PARISH OF NUMURKAH-NATHALIA
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN HAMON PARISH CENTRE, NUMURKAH.
THURSDAY 20th NOVEMBER 2014.
1. Welcome and Opening:
Rev. Sally Boothey opened the meeting with a prayer at 8.05 pm
2. Present:
Rev Sally Boothey, Judy James, Bev Leaf, Merle Cobbledick, Ron Cobbledick, Rob Elliott, Robyn Pendlebury, Keith Schier, Carol Lugg, Bev Patrick, Mary Muntz, John Stammers, Wendy Watson, Lou Hamon.
3. Apologies: Nil.
4. Confirmation of Minutes:
MOTION: “That the Minutes of the Parish Council held 16th October 2014 be confirmed as a true and correct record.”
Moved: John Stammers. Seconded: Rob Elliott. Carried.
5. Business Arising from previous minutes:
5.1 Rectory Heating. Pending.
5.2. Mission Fund Raising. Pending.
5.3. Free standing oven for Parish Centre installed.
5.4 Fire Extinguisher – Barmah, installed.
5.5. Certificate of Currency received..
6. Correspondence:
Inwards:
6.1. Registrar: Certificate of Currency.
6.2. Bishop: Death of Bishop Stanley Goldsworthy.
6.3. Bishop: Bishop’s Christmas Appeal.
6.4. Numurkah Christian Church: The Theory That Evolved.
6.5. Powercor: interruption to electricity supply, Nathalia 30 Nov 9 am to 3.30 pm.
6.6. ACT: Christmas Bowl envelopes.
MOTION: “That the Christmas Bowl envelopes be used for Christmas”.
Moved: Bev Patrick. Seconded: Judy James. Carried.
6.7. ABM: Advent & Christmas Envelopes.
6.8. BCA/CBM/Belgrave Heights Convention? Church Stores Advent Sale.
Outwards:
Nil.
MOTION: “That the correspondence inwards be accepted”.
Moved: Bev Patrick. Seconded: Judy James. Carried.
7. Rectors Report:
Written Report tabled and discussed.
RECTOR’S REPORT TO PARISH COUNCIL – November 2014
Congratulations and many sincere thank-yous to the hardworking people of this parish. Although there is much done, which goes unheralded but not unnoticed, throughout the year, it is the big Parish Fundraisers (Deb Ball, Fete and Strawberry Festival) which reveal the enormous personal effort that people put in for the parish. This year is no exception and, as the workers decrease in number and increase in age, I am very mindful of the personal cost paid in time, anxiety, money and physical effort to make these events happen. Thank you to everyone.
Since last council meeting, we have had the St George’s High Tea and the Fete, both of which were successful financially and left the ‘workers’ tired but happy.
The annual Memorial Services have been held at Banawah and Karinya and I was invited to participate in the Remembrance Day service at Numurkah. Pastoral services have included the funeral of Violet O’Connor and the baptism of Tyla John Higgins-Pelchen. Both were at St George’s. The special Family and Children focused service at Holy Trinity had a disappointing attendance and none are currently planned for the coming year. Due to unforeseen circumstances (funeral and community Remembrance Day), two Tuesday morning services at Holy Trinity were cancelled this month.
Services have continued at Barwo Homestead, Banawah, Pioneers Memorial Lodge and Karinya. Joan Harding has provided piano accompaniment for the services in Nathalia and I use CD music for the Numurkah services. Only Pioneers Lodge is a service of Holy Communion.
The sandwich board sign for St George’s is newly lettered and back in position and the template for the sign for All Saints is ready for stage two. Denis has this in hand. The evaporative cooler in the rectory has received its annual cleaning. The heating ducts underneath the rectory have received a visual check by torchlight and don’t seem to be squashed.
Christmas is fast approaching and our services times are set and to be advertised in the Advocate and elsewhere. The services at Holy Trinity and St George’s on the first Sunday after Christmas (28 December) will be taken by Rev’d Michael Moulder, as I will be on leave.
For 2015, as Christmas Day falls on a Friday, I seek Parish Council’s approval to cancel services for Sunday 27 December 2015. It is likely that I will take the post Christmas week as leave again and I suspect that most parishioners will not object, so soon after Christmas Day. In 2016, Christmas Day falls on the Sunday, so there is no problem.
