1 Saint Mark's Messenger Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Joann Ellis, Editor July 2020 Our Last Walking Together Do you remember the first time we met? I met most of you for the first time in April 2016. After having some conversations with Bishop Steven Miller about churches where I could serve, he mentioned St. Mark’s Beaver Dam. In April, I came to St. Mark's to listen to God and discern a call to serve as a priest in charge. On that Sunday, one of the Lutheran pastors from First Lutheran came to celebrate the Eucharist. Even though the presider of the service was extremely welcoming and loving, the true welcome came from you. I came to our parish with the hope of hearing God’s loving voice and I did - in each of yours. I heard love. I heard hope. I heard my call to serve as a parish priest. Weeks later I called our bishop and after sharing with him my experience of St. Mark’s I said to him: “More than anything, I want to work with this parish because I want to learn from them how to welcome and love others.” We have been gathering for over 4 years now. During each gathering, I keep feeling this powerful sense of welcoming and love from each of you. Yes, we have had challenges. Yes, we have gone through hard times. And yet, God’s spirit continues moving through each and every one of us. Today, as I write this to you, I am reminded of that first gathering. I am reminded that what makes a church a church isn’t the priest; it's the people. Last week, I wrote an email to St. Mark’s vestry acknowledging my last day of service as your priest and rector would be July 15th, 2020. Even though I leave with a sense of grief for not being able to gather and properly say goodbye to each of you, I know St. Mark’s rests in great hands - both yours and God's. I will keep you and the community of St. Mark’s in my prayers in this time of transition. Please keep me and my family in your prayers as we begin a new journey. Your servant in Christ, Oscar+
Transcript
1
Saint Mark's Messenger Beaver Dam, Wisconsin Joann Ellis, Editor July 2020
Our Last Walking Together
Do you remember the first time we met? I met most of you for the first time in April 2016. After having some conversations with Bishop Steven Miller about churches where I could serve, he mentioned St. Mark’s Beaver Dam. In April, I came to St. Mark's to listen to God and discern a call to serve as a priest in charge. On that Sunday, one of the Lutheran pastors from First
Lutheran came to celebrate the Eucharist. Even though the presider of the service was extremely welcoming and loving, the true welcome came from you. I came to our parish with the hope of hearing God’s loving voice and I did - in each of yours. I heard love. I heard hope. I heard my call to serve as a parish priest. Weeks later I called our bishop and after sharing with him my experience of St. Mark’s I said to him: “More than anything, I want to work with this parish because I want to learn from them how to welcome and love others.” We have been gathering for over 4 years now. During each gathering, I keep feeling this powerful sense of welcoming and love from each of you. Yes, we have had challenges. Yes, we have gone through hard times. And yet, God’s spirit continues moving through each and every one of us. Today, as I write this to you, I am reminded of that first gathering. I am reminded that what makes a church a church isn’t the priest; it's the people. Last week, I wrote an email to St. Mark’s vestry acknowledging my last day of service as your priest and rector would be July 15th, 2020. Even though I leave with a sense of grief for not being able to gather and properly say goodbye to each of you, I know St. Mark’s rests in great hands - both yours and God's. I will keep you and the community of St. Mark’s in my prayers in this time of transition. Please keep me and my family in your prayers as we begin a new journey. Your servant in Christ, Oscar+
2
Dear Members of St. Mark’s,
During our “Stay Home Stay Safe” our members have been very faithful about
sending in their pledges We are very thankful and truly blessed. Again, I want to
thank everyone for sending their pledge.
We now have a new way to send in your pledge or other donations. You may have
noticed on St. Mark’s website (stmark-beaverdam.org) on the lower right-hand
corner there is a spot for you to make a donation to St. Mark’s. (See box below)
Records Improvement Project-on hold The process has begun and we got a good start to the Project before COVID-19 changed our lives. Once we are allowed to gather again our project with continue and move forward.
FUND RAISERS THAT WERE PLANNED BRAT STAND (NOTE: TWO PREVIOUS DATES CANCELLED
DUE TO COVID-19)
We had signed up for Friday, August 21st.
We are still in the wait and see phase of
being able to host this fundraiser.
ANNUAL PLANT, BAKE AND RUMMAGE SALE- (NOTE: THIS EVENT CANCELLED DUE TO COVID-19)
What do you do when you have to cancel an event and you have gathered things for the event?? You use them to beautify your church. The plants we collected are planted on the east side of the church building. Stop by and check out the new plants and rock.
Thanks to Dave & Cori Drexler, Ken & Robin Peters and Linda & Bob Zamzow.
