July 2021 Newsletter.Pdf
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OLD ST. PAUL’S EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN GAZETTE 2035 Old Conover-Startown Rd. Newton, NC 28658 July 2021 Navigating the wilderness can be a tough experience - just ask the Israelites. All they really wanted was for God to deliver them to the promised land. And the sooner the better, as they were all quite tired of their journey. You can imagine their struggle and the questions they must have been asking: “Why must this take so long?” “Will we ever get there?” They would even, at times, wonder if their better days were somehow behind them rather than yet ahead. But, as we well know, God was faithful to them in every step of their journey. While the Israelites stumbled and grumbled, God gave them Moses to lead them. He provided food and water for them to drink. God granted them safe passage. Indeed, God’s promised land did become their land. God was, through it all, faithful to them all. Old St. Paul’s, you too are on a journey and what perhaps seems like a long walk through the wilderness. As a church with a tremendous history and now great anticipation, you too find yourselves at a crossroads of change, concern and transition. How long will this journey take? Is there a great future ahead or are our best days somehow instead behind us? It is into this moment that I am delighted to serve as your Interim Pastor during this summer - and to now enter with you into the wilderness of this transition. I come to remind you of God’s faithfulness and that you are not alone as you continue to journey together. Yes, there’s been great adjustments. Venturing from Pastor Sain’s retirement to Pastor Judy’s leadership and the challenging walk of Covid with which we’ve all shared, your journey hasn’t been the most straightforward transition. But nor was the Israelites’ journey. Their journey took them some 40 years and had many twists and turns along the way. But with God’s help they persevered and with God’s help so will you. Now I highly doubt your journey between called pastors will be anywhere near 40 years in length, but there will likely yet be some twists and turns along the way. That’s often the case in a journey that takes us to an important and meaningful place. In these couple of months to come I look forward to focusing with you on God’s presence and discerning with you where God’s guidance is leading. I look forward to hearing your stories and to wondering where God is at work right now, in this church and in this moment. My calling is to help you bridge this time as you navigate to what is ahead and I intend to serve you with great intention and my best pastoral care. I also, though, don’t claim to know the future or to have all the answers, but I do know where to turn when to find meaning, direction and peace. Our God, through Christ, accompanies us through all journeys and opens to us his will for our future, individually and as a church together. Let’s tune in together and be open to where God is leading us. Thank you for your warm welcome as your new interim pastor. Let’s be curious together and move boldly into the time to come. Let’s also trust that God is continuing to walk alongside us, faithfully acknowledging that the future God is leading you into will be filled with all the goodness that God intends for you to yet know. In Christ, Pastor Andrew OLD ST. PAUL'S (OSP) LUTHERAN CHURCH COUNCIL MEETING - 5/16/2021 In attendance were: Mark Sigmon, Ken Kiser, Lisa Black, Lanny Hartsoe, Robin Sigmon, Jody Laffon, Terrell Setzer, Tony Setzer, Joni Bentley, Amy Sigmon, Beth Wilson and Josh Winchester Absent: Pastor Judy Drysdale and Christy Stowe Mark Sigmon called the meeting and Lanny Hartsoe led devotion. The minutes for April 11, 2021 meeting need to be revised with changes and will be approved. Mark let Council know that Pastor Judy Drysdale is looking for full time Pastoral position with benefits. She was the primary candidate for Bethlehem Lutheran Church, and they will vote on June 6th. Ken Kiser led OSP in service this morning with 89 in attendance. Joni Bentley made motion to lift restrictions on pews and masks are optional for the sanctuary services. Lisa Black 2nd motion and council approved motion. Tony Setzer made motion to lift restrictions for the Young at Heart group and any indoor events. Joni Bentley 2nd motion with Lisa Black making a comment about someone reaching out to Sharon Marlowe. Jody Laffon offered to call her. Phone tree needs to be updated to reach out to congregation. Out of date phone numbers. Lisa requested that Mark write a letter from the president to be put in the weekly epistle regarding lifting the restrictions. Trustee Report: Discussed needing to give the current roofers and end date to