COUNCIL MINUTES -- MAY 8, 2008

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

Call To Order

We Celebrate Our Past

• Approved minutes, as written, of our 4/17/2008 meeting. M/S/P (Bergin/Maier).
• Approved April 2008 financial report as presented by Tim Bergin, treasurer. M/S/P (Holmen/Smith).
  

Strategic Planning Goals

• Council will focus on the following goals:
1. Church ministries: Increase the number of members actively participating in church ministries.
2. Lifelong learning: Encourage lifelong learning, develop a schedule of Bible studies with a variety of lengths, formats and difficulty.
3. Small group ministry: Establish small group ministry based on Bible study, prayer, relationship-building, mission/ministry.

New Business

• President Paske received correspondence from a member. He responded asking for clarification via mail or attendance at the June council meeting.

Old Business

• Phone system problems - Considerable problems are being experienced with the current phone system. Subsequent to discussion, council passed this motion: Office Manager Laurie Winters is to bring in a vendor to evaluate the current system and identify the problems. If the current system is not repairable, council authorizes setting aside $5,000 for a new system. M/S/P (Maier/Lueck).

We Present Our Offerings

   Senior Pastor’s report

• Staff - Staff retreat May 13th (11:00 - 3:00) at Grandview (donated cabin).
• Call committee - Interviews have begun!
• Administration - Pew pad sheets, communion cards or a single combined form will be used to record communion participation. As a result, we will be able to refine the active membership roles.
• 50th anniversary - Received a second request from Sally Hodgson to complete and return questionnaires.
• Synod assembly
  
1. From Bishop Strommen's (NE Minnesota Synod) report:
1. "Healthiest congregations are those focused on MISSION."
2. "Does the congregation understand and aspire to its mission?"
3. "Is the congregation willing to change in order to do it?"
4. Stewardship challenges:
1. Of the earth
2. Out of control debt in households
3. Competing claims on resources: larger number of people now living 80-90 years, and poor facing greater challenges than any time since the Depression
4. "We are not a poor church! $2.25 billion given to the ELCA; another $2.25 billion sitting in 'rainy day' and/or endowment funds in ELCA congregations
5. Importance of prayer, small groups and many christian service opportunities
2. Election of new Bishop - Rev. Tom Aitken, currently serving in International Falls. Served as an Associate Pastor some years ago at First/Brainerd!
3. From Bishop Hanson's (Presiding Bishop, ELCA) keynote address - eight marks of discipleship:
1. In a culture mesmerized by "leadership," disciples of Jesus Christ are followers, immersed by baptism in Christ.
   
2. Audacious ambassadors for Christ. Clear about whom we're representing: "I am (name), a baptized believer in Jesus Christ, a Lutheran Christian, and (vocation)."
3. Spirit-clothed witnesses. Questions to ask at every council meeting: 
   
1. "Where have we seen God at work at LCC since we met last?"
2.  "Where has God given you an opportunity to witness to the love of Christ?
3. "Where has God given you an opportunity to confront evil, and strength to cast out in Jesus' name?"
   
4. Generous, disciplined stewards.
5. Relentless questioners w/insatiable curiosity.
6. Relentless restorers and pursuers of community and of relationships, of justice and peace.
7. Bearers of memory and hope - "not nostalgia, which freezes the past to avoid dealing with changes of the present, and disparages/scorns the present." Memory and hope embrace how the past has brought us to the present and moves us into the future."
8. Courageous and humble. 
   
4. "Book of Faith" - ELCA Bible fluency initiative.
• Christian education - Children and youth
1. Confirmation staff continue to be dissatisfied with confirmation materials and are going to look at different confirmation curriculum, perhaps doing some writing of our own.
2. Children's Ministry Team and First Third of Life are going to develop a series of learning/faith goals for every year/age of Sunday School, so kids know more about the Bible, and some basic catechism (Lord's Prayer, Apostle's Creed), being more ready for confirmation.
• Continuing education - "Festival of Homiletics" - May 19-23, Central Lutheran, Minneapolis.
• Vacation - June 5-12.

• Mission Statement - "Inspire the generous sharing of God's gifts." Tim Bergin also shared the committee "vision" - still a work in progress.
• Building Fund - Council reviewed a fund update provided by Tim Bergin. Council voted M/S/P (Smith/Both) that Treasurer Bergin will mail the Building Fund Update to all congregational members.

• Parking lots - Property Chair has received bids for seal coating, crack filling and striping the parking areas. Bids range from $12,355 to $7,476. Bids for only crack filling and striping range from $3,690 to $1,175. Waiting for one more bid. This is for council information to make council aware of what the costs are at this time.
  
• Door and lighting repair - The double doors on the church south side have been repaired. Several ballasts in the hallway and kitchen have been replaced.
  
• Sidewalk and storage - The narthex entrance sidewalk, first cement section, will be replaced by Gus Alters at a cost of $400. Some storage areas in the church will be reorganized and a new storage area may be built in the basement gathering room.
• Painting and cleaning - Several hall walls are in need of paint (south and west walls by Celebration Center). Plan to have volunteers get this project done soon. Kitchen cleaning will also continue soon.

• Summer worship schedule - Summer schedule begins Sunday, May 25th, with worship services at 8:00, 9:00 and 10:30 a.m.
• Pentecost Sunday - Thank you to Mary Hubert for designing and constructing the banners and doves for Pentecost Sunday services and to John Wallin for making the stands for them.
  

• Interfaith Hospitality Network - A review/planning meeting will be held May 19th at 7:00 p.m. for all volunteers.
• Name tags - More badges have been ordered - Will be here within one week.
• Call Committee - We are in the process of interviewing candidates.

• Confirmation program - We are reviewing the program curriculum.
• Well project - Completed very successful.

• Confirmation - Completed. All went well. Congratulations to all confirmands.
• Mission trip - Approximately 2/3 funded. Attendees will be contacting members to participate in "stock sales" to assist in funding their trip. We will also have other fund raising events. The cost per attendee is approximately $650.

Contact us:
Lutheran Church of the Cross
On Hiway 13 just east of Hiway 371 at Sportland Corner
P.O. Box 29
Nisswa, MN 56468
Phone: 218/963-2564     Fax: 218/963-0294
Email: lcc@lccnisswa.org