March 2025

On March 17 the Swift session met and was joined by several guests. (Remember, you are always welcome to join to hear what we are discussing bring your questions that we can help with.)

Items discussed:

     ■ Elected elders to attend the March Presbytery meeting and approved a request from the Optimist Club to use the chapel for an oratory event.

     ■ Filling the treasurer position.

     ■ After our agenda items, we worked on reviewing the Swift mission and vision, as well as identifying the strengths and weaknesses of our church. This work will continue, and we will use the results to look at where we see our focus to serve the congregation and the community.

February 2025

Some highlights from our February session meeting:

     ■ We are going to use our Church Pro tool to create a new directory and planning to take individual and family photos on Easter Sunday (also the Sunday after). Unlike in the past it’s a more streamlined way to create the booklet without as much manual work.

     ■ An informational congregational meeting will be held on 4/6/25 to present the budget and the pastor’s terms of call. This meeting is part of the church’s responsibilities outlined in our denomination’s Book of Order.

     ■ The session approved a change to the budget of +$5,200 to fund the treasurer’s position.

Please remember you are always welcome to join us. We meet in annex room 2 on the third Monday of each month at 4:30 p.m.

January 2025

Some highlights from the Jan. 20 session meeting:

     ■ Examined incoming church officers and heard their powerful faith journeys and why they felt called to serve.

     ■ Session approved a social media policy for Swift. With the importance of this medium of communication, we discussed being clear about how this is used in the life of the church and falls in line with the review of many of our policies we have been doing over the past several months.

     ■ We discussed the preschool and focusing on enhancing communication with the session and by-law/handbook review for clarity.

     ■ Approved a request to use the fellowship hall.

     ■ Requested more bulletins be printed for worship service.

     ■ Agreed to continue services in the sanctuary through February, as we are still in the midst of cold and flu season.

November 2024

The session meeting was held on Monday, Nov. 11, and we had several topics to discuss. Some highlights include:

     ■ Congratulations to all who helped with the Christmas Market. What a great event!

     ■ Approved replacing some of our security cameras due to poor image quality.

     ■ Set up an alternate for bank transactions to act as a backup when needed.

     ■ Presbytery of South Alabama meeting review including the approval to train elders to serve communion in the absence of a pastor or CRE.

     ■ The finance committee will begin to develop the 2025 budget.

October 2024

Session met on Oct. 21 and discussed many topics for Swift, including:

     ■ Finance — Some of the general fund will move to a liquid interest-bearing account, immediately available if needed and we are on track for the 2024 budget.

     ■ Buildings and grounds — Nov. 2 is burn pile day so please sign up if you can help.

     ■ Worship — Going forward we will not use the disposable communion kits but will offer a small number of filled cups at the table for those who choose to use them.

     ■ Cursillo sing will be at the fire pit on Nov. 3.

     ■ Reviewed the sexual misconduct policy and child protection policy and the finance committee. The presence of this policy protects our children in the nursery and those that work in that capacity will go through training Nov. 17.

     ■ We will work with Ecumenical Ministries to commit Swift for some names of children in need via their angel tree Christmas sharing program.

September 2024

Swift Session met on Sept. 16 and decided to modify the church’s Sunday schedule. Based on the response from the congregation, we voted to move Sunday school to 9 a.m. and worship to 10 a.m., effective Oct. 6.

We are forming the leadership nominating committee to nominate candidates for church officers for the class of 2027. We will need an elder, four deacons, and a trustee to be nominated by the nominating committee, followed by a congregational vote.

The session also: 

     ■ Created a schedule for “minutes for stewardship.”

     ■ Discussed a plan to encourage membership in the community, letting them know who Swift is and how we serve. We will discuss this further in the October meeting.

     ■ Scheduled a fish fry after worship on Oct. 27.

August 2024

Session held its monthly meeting on Aug. 19 with the Rev. Alexandra Hutson moderating. Our topics included:

     ■ Tree removal — The tree by the sanctuary continues to damage the corner of the building. We have an offer to provide the service to the church at no cost.

