Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of April 7, 2020 (by Zoom)
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Charleen, Daniel, Gregg, Mary, Spencer, Rusty
Absent:
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• for March expenses exceeded giving by roughly $1k, due in large part to a large partial payment for the new HVAC
• Tithely has become the primary source of giving
• it was agreed to make giving by mail easier by including the Burwell mailing address on the website Giving page

Facilities:

• installation of the new HVAC unit for the upstairs has been completed under Russ’ supervision
• mowing has begun, with Aaron handling most of that
• the basketball goal has been placed
• volunteers have helped with planting and weeding
• Aaron plans to purchase mulch and a few more shrubs
• Joy will get a quote on carpeting from Fraizers, as discussions with Home Depot have fallen through

Updates:

• the online church directory will begin sometime soon after Easter
• after much thought and discussion, Aaron has decided to postpone his sabbatical until the July-Sept 2021

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday May 5 in the Commons or by Zoom.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of March 3, 2020
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Charleen, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Mary, Spencer, Rusty
Absent:
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• 2019 giving exceeded expenses by $23,000, thanks especially to some large special gifts
• Deborah met with Budget Committee to implement some of the changes approved at the previous Parish Council meeting
• January 2020 giving was again high, as is expected for special year-end giving

Facilities:

• carpeting and other flooring are proceeding, with samples in for Beautification Committee to check
• Gregg will research alternatives for cleaning the steeple
• Aaron will follow up on HVAC fix with Rocky Top
• Daniel will follow up with minor repairs and add tags to the Board again
• Aaron will announce that chairs are up for grabs before disposing of the rest
• Daniel will remove Fairmont Presbyterian sign on Cecil
• Daniel will explore replacing exterior lights

Updates:

• Charlene found an inexpensive church directory app. Nick and Rusty will follow up on setting it up.
• due to illness scares, we will be doing communion with just bread for the short term

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday April 7 in the Commons.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of February 4, 2020
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Charleen, Daniel, Gregg, Mary, Spencer
Absent: Rusty
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• contributions in January were particularly high, including a special gift designated to pay for carpet and flooring
• Spencer outlined the proposed budget established by the Budget Committee. Even given the total additional cost of Aaron’s sabbatical ($6k) and additional staffing costs associated with Nick becoming priest, the rising level of giving and promised additional contributions make things look very good
• the Budget Committee proposed keeping a $60k reserve fund and setting aside $15k for the new HVAC and $8k for flooring, and using the remaining amount to pay down on the mortgage. The PC unanimously approved that proposal.

Facilities:

• some minor tasks were completed
• Aaron received a quote for carpeting the Overflow and Sacristy and the stairways, and laying laminate in the downstairs hallway and nursery bathroom. It appears all that can be done for about $8k
• Aaron will work with Russ on getting the new HVAC unit for the upstairs. this was recommended because of increasing use of the Commons
• Aaron and Nick will be working on the offices

Updates:

• Ash Wednesday will be 2/26 with both morning and evening services. Tab is working with the Youth to provide artwork on the Stations of the Cross to decorate the sanctuary
• Gregg is suggesting a Men’s Retreat for May (date TBD), which the Council approved
• other upcoming events include Shrove Tuesday, Ash Wednesday, and a songwriter workshop June 5-6.

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday March 3 in the Commons.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of January 7, 2020
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Charleen, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Mary, Rusty, Spencer
Absent:
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• there was no Treasurer’s Report
• the Budget Committee will meet Jan. 21

Advent & Epiphany report and activities:

• Advent went very well, with good attendance at the special services
• there will be three baptisms during Epiphany
• Chilean missionaries will speak on Jan. 15
• a Sudanese woman may speak Jan. 22
• the Council voted to give both a gift in support of their ministries
• On Jan. 23 from 11:00-noon we will host a meeting discussing mentoring opportunities for area schools. The Council approved $100 for lunches for attendees

Facilities:

