Postby Kathryn-in-Canada » Tue May 29, 2018 11:29 pm
Tough meeting tonight.
God surprised me. Really, no surprise there, that's pretty par for the course.
I got my service outline done in the afternoon. Ds came for a visit as well which was nice.
I left late, though, so got caught in traffic and then on the freeway out in the rural area so was 10 minutes late. We had a lovely dinner and worked for over 3 hours.
Another church member who isn't on the board was there. She feels that she needs to give to the church and burn energy at the same time. She's asked to paint and decorate the bathroom area and then into the kitchen and main hall. But she'll start with the church message sign which looks run down to her.
After that, she'd like to open up a canteen for kids on Sunday afternoons. Since the General Store and the pizza place closed, there's no place for kids to go for an ice cream or cold drink and just 'hang out' watching the cars go by. There's also no place for bicyclists to stop for a coffee or cold drink or go to the bathroom. Same for the boaters. So she'd like to open a canteen, starting with one day per week.
We've said yes. She now understands the church is on a path to closing. The reason she wants a project to work on is, for now, a break from her role as caregiver; and for later, to work through the loss of her young child who is dying from cancer. She made comments that lead me to think the end is within 8 weeks, possibly less. The minister leaves in a week (he's only 3/4 time) and is heart broken about leaving the family at this time. Not sure what will happen with a funeral. I'm not hoping to do that one. I will support the minister in breaking rules and coming back for it.
My report was mostly accepted verbatim so will be presented almost as I wrote it. Obviously, the canteen was late breaking news so was added. The board moved away from my church closing wording and the minister had to move them back again. They need to be blunt to make people understand. To be honest, they haven't fully accepted it themselves, so that's why they don't want to say it to the congregation.
The chair will present the report on Sunday, then let them sit with it until the minister is back in October. Then we'll share the results of my supper services and the canteen and anything else we do and then make plans for what we'll do while we work towards closing.
I serious doubt these ideas will make a difference but it is worth a try.
It is very late and I'm babysitting for tomorrow afternoon. I also have to buy a wedding gift and do other stuff so I'm going to head to bed now. I have makeup on so that will take a while.