CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- October 11, 2007

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

Call To Order

• Lighting of the Christ Candle.
• Praise and Thanksgiving
• Secretary's report: Approved minutes, as written, of our 9/13/2007 meeting. M/S/P (Backlund/Trapp).
• Financial report: Approved September 2007 report. M/S/P (Holmen/Both).

Confession and Forgiveness

Reports

   Senior Pastor's report

• Staff - Annual reviews are under way. Personnel Committee is participating.
• Discussed phone system concerns from Office Manager.
• Stewardship Committee - Commitment Sunday is Nov. 18th.
• Wedding coordinators - We now require a wedding coordinator for each wedding at LCC. Currently, there are four active coordinators: Nancy Phillips, Renee Erickson, Laurie Winters and Lori Dooley. We are currently NOT booking any non-member weddings.
• Temporary Pastoral Assistant - Pastor Scott Jacobs (Ass't. to the Bishop) has recommended Rachel Flogstead-Heise of Little Falls. She is an Associate in Ministry (seminary educated and certified professional lay minister) waiting for a call in the NE Minnesota Synod. She was Interim Pastor for one year at Bethel Lutheran/Little Falls. Bishop Strommen would authorize her to do sacraments at LCC. Model contract is for nine months, renewable if necessary with 30-day notice termination rights for each party. Interview with Senior Pastor (5:00) and with Council (7:00) Oct. 17th.
• Call Committee - We have received several submissions. Deadline is Monday, Oct. 15th. The congregational meeting to elect a Call Committee will be on Sunday, October 28th, at 9:30 a.m.
• Annual congregational meeting, Part 1 - Elections - Sunday, Nov. 18, 9:30 a.m. Nominating Committee: Kari Campion, Marvel Ring and Wes Anderson. Discussed congregational input from cottage meetings about two people running per position; urged doing so as much as possible. Suggestions of possible nominees are to go to the Nominating Committee.
• Continuing Education - "Intentional Ministry Conference" sponsored by the NE Minn. Synod, Sunday afternoon, Oct. 21, through Tuesday, Oct. 23, at Holiday Inn, Baxter. Pastors at current call for three years or less have been encouraged to attend.

   Worship and Music report - Committee met Sept. 23 and discussed:

• Wednesday evening service - Cheryl Pedersen and Mark Swenson presented to council a proposal for Wednesday evening activities to include a worship service, asking the Worship Committee for assistance in implementing a service. The Task Force will develop a survey to determine parent/student interest in a Wednesday evening service with the goal of offering a service starting in January.
• LBW hymnals and "With One Voice" hymnals are available for members to take home for personal use.
• Hymnal markers - Ribbons are being constructed to place in hymnals as page markers.
• Banners - Jerry Raedeke is working on designs for new banners for the sanctuary.
• Reformation/All Saints Sundays - Reformation Sunday is October 28th and All Saints Sunday is November 4th. There will be an All Saints evening service in the Memorial Garden.
• "Deck the Halls" Advent service - This service for Holy Communion was presented by Pastor Joan and is planned for services on December 2nd, the First Sunday in Advent. Families will be asked again this year to light the Advent wreath.
• Senior Choir Christmas choral selections will be presented on Sunday, December 16th, at both services.
• Christmas Eve services will be held at 3:00, 5:00, 7:00 and 10:30 p.m.
• The committee will next meet on Sunday, October 28th, between services.

   Education report

• Sunday School - Approximately 80 children are enrolled with 20 volunteers assisting each Sunday morning.
• Children's Ministry - Directors are submitting requests to the Memorial Garden Committee and to WELCA for a video projector (for Power Point presentations) and for shelving/cabinet in the Children's Ministry office.
• Upcoming events
• Pajama party - Sunday, October 21st, during the Sunday School hour (MEA break).
• Fall Festival - Saturday, October 27th, from 1-4 p.m. in the Celebration Center.
• Advent Festival - Sunday, December 2nd, from 9-11 a.m. in the Celebration Center.
• Christmas Program - Sunday, December 9th, 10:30 a.m. service.
• First Third of Life - Distribution of preschool Bibles (ages 2-3) on October 28th with a "Messy Brunch" for the children and their families.
• Uganda well project - Special thank you to John Wallin for making the well. Children are actively bringing their offerings to the wishing well each Sunday. Calendar and greeting card sales are going well. Our goal is to raise $1,000.
• Christmas shoe box project - The Children's Ministry team will lead the project. Tammy and Janet are waiting for supplies and will be asking children and adults to fill one shoebox with needed items. We will also be asking for monetary donations for shipping costs.

   Property report

• Uganda well project - The property chair constructed and donated a 6' x 2 ½' cedar wishing well. Money collected from children and adults will help fund a water well in a Ugandan village.
• Organ - The property chair, Carolyn Blanck and Tammy Hedlund helped Mike Johnson install the remodeled pipe chest and pipes. Mike will return later this month or in November to complete work providing a fully functional organ.     
• Folding machine - After many frustrating calls and repair visits, the machine is finally functioning well. A billing mix-up has also been resolved.
• Remodeled classrooms - Tom Erickson has volunteered to look into providing more outlets in the remodeled downstairs classroom.
• Property chair vacancy - As the outgoing chairperson, it is important to me that we strive to have more than one candidate on the ballot for each vacancy. It is important that the property chair will have the ability to lead and organize volunteer workers and also the part-time staff to help maintain the property inside and outside.

   Congregational Life report

• Heartland Conference Fall Gathering of WELCA - Thank you to all who help plan and facilitate this conference, which was held on October 9th. Forty-seven women from LCC attended, many of whom also served in some capacity during the day. Carolyn Blanck and Jane Nemitz planned the event and Carolyn very ably guided us through it in Jane's absence. The program included Pastor Joan and Pastor Jerry Raedeke. It was just great!
• Pastor Chris' farewell - Thanks to the committee that organized the farewell for Pastor Chris and his family. It was well done and very well attended.
• The Kitchen Committee met October 4th and is in the process of reorganizing. Maureen Johnson is the new chair.
• Supper Club is getting organized for the winter and spring, led by Kate Carlson.

   Outreach report - Interfaith Hospitality Network

• We are in need of a new IHN chairperson. Please contact Colleen Both if interested.
• The IHN program is up and running and is currently being utilized by six families (15 guests).
• We plan to host 18 guests during our next hosting week of December 9-16.  

   Youth report

• A youth trip to Duluth is scheduled for Thursday, October 18th. It will include a service project in the morning and a visit to a state park in the afternoon. Response has been outstanding.
• Youth-led worship is scheduled for Sunday, October 13th. Youth will be in charge of all aspects of the service. They have expressed an interest in continuing to do these.
• Summer senior high trip planning has started. The youth have chosen the Blackfeet Indian Reservation in Montana from several options. The trip will be scheduled for July 15 - August 2, 2008.

Old Business

• No action items.

New Business

• Set the annual congregational meeting , Part 1, election of officers, for November 18th. M/S/P (Backlund/Lueck).
• Facility (kitchen) rental request - Request was from a "for profit" business. Requests are only considered from "non-profit" entities. Request was denied. M/S/P (Holmen/Trapp).
• Newsletter by E-mail - We discussed giving members the option of receiving the newsletter via E-Mail, which would save both paper and money.

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