Valley United Presbyterian Church

DOCKET 2024 ANNUAL MEETING OF THE VALLEY UNITED PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH February 9, 2025 Call to Order Opening Prayer Approval of Docket Establish Quorum Pastor’s Report Clerk of Session’s Report Summaries of Session Committees Reports Buildings and Grounds – Dale Anthony Christian Education – Jodi Rumpff Fellowship – Milly Allen Mission and Outreach – Sally Hickey Music and Worship – Jim Dougherty Personnel – Dale Barber Summary of Deacons Report Summaries of Working Groups Reports – Sharan/Member or Chair Scholarship – Craig Wilhelm Memorial – Colleen Kinney Nominating Committee Report/Nominating Committee Election Review of Financial Reports, 2025 Budget and Audit Process Approve Terms of Call New Business Closing Prayer Adjournment 2024 Annual Pastor’s Report Grace and peace to you all, friends and siblings, in the Lord Jesus the Christ! The year 2024 was a year of Valley United doing two things: 1) Caring for me (your pastor) as your partner in ministry, and 2) Living into who God is calling us to be in the community. Sabbatical Having served nearly ten years at VUPC through a merger, construction projects, and a pandemic, I was exhausted. The opportunity for a sabbatical came at the perfect time. I spent the summer months worshiping at local congregations, researching and practicing various mindfulness programs, and I discerned that God was calling me to write a book about the intersection of disability and mindfulness. I remain grateful for the congregation’s participation and cooperation during my sabbatical, and I feel energized for the years ahead. Pastoral Care In the nine months of 2024 that I wasn’t on sabbatical, I did 61 visits, 15 gatherings with fellow clergy, and hundreds of daily calls, conversations, texts, and cards. The Deacons and I communicated regularly throughout the year about issues of care among church members, and we worked together when several church members required extended or more intensive pastoral care. Christian Education We completed two weekly evening Bible Studies - “Journeys Through Revelation: Apocalyptic Hope for Today” and “Reconciling Paul: A Contemporary Study of 2 Corinthians” both published by Presbyterian Women. Along with the Revelation Bible Study, we read “What Happens When We Die?” by Thomas Long. The group is a nice mix of currently-working folks and retirees. Our monthly afternoon Bible Study concluded “Everything a Season: A Study of the Liturgical Calendar” and we moved on to “Come to the Waters”, both published by Presbyterian Women. We added a bagged lunch before our monthly gathering so that there was a time of fellowship before we began studying. Worship I continued posting sermon recordings on YouTube, with an average number of views at 11 per video. This tells us VUPC has a small but mighty online congregation that faithfully views our sermon videos. Worship Highlights: In September, to both welcome me back from sabbatical and honor VUPC’s ten-year anniversary, we held Purple Sunday. During the luncheon, we also celebrated all of our volunteers and the folks who do the work of our church. On Thanksgiving Eve, Sayre Christian Church hosted a prayer service, and the pastors of Sayre Christian Church, St. John Lutheran, Redeemer