Clerk’s Corner: Session Highlights April 2022
A very significant part of Session’s work consists of nurturing the faith journeys of this church community. The April meeting gave us joyful opportunities to do that. Firstly, we met with two remarkable young men: Logan Dendis and Lynedon Horton. Over the last months they have been working with their mentors (Doug McCleery and Chris Pauley) to explore what confirmation means for them, and in preparing their faith statements. It is Session’s responsibility to meet with confirmation candidates, to hear these faith statements and to decide if the candidates are ready to be confirmed. Session were beyond impressed with the maturity, thoughtfulness and moral character of these two teenagers.
Session also endorsed our intern Ruth Amadio’s application to be accepted by the Presbytery as and Inquirer for Ordination. By the time you read these words we expect to have done the same for intern Breeann Blumenthal. They will remain under our care as they make their way through this process.
We also heard details of the upcoming New Members’ Class in May. We look forward to welcoming more than a dozen new members this spring!
As always, we lifted up in prayer all those in the congregation experiencing loss, illness, and other challenges.
The Generosity Ministry continues to bring forward recommendations for dispersal of grants from our Sharipen bequests. A grant of $5000 will be made to establish a parent support group for those with children navigating mental health issues. We recognize that this major issue in our community is one which we are called to address. The church will also make a Sharipen Grant in the amount of $42,750 in continued support of Deborah Jodrey’s work with the Hopewell Youth Collective.
The church’s project to renovate the sanctuary took an important next step forward with Session’s authorization of the signing of an agreement with HMR Architects. They will provide Architectural Design, Construction Documents and Construction Phase Services.
Other items in a busy meeting were: approval for the Girl Scouts to use the sanctuary for their awards ceremony on May 22nd; authorization of worship in Washington Crossing Park on October 9th (as part of the planned church campout weekend); and approval of revised Personnel policies for paid vacation for full time employees.
All this important work was completed in less than three hours. I continue to feel blessed in serving these hard-working elders and our firm but kind moderator Pastor Melissa!
Ian Burrow
Clerk of Session