2014 annual report - winnetka presbyterian church · 2015-03-11 · march 9, 2014 the annual...

A Spiritual Cornerstone

2014 Annual Report

March 15, 2015

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WPC Identity & Vision

Our Identity:

Winnetka Presbyterian Church is inspired by Jesus Christ

to welcome all with open hearts,

grow in faith centered on God’s Word,

and share God’s love with the world.

Our Vision:

Guided by God’s Word revealed in Jesus Christ,

and the gifts given to us,

Winnetka Presbyterian Church

seeks encounters with God’s living Spirit in worship and outreach,

nurtures faith development through study and group life,

provides spiritual leadership and nurture in our communities,

and serves as an instrument of justice and reconciliation in the world.

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Table of Contents

Annual Meeting Agenda .................................................................................... 5

Minutes of Annual Meeting of the Congregation, March 9, 2014 ...................... 6

Annual Report of the Senior Pastor ................................................................... 7

Annual Report of the Associate Pastor .............................................................. 8

Clerk of Session’s Report ................................................................................... 9

Leadership & Statistics..................................................................................... 10

Annual Report of the Deacons ......................................................................... 11

Congregational Ministries:

Worship & Music Report ....................................................................... 13

Evangelism Report ................................................................................. 14

Spiritual Formation Report .................................................................... 15

Mission Ministries Report ................................................................................ 16

Educational Ministries:

Children’s Report ................................................................................... 18

Youth Ministries .................................................................................... 20

Adult Education Report ......................................................................... 21

Support Ministries:

Finance Report ...................................................................................... 22

2014 Budget .......................................................................................... 23

Summary of Fund Balance ..................................................................... 31

Endowment/Investment Report ............................................................ 32

Balance Sheet ........................................................................................ 33

Stewardship Report ............................................................................... 34

Buildings & Grounds Report .................................................................. 35

Marketing & Technology ........................................................................ 36

Nominating Report ................................................................................ 37

Personnel Report ................................................................................... 38

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Annual Meeting Agenda

Winnetka Presbyterian Church Annual Meeting Agenda

March 15, 2014

10:50am Call to Order 10:50am Opening Prayer 10:50am Special Reports Report of the Senior Pastor Staff Recognitions Volunteer Recognitions Volunteer(s) of the Year Recognition Clerk’s Report Prayer of Thanksgiving of the Saints Board of Deacons Report Financial Reports: Stewardship Finance 11:35am *Closing Hymn 381, “Arise, O Lord Our God, Arise!” 11:40am *Benediction

* Please stand if you are able

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Meeting Minutes Minutes of the Annual Meeting of the Congregation

March 9, 2014

The Annual Meeting of the Congregation of Winnetka Presbyterian Church was held at 10:55am on Sunday, March 9, 2014. A quorum was present. Senior Pastor David Lower was present and moderated the meeting. Clerk Elizabeth Carlson recorded the minutes.

The meeting was opened with prayer by Rev Lower. Rev. Lower reflected on the blessings, challenges and opportunities with which WPC was presented in 2013. He remarked on the love and caring his family received mid-year. Rev. Lower thanked all the volunteers for the many hours of time and many talents offered by our members to the Lord’s work. The Volunteer of the Year was awarded to Nancy Holly for all her work not only as an elder, for a fifth consecutive year, but also for the many other contributions she has made to WPC. A donation to Good News Partners was given in her name. Rev. Lower recognized the staff and the transition of staff that has occurred during 2013 including the departure of Karen Ness, Associate Pastor; Martha Ross-Mockaitis, Director of Children’s Ministries, Kathy McNair, Parish Associate, Jennie Cloud, Administrative Assistant, and Wiga and Lucjien Cuik, custodial staff; the addition of Adam Cleaveland-Walker, Designated Associate Pastor, Penny Grell, Interim Administrative Assistant, and Chris Kenneally, custodian; and the ongoing contributions by Geoff Duffy, Director of Music Ministries, and Diann Santschi, Parish Associate of Pastoral Care and Counseling. Rev Lower thanked all the out-going elders, deacons and members of the nominating committee.

Clerk Elizabeth Carlson gave her report on the work of the Session and the yearly Statistical Report. She reminded the congregation of the loss of five members to death: Jean Avery, Wy Bischoff, Mayme ‘Pete’ Flury, Jim Rhind, and Blair White. A prayer was offered in thanksgiving for the lives of these saints.

Elder Tim Marshall reviewed the 2013 financial year evolved. He presented a synopsis of the 2013 expenditures and revenues and the reasoning for the 2014 budget. Due to the shifting member composition and flow of contributions, the budget has been conservatively constructed with fewer revenue assumptions than in past years. The stewardship campaign emphasized the need for planned commitments to be pledged to allow for appropriate budgeting. A balanced budget was presented and approved.

Election of elders and deacons occurred.

Deacons (Class of 2016) Sally Christie, Bob Crowe, Susan Langan, Emily Marshall, Ernie Palmer, Elizabeth Probst and Monica Diaz (youth).

(Class of 2014) Donna Powell

Elders (Class of 2016) Martha Bermingham (personnel), Skip Wiltshire-Gordon (worship and music), Tracy Collitte (hospitality), Wally Scott (leadership development), and Lauren Holly (youth).

The meeting was closed with a prayer and benediction by Rev. Lower.

Respectfully submitted: Elizabeth Carlson, Clerk of Session and Rev. David E. Lower, Senior Pastor

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Senior Pastor’s Report

Recently I found myself in a conversation on an airplane about our church. “What do you do at your church?” she asked. This woman described churches that were closing in her New York City neighborhood, churches that seemed to die of inactivity before they closed.

“Well, we worship God with scripture and prayer and song and sacraments,” I replied. “No, but what do you DO?” “Well, what I just described is plenty to do, but are you asking about our mission and service?” “Yes.” I proceeded to describe the partnerships between our church and other churches in Cuba, the Ukraine, South Sudan, Kenya, and Sierra Leone. I continued to talk about our outreach to the city of Chicago, through feeding the hungry a meal at A Just Harvest and Interfaith House, helping combat gang violence in Rogers Park with bible study and an after school program through Good News Partners, offering shelter for those experiencing homelessness through Family Promise, reaching out to prisoners with gestures of love and encouragement through Kairos Prison Ministry, and then we care for those struggling in our own community with meals and rides and flowers and cards and visits and prayers, and at this point I had gone on so long she stopped me.

“Wow, I see. Impressive,” she said. “Yes, it really is,” I thought to myself. Indeed, what we do is a lot of good things, and the sum of them is impressive.

But the rest of the flight home, I couldn’t help but think about how much more WPC than its resume. Isn’t that true of all of us? Churches, too. Because it might make the church CV (this annual report) that we’ve grown modestly in numbers in recent years, but it does not show up in many tallies that we are one of the small number of churches anywhere teeming with young families, ready to worship and learn and grow. It does not show up that we are a church that has gotten younger and, though not without strain, financially stronger in the last few years.