6
JULY BIRTHDAYS, BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES
AND WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES (If your Birthday,
Baptismal Anniversary or Wedding Anniversary is not listed, please fill
out a green update form and turn into the office. The form is located on
the Narthex Table. Please do come for a blessing on the Sunday even if
your special date is not listed. Please let us know also if your name is
spelled in-correctly or your special day is missing, we try hard to keep everything correct.
None Wedding Anniversaries: 8th – Ken & Robin Peters 10th – Mike & Darcie Mosher 26th – Fred & Joann Ellis
The next Quarantine
Book Club Meeting
is, Thursday,
July 9, 2020
at 7:00 pm. We are
reading the book,
“Learning to Walk
in the Dark”, by
Barbara Brown
Taylor. Won’t you
consider joining us?
7
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Vestry
April 26, 2020
This meeting was held via Zoom
Members in attendance were: Joann Ellis, Christine Merrill, Linda Zamzow,
Rev. Oscar, Priest, James Merrill, Sr. Warden, Dave Drexler, Co-Jr. Warden, Fred
Ellis, Treasurer
Members Unavailable: Jody Langfeldt, Erin Weirough and Ken Peters, Co-Jr.
Warden
Meeting began at 2:08 pm
1. Opening Devotion: per our meeting minutes of last month this item was dismissed due
to time constraints of our meeting venue. (With using the ZOOM soft-ware we only
have 40 minutes of meeting time)
2. Approval of March 2020 meeting minutes a motion was made by Linda Zamzow and
2nd by Chris Merrill.
3. Treasurer’s Report Fred reported that the negative bank account balance shown on last
month’s Balance Sheet has been corrected. (This occurred as the reports were printed
prior to the QuickBooks update was completed.) Our current checkbook balance after all
the bills have been paid is $1,623.77. A synopsis of our current financial situation looks
like:
Total Our Monthly Bills $6,952.00
Less Current Bank Balance $1,623.77
Sub Total $5,328.23
Average Monthly Income Received in the Past 3 months$4,662.66
Approximate Average Monthly Shortfall $ 666.57
It was suggested we look at taking money from Line Items # 250.8 House Sale
Money Market; # 251.8 Camp Web Money Market; #259.9 Coffee Money. It was
requested that Fred Ellis contact our Horicon Bank Loan Representative, Paul
Huebner to see where we are in regards to the Paycheck Protection Program
Funding.
Linda Zamzow moved we Approve the Treasurer’s Report as Presented
4. Old Business
a. Church PC upgrade has been completed per James Merrill.
b. Non-profit in Beaver Dam (flyer)/(website) – Jody provided Oscar with
resources and in the process of putting this together Fr. Oscar found a Dodge
County listing of resources that he will request Kit Marceil put a link to on our
church Website.
c. St. Mark’s T-shirt orders have been put on hold and revisited after COVID-19
restrictions have been lifted. Tabled until next meeting.
d. Plant, Rummage, Bake/Sandwich Meat sale scheduled for May 30th. Erin
Weirough, Linda Zamzow and Fr. Oscar will be discussing in the next week or so.
e. Records project this project has been put on hold until after COVID-19 restrictions
have been lifted. Tabled until next meeting.
8
f. Building Use Policy update-Fr. Oscar requested we update our policy. Not
everyone had a copy to look at, tabled until next meeting. Joann Ellis will send
the Vestry Members our current policy. Please review and make additions or
correction. Two items that need to be addressed are the removal of
trash/garbage/recycles and the telephone.
g. AED/CPR Protocol-it seems as if everyone has not received these updates, so it
has been tabled until the next meeting.
h. Phone call tree / directory-reports were given by the Vestry Members as to how it
has been going. Some of the numbers listed are either not working or the church
member has not returned the call to the vestry member’s call. For the most part
our members are doing well with our COVID-19 restrictions. Prayers of
Thankfulness for Ernie’s recovery from hospital to Randolph Care Center-he is
going to be able to go home this week. Prayers of Gratefulness for David
Genereaux who has pneumonia but has tested negative for COVID-19. For the
most part we @ St. Mark’s are doing well.
i. Scrip Cards have been selling during the past month. Bobby & Linda Zamzow
have been handling the sales and deposits of this program. Joann Ellis has been
handling the ordering of scrip cards.
j. Check book balance-this has been resolved as it was an issue with when the
reports were printed from the QuickBooks program. See Treasurer’s Report
above.
5. New Business
A. Issues from Rector: Rev Oscar is working on a letter which will be sent to all
parishioners of St. Mark’s in the next week or so.
B. Junior Warden Report Dave Drexler has been over to the church and changed
the sign out front and done maintenance on the lawn mowers as grass mowing
season is coming upon us.