     ■ Preparing for stewardship and presentations by each committee to the congregation.

     ■ Determining the best package for Rev. Hutson and the church for the new board of pension changes. We will move forward with the transitional option that allow more flexibility and lower cost.

     ■ Agreeing to create a church leadership nominating committee to prepare for the 2027 slate of elders, deacons, and trustees. This is the first step in finding members of the congregation to serve God and our community.

July 2024

Session members gathered on July 15 for our monthly meeting, with the Rev. Alexandra Hutson moderating. Highlights for this meeting:

     ■ We have two worshipers that are interested in membership, and we are following up with their current church on a letter of transfer.

     ■ The finance committee shared the six-month report on expenses versus budget. This information will help with next year’s budget decisions.

     ■ The session moved to remove several members from the roll as they have moved or are attending other churches for an extended period. At any time in the future if they choose to return to Swift, they will be reinstated.

June 2024

Session gathered on June 17 for our monthly meeting, and the Rev. Alexandra Hutson moderated our meeting.

Highlights:

     ■ For July, communion will move to July 14, to coincide with several new members joining. Please make a note of the change and be sure to join us in welcoming our new members.

     ■ Session meetings will now begin at 4:30 p.m. on the third Monday of the month.

     ■ Session reviewed a report from our elders regarding changes to the board of pensions. This change is national and will impact the cost of insurance and other benefits of pastors. The finance committee will study the changes and commit to a plan later in the year during the enrollment period.

     ■ Executive Presbyter Bob Madsen will be joining us on July 28 in the pulpit. Rev. Hutson will be out of town and we look forward to Bob continuing the sermon series. (Actually, there was a schedule change involving the Rev. Madsen, and Chaplain Kendall Loper preached instead. — Editor)

May 2024

Session gathered on May 20 for our monthly meeting, and the Rev. Alexandra Hutson moderated for us. Highlights:

     ■ Reviewed the wonderful installation service and Pentecost Sunday, including the beautiful artwork created by Jenni Cain and the handbell choir.

     ■ Buildings and grounds updated us on some work needed to preserve the stained glass in the sanctuary. It is bowing and some potential solutions were discussed; more information to come. Also under consideration is some additional parking near the front of the office to make access easier.

     ■ Elders will be attending two upcoming meetings for the Presbytery — the June meeting in Spanish Fort and a meeting in Mobile that will focus on change to the Presbyterian Board of Pensions.

     ■ Swift will begin advertising in the Foley Local publication, which includes an article about our church and the ability to publicize Swift events out to the community.

April 2024

Session gathered on April 18 for our monthly meeting, and the Rev. Alexandra Hutson moderated her first meeting. Highlights:

     ■ Approved the display of artifacts from Missionary Vernon Anderson in annex room 2. These can be enjoyed by all and will be housed in a cabinet donated by Julie Seabrook.

     ■ An inventory of the kitchen supplies will be conducted so that we have a good record of the items we have, avoiding excess and unneeded expenses.

     ■ Rev. Hutson shared some ideas about expanding our connection with the Foley community and the preschool families. This will help us build relationships that are at the heart of Swift Church.

March 2024

Session gathered on March 18 for our monthly meeting, moderated by Rev. Jonathan Wallace from Foley First. Highlights for this meeting:

     ■ Thanked Jonathan for helping us over the past several months by moderating our session meetings

     ■ The 2024 budget was modified based on the finalized terms of call from $200,173 to $185,273

     ■ The Rev. Alexandra Hutson’s Sabbath day will be Fridays and her office schedule will be finalized soon, then shared with the congregation

     ■ On Rev. Hutson’s first Sunday, we will have a potluck luncheon after the worship service. Her installation is set for May 19 at 4 p.m.

     ■ Session will begin reviewing the membership roll over the next few months (required by the PCUSA Book of Order).