Hillside Messenger
Hillside Presbyterian Church Newsletter
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Report from Session
by Norm Fikes, Clerk of Session
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Session Report - January 2019
The Session met for its January Stated meeting on a chilly (35°) partly-cloudy Sunday afternoon. One day after Justin and Angelica Killing’s wedding . The meeting was called to order with prayer by our Moderator Rev. Sylvia Wilson. Those present shared their Joys & Concerns.
Joys:
which included the birth of baby girl (Kandice Fowlkes), member getting a job, auto accident and no injuries, three (3) new members joining (this makes 11 new members since January 1, 2018);
Concerns:
Helen Carr January 9 hospitalization, Rev. Lonnie Oliver recovering from auto accident, Session member’s children losing last living aunt (father’s side), and concern for federal employees furloughed for 30-days at the time of this meeting.
Treasurer’s Report
A summary of the December 2018 Financial Reports was presented by Alice Moore, Treasurer. Overall Hillside had a very good year financially thanks to member giving and ministries management of available operating funds.
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lerk’s Report
The Clerk’s monthly report was received as presented by consensus. The Annual Statistical Report was received from the Presbytery of Greater Atlanta for completion by February 14. Stated Session meeting minutes for December 16, 2018, Called January 10, 2019, and January 13, 2019 Annual Congregational Meeting minutes were received as presented with no corrections. A Called session meeting was scheduled for January 27 at 9:30 AM to examine and receive new member candidates.
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“A father took his 5-year-old son to several baseball games where The Star-spangled Banner was sung before the start of each game.
Then the father and son attended a church on a Sunday shortly before Independence Day. The congregation sang The Star-spangled Banner, and after everyone sat down, the little boy suddenly yelled out, "PLAY BALL!!!"
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Moderator’s Report (quotes from report)
Pastor Wilson shared “As pastor, I started to take more ownership of worship and all includes… as it pertains to worship. Sermon prep can take 6 – 8 hours each week but working with the Worship Team to “craft”… “other aspects of worship can take that much time or more when there is a desire to do something new and different.” “Other large hunks of my time were spent on research and review of various documents, including SOP’s in preparation for the Annual Congregational Meeting.” “Have started to exhale while working on Training for New Officers, Session Retreat and Part 1 of New Member Training. Next on my agenda is preparing for and conducting training for the Church Nominating Committee, selecting the Lenten Bible Study, planning for Easter and assist the Clerk in updating the SOP’s.”
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Session Calendar Update (January thru February)
- Add Evangelism & Communication Ministry meetings – Fourth Sunday of Month to calendar.
- Social Outreach Ministry to provide updated calendar electronically.
- New Elder Training/Orientation – Monday January 21 in Session Room from 9 AM to 12 PM.
- Session Retreat scheduled for Friday, February 1 from 12 PM to 6 PM and Saturday, February 2, 2019 from AM to 12 PM. Location Hillside Fellowship Hall.
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Old Business
- Discussion on status of unused First/Hillside Partnership funds totaling approx. $600.00 pending a meeting with First Presbyterian representative.
- 2018 Session Retreat Action Plans – Threats working group has developed a letter to send to neighboring church leadership seeking to reestablish or establish a DeKalb Clergy Group. No other working groups reported.
- Session approved giving staff Holiday Gifts. Church members would be asked to donate also.
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New Business
- Discussion to encourage any elder to serve as commissioners to General Assembly (2020) in Baltimore. Deloris Bryant-Booker agreed to send email notification to members asking elders to consider going.
- Elder Alice Moore will represent session February 9 at Trinity Atlanta. Elder Faye Fikes has a scheduling conflict.
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“ Quit griping about your church; if it were perfect, you couldn't belong.” [Msgr. Joseph P. Dooley, Martins Creek, Pennsylvania]
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Ministry-specific Monthly Reports
- Administration – Elder Castell Jackson highlighted the installation of enhanced high-definition security cameras.
- Christian Education – Session discussed the need for CEM to have a representative of CEM involved in planning to ensure coordination and to minimize church liability and risk.
- Worship Committee – Elder Jasmin Howell requested, and it was approved for Rev. James Reese to preach Sunday, February 3, 2019. Tentative approval pending acceptance by for Mr. James Bailey to speak Sunday, February 24.
- Evangelism & Communications – No minutes shared and no update for Evangelism. Elder Sonja McMullen advised session she would be attending ministry meetings as Communications’ representative to discuss enhancing ministry communication efforts and also to share developments related to church website and newsletter improvements.
- Social Mission – Elder Myra Miller shared the ministry would provide updated calendar dates for Session’s master calendar.
- Congregational Care - Deloris Bryant-Booker, Co-Chair highlighted the need for clerk to share list of non-attending members (Not attended a worship service in 2-year period). Session members to provide feedback on the status or circumstances of members listed by Next Session meeting (February). She also highlighted Women’s Day Celebration is tentatively scheduled for either March 10 or March 24.
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he meeting was closed with prayer by the Elder Alice Moore at 2:54 PM.
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“ If a church wants a better pastor, it can get one by praying for the one it has.” [Rev. Robert E. Harris]
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Hillside Presbyterian Church Mission Statement
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The mission of Hillside Presbyterian Church is that of the church universal: to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ for the salvation of humankind. We are committed to being an inclusive, intergenerational church by creating a caring, Christian community. Hillside reaches out to diverse ethnic and religious groups in our community and beyond to foster a better understanding of all people. We are a servant people, responding to those in need, doing justice, loving mercy, and walking humbly with our God.
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