with a meeting with Margot Robertson, Stewardship Consultant from 121 George Street on Wednesday 6 October 2010. There will no cost to St Michael's for the use of the Stewardship Consultant as in previous campaigns.
Tom thanked the Finance and Property Teams for all their work.
6.4 .
Moderator advised that Sheila Rae will be taking over the Team Leader role from Ruth Middleton. The Moderator gave thanks to both Sheila for taking on the role and to Ruth for her vision for the team and her work.
7 Report from Presbytery
Derek Henderson spoke to his report of the Meeting of Presbytery on 1 June 2010. The annual report and update of the Guild was presented at the meeting.
Brenda Galloway, who had leave of absence from her duties as a Reader whilst studying for her PhD, has now been awarded her doctorate.
The Moderator advised the Moderator of the General Assembly is in West Lothian Presbytery this week and will be preaching at St Michael's on Sunday 26th September at the 9.30am and 11.00am services. The bells will be rededicated at the 9.30am service and will be rung between services.
8 Session Clerk's Report
October Kirk Session will be discussing the Stewardship Campaign for 2011 and the format it will take. A session will be led by Margo Robertson.
November Kirk Session - Sheila Rae, Pastoral Care Team Leader, will lead a session on Pastoral Care.
Springfield Leader Training was delivered by Derek Henderson to the following people: Barbara Thomson, Bill Hourston, Anne Law, Elma Birrell, Jon Blundell, Gordon Wardall, John Reid and Alan Miller. They are now recognised to lead a service of worship with out a Minister present. Kirk Session agreed.
Personnel changes - Sheila Rae has taken over the Pastoral Care Team Leader role from Ruth Middleton.
Communion Linen Rota - Sheila Musgrave has taken over from Audrey Johnston and Helen Gray.
Communion Elements - Sheila Rae and Marion Duncan have volunteered to take over the team to carry out this role from Agnes Howat.
Junior Church - Alan Kennedy has taken over from Margaret Johnston.
Bible Class -John Shaw has taken over the Leader role from John Reid, with the assistance of Jane MacDonald and Ashley Johnston.
Kirk Session Teams - Stephen Marshall has taken the role of in-reach local Evangelism and Bob Ross will take on the communications role for the Evangelism Team.
Events Coordinator - David Eaglesham has taken over this role from Norman Middleton.
A list of dates for 2010/11 was issued with Kirk Session papers. The AGM listed for 3 May 2011 will need to be changed as it is on the same night at Presbytery meet. A date will be confirmed.
The quarterly communion on 10 April 2011 is not the usual time as Easter Sunday is the last Sunday of April and Palm Sunday is the week before. Mothering Sunday is on the 3 April 2011; this date was agreed by the Ministry Team and Session Clerk.
Afternoon Communion services took place at 3pm in the Kirk Hall in April and June. With Kirk Session's approval, the afternoon Communion services will be run 4 times a year in the Kirk Hall at 3pm. Kirk Session agreed.
On the 31 October 2010 there will be Communion Services at 9.30am, 11am and 3pm. On that day a celebration is being planned for all the Elders that have been ordained for more than 30 years. Our Minister and Associate Minister were both ordained 25 years ago, Alex Adam and George Strachan were ordained as Elders in 1969. There will also be a Kirk Session photograph taken that day, as the last picture taken was in 2003. Following the photograph there will be a sandwich lunch in the Kirk Hall for Kirk Session to celebrate.
At the Kirk Session Conference it was noted that due to the size of Kirk Session not everyone knows each other. Stephen Marshall has started to take photos of Elders and place them on the website. Abbreviated minutes from Kirk Session will be also be placed on the website in future.
Following on from the tribute paid by Rev John Paton to Ian Walker, the Session Clerk wanted to add that he would be greatly missed for his work within Kirk Session, and particularly in the Worship Team..
It has been a busy summer for members of Kirk Session and their families, with weddings, the birth of grandchildren, engagements and retirements. Families have been greatly blessed, while we also remember members of our Session who are ill or whose spouses are unwell.
Update on Bells Appeal - Funds are standing at £4,100. This has been raised with Book Sales, Guild Coffee Mornings and donations from many people including Swiss classic car enthusiasts. The highest donation we have received has been from Friends of St Michael's that amounted to £1000. There will be a Book Sale on Saturday 2 October 2010.
Supporters who donate to the Bells fund will be able 'to write their name in history'. All those who donate will sign the form that will be placed in a time capsule that will be placed in the belfry and won't be opened until the next time the Bells are repaired. Within the time capsule there will also be images on a memory stick of the church.
The Rugby Club Male Voice Choir are keen to hold a concert for the Bells Appeal.
Christmas Card 2010 - if anyone has wintery pictures of the church can you e-mail them to Tim.
Harvest Service, 3 October 2010 - John Shaw along with Ashley Johnston and Jane Macdonald will be leading the service with the Bible Class. John has recently taken over the leadership of the Bible Class and would welcome any information on distribution of the Harvest gifts.
Child Protection - Anne Bennie confirmed the following people have undergone their checks and procedures: Philippa Stanners, Louisa Bredin, Claire Clark, Robin Taylor, Alison Murray, Helen Greig, Jane Van der Westhuizen and Gregor Preston.
9 Date of next meeting
Tuesday 19 October 2010
There being no further business Kirk Session closed with the saying together of the Grace.
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