Newsletter, May 18, 2008

Report on Class Meeting: The Families and Friends Class indulged themselves in good food and then did good work as they planned for Ed and Claire’s departure. Several important decisions were made including:

Decision 1: We will have a June social event on the evening of June 14. Details are not yet known, but it will involve eating out and feting the “old folks.” Robin is available to supervise childcare. Please let Kristen Maynard [921-7688 (home) or 657-3634 (cell)] know how many children will need childcare. This event will serve as the June/July social event.

Decision 2: The class will continue to welcome newly baptized children into the Christian community with a letter and a children’s Bible. Janet Everly leads this ministry. [Lois and John presently have 8-9 Bibles that they will donate for class use].

Decision 3: We will not regard Interfaith Hospitality Network as a class outreach. However, we will encourage individual class members to support this ministry as they are able. For the new members of the class, the following information might be useful.
· Interfaith Hospitality Network is an outreach to homeless families
· WBUMC makes its facilities available once every 6-10 weeks for to up to three families who have no place to live. We rotate this responsibility with several other churches.
· Volunteers are needed each evening of the weeklong visit in two shifts.
· Shift One: 5:30 –8:00. Help serve dinner, eat dinner with guests, play with children and/or help with homework as needed.
· Shift Two: 8:00 pm – 7:00 am: Volunteers sleep at church. No specific responsibilities other than problem solve if problems arise.

Decision 4: Although class organization may evolve over time, for the next several months the class will be organized into two leadership directions.
Community Building Leadership:
Class Preparation Leadership:

Decision 5 (The big one!!!):
Part (a): For the foreseeable future (at least the next six months) Carla and David McCorvey will provide leadership in community building efforts. They will invite class members and class attendees to join them in making the class a welcoming place for all who come, providing periodic social events for the class [and families and friends broadly defined], and supporting mission outreach as opportunities arise.

Part (b): For the foreseeable future (at least the next six months), Amy and Tony Murphy will provide leadership in the delivery of class on Sunday mornings. They will invite class members to join them in choosing teaching materials, teaching multi-week units, and listening to the class for issues and needs that need to be addressed by lessons.

Part (c): The rest of the class will join in these two major tasks. As we talked about teaching responsibilities, a number of people nodded that they would be glad to give it a try. Perhaps even more importantly, class members were cognizant that “creating a warm and welcoming place for both frequent attenders and walk-in guests” is a priority to which all contribute … even those with only a few weeks of attendance under their belts.


Other Issues 1: Teaching for the next four Sundays is mapped out as follows.
May 25: Ed
June 1: Ed
June 8: Janet and Mitch
June 15: Ed
By June 15, we will try to have curriculum chosen to carry us through the summer. After June 15 Amy and Tony will begin their “Interim Teaching Supervisor” responsibilities. They will certainly teach some, but with summer travels they will need to hear from those of you who would be willing to share in their responsibilities. [Hawkeye Ed was taking notes of those whose heads bobbed up and down during the teaching conversation and will pass this info to A and T. However, in case Hawkeye missed a bob, it would be good for you to tell A and T yourselves.]

Other Issues 2: Amy had previously committed to teaching in a children’s class this Fall, but will need to take a pass in view of her joint “Interim Teaching Supervisor” role. If you are not comfortable teaching in the Family and Friends class or if you have a special heart for children, you might consider this role this Fall.