COUNCIL MINUTES -- FEBRUARY 12, 2009
Present: Rick Jensen (Secretary), Dean Maier (Youth), Daren Blanck, Jean Kraft, Cheryl Pedersen (Education) Erin Karlgaard (Outreach), Darrell Paske (President), Colleen Both (Treasurer), Carol Smith (Vice President), Donna Trapp (Worship & Music) and Pastor JoanAssembly in God’s Name
Call To Order (Fireside Lounge, President Darrell Paske)
Guest Presentation, Re: Energy Audit, Darrin Blanck, Creation Care Team
Creation
Care Team Recommendations Regarding Energy Use
Energy use is not only a budgetary issue, it is also an issue of reducing our negative impact upon creation.
Get a Free Energy Audit
The Creation Care Team is seeking approval to request an Energy Audit to determine ways that we as a congregation can reduce our energy consumption to save money and decrease our impact on the environment. MN Power provides a free energy audit (up to $1,200 cost). MN Power Representative Tim Gallager assured us (through Dan Frank) that $1,200 would cover the cost for the church. Energy audits are designed to determine energy use patterns and how customers can save energy. Although audits primarily focus on electric use, limited analyses of other energy sources are included. The audit would be done within aprox. 15 - 30 days after we request it. Audit results are documented in a written report and shared with the customer. MN power and NSP (the natural gas company) have rebates available to help carry out their recommendations on energy savings.
Adjust Thermostats
Although we believe it will likely appear in the Energy Audit, we would also request that the council re-assess the temperature settings throughout the church. According to energy use experts, one of the easiest ways to reduce energy costs is simply setting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. A rule-of-thumb for estimating energy savings is for every degree you set back your thermostat, you'll save 2 percent on your heating costs.
USE CFL Technology
Presently the sanctuary uses incandescent flood lights. New compact fluorescents emit the same light but use 75% or 80% less electricity. A $3-5 CFL pays for itself in lower electric bills in about five months. Minnesota Power offers a rebate program of $2.00 per lamp, limit 8 bulbs per customer per visit. The creation care team recommends the council consider replacing all of the sanctuary bulbs with CFLs over the next 12 months to decrease our energy consumption.
Energy use is not only a budgetary issue, it is also an issue of reducing our negative impact upon creation.
Get a Free Energy Audit
The Creation Care Team is seeking approval to request an Energy Audit to determine ways that we as a congregation can reduce our energy consumption to save money and decrease our impact on the environment. MN Power provides a free energy audit (up to $1,200 cost). MN Power Representative Tim Gallager assured us (through Dan Frank) that $1,200 would cover the cost for the church. Energy audits are designed to determine energy use patterns and how customers can save energy. Although audits primarily focus on electric use, limited analyses of other energy sources are included. The audit would be done within aprox. 15 - 30 days after we request it. Audit results are documented in a written report and shared with the customer. MN power and NSP (the natural gas company) have rebates available to help carry out their recommendations on energy savings.
Adjust Thermostats
Although we believe it will likely appear in the Energy Audit, we would also request that the council re-assess the temperature settings throughout the church. According to energy use experts, one of the easiest ways to reduce energy costs is simply setting the thermostat to the lowest comfortable setting. A rule-of-thumb for estimating energy savings is for every degree you set back your thermostat, you'll save 2 percent on your heating costs.
USE CFL Technology
Presently the sanctuary uses incandescent flood lights. New compact fluorescents emit the same light but use 75% or 80% less electricity. A $3-5 CFL pays for itself in lower electric bills in about five months. Minnesota Power offers a rebate program of $2.00 per lamp, limit 8 bulbs per customer per visit. The creation care team recommends the council consider replacing all of the sanctuary bulbs with CFLs over the next 12 months to decrease our energy consumption.
The Council approved to move forward with the Energy Audit. (M/S/P – Pedersen/Both)
We Commend to God Our Past
Approval of last council minutes from January 8, 2009. (M/S/P – Both/Pederson)
We Proclaim the Good News, God’s Word
- Confession and Forgiveness (Pastor Joan)
- Scripture and response (Pastor Joan)
Old Business
- Healthy Start goals
- Strategic Planning goals
- Plowing of road between Crossroads and Smiley
- Use of church walls, publicity. Motion to order cork strips by Colleen Both, Second by Jean Kraft.
- Jaycees fishing contest/LCC free parking lot – in the past, LCC has always been given two free tickets to the Jaycee’s fishing contest in exchange for use of the parking lot for tournament attendants. A Council member decided to write a letter (without Council approval) requesting payment from the Jaycees. It was decided to write a letter of apology to the Jaycees for any misunderstanding in this matter. (M/S/P - Maier/Pedersen)
New Business
- Council signing of the Covenant of Conduct for 2009.
- Council — make and serve soup during Lent – Wednesday, 3/18.
- Yearly audit – decided to have Coleen look into an audit system.
- Requirement of Liability Insurance for groups using the church facilities.