• no major work done since the previous meeting
• need to re-do the alarm system, as the current approach sets off the sirens even when the is just a high-water alarm
• changing outdoor lighting will be postpones for now, as the bid came back at $9k
• Aaron and Nick are working on remodeling the offices
• the Council approved holding off on redoing the wood floors until we see if there is a need / option to expand the sanctuary
• the Council approved moving ahead with quotes for redoing the carpet. Aaron will get a quote.
• Aaron and Nick will be working on the offices
• the Budget Committee will issue a recommendation for paying done the mortgage versus purchasing a new HVAC

Updates:

• Spencer suggested starting a team to study and propose mission support
• Ash Wednesday will be 2/26 with both morning and evening services
• Gregg is suggesting a Men’s Retreat for May 23, which the Council approved
• the Council approved Gregg’s suggestion to open the church for prayer at 7:30 on Mondays during Lent

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday February 4 in the upper meeting room.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of December 3, 2019
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Mary, Rusty
Absent: Charleen
Clergy attending: Nick

Financial Report:

• November giving exceeded expenditures by about $1000
• Year-to-date giving is currently above budget, and spending is under budget
• Deborah will continue to serve as Treasurer and attend the meetings

Recent Activities

• the PC was generally pleased by the new Covenant Journey process, and feels it is important to continue that. There were just under 100 signatures on the Covenant
• the potluck and Parish Meeting ran smoothly and efficiently

Advent:

• Lessons and Carols will take place on 12/11, and there will be a Christmas Eve service
• Epiphany will include house blessings and there will be several baptisms
• The PC approved a special clergy Christmas dinner

Facilities:

• need a paper towel dispenser in the Nursery bathroom
• need to mount the Covenants
• Aaron and Nick will be working on the offices
• work on the front door lights is ongoing
• Lloyd’s electric will give Gregg quotes for outdoor lighting
• timing of pre-approved expenditures (flooring and carpet) will be explored by the Budget Committee

Updates:

• Aaron is still exploring options for laminated bulletins. The current idea is to have paper bulletins for Lent and Easter and special events, but a single laminated bulletin for all other seasons.
• we will likely have missionaries speak on Jan 15 and 22
• Gregg is suggesting a Men’s Retreat for May 16.

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday January 7 in the upper meeting room.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of November 5, 2019
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Rusty
Absent: Bent, Spencer
Clergy attending:

Financial Report:

• October giving exceeded expenditures
• Giving is currently above budget, and spending is under budget
• Deborah will continue to serve as Treasurer and attend the meetings
• will discuss at next meeting having an independent review

Fall Activities

• Synod is this weekend, with about 12 ONA members attending
• the full Parish member’s meeting will be Sunday Nov. 24 following the service and potluck. Aaron will contact Nancy and Sally about procuring the main dish. The meeting will include Aaron’s updates, Deborah’s financial summary, voting on new Council members, and a report by the Sabbatical Committee
• an updated bulletin / liturgy will be used starting with Advent
• will have a Christmas Eve service
• Michael Hickey will be taking over some of the youth leadership in Rising Catechism

Facilities

• improvements to be made soon include tightening toilet seats, finish installing the front exterior lights, finishing trim painting in the downstairs meeting room, touch-up painting around the lights in the Commons, installing a new light in the Library, ordering and installing a nursery paper towel dispenser
• other major renovations (carpet, flooring, etc.) will wait until after the holidays
• Daniel will look into purchasing and mounting additional exterior light for the side and rear of the building
• Aaron may lead another exterior workday in late fall or early spring

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday December 3 in the upper meeting room.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of October 1, 2019
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Rusty, Spencer
Absent:
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• due to renovation and other costs, spending in Sept. slightly exceeded giving
• for the year, giving is still $4k over budget, whisk expenses are $23k under
• this does not account for almost $20k in committed additional expenses for carpeting and the hardwood floors , which will be spent in the first half of 2020
• decided to put off an additional lump payment towards the mortgage until costs associated with the sabbatical are clearer

Bylaws updates

• Council unanimously approved (by email on 9/19/19) the changes proposed by Brad, and has been announcing those
• Council also approved a typo pointed out by Spencer on p. 13 of the Bylaws

