St. Peter's United Church of Christ

The meeting began with Devotions, Secretary minutes and Treasurer’s reports. All were approved.
Staff and Ministry Team reports were given.
Building & Grounds – The elevator passed it’s state inspection. Building & grounds committee members will resume their monthly meeting and address maintenance issues around the church. Specs will be put together to source bids for the sidewalk repairs around church.
Audit – Terry expressed thanks to the audit team for their prompt work before the annual meeting.
Christian Education/Scholarship - Cookies & Milk Sunday will be held February 14 with a virtual Zoom gathering at 6pm that night.
Endowment – Randy Olm is checking into putting the funds into an investment fund.
Human Resources – Marsha Rabe has given her notice of resignation. Her last day will be March 31.
Membership – Letters were sent to inactive members.
Music – Music Team purchased Lent, Easter &; Patriotic music for the carillon. A music library has been created for the different seasons.
The other ministry teams had nothing to report.
New Business – Comments on virtual & in church worships. Weather has created lower attendance in church and discussion was held on changing the schedule to one service. It was decided for the schedule to remain the same to avoid confusion and wait for a replacement Pastor before making changes. It was requested to resume regular communion. February 28 was added as a Communion Sunday. The elements will be shared in church and can be picked up in the church office for virtual
service.
The next Consistory meeting is March 9, 2021 at 6:30pm in Fellowship Hall
The meeting ended with the Lord’s Prayer.
Consistory members learned the duties of decorating the Altar. Susan explained where everything is kept and how candles are replaced, so more are aware of what it takes to prepare the altar for services.
The Consistory then went into closed session.

St. Peter’s consistory meet on April 13, 2021 and discussed reopening church with a Phase II approach and recommended the following:

• St. Peter’s will hold a 9:30 service only on May 2,2021 due to it being Youth Sunday and welcoming Rev. James M. McKenzie as our Interim Minister.
• On May 9, 2021 there will be the normal 7:30am and 9:30am services as well as providing viewing online.  We will continue the two services until a decision to change is directed by the consistory.
• Only the car port entrance will be open for worship services.
• All members should still maintain at least 6’ of distance between people(families) if possible.
• All persons entering church must wear cloth face masks.  If you do not have a mask, we will have some available, but please reuse each Sunday.  
• We will still maintain the check list while entering the sanctuary to verify your family’s presence. (This is still needed if there is an outbreak so other members who attended that day can be notified and checked for COVID 19.)
• Please, please, wear your name tag when entering church, this not only helps the ushers find your name on the check list but will help Rev. Jim to know your name. 
• We will continue to have plastic over the water fountain for your safety.
• While in the sanctuary please keep empty pews between families for safe distancing.
• Cushions will be placed back on the pews!
• At this time there will be no acolytes and Rev. McKenzie will light the candles.
• The passing of peace will still be done with distancing in mind, a wave of the hand or a hello can be done by standing at your seat.
• At this time, we will still have all hymnals, bibles, envelopes, papers and pencils removed from the pews.
• If you need to cough or sneeze, be sure and cover your mouth with a tissue or cough into your arm.
• Bulletins if used, shall be kept by each member as they exit the sanctuary, please take them home with you each Sunday.
• Music at this time shall be provided in various forms under the direction of the music committee, with the hope that in the near future we will be able to sing during services. 
• We will have an organist at our church services.
• Communion will be held with the use of the wafer/juice containers.
• There will be no shaking of hands as you exit, instead a pleasant greeting of “having a great week” will be given.
• Exiting the sanctuary will be done with the help of the ushers from the Back of the Church First, then backing up to the Front of the Church.  
• The ropes in the lounge area will be removed and open seating can be done at a safe distance, 
• The coat area will be opened to hang your coats.
• If you are not feeling well or have symptoms please stay home and enjoy the virtual services.
• If you or someone in your family contact COVID 19, please contact the church office if you have attended worship.
• Once again, our main goal is to keep everyone safe, but allow members to attend church comfortably in person.

Reopening church with COVID 19 is a work in process, we will be adjusting any safety procedure(s) as needed.  All updates will be sent through media outlets and via mailings to keep everyone up to date.  
We Welcome You Back to our Phase II Worship!!  
Thank You,
St. Peter’s Consistory
 

The Rays of Hope Center (ROHC) was officially "christened" in April of 2006 as the newest addition to St. Peter's United Church of Christ ministries. The one-time gas station and video store was purchased by St. Peter's in late 2005 after selling the church's parsonage. In it's naming, St. Peter's members honored their beloved, tenured pastor of 14 years, Ray Coombs. Rev. Coombs ministered faithfully, seeing to it that St. Peter's UCC be the "community's church." Under the care of St. Peter's Consistory and members, the ROHC seeks to sustain that community faithfulness by providing the community space as needed.

Currently the Rays of Hope Center houses the Kiel Area Community Food Pantry.