Session Meeting Minutes

A Meeting of the Kirk Session was held on Monday 16th January at 8pm.

Welcome & Constitute

The Moderator, Reverend Barbara Ann Sweetin, welcomed those present and constituted the meeting with a reading from the gospel according to Matthew and a prayer stressing the importance of truly listening.

Sederunt & Apologies

There were 28 members present and 8 apologies for absence.

Minutes

The Minutes of 16^th October, 2011 were changed in respect of the amount of the legacy, which had been £121,335.87. They were then signed, their adoption having been proposed by Isabel Farquharson, seconded by Aileen McKenzie. The Minutes of 23^rd October were also signed, their adoption being proposed by Elizabeth McLeod, seconded by Jim Nicol.

Matters Arising

The MSP had finally responded to the Session Clerk’s letters with the result that we were one step nearer to funds being freed up from the Fenton Bequest. Bob would write and thank Nigel Don.

The moving of the memorial plaques had taken place and those present were pleased with this as they had been with the impressive manner in which the Minister had conducted the Remembrance Sunday service.

Several members had successfully completed the care of ‘Vulnerable People’ course.

Moderator’s Report

Care home Services : Reverend Barbara Ann alerted those present that a difficult situation might develop as St John’s had withdrawn from the rota and St Margaret’s had asked if East & Old could provide emergency back- up. It was the feeling of the meeting that we should definitely refuse this request. Since Margaret Anderson was over-committed as the accompanist, Elizabeth McLeod agreed to do one service Each month. Finally, only the Minister and Margaret would conduct worship at Kirkriggs Court, since this was sheltered housing.

Committees : Conveners were reporting that attendance was poor. Barbara Ann said that good attendance mattered and pointed out that some people were members of several committees. Copies of a re-jigged committee structure were ready for distribution to those present.

Lines of communication: Elders should alert the roll-keeper to matters such as changes of address. Elma would then pass on these changes to appropriate people such as the Treasurer, district elders, FWO conveners. It was important, too, that everyone took on board up to date information from Elma. Barbara Ann expected that everyone be vigilant about illness and members in hospital; she would prefer to be given the same information several times rather than not at all!

New Elders were needed so that existing elders might each have fewer homes to visit. Names of potential elders should be passed to the Minister.

Focus: Reverend Barbara Ann had decided that during the second year of her Ministry at E&O the focus should be on children or young people.

Inside the church building: permission was requested and granted for a feasibilty study into having screens on arms coming out from the balconies, level with the minister’s position and angled so that they were visible to all. This was not in order to dispense with the use of hymnbooks.

Constitution: the Moderator explained that although E&O currently had a Model Constitution – Kirk Session dealing with spiritual matters and Board dealing with other matters – we were acting as if we had a Unitary Constitution and we should change officially to the latter. This would mean that current Board members would be offered Eldership and any new office bearers would be Elders. The committee Conveners would form a business committee. Elders would consider this and if they agreed, the congregation would vote on the subject. If this vote was in favour, the matter still needed to go before Presbytery and then the General Assembly.

Door Duty: Barbara Ann stressed that every office bearer would take part in this, the only exceptions being the Session Clerk, Susan Forbes as leader of the Groovy Gryphons, Bruce Simpson, our organist and the senior elder, Maurice Maclean.

Holidays: Barbara Ann would be on holiday for the week after Easter Sunday and for two weeks in the second half of August. It was decided to get locum coverage.

Reports

Many of these were printed: but the Session Clerk stressed that when they were passed on to him after the stated deadline, it meant that office bearers did not have a chance to read them before the meeting for which they were intended.

Presbytery: Although unable to be present, Douglas Robertson had submitted a full report and Bob recommended the list of available courses.

Pastoral Care: Marion Duncan reported that 51 much appreciated gifts bought from the Benevolent Fund had been distributed to care homes, sheltered housing, a nursing home and hospitals. Relatively few CDs had been requested so far. 

Property: The Convener, Bill Duthie, had received building warrants issued by Angus Council, for the work to be done inside the Church. The estimates for alterations were already at Presbytery to whom paperwork and estimates also needed to be sent for work we hope to do on the roof during the spring/summer. The installation of a stair lift to the Session House was to be considered in the light of a costing exercise. The Music Cafe might provide a lever for the acquisition of grants. Pew cushions from the balconies could be used to supplement those in the downstairs pews. Elma Milne had an unneeded set of carpet bowls, the carpeting and all other necessary items. This had been gratefully accepted and it might be that bowling would alternate with badminton in the Church Hall.

Accounts /OSCR: The Treasurer, Mabel Martin, had the figures to be submitted to the C.A. Bob had a draft prepared by Ian Robertson to work from and would pass on factual information so that the OSCR report could be finalised. The usual process involving Office-bearers-who would be asked to approve the Accounts on March 7^th- and Congregation, would then follow on.

Events Ahead

A full programme of varied events had been planned and this calendar, up to the 7^th August would appear in the forthcoming edition of ‘The Steeple Times’. Barbara Ann thanked Elma for her work and told those present that it was up to them to attend events, bringing friends.

Correspondence

An email had been received from the Reverend David Logan who was hoping to take a bus load of people to the G.A. event ‘Heart and Soul’ on Sunday 20^th May. We were welcome to places on this bus but it might be that if there was enough interest, E&O would run our own bus. Groovy Gryphons would be welcome to the 1pm – 6pm event. Since an early start would be needed, the services of a Locum would be sought. The event was free but those going would pay their own bus fare, possibly £7.

The Moderator of the General Assembly is to be in Angus and on 27^th April will be present at an Angus Council civic reception in the Town Hall. Anna Mitchell agreed to be our representative, perhaps accompanied by Moira Scott.

Diamond Jubilee : E&O is to have our own celebration in the form of a ‘Mr and Mrs’ event. The ‘couple’ may be any two people. This will be followed by a Dance. Glamis Castle grounds will be the venue for a free event to which all are invited by The Lord Lieutenant. Those present decided to promote attendance rather than participation, which had also been stated as an option.

There was news from Crossreach / Circle of Care.

Church Mission Society : word had been received of a tour of Israel and Palestine. This study trip which had a deadline for registration was to be from 22^nd – 31^st Oct., 2012.

AOCB

In the short term, two Elders might be unable to cover their own districts at Communion Time. George Richardson would cover Milda’s with help from Ian Brymer, if needed Aileen McKenzie volunteered to cover Alastair Gordon’s district.

Collection: following a point made by Jim Herron, it was decided that those carrying the two lots of plates should leave church immediately after the Minister at the end of the service. 

Elizabeth McLeod had gifted a tapestry previously displayed in Letham church. It had been the work of her mother. This was gratefully accepted. 

Next Meeting & Closure

This being all the business, the Moderator thanked those present and reminded them that the next Meeting would be on Wednesday 7^th March at 8pm. Closure took place 9.30pm with the saying of the Grace.