Fall Activities

• instead of Lake Day, there will be an activity at the church on October 20
• the member’s mini-meeting will be Sunday Oct. 13 immediately after the service
• the Covenanting ceremony will be Sunday Nov. 3 and 4:00 pm
• the full Parish member’s meeting will be Sunday Nov. 24 following the service and potluck
• Aaron is taking care of arrangements for the Bishop’s visit the weekend of Oct. 26. Nick’s ordination will be that Saturday evening

Parish Council nominations

• the Council agreed to add two members, including one to replace Deborah, who is rotating off. The Council made several suggestions to the Nominating Committee

Facilities

• changes to be made this weekend include removing the old air conditioner, installing signs, installing front exterior lights, installing staff hooks, framing the three outstanding Covenants, nursery towel dispenser, aerator for nursery bathroom sink
• Aaron will look into additional estimates for carpeting
• Gregg suggested adding pew liturgy holders
• more groups are using the building, including the Fairmont and Emoriland Neighborhood Assoc. and the Community School partner meeting

Sabbatical

• Aaron shared his list of priestly duties
• Council will come next time with suggestions on broader participation

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday November 5 in the upper meeting room.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of September 3, 2019
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Rusty, Spencer
Absent:
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• giving in July and August was over budget, while spending was under-budget
• will delay spending budgeted amount on refinishing the hardwood floors in the sanctuary until next June
• will add Tithely instructions to giving cards
• PC approved spending $5.5k (instead of $5k originally budgeted) to replace the aging sound system
• PC will at the next meeting making another lump payment against the mortgage

Clergy needs:

• approved $300 for new purificators for Altar Guild
• sink in Nursery bathroom needs new faucets or new lower sink. Daniel will check
• flooring in children’s area will need to be replaced within next few years; it does not look clean
• Aaron will contact Drew Petty for additional hooks for crucifixes in Sanctuary

Medical Response team:

• training was held for childcare team
• will hold additional training for broader group
• defibrillator will be mounted

Building and Facility updates:

• will have Workday on Sept. 21 (8:30-noon), with outdoor work and painting of additional room downstairs
• new Bibles have come in and been placed. New BCPs are on back-order.
• have decided to not pay for stone wall renovations, but instead pressure wash and repair major issues
• front lighting is in the process of being updated. Daniel will check
• the steeple will need cleaning in the spring
• have found two new folks interested in rotating into cleaning schedule
• Aaron will post new service opportunities on Bulletin Board

Preparation for Aaron’s Sabbatical

• Brent shared sabbatical best practices document
• Aaron shared proposed sabbatical dates, encompassing 3 months
• committee will have draft logistical plan for October PC meeting
• Nick will be ordained as priest in late October, after which ONA will send him on a short retreat

Fall Needs

• the Congregational Meeting will be the first week of November
• Aaron will lead two Covenant Journey 1st and 2nd steps in two Wednesdays between now and late October
• Covenant signing will be on a Sunday evening before the November Congregational Meeting
• need tow folks to represent ONA at Synod in November. Spencer will represent the PC
• Aaron will check about moving Lake Day to Oct. 20. Next year we will check into reserving Inskip Pool instead

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday October 1 in the upper meeting room.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of September 3, 2019
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Daniel, Deborah, Gregg, Rusty, Spencer
Absent:
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• giving in July and August was over budget, while spending was under-budget
• will delay spending budgeted amount on refinishing the hardwood floors in the sanctuary until next June
• will add Tithely instructions to giving cards
• PC approved spending $5.5k (instead of $5k originally budgeted) to replace the aging sound system
• PC will at the next meeting making another lump payment against the mortgage

Clergy needs:

• approved $300 for new purificators for Altar Guild
• sink in Nursery bathroom needs new faucets or new lower sink. Daniel will check
• flooring in children’s area will need to be replaced within next few years; it does not look clean
• Aaron will contact Drew Petty for additional hooks for crucifixes in Sanctuary

Medical Response team:

• training was held for childcare team
• will hold additional training for broader group
• defibrillator will be mounted

