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District 1 Meeting Minutes - 03/06/08
Posted by Russ Worthington
Mar 10, 2008, 17:50

District 1 Meeting
March 6, 2008
Church of the Messiah, Chester

Present: Margaret Otterburn, Church of the Messiah; Cynthia Lounsberry, St. Dunstan’s; Sr. Barbara Jean, Community of St. John Baptist; Sr. Mary Julian, Community of St. John Baptist; Barbara Piccirillo, St. Dunstan’s; Sheila Shuford, St. James, Hackettstown; Andrew Piccirillo, St. Dunstan’s; Kathy Matlock, St. Luke’s, Phillipsburg; Victor Zeno, St. Luke’s, Phillipsburg; Father Tom Mathews, St. Luke’s, Phillipsburg; Lauren Baltz, St. Dunstan’s; Holly Robinson, Christ Church, Budd Lake; Darlene Tittle, Christ Church, Budd Lake; Bernadette Russell, Church of the Messiah; Joann Rasath, St. Peter’s, Washington; Bob Criste-Troutman, St. Peter’s, Washington; Kim Capwell, St. Peter’s, Mt. Arlington; Andrew Molnar and Marie Skweir, Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center; Russ Worthington, St. James, Hackettstown; Cathy Deats, St. James, Hackettstown

Margaret Otterburn opened the meeting with a prayer. The following reports were given:

1. Report on the implementation of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs):

(There are eight Millennium Development Goals with the goal by the year 2020 to eradicate poverty in the world. Started by the United Nations.)

Kim Capwell of St. Peter’s: Vestry enthusiastically endorsed contributing .7% of their budget and will put a program together to implement.

Church of the Messiah – Bernadette Russell: Vestry accepted .7% for 2007 budget and ongoing in 2008. Dinner with Friends. Two groups met-have gone online to kiva.org. Micro-loans to businesses around the world. Messiah prays for the MDGs every week.

Community of St. John Baptist – Sr. Barbara Jean: Hung the poster. Contributes to Good Shepherd Home in Africa and other outreach work in keeping with the MDGs. Will form an outreach committee.

St. James – Cathy Deats: Lenten booklet—using it in Confirmation class and Bible study group.

St. Dunstan’s, Succasunna; Christ Church, Budd Lake; St. Luke’s, Phillipsburg; St. Peter’s, Washington—all planning to educate their congregations about the MDGs.

District goals to raise awareness of MDGs:

Educate congregations
Outreach items
One representative from each church to plan a District-wide program

Russ Worthington: District 1 e-mail list needs to be updated. Russ will do it; please e-mail him your e-mail addresses at rworthington@goes.com.

2. Report on Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center:

Marie Skweir and Andrew Molnar, Executive Directors at Cross Roads Camp and Retreat Center gave a report:

250 acres, lake, pool, sport fields, ropes course, climbing wall, etc.

New mission statement: “To create sacred space for the Spirit of God to inspire holy relationships that we might embody Christ’s love on earth.”

Developing adult ministry.

Youth and adults—new experiences on the spiritual journey.

First three years—summer program four times larger
Solar panels
Updates to retreat centers
Renewing the facility

Two programs—Summer and year-found retreats. Residential camp for youth. Family week.

Building a new retreat center just for adults.

Main lodge has solar panels.

Ten percent discount for diocesan groups.

Video shown.

Kim’s presentation: Support the camp in the diocense.

May 17 Spring Cleanup day.

Have a District meeting there.

3. Suggestions for Future District Projects:

a. Support groups—District wide:

Grief
Cancer
Job loss
Divorce/marriage
Recovery
Diabetes
Depression
Singles
Single parents

Could go together.

Youth programs—tabled.

b. Good Friday:
Cross-walks in the area
District too big to have a district-wide service.

c. Financial meetings:
Sponsor a financial meeting in the diocese.
Treasurer and administrators.
Perhaps bring Rich out from the Diocese.
Dr. Hardy
For September

Next meeting: May 1, 2008 at Messiah, Chester