Episcopal, and VUPC participated. There was also a Community Choir at the service (VUPC Music Director, Derek Young, served as accompanist) with a dozen singers from churches all over the Valley. The Blue Christmas service was online this year with 17 views. Music & Worship felt strongly that we needed to provide a more private ministry to those in grief, so we continued with our at- home service offering. For 2024, we reimagined our Drive Thru First Christmas event, and it became The Six Voices of Christmas. Voices from different backgrounds talked about what Christmas meant to them while viewing a cross in the attic window above the nativity scene. Though only attended by approx. 20 people in person, 23 then viewed an online version following the event. Community Involvement In both the spring and fall, VUPC partnered with Epiphany Catholic Church to put on a social justice series that looked at loving your neighbor (spring) and aging with grace (fall). Funded by the Diocese of Scranton, these series drew 75-80 people at each meeting with over 100 people attending the offering on organizing and decluttering! There was nothing but positive feedback from the community speakers and both churches. The team is currently planning for 2025. Having felt my season with Tioga ASAP draw to a close post-sabbatical, I became more involved in The Bridge. From September-December, I wrote 16 vouchers. These vouchers use The Bridge’s funds to help meet the financial or material challenges that people in our Valley face. Receiving an uptick in requests for aid in the second half of the year, the Mission & Outreach Committee and I established the Office Pantry. This is a small collection of food and hygiene items for folks who are in a dire situation. Every person who uses the pantry is given a brochure for The Bridge and a list of resources in the Valley. There were three families who used the pantry in the first week it was in operation! Lackawanna Presbytery I served as the presbytery’s Committee on Ministry chairperson for the duration of 2024. This was a big job, but we were able to do a lot of data gathering, which is one area that was sadly lacking in the presbytery. Being the Chair of COM also gave me a seat on the Leadership Vision Team (akin to the presbytery’s board of directors), and we supported the Merger Team as they planned for the merger of Lackawanna and Lehigh Presbyteries. (The merger is set to take effect on 1/1/26.) Throughout the year, I also moderated the Session for Wyalusing Presbyterian Church and helped their Interim Pastor Nominating Committee in their search. They found a pastor, and I was relieved of my moderating duty in December. Looking Forward to 2025 In December, the Session decided to focus on developing an older adult ministry. Considering this is who we are and it’s who God has given us to minister to, we will focus on those in their third-30 (age 60+) in 2025. I’ve joined the Presbyterian Older Adult Ministry Network, am personally very excited for this, and I look forward to how God will lead us in this effort. I give thanks for the people our church has served in 2024, and may God continue to bless the work of our hearts and hands. In Christ, Pastor Sharan 2024 Clerk of Session’s Annual Report Statistical Report Total Communicants 