C. Other New Business
a. Jim Merrill has had a meeting with Good Shepard, Sun Prairie, which is a mission church of the diocese, (which means that they can’t sustain a priest on their own without financial support from the diocesan.) They have not had a rector for 4 or 5 years. They have been operating with a supply priest since their last rector left. They have a fairly new church and hold 2 services each Sunday. One in English and a 2nd service in Spanish. Father Oscar has been doing the Spanish mass for the last 2 years roughly. They have roughly 28 parishioners per service. The pledging comes mostly from the English service where the average age is 60+. The Spanish service has younger average age, but have a lower- pledging base. Good Shepherd reached out to us and St Paul’s Watertown to try and yoke with us in finding a replacement priest. They also reached out to the Diocese for guidance and support in steps to finding a permanent priest. St Paul’s was not willing to entertain splitting a priest. St Paul’s feels that they can afford a full-time priest position. Thus, I’m not sure they would entertain joining with us either unless they happen upon a husband wife combo like Fr. Oscar and Rev.
9
Elizabeth. They also are not worried about an interim priest since Elizabeth’s mother currently lives in Oconomowoc and has agreed to stay until they have a replacement. Peggy Bean suggested that we look for some way to make a better offer for a part time rector like sharing with another parish and/or offering more time off like only having Eucharist 3 weeks a month or like a school year and not having Eucharist during the summer months. On Sundays without Eucharist we would have morning or evening prayer or some kind of online service. The Nashotah House Seminary is not an option at this time either for supplying a priest or a deacon. At this time in the Diocese all current search activity has been put on hold and no new searches are allowed to start.
b. Gordon Flesch Copier contract due 4/24-Fr. Oscar has contacted the Gordon
Flesch Company and received a response from their Contracts Coordinator, Cori
Picard. regarding the maintenance renewal of our copier machine (FA4525). It
looks like the 5-year lease on this device ends on 5/24/2020. At that point, we’ll
own it. The service on the device will auto-renew.The new annual service base
will be $635.00, which includes 36,000 covered copies a year. Your new overage
rate will be .01725. The maintenance contract includes supplies (toner), service
and parts. The only exceptions are staples and paper. c. Diocesan Survey- A Financial Survey from the Diocese of Milwaukee was sent to
Jim Merrill and between Fr. Oscar and Fred, a response was submitted. One of the
survey questions were about our availability to pay our diocesan apportionment ~
if we didn’t pay that for a month or two we would almost break even.
d. Making our Website a secure website-James Merrill has spoken o Kit Marceil
about this and they will proceed.
e. Adding a Payment option on our website - Fred tried this earlier in the year with
PayPal. He set up the account as a non-profit, but there would still be a charge of
~$8.00 for a $250.00 payment. Even though he sent a Payment to PayPal, it was
never transferred from the PayPal Account to our Checking Account. We will do
further checking on this. (this was also one of the questions on the Financial
Survey from the Diocese)
6. Fundraising
a) Scrip update –March Profit $157.80
7. Next Meeting is to be determined later in the month of May
Devotion Volunteer: Not assigned due to time constraints of our ZOOM Mtg.
Closing Prayer - Fr. Oscar shared a prayer with us to say __
8. Meeting adjorned at: 3:15 pm.
Respectfully submitted
Joann Ellis, Clerk Pro Temp
10
St. Mark’s Episcopal Church Vestry Meeting Minutes
May 28, 2020 Held via ZOOM
Members present: Chris Merrill, Erin Weirough, Jody Langfeldt, Linda Zamzow, Joann Ellis Also present: James Merrill, Sr. Warden, David Drexler, Co-Jr. Warden, Fred Ellis, Treasurer, Fr. Oscar Rozo, Rector Members absent: Ken Peters, Co-Jr. Warden
1. Meeting called to order by James Merrill, Sr. Warden at 7:07 pm. Opening devotion was done by Fr. Oscar.
2. Approval of April 26, 2020 meeting minutes – Some members didn’t receive April minutes. Members should review minutes tomorrow, send any changes, and accept by email.
3. Treasurer’s Report – Fred reviewed the balance sheet first. End of April shows pledges are catching up somewhat. Fred had a question about line 261 UTO. The check for the fall ingathering was sent December 2019 but never cashed. Fred has reached out to Connie Ott, Diocesan UTO person, with no response. He requested that Fr. Oscar try to reach Connie to see what’s going on. Reviewed the Profit & Loss statement. Again, this shows pledges are behind but May pledges seem to be catching up. Should be reflected in the June financials. Line 519 Miscellaneous (Snow/Lawn) is under by $70 which is good. Line 542 Heat, Lights and Water is over by approximately $270. Should catch up with not using the church. Line 534 Telephone is over by approximately $101. This is from the new phone and service card. Jody Langfeldt moved to accept the Treasurer’s report. Motion by Jody Langfeldt and seconded by Linda Zamzow to approve the financial review. Motion carried.
