CHURCH COUNCIL -- December 13, 2007

Present: Pastor Joan, Dave Brabec (president), Denny Holmen, Tami Lueck, John
    Wallin, Colleen Both, Darrel Paske, Sharon Ingvoldstad, Mary Backlund, Dean Maier
    and Donna Trapp
Absent: Rachel Flogstad-Heise

Call to order

• Lighting of the Christ candle
• Praise and thanksgiving
• M/S/P (Wallin/Paske) to approve minutes, as written, of our 11/8/2007 meeting.
• Financial report:
• M/S/P (Pr. Joan/Trapp) to consolidate minor funds (Sound System, Undistributed Interest and Video Projector) into a single fund.
• M/S/P (Ingvoldstad/Paske) to approve the November 2007 report.

Reports

   Senior Pastor's report

• Staff - Laurie Winters will be back full time next week! Enormous thanks to Peggy Carlson (who volunteered upwards of 40 hours/week for 5 weeks), Sally Hodgson (newsletters), Cathy Taylor (Sunday bulletins), Annette Frank, Chuck Nielsen and many others who pitched in here and there to keep the office up and running.
• Facilities Coordinator - With the increasing level of activity at LCC, both non-member/
  community and member/congregational, coordinating use of our wonderful facilities is
  becoming more complicated and more time consuming. As we continue to implement our planning goals (support groups, small groups, lifelong learning opportunities, Wed. Night “Church Night”, etc.) coordinating all of this and coordinating it well becomes increasingly important and more complicated. Peggy Carlson has offered to use her good organizational skills for this purpose (non-paid, 5 hours/week, coordinate with and supervised by Office Manager, coordinate a facilities request and reservation process, begin in January 2008). Proposal approved to this point by Pastor Gunderman, Pres. Dave Brabec and Office Manager Laurie Winters. A consistent fee schedule also needs to be developed. M/S/P (Maier/Backlund) to proceed.
• Stewardship Committee - Time and talent “pledge” drive to be conducted in January 2008.
• Confirmation - 8th grade. Consider using Through the Scriptures for remainder of the year (8 class sessions). Help with cost (roughly $350)? Treasurer indicated it will be paid for by special gift.
• Other
  • Synod Personnel Committee - I have been asked to serve on the NE MN Synod Personnel Committee (meet 3 times/year). This committee seeks "to bring uniformity and consistency to Synod personnel matters, as well as bring definition to Synod staff responsibilities, job descriptions, related compensation issues and other related matters." I accepted the invitation.
  • Salary/housing allowance designation for 2008. M/S/P (Wallin/Maier) to accept.
  • Vacation December 26, 27 and Dec. 30. Rachel and local retired pastor/s will be on call.

   Worship and Music report

• Hymnal ribbons have been placed in sanctuary hymnals. Thank you to Carolyn and Roger Macy for donating the supplies, to Carolyn, Colleen Both, Bev Siemens and Karen Boche for constructing them, and to confirmation students for placing them in hymnals.
• Handbell Choir played Christmas carols for residents at Birchwood and Elmwood Samaritan Houses on December 5th. They will play again at Woodland Good Samaritan Nursing Home and Assisted Living on December 19th.
• Youth will lead services on January 13, 2008.
• St. Olaf Choir will be part of the 8:15 service on Jan. 27th. LCC will need to provide housing for some of the choir.
• Choir room storage cabinets - Two bids were obtained. Low bid was from Crow Wing Cabinets ($4,814). We have $1,800 in designated funds, and the Memorial Committee has committed to a contribution of $3,433.32. The Memorial Committee also approved a contribution of $445 for hand chimes. M/S/P (Holmen / Paske) to proceed with cabinets.

   Outreach report

• This week we hosted two families through the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).
• We have done the “Family Christmas” providing for families in need.
• Prayer Shawl Ministry - Have requested assistance from WELCA to purchase supplies.

   Education report

• Children’s Christmas program went very well. Large attendance.
• We will have a Jesus’ Birthday Party on Dec. 16th.
• Christmas VBS will be on Dec. 27th.

   Youth report

• “Regrets Play” - 90 confirmands attended the play at Lord Of Life church in Baxter. Very positive message about school violence.
• Christmas caroling scheduled for next week.
• Mission trip news - Over 21 young people have signed up with 3-4 chaperones. Fundraising is underway. Bake sale and lefse raised over $600 on Dec. 9th. Living Nativity is planned for Dec. 16th. Both qualify for Thrivent Financial matching funds.

   Personnel Committee report

• Staff reviews have been completed.

   Congregational Life report

• We need volunteers for WELCA President, for rummage sale coordinators, two couples for Lenten supper coordinators, and “Fifty Plus” coordinators for 2008.

   Property report

• Snow plowing - Max Crider will plow around the Church and the overflow area. The speed bump area is still up for further discussion. Lois Jensen has indicated that the Crossroads board approved an agreement where their snow removal person will also plow the 300' X 30' of the Church lot that connects them to the Smiley service drive.
• Organ work has been completed. Cathy Taylor and Laura Raedeke have started a list of items that may need fine tuning at a later date.
• Flood light - Minn. Power will install by next week a 400 watt flood light near the south and east entrance to the parking lot. The cost will be $18.72 per month including installation, upkeep and replacement parts.
• Safety lift - Replaced battery.
• Wishing Well - Brought in over $750 to date for the Uganda project.
• Signs - Two signs will be installed to give direction to the central office. One sign will be installed above the office door, and the other sign, with an arrow below it, will be placed under the main hallway ceiling to indicate the direction to the central office.
• Annual fire inspection will be done by Northland Fire Co.
• Event Coordinator - Discussion was held in 2004 and position tabled. Discussion followed regarding event scheduling and fee schedules.
• Forms have been created to facilitate signing out chairs and tables.
• Choir room storage units - See “Worship and Music” report.

Old Business

• Call Committee (Matt Karlgaard, chair) has met with Pastor Scott Jacobs, Assistant to the Bishop, who walked us through the call process. The first step is to complete a congregational profile which Pastor Jacobs will use in selecting candidates for us to interview. We plan to complete the profile on Dec. 15th. As soon as we have the congregational survey results, both will be sent to Pastor Jacobs. We are targeting end-of-year to accomplish this. We have received the Meyers/Briggs tests and upon         completing them, we will meet with Pastor Chuck Carlson for test interpretation. Some of the church staff will also be taking the test. Interpretation will likely be in late January. Peggy Carlson is putting together a “Chamber of Commerce” folder for each candidate with information about businesses, schools, real estate and other aspects of lake living.
• Name tags - 154 have signed up and donations of $98 have been received.

New Business

• 2008 budget - Council members have submitted budget requests to the Treasurer.
• M/S/P (Maier/Backlund) to schedule the second half of the annual meeting for January 20, 2008, at 9:30 a.m.

We close, as always, with prayer, giving thanks and asking for guidance. All are welcome at Council meetings. Approved minutes and approved financial reports are available in the church office to any member upon request.

Respectfully submitted,
Denny Holmen, Secretary