CHURCH COUNCIL MINUTES -- APRIL 17, 2008

Present: Pastor Joan, Darrell Paske (President), Colleen Both, Sharon Ingvoldstad,
      Donna Trapp,  Tim Bergin, Dean Maier, Carol Smith, Tom Larson and Denny Holmen
Absent: Tami Lueck
Guest: Bob Warneke

Call To Order

• Lighting of the Christ candle
• Praise and thanksgiving
• Columbarium report: Bob Warneke provided  the Council with an update of the Columbarium. Bob indicated there has been a problem with certain parts and he has been working with the vendor to resolve. He has received new parts and the problem will be resolved. To date 36 niches and 25 wall plaques have been sold. Thank you Bob and to all who maintain this wonderful garden. 
  
• Secretary's report: Approved minutes, as written, of our 3/13/2008 meeting. M/S/P (Maier/Trapp).
• Treasurer's report: Approved March 2008 financial report as presented by Treasurer, Tim Bergin. M/S/P (Smith/Holmen).
• Confession and forgiveness
• Strategic Planning Goals: All goals were discussed and the process of goal prioritizing began. To continue in May.
  

New Business

• Darrell explained there is a need to define how members are to submit requests to the Council. The process is defined at the end of this report.
• 50th Anniversary Questionnaire - The LCC 50th anniversary will be celebrated on May 10, 2009. Committee Chair, Sally Hodgson, submitted ideas for the celebration and asked Council for additional input. Council will respond to Sally with their suggestions. Thank you Sally for coordinating this event !
• New phone system proposal - Via memo, Office Manager, Laurie Winters, along with Pastor Joan, appraised us problems with our aging phone system. Problems include dropped calls, inability to transfer calls into voice mail, and calls going directly to voice mail without ringing. Property Chair Tom Larson has visited with vendor “Diversified” regarding a new system. Tom will continue research and report back to Council.   
  

We Present Our Offerings

   Senior Pastor’s report

• Staff – Our new Volunteer Coordinator, Arlene Rice, has begun and is doing a great job, adding several new worship participants already, as well as helping find volunteers for other congregational needs. Arlene is also going through the Time and Talent sheets.
• Retirement/Nursing Home Fund Raiser - Staff team (Clint Baker, Tammy Hedlund, Janet Mayer, Pr. Joan) will bowl on May 5th. Each is to raise a minimum of $50 entry fee. Proceeds go to local retirement/nursing homes.
• Covenant of Conduct - Council reviewed and voted to continue to abide by the covenant. M/S/P (Holmen/Both).
• Call Committee - Have papers for five candidates. Committee will determine interview dates. Committee will have a mock interview on April 24th and present a status report to the congregation on April 27th.
• New members to be received on 4/20. Experiencing cases of families who want to “join without joining.” They love LCC, participate in activities and worship, but don’t want to formally join. Other area pastors are noticing this also.
• Stewardship Committee - Meeting monthly to determine goals and action plan for 2008 and develop a year-round stewardship ministry.
• Administration - Will begin using Communion cards on 4/20. Also, looking into different pew pad sheets which would include Communion and would avoid filling out two forms.
• Synod Assembly - Council voted to contribute $250 to the scholarship fund. M/S/P (Both/Ingvoldstad).
• ELCA Bishops Challenge - The 65 ELCA Synod Bishops decided to tithe the “Economic Stimulus Rebate” issued by the U.S. Government to benefit ministries among people in poverty (“blessed to be a blessing”). They challenge all congregations to do the same.
• Lakes Area ELCA joint worship service - To be held Sunday April 20th at 11:00 a.m. at Forestview Middle School.
• Personal - Thank You for the several days to be with my father and his wife during her critical illness and lung surgery in March. My father could not have managed the stress, meals, transportation and keeping information straight alone. They also don’t have a pastor nearby, so I became the family pastor as well. My father asked me to offer his personal thanks on their behalf.
  

  Congregational Life report

• First aid needs - A recent happening at LCC has opened my eyes to the need for some basic first aid equipment. We need a stretcher or folding cot, a pillow and blanket, cold freezer packs and Ace wraps. Committee Chair will pursue.
• Kitchen Committee - Committee and other helpers did some spring house cleaning. Instruction is needed for people using the dishwasher. For example, it has been run without soap in the dispenser. The instruction sheet was located and re-posted and all cups and glasses were re-washed.
• Rummage sale – Dates are May 2 - 3. Volunteers are needed for sale dates and one week prior to the sale.
• Quilters - Have completed their work until fall. This very loyal core group of women who meet twice a month are led by Doris Calhoon and Bonnie Tangen.
  

  Property report

• Parking lot - Received a bid for re-striping, however plan to investigate seal-coating the driveway before re-striping. Should have cost estimates for our May meeting.
• Spring cleaning - Church grounds will be cleaned by volunteers hopefully before Confirmation, weather permitting.
• Plan to re-do the grass and replace plants/shrubs by the south entrance. North and south narthex doors have been repaired and light bulbs will be replaced in the Celebration Center when a few more burn out (very high ceiling). Thanks to Perry Setterholm for replacing several bulbs. Thank you to the women who cleaned the kitchen. Volunteers are very important to our ongoing maintenance!
  

  Worship and Music report

• Joint ELCA worship - Sunday, April 20th at Forestview Middle School at 11:00 a.m. LCC Senior Choir will participate.
• Pentecost Sunday - May 11th. Special additions to the service are being planned to celebrate this day .
• Choir room cabinets - Installation delayed until at least the end of May.
  

  Outreach report

• World Hunger - Quilts and Quarters World Hunger Appeal on April 13th as a part of the Youth Service. Spare change will go to World Hunger. Also, LCC will contribute a quilt for the upcoming Synod Assembly as part of a silent auction fund-raiser. (Quilt displayed in narthex.)
• Interfaith Hospitality Network - Quilting Day will be held April 14th to make quilts for IHN. Marlene Larson is organizing this. Their goal is to make 20 quilts for our guests. Meeting May 19 at 7:00 p.m. to discuss what we’ve learned during our first year of hosting and how to make our weeks go  even better. Next hosting week is June 29th through July 6th.
• Name badges - Magnetic boards are up. Note in newsletter this Sunday and following weeks telling people they are up and asking everyone to order a name badge. Banner for pin badges will be going up. Will order badges for new members when I get names. Hopefully, will have for New Member Sunday.
  

  Youth report

• Youth Ministry Team - Meet April 20th to discuss National Youth Gathering and revised confirmation curriculum.
• Mission Trip - Fund raising well underway. We are on pace to reach our goals with a number of events scheduled in the coming months. Also, those going on the trip will be doing a six-week bible study and other meetings to prepare for the trip.
• 2008 9th grade confirmation - List of confirmands submitted by Stacy Johnson for approval. Council approved pending individual completion of all requirements. M/S/P (Maier/Smith).

We close 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.

If anyone would like to have something on the Council meeting agenda, they may please submit it in writing addressed to President Paske and delivered to Laurie in the church office no later than one week prior to the monthly Council meeting. The Council meets the second Thursday of the month. If the request is submitted less than one week prior to the next Council meeting, it will be addressed at the following monthly meeting.

Respectfully submitted,
Denny Holmen, secretary