4. Old Business – a. T-shirt update – since we have not been in church there is no information on sizes
and numbers of shirts needed. This remains on hold. b. Plant and Bake Sale – Since this event was not held, the plants already collected
have been planted on the east side of the building to help with drainage. Does anyone have any other ideas for fundraising?
c. Records Project – This is on hold until we return to church. d. Building Use Policy – Fr. Oscar stated that this should be updated every 2-3
months during the pandemic as the phases and circumstances change, i.e. masks, number of people allowed in groups, etc.
e. Scrip Cards – This is still going well. Monthly purchases are continuing. Bob and Linda bring the cards to church and leave them. The people who ordered them leave the money at church where Zamzows pick it up.
11
f. Diocesan Survey – Done last month and sent in. g. Making website a secure website – Suggested by Chris Marceil and he is working
on it. This would limit viruses. Checking if fee is a one time or annual amount. h. Adding web payment option to website/Revisiting PayPal Account – Fred is willing
to take care of this. This will include registering his name and SSN of Rector, Sr. Warden or Treasurer. This has to be done even as a not-for-profit. Motion by Joann Ellis to use Fred Ellis’ SSN on our PayPal account. Motion carried.
i. Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan from the bank – We applied for and received an $11,500 loan from the bank to assist covering salaries and utilities to get through the pandemic. Can be paid back if able.
5. New Business – A. Issues from Fr. Oscar – Most of what he will cover is in Other New Business. B. Junior Warden Report – David Drexler reported that the yard work is going well
due to good help. The sign is done for the Lion’s Den but not up yet. Fr. Oscar will call Marsha about putting it up without blessing it. David is still changing the outside sign weekly. Roosevelt is still closed.
C. Other Committee Reports – D. Other New Business –
a. Parochial Report (Past due) – Was due May 1st. It is now complete. It needs to be also signed by James Merrill, Sr. Warden and Jody Langfeldt, Clerk. It was decided that Fr. Oscar will print is off and leave it at church. James and Jody will stop in when they can to sign it. They will then notify Fr. Oscar when it is ready to be mailed in.
b. Monthly Deposits – varying over the last few months. Now moving back toward normal.
c. Future Services – The Diocese is requiring a plan to be sent to the Diocese for approval. Once it’s approved, we can start services again. A sub-committee will be formed to work on a plan of action and report progress back to the Vestry.
d. Zoom Coffee hours – Planning to hold Zoom coffee hours possibly before the Diocesan service. Until June 15th at least services will remain on line.
e. Kit’s email – See Kit’s email about some ideas about reaching out to parishioners. See thee email. Lindsay Cleary has purchased individual units of juice and a wafer for distribution to parishioners so they can partake in communion during online services or for home communion. Meredith Harmon is willing to drive them around and distribute them. Fr. Oscar will set up a time with Meredith for a consecration service but not on a Sunday.
f. 0utreach 2020 Designee – This is who we would want to support with fund raising income. This would be advertised at the fundraising event, hopefully to increase participation. Maybe at our June brat sale. St. Paul’s Watertown is making masks and selling them. Linda Zamzow stated that people making
12
masks at St. Mark’s are donating them to the hospital, nursing homes or other agencies who need them.
g. Forming a Search Committee – Need a more firm resignation date to set meeting with Peggy Bean from the Diocesan office. Fr. Oscar estimates around mid-July depending on Liz finding a position. Jim Merrill suggested an article for the newsletter asking for volunteers for the search committee. It was then decided that Jim will send out a letter instead.
h. YouTube – Jim Merrill will email out user id and password to get on our account on YouTube.
i. Fr. Oscar asked us to continue to keep checking on the parishioners who we were given lists for. Requests prayers for Paul Lampert who is starting chemo on the 1st, Mike Mosher is having surgery on the 4th of June, and Dave Genereaux who is having a procedure.
6. Fundraising – Scrip Update – April profit was $101.27. 7. Next meeting – To be determined, maybe a little earlier in the month. 8. Motion to adjourn – Motion by Linda Zamzow to adjourn. Meeting adjourned at
NOTE: WE DON’T KNOW WHEN OUR REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES WILL BE HELD OR IF ANY OF OUR SPECIAL EVENTS WILL BE ABLE TO BE HELD BUT THE BIRTHDAYS, BAPTISMAL ANNIVERSARIES AND WEDDING ANNIVERSARIES CAN STILL BE CELEBRATED!