Nor will some of our most important and meaningful work appear, like our ministry to one another and the entire New Trier community following the tragic death of one of our children, Sarah, lost far too soon. Or the numerous times we held each other’s hands during scary times of illness or disappointment. Holding people up and speaking love into the bleak winters of life does not pad a resume, and we wish we never needed to, but it matters as much as anything we do. And there isn’t a church I know of anywhere that I would rather be loved by in hard times than this one.

So we reflect together on a 2014 year in our shared life that was made heavy by tragedy and some difficult transitions. But as we do, we remember that God does impressive, life giving work through this congregation, even in years weighted down by struggle. Maybe like the Apostle Paul helped churches in Rome remember, too, when he said, “There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in, because we know how struggle can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next. In alert expectancy such as this… we can’t round up enough containers to hold everything God generously pours into our lives through the Holy Spirit” (Romans 5:3-5 MSG). This appears to be so around here walking together with God.

I give thanks to God for you, for the stuff that reports impressively, and the life-giving love that lies behind and between its words.

David Lower, Senior Pastor

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Associate Pastor’s Report

2014 was a year that brought many exciting opportunities to WPC, as well as many challenges, some of which we continue to wrestle with as a church community.

Given that our church is a diverse place (in all ways: theologically, politically, etc.), our members had a variety of different responses to the decisions that took place at the 221st General Assembly of the PC(USA): specifically the action of divestment; more broadly the question of the role of the church in politics. This is still a conversation that is happening in a number of different arenas within the community, and the Session has spent a lot of time discussing it and imagining a way forward for WPC. What some of this has prompted for the leadership of the church is to focus more on what it means to be Presbyterian. So we held Bonus Hours using a curriculum called Theocademy to help prompt some of those conversations about helpful distinctions of Presbyterianism.

Our worship life at WPC continues to be exceptionally strong. We have a consistently strong music program here at WPC, and yet we are willing to try some new things as well. For Holy Week, I created an alt.worship installation in the CLC, which was offered to people throughout the week, and allowed folks to experience God in new and experiential ways. We also created some similar prayer stations for Advent, and found some ways to incorporate art into one of the stations. Early in 2014, we held a Social Media Sunday, where we spent a worship service practicing finding the connections between worship and social media and technology. From what I heard, we were probably split 50/50 in terms of folks who found it new and different and engaging, and those who simply found it distracting. But I was grateful for a community willing to try something new during worship.

It’s been a joy for me to work with the Deacons and Stephen Ministers here at WPC. The Deacons here are some wonderful people - y’all are in good hands. And our Stephen Ministry continues to flourish now under the joint-leadership of our Stephen Leaders Susan Colten and David Holly. I’ve also appreciated those of you whom I’ve been able to get to know, whether that’s through meetings in my office or at coffee shops, or by stopping by at one of my Coffee & Conversations opportunities last fall.

Tavern Talks has been a joy of mine the past 6 months, after we launched it in June. There are a variety of people who show up for it each month, and are engaged and inspired by the conversations we have. We say that Tavern Talks is drinks and conversation about spirituality and life. And we’ve covered the topics of pluralism, the Bible, faith and doubt, suffering, hell and the afterlife, and politics and the church. It’s been a good tool for outreach into the community.

Our youth ministry began 2014 with a fun high school winter retreat to Baraboo, WI called re:fuel. Our spring was focused a lot on fundraising for our Cuba mission trip, which was a huge success. The adults also won the all church softball game against the youth (which, I believe was a first), and our confirmation program got off to a strong start.

I’ve appreciated the opportunity to do ministry with you here at WPC for the past two years. I’ve learned a lot, and am thankful for the friendship of so many of you to me, Sarah and Caleb. I trust that God has something good in store for me and for this church, and will pray for you all as you enter into this time of transition. Adam Walker Cleaveland

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Clerk of Session’s Report

Annual Report of the Session for the year 2014

In the year 2014, the Winnetka Presbyterian Church Session was composed of fourteen ruling elders: 7 men and 7 women. The Session met on the fourth Wednesday of the month with the exception of the annual joint meeting of the elders and deacons which took place on December 10, 2014. The Session did not meet in July. In addition to the regularly scheduled meetings, 5 Special Meetings of the Session were held when the Moderator deemed it necessary. The Annual Meeting of the Congregation was held.

Communion was served on the first Sunday of each month, Ash Wednesday, Maundy Thursday, the Easter Vigil, and Christmas Eve. Communion was served to home-bound members over the course of the year.

As the governing body, the Session oversees and administers the spiritual and operational life of our church. It approves the church’s annual budget and has the responsibility of reviewing the work of the four Ministries listed below and acting upon their recommendations.

Support Ministries: Buildings & Grounds, Finance, Stewardship, Endowment, Marketing, Personnel

Congregational Ministries: Worship & Music, Evangelism, Fellowship, Spiritual Development

Educational Ministries: Children, Youth, Adult

Mission Ministries: Local, Foreign

Each ministry is headed by one ruling elder, with a youth elder who serves for one year, May to May. The Mission elder needed to step down and the oversight moved to Pastors Lower and Walker Cleaveland. The elder serving a planned one-year Leadership term stepped down near the end of the year and was therefore not replaced.

The church’s Annual Statistical Report for 2014 is found on a following page. Thanks to the efforts and coordination of the Evangelism elder, Sherri Lewis, we continue to grow steadily. In addition, the welcoming leadership of Sr. Pastor David Lower, the Sunday School program lead by Elder Nancy Holly, and the work of members, elders and deacons, has facilitated a slight increase in members in spite of a larger number of member deaths than seen in previous years. Counting members, ‘friends’, children and youth, close to six hundred individuals are served by WPC.

This year was busy for all members with many regular visitors to welcome to WPC, the biennial mission trip to Cuba, numerous improvements to the building and grounds, personnel changes, and denominational controversies. Although all members contribute to the ongoing ministries, we thank the out-going elders for their overall stewardship of the church as well as the areas for which they held focused responsibilities: Nancy Holly (children’s ministry) who has carried the full responsibility for the children’s ministry in lieu of a paid staff member , Tim Marshall (finance) who has focused on balancing the church’s budget, Sherri Lewis (evangelism) who is known for her welcoming nature that is key to evangelism, Wally Scott (leadership development) who helped session with leadership goals, Lauren Holly (youth) and Skip Wiltshire-Gordon (music & worship) whose input and dedication bodes well for our future, Alison Matthews (hospitality), Carmelo LoGalbo (youth ministry) whose enthusiasm for youth was evident, and Rob Sanders (marketing) who moved WPC into, or closer into, the 21st century with his media knowledge, skills and talents.

I have completed my fifth and final year as Clerk of Session and I thank everyone who has encouraged me. I have been honored to serve as Clerk.

