CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- April 12, 2007

Present: Pastor Joan, Pastor Chris, Dave Brabec (president), Darrell Paske, Denny
    Holmen, Tami Lueck, Donna Trapp, Colleen Both, Dean Maier, John Wallin and
    Mary Backlund.
Absent: Sharon Ingvoldstad.

Call to order: 7:05 p.m.

• Lighting of the Christ Candle.
• Praise and Thanksgiving.

Secretary's report:

• Approved minutes of March 8, 2007 meeting. M/S/P (Pastor Chris/Donna Trapp).

Financial report:

• Following discussion, approved March financial statement M/S/P (Holmen/Maier).

Reports:

    Senior Pastor

• Commendation of all staff personnel for their excellent work, particularly Holy Week (Palm Sunday - Easter Vigil on Saturday) and Easter Sunday. Many positive comments. We are blessed with a hard working and dedicated staff. We proclaimed the gospel of Jesus Christ to nearly 1000 people Easter morning alone!
• The new Director of Volunteer Ministries Lori Dooley began work on April 3rd.
• Laurie Winters, Office Manager, prepared mailing of offering envelopes in March. If USPS had prepared the mailing, the cost would have been $870.75. As a result of Laurie's hard work, the cost was $184.85.
• Children's Ministry Directors need more office space. Agreement was made with the Financial Secretary and Director of Volunteer Ministries to exchange offices with the Children's Ministries Directors.
• Burglary restitution: All congregations robbed participated in the Lakes Area Restorative Justice Program. Perpetrators met with pastors/representatives to hear about effects of the robberies (monetary, physical, emotional). Opportunity for perpetrators to explain, apologize. Churches had input to their sentences and terms of restitution. LCC asked for $500 to cover the cost of insurance deductible and additional damage restitution of $125 plus 20 hours (each boy) of community service at Camp Confidence.
• Strategic Planning: We discussed the list of Task Force members committed to date: Pastor Gunderman, Pastor Meier, Colleen Both (Council), Jon Aga (Youth), Duane Blanck, and Rick Jensen. Pastor Roy Oswald, facilitator, will meet with Council Saturday 4/14 (9 a.m. to 4 p.m.). Congregational potluck and Evening of Historical Reflection Saturday evening (6:30 to 9:00). Council will provide extra food for 50-Plus group returning from the Chanhassen Theater. Roy Oswald will meet with the Task Force Sunday (noon to 3 p.m.).
• Lakes Area Joint ELCA Worship Celebration will be held Sunday 4/15 at 11:00 a.m. at Forestview Middle School. Pastor Chris will represent LCC pastors. Regular worship schedule at LCC.
• Coffee Hour "Godspeed and Farewell" for Jerry Williams - Sunday, April 29th. Jerry is moving to Northfield the week of May1. Many thanks to Jerry for the extensive               and generous sound and recording ministry he has provided to LCC over his years of membership with us.

    Associate Pastor

• The Rite of Confirmation will be held April 22nd . Students were recommended for Confirmation. Action taken to accept the recommended students: M,S,P (Both/Maier). Congratulations to all Confirmands! Confirmation rehersal will be Wednesday evening 4/18 at 6:45. Ninth graders and parents are encouraged to attend.
• First Communion was well attended by students and parents. Thanks to Dan and Annette Frank, Kate Carlson, Peggy Carlson, Tammi Hedlund and Janet Mayer for all their good work. It was greatly appreciated! (95 RSVPs for 5th grade dinner).
• Knutson wedding 4/21.
• Youth worship 4/29.
• Synod convention 5/4.
• Sixth graders leading worship 5/13.        

    Worship and Music

• Thank you to all who helped with the many services during Holy Week into Easter Sunday.
• Service attendance:
  • Maundy Thursday: 164
  • Good Friday: 210
  • Easter Vigil: 42
  • Easter Sunday: 988.
• A LCC member requested a donation of at least 25 green LBW hymnals to Bethesda Lutheran in Malmo. They are growing and need more LBWs but do not have the funds to purchase them.The worship committee recommends that the hymnals be donated. Vote to donate - M,S,P (Wallin/Backlund).
• A WELCA member requested that 200 copies of "With One Voice" be kept for the WELCA gathering next fall.
• Youth service and hymn sing will be on Sunday April 29th.
• "For Beginners Only" handbell ringing classes will be held Wednesday evenings in June for high school age to adult. Participants will be taught the basics of handbell ringing.

    Education

• Volunteer Appreciation Dinner - Thursday, May 10th. Appreciation dinner for anyone who has contributed to the Sunday School year. Tammi and Janet ask that Council members also attend and bring a dish for dinner.
• Vacation Bible School: Avalanche Ranch - June 11-15. M,S,P (Backlund/Wallin) that there will be no fee for attending VBS, however, donations are welcome.
• July 9-12: Luther Crest Day Camp.
• Children's Ministry Team is meeting monthly. Next meeting is April 15th at 8:30 a.m.
• Mother's Day - big day for Sunday School - children will be making crafts.
• Three weeks for current rotation.
• May 20th is Spring Jamboree.

    Youth

• Easter Breakfast : Very well attended. Net profit - Just over $800. Will get matching funds.
• Youth will conduct worship - April 29th. The youth asked to do one more service before the end of the school year.
• A few youth may go to "Previews" at Luther Seminary. Designed to introduce high school students to Luther.
• BWCA canoe trip - July 11th - registration almost filled. Fund raising is going very well. We will start the stock sales at the end of the month.
• Confirmation Day - April 22nd. End of year Confirmation picnic will be April 18th.
• Sr. High bible study (6 weeks) begins Wed. May 2nd. Will incorporate some North Carolina mission trip preparation.
• Youth Ministry Team meeting - May 6th - planning for the coming year .

    Property

• Proposed "Bistro" restaurant - old Brainerd Realty building next to Smiley Road and Crossroads. Pastor Joan and Property Chair John Wallin attended the Nisswa Planning Commission meeting. Requests by the Crossroads community and LCC were taken into consideration and will be positively acted upon by the applicant.
• Parsonage - Occupancy changes have occurred. Rent payments are up-to-date. Discussion followed regarding potential updates to the property.  
• Organ - Johnson Organ Company will be here in July to make the organ fully functional. Cost - Approximately $12,500.
• Discussion - Potential need for speed control bumps along the north/south drive to church. Discussion will resume at our next meeting.
• Paraments - Hangers are under construction.

    Outreach

• Interfaith Hospitality Network.
  • Outreach Chair attended a Host Coordinator meeting on April 9th.
  • Lakewood and Temple Baptist presented very positive reports regarding their hosting weeks. Must have fire inspection by the State Fire Marshall. John Wallin will pursue this.
  • Kick-off celebration at Forestview school - April 22nd (2 p.m.). Need people there.
• "Complaint Free America" - a very interesting initiative where members strive to be complaint free for 21 consecutive days. Initiated by the pastor of a Kansas City church. Further discussion to follow at next month's meeting.

Old business:

• Discussion of Constitution & Bylaws (when updates are completed, John Wallin recommended they be presented to the congregation).
• Discussion of Strategic Planning and Interfaith Hospitality Network.

New business:

• Bistro - further discussion.
• Volunteer Coordinator - vote to accept the Personnel Committee recommendation to hire Lori Dooley for the position. M,S,P (Wallin/Backlund).

We go out in God's name:

• We closed, as always, with prayer, giving thanks and asking for guidance.
• Adjourn . . M,S,P (Maier/Paske).

All are welcome at council meetings. Approved minutes and approved financial reports are available in the church office.

Respectfully submitted,
Denny Holmen, secretary