Present: Alison Landry, Hanna Wakeling, Michele Mitchell, Rick Marchand, Gary O’Dwyer, Don Nicholson and Mary Smith
Regrets:  Kathleen Revell
 
 
Opening
  
The meeting began with an opening reflection and prayer by Don Nicholson. The agenda and the previous minutes accepted.
 
 
Financial Issues:

    a)  Financial update not available at this time.
    Financial Request/Needs?
    Avon Angel Fundraiser: $240 was raised by the Marchands. This will be donated to a family in need.
 
 
Update on Current Church Projects
 

1. Fist Communion Celebration Sunday January 17, 2010. 
2. Hannah Wakeling will present a book from the church community.
3. The agenda for the workshop that the Muldoons will be conducting will be discussed at the next board meeting.
4. Gary and Heather will meet to discuss what counseling could be made available to the people of Christ the Servant.  This information would then be made available to the community.

 
Business Arising from Past Minutes: See New Issues.
 
 
Pastors Report

Gary will bring information on the Celtic Liturgy to the next meeting.
 

New Issues:
 
Don Nicholson had distributed at questionnaire to the members of Christ the Servant and asked for a response.  This meeting was primarily dedicated to discussion of those answers. See Attachment A.   The numbers in parenthesis indicate the number of persons who responded. Board response:
 
Question 1

1. Encourage all to bring a friend.
2. The local paper will publish, at their discretion, pictures and articles that are submitted (at no charge).  Don will take articles and pictures to the local paper.  We will ask in the community for a person to write the articles.
3. Gary will inquire re: fees to publish in Snap/Cobourg Star/ Northumberland News.
4. Don will contact CHUC/93.3 STAR and the Community Event on local cable, and enquire re: fee/how to submit information.
5. Gary will write an article  “From the Pastors Desk” in the local paper approximately every to months.
6. Financially we feel it would not be in the communities best interest to move our venue.  We have many advantages at our present site, the kitchen facility, storage, wheel chair access and elevator, and the rent is very reasonable.
7. Discussed bringing in speakers so the publicity was focused the person speaking and that it was sponsored by Christ the Servant.  John Deere to be contacted to see if available and the cost to have him come.

Question 2

1. We are currently working with others to meet the needs of those at Greenwoood Towers; there is a group that minister at the hospital.
2. We are currently joining Neighbor Link which will provide services to our community at large.
3. In order to keep us all informed of upcoming events, the needs of our immediate community and what we as a community are doing for others we will – have info on the overhead prior to church service; post in the bulletin; have a Coming Events tab on the web site as well as a section on our ongoing projects – words into action.
4. Allison will update the coming events/calendar on the website.

Question 3

1. Gary and Heather will meet to discuss the counseling needs.  They will inform the community what resources will be available.
2. The pastor is currently making visits.
3. The board members names and info will be more available – web/bulletin.
4. The parishioners info is not something that the board can publish due to privacy issues.

Question 4

1. We will have a community vote to see what time/times the service will be.
2. We have copy write issues regarding the language in the hymns used for our service.  We will continue to strive for inclusive language in all aspects of our service.  Many of the hymns were written long before inclusive language was recognized.

 
 
Closing
 
Closing reflection and prayer given by Rick Marchand.
The next board meeting to be held at Rick Marchand’s on February 23, 2010 at 7:00 pm
 
Minutes respectfully submitted by Mary Smith.

 
 

1. How to increase our congregation size and stimulate growth? (9)
Response:
-  Everyone bring a friend.  (2)
-  Advertise in local papers.  Gary to do interview for a newspaper article about us.  (6)
-  If our services were in town we would have more walk-ins.
-  Write letters to the editor.
 
2. Ways to minister to those in need in our community?  (2)   
Response:
-  Perhaps choosing a group in need (prison, hospital, shelter) and set up a volunteer schedule.
-  Help the poor and elderly as directly as possible.
-  Help divorced Catholics in some way – maybe an evening speaker.

3. Ways to better meet the needs of our current parishioners.  (4)
Response:
-  Offer Counseling.
-  Pastor Visits.
-  Make sure we are aware of the channels to make our own and others needs known.
-  Could we add the names of board members to the bulletin?
-  Parishioners directory – we could get in touch to support each other (names, address, phone).

4. Improvements to our current services.  (7)
-  Like the way it is – leave it alone.  (4)
-  Keep starting times consistent throughout the year.
-  More inclusive language in hymns.
-  Start Mass with “I confess to almighty God and to you my brothers and sisters for what I have done and failed to do”.