Respectfully submitted: Elizabeth Carlson, Clerk of Session

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Leadership & Statistics

Session 2014-2015 members

Martha Bermingham, Brian Bowen, Tracy Colitte, Kathy Fink, Lauren Holly, Nancy Holly, Sherri Lewis, David Lower, Alison Matthews, Carmelo Logalbo, Tim Marshall, Tom Miller, Rob Sanders, Wally Scott, Adam Walker Cleaveland, Skip Wiltshire-Gordon

STATISTICAL REPORT FOR SESSION

December 2014

Active WPC Membership as of January 1, 2014 426 GAINS: 16

Adults 16 Confirmands 0

LOSSES: 14 Transfers 5 Resigned 1 Deaths 8

ACTIVE MEMBERSHIP AS OF DECEMBER 1, 2014 428 “Friends of the Church” 35 Church School Enrollment 79 Junior High Enrollment 18 Senior High Enrollment 30

TOTAL INDIVIDUALS BEING SERVED BY WPC 594 Baptisms: 4

In Memoriam

Into your hands, O merciful Savior, we commend your servants. Receive them into the arms of your mercy, into the blessed rest of everlasting peace,

and into the glorious company of the saints in light.

Mac Calhoun Joan Lipe

Adeline Logan Mary Matthewson Sarah Mc Causland

Joan Peck Melvin “Bud” Pulver

Mary Ann Waitley

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Deacons Report

2015 Annual Report of the Deacons

The ministry of a deacon as set forth in Scripture is one of compassion, witness, and

service. Deacons are elected by the congregation and ordained to lead the church in congregational and community care. Everyone who is part of the WPC family has a deacon, whose charge is to support the spir-itual life of each member. In addition to regular nurture of people, deacons provide care to those who are sick, at home, grieving, or celebrating. By “being there” for others, in their times of struggle and celebration, deacons help communicate the life and love of God in every place.

At WPC, the Board of Deacons also lead several ministries of care and hospitality for the church, including hosting Rally Day in the early fall and receptions for New Members, Easter, funerals and other special occa-sions. Deacons provide “Angel Chefs” meals for the sick or members in a time of transition and deliver flow-ers to homebound WPC members. Deacons also organize transportation to and from church for WPC mem-bers who otherwise could not attend services, send Care Cards to those in need, and coordinate Sunday coffee hour refreshments for the whole congregation.

Here are some of the ways the Deacons have served the WPC congregation in the 2014-15 church year:

Mailed Easter cards to WPC members.

Hosted two Easter receptions on April 20, 2014, for approximately 350 people.

Organized Coffee Hour refreshments each Sunday.

Served communion.

Delivered over 100 flower arrangements to members and friends of WPC through the Flower Ministry.

Sent over 50 cards to more than 75 members and friends of WPC through the Care Card Ministry. Care Cards with beautiful floral graphics, meaningful scripture, and room for signatures, have been created by Bill McNair to send to those in need. Thanks to both Bill and Dina Price for their efforts to provide this new form of correspondence, and to Elizabeth Probst for initiating this worthwhile project. Thanks also to Rev. Diann Santschi for her guidance and advice in support of the Care Card ministry.

Hosted a farewell reception for Rev. Martha Ross-Mockaitis on June 1, 2014.

Hosted receptions for a number of funerals.

Hosted Rally Day on September 7, 2014, which featured information about 19 ministries, non-profits and small groups in which WPC members can participate. Along with face painting and balloons for the kids, we enjoyed a fun cookout with hamburgers, hot dogs, treats, raffle prizes and more.

Hosted two receptions for New Members.

Mailed Thanksgiving cards to WPC members.

Provided rides to church on Sundays for a number of WPC members.

Hosted a fellowship dinner in December, 2014, for the Session and Board of Deacons.

Purchased a maple tree in honor of Sarah McCausland’s birthday and arranged for it to be planted in front of the church.

(Continued on page 12)

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Deacons Report

Deacons have also spent their time and energy this past year in support of the people they serve through prayer, visits to homes and hospitals, correspondence, conversations and caring.

The Board of Deacons would like to thank the members of WPC for their support of the deacons’ ministries. Thank you for bringing treats for Coffee Hour, receptions and Rally Day. Thank you for signing Care Cards and providing rides to members for service on Sunday. Thank you for making meals for those in need and deliver-ing flowers.

The Board of Deacons thanks Rev. Diann Santschi for the pastoral care she provides to WPC members and friends. Thank you for your compassion, your care and the insight you provide to the Board of Deacons in support of our ministries. We would also like to thank Rev. Adam Walker Cleaveland for his advice and guid-ance as the pastoral liaison to the Board of Deacons.

Our thanks go to Chris Kenneally, WPC’s custodian, who is willing to help us with a smile. Thank you for the time and effort you have spent helping us prepare, set up and clean up after receptions and other gatherings for the church.

We would also like to express our gratitude to Dina Price, WPC’s Administrator, who supports us in so many ways. From help with the Care Cards and Sign up Genius to preparation for deacon meetings, thank you for all you do to assist the Board of Deacons.

Finally, we would like to thank the following deacons who completed their terms of service this church year: Emily Boling, Monica Diaz, Ron Krause, Rosalie Miller, and Donna Powell. Your contributions have made a difference in the life of the church.

Your 2014-15 Board of Deacons included: Emily Boling, Sally Christie, Bob Crowe, Brad Cue, Monica Diaz, Ron Krause Susan Langan, Amanda Lower, Emily Marshall, Mary Ellen Miller, Bill McNair, Rosalie Miller, Donna Powell, Ernie Palmer, Elizabeth Probst, and Philip Wagala.

Emily Marshall, Moderator of the Board of Deacons

(Continued from page 11)

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Congregational Ministries

Worship and Music

In 2014, Winnetka Presbyterian Church stayed on its Narrative Lectionary course, reading excerpts sequentially through the Bible over the course of the academic year. The Narrative Lectionary guided our church through summer series on the Ten Commandments and the Book of Ruth.

We continue to encourage worship leadership from across the congregation, as we are all ministers together. More children and youth are participating in worship leadership than in recent years prior.

Thanks to the work of Adam, Geoff, and others, WPC hosted more Alternative Worship services and offerings, including around Lent in both 2014 and 2015, to great success. This helped members grow in God’s love in new ways, different from a standard worship service. In 2015, we are enjoying a Lenten installation of a labyrinth. This provides another alternative worship opportunity to the congregation, and has been met with enthusiasm thus far.

In 2014, we created a Worship and Music committee that meets and provides input around once every three months on the state of worship, brainstorms initiatives to make worship more rewarding and engaging, and engages members in the production of worship.

We are so fortunate for the commitment of the Chancel Choir, including its dedicated soloists and our massively talented Director of Music Geoff Duffy. Worship music continued to reach for new instrumentalists, more young voices, and offered another marvelous community Christmas concert in December.

This year we implemented a more efficient, organized, fair, and painless way to prepare for communion, using Sign-Up genius. This continues to serve the church, and makes Communion set-up and serving more organized and thorough. This will grow more and more effective over time with more integration and proactive sign-ups from elders and deacons.

Skip Wiltshire-Gordon, Elder of Music and Worship

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Evangelism and Outreach

The past year has very much been one of transition at WPC. It is exciting to see the influx of new and often younger families and individuals in frequent worship attendance and participating in the work and life of the church.