finish. It has been a year and a half. Ken Kiser made a motion to get another quote from different roofing companies. Mark asked Lanny and Terrell Setzer to get another quote. Josh Winchester receive letter from contractor, they are wondering if they need to cancel the renovation permit through the city. Also told us that prices of building material has gone up. It was agreed not to act on renovation as a council at this time Lanny made comment about the letters falling off of the corner signage of the church. Josh offered to check on price for replacing letters. Robin Sigmon made comment about getting a new electrical sign on the south side sign. Financial Secretary Report: Joni Bentley discussed the monthly intake total with 3 months of $64,000. Robin Sigmon asked that the report we receive in council have the year to date amount. Received check for $1,500.00 for the columbarium and it was put in the General Fund. Robin will transfer amount to the cemetery fund. Treasurer Report: Avery the lawn service that mows the church and cemetery has a contract. He sent invoice to Robin for Jan - May. It was paid and will be reflected on May's report per Robin. The general fund for April showed $68,000. On a side note Avery's helper had his car stole from the cemetery as he was mowing. Old Business: Mark to check with Sunquest on dimensions of the knuckle lift to fit in the sanctuary. Tony made comment about the action item for Terrell and Robin made in February for them to update the historical church guidelines. Robin requested a copy of the old guidelines. She said that she will work on updating them with Randy Sigmon. Update on the historical churches siding. East side will be completed the week of May 21st. The south side will be started in the fall. Mark to come up with a proposal to open up the historic church to public. Erin OIlis has received calls from people looking to see where their family plots are located in the cemetery. She cannot find the books that have that information. Jody Laffon will show her where the books of the graves are. Lisa Black will work on getting the layout to post on the website. Terrell Setzer is requesting to invite the younger members of the church to a Council Meeting to give ideas for a more modern service and to also include contemporary music. With Pastor Judy going to another church. OSP will have lay/supply pastors until we find a permanent pastor. Council to take vote on Constitution in the June meeting. Mark handed out updated congregational list for the Council to call and check up on them. Meeting closed with the Lord's Prayer. Next meeting will be June 13 at 6:30 pm. Respectfully submitted by Amy Sigmon, Recording Secretary Financial Secretary Report Bank Account Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 YEAR TO DATE General Fund Account General $ 12,496.00 $ 10,704.00 $ 31,856.71 $ 15,989.15 $ 13,750.50 $ 84,796.36 ECCCM $ 120.00 $ 105.00 $ 250.00 $ 125.00 $ 190.00 $ 790.00 Radio $ 45.00 $ 105.00 $ 45.00 $ 120.00 $ 960.00 $ 1,275.00 Initial Offering $ 139.00 $ 139.00 Endowment Income $ 3,047.14 $ 110.00 $ 335.00 $ 3,492.14 Online Giving Processing Fees ($5.90) ($5.90) Renovation Account $ 80.00 $ 160.00 $ 80.00 $ 320.00 Rental Account $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 1,000.00 $ 5,000.00 Building Account $ 210.00 $ 205.00 $ 150.00 $ 300.00 $ 100.00 $ 965.00 Cemetary Account $ 10.00 $ 100.00 $ 610.00 $ 720.00 Cemetary Plots $ 2,500.00 $ 1,500.00 $ 4,000.00 Sunday School Ac- count $ 90.00 $ 141.75 $ 231.75 Memorial Account $ 120.00 $ 405.00 $ 50.00 $ 120.00 $ 695.00 TOTAL INCOME $ 19,767.14 $ 12,634.00 $ 33,896.71 $ 17,754.15 $ 18,366.35 $ 102,418.35 Bank Balances Dec-20 Jan-21 Feb-21 Mar-21 Apr-21 May-21 General Fund - 9077 $50,736.08 $42,747.32 $34,221.41 $55,558.36 $67,788.39 $65,479.45 Renovation Fund- 8682 $99,070.27 $99,162.89 $99,174.30 $99,346.94 $99,359.19 $99,451.86 Rental Fund - 1498 $24,846.81 $24,848.92 $24,860.83 $23,696.99 $23,698.94 $24,700.99 Building Fund - 9051 $48,923.47 $49,117.64 $49,306.41 $49,500.61 $49,804.69 $48,207.12 Cemetery Fund - 5920 $31,168.29 $31,168.29 $31,168.29 $33,686.55 $33,686.55 $33,686.55 Sunday School - 3202 $1,244.66 $1,244.66 $1,244.66 $1,296.66 $1,386.66 $1,491.66 Brotherhood - 6532 $6,161.74 $6,161.74 $6,682.15 $6,682.15 $6,372.24 $6,372.24 Women ELCA Circle #2 - 7168 $401.58 $401.58 $401.58 $401.58 $401.58 $331.58 Women ELCA Circle #4 - 0861 $444.56 $302.76 $340.26 $330.26 $382.36 $375.36 Women ELCA - 6268 $1,390.01 $1,531.81 $1,531.81 $1,531.81 $1,565.71 $1,654.51 LYNC - 5311 $5,897.69 $5,897.69 $5,897.69 $5,897.69 $5,897.69 $5,897.69 Memorial Fund - 1456 $20,645.74 $20,667.49 $21,309.10 $21,585.92 $21,637.70 $21,429.52 CD / IRA - 8573 $119,377.95 $119,458.90 $119,540.06 $119,613.43 $119,694.70 $119,773.40 Friends of Old St.