- Church directory online? — It was decided not to do so in regards our families’ privacy.
- Easter Garden – the word needs to get out sooner about ordering Easter lilies for the Easter Garden. This would allow all members to purchase lilies in time for the Easter decoration of the sanctuary.
- Shrove Tuesday, February 24th – Council will be serving a pancake supper. Set-up at 4:00pm.
- A request for some matching funds for Stacy, from Thrivent Financial for Lutherans was made. It was passed that Stacy shall request those matching funds from Thrivent Financial (M/S/P, Jensen/Both).
- Sally Hodgson has made a request for some of those additional funds to go towards the LCC 50th Anniversary Celebration.
Senior Pastor’s Report, Pastor Joan
- Office; Staff
- Office Manager’s (main LCC) computer
- Irreparably infected
- Also, CMS is not backed up anywhere. If this computer crashed, we’d lose ALL membership/giving/talents information.
- See proposal and accompanying information, attached.
- Children’s Ministries Directors and Visitation Pastor have cut back their hours, per 2009 Budget.
- Congregational Wish List for memorials (see attached)
- Any additions?
- This will be on-going and published several times a year in Cross Currents
- Lay Ministries Director request: Council Make/serve Soup Supper, March 18 – Lent midweek supper (traditional that Council do one Wednesday during Lent)
- Easter Garden
- In the past, LCC has paid for the seasonal flowers (Easter lilies, tulips, etc; Christmas poinsettias) which are used to decorate the chancel. Members were asked to purchase them. We have never had as many purchased as are provided. Example:
- Poinsettias, Christmas 2008: 100 ordered (not by office staff) @$12/ea. = $1200
- Parishioners ordered/bought 41 = $492.
- LCC paid remaining $708
- Some of the remaining are taken to nursing homes and shut-ins; but we cannot give away 59 plants!
- CONSIDER: Do we need to (1) put a dollar-“cap” on how many flowers are provided, or (2) only purchase what members have pre-ordered -- beginning this Easter?
- 2009 Church Directory. Can post on our website, free of charge.. Yes? No?
- Council Retreat – Spiritual & Leadership Growth
- Thrivent Matching Funds (see handout from Sally Hodgson)
- Continuing Education
- Feb. 19-20 (20th is my day off) – Women’s Spirituality – St. Benedict’s (near St. Cloud)
- Feb. 26 – “Generous Hearts” – biblical basis for financial stewardship, First/Duluth (w/members LCC of Stewardship Team
- An item from the Staff Handbook: Paid Leave – Holidays: New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and (1) personal floating day.
- Note: Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve are not paid holidays for employees.
- If a paid holiday falls on a Saturday, or the employee’s typical day off, or on a Sunday when church services are provided, the employee is entitled to a different day off within the pay period.
- In light of the fact that employees were given a 0% pay increase for 2009, to thank them for their commitment and dedication to LCC, it was suggested that perhaps Council could OK one (1) or two (2) extra days off for employees in 2009. This would be for 2009 only. Since this is a monetary/budgetary issue, personnel needs to have Council vote on the recommendation.
- Easter Monday
- An extra Personal Floating Day — bringing the total in 2009 to two (2)
- Council tabled until next month the matter of granting an extra day of leave to staff in lieu of pay raises for 2009.
- A member of LCC agreed to accept the position of Nursery Attendant beginning February 22, 2009, pending a background check.
- ACTIVITIES
- Snowtubing on Feb. 14 (if there is any snow left)
- Broomball Tournament on Feb. 16 — Senior High youth to represent LCC
- Lock-in for 7th & 8th graders on Feb 28
- FUNDRAISERS
- Parking for Jaycee’s Fishing Contest went well. Space limited by more snow.
- Ash Wednesday Potato and Salad Bar.
- Easter Breakfast Fundraiser. Requesting Thrivent Matching Funds for this.
- SERVICE & OTHER
- Superbowl Collection increased significantly from last year. Collected $453, to be divided between Lakes Area Food Shelf and Lutheran World Hunger.
- Turnout for Wednesday night continues to be great.
- GOAL: To meet with chairs or representatives from various groups under CL umbrella.
- Communication Committee and Hot Dish Ministry has been reassigned to Outreach.
- S.O.S – New coordinator is Sharon Ingvoldstad. As noted in Feb. newsletter, a change was put in place and endorsed by both pastors in attendance, that the church will provide bars or cake, beverages, as in the past, with no charge to the family. If sandwiches are desired, deli meats and cheeses will be ordered and the family will be responsible for cost. If the family wants other foods, they will provide it and the church will gladly serve. In studying other congregations, this is more in line with current common practice. In the process of organizing 4-5 “teams” to call on volunteers who have expressed an interest to furnish desserts.
- 50th Anniversary – It will be celebrated the weekend of May 16 and 17 with a congregational and community family-friendly dinner and program on Saturday and two services and coffee-hour celebration on Sunday morning.