Those who have chosen to join our congregation as members include Emily and Eric Walker, Amy Schutz,, Amanda and Mike Ray, Sally and Alan Veenstra, Virginia Trux and Michael Huff, Ray and Jessica Ortega, and Nancy and John Riddle.

New people have been welcomed at three family style social gatherings at our home over the past year with pastors and church leaders present to talk about WPC ministries and answer questions. Rich in fellowship, these gatherings have also helped our newer folk become better known to us and to one another. In addition to those listed above as new members, the following also attended: Amy and Uto Shinohara and sons, Susan Palcovic and kids, Alexandra Marks Clark and two sons, Arlene Dwyer, Joanne Keller and Karen Tokmakoff.

The new “I’m New Here” cards are serving fairly well. Our first time visitors receive a loaf of bread thanks to Martha Bermingham, Sue Cornelo, Margie McInerney, and Sandi Plochman, all who have kept the freezer full of home baked goodness. Thank you as well to Rob and Deb Sanders, Nancy Holly and Ilsa Wilnewic for helping the family gatherings and especially to the senior high kids who helped with young folk attending. You were amazing each and every time.

This fall I initiated a discussion with some of our more senior membership to discuss how we as church could better serve them. The ideas flowed easily and they made the decision that fellowship was the primary desired outcome. A “Second Tuesday” daytime gathering was begun that continues still with good success. The format is to bring a sandwich to share with coffee provided. Birthday celebrants of the month are asked to share some of their story. This great group may also find other directions to take. Kathy Fink has collaborated and helped facilitate and Chris is helpful in setting up tables and coffee in the Atrium. Bringing a friend is encouraged and we hope to see this gathering flourish.

Upon ending my three year stint as Evangelism and Outreach Elder I want to thank the many who served as front door greeters and all of you who have extended WPC hospitality to the visitors in our midst. In conversations with new folk, your genuine warmth and welcoming nature are noticed and appreciated. You are at the heart of this ministry of outreach. Thank you all for affording me a faith enriching and rewarding journey as a WPC elder.

Your friend in Christ, Sherri Lewis, Elder for Evangelism and Outreach


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Spiritual Formation Committee

The Spiritual Formation Committee prayerfully planned and supported spiritually enlightening opportunities for the WPC community throughout 2014 by implementing new small group opportunities and supporting established groups. The committee meets on an as needed basis, which generally means four or five meetings each year.

The WPC Book Club resumed in the fall of 2014. This well-loved group met regularly until a couple of years ago. An enthusiastic gathering convenes in the WPC Atrium on the third Tuesday of each month to discuss a book chosen generally by consensus from a range of genres including biography, fiction and spirituality. The book selection follows one rule of thumb: 300 pages or fewer if possible! Most months eight to ten faithful group members enjoy discussion and fellowship.

The Seniors Group meets on the second Tuesday of each month at 11:30 in the WPC Atrium for an informal lunch and conversation. Each attendee provides a sandwich sliced in two and offers a half to be shared. The gathering enjoys hearing life experience vignettes and perhaps pearls of wisdom from those celebrating birthdays during the month of the meeting. The easy-going concept provides a fabulous opportunity for fellowship and sharing in God’s house. A faithful group of ten or twelve or more appreciate this gathering.

Other well-established groups include:

Pastor’s Bible Study led by David Lower, Wednesdays at 10 am. The Men’s Group, Saturday mornings at 8 am, conf. room B. Women’s Group, Wednesdays at 9:30 am. Yoga Sanctuary, Saturdays at 9 am. Life Talk at Peet’s Coffee, Thursdays at 9:30 am. Corkscrew Cronies, first Wednesday at homes as announced Tavern Talks with Adam Walker Cleaveland, once monthly on Monday evening, Meier’s Tavern, as

announced. Coffee and Conversation with Adam, weekly, as announced.

Increasingly popular WPC service and mission activities, such as the Just Harvest soup kitchen mission, Family Promise and Stephen Ministry, function as small groups, deepening spirituality through shared loving service to others in fellowship with the service group. A new mission activity is food and fellowship with youth at Good News Partners, a mission which is sure to grow in coming months.

Goals for 2015.

Facilitate a women’s prayer or fellowship group to meet monthly or every two weeks.

Develop and host a half-day of family oriented spiritual practice and fun to be held during the summer or fall, possibly at the Crow Island Woods.

Plan an All-Church Retreat to be held in 2016 featuring Christian education, spiritual activities, fellowship and fun for all ages.

Many thanks to the members of the Spiritual Formation Committee for their ideas, energy and spiritual presence: Pastor David Lower, Associate Pastor Adam Walker Cleaveland, Karen Bowen, Margie McInerney, Judy McKee, Judy Sawdey, TJ Smith, Marj Steiner and Betsy Wiltshire.

Kathy Fink, Elder for Spiritual Formation

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Mission Ministries

Mission Committee Members and friends of Winnetka Presbyterian Church are passionate about mission both in giving of their funds and their time. The following is an overview of the mission work of WPC during 2014: Mission Funding

Good News Partners from Chicago Community Trust 15,000 Hands-on Mission Work The August youth mission trip brought 16 youth and 5 adults to Havana, Cuba, for a powerful experience of relationship building, as a continuation of our 14 year partnership with the First Presbyterian Church of Ha-vana. The group focused on relationships with the youth group of FPCH, and developed new relationships with some of the homebound members of that church, by participating in the FPCH outreach to its elderly members. The groups worshipped together in a traditional Sunday service, as well as a contemporary mid-week service. A particularly meaningful manifestation of the relationship between our churches and youth groups occurred when FPCH conducted rituals of memorial as our church continues to grieve the loss of youth group member, and former Cuba traveler, Sarah McCausland. Our church partnership continues to grow as hope emerges in new relationships between the United States and Cuban governments.


Chicago Presbytery 10,000 (1)

1st Havana Cuba 5,000

Youth Mission Trip Support 3,179

Roma Ukraine Mission Project 4,000

Family Promise 5,000

A Just Harvest 2,500

Samaritan Institute 1,500

Frontier Fellowship 1,500

A Just Harvest (Supplies) 1,589

Good News Partners 5,000

South Sudan-Nancy & Shelvis 2,500

Misc 70 Total 41,838

(1) partially funded by the Christmas Joy , Peace and Pentecost special offerings

Project funded by additional donations:

Cuba Mission Trip 61,116

Grand Total Mission Expenditures 102,954

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Mission Ministries

Many WPC members are participating in the following local mission activities:

A Just Harvest – making casseroles and serving dinner each month Family Promise – hosting families at WPC Good News Partners – various activities during the year including providing backpacks with school

supplies, providing items and helping in the Christmas Store, sharing Christmas morning breakfast with residents at the Jonquil Hotel, providing meals and volunteers for the C247 After School Program for young boys

Kairos Prison Ministry – volunteers, cookie baking, placemat making for inmates Lemonade Fund – is partnership between our children’s ministries and children in Sierra Leone Interfaith House – serving meals New Trier Food Pantry – collecting money and food

If you would like to be more involved in the mission work of WPC, please contact Pastor David, Pastor Adam or any member of the Mission Committee. We welcome your ideas for new mission projects, your participa-tion in the mission work of WPC and if you feel moved, we would love to have your be a part of the Mission Committee this year. David Lower, Senior Pastor


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Children’s Ministry 2014 Annual Report

Our children’s program at WPC includes all children birth through sixth grade. In 2014 there were 76 children on our Sunday school roster. We continue to see an increase and steady attendance particularly in the early preschool classes and kindergarten through grade two due to many new members with young children.

