COUNCIL MINUTES -- MARCH 12, 2009

• Secretary’s Report — Approval of last council minutes from January 8, 2009 after small edits were made. (M/S/P – Both/Pedersen)
• Financial Report — reviewed February report. Benevolence’s report will be given at the next Council meeting. Financial report for February approved (M/S/P – Trapp/Kraft)

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

• Briefly discussed ongoing Healthy Start goals, next check-in is April 30.
• Strategic Planning goals.

• Plowing of road from church parking lot to Smiley Road (see discussion in Property Report).
• Cork strips to be ordered by Joy for the church hallways for posting of information.
  
• A request was made for the Council to donate a themed basket for the C.M. Silent Auction. Council approved and will provide a basket by next Council meeting.

• Council Retreat – Spiritual & Leadership Growth, possible dates were discussed
• ELCA Bible: Book of Faith initiative.
  
• Very please with response.
• Plan to offer this course again