1 January 2024 138 Losses Deaths 1 Transfer 0 Deleted Other Reason 15 Total Losses 16 Gains Transfer 1 Affirmation of Faith 0 Return to Rolls 1 Total Gains 2 Total Communicants 31 December 2024 124 Total Affiliate Members 1 January 2024 1 Total Gains 0 Total Affiliate Members 31 December 2024 1 Active Member Deaths June Krapf Transfer In Gwen Montz Return to Rolls Mike Sumner Marriages None Baptisms None FINANCE COMMITTEE In 2024 the monetary gifts from the congregation were below our expectation, coming in $12,000 short of budget. However, the year ended with a very robust December. We were able to meet all of our obligations assisted by $10,000, which was returned to the general fund checking account from the Reserve account where it was placed temporarily in 2023 to earn interest. VUPC’s congregation continues to provide both their time and financial support. The market experienced some ups and downs during the year, picking up in the third quarter and turning downward slightly in the fourth quarter. The result was an increase of nearly 4% in our portfolio. As usual, the coming year is filled with questions and uncertainty. However, the Finance Committee is confident that we are well-positioned to meet any challenges. The annual financial review of the church was conducted on December 3, 2024. Members of the Finance team met with congregational review members: Dave Williams, Dave Cannavino, and Hazel Anthony. There were no issues to report. Many thanks to the review team for providing this valuable service. VUPC received from Lackawanna Presbytery a $5,000 grant to assist us for Pastor Sharan’s sabbatical. Through Pastor Sharan’s initiative, we were able to pay for substitute pastors and their related expenses. We are excited to announce that Dawn Terascavage joined the Finance Team in October, 2024 and will be transitioning to the Treasurer’s and Financial Secretary’s duties in 2025. Welcome, Dawn! The Session has approved the following amounts to be dispersed to VUPC programs in 2025: • Mission & Outreach • Deacons Fund • Fellowship • Music & Worship • Christian Education 10% of envelope-giving, loose change, & stock dividends $1,000 annually, dispersed $250 per quarter $1,000 annually, dispersed $250 per quarter $5,100 annual budget (managed in General Fund) $2,700 annual budget (managed in General Fund) The Session has approved the following teams of Tellers for 2025 (no changes from 2024): Mark Middaugh & Milly Allen Dale & Hazel Anthony Dale Barber & Carolyn Kopatz Craig & Tonya Wilhelm Jim & Colleen Kinney Martha Close & Steve Parks These teams of tellers are also responsible for operating the PowerPoint at weekly church services. The Finance team expresses much appreciation to these Tellers who stay after the service to log the weekly contributions. The following are the Finance Committee members: Jim Parks - Chair Jim Kinney - Treasurer Stu Zeafla - Financial Secretary Team Members: Mark Middaugh, Martha Close, and Dawn Terascavage Craig Wilhelm - Team member and Chair of the Scholarship Committee Many thanks to this wonderful team for their talent and dedication. The Finance team looks forward to another successful and fulfilling year. We pray that God will continue to guide our congregation to do our part to support the Church in 