Our nursery consists of three classrooms: Little Lambs (birth–age 2), Noah’s Ark (2-3yrs) and Whales Tales (4-5yrs). Paid professional caregivers led by Dori Schneider care for the children in these classrooms. Dori does an excellent job insuring that our classrooms are adequately staffed and that the lead teachers have the ma-terials they need. On occasion the nursery staff is asked to provide childcare for events outside of Sunday worship and we are grateful for their willingness to ensure we are covered. This staff is such an asset to our church and we are grateful to them for their dedication.

Kindergarten through grade four classes is referred to as Faith Explorers. They are divided into two classes, kindergarten – 2nd grade and 3rd - 4th grade. The children in these classes are using Potters Publishing curric-ulum, which is a rotation model. We have been using Potters Publishing since 2011. Beginning in the fall of 2014 we started reusing the curriculum from year one rather than purchase another year. This was a sub-stantial cost savings and did not affect the children with any repetition. This curriculum is very teacher friendly and the children are very engaged in their lessons. I want to thank all of the volunteer teacher and guides for their dedication and time

Our 5th and 6th grade class has their own curriculum called Ancestors Reform. This year we discovered a “tween” version called “Connect.” It is designed for this age group and the children are receptive. We bought 2 units for the year and, at the end of the school year will evaluate and decide if we will continue. I am grateful to Donna Powell, Cyntha Dallmeyer, Emily and Tim Marshall and Andy Langen who teach and guide this class throughout the year.

Geoff Duffy continues to bring so much to our children’s program in the way of music. Twice a month the children have “music with Geoff” before they go to their Sunday school class. They rehearse songs and hymns and several times throughout the year they sing during worship, which is always a highlight.

We did not offer Sunday school classes during the summer months.

Mission for the children this year included baking casseroles for “A Just Harvest,” collecting food for the New Trier Food Pantry and continued support of their personal giving to the Lemonade Fund. The children baked cookies and made placemats for the Kairos prison ministry. Thanks to Kirk McInerney for the time he took explaining this important mission. Money from the children’s mission fund was also used to purchase school supplies and backpacks to serve the Rogers Park community.

PUP’s, otherwise known as Presbyterian Usher Patrol, continues with volunteers from the 5th and 6th grade class. Ken Probst trained the children in early fall and they began ushering on communion Sundays. Kirk McInerney has worked with Ken this year and will be taking over for Ken as he is retiring from this position, We are so grateful to Ken for all the years he has kept this program together and worked with these wonder-ful volunteer children.

We appreciate all those involved in the Epiphany pageant in January. Special thanks to Jill Vint, Amanda Low-er and Geoff Duffy and all the parents that helped make this pageant a success and allowing these children the opportunity to reenact this sacred story.


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In closing, a very special thank you to all the volunteers and church staff that help make this ministry work. To all the teachers and guides that have offered their time to our children we are very grateful. Your pres-ence in the classroom and your dedication to teaching our children all the lessons Jesus wants our children to learn will impact their lives forever. Thank you to all of you who do Gods work so well.

Nancy Holly, Elder of Children’s Ministry


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Youth Ministries Report

2014 started off with a high school winter retreat called re:fuel. About 10 high school youth and leaders spent a weekend up in Baraboo, WI, hanging out, skiing at Cascade and worshipping with the First Presbyterian Church of Baraboo.

We continued with our Sunday night youth group, getting a chance to get together for games and fellowship, discussions and spiritual practices and getting to know one another better. We didn’t have youth group during the summer months, but started again in the fall with 10-15 youth attending. We are grateful for our youth group advisors Brian Bowen, Jill Vint and Carrie Waterston.

In preparation for our 2014 Cuba mission trip, we held a few fundraisers that the church, including a pancake breakfast in March. However, the largest fundraiser was our Cuba y Mas event, which included a live raffle, a silent auction and authentic Cuban food. The Cuba y Mas event had an amazing planning team, which included Sheryl Amidei, Kitty Curran, Linda Martin, Sandra Diaz and Tracy Colitte. We raised almost $20,000.

Our Cuba mission trip was, as it always is, a highlight for all who went on the trip. We took a team of about 24 people down to Havana, and were inspired by our friendships and relationships with the Cuban youth. Although we had an unfortunate, and expensive, flight delay upon returning home, it was another wonderful trip to Cuba.

Our youth continued to have a role in our worship life, singing in the choir and serving as lectors. Toward the end of 2014, we entered a visioning process to rethink some elements of our youth programming, as we prepare for a transition of leadership in 2015.

Rev. Adam Walker Cleaveland, Associate Pastor

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Adult Education Committee

In 2013, adult education took many different forms at WPC.

The Read the Bible in a Year Program concluded on October 15th, 2013. 60 people signed up for the journey, and received a daily email with the day’s scripture and supporting material. A dozen people finished the

journey, and the experience has unearthed interest in community Bible reading. The 2014 church Lenten

discipline will be to read the gospels during Lent.

“Bonus Hour” learning experiences following Sunday worship included the Animate:Faith video-based dis-cussion series, updates from the mission trips to the Ukraine and Atlanta, and “Living from Within” with Marj Steiner. Rev. Paul Palmer taught a 6-week series entitled "Abraham's Children: How Jew, Christians and Mus-lims see their Patriarchal Heritage and compete for the Holy Land."

The Academy of Christian Theology (ACT), a joint initiative between WPC, First Presbyterian Church of Wil-mette, and Northminster (Evanston) Presbyterian Church, continued to offer fee-based deep theological edu-cation from seminary professors. In 2013, two more installments were offered: "From Exodus to Ex-ile," taught by Dr.

Elizabeth Hopp-Peters and “Christian and Jewish Difference: Same Scripture, Different Lenses, Building

Understanding,” with Dr. Sarah Tanzer. Each class served 15-20 people from our 3 churches. We anticipate our consortium effort to continue and strengthen in providing rich educational offerings with spiritual enrich-ments in 2014.

In 2013 we continued to explore our relationship with the Muslim Community Center of Morton Grove, and helped bring them on to the Winnetka Interfaith Council as a partner & member. Members of WPC joined the MCCMG for an Iftar meal at the end of a day of fasting during Ramadan. This initiative combines offering our hand in friendship while growing in interfaith understanding.

