Session Update July

Staff members Philip Everingham & Joy Hire spoke about their respective music program successes and challenges.

The Drop-in Center at Holy Trinity Lutheran currently has a small garden planted to provide fresh produce for the meal program. Ellen Clark is pursuing a grant from the Presbytery for funds to expand the garden. Elder Greg Bossart spoke about how the current garden project is going and the many challenges with raccoons. Session voted to endorse the grant application.

Reverend Bubar reported that there will also be a new membership class in September/October, and 10-12 people will be invited. He also discussed the Bible and Messiah course, which will occur for four weeks in the fall and four weeks again in the spring. He also plans a 7-week Bible study in September/October focusing on Ecclesiastes.

 Elder Barb Martin reported on the Welcoming & Inclusion Task Force. They have had three meetings and are exploring how we talk to other members of the congregation about the issues. Reverend Joel Esala at Covenant Presbyterian in Columbus will be invited to come talk about the two networks that exist for LGBTQ, and he will also be invited to the October 28 meeting of Session. She further mentioned that the Illuminati group, a subgroup of the Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus, is very interested in coming here on November 16, to participate in our worship service and provide music.