From the Council President’s Desk … July 2024

~ Erik Long

Congregation Meeting: Sacristy Project Approved!

The Congregation approved the Sacristy Project at our Congregation Meeting on July 28. Thanks to all who were able to participate in person and via Zoom! Thank you for your commitment to the Sacristy Project! For those who were not able to participate, you can see the movie of the Sacristy presentation on the St. Mark’s HOME web page, or you can see the handout provided at the meeting HERE.

We approved the scope of the project, and a fundraising goal of $150,000. A fundraising letter and pledge form will be sent out this week. This fundraising goal includes outright donations, or pledges for 2024/2025. Where can you get a pledge form?

1. Wait for the mailed fundraising letter to arrive.

2. Pick up a copy of the pledge form in the Narthex

3. Download the form, available HERE. 

As St. Mark’s recommits to the important ministries of the Sacristy, please consider how you might help with one of these ministries: Altar Guild, Eucharistic Guild, Flower Committee, Acolytes, Worship Assistants.

Guidelines for Use of the Education Wing

As we return to Sunday congregation activities in the Education Wing, we are being respectful of the St. Mark’s Montessori School’s needs for the safety of our SMMS students and staff, as well as the need to provide safe conditions for our youngest members and their families. At present, the only congregation activities being scheduled in the Education Wing are Sunday morning age-group Sunday School/Confirmation classes, Youth Group on the Upper Level, and the Nursery on the Lower Level.

Keep in mind the following Rules of the Road:

  • Please don’t come into the Education Wing (or the rest of our building) if you are feeling ill. We will be doing touchless infrared temperature scans in the Education Wing

  • Masks are mandatory (Age 2+) and must cover the nose and mouth.

  • Use the main entrance, Door 5, to enter and leave the Education Wing for the activities taking place on the Upper Level. Only those using the Nursery should be using the playground entrance door and the lower hallway. Please do not enter the Education Wing from the Lower Level hallway coming from the Fellowship Hall

    • We are trying to minimize our footprint in the Education Wing on Sundays and clean up after ourselves.

  • Use the hand sanitizer station at the entrance.

  • Activity leaders are asked to keep attendance of who is using the rooms.

  • Sanitize the bathrooms after each individual use.

  • Please don’t linger in the hallways.

Long Term Planning—Property

A Property Review Team (the “Team”) has been convened to evaluate the full breadth of properties owned by St. Mark’s. This team will make recommendations for potential new uses that may generate income, benefit the church body, benefit the community, or the like. The Team will consider both current and long-term needs of the Congregation. Team members include Ken Anderson, Bill Dinnison, Kay Graff, Ray Griswold, Pastor Triolo, and Erik Long, with valuable input from Steve Carlson. The team will ensure the Congregation is kept informed and provided opportunities for input. Please include our Team in your prayers as we undertake this important work. Thank you!

NOTE: See further information on this plan going forward on the TOWN HALL page.

St. Mark’s Constitution

Have a need to look for something in our St. Mark’s Constitution? Click on the graphic at the left to download it for your use.

Recap of the Fall Congregation Meeting
on Sunday, November 24, 2024

We passed the Operating Budget for 2025, available HERE. The budget makes assumptions about giving, but please rest assured that we do not take anybody’s contributions for granted! 

We passed the following resolution:

The Congregation endorses the position that

  • Safety of the Montessori school children should be given priority. Keeping the gateway closed during Montessori school hours would provide a more secure environment for the Montessori school students.

  • Council may implement this Congregational priority by authorizing that the gateway be normally closed during school hours until such time as effective alternate measures are in place to protect the Montessori School children throughout the school day.

What does passing this resolution mean? The Community Gateway will be normally locked during Montessori school hours, with operating adjustments made for events such as Food For Others. This will be implemented in the near future when we can prepare signs and other communications to explain to our neighbors that a change will be coming and what the new operating hours will be. Then, when the new schedule is in place, operating hours will be clearly posted. The congregation did not vote for a permanent change regarding the gateway. Other efforts will continue to look at security for the school, but nobody can say at this point how long it would take to fully develop any alternate plans that might meet our needs. As a volunteer organization, such efforts are dependent on people having the time to devote to the task. Thanks to everyone who spoke on the subject of security regarding the school itself and on the other safety/security concerns around the church. 

We elected the following members:

Council:
Jim Kyger
Peter Weekly
Maureen Murphy

2025 Synod Assembly Voting Member:
Erik Long
Larry Long
Colleen Struss (alternate)

Thanks to all who have volunteered for elected positions, especially our new Council members in their three-year positions. We did not have anyone volunteer to be elected as Nominating Committee members. If you would like to volunteer to help with that at sometime in 2025, please let one of your council members or Pr. Albert know.