Notes from the March Meeting

Church & Community Committee Meeting Notes : 3/07/10

The Committee met in the parlor. Fifteen people were in attendance. The meeting opened with a prayer by Jane Fox.

Because of the late start due to the New Members’ Reception, the agenda was revised to discuss the Mission Funding allocation first.

Funding Allocations: A preliminary allocation schedule was presented for discussion by Chairperson Bill Beggs. After some discussion about the history of Sixth’s relationship with the Mars Home for Youths, the Wilkinsburg Community Ministry, Camp Crestfield, and Neighborhood Academy, it was proposed and accepted by acclamation to renew the support of EECM, Neighborhood Academy, Mars Home for Youth, Camp Crestfield, and Goats for Gifts at the same level as 2009. The allowance for reimbursements for Neighborhood Academy lunches was increased to better represent expected needs. Allocation of most of the remaining funds will be determined at the next meeting.

Additional discussion, initiated by Sue Koehler, centered on a policy of dealing with missions that might be supported both by C&C Committee and an appeal to the congregation. In particular, the Lazarus Fund and Disaster Assistance, like for Haiti and Chile, fall in this category. This discussion will be continued at the next meeting.

Finally, the Committee recommends that a proposal be presented to Session to offer the congregation an opportunity to support a Chile Disaster Assistance campaign.

Correspondence, Announcements and Updates:

• Thank You Notes were received from More Life and First Presbyterian Church of Edgewood for our contributions.
• Newsletters have been received from EECM, Greater Pgh Community Food Bank, GASP, Mission Mosaic (Presbytery Disaster Assistance), Neighborhood Academy, and Loaves and Fishes.

• Appeals for support were received from EECM “Have a Heart for Hunger” campaign, Pittsburgh Pastoral Institute (PPI), St. Margaret’s Foundation. The committee had no interest in St. Margaret’s. Mary Louise has expressed in supporting PPI, so the Committee agreed to consider it at our next meeting.

A part of the EECM Hunger campaign is a benefit campaign pancake dinner at Pamela’s in the Strip. Those interested should call 412-3611-5549 or E-mail kates@eecm.org. The Committee recommended putting an announcement in the bulletin.

UPDATES:

Neighborhood Academy: After cancellations twice in February, our people served lunch at Neighborhood Academy on March 3rd. Sue reported that the meal was well received and the kids very respectful.

Peacemaking Special Offerings: Nora Johnson reported that the offering will be received in late May or early June.

Nicaragua Adult Mission Trip: Bill Beggs reported that participants are getting their immunization shots and taking Spanish lessons. The trip is scheduled for June 15 through 25.

The next meeting will be late May or early June, depending on the Church calendar.

Respectively submitted,

Bill Beggs

Meeting This Sunday

The Committee will meet in the Parlor this Sunday, after the New Member Reception. Please come and welcome Bill Beggs as the new Chair!

Agenda for C&C Meeting of March 7, 2010

I. Opening Prayer

II. Announcements:
Neighborhood Academy Luncheon Update
One Great Hour of Sharing (OGHS)
Others?

III. Action Items:
A. Allocation of Direct (Local) Mission Funds
B. Other Action Items

IV. Adjournment

Highlights from December Meeting

The peacemaking overture to General Assembly for which 6th was a cosponsor was passed at the Pittsburgh Presbytery level.... The panel discussion held at the seminary on the role of faith in our stance on the death penalty drew a small but interested audience..... CROP Walk contributions increased by 10+% from last year....The Neighborhood Academy has been nominated for a Peace Partner Award through the Center for Victims of Violent Crimes.... Concerned action and awareness on the situation in Braddock/closing of the UPMC hospital there goes on (the Tribune-Review has been a good partner in keeping this in front of the public eye)....Next lunch at the Neighborhood Academy is February 4th....Volunteers at Global Links are having *fun* while doing good! -- and the high level of participation has earned 'points' that may enable 6th to send medical packets to Nicaragua as part of our developing relationship with the community of El Porvenir....The Committee is interested in learning more about anti-sweatshop legislation; the law was initially introduced as the Decent Working Conditions and Fair Competition Act..... The June 2010 mission trip will be an exciting and challenging opportunity for adults at Sixth!

