COUNCIL MINUTES -- December 10, 2009

Present: Pastor Bruce, Darrell Paske (President), Colleen Both (Treasurer), Tom Larson (Property), Dean Maier (Youth), Erin Karlgaard (Outreach), Nikki Stark (Education), Rick Jensen (Secretary).
Visiting: Bob Warneke, Maxine Peterson and Ron Thorson (incoming Outreach Chair for 2010).

We Commend to God Our Past
  • Call to Order (Sunday School classroom), President Darrell Paske.
  • Holy Communion in the Sanctuary, Pastor Bruce.

We Commend to God Our Past
  • Secretary’s Report — Approval of October council minutes (M/S/P –  Kraft/Karlgaard). Suggestion came from Tom Larson to move vacation time from the Sr. Pastor’s report from November minutes to December minutes (M/S/P – Karlgaard/Maier).
  • Treasurer’s Report — Financial report for October approved (M/S/P –  Smith/Karlgaard). Work is being done on the 2010 budget.
Old Business
  • Revised Mission Statement - more planning to be done for a February launch. “God’s Work, Our Hands.”
  • Update on “Vision” campaign - Dick Peterson will be a new member of stewardship committee.
  • A sign-up sheet for attendance will be required at January annual meeting.

New Business
  • Visitation Pastor Duties for 2010. In the absence of the Visitation Pastor position, Pastor Joan and Pastor Bruce will be making plans for how visitations will be covered.
  • Winter Revival - small group ministries (Five Love Languages, David bible study and environmental Issues) will be taking place on Monday nights starting January 4th from 6:00 to 7:45.
  • Debt Reduction - question raised about how the fees are determined for the planning assistance that we’ve received (is it based on number of members?).
  • A question was raised about whether by-laws could/should be voted on during the January annual meeting. Council would like to know if by-laws and constitution will both be presented and held for voting for the next annual meeting.
  • New members - can we make more formal introductions (ie: flowers and pictures to be posted) in the interest of learning/meeting our new members better?
Reports

   Senior Pastor, Pastor Joan
  • Elections - Every Council, Synod Voting Member, Foundation, Memorial Garden and Columbarium Board, and Nominating Committee position is filled for 2010.
    • THANKS to a very hard-working Nominating Committee: Bev Siemens, Karen Raguse, and Chrisa Kraus for their prayerful, thoughtful, and energetic work.
    • THANKS to Council members going off Council after this December meeting for your years of faithful service: Dean Maier, Darrell Paske.  
    • A few glitches in the voting member sign-in, but overall it went extremely well. We will continue to do this at congregational meetings in the future.
  • Voting member roster  - One of the glitches at the elections had to do with several high school students (active, confirmed members) who wanted to sign in and vote.  Because 1) offering envelopes had never been given to confirmands until 2009, there is no record of giving for these members before 2009; 2) ditto with recording communion participation in the congregation as a whole until the past year; and 3) confirmed high school- and college-age members are still being listed as children under their parents’ names in our records – these high school/college members were not identified as voting members. I have instructed our Office Manager to begin work on our lists in 2010 to identify ALL confirmed members. Then we will do the same cross-checking re financial support and communion.
  • Stewardship Committee
    • We have received pledges for 2009, a significant increase from past years. 
    • Duane Blanck, chair of the mortgage retirement and vision drive, is gathering others to serve on the leadership team. The committee will be proposing dates and the Stewardship Key Leader program (ELCA consultants) to the congregation for their approval in 2010.
  • Council, Staff, Choir Christmas  - Wednesday, Dec. 16, 6:00 p.m.  Be sure to RSVP and note potluck “assignments” by last name.
  • Council Installation – Sunday, January 10, both services (end of early service, beginning of late). Please plan now to attend both.
  • January Council meeting – January 14, 2010, 7:00 p.m. – Both new and out-going Council members attend the beginning part. We will start in the sanctuary, as we have the last several years, for a special, brief service of Thanksgiving and Blessing.
  • Strategic Planning goals - In early 2010, we will be looking at our progress on our 2007 Strategic Planning goals, and consider whether to do another series of cottage meetings with an eye toward planning for the next few years.
  • Constitution - The revision/updating committee is making every effort to have the constitution ready to present at the January 2010 Congregational Meeting. By-Laws may be voted at the same meeting they are presented. Constitution is present one year, and voted on the next.
  • Housing Allowance - Please approve attached housing allowance for 2010, and include in the Minutes. Housing Allowance Designation passed (M/S/P - Both/Maier)
  • Vacation - For our 30th wedding anniversary, my husband surprised me by booking a one-week vacation at Williamsburg, VA, Dec. 5-12. In addition, with the four additional vacation days I have not yet taken this year (3 week days and 1 Sunday), I’ve worked out with Pr. Bruce to take the week of Dec. 27-30 off. Since Christmas Day is on my usual day off, I will take December 31 as the exchange day. I have not taken either of my two personal days this year. I will be squeezing my remaining 2009 vacation days in Dec. 27-31.