2025. Financial Secretary Report Giving Units * Total $ for Range Year → 2023 2024 2023 2024 Giving Range ↓ Number of Weeks → 53 52 53 52 $1 - $100 8 15 310 468 $101 - $500 15 10 4,410 2,733 $501 - $1000 8 9 6,420 6,595 $1001 - $2000 10 8 12,265 11,600 $2001 - $3000 9 8 21,910 19,855 $3001 - $5000 8 5 30,330 18,145 $5001 - $8000 4 6 28,663 37,680 $8001 - 6 6 78,577 80,775 Total income from envelopes / checks 68 67 182,885 177,851 Loose plate offering 921 619 Building use / Misc 3672 5159 Stock Dividends 8292 8,293 Transfer from Investments 0 10,000 Total Undesignated income 195,770 201,922 * A giving unit represents one envelope, which could be a single person, a couple, or a family. Investment Holdings January 1, 2024 through December 31, 2024 2024 TRANSFERS 2024 INVESTMENT BEGINNING TO/FROM GAIN/ GAIN/ ENDING FUND BALANCE OTHER FUNDS LOSS $ LOSS % BALANCE C&N TRUST 538,383.63 38,121.03 50,485.90 9.38% 626,990.53 C&N SCHLRSHP 40,626.87 -2,000.00 2,950.50 4.80% 41,577.37 C&N RESERVE 40,530.56 -11,825.00 1,542.38 3.80% 30,247.94 C.C. M&O TRUST 128,305.85 0.00 10,878.99 8.48% 139,184.84 C&N STOCK 165,895.11 0.00 -28,326.56 -17.07% 137,568.55 C&N 1 YEAR CD 51,570.51 -52,296.03 725.52 1.41% 0 C&N MEMORIAL 19,399.89 -2,000.00 751.38 3.87% 18,151.27 TOTAL 984,712.42 -29,000 38,008.08 3.86% 993,720.50 2024 General Fund 2024 BEGINNING BALANCE 21,022.19 INCOME UNDESIGNATED ENVELOPE GIVING - UNDESIGNATED 177,850.49 LOOSE OFFERING 619.32 DIVIDENDS ON STOCK FUNDS 8,293.38 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 59.00 MISCELLANEOUS AND REFUNDS 944.30 BUILDING USAGE 4,156.00 TSFR FROM MISSION & OUTREACH 0.00 TSFR FROM INVESTMENTS 10,000.00 TOTAL UNDESIGNATED INCOME 201,922.49 DESIGNATED ENVELOPE GIVING - DESIGNATED 3,354.00 FLOWERS DONATIONS 194.00 FELLOWSHIP DONATIONS 1,404.00 CAPITAL BUILDING PROJECT INCOME SALE OF ASSETS 318.50 DONATIONS 0.00 MISCELLANEOUS 0.00 TOTAL CAPITAL BUILDING PROJECT INCOME 318.50 PA CHOW DONATIONS 9,890.00 MISSION & OUTREACH MISC. DONATIONS 7,264.00 DEACONS MISCELLANEOUS DONATIONS 850.00 MEMORIAL DONATIONS 5,066.41 REFUNDS 389.00 OTHER 6,680.00 TOTAL DESIGNATED INCOME 35,409.91 TOTAL INCOME 237,332.40 EXPENSES OPERATIONAL EXPENSES RESTRICTED FUNDS M&O (10% OF UNDES. INCOME/DIVIDENDS) 18,682.22 DEACONS FUND ($250 PER QUARTER) 1,000.00 FELLOWSHIP ($250 PER QUARTER) 1,000.00 TOTAL RESTRICTED FUNDS 20,682.22 PERSONNEL WAGES & BENEFITS PASTOR CARE 86,999.15 CHURCH EMPLOYEES 36,435.00 PAYROLL TAXES 2,459.77 TOTAL ALL PERSONNEL WAGES 125,893.92 ADMINISTRATION OFFICE SUPPLIES 405.53 POSTAGE 692.99 EQUIPMENT RENTALS 2,677.87 INTERNET, TELEPHONE, COMPUTER EQUIP. 1,948.01 COMPUTER EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE 597.00 PER CAPITA (NOT DONATED) 2,955.00 ACCOUNTING EXP. 1,800.00 MISCELLANEOUS 2,155.95 TOTAL ADMINISTRATION 13,232.35 2024 General Fund (Continued) BUILDINGS & GROUNDS CHURCH GROUNDS 2,547.01 GAS 4,353.36 ELECTRIC 7,662.81 WATER 340.80 SEWER 235.72 GARBAGE 648.00 FIRE ALARM MONITORING 1,756.48 TOTAL PROPERTY INSURANCE 10,483.00 WORKERS COMP & DBL 1,103.85 UMBRELLA POLICY 0.00 BUILDING REPAIRS 0.00 BUILDING MAINTENANCE (SUPPLIES) 504.03 EQUIPMENT 1,192.47 ELEVATOR MAINTENANCE 2,005.32 MANSE 5,667.51 DESIGN COMMITTEE 0.00 MISCELLANOUS 105.00 TOTAL BUILDING & GROUNDS 38,605.36 MUSIC & WORSHIP MUSIC SUPPLIES 