Summary of meeting held May 20, 2005

Present: Suzanne Johnson, Linda McGee, Mike & Helen Lenahan, Joe & Laurie Solaas, Ralph & Gwen Seng, Edgar Gumban, Jean Carr and Carlene Inzer

Officers Absent: Werner Rose, Diocesan Liaison and Velera Faison, Secretary

The meeting was opened at 7:15 with Prayer and Song led by Joe Solaas.

Assistant Liaison Report

Suzanne Johnson reported that 70 to 80 people attended the Pentecost celebration held at St. Ann, Bartlett on May 15^th, 2005 and $112.55 was collected in the offering for the event. The music, which was led by Kevin Stockbridge and youth from the Church of the Nativity, was very good and uplifting. However, no songbooks were used because the page numbers were not announced. Some people expressed concern that not everyone knew all of the songs, and it was difficult for those attending to sing without music. Also, the music posed a problem for those in our charismatic community who do not speak English well and are unfamiliar with English praise songs.  Although, Suzanne noted, they were able to join in during the praising in tongues.

Discussion followed on how we can make the music at future events better serve our multi-cultural charismatic community. Mike Lenahan said for the next Diocesan event we could make the music multi-cultural by incorporating some Spanish-English songs. Edgar Gumban suggested that perhaps we could use three different choirs (Anglo, Hispanic, and Filipino) and rotate the music.

Secretary Report

Laurie Solaas read the minutes of the April meeting. The minutes were corrected to reflect that a $70.00 check was sent to Church of the Resurrection.  Suzanne asked for someone to make a motion to accept the minutes. Joe Solaas made the motion and Helen Lenahan seconded it. The minutes were approved as corrected.

Treasurer Report

Linda McGee reported that we had $40.59 in the bank before the addition of the Pentecost money.

Suzanne suggested we give $25.00 to Deacon Larker for helping with the exposition of the Blessed Sacrament at the Pentecost celebration. Mike Lenahan suggested we give $40.00 to the St. Ann Church for the use of the facility.

Alive in The Spirit Seminar

Mike and Helen Lenahan gave a report on an Alive in the Spirit Seminar that was given for leaders and sponsored by the Diocese of Arkansas Charismatic Renewal. Ramona Neumann, from the Thetokos House of Prayer in St. Louis, led the seminar, which was held in April in Eureka Springs.  During the weekend retreat, Mike and Helen learned details about Alive in the Spirit and Born in the Spirit Seminars.  The Born in the Spirit Seminar is an introduction to living a life in the Spirit. The Alive in the Spirit Seminar is geared to be given anywhere from 8 -12 weeks after the first seminar to facilitate continued growth in the Spirit. The seminars are written from a Catholic perspective, using Catholic language, with references to documents of the Catholic Church.  The talks are written out and designed to be read verbatim, making the seminars user- friendly, with no witness talks.  The seminars are an easy way to do Life in the Spirit/Growth in the Spirit, because an eight or nine member team, consisting of approximately three speakers and six table facilitators can facilitate the seminars. Each seminar can be done in five 1-1/2 hour segments, using facilitator manuals, which cost $6.00 each, and participant booklets, which cost $1.50 each. Each session blends a balance of teaching, experience, discussion and reflection.

Mike and Helen will facilitate an Alive in the Spirit Seminar at Resurrection Church on August 6^th and 7^th, for the DSC and prayer group leaders.

St. John parish has expressed an interest in having a parish-wide Life in the Spirit Seminar. Mike and Helen will call Fr. Matthew Joseph, after the Seminar is given to leaders, to discuss the possibility of doing a Born in the Spirit Seminar at St. John. This would possibly be followed by a Born in the Spirit Seminar at Resurrection Parish, and then a combined Alive in the Spirit Seminar for both parishes.

Helen will also contact Ramona Neumann, who has offered to come to Memphis and give a three hour training session for facilitators at no charge.

Life in the Spirit Seminar

Edgar Gumban reported that a Life in the Spirit Seminar for Families, sponsored by Holy Family Catholic Charismatic Prayer Group, will be held at St Ann Church Bartlett, Trinity Hall on June 17 from 6:30 to 9:00 pm and on June 18, 2005 from 9 am to 4 pm. Fr. Leonardo Polinar from the Philippines will lead the Seminar, and conduct a Healing Mass after the Saturday Session.  It was decided that we would not have a Diocesan Service Committee meeting in June because of the Family Life in the Spirit Seminar.

Miscellaneous Discussion

Jean Carr suggested that, since so many people are unfamiliar with the Renewal, we should place brochures in the pamphlet racks in all the churches in the diocese.

Mike Lenahan brought posters for the Arkansas Catholic Charismatic Conference, to be held in North Little Rock the weekend of July 29-31.  The theme is "Be My Disciple...Bear Much Fruit"  John 15:8 & 16.

Carlene said that the Nashville Conference will be held the weekend before that; July 22-24.

Suzanne said that, from now on, she is going to send the Agenda for upcoming DSC meetings to the entire e-mail list, as everyone is welcome to attend and join in the discussion of any topic listed.

The next Diocesan Service Committee meeting is scheduled for July 15, 2005 at 7:00 pm.

One-Sentence Definition of Renewal

Suzanne challenged everyone attending the July Diocesan Service Committee meeting to bring a one-sentence definition of the Charismatic Renewal to the meeting. The meeting was adjourned at 9:11 with prayer.

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