CHURCH COUNCIL HIGHLIGHTS -- June 14, 2007

We Celebrate Our Past:

1. Approved minutes of our May 10/May 17 meeting. M/S/P (Backlund/Trapp).
2. Approved the May financial statement. M/S/P (Maier/Holmen).
3. Welcomed visitor Bob Warneke to the meeting.

We Present Our Offerings:

  1. Senior Pastor's report

• Strategic Planning update:
• The Task Force has drawn up 25 possible goals based upon input and data that has been gathered. Goals are categorized as follows:
• Growth area 1: Strengths to build on.
• Growth area 2: Aspects of our congregation that need to be fixed.
• Growth area 3: Mission to our communities.
• Growth area 4: Aspirations for the next 4-5 years.
• The Task Force is also generating a list of ideas and thoughts from cottage meetings that aren't "goal" material but are of interest to pastors and council. When completed, this will be shared with council for consideration.
• Next steps: Possible goals will be sent to the entire congregation the week of June 17th for a time of prayer and discernment. Members may call council members to express support or lack of support for certain goals.
• Third Weekend - July 28-29 - MARK YOUR CALENDARS NOW!
• July 28. . Saturday retreat with up to 50 key leaders (formal and informal) to choose six-to-eight "S.M.A.R.T" goals which will determine the congregation's energy and resources for the next four years. ("S.M.A.R.T" goals are Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Timely.) Besides council, staff, Task Force and other lay leaders of congregational ministries (such as WELCA, Children's Ministry Team, Youth Ministry adult advisory group, 50-Plus, Prayer Chain, Worship and Music committee), as with all of the events of this process, any member who is interested in being a part of this process is not only invited but encouraged to participate. These final 6-8 goals are turned over to council for implementation after this weekend.
• July 29. . Sunday congregational light meal after late service. First hour - Q & A. Second hour - members select one goal and, in small groups, offer insights and input for attaining that goal.
• Strategic Planning Task Force drafts, tests and rewrites 3-4 times a new mission statement.
• The Task Force is thanked and dismissed. Task Force can meet every six months to monitor how chosen goals are proceeding towards fulfillment, and may challenge council when one of the goals is not getting the attention it needs from council.
• Received "2nd Mile Giving" of $2,000 in April and $4,000 in June for Strategic Planning for a total of $6,000.
• Special event: "Synchronized Shopping Cart Brigade" - July 3rd - Nisswa Freedom Parade. Fun event! LCC members parade with shopping carts to gather food and cash donations for the food shelf. Contact volunteer organizers Cathy Taylor and Jean Kraft to participate.
• Stewardship Committee: We will be starting earlier this year, to plan a more comprehensive stewardship emphasis.
• Worship and Music: Gathering in July for several hours to do longer-range planning for worship, beginning this fall.
• Staff "Check-ins" in July with newer staff: Tammy Hedlund, Janet Mayer, Lori Dooley.
• LCC 50th Anniversary - May 2009. Sally Hodgson has agreed to chair the planning committee. We will meet to begin sketching out desired events, etc. Ideas are welcome!
• Vacation/Continuing Education:
  • June 18-21 - "Let The River Flow" Senior Pastor event, Burnsville, MN.
  • Pastor-on-loan at Luther Crest Women's Week, June 25-28 (teaching).

  2. Associate Pastor's report

• VBS: 91 children attended and 53 volunteers assisted. This is a 50% increase in attendance from last year. Great organization and implementation! Tammy Hedlund and Janet Mayer are to be commended
• Luther Crest Day Camp (K-6th) second week of July. Will begin registrations after VBS.
• Met with Assistant Superintendent Steve Razidlo to discuss current and future challenges to ISD 181 and how LCC might be of assistance (part of Strategic Planning Task Force work).
• Much time spent with Strategic Planning Task Force.
• Fun book reading group for "Three Cups of Tea" with great conversation about faith, life and blessings.
• "Summer Stretch" started today - 16 Jr. High participants (double from last year).
• Summer Sr. High Bible Study w/Stacy Johnson has a tremendous turnout.
• Planning a Sr. High camping trip to Itasca State Park the last three days of July (29-31).
• Looking forward to IHN week beginning Sunday. Happy to help with breakfasts.
• Congratulations to Jonathan Aga for receiving the highest Boy Scout award, the rank of Eagle Scout.
• Current parsonage status - observations and discussion.

  3. Outreach

• Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN) starts June 17th. One person is expected as of noon today. Two people are needed to stay overnight on June 23rd. Asking for volunteers.
• Bridges of Hope: E-mail received indicating an elderly couple from Brainerd is in need of help. E-mail has gone to many churches. M/S/P (Meier/Ingvoldstadt) to contribute $200 from the Good Samaritan Fund.

  4. Worship and Music

• Paraments: New red paraments were on the altar on Pentecost Sunday. Green Pentecost paraments are in the design/construction phase.
• Bob Warneke of the Memorial Garden Committee has requested that the yearly Memorial Day and All Saint's Day worship opportunities in the garden become a matter of record that we do as a congregation annually, not just a Memorial Garden Committee event. In this way, we would have it on the church/worship calendar every year.
• Beginners handbell class: Six LCC members participating this month.
• ELW: New liturgy being introduced during worship this month.
• Guest musicians during July worship will be David Teie on cello (July 8th) and Harmony Engineers (July 22nd).
• Hymnal and songbook storage: Our committee discussed having cabinets/shelves built in the choir room. More discussion to follow.
• Next committee meeting: July 6th for extended planning for Pentecost.
• Committee chair will attend a handbell choir director's seminar in Bemidji in August.
• Bob Warneke requested that prior to any event involving the Memorial Garden, that the Memorial Garden Committee be contacted. Committee members are Bob Warneke, Caroline Qualey and Darrell Paske. Council considers this request very appropriate.
• If Memorial Garden funds are requested/received, the Memorial Garden Committee requests that they need not acquire council approval each time. The committee will contact Pastor Joan or Pastor Chris regarding each event. A motion was passed facilitating this request. M/S/P (Both/Meier).

  5. Youth

• "Summer Stretch": Stacy Johnson directs this program for LCC. Sixteen youth (8th - 9th grade) are participating. A service project is done in the morning, followed by lunch, bible study and "fun" time. Conducted every Thursday through July except for the week of July 4th. This is a nationwide program.

  6. Congregational Life

• "Ministry Opportunities" handbook is underway.
• Prayer Chain is led by Ann Lanz. Currently 43 persons are on the chain.
• "Hotdish Ministry": Joan Lofgren has volunteered to assist Barb Peterson with leadership of this committee.
• New Member committee: Chairmanship is passing from the Warnekes to the Krafts.
• Blood Bank will be held Sept. 5th (p.m.) and Sept. 6th (a.m.).
• WELCA is preparing for the Fall Heartland Conference to be held Oct. 9th.

Old Business: Constitution/bylaws update - in progress.

New Business:

• Fire Protection proposal: M/S/P (Paske/Both) "to install smoke detection in the Celebration Center, chapels 1,2,3, choir room (2) and in the southeast hall (3)." Total cost: $2,874.36 to be paid from the Capital Improvement Fund.
• Safety Task Force: Dave Brabec recommended establishing a task force. Dave will initiate the process.  

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