45.35 LICENSES & PERMITS 384.00 ORGAN MAINTENANCE 1,875.00 PIANO REPAIR & TUNING 617.00 MISCELLANOUS MUSIC 0.00 AIDS TO WORSHIP 840.18 FLOWERS 35.02 NEW MEMBERS 65.95 MISC 58.28 TOTAL MUSIC & WORSHIP 3,920.78 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION CHRISTIAN EDUCATION SUPPLIES 646.36 DRIVE THRU CHRISTMAS/EASTER 298.89 VACATION BIBLE SCHOOL 1,110.38 TOTAL CHRISTIAN ED. 2,055.63 TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSES 204,390.26 NON-OPERATIONAL (PASS-THROUGH) EXPENSE CAPITAL BUILDING SALE OF ASSETS 318.50 DESIGNATED DONATIONS 24,474.41 OFFERING ENVELOPES 361.50 PER CAPITA 2,925.00 FLOWERS 179.83 MISCELLANEOUS 6,204.50 TOTAL NON-OPERATIONAL EXPENSE 34,463.74 TOTAL EXPENSES 238,854.00 2024 ENDING BALANCE (ADJUSTED FOR CHECKS NOT CLEARED BY 12/31) 19,500.59 2024 Mission and Outreach Fund 2024 BEGINNING BALANCE 11,266.46 INCOME 10% OF UNDESIGNATED OFFERING 17,852.88 10% OF STOCK DIVIDENDS 829.34 CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING 1,856.00 SOUPER BOWL 308.00 ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING 1,165.00 FREE WILL DINNER DONATIONS 744.00 PRESBYTERIAN DISASTER ASSISTANCE 390.00 TRANSFER FROM M&O INVESTMENT 1,000.00 MISCELLANEOUS 2,686.00 ADULT CLASS 115.00 TOTAL INCOME 26,946.22 EXPENSES WHITES 1,500.00 HALLS 1,500.00 KINGSLEYS 1,500.00 WORLD VISION 1,200.00 THE BRIDGE 1,150.00 SALVATION ARMY (FOOD PANTRY) 2,654.00 VALLEY FOOD PANTRY 1,154.00 SCHOLARSHIPS 1,000.00 CHOW FOR CHILDREN (SAYRE/ATHENS) 1,000.00 PCUSA SHARED MISSION SUPPORT 700.00 OUTREACH EVENTS 4,272.87 MISCELLANEOUS FUNDS 675.54 FREE WILL MEALS 2,247.09 CHRISTMAS JOY OFFERING 1,805.00 ONE GREAT HOUR OF SHARING 1,165.00 PRES DISASTER ASSISTANCE 390.00 ADVERTISING 440.97 TOTAL EXPENSES 24,354.47 2024 ENDING BALANCE 13,858.21 2024 Deacon’s Fund 2024 BEGINNING BALANCE 4,647.67 INCOME BUDGETED ADVANCE FROM GENERAL FUND 1,000.00 FUNERAL DONATIONS 850.00 TOTAL INCOME 1,850.00 EXPENSES DEACONS DISBURSEMENTS 728.15 DAILY DEVOTIONAL 178.80 POSTAGE 245.94 MISCELLANEOUS 174.65 FUNERAL EXPENSES 582.43 TOTAL EXPENSES 1,909.97 2024 ENDING BALANCE 4,587.70 2024 Fellowship Fund 2024 BEGINNING CASH BALANCE 1,004.64 INCOME DONATIONS 292.00 BUDGETED ADVANCE FROM GENERAL 1,000.00 MISCELLANEOUS 1,112.00 TOTAL INCOME 2,404.00 EXPENSES FELLOWSHIP EVENTS 256.91 FELLOWSHIP HOUR 558.59 KITCHEN SUPPLIES 241.93 MISCELLANEOUS 781.69 TOTAL EXPENSES 1,839.12 2024 ENDING CASH BALANCE 1,569.52 2024 Memorial Fund 2024 BEGINNING BALANCE 1,928.49 INCOME TRANSFER FROM INVESTMENT FUND 2,000.00 MEMORIAL 5,066.41 TOTAL INCOME 7,066.41 EXPENSES MEMORIAL DISBURSEMENTS 2,913.26 MISCELLANEOUS 68.00 TOTAL EXPENSES 2,981.26 2024 ENDING BALANCE 6,013.64 2024 PA Chow for Children Funds 2024 BEGINNING CASH BALANCE 31,341.60 INCOME CHOW DONATIONS 7,026.00 INTEREST INCOME 204.53 MISCELLANEOUS 2,864.00 TOTAL INCOME 10,094.53 EXPENSES FOOD PURCHASES -DEBIT CARD 12,852.02 PURCHASE GIFT CARDS 100.00 OTHER 234.57 TOTAL EXPENSES 13,186.59 2024 ENDING CASH BALANCE 28,249.54 CHOW ACCOUNT BALANCES CHECKING BALANCE 2,846.57 SAVINGS BALANCE 25,402.97 TOTAL CHOW ACCOUNT BALANCES 28,249.54 2024 Capital Fund 2024 BEGINNING BALANCE 1,071.96 INCOME FROM INVESTMENT ACCOUNT 17,000.00 CAPITAL BUILDING SALE OF ASSETS 318.50 TOTAL INCOME 17,318.50 EXPENSES MISCELLANEOUS 16,414.26 TOTAL EXPENSES 