Education Growth and Fellowship

Meeting Minutes of September 3, 2009
Recorder: Margaret Thibodeau

Attendance: Margaret Thibodeau, Ginny Gledhill, Karen Pierce, Carolyn Foster, Elsa Peters, Aaron French.

Starting Time: 7:00 p.m.

Minutes: The 6/4/09 meeting minutes were read and unanimously approved. Margaret offered to record the minutes of each meeting and team members were supportive of this.

Introductions were made and Margaret gave an overview of the Education, Growth and Fellowship Team’s responsibilities for Carolyn Foster, attending the meeting as a prospective Team member.

Members discussed the various roles and responsibilities of our Team, and each selected a committee or area to be the contact person for. Jana Frank, who could not attend the meeting, had indicated in a previous email that she would be willing to cover coffee hour for the upcoming year. Carolyn indicated her willingness to join our Team, as well as her particular interest in Faith Formation. After a brief discussion, the committee contacts for the upcoming year are as follows:
• EG&F Contact/Chair – Margaret Thibodeau
• Scholarship & Library Committees – Karen Pierce
• Faith Formation – Elsa Peters
• Youth Ministry – Aaron French
• Faith Formation support person – Carolyn Foster
• Nursery – Ginny Gledhill
• Coffee Hour – Jana Frank
• Hospitality/Inquirers/Growth Group – Margaret Thibodeau

The Team is hoping to recruit one additional Team member, who can take on the Hospitality/Inquirers/Growth Group contact responsibilities.

Updates from Team members were shared. Margaret indicated that coverage for “Lemonade on the Porch” went smoothly over the summer, with volunteers responding to whole-church emails which went out requesting coverage. Two teenagers shared Nursery coverage (for which they were paid $10/Sunday). Aaron indicated that Terry LaPointe will be helping YM some this year. Plans are in progress for the upcoming fall activities, with more emphasis on service opportunities with the Mission Team. The Faith Formation update prepared by Elsa was reviewed. Elsa shared the positive news that teachers for Sunday School have all been recruited, and that a new Adult Faith Formation Committee has been organized. Christ Kid’s Club will focus on Sacred Foods, and a Veggie Tales family movie event is planned for Saturday, November 14th.

The Team focused on Homecoming Sunday which is September 13th. The coffee hour/Sunday school registration and committee sign-ups will not be in Guptill Hall because of the Rummage Sale, but instead tables will be spread throughout the church (a map was reviewed). The decision was made to spread baked goods and food items amongst the various tables as a way to encourage people to visit the various Teams, committees, and groups – and hopefully facilitate discussions and interest. Coffee and tea will be available in Wright Pavilion. Margaret will make a brief announcement during church, inviting people to not only register for Sunday School, but explore the other opportunities that the church offers.

A discussion followed regarding approaching visitors or people standing alone at Coffee Hour. It might be helpful to have a volunteer each Sunday make an extra effort to talk and welcome people that appear to not know anyone or be a visitor. We will contact the Growth Group to see if they have an idea like this already in the works.

Our Team is still hopeful we can recruit volunteers to assist with: coffee hour, nursery, hospitality, and serve on the EG&F Team.

In terms of Homecoming Sunday:
• Margaret and Ginny will bring baked goods, set up the “self-serve” coffee hour, and be at the EG&F table.
• Carolyn will assist Elsa with the Sunday School registration.
• Jana will contribute a baked good/food item.
• Aaron will be at the YM table.
• Karen is covering another committee table.

Meeting Adjourned: 8:30 p.m.

Next Meeting: Thursday, 10/1/09 @ 7:00 p.m.