Seekers Church
July 6, 2014 Stewards Meeting
Present: Peter Bankson [worship], Marjory Bankson [angel], Kevin Barwick, Ken Burton [recorder], Pat Conover, Cynthia Dahlin, Dave Lloyd [moderator], Sandra Miller[angel], Margreta Silverstone, Jacqie Wallen.
Absent: Trish Nemore, Brenda Seat, Keith Seat, Deborah Sokolove.
Visitors: Jean Adams (Living Water). Michele Frome, Judy Lantz (MSG), Nancy Lawrence (Living Water), Vincent Shepherd (MSG).
Worship: Peter led worship, reading Sonya Dyer’s “Future is Possible.” Worship concluded with reading the Call of Seekers Church together.
Housekeeping: The next Stewards meeting will be August 3, 2014, at 5:30 pm at the Conover-Nemore summerhouse.
Moderator: Ken Worship: Cynthia
Recorder: Dave Angels: Sandra & Peter
Living Water Mission Group:Marjory, Cynthia, Jean Adams, Nancy Lawrence. (Emily Gilbert and Emmy Lu Daly are also members of Living Water but were not present at the Stewards meeting.)
Each meeting of this mission group opens and closes with a ritual in which the members pour “living water” while offering intercessory prayer. The inclusion of Seekers elders as well as Seekers living in Virginia is an important aspect of the life of this mission group, which meets in Emily’s apartment at Goodwin House in Alexandria in the afternoon. The group takes responsibility for providing leadership, not necessarily from within the group, for the two annual Seekers silent retreats at Dayspring. It also provides leadership for the community around end-of-life issues by offering courses in the School of Christian Living and by supporting the Seekers Memorial Wall, located along the back stairwell at Carroll Street. A challenge facing the group is that several of its members travel extensively, which means that they frequently absent from meetings. Stewards suggested that the group might explore with ways in which it could nurture the inner journey, in addition to silent retreats and SCL classes.
Six Month Budget Report: Marjory reported for FOG. That report is attached. She noted that although revenue is slightly behind the 50% level where it might be expected to be half-way through the year, this is not a concern because it is not unusual and because there is usually increased giving near the end of the year. Also noted was the Holy Spirit Fund, where expenditures are running well ahead of the calendar. Later in the year it may be necessary for Stewards to allocate additional resources to this Fund from reserves. The Holy Spirit Fund is administered by the Servant Leadership Team and focuses on community members, and sometimes others, with special financial needs.
Takoma Park Folk Festival: Peter reported for Larry Rawlings, who is the Seekers lead for Festival participation. It will take place between 9 AM and 6 PM on Sunday, September 7, 2014, at the Takoma Park Middle School. Setup of the two tables that Seekers is supporting will begin at 7:00 AM. At least four, and preferably five, people need to be present at all times to staff the tables, where information will be available about Seekers, including all of its ministries. Transportation help will be needed to move supplies to and from the Festival site. A signup sheet will be circulated within the community beginning late in July, and there will be at least one training session for volunteers. There will be a children’s table, with art materials, and volunteers will be needed to focus on this table. Seekers who are interested in featuring a particular part of our life together should let Larry know of their interest.
A Steward to Share: Pat shared with Stewards the current status of his journey.
Soul Talk: The meeting closed with soul talk.
Submitted by Ken Burton
July 9, 2014
