1 Constitution
At Linlithgow and within the Kirk Hall of St Michael's Parish Church on Tuesday 18th January 2011, which date and place Kirk Session of St Michael's Parish Church Linlithgow met and was constituted with prayer and a reading from Scripture -
The Moderator informed Kirk Session that John Aitken and Roy Dilkes have recently been in hospital and Norman Middleton is continuing his treatment. Thoughts and prayers are with them.
2 Sederunt and Apologies
As detailed on the attached sheets.
3 Minutes of previous meeting (21st December 2010)
These were accepted subject to small changes.
4 Matters arising
There were no matters arising from the Minutes.
5 Agreeing of any other business to form item 10
Jim Hogg - Chogoria Hospital
Tim Brown - Book Sale at Chogoria Coffee Morning and Bells Appeal
6 Budget Presentation
Ian Lambie gave a presentation to Kirk Session on St Michael's finances from 2008 to 2013 in order to get agreement and acceptance of the Budget for 2011 from Kirk Session.
He informed Kirk Session that Finance Team are projecting a deficit for 2011, 2012 and 2013.
The issues for 2011 are to reduce the expenditure where we can and try to hold to 2010 spend. Fabric spending in 2011 will be confined to essential costs only. It had been hoped that the re-wiring of the Church would be completed in 2012 but this will now be on hold.
Ian Musgrave started his presentation discussing 2012. He explained the broad headings that St Michael's are spending on, namely, Ministry, Youth Work, Secretarial, Fabric Maintenance, Heat and Lighting, Cleaning, Rates and Insurance and Other (general expenses).
The source of funds are, taking the Stewardship Campaign allowance out, Standing Orders, Sunday Offerings, Gift Aid Tax Refund, Weddings, Cross House (room lets etc) and Other.
The projected shortfall for 2012 is £15,000.
The challenge ahead is keeping expenditure down and increasing the income. Expenditure has been looked at already with the energy supply contracts being re-negotiated and a new photocopier in the Church Office being changed for a less expensive rental contract.
Ian Lambie confirmed that the cash position at 18th January 2011 is £126,403.30 in the Bank. However outstanding debtors and creditors would leave approximately £120,000. £90,000 of this is in the Fabric Fund and if the re-wiring were to go ahead this would use all of the £90,000.
The Finance Team had a meeting for blue sky thinking and came up with 18 suggestions that could be considered to help keep the expenditure down and increase income. Some ideas include having a book sale at every charity event, the first Saturday in each month run a charity event, charge every group that uses the Church for the use of heat and light and have winter services in the Kirk Hall instead of the Church.
Ian Lambie proposed that Kirk Session accept the Budget for 2011and form a small working group to look at keeping expenditure down, increasing income and also look at the ideas raised by the Finance Team to take forward and that the working group be formed at the February's Kirk Session.
There were questions and answers around the proposal.
Bob Ross seconded the proposal.
Derek Henderson suggested that the working group include some of the wider congregation and not keep members of the working group to Elders only.
Kirk Session agreed to this idea and the proposal.
7 Team Reports
7.1 Fellowship Team - No report.
7.2 Worship Team - No report.
7.3 Business Team - No report. Ian Lambie informed Kirk Session that the protective grills are being installed.
7.4 Education Team - No report.
7.5 Evangelism team - No report.
7.6 Pastoral Care - Ruth Middleton wanted to remind Kirk Session that home Communion is still available but there is only 1 name remaining on the list. If any Elders know of anyone who would like home Communion let Ruth know by the Friday before Communion.
7.7 Safeguarding - Anne Bennie informed Kirk Session that Child Protection Training took place for 16 people on 17th January 2011. The training went very well.
Safeguarding annual records will not be on show this year. During the past year each person that has been cleared has been approved individually by Kirk Session so there is no need to show the records.
The new government PVG scheme will be implemented on 28th February 2011. Anne reminded Kirk Session that only new volunteers in the first year of the scheme will go through the new registration process. In 2012 all existing disclosure checked and those who didn't need a disclosure will start to go through the new registration process.