Thanks to the Hensel Family Memorial Fund, the computer classroom was updated and renovated with state of the art computers and a teaching screen. The project was completed by Mike Nell coordinating the tech-nology and Susan Bertram coordinating interior design. This resource is a fantastic addition to the church, and will

provide engaging opportunities to learn and connect WPC to the world. A highlight use of this space in 2013 was videoconferencing with our mission team in the Ukraine in June.

We will continue working to bring theological and biblical education to our adults using both traditional and

innovative offerings.

Kathy Fink, Elder for Adult Education

David Lower, Senior Pastor


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Support Ministries

Finance Committee Annual Report 2014

Along with the Finance Committee, I am pleased to report to the Congregation regarding the 2014 financial results for WPC and to provide the attached budget for 2015. We are grateful for the generous giving of our membership and friends that enable the church to undertake its mission and programs.

WPC is financially strong. Our current financial moment can be summarized simply as follows:

Our membership and pledges in 2015 are strong, and the pledges are higher now than at any point from 2010 through 2013.

WPC’s cost structure became larger than could be supported by the membership, so the Finance Committee and Session took steps in 2013 and 2014 to bring the costs back to a sustainable level. These were difficult decisions but necessary.

It is very difficult to manage a small non-profit organization to achieve balanced budgets, without endowment assistance, in each and every year because of the multitude of factors that impact our financial results including members moving, households experiencing financial distress, unexpected facility maintenance or repair expenses, among others. Understanding the financial health of WPC requires a broad view of the financial results of WPC.

From 2010 through 2012, WPC had cumulative surpluses of approximately $47,000. In 2013 and 2014, we had cumulative deficits of approximately $60,000. Accordingly for the five-year period of 2010 through 2014, we had a collective deficit of $13,000 prior to any transfers from or to the endowment. That is as close to a balanced budget over an extended period as one can realistically expect. We have no debt and own the church property thanks to many of our current and former members. Upon viewing the longer term financial picture of WPC, the Finance Committee is comfortable that we are on a solid foundation. A focus on an individual year or two provides a distorted picture which is why I have resisted providing monthly updates to the Congregation. A monthly update after January 2015 would have implied that we should expect unbelievable record levels of contributions throughout 2015 simply because some households provided their entire annual pledge all in January. Providing financial updates for a short increment of time does not provide clarity.

Despite the inherent difficulty of managing towards a balanced budget in each year, we have just revised and expanded our financial practices and policies for WPC. Session approved these new policies in February 2015. Among many others, WPC’s financial policies include a requirement for a balanced budget each year. We have this requirement knowing the only realistic means for achieving this balanced budget is by drawing from, or adding to, the endowment in individual years. On this particular issue, there is no practical change from what we have done historically except we will begin more explicitly indicating the amount that we transfer from or to the endowment for an individual year to achieve the annual balanced budget.

Pledge Income and Membership Level

We have undergone a generational transition at WPC over the last several years. Several of our longer term members have passed away and others have deciding after retiring to relocate closer to their family. A few of our younger families have also relocated to other parts of the country for professional reasons. These former members represented a large portion of the total 2010 pledges. However, our remaining and newer members have replaced the contributions from those departing members.


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Summary of Pledges and Contributions for 2010 to 2015

A few important relationships and trends from the above table are worthy of being highlighted:

Total actual pledges have increased slightly since 2010. The pledges are $487,000 in 2015 compared to $459,000 in 2010. Pledges are higher in 2015 than in any year other than 2014.

The increase in pledges over the last several years obscures the fact that a large portion of the 2010 pledges were from members who have since passed away or moved.

Before 2013, our pledge budgeting was more aspirational and assumed significantly more pledges would be submitted after the budgeting process (as shown by “Other Assumed Pledges”). The aspirational budgeting was needed to continue to keep staff, support higher levels of direct mission funding, and other activities of the church. Not surprisingly, this led to habitual annual year-end solicitation for more funding to avoid a deficit.

Each year and as a result of the year-end solicitations, the actual contributions would ultimately meet the aspirational level that had been budgeted, so on some level that supported continuing the practice of budgeting aspirationally. However, the Finance Committee has sought to change that practice because it undermined the Congregation’s confidence in the financial stewards of WPC, it damaged the integrity of the pledging and budgeting process and encouraged households to hold back on their pledges for the inevitable year-end appeal, and it was time consuming and difficult for some of our elders and other volunteers to essentially execute multiple annual fund-raising efforts.

In 2014 our actual contributions received were lower than our pledges. There were two households representing approximately $20,000 in pledges who ultimately needed to defer their 2014 contributions until 2015. Without those deferrals, the total actual pledge income would have been very close to the actual pledges from the beginning of the year. We are not seeking to make either of these households uncomfortable, and we know they value WPC as much as we value them. We are extremely grateful for these two households and they have done much for WPC over the years, and we are only sharing this information with the Congregation in the spirit of transparency so that everyone understands the factors that are affecting the WPC financial operations.

As we highlighted in last year’s annual report, we also had anticipated an additional $40,000 in “Other Assumed Pledges,” but that did not come to fruition. As you can see in the above table, we have been



Year

Total Actual Pledges

Other As-sumed Pledges

Budgeted Pledge Income

Actual Pledge Income

Actual Non-Pledge Income

Total Revenue

2010 $459,000 $ 99,000 $558,000 $555,000 $145,000 $670,000

2011 $418,000 $152,000 $570,000 $574,000 $134,000 $708,000

2012 $473,000 $137,000 $610,000 $637,000 $126,000 $763,000

2013 $481,000 $ 79,000 $560,000 $563,000 $159,000 $722,000

2014 $550,000 $ 40,000 $590,000 $526,000 $134,000 $660,000

2015 $487,000 $ 60,000 $547,000 TBD TBD TBD

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Support Ministries

significantly reducing “Other Assumed Pledges” over the last several years, but the reduction we made in 2014 was still not enough.

In 2015, we continue to include some additional “Other Assumed Pledges” because there are approximately ten households who have regularly pledged over the years and are still active in the church yet they have not submitted a 2015 pledge. These households previously pledged about $75,000 annually, so we have budgeted $60,000 for them in 2015. We know many in the church want to see us budget “conservatively,” but in this instance the cautious option is to assume many of these members will continue pledging. Creating a budget by assuming nothing will be received from those members would result in a very different budget and church even though many or all of these households have likely been on vacation, forgotten to pledge, etc.

Cost Structure

Our cost structure in 2013 and 2014 was essentially determined in 2010 when the Congregation approved the creation of a full-time Associate Pastor position. The Congregation converted a previous part-time Director position into a full-time Associate Pastor position. We later modified that position to be a Designated Associate Pastor position, but the financial consequences remained the same. The previous costs were approximately $40,000 annually for the part-time position, and we increased that to approximately $100,000 after considering taxes and benefits. That added roughly $60,000 to our annual cost structure without a corresponding increase in revenue. It will be important throughout 2015 for WPC leaders to discern what is needed and feasible financially for our ongoing staffing. This church is too large and complicated to expect David to manage all worship, pastoral, mission, youth, and educational needs, so it will be important to find the right balance for WPC. We have budgeted $20,000 in anticipation of some staff costs after Adam’s departure at the end of July.