It seems that my diocesan roles are increasing a little. Currently I am on the Cobram Anglican Grammar school council and am diocesan Chaplain to Mothers Union. In addition to my role as a member of the selection board for those exploring a vocation as ordinands, I am on a small committee to develop and implement an appropriate training program for the nearly and newly ordained. This practical/spirituality focused supplement to the regular theological studies was thought necessary for those going into parish ministry because curacies are shorter, ordinands are often mature age, studying part time, and the traditional years of ‘live-in’ formation for ministry is simply not an option. It is likely to involve one Saturday per month plus planning meetings (or emails!)My other role is as bishop-in-council member. These various responsibilities do mean a few meetings each month, but they are worthwhile as long as I can offer a fruitful contribution.
At the October bishop-in-council, the annual budget was presented. The parish assessments, with insurance cost, should be available early December and, as the stipend has increased slightly (and is now on a par with Melbourne diocese), costs are likely to have increased a little. I understand that this is not good news, but we will know more when we have the actual figures.
Some unusual worship situations are ahead of us. There will be no power in Nathalia on Sunday 30 there will be no organist at St George’s on Sunday December 7.
We have decided to dedicate Advent 1 as ‘Back to Church’ Sunday, so please think and pray about people that you might invite back! This will also be promoted in the pewsheets.
May God’s peace and joy be with us all.
Rev’d Sally
MOTION: “That the service on Sunday 27th 2015 be not celebrated as Christmas will be celebrated on the Friday”.
Moved: Rev Sally Boothey. Seconded: Ron Cobbledick. Carried
OTION: “That the Rector’s report be accepted”.
Moved: Rev Sally Boothey Seconded: Keith Schier. Carried
8. Financial Report:
Cheque Account $ 3672.80
Investment. Account $ 7284.39
St George’s ladies Guild $ 1797.41
Holy Trinity Ladies Guild $ 1778.00
Holy Trinity Mother’s Union $ 334.05
Holy Trinity Strawberry Festival $ 1498.45
Holy Trinity Diocese Wang. $ 243.82
Betty Daniel Scholarship Term Deposit $ 8724.43
Offertory $ 5415.00
Accounts payable $ 1430.51
MOTION: “That the financial report be received and accounts passed for payment”
Moved: Wendy Watson. Seconded: Rob Elliot. Carried.
9. GST Business:
9.1. Catering:
9.2. Hall Hire: Orana Day Care.
9.3. Funerals: Violet O’Connor 21st October
9.4 Fundraising: St George’s High Tea, St George’s Fete.
MOTION: “That the activities listed above be Input Taxed”.
Moved: Lou Hamon. Seconded: Bev Leaf. Carried.
10. Warden’s Reports:
St. George’s: 10.1. Watering system being installed in Rectory gardens.
10.2. Successful High Tea and Fete both financially and socially.
10.3. Letters of thanks be written to Fire brigade, Wattle Warblers, Lions Club, Plantasyland, Common Thread, and Louis Hamon Pharmacy for assistance given to fete.
10.4. Nine Lessons & Carols 14th December. Hamper raffle in conjunction.
Holy Trinity: 10.5. Account for organ repairs paid from offertory.
10.6. Moira Health booked hall till January.
10.7. Tables to be borrowed from St. Georges for Strawberry Festival.
11. Other Reports:
11.1 Holy Trinity Ladies Guild
Bank balance $ 1778.00
Planning activities for next year.
December 8th last meeting for the year.
11.2 Mothers’ Union.
Last meeting Tuesday after Strawberry Festival.
Visited Rutherglen and Wodonga.
11.3. St George’s Ladies Guild.
Christmas lunch 4th December.
MOTION: “That the Reports be received”
Moved: Mary Muntz. Seconded: Carol Lugg. Carried.
12. General Business:
12.1. Fund raising discussed looking for new ideas, and need to look at offertory.
Suggestions raised: Barmah cake stall, car boot sale.
Devonshire tea in St Georges grounds on Lions Market Days.
Open Garden Day.
Progressive Dinner.
Film Nights.
12.2. December Meeting: Tuesday 16th December 6.30 pm at Telegraph Hotel Numurkah.
Next Meeting: TUESDAY 16TH DECEMBER 6.30 PM TELEGRAPH HOTEL, NUMURKAH.
Meeting closed with the grace at 9.42 pm.
Minutes confirmed……………………………………………. Date………………………………….