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MAPC UPDATE

Vol. XXIX, No. 16

October 26, 2003

Congregational Nominating Committee Begins Work

It is that time of year when we begin to think about the election of new church officers. The Congregational Nominating Committee is comprised of the Chair and Vice-Chair from the Session, one representative each from the Board of Deacons and the Board of Trustees, and five members of the congregation at large. The “at large” members are elected annually to serve on the committee for one year. The Congregational Nominating Committee at MAPC meets for several meetings from mid fall through December to consider names for nominating to the offices of Elder, Deacon and Trustee, as well as those who will represent the congregation on the following year’s committee.

At its first meeting the committee discusses each office to understand the nature of each particular ministry and the qualities of leadership being sought. Deacons are care givers and people who carry out ministries of compassion and service, assisting the pastors in their work of care for members. Elders are the spiritual leaders of the congregation who, together with the pastors, make the decisions that govern the life and ministry of the church, including its annual operating budget. Trustees are vested by Session with the responsibility of attending to the day-to-day business affairs of the congregation and the maintenance of its properties. Each of the offices is unique and requires different gifts. The committee then discusses the performance of those who are completing their first three-year term and are eligible to serve for a second three-year term, to determine if it wishes to nominate them for a second three-year term of service. Once that decision is made, the committee makes a list of active members it would like to begin considering for nomination to the other vacancies on the boards. At this time, the names that have been suggested to the committee through members of the congregation are added to the list of potential nominees. The committee then adjourns for several weeks in order to pray and think about each person on the list.

At its second meeting the committee returns to the master list and discusses each potential candidate, noting those qualities that would make him or her particularly able as, say, a Deacon rather than an Elder or a Trustee rather than Deacon, and so on. Once each person on the list has been discussed, the committee begins to construct a list of people it would like to see nominated. A list is developed for Elders, for Deacons and for Trustees, with names placed in order of priority of contact. The committee then asks the pastors who work with the specific boards to be in contact with potential nominees to discuss the office and its responsibilities and to learn if they would be willing to allow the committee to place their names in nomination. This portion of the process takes up to six weeks to complete, for the pastors ask that nominees take time to give prayerful consideration to what they are being asked to do.

Early in January the committee meets for its next-to-last meeting. It receives the report of the pastors and then makes its formal nominations for each of the boards and releases the names to the congregation. It then turns to the process of nominating the next year’s “members at large” for the next Congregational Nominating Committee.

If you know someone you think should be considered for one of the three offices, please speak with a member of the committee, or put your request in writing and address it to the Congregational Nominating Committee, care of the Church. Those nominations should be to the church no later than Friday, November 7, as the committee will have its first meeting on the following Sunday, November 9.

This year’s Congregational Nominating Committee includes: Elders Fred MacEachron, Chair, and Darrell Harris, Vice-Chair, Trustee Nicki Christin, Deacon Sharon Swenson, and congregational members-at-large Linda Field, Edith Hazen, Jane Little, Bill Patterson, and Phil Talbot.

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Mid-Timers Retreat & Other Fall Events

The Mid-Timers Fellowship is for anyone who falls between the 20s 30s group and Seniors’ Ministries.

There will be a retreat for MAPC Mid-Timers Friday evening through Sunday afternoon, November 21-23, at the Convent of St. Helena in Vail’s Gate, NY. Beverly Bartlett, Associate Pastor for Congregational Life, will lead the group in exploring and sharing our spiritual autobiographies. St. Helena’s is surrounded by 50 acres of woodland and meadow, so we will leave plenty of time for walking and relaxing. The cost of the retreat is $125 per person, plus transportation. We will try to arrange car pools among the group. St. Helena’s is approximately 60 miles north of the city and accommodates 25 people in mostly double rooms. To reserve your space, please contact Margaret Williamson at the church (212) 288-8920 or e-mail her at mew@mapc.com. Come enjoy this time of relaxation, fellowship, worship, and reflection.

Other Fall Mid-Timers event:

November 2, at 1 pm – Brunch at Clove Restaurant. We’ll meet in the church house lobby during coffee hour after the 11:15 am service and walk to Clove on 80th Street for brunch. Space for brunch is limited to 15 people, so reserve your spot now, by contacting Margaret Williamson at the above number or e-mail.

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Two-Part Inquirers Seminar

Sundays, November 16 and 23

Interested in learning more about the Christian faith in general, the Presbyterian Church, or MAPC in particular? Have you been thinking about making MAPC your church home?

We will address all these questions and more at the next Inquirers Seminar, so plan on joining in! It will meet over these two Sundays in the Phillips Lounge, starting around 1 pm (after the 11:15am worship service), and concluding around 4:30 pm both weeks. Lunch will be provided. It is a unified seminar broken out over two weeks, so plan to attend both sessions. Child care is available but needs to be arranged in advance by calling Mary Walling at the church office (288-8920, x241). If you have questions or concerns in general, please call J.C. Austin at the church office (288-8920, x242). He will be pleased to speak with you about the seminars or other questions you might have about membership or the church. (e-mail: jca@mapc.com)

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Parish Register New Members Richard E. Chambers Vivian Maria Chambers (Mrs. Richard E.) Chang Seok Choi Anne Davis (Mrs. Solon Edward III) Solon Edward Davis III Anne Rauch Mochizuki Mary Santini Charles Wheeler Thurston Kimberly F. Thurston Death *Theodore R. Kupferman Weddings Jason Thomas Wendland and Kristen Elizabeth Snyder John L. McMennamin and Mary Ann Osborn Mark Joseph Ahearn and *Vicki Lee Schmelzer Tsz Lam Li and Winnie Seen Heng Young (*MAPC Member)

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Thrift Shop News

The Thrift Shop will re-open in its new space beginning in January. We will have a clearance sale on Saturday, November 22 from 10 am till 2 pm in the Parish Hall. On Sunday, November 23 from 12:30 till 2 pm there will be a half-price sale.

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St. Andrew Music Society 2003 Keyboard Series (Sundays at 4 pm) October 26: Katya Grineva, Piano November 2: Rogers & Morrison Piano Duo November 9: Margaret Mills, Piano November 16: The Mannes College of Music November 23 at 4 pm Honegger’s King David St. Andrew Chorale & Orchestra Skitch Henderson, Narrator John Weaver, Conductor

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Daylight Saving Time will end at 2 am on Sunday, October 26. Turn clocks back one hour.

Additional Information

Also, see:

• MAPC Home Page
• Worship Services
• Christian Education Programs
• MAPC Calendar
• St. Andrew Music Society Concerts

 

 

 

 

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