CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- March 8, 2007

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

Call to order: 7:05 p.m.

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

Secretary's report:

• Approval of Last month's minutes after minor changes. M/S/P (Ingvoldstad/Both).

Financial report:

• Approval of January and February Financial Statements. M/S/P (Maier/Pastor Chris).

Reports:

    Senior Pastor

• Staff Retreat 3/13/07 (10:00 - 2:00) at Grandview. Renewing staff Covenant, devotions, Bible study and prayer. Discussion of Pastor Karen Bockelman's presentation and Strategic Planning.
• Pending interview - Director of Volunteer Ministries.
• Council and Children's Ministry directors installation March 25th (beginning of both services).
• Working on starting a "Befriender's Ministry." There will be a presentation by Carol Rodseth of Lord of Life Lutheran (March 25th at 9:30) that we are encouraging members to attend. From comments received, there appears to be a real need in LCC for this type of ministry.
• Sunday, April 15th (11:00 a.m.) Senior Choir will be singing at the joint ELCA Brainerd Lakes Worship Service. Members will be encouraged to attend even though we will be holding normally scheduled services at church. One Pastor here and one attending the joint service.
• Strategic planning. First event April 14 - 15:
  • April 14 - All day retreat with council and Strategic Planning Task Force.
  • April 14 - Evening: entire congregation potluck and historical reflection.
  • April 15 - Strategic Planning Task Force and Pastors.
• Vacation - March 16 - 25.

    Associate Pastor

• Thank you to all who wrote and helped assemble the Lenten devotionals.
• Thank you to Confirmation small groups helping serve Lenten suppers.
• 9th grade retreat to Luther Crest cancelled due to blizzard.
• 9th grade Confirmation students preparing for Rite of Confirmation on 4/22.
• First Communion instruction for 5th graders proceeding well. Fifteen of 17 students participating. Many thanks to Dan and Annette Frank, Kate Carlson and Peggy Carlson for their help.
• Bible postcards being mailed weekly. Feedback is positive.
• Thank you to Peggy Carlson and friends for continued work implementing the First Third Of Life Emphasis.
• Sixth graders will spend most of their spring rotation preparing to lead worship on 5/13 at the 10:30 service.
• Peggy Carlson will be a session presenter at the March "Lay Leader Extravaganza."
• Men's Retreat at Camp Knutson very worthwhile. Great presentations by Prof. Jim Nestingen along with our own Chuck Nielsen and Jerry Williams. We used the "Compline" service from the new red hymnal. Some 14-15 men attended from our congregation. (Approximately 50 attended from Brainerd/Baxter churches.)

    Worship and Music

• Sunday, March 25th, the St. John's Boy's Choir will sing at both services. Housing may be needed for up to 30 boys for Saturday night. Sunday School children and parents are encouraged to attend services.
• Good Friday Service (April 6th at 7:00 p.m.) The Senior Choir will present "Tenebrae, a Service of Darkness," a collection of songs and readings. We encourage the congregation to enter the sanctuary in "prayerful silence" for this service.
• The Easter Vigil will start at 8:00 p.m. on Saturday, April 7th.
• ELCA Brainerd Lakes Worship Service (April 15th at 11:00 a.m. at Forestview Middle School). Sarah Aamot-Lundin will direct a mass choir. Choir rehearsal is planned for Wednesday, April 11th at 7:00 p.m. at Forestview school. Our choir will be a part of this service.
• The summer service schedule (8:00, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.) will begin on Memorial Day weekend and run through Labor Day weekend.
• "Learning and Sharing Day" at the Northeastern MN Synod Assembly in Duluth will be May 5th (9:30-3:30 p.m.). Emphasis will be on worship with keynote speakers Pastor Susan Briehl and musician Marty Haugen. Pastor Joan has registration forms.

    Education

• "Easter Path" celebration was very well received with at least 50 children and adults participating.

    Youth

• Weather-related cancellations:
  • Cancelled 9th grade Confirmation Retreat. Cannot be rescheduled before Confirmation Sunday.
  • Cancelled Sr. High serving at the Soup Kitchen.
• Expect to have an impromptu movie night for those not going on spring break.
• Synod-sponsored Youth Ministry 101 instruction is this weekend in McGregor. Stacy Johnson is an instructor and three youth team members will attend.
• The youth did an excellent job conducting youth worship last Sunday. Thank you! There were many positive comments. The Seniors indicate they may want to schedule one more youth-led service before graduation.

    Congregational Life

• Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) - a DVD is available for training purposes.
• The Committee wants to promote CPR training.
• "New Member Committee" needs a chairperson.
• Committee is working on the ministries booklet.

    Outreach -- the Interfaith Hospitality Network

• Conducted an information meeting at LCC for interested volunteers. Approximately 35 attended and approximately 70 are interested in volunteering! Positions filled:
  1. Co-Chairs: Jane Nemitz and Colleen Both.
  2. Set up and take down - Harold and Chrisa Kraus.
  3. Food - Ron and Sandy Thorson.
  4. Transportation - Keith Both.
  5. Overnight Coordinator - Dick Peterson.
• Jane, Chrisa, Dick, JoAnne Dayton, Keith and Colleen attended an information meeting on 2/12/07. We met Richard Mettler and staff and some of the volunteers from Lord of Life.
• The contract is signed. We are working on defining our first week of hosting. We will have no more than 18 guests or six families. If we have more than four families we will have to use Chapel Hall.
• Jane and Colleen will begin meeting with coordinators. First meeting will be with Food Coordinators from LCC and Lord of Life.
• Watch Sunday bulletins for requests for items needed (bedding, etc.).  

Old business:

• Pastor Karen Bockelman presentation - discussion.
• Strategic planning - discussion.

New business:

• Discussion regarding questions submitted by a congregational member.

We go out in God's name:

• We closed, as always, with prayer, giving thanks and asking for guidance.
• Adjourn . . M,S,P (Pastor Chris/Mary Backlund).

Respectfully submitted,
Denny Holmen, secretary