Minutes of the Session

(Subject to approval at the next meeting)

February 19, 2008

The stated meeting of the session of Riverside Presbyterian Church was held on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 in Knox Parlor. The elders present constituted a quorum. Rev. Dan Robinson, moderator, called the meeting to order at 7:00 PM. The meeting was opened with a devotional and prayer by K Callaghan.

Also present was Marilyn McMillen, representative from the PW Coordinating Team, and Robert Ward, elder-elect. M/S/C to grant them the privilege of the floor. M/S/C to set adjournment for no later than 9:00 PM.

CLERK’S REPORT:

Minutes of the Stated Meeting of January 22, 2008 were corrected and received as information.

OLD BUSINESS:

Due to the lack of interest by other clergy, there will not be a pulpit exchange on March 30th.

COMISSIONS REPORTS:

OMEC: J. Marshall — Written report received as information. The Christmas Joy Offering was a success with $2653.50 collected. A new member class will be held March 2 with Rebecca Burns’s class providing lunch. A volunteer is needed to take pictures and burn 2 CD’s—one for Mason Gibson and the other for Darlene Pals. One Great Hour of Sharing will be collected on Palm Sunday, March 16. Crop Walk will be March 30. Mission trips for 2008 include Joe Morgan planning a trip to Peru with a team and others looking at a trip to an Indian reservation in Arizona. Anyone interested should attend the next OMEC meeting or call Joe Marshall. New coffee mugs have been ordered and have arrived. Lunch Bunch groups continue.

Property: F. Boehmer --Written report received as information. A six-month extension of the contract with Mr. Kellar, Sr. to sell the Manse has been signed. The price has been dropped, but there is still little interest in the property.

Stewardship & Finance: D. Spellman —Written report and recommendations submitted. M/S/C to approve the following recommendation for procedures for the income from the Bookbinder Endowment Fund: Request that A. G. Edwards make two distributions per year -- first distribution on May 1 and the final distribution in mid-December each year.

M/S/C to approve the following two recommendations for procedures for the income from the Bookbinder Endowment Fund: (1) The Riverside Treasurer should establish an account titled, “The Kathryn & Harold Bookbinder Endowment Fund”, to receive the distribution from A. G. Edwards. (2) Twenty five per cent (25%) of the distribution from the Bookbinder Endowment Fund is taken as income into the operating budget of Riverside with a line item titled “Bookbinder Endowment Income” identified in the income section of the financial statements with the funds to flow through the Bookbinder Endowment Account to ensure proper accounting. The remaining seventy-five (75%) would remain in the Bookbinder Endowment Account to be used for Social Concerns Programs with the Session deciding who and how the funds will be expended.

M/S/C to approve distribution of 2007 income from the Riverside Endowment Fund as follows: $4,573.17 to the capital fund and $4,573.18 to the missions fund.

M/S/C to approve that fund requests for support of educational support for candidates involved in training to become more active in the church life be funded from the Christian Education Growth Missions special fund.

Care & Support: C. Schmitt — Written report received as information. A Thank You event will be held at the First Baptist Church of Merritt Island for support for Operation Christmas Child. The next Blood Drive will be March 2.

Education: M. Gibson — Written report received as information. A historic attendance of 150 at last week’s Lenten Series was reported. M. Gibson expressed his thanks for allowing him to chair the commission and appreciation for the large number of people that work to make the Education program run so well.

Fellowship: J. Mustin — Written report received as information. Twenty-eight people attended the CPR class. A new battery has been installed in the CPR unit. It is located in the sanctuary Deacon’s room along with other emergency medical equipment.

Worship & Sacrament: A. Stone — On February 3, communion was served to 152 at the Contemporary Worship Service and 273 at the Traditional Service. The average attendance at the Contemporary Service has been 125. Fifty-three coffee mugs were given to first-time visitors in January. The Liturgical cloths made by K. Callaghan have been placed in the sanctuary. Maundy Thursday Service on March 20 will be at 7:00 PM in Fellowship Hall and will be the same as last year. There will be a Good Friday Prayer Vigil in the sanctuary from 9:00 AM until Noon. Ushers are needed for the Easter Sunrise Service at 6:30 AM. It is suggested that a table for Riverside Church be set up at the Spring Praise Fest to distribute information about the church and its activities—ideas include handing out refrigerator magnets, flyers, or bookmarks. A sign-up sheet for serving communion on March 2 was circulated.