7.8 Stewardship - Stephen Blake informed Kirk Session that the first full planning meeting was held on 12th January 2011, Margot Robertson Church of Scotland Stewardship Consultant attended. Copies of previous Stewardship campaign materials have been passed to Derek Henderson.
The title of the campaign has been agreed as Stepping Out in Faith.
Presentation team - Peter Russell and his team are progressing. There is a shortage of display boards. If anyone can source them from a place of work can they let Peter know directly.
The timetabling of the campaign has been agreed and will be available to view with Stephen at the end of Kirk Session tonight.
There will be three newsletters and it's suggested the Elders deliver the newsletters. The first will be issued in the middle of February and this will set the tone of the campaign. The second at the beginning of April, these could be delivered on the Communion visits and the third newsletter will be issued at the beginning of May, which will be delivered by the Visitors.
During May there will be special sermons by the Moderator and Rev John Paton for the Stewardship campaign. There will also be 5 minute information slots in the Church and Springfield services in the lead up to the campaign.
Margaret Henderson who is leading the Visitors Team informed Kirk Session that they now have16 Team leaders, 6 of whom are Elders and 10 are not. The Visitor Team Leaders will have to approach a possible 260 names to recruit for visiting but not all would accept. 160 visitors could be needed.
She would like telephone numbers from Elders for everyone in their District. Some Elders would be invited to visit but they would not visit their own District.
Each Visitor that accepts the invitation will be matched up to a District and will be given that District's Elder's name and telephone number.
At February's Kirk Session there will be a print out from the Church roll of members that we do not have contact details for. Elders may have this information and can put these details on the print out.
There was an opportunity for questions and answers on the campaign.
Commitment cards are being developed which will cover the three elements, Time, Talent and Treasure and will include what the person would like to do to help with the campaign.
The Moderator advised the Sunday after the Stewardship events will be "Come and See Sunday" and the Ministry team are planning services in the Church and Springfield.
8 Report from Presbytery
There is no report from Presbytery.
9 Session Clerk's Report
There are no new members.
Correspondence received from Gordon Young regarding the sudden death of Alistair McNeil on 3rd January 2011. His wife Helen was an Elder at St Michael's and also a Secretary in the Church Office. Anne Law will write to Helen.
The Moderator also advised that a number of members had not been aware that the organist Angus Robertson's wife Joyce had died in December 2010. Anne will also write to Angus.
A thank you has been received from Low Port Primary School to say how much they enjoyed Bubblegum & Fluff.
10 Any other items as agreed at item 5
Chogoria Hospital - Jim Hogg advised Kirk Session there is a coffee morning being held on Saturday 5th February 2011 to raise money for the hospital in Kenya. St Michael's has had an association with the hospital for many years. The hospital does not receive any central funding and the Church of Scotland can no longer contribute to the funding. They rely heavily on money from patients and donations. The funds raised will go to a Scottish charity set up by Dr Alison Wilkinson. Help is needed on the Friday night at 8pm to put out tables and chairs and also at the end of the event on Saturday to clear everything away. Names to be passed to Jim Hogg as by having names if there are any changes to the arrangements Jim can contact the volunteer.
Chogoria Coffee Morning Book Sale and Bells Appeal - Tim Brown advised Kirk Session that there will be a book sale at the Chogoria Coffee Morning on 5th February. Over the past 4/5 years the book sale has contributed 10-15% of the overall total. Donations of books, CDs, DVDs or board games can be passed to Tim.
Bells Appeal total stands at £8007.03. This is made up as follows:
Write your name in History (incl tax reclaim) £2590.44
Sale of Books etc £1752.85
Organisation events
Guild £436.50
Quern £521.00
Organ Concert £160.84
Choir Concert £335.40
Senior Citizens Coffee Morning £140.00
Other donations incl
Friends £1000.00
Choir £100.00
St Peters £100.00
Civic Trust £100.00
11 Date of Next Meeting
Tuesday 15th February 2011
There being no further business Kirk Session closed with the saying together of the Grace.
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