Reminder: Our Meeting's Coming Up

Please mark your calendars for the Church and Community Committee meeting on Sunday, December 6th, in the parlor.

We will make our final set of 2009 allocations at this meeting, and we are also working to set up a guest speaker on an issue of community concern. (Check back here for more on that as plans start to fall in to place!)

Next Meeting: December 6th

We're heading into a very busy time of the church family year, but please set aside some time now for a Church and Community Committee meeting on Sunday, December 6th, in the parlor.

We will make our final set of 2009 allocations at this meeting, and we have the possibility of two guest speakers on issues of interest and concern (anti-sweatshop efforts and affordable neighborhood housing).

Church and Community meeting this Sunday May 31

The Church and Community committe will meet this Sunday May 31 in the Parlor after Worship and after the reception for Mr. Hughes.  We'll plan to get started around 12:30.  Please see the e-mail Kit sent around for the agenda and topics for discussion. Lots of exciting things going on with our committee these days !!

Initial Round of Commitments

We had a productive meeting last Sunday (yay, us!) and agreed to support the following organizations with funding and/or volunteers this year:

Wilkinsburg Community Ministry (funding)

EECM (funding, volunteers for men's shelter meals)

Pgh Community Food Bank (funding)

Neighborhood Academy (funding, volunteers for tutoring and meal prep)

Mars Home for Youth (funding, possible 'muscles and mops' volunteers as needed)

Camp Crestfield (funding toward operating budget, volunteer support for capital campaign and of 'muscles and mops' nature as needed)

Malawi Partnership (funding)

Just Harvest (funding)

Church World Services (funding)

CROP (volunteers for walk, funding for related expenses)

Global Links (volunteers, funding for mailings to Covenant Hospital)

Action for Darfur (pending announcements re march this year -- volunteers to march, funding to sponsor march)

Hosanna Industries and Open Hand Ministries are likely to be targeted volunteer opportunities for the Muscles and Mops subcommittee.

The committee voted unanimously to recommend that Session support the single-payer healthcare overture to Presbytery.

Items for the next meeting (date to be determined):


(1) Determine funding available from Peacemaking offering for our distribution (Maggie); identify local need for funding (committee)

(2) Brief updates on status/requests (some of this may fall under Reports from Subcommittee Leaders): Goats for Rwanda, Pgh Pastoral Institute, Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition (possible move out of this committee's budget line), Habitat for Humanity info (Tom), Sojourner House info (Tom), Breachmenders (Joe/Cliff), Hazelwood Presby Church.

(3) Reports from each of the subcommittee leaders

(4) Treasurer report on amount collected from regular 'special offerings': Peacemaking, Joy, One Great Hour of Sharing, Lazarus

January 13th Meeting Agenda

1.Updates and Announcements

• Annual Report for 2007/2007 Spending
  
  
• Fellowship/Post-Worship Reception: March sign-ups
  
  
• Meeting of Pittsburgh Presbytery’s Hazelwood Partnership: Tuesday (1/15/08) at 7 PM at Hazelwood Presby Church. Louise C. attending. Others welcome.
  
  
• Organizations’ Mission Statements
  
  
• PIIN: Update (Diana, Tom, Louise F.)
  
  

2. For Discussion and Action

A. Endorsement and consideration of contribution re writing group to meet at Sixth on explorations of faith. (Nora)

B. Prioritization of efforts and contributions through sub-committees.


3. Next Meeting

Committee Meeting

We will meet from 7 PM till 8 PM on Monday, November 5th, in the church parlor (across from the kitchen). Main agenda topics are the budget and leadership for the subcommittee structure.

All are welcome.