Roll Call:

• Pastor James G. Bell
• Class of 2005: Steve Barwick (excused), John Crew, Jerry Parsons, Mons Schrantz (excused), Kathy Tosh
• Class of 2006: Bob Hunt (excused), Dave Seyller (excused), Faith TenHaken, Terry Tosh, E'Lane Tufts (excused)
• Class of 2007: Jim Bouas, Judy Lindsay, Cathy Rinehart, John Tuttle and Lloyd Wiesemann (absent)
• Clerk Margaret Wolf (excused)

Call to order and opening prayer by Moderator Rev. Jim Bell.

Devotions and prayer by John Tuttle.

Roll Call. Motion was made and approved to excuse Steve Barwick, Bob Hunt, E'Lane Tufts, Mons Schrantz, Dave Seyller and Margaret Wolf.

Guest: Lisa Tippy, prospective new member, answered questions for membership. She will attend the next new members class. Her membership was moved by Jerry Parsons and seconded by Faith Ten Haken. Membership was approved. Lisa will join by letter of transfer.

Treasurer's Report: Balance: $15,470
Motion made by Terry Tosh, seconded by Judy Lindsay to accept the treasurer's report. Motion carried.

Pastor's Report:
Jim will be gone from Wednesday, March 30, through Friday, April 1. The platform for the Great Hall has arrived and is in place. The light panel in the Great Hall is not working. Carol Kehl's mother is undergoing surgery in Missouri. Carol had to leave early Thursday to be with her.

Maundy Thursday and Good Friday services will be in the Great Hall. Easter sunrise service. Other services will be in the sanctuary. Communion will be served in the usual way. There will be no communion on the first Sunday in April. There will be communion on April 24 for the dedication. There will be no communion served on May 1.

The time had not been set for the Congregational Meeting to deal with the co-pastor's pay package. It was moved by Kathy Tosh and seconded by Cathy Reinhart to set the time for the Congregational Meeting at 12:15 p.m. on Sunday, April 13. Motion carried.

Clerk's Report:
The minutes of the February 23, 2005, session meeting were approved.

Minutes have been received from Health Ministries (2/15) and (3/15), First Peacemakers (3/13), Mission (3/9), New Addition Dedication (3/13), Property (3/8) Small Group (3/2), Gifts and Memorials (3/2), Congregational Life (3/2), Christian Education (3/2), Stewardship (3/9).

New Business:

1. Three bids for blinds in the Great Hall have been received. The Building Task Force recommended acceptance of the low bid of $3,800. The cost of installation is not included. It was moved by John Tuttle and seconded by Jim Bouas to accept the bid. Motion carried. Jim said that the installation will cost $300.
2. John Tuttle noted that the Building Task Force had in good faith created a plaque to honor those who contributed for chairs and tables for the Great Hall. He expressed the concern that this was setting a precedent. John made the motion that only memorials be given permanent recognition. Other gifts would be acknowledged with thanks. The motion was seconded by Jim Bouas. Motion carried unanimously.

Study time:
With the completion of the Great Hall addition, Jim urged session members not to sit back and coast along. One of the jobs of session is to create a vision of what our church should be. He wished to use the rest of the meeting time for a brainstorming session on what should be the activities and goals for First Presbyterian Church for the next 5-10 years. Members were asked just to think about broad categories. The following is a list brought up in the meeting.

• Getting another pastor.
• Landscaping
• Providing financial support for a Spanish-speaking congregation now meeting at Second Presbyterian.
• Supporting Kemmerer Village as they build two new cottages. Sponsoring a room would cost about $25,000. Could get different supporters of Kemmerer to work together.
• A safe house for teenage girls is needed, both for immediate help as well as providing a transition place
• Have another church-wide evangelistic program for small groups to work on.
• Better coordination of the work of session and committees
• Consider recommending the book, Seasons of Life as mandatory reading for men age 12 and up
• Outreach to children in the community, especially for health and dental care.
• A church team to build a Habitat for Humanity house.
• Participate in an alternative to jail ministry such as a proposed New Start program in the community.
• Do a better job in utilizing the talents of people in the congregation
• At next Share Fest we will be asked to fill a large tractor-trailer truck with food, along with schools and other churches. Our congregation should seek to get at least 50 units of blood.
• Offer a tutoring program for children and adults at our church.
• Adult mission trips
• Habitat will be doing at least six houses in Normal this year. We could provide one or more teams to help.
• Church athletic program—perhaps a summer league. Jim Bell reminded session that youth had been promised that the Great Hall could be used for some athletic activities. Have basketball standards now but need a volley ball net. Need to think how the land surrounding the church is to be used.
• Find a way to get more of the congregation involved in Christian ed., including vacation Bible school.
• A monthly prayer vigil, done in a structured way
• A Christmas project by small groups. Creating a number of decorated rooms depicting the joy and sharing of Christmas could unit the congregation.
• More congregational meals
• An ATM machine installed in the church could provide profits for mission.
• A transportation pool
• A coffee house for young people
• Programs for seniors
• Small groups could establish a relationship with a person in prison and then provide mentoring and have responsibility for them upon release.

Jim asked members of session to ask people in small groups and committees to brainstorm before the next meeting, about what the church should do in the next ten years.

Next meeting: April 27

Meeting closed at 9:00 p.m. with group prayer.

Respectfully submitted,

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James G. Bell, Moderator

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John Crew, Elder