COUNCIL MINUTES -- SEPTEMBER 11, 2008

• Approved minutes of our 8/14/2008 monthly meeting. M/S/P (Ingvoldstad/Smith).
• Approved July 2008 financial report as presented by Treasurer, Tim Bergin. M/S/P (Holmen/Larson). Council also discussed plans, submitted by the Stewardship Committee, relative to current and future needs of the operating budget.

• Confession and Forgiveness.
• Scripture and Response

• Office Manager position: Due to the abandonment of the position, Council had considerable discussion regarding options and how to proceed. The Personnel Committee will meet and pursue resolution.
• Parsonage status: Tim Bergin and Tom Larson will form a small committee to evaluate the building and report back to Council with status and recommendations. Council approved go-ahead by the Committee. M/S/P (Ingvoldstad/Lueck).

• Healthy Start
• First Retreat - Oct, 4, 8:30 - 4:00. Location to be announced.
• Healthy Start Director recommends Pastors and Council and Call committee members attend.
• Lunch - Provided by attendees.
• Nursery    
• Arlene Rice, Director of Lay Ministries, has tried unsuccessfully all summer to find a nursery coordinator. Gets users to sign-up periodically. Arlene has requested direction from Council.
• Should we look outside of the congregation? Currently, a parent must accompany their child in the nursery. Tami Lueck will discuss with parents in an attempt for a solution.
• Hosting Brainerd Lakes Area Ministerial Assoc. - Thurs. Oct. 9, 12:30 - 1:45. Light meal w/freewill offering. Approx. 25 attendees. Sharon Ingvoldstad will organize the meal.
• Will attend Synod Fall Theological Conference for rostered leaders on Sunday, Sept. 28, at 3 p.m. and Tues., Sept. 30, in Grand Rapids. The topic is the ELCA's Bible: Book of Faith initiative.

• Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN)
• Next hosting week is October 19 - 26. Need people to help with set-up and tear-down.
• Would like to have Senior youth help with activities during the evening.
• Fund Raiser to be held Oct. 24, 2008 (called Tent City). Spend night in tents outside the Brainerd Armory. Some of the games will give youth a taste for what it is to be homeless, including trying to find housing, etc. It would be great if some of our youth could attend.   
• Prayer Shawl and More
• “Save The Children International” is sponsoring “Knit One - Save One.” Asking for people to knit or crochet caps to help the four million children who die each year, two million within the first 24 hours of life, from being too cold. We did this in late 2006. Caps must be in Washington by Dec. 31, 2008. Would like our church to do this, and would like to get more churches involved and have LCC coordinate by sending info to other churches and serving as a drop-off center and to ship the caps. (Postage will be paid by a donating member.)
• Knit caps and shawls for cancer victims - Being coordinated through Kristie at “Utrinkets” in Nisswa. LCC has already donated 13 shawls. Caps and shawls to be distributed in the Brainerd Lakes area.   
• Name tags - Everyone, please wear your name tags. It will be especially helpful for Pastor Bruce when he arrives.

• Sunday School calendar - Set for 2008-2009. May need to make some changes as we go along.
• Upcoming events:
• Rally Day is Sept. 14th.
• Sunday School starts Sept. 21st.
• 3rd grade Bible Dinner is Sept. 23rd.
• 3rd graders receive bibles at the 10:30 service on Sept. 28th.
• Children sing on Oct. 12th.
• Family Fall Festival - Planning underway. Scheduled for Oct. 31st. Children’s Ministry Team is working to make this an outreach to area children, not just children of our church.

• 2009 ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans. We have eight Senior High youth signed up to attend.
• 2009 Montana Youth Trip - Backpacking adventure with 15+ Senior High youth signed up.
• 2009 Confirmation has started with a revamped format. Ninth grade classes will be studying the Apostles Creed, sacraments and aspects of the Christian life. The 7th and 8th graders will transition into Bible Studies.
• Kickoff - The Sr. High Youth kicked-off with a bonfire and planning session on  Sept. 10th. Pam Sandelin and Janet Haeg will be the adult leaders. They plan to meet every Wednesday evening for Bible study, reflection and service opportunities.

• Blood Drive - Thank you to our volunteers: George and Margaret Sommerfeld, Vi Anderson, Pat Birznieks, Sally Hodgson, Dave Pederson, Sandy Simonson, Donna Trapp, Joan Roberts, Lorrie Anderson, Mary Frost, Linda Brandon, Zaundra Cowger, Marilyn Amundson, Jim Cramer and those who furnished bars for the workers and donors. We collected 50 units Wed. and 26 units Thurs - 16 of the donors gave for the first time. All in all, a very satisfying two days!
  
• Rachel’s Farewell Party - Held Sept. 7th - A good turnout.
• Rummage Sale - Planning meeting held on Sept 10th. Preparing for the sale the last week of Sept. and first few days in Oct.

• Sod Project - Completed along the sidewalk at the front entrance.
• Sprinklers - Additional sprinklers installed in front of Chapel Hall and one sprinkler was moved.
• Painting - Outside painting will be done in Sept. - South wall next to the main entrance. Moved larger storage building and hope to also paint it this fall.
• Water Quality Test – Minnesota Dept. Of Health tested our water - Passed all tests. A minor water softener problem has been resolved.

• Planning Meeting July 17th - Discussed strategic planning goals and cottage meeting comments regarding worship. In August, we implemented “Time for Reflection After the Sermon”. Other suggestions are already in place. Will have more discussion on offering an alternative worship (time/day) for those who cannot attend on Sunday mornings. Task force to be formed to plan seasonal worship services, beginning with Epiphany.
• Healing Service - October 19th.
• Reformation Sunday - October 26th.

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