16,414.26 2024 ENDING BALANCE 1,976.20 2024 Insurance Summary BROTHERHOOD MUTUAL INSURANCE COMPANY MULTI PERIL INSURANCE 10,483 WORKERS COMP INSURANCE 1,003.76 TOTAL BROTHERHOOD MUTUAL 11,486.76 SHELTER POINT LIFE NY STATE DISABILITY 100.09 TOTAL SHELTER POINT 100.09 TOTAL ALL INSURANCE 11,586.85 2025 General Fund Projected Budget 2025 ACTUAL BEGINNING BALANCE 24,583.96 INCOME UNDESIGNATED INCOME ENVELOPE GIVINGS 160,000 LOOSE OFFERING 500 DIVIDENDS FROM STOCK FUND 8,284 MISCELLANEOUS & REFUNDS 100 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 100 BUILDINGS INCOME 3,650 XFER FROM INVESTMENTS 30,000 TOTAL UNDESIGNATED INCOME 202,634 DESIGNATED INCOME (ALL SOURCES) 0 TOTAL INCOME 202,634 OPERATIONAL EXPENSE PERSONNEL PASTOR CARE 90,055 EMPLOYEES 35,540 PAYROLL TAXES 2,350 TOTAL PERSONNEL 127,945 ADMINISTRATION 11,573 BUILDING & GROUNDS CHURCH GROUNDS 2,500 UTILITIES 12,800 FIRE PROTECTION 1,850.00 CHURCH INSURANCE 12,635 BUILDING REPAIRS 500 BUILDING MAINT. SUPPLIES 500 EQUIPMENT MAINTENANCE 5,105 MANSE 5,025 MISCELLANEOUS 500 TOTAL BUILDING & GROUNDS 41,415 DESIGNATED FUNDS AND PROGRAMS MUSIC & WORSHIP 4,000 CHRISTIAN EDUCATION 1,500 MISSION AND OUTREACH 16,888 DEACONS 1,000 FELLOWSHIP 1,000 TOTAL DESIGNATED FUNDS AND PROGRAMS 24,388 TOTAL OPERATIONAL EXPENSE 205,321 2025 PROJECTED ENDING BALANCE 21,897 2025 Terms of Call The Valley United Presbyterian Church, being well satisfied with your qualifications for ministry and confident that we have been led to you by the Holy Spirit as one whose service will be profitable to the spiritual interests of our church and fruitful forth Kingdom of our Lord, earnestly and solemnly calls you, Sharan Knoell to continue in the office of Teaching Elder of this congregation, beginning on January 1 2025, promising you in the discharge of your duty all proper support, encouragement and allegiance in the Lord. That you may be free to devote full time to the ministry of the Word and Sacrament among us, we promise and obligate ourselves to provide you the following annually: Standard Benefits: 2024 Comment ● Annual Cash Salary $47,821 ● Housing (manse value and/or amt. of housing allowance) $15,734 ● Utility Allowance $0 Paid by Church ● Furnishings or other allowance $1,000 ● 403B deferred compensation $2,943 ● Effective Salary for Board of pensions $68,180 ● Full medical, pension, disability, and death coverage under the Board of Pensions (dues increased to 43% to include spouse) $29,368 Other Benefits: ● Social Security Offset $5,216 ● Medical/Dental reimbursement allowance $682 ● Supplemental Death Benefit $20 ● Dental Insurance (including spouse) $1,025 ● Paid vacation leave of 4 weeks annually to include 4 Sundays. ● Additional paid vacation leave of one week to include 1 Sunday (accrued from 2024, year of 3-month sabbatical). ● Paid continuing education leave of 2 weeks annually, to include 2 Sundays. Cumulative over different years upon approval by Session. ● Additional paid continuing education leave of 2 weeks annually, to include 2 Sundays (accrued from 2024, year of 3-month sabbatical). The following expenses of ministry will be reimbursed through an accountable plan: ● Continuing Education $1,500 Voucherable ● Travel at IRS rate per mile $2,000 Voucherable ● Other: Professional expenses $500 Voucherable