As it relates to our staff costs, we have provided small raises for all staff except David. Some of our staff have not had a raise for two or three years. For David, we increased his study allowance to accommodate reimbursement for the tuition costs for his doctoral program. That increase is temporary and should be returned to the previous level after his program is completed. We are making other adjustments for David that are more fully identified below.

Our cost of benefits has risen significantly over the last several years. The taxes and benefits associated with David alone have gone from $47,000 to over $60,000 between 2010 and 2015. Out of that $13,000 increase, WPC made explicit decisions that caused only $3,500 of the increase. As mentioned above, we increased his study allowance. The remaining $10,000 of the increase in cost was attributable to higher taxes and medical and pension benefit costs. We have had similar increases for benefits related to other staff.

Separately, we now incur approximately $4,000 per year associated with the Village of Winnetka assessment for the flood control project. We did not incur this expense before 2014.

This budget sustains the direct mission funding at a consistent level since 2010 despite many changes in our church over that period.

Finally, we had a previous practice of incurring repairs and maintenance or capital improvement costs and raising funds separately without capturing those costs in the income statement. That practice had many unintended consequences including not allowing the Congregation to see the full breadth of the costs



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associated with maintaining our facilities. Those costs are now being handled through the income statement. For example, in 2014 we incurred $17,000 in painting costs that we had not anticipated. This was required to avoid serious damage to our windows and structure that would have been much more costly. We included those costs in the 2014 operations.

Our total 2015 budgeted costs are approximately the same as in 2010. We anticipate $693,000 in total costs, while including much that was not previously included, compared to $685,000 in 2010.

With all of the above assumptions, we will need to draw approximately $15,000 from the endowment – aside from the normal mission and music funding from the endowment.

Loan to Lower Household

The Finance Committee in consultation with the Personnel Committee, recommended to Session, and Session approved, a restructuring of a loan from WPC to the Lower household. When the Lowers moved to Winnetka, WPC provided a $100,000 loan to assist with their acquisition of suitable housing. We are going through the process of converting this loan into a retention plan that will result in a declining balance owed to WPC over an extended period. There are many reasons for changing this loan structure including the fact that David has not received a raise in three years, and the operations of WPC are not able to support an appropriate salary adjustment at this time – in part because a salary adjustment would further increase the tax and benefit burden for WPC. We value David’s leadership and have an interest in retaining him. This arrangement obligates neither WPC nor David beyond the natural duration of his tenure.

Beginning a Community Conversation Regarding the Endowment

I would like to strongly encourage the Congregation to prayerfully consider the role that the endowment has for WPC. For a church of our size and the composition, the endowment should be much larger. Historically, the Congregation has preferred to fund any operations or capital needs on a current basis. After having spent three years as Elder of Finance, I would like to raise everyone’s level of awareness of the implications this has on the Treasurer, Elder of Finance, Finance Committee, and Session who are all volunteers serving this Congregation.

Funding all financial needs on a current basis distracts the church’s leadership from focusing on the main missions of the church such as worship, education, youth, children, and serving others in the community. It is stressful and time consuming for our volunteers and staff. We also know it is unnecessary because the Congregation always rises to each financial challenge. The current approach reduces the financial transparency and increases our financial control risk by having informal fundraising efforts that are less structured and controlled. I believe this also impacts membership because people want to join a church that is financially secure and not invest spiritually in a church that appears at least superficially to be on the financial margins. Yet, we continue the practice even though it is the most complicated, time-consuming, and difficult option.

As I encourage the Congregation to begin having a period of open discernment about the endowment, the Marshall household will be at the front of the line to help bolster the endowment. We have all benefitted from many former members, and some current, who helped pay for the WPC facilities. That was a tremendous gift from which we are all benefitting. I believe that we owe it to our children and future WPC members and visitors to help bolster our church financially and to prepare for some very large upcoming



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capital repairs. For example, the roof of the church will need to be replaced in the relatively near future and that will be a very expensive proposition and will not be feasible through the regular annual budgeting process.

Conclusion

I am grateful to have been able to serve WPC over the last three years and am very pleased that Steve Miller has agreed to take over the role of Elder of Finance. For all who know Steve, you know he is thoughtful and will be a very good financial steward for WPC.

I know that the church is stronger financially than it was three years ago because we have many more young members who are now beginning to attract additional young members. The church has tighter financial controls than it did several years ago, and we are pursuing more transparent financial management of the church.

I would like to thank the following members for their 2014 service to this Committee: Bill Bringham (Treasurer), Mike Jin (Accountant), Pastor David Lower, Brian Bowen, Terri Thompson, Martha Bermingham, Erik Scheier, and Steve Miller.

God Bless, Tim Marshall, Elder of Finance


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2014 Budget

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2014 Budget

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2014 Budget

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2014 Budget

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2014 Budget

General Special Restricted Celebration

Operating Activities Capital Columbarium Endowment Memorial of Life

Beginning Balance (6,428) 26,674 51,520 34,783 377,347 69,494 92,792

Revenues 660,031 124,348 - 1,938 15,003 4,118 3,609

Disbursements (702,010) (119,798) - - (16,500) - (6,000)

Ending Balance (48,407) 31,224 51,520 36,722 375,850 73,613 90,400

GENERAL OPERATING is the operating account of WPC for 2013

SPECIAL ACTIVITIES are all the donations for special purposes, including youth mission and validated mission for Presbytery.

CAPITAL is the Martha house fund

COLUMBARIUM reflects the income and expeses related to the operation of the Columbarium

ENDOWMENT reflects asset changes with WPCs endowment fund

revenues are primarily from investments and some donations

disbursements are for programs

RESTRICTED MEMORIALS : including Hensel Computer fund, which funded computer room upstairs in 2013.

CELEBRATION OF LIFE are the youth, music, _mission and building funds

revenues are from member's contributions

disbursements for music

Summary of Fund Balance 2014

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2014 Budget

Percent of Distribution Ending as

12/31/2013 Contribution Expenses 12/31/2014 Total of Interest of 12/31/14

General Endowment 377,347.09 - 16,500.00 360,847.09 69.6% 15,003.23 375,850.32

General Memorial 30,649.60 1,180.00 - 31,829.60 6.1% 1,323.40 33,153.00

McNair 4,544.14 - - 4,544.14 0.9% 188.94 4,733.08

Hudnut 15,909.55 - 15,909.55 3.1% 661.48 16,571.03

Palmer 12,150.64 - 12,150.64 2.3% 505.20 12,655.84

Hensel Memorial 6,240.34 - - 6,240.34 1.2% 259.46 6,499.80

CL Joel Fund 46,386.15 - 46,386.15 8.9% 1,928.63 48,314.78

CL Youth Fund 5,397.80 5,397.80 1.0% 224.43 5,622.23

CL Mission 1,406.82 1,406.82 0.3% 58.49 1,465.31

CL Music 38,797.58 6,000.00 32,797.58 6.3% 1,363.65 34,161.23

CL Building 803.20 - 803.20 0.2% 33.40 836.60

Total 539,632.91 1,180.00 22,500.00 518,312.91 100.0% 21,550.31 539,863.22

21,550.31

2014 Endowment Fund

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2014 Budget

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Stewardship Report

We continue to face significant financial challenges at WPC but with the support of our generous members we are trying to move to a sustainable financial path. Expenses have been tightly controlled (WPC spent less in 2014 than in 2012). We have many loyal members who have given faithfully and a significant number of new members who have immediately made contributions (financially and otherwise) to our church. I thank you all. The goals of the 2105 Stewardship Campaign were 100 pledging households and $580,000 in pledges. As Stewardship Season draws to a close we currently have 80 pledging households who have pledged a total of nearly $488,000, resulting in an average pledge of about $6,100. There are still households who have not pledged yet that we expect to hear from leaving us hopeful that these numbers will increase.

