Interim Update for January 10

Christmas decorations taken down

The St. John's Christmas Forest, along with all the other Christmas decorations came down Sunday after worship, and were returned to their hiding places in the St. John's Catacombs. Thanks to the large group of lumberjacks that stayed to help.

Newsletter Formatting

We've published our first online newsletter, the January issue, and I'm thinking we might try something a bit different going forward. Our first issue was published as a pdf hosted on the congregation's Google Drive. Files saved here (in the cloud) can be accessed with a web link, which is how we shared the January issue. Based on feedback, there were a few problems: Some email clients (like mine, which is GMail, automatically display web addresses as clickable links. Others don't, and some had to copy and paste the URL (web address) into their browser. They could have scrolled to the bottom of the email, as the pdf was available there as an attachment.

Another problem: the pdf can be a difficult if not impossible format to read on a smaller device, such as a phone or tablet. Solution: send the email in HTML (website) format, and the printed text will automatically format to the size of the screen, including graphics and photos.

Mailchimp, our mass email program, has this capability, but it will require copying and pasting the newsletter content into the Mailchimp email creation software. I did a test of this method using the January content, and it seems to work reasonable well. So we'll plan to try sending out the February issue using this format. We will continue to publish it it Word (printed hard copies for narthex pick-up and mailing to shutins ) and PDF (viewable/downloadable from the web)

Balcony piano repair

I received this message from Jan L. regarding the balcony piano (Jan copied some of you already to this message):

I spoke with Larry Bailey, the piano tuner, this morning after he was at the church. There are several items with the balcony piano which need to be addressed as soon as possible. Because of the dryness/heat in the balcony, some of the ribs in the soundboard are pulling loose. These will need to be reglued/repaired. To keep this from getting worse, a humidifier needs to be installed inside the piano (like the one in the chapel piano). He also suggests that the back of the piano be enclosed with plastic to keep the moisture from the humidifier from being sucked out by the fan in the balcony before it has a chance to be absorbed inside the piano. If this is not taken care of, the sound board will crack and it will become impossible to tune to piano.

Cost:
Humidifier (including installation): $535
Repair of sound board $75
Putting plastic on back of piano $50
Total $660

He advises that this be done as soon as possible. As most of you know, Larry has maintained the church pianos for a number of years. Marlene and I have also used his services on our personal pianos for quite some time. I have no reason to question his assessment of the situation. He needs to be contacted when this has been approved.

Elevator Inspector visited

St. John's was paid a visit by the elevator inspector, and he gave the hoist a thumbs up with one exception: One or more light bulbs or tubes in the elevator car appear to be burned out and will need replaced.

AC installation underway

Workers from Hartland, the contractor for installing the new AC in the sanctuary, have been busy working. Completed so far -- the mounting brakets/plates for the inside units. Currently the crew is working on drilling about 4" holes through the wall to the outside by each unit, which will provide access to the condensing units, which will be on the outside. This appears to be a tedious and slow moving task, as the cup shaped bit has to be pulled out often to dump the removed stone/concrete. I'm not sure how much longer the installation will take, but will give you updates as the work continues.

Water at end of preschool hallway

Preschool staff has noted that water is making its way in through the double doors at the far end of the preschool hallway facing Southwest Street. The rubber back doormat has been rolled up so that the floor can dry thoroughly, which will be necessary for the new flooring installation.

Confirmation back in session

Our confirmation sessions resumed this week, and we covered the 9th and 10th commandments:

Ninth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbor's house.
What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not desire to get our neighbor's possessions by scheming, or by pretending to have a right to them, but always help him keep what is his.

Tenth Commandment

You shall not covet your neighbors wife, or manservant, or his maidservant, or his cattle, or anything that is your neighbor's.
What does this mean for us?
We are to fear and love God so that we do not tempt or coax away from our neighbor his wife or his workers, but encourage them to remain loyal.

Stewardship Committee work session

Aleta, Emma K. and Linda were busy this week doing thank you's for those who completed plan for giving cards. Kristen printed end of year giving statements, and both will be available in the narthex this weekend and beyond. Also available to pick up are offering envelopes with pages of labels for each giving unit.

Worship Committee meeting

Worship Committee met Thursday morning -- lots to begin planning for, including Ash Wednesday and Lent.

• Would like to do Wednesday evening suppers again, with worship around the table in Fellowship Hall. One service on Ash Wednesday at 7pm on February 26th. Five midweek supper/worships on following Wednesday evenings.
• Welcomed Lois T. as new Committee member. Lois and Jan are the primary helpers for Saturday worship. Want to get more Saturday worshipers involved as helpers for reading, ushering, a communion.
• Paul reported encouraging progress on May 17 Organ Concert with Richard Hills. He's getting positive indications of financial support from local businesses and community entities.
• Lois noted that the light outside the sacristy door is burned out -- very dark leaving the church from that location after Saturday worship.
• Committee agreed that substitute organists should continue with $75 per service compensation. Also agreed that $75 should be paid for any funeral service for which family does not have adequate financial resources.
• Some discussion held on 5th Sunday Outreach: Next one is March, then May, August and November. Ideas needed! And someone to take the lead!

Education Team met Wednesday

Education team met during confirmation, and I joined them at 8pm after youth left. One of the topics discussed was 2021 National Youth Gathering -- registration opens in September of this year, so it's not to early to start getting both you and adult leaders on board and some fundraisers planned. Every youth in grade 7 will be eligible to attend.

Has the United Methodist Church split?

"Last week, in a flurry of misleading headlines, many of us read that the United Methodist Church had split. This is not, in fact, what happened." So begins a statement by Presiding Bishop Elizabeth Eaton. You can read the entirety of Bishop Eaton's statement here.

Continuing Ed at Winter Park in February

Just a reminder that I'll be doing a week of continuing ed at Winter Park February 9 - 14. Will need to find pulpit supply for leading worship on the 9th. I was encouraged to read this report.promn

On my schedule next week

• Wednesday - Confirmation 6:30 pm
• Thursday - Adult Bible study 10:00 am, Synod interim pastors, 1pm at Synod office