Building and Facility updates:

• will have Workday on Sept. 21 (8:30-noon), with outdoor work and painting of additional room downstairs
• new Bibles have come in and been placed. New BCPs are on back-order.
• have decided to not pay for stone wall renovations, but instead pressure wash and repair major issues
• front lighting is in the process of being updated. Daniel will check
• the steeple will need cleaning in the spring
• have found two new folks interested in rotating into cleaning schedule
• Aaron will post new service opportunities on Bulletin Board

Preparation for Aaron’s Sabbatical

• Brent shared sabbatical best practices document
• Aaron shared proposed sabbatical dates, encompassing 3 months
• committee will have draft logistical plan for October PC meeting
• Nick will be ordained as priest in late October, after which ONA will send him on a short retreat

Fall Needs

• the Congregational Meeting will be the first week of November
• Aaron will lead two Covenant Journey 1st and 2nd steps in two Wednesdays between now and late October
• Covenant signing will be on a Sunday evening before the November Congregational Meeting
• need tow folks to represent ONA at Synod in November. Spencer will represent the PC
• Aaron will check about moving Lake Day to Oct. 20. Next year we will check into reserving Inskip Pool instead

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday October 1 in the upper meeting room.

Old North Abbey, Knoxville, TN
Parish Council Meeting Summary, meeting of August 6, 2019
Minutes prepared by Amber Ford, summary by Daniel Yoder

Attendees: Aaron, Amber, Brent, Daniel, Gregg, Rusty, Spencer
Absent: Deborah
Clergy attending: Joy

Financial Report:

• No Treasurer’s Report, since Deborah was unable to attend
• PC approved an additional $200 for Women’s Retreat, on top of the $500 approved last month
• ONA received a $1200 anonymous gift directed to purchasing BCPs and Bible; approved by PC

Medical Response

• Andrew is ordering a defibrillator.
• Training for Medical Response Team and Childcare workers will be held on 8/25, with lunch provided
• names of Medical response Team will be shared on Bulletin Board and via email

Building and Facility Updates

• Gregg will move forward with quotes for repairing stone wall by road
• Aaron will start to organize an indoor / outdoor Work Day on 9/21
• Daniel will see about removing metal rod above sewer line
• Daniel will work to cover wires in Balcony

Mission Opportunities

• Aaron and Amber met with Resource Coordinators at Bell Morris Elementary and Whittle Springs Middle, and will start posting needs on the Bulletin Board

Preparation for Aaron’s Sabbatical
-Sabbatical Team identified 3 tasks: 1) Aaron developing sabbatical plan; 2) Aaron and Team will communicate purpose and need for sabbatical to congregation; and 3) dealing with practicalities (finances, scheduling, ministry duties, etc.). Rachel will handle communication, while Spencer and Brent will handle practical.

• Aaron has been speaking with others to gain insight into the process. Father Jack King is willing to talk with the PC about his experience.
• Spencer shared they will build a team to meet with Aaron before, during, and after the sabbatical for increased prayer, discussion, etc.
• ministry roles could be shared both internally and externally. This may be an opportunity to build greater discipleship within the congregation to take on greater ownership during and after the sabbatical.

Fall Needs

• the Congregational Meeting will be the first week of November
• the PC proposed dropping the 2nd part of the Covenant Journey, which is getting very difficult to pull off given the larger numbers. Aaron will do at least 1-2 additional “1st sessions” between now and October.
• Gregg will be reaching out to people individually to expand the Hospitality Team.

Aaron updates

• Caleb will continue working with Youth as a volunteer, but will no longer be paid staff. The youth will be split between 3rd-5th grade and 6th grade and up. Emily Hall and Brenna will head up the younger group. Spencer and Aaron are reaching out to parents to volunteer with the older group.
• the New Wineskins Conference in Asheville is coming up in late September, and the PC decided to pay for one clergy and one lay person to attend. Travis Cargle will be the lay person, and Aaron the clergy.

Next meeting 7:30 pm Tuesday September 3 in the upper meeting room.