- Lenten suppers – Arranging for 4-5 food and kitchen coordinators for each Wednesday night. This was successfully done last year. Three confirmation groups will be assisting with three of the evening meals. March 11, 25 and April 1 are open for workers. We have a group pending for March 18, but that hasn’t been confirmed. Staying with the “simple supper” concept of soups, breads, peanut butter, jellies, cheeses and desserts. This was also a unanimous recommendation from last year’s committee.
- New Member Committee – New chairs have accepted the posts – Bill and Carole Campbell.
- With the help of a few volunteers, the pews and communion rails were oiled, candle wax was removed from the pews, pew cushions were spot cleaned and vacuumed. The center ceramic tiles and tiled floors in the Sanctuary have been cleaned.
- The wood walls in the Sanctuary, Celebration Center and Chapel Hall have been dusted. Also, the support beams in the Sanctuary and Celebration Center have been cleaned. The Celebration Center storage room has been cleaned and reorganized.
- The kitchen cleaning started in the spring has been finished – north wall, cabinets and floor were scrubbed and refrigerator and freezer coils cleaned.
- Special thank to all the volunteers who helped with these projects: Bob and Sherry Warneke, Marilyn Olson, Joy Potthoff, Mark Swenson, Jon Wennberg, John Windh, Bill Nemitz, Ron Whipple, and Marlene Larson.
- Bids for the Sanctuary roof have been received and awaiting word on skylight replacement. It looks like about $25,000 will be needed and project should be completed summer 2009. I suggest doing some Fund Raising for this project.
- Youth will be leading both services on Sunday, March 1.
- Wednesday, March 11, Mike Smith and his Concordia College Chapel Choir will be a part of the Lenten service. We will need to find housing for the 86-member choir that night.
- Missions/Outreach team will hold its first meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 17th. We will be discussing missions within our church, our community and beyond. I have mentioned to both pastors and Stacy the desire to include youth if they would like to be a part of the team.
- Jean and I met and have decided that the hot dish ministry, communications ministry, as well as any friends-in-deed projects that might arise will fit better under the missions/outreach team heading, as they are a ministry to those within our church family. In the next few weeks I will be contacting those individuals in charge of them. It won’t mean any changes, except perhaps more promotion of those ministries through our team members.
- Our next week for hosting IHN is March 15-22. I will be putting out communication with Sunday school, confirmation and senior high families to hopefully engage more families in volunteering.
- Food Shelf Update: In 2008, the food shelf served an average of 285 families per month, and 9,683 families per year. A note on buying power of monetary donations—the Lakes Area Food Shelf works with Feeding America (formerly Second Harvest.) Every dollar that is donated can purchase $30 worth of groceries, or 20 lbs. of food. That's enough for 4 bags of groceries or 16 meals for families facing hunger. March is Food Share month, so we will have a temple talk on this and will also be working with Sunday school kids to raise awareness.
- I have been in touch with Richard Anderson from Lutheran Social Services of MN. We are hoping to get him on the forum schedule for next fall, since this spring is already booked at church. He will also be sending some materials on the various points of emphasis of LSS (youth homelessness, assistance for elderly and disabled, and those in transitional housing, and financial counseling.)
- Bridges of Hope Dinner – March 7th
- Food will be prepared by the Reeves and Campbell families – menu was discussed
- No silent auction this year
- Intergenerational Musical
- First practice began on February 8th with a number of the lead parts cast
- Production will be presented on Mother’s Day
- Swim Day
- Held at Grand View Lodge on Sunday February 8th
- Cost was $5 per person
- Vacation Bible School – June 15-19
- God’s Barnyard Fundraiser in the form of silent auction planned
- Would like to ask Thrivent for matching funds
- Spring Benefit for Nisswa School – babysitting service April 4th
- Last year we offered babysitting during this benefit
- This is scheduled the same night as our church volunteer appreciation night
- Plan to still attend with fee being charged only for those families outside the church going to the Spring Benefit and member families attending Volunteer night allowed to use the service for free
- First Communion
- Classes with the 5th graders began during Sunday School on February 8th with Pastor Bruce leading
- First Communion meal is planned for March 29th – will be a brunch served by Sunday School teachers and prepared voluntarily (egg bakes) by a number of individuals
- Family Day on February 15th
- Theme is Beach Day – activities include Beach Blanket Bingo, Limbo, story time about Jonah and the Whale, and a bean bag toss
- Stations in various rooms for the activities will be in Chapel Hall, Sunday School rooms down the hall and Celebration Room
- Ideas for donations:
- Scholarship for curriculum
- Luther Crest support – camp or other
- Books for the children in the church library
- Camp and VBS scholarships for those who cannot afford to pay
- Recommendations:
- Sunday School Registration needs to occur in April for the following fall
- Drive to sign up teachers for fall needs to begin now
- Curriculum for all grades needs to be purchased or formally developed
- Workshop for Sunday School teachers to be held in the fall prior to the first day of class
- Formalization of processes such as attendance and offering in Sunday Schoo
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
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