    Respectfully submitted,
    Pr. Joan Gunderman

   Associate Pastor, Pastor Bruce
  • Outreach/Evangelism – We are planning on three new member periods during 2010 with the first beginning in January. At this time we have invited five families (17 including children) to participate in our new member classes and the reception to follow. Our next new member Sunday is planned for February 14, 2010.
  • Stephen Ministry – We are planning on a new class of Stephen Minister trainees sometime next year, probably late winter or early spring. We will be encouraging men to be involved as well as additional women.
  • Stewardship – As of this morning we have received 97 pledge cards totaling $174,499.12.
  • Voting Members – We are continuing to refine our lists of voting members.
  • Acts class – Invitations are being issued soon to the beginning class.
  • Housing Allowance - Please approve attached housing allowance for 2010, and include in the Minutes – Housing Allowance Designation passed (M/S/P - Karlgaard/Maier).
   Youth, Dean Maier
  • December 16th - caroling for confirmation (around the community - to shut-ins mainly), cookies and cocoa.
  • December 20 - Living Nativity from 11:30 to 1:30.

   Outreach, Erin Karlgaard
  • Food Shelf Update – thank you to our church. In November (between the business fair, rummage sale and creation care team) we were able to give $2360 to the food shelf, which they are very appreciative of.
  • IHN Update – was a very full week, 16 people in four families. We had a few issues with behavior, worked continually with the day center to communicate them. We will be looking at the guidelines again before our next hosting.
  • Oh Holy Sweets – cookie outreach on Christmas Eve. Anyone interested in helping briefly at 5 p.m. service? Baking of cookies will take place on December 22, 6:00 - 8:00.
  • Helping Hands project update – A big thank you to the Women of the ELCA for providing $1000 in funds to get this project rolling. The money will be used to purchase basic hygiene related items for kids in the Brainerd and Pequot Lakes area schools. The goal is that this will become a community wide project, founded by LCC.
   Property, Tom Larson
  • New thermostats have been installed for easier operation.
  • New furnace was installed (#1 furnace, for the narthex). Thanks to the Women of the ELCA and Memorials and Special Gifts fund for covering the expense.
   Education, Nikki Stark
  • Plans are in the works for how the Sunday School offering might be used in a meaningful way. Ideas include a stained glass window or a banner, or possibly a new baptismal font.
  • Currently, the Education committee is operating under budget.
  • Sunday School registration is now available online via the Lutheran Church of the Cross website.
  • Advent fair was a huge success.
Closing Prayer

 Meeting Adjourned
 
All are welcome at Council meetings. Approved minutes and approved financial reports are available in the church office to any member upon request. If you would like to have something on the Council meeting agenda, please submit it in writing addressed to President Darrell Paske and delivered to Joy in the church office no less 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,
Rick Jensen, Secretary
     
    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