COUNCIL MINUTES -- October 8, 2009

• Lighting of the Christ Candle

• Secretary’s Report - Approval of September council minutes. Due to the short period of time between council meetings this month, the minutes were not prepared for approval. Approval of the September minutes will be done during the council retreat on Oct. 17.
• Treasurer’s Report - Financial report for August approved (M/S/P – Pastor Bruce/Smith).

• Confession and Forgiveness (Pastor Joan)
• Scripture and response (Pastor Joan)

• Annual Staff Reviews...begin next week.  As in recent years, a Personnel Committee member will sit in on each one. I review: Office Manager, Associate Pastor, Lay Ministry Coordinator, Facilities Coordinator, Organist, Senior Choir Director, two Custodians, Visitation Pastor (exit interview, 2009). Pr. Bruce reviews: Director of Youth & Family Ministries, Children’s Ministry Director, First Third of Life Coordinator. Treasurer reviews Financial Secretary.
• Nominating Committee...is convened and working.
• Memorial Garden & Columbarium Board...is recommending Sharon Ingvoldstad to serve on Board, 3-year term, starting 2010. She has agreed to serve.
• Snow/Blizzard policy for Sunday mornings...on two occasions in the last four years we have had major blizzards/winter storms over a weekend, with Travel Advisories continuing through Sunday. On both occasions, neither our organist nor senior pastor could get to church before, at best, afternoon. Our church parking lot could not be plowed out by 7:45 AM. Even so, a few hardy souls showed up! I would like us to develop a procedure for 1) making a decision about whether to try to have worship services in such conditions, 2) publicizing that decision, and 3) informing the congregation “early and often” how to find out (LCC mail; phone; radio station).
   Secretary’s note: Darrell Paske and Carol Smith agreed to work on this.
• All Saints Evening Worship – Memorial Garden
• Sunday, Nov. 1, 5:00 PM
• Those families who have had funerals here since All Saints’ Day 2008 are invited by letter, but for any and all.
• Reception following in Chapel
• Publicize starting week of Oct. 18 with LCC Mail and bulletin; also in Nov. Cross Currents
• Respectfully submitted, Pr. Joan Gunderman

• Outreach/Evangelism - At this time we anticipate 21 new members for our next new member Sunday which will be Sunday November 15 with a light lunch/dessert reception to follow the second service. We would like council members, staff and significant others to attend. The “New Friends Group” chaired by Carol and Bill Campbell is up and running.
• Focus on Stephen Ministry – Stephen Ministry training continues with six Stephen Minister trainees. Commissioning of our first Stephen Ministers is set for both services on Sunday November 8.
• Focus on fourth worship service – At the point we have 23 young people participating in our First Communion classes. First Communion for participants and families will be held at the second service on Reformation Sunday, October 25.
• Continuing Education – I attended the “Celebration of Biblical Preaching: Bridging the Gap between the Bible and our World Today” at Luther Seminary October 5-7. There were outstanding presentations and workshops by David Lose and Craig Koester, both professors (Preaching and New Testament) at Luther, Tom Hall, professor of preaching at Candler School of Theology in Atlanta, and Haddon Robinson, a co-director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Gordon-Conwell Seminary in South Hamilton, Massachusetts. I came back with over eight pages of notes which include several pages on preaching the letters of Paul which I might use Saturday evenings early next year.
  

• Duane Blanck has accepted the position of Capital Reduction Chairperson
• Stewardship committee will be using “Make It Simple” themes from the ELCA Stewardship resources. It is a two-pronged approach: 1) simplifying our lives to be better able to be generous stewards, 2) challenge to increase current giving by 1%.
• “Share, Save & Spend” classes will be continuing to be offered as a service of LCC.

• LCC Supper Club: This group is coordinated by Kate Carlson and Marilyn Cramer. Approximately 15-20 couples are split into smaller groups with four couples in each. They set their own schedules and divide up the meal tasks. The goal of the group in not necessarily a “gourmet club” but rather a chance to get to know other church members. The meals take place in homes, and all ages, singles and couples, snowbirds and snow lovers, are welcome.
• Prayer Chain Ministry: Ann Lanz, assisted by church staff, coordinates a telephone and email prayer chain. Confidentiality is upheld in all matters. 20-50 individual and family concerns are lifted up in prayer at any given time. Approximately 50 people make up the prayer chain ministry.
• A date for the calendar: Saturday, November 14th with be the 2nd annual Kickoff To The Holidays Business Fair, from 9-3:00. 23 home-based and small businesses have signed up so far. Come do some early Christmas shopping, enjoy the refreshments, and take home a decorative tin of holiday cookies. Proceeds go to the local food shelf. Need people to help serve refreshments during the day and bakers to make a batch of their special Christmas cookies and treats. Much info elsewhere in the newsletters and bulletins. Contact Carolyn Blanck with questions.
• November 22, Teen Challenge will be at LCC.

  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