Stewardship Season itself had several spirit filled presentations. Bob and Liz Crowe led off on Stewardship Sunday by sharing the wisdom and perspective they’ve gained through their years at our church. Steve Miller followed up by explaining the importance of supporting and maintaining our church home. George Berming-ham finished up by relating the role that WPC had played in his spiritual journey.

Brian Bowen, Elder for Stewardship

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Pledge Units 2014 2015 Difference

No Change 30 194,120 194,120 —

Decrease 10 48,290 31,680 (16,610)

Increase 24 191,525 219,697 28,172

New 16 — 42,100 42,100

Not Pledged Yet 9 72,150 — (72,150)

Total Pledged 80 506,085 487,597 (62,818)

(The Total for 2014 includes households who are not expected to give in 2015.)

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Building & Grounds

The 6 member committee met 7 times during 2014. A Field Day was held once in the spring and twice in the fall. There was good participation and things were accomplished. Other highlights includes:

Replacing 3 of the four ash trees in the parking lot with the costs covered by contributions. Added new shrubs a the east entrance of the parking lot. Exterior painting of south and west gables, south and north porch posts, and the north main door. New apron and curb at driveway exit onto Willow Road. Volunteers cleared brush along north property line including one large maple tree (25 man hours). New boiler compressor motor. New lawn sprinkler control saving water. Special thanks to Chris Kennelly and Rebeca Massey. Chris solved many problems from plumbing to tree removal to name a few. Rebeca guided the tree replacements and other landscaping (in and out) with knowledge and mone-

tary contributions.

Tom Miller, Elder for Building and Grounds

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Marketing and Technology Workgroup

We continue to live into our beautiful new website, and are always finding more ways that we can be using it. It is great to hear that some folks have been coming to experience worship at WPC because they found us on the internet first, and felt compelled to visit after seeing our website.

In February, we held a Social Media Sunday where we sought we explore connections between social media and church/worship. It was an interesting experiment, and people were about split on whether they found it beneficial or distracting. It wasn’t something that we thought we’d do again, but it was a way to help spread the news about Winnetka Presbyterian Church and our worship with our social media connections.

Overall, we’ve seen greater activity on social media, especially Facebook, with our members and friends sharing more of our status updates and sharing more about WPC online.

The Marketing Workgroup met 3 times in the first half of the year, doing some brainstorming to determine how we could continue to share the good things of WPC with our greater community. Through these discussions, we decided that some of the key demographics we should be trying to connect with are: 1) young families, 2) residents of Glenview, 3) spiritually curious/unchurched, and 4) those within walking distance of WPC.

The group also zeroed in on some actionable items that it thought might be good for WPC to invest some time in: creating a welcome kit for WPC’s new members (this has since been done), finding a way to get the word out to local daycares/preschools, having a food truck fellowship night, and creating a WPC promotional video around the theme of “WPC: Welcome to Something More…”

These may be good goals for the next group continuing on with this good work.

Many thanks to the committee of David Holly, Liz Kohler, Robin Oldfield, Sherri Lewis, and Adam Walker Cleaveland for their continued support and ideas throughout the year.

Rob Sanders, Elder for Marketing & Technology

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Nominating Committee

These members of Winnetka Presbyterian Church have agreed to serve in the following leadership capacities. Due to the significant number of new elders needed this year, the classes have been divided between 2 and 3 year terms, so that future classes will be equal in size.

Deacons

(Class of 2016) Alex Martin (youth) (Class of 2018) Sue Cornelo, Donna Powell, Virginia Trux

Ruling Elders

(Class of 2016) Monica Diaz (youth) (Class of 2017) Sheryl Amidei (adult education), Kendal Reis (children’s) (Class of 2018) Andy McCausland (worship), Kirk McInerney (mission), Steve Miller (finance), Amy Schutz (children’s), Eric Walker (outreach & welcome)

The Nominating Committee: Liz Carlson, Nancy Holly, Sherri Lewis, Tim Marshall, Margie McInerney, Bill McNair

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Personnel Committee Report

This is the report from the Personnel Committee for the activities that we accomplished during the year 2014.

First and foremost, I want to thank the Personnel Committee for their hard work. It has been a pleasure to work with each and every one of them. The committee consists of Liz Carlson, Kathy Fink, David Lower (ex Officio), Kirk McInerney, Tim Marshall and Terri Thompson. Without their thoughtful compassionate wisdom, this committee could never function.

In April, the church welcomed Dina Price as the Office Administrator. She has come to the church, bringing with her extensive experience in church administration. In addition, she brings her delightful, calm way of getting things done. If you have not been by to see our church office, I would encourage you to. You will see how she and Chris have rearranged the space to be more inviting and useful. If you have not yet met Dina I would also encourage you to do that. You will enjoy getting to know her.

We formed a search committee in the spring to conduct a search for a part-time Director of Children’s Ministry. I want to thank this able and willing committee, which consisted of Nancy Holly, Kim Kay, Cindy Ritchell, and Jim Thompson. Although we interviewed several candidates, we did not feel that we had found the right person for the church. At the time of this report, we have not solved this staffing problem. Although Nancy Holly has done an amazing job running the program with huge success, we recognize this is not the long term solution. It is our hope that in the very near future, we will have the right solution.

Adam Walker Cleaveland has been with the church in his role as Designated Associate Pastor for almost a year and a half. For clarification, the Designated role is one that has a two year commitment, at the conclusion of that two year commitment, there are three options for the role: to make the call permanent, to extend it for up to two years, or to conclude the relationship. Adam has made the decision that at the conclusion of his two year term in July, he will not continue his service at WPC. His decision was communicated to the Session and church the first week in March. The Session, Youth Committee, Personnel Committee and Adam will all work together to structure a smooth transition for Adam and the church. We all join in thanking Adam for his ministry here with us and look forward to working with him through July.

Martha Bermingham, Elder of Personnel

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1255 Willow Road, Winnetka, Illinois 60093 847.446.7777

[email protected], www.winnpres.org

2014 annual report - winnetka presbyterian church · 2015-03-11 · march 9, 2014 the annual...

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