Education Growth and Fellowship

Meeting Minutes of February 4, 2010

Team members attending: Ginny Gledhill, Carolyn Foster, Karen Pierce, Margaret Thibodeau, Jana Frank, Elsa Peters.

The meeting began with the approval of the January Minutes.

The Team reviewed the FCCUCC website proposal. Members of the Team were supportive of the idea, and had no questions or additional suggestions at this point.

The church office was missing several of the past Minutes from 2009. Karen was able to bring them to our meeting, and Margaret will pass them along to Jen in the office.

Aaron had informed the Team that YM was not planning to provide childcare during the Easter service as they had in 2009. Elsa said that the Sunday School teachers were expecting to have that Sunday off to attend worship. Feedback from 2009 indicated that most parents were happy to have their children in worship on Easter. The Team will look into making sure there is coverage for preschool and nursery age children.

Jana explained an ongoing concern for Coffee Hour. There is a visitor with mental challenges who frequents Wright Pavilion during the set-up and serving of Coffee Hour. This person can become demanding and agitated, causing coffee hour volunteers to experience caution and anxiety. The Team discussed the challenge of supporting our open, affirming atmosphere at Church, versus the right of all people who attend to be respected and treated fairly. The best solution the Team could come up with at this time, is to request that a couple congregation members be available to help re-direct this visitor when necessary. Perhaps a Deacon or Usher could touch base with the Coffee Hour servers to see if they need support around this issue. Margaret will follow-up with the Senior Pastor regarding this concern.

Karen reported that the Library and Scholarship committees are going well. Input for the Scholarship committee indicated that they were to meet on 2/2 to begin the process for this year. They have found two new members to “fill the shoes” of a couple committee members who are leaving after this term. The EG&F Team was appreciative of the Scholarship committee finding new recruits.

Ginny reported that there continues to be adequate coverage in the Nursery. A few parents are sharing the coverage, while others do not volunteer to help. A letter written by Elsa a year ago requesting help by parents in the nursery was read by Ginny, with Team members in agreement that it was appropriate to send out again

Margaret attended the Inquirer’s Meeting in January, and reported five prospective women had expressed interest in joining the Church. New Member Sunday is 2/7, and Randall Landry will take photos.

Elsa reviewed the Faith Formation Update. A subcommittee of the EG&F Team will be formed to assist in the Children’s Faith Formation program. The Team approved a budget request for 100 placemats to be laminated as part of the Lenten curriculum, which the Team expressed enthusiasm about. Other items such as Adult Faith Formation and Confirmation were discussed.

The EG&F Team still hopes to recruit a couple new members.

Upcoming Church events which will involve our Team include the Church Picnic (5/16) and the Confirmation Celebration (6/13).

Our next meeting will be Thursday, March 4, 7:00 p.m.

Recorded by: Margaret Thibodeau