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1. Constitution
At Linlithgow and within the Kirk Hall of St Michael’s Parish Church, Linlithgow on Tuesday 18th October 2011which date and place Kirk Session of St Michael’s Parish Church Linlithgow met and was constituted with a reading from the Beatitudes and prayer.
A letter was tabled from Rev Dr Stewart Gillan to confirm that in his absence due to illness Rev John Paton should moderate the Kirk Session.
2. Sederunt and Apologies
As detailed on the attached sheets.
3. Minutes
The minute of the meeting of 20th September was approved subject to small amendments.
4. Matters Arising
All matters will be covered in normal business.
5. Agreeing of any other business to form item 10.
Bubblegum and Fluff – Suzi Farrant
Collation of Crosswind – Bob Ross
6. Team Reports
Fellowship Team – no report.
Worship Team – Elma Birrell provided a verbal report on the following matters:
Priorities for the Worship Team
The priorities for the Team were confirmed –
(1) Ongoing evaluation of the projection system
(2) Development and maintenance of the Sunday afternoon services
(3) Follow up relevant responses from the Stewardship campaign
(4) Souper Sunday event
Under (3) the group agreed to develop a more child-friendly approach to the early part of the 9.30am service and to continue discussion of the requests for individual cups at the quarterly communion services, the latter question is one on which members could be canvassed by visiting elders.
Worship Questionnaire prepared by Marshall Green – The Worship Team will provide a written summary of the report in a Sunday order of service for the congregation. Use of the screen will be further developed although it is recognised that this could involve more work for the ministers.
Souper Sunday – The event was well supported. £1025 was the sum raised for which Elma thanked all the ‘soup fairies’ who had supplied the soup as well as all who participated.
Results UK Group – The Group has not received any further enquiries as a result of their presentation on Souper Sunday.
Stewardship Campaign – The Banner Group has been resurrected as a result of the campaign and has in mind to produce a new design for a Twinning Banner as well as a possible banner for weddings. The paper banners produced by Junior Church for Harvest have been commended.
Jane Stewart from the congregation will lead a workshop on the visual arts possibly for Advent or Lent.
Harvest service – The Worship Team hopes to engage more with farmers and producers for next year’s service and will send out individual invitations to farmers.
Sarah Gillan will run a music workshop on 10th December with an evening performance of their work at 6.30pm. The workshop will be free but there will be an opportunity to make a small donation to cover heat and light costs.
Remembrance Service – The Team is considering the format for the 2012 service in respect of the participation of our children. One of the options to be considered will be an Act of Remembrance at the 9.30am service particularly for young people, although they will still have a part to play in the later service.
Presentation Group – A reworking of the church display boards is underway. It has been agreed by the Worship Team that the boards have had great impact.
A hymn singing event has been requested to take place in January or February. New Sunday service readers have also been recruited as a result of the Stewardship campaign.
Christingle – Anne Bennie will coordinate the stewarding of the service once again.
Business team – Peter Russell commented first of all on the statement of Income and Expenditure. The Freewill offering contributions are ahead of budget but income received is very similar to last year. It has not been possible to contain property expenditure due to some emergency repairs. Peter noted some positive signs with regard to our finances – 41 new gift aid agreements have been signed for example. The Finance Team will have to examine the October income and expenditure figures before commenting on trends.
The Ministries and Mission contribution for next year has been received and is in excess of £168,000. We had received a rebate for 2011, which makes the new figure appear even greater. The Finance Team is in discussion with Presbytery at the moment to negotiate a reduced figure. The trend in our monthly accounts still suggests that we will have a significant deficit at the end of the year. Peter noted that our general reserve would not keep us afloat for one month and our deficit will be enough to wipe out all our funds in the general reserve. There are however still substantial reserves in the fabric fund although we cannot commit to any fabric fund expenditure at the moment. We still have ambitions to rewire the church but this funds statement shows that we cannot do that prudently.
OSCR does not like to see large reserves in charities accounts. However we aim for six months as reserves. Ian Musgrave has produced a new funds statement document for the first time to aid understanding.
The repairs to the cladding on the church tower are currently being undertaken and we will claim the expenditure through our insurance. The roof in the Cross House flat also sprang a leak in October. There has been water damage to the AV room and the audio loop, and damage to the carpet in the Adam Room.
The Conditions of Let of our premises are being redrafted to show that the lessee has responsibility for complying with the PVG Scheme (safeguarding regulations).
The Konevets Quartet will be returning this year.
The Kirkgate Lecture will take place in the Burgh Halls on 26th October.
In response to a question Peter confirmed that the Guild is providing teas and coffees for the Advent Fair in the town.
Neil Irvine suggested that we need to weed the paths around the church – there is need for spraying. The Property team will be asked to address this.
Education Team – no report.
Evangelism Team – no report.
Pastoral Care Team – Ruth Middleton presented in place of Sheila Rae.
Ruth wanted to draw a few things to the attention of Session from the report.
Ten people have volunteered as Church visitors. All have been interviewed and gone through the safeguarding process. The interviewing team had very good discussions with these new people – they discussed the difference between visiting as a member of the church and as a friend.
Ruth also wanted to highlight our understanding of confidentiality. It means for us that we have skilled people who can visit people in our elders’ districts without fear of information seeping out. The Pastoral Care Team will try to match people up with their visitors depending on the skills of the visitors and the needs of the parishioners. The Elder and Visitor can enter into a new partnership.
Home Communions – Since a lot of the Sunday afternoon Communion congregation previously received Home Communion, there are now very few members who receive it. However Home Communions are still available – if any elder has a member who would like this they should contact Ruth.
A Bereavement Group is being set up for which there will be an article in the next Crosswind.
Frances Burgess asked elders to mention the information available in the Lighthouse when we visit. For example there are new materials available for people coping with relatives with dementia.
Safeguarding – Anne Bennie reminded Kirk Session that the General Assembly has instructed that everyone on Kirk Sessions has to have safeguarding training. Many of the St Michael’s elders have done this already but if they haven’t had anything a training session will be organised for January 2012.
One of our new members James McIntosh has gone through the PVG checking process and is helping with the BB. James’s appointment was approved.
Stewardship – no report.
Finance Working Group – no report.
7. Report from Presbytery – no report.
8. Twinning – It was reported that Stewart Gillan and Fiona Duke attended a Twinning conference in Perth run by World Mission which they had both benefited from.
9. Session Clerk’s Report
Evangelism team – David Timperley has volunteered to follow Stephen Marshall as leader of the Evangelism Team. Session’s response to this news was hearty applause.
There will be a Communion Practice for newer elders on Saturday 29th October at 9.30am.
The Clerk reminded Session that Rob Rawson will return to lead us in a training session and follow up to the conference on 20th December.
The Clerk made a plea for new Communion servers for the 9.30am service. The Clerk also reminded Elders to check whether they were on duty.
The Clerk advised that the Nominations Committee of the Council of Assembly is seeking nominations from Kirk Sessions of people willing to be considered for service on the Church Councils. If any elder is interested in being considered for nomination – or thinks that there might be someone in the wider congregation – they were asked to contact the Clerk.
10. Bubblegum and Fluff – Suzi reminded Session that this initiative launched last year as an opportunity to tell local children in schools about the Christmas Story. Suzi intends to run this again in conjunction with local schools and the other churches. She appealed for group leaders to help with music, etc. For anyone who is interested there is a Planning meeting on Wednesday 21st November at 183 High Street. The Moderator commended the initiative.
Collation of Crosswind – The collation of Crosswind will take place on 14th December. Since Jim Hogg is no longer able to undertake the tea duty, Bob Ross is seeking a new volunteer. John Reid suggested that he use the list of volunteers from the Stewardship Campaign of members who wanted to help in the office.
11. Date of next meeting – 15th November 2011.
There being no further business Kirk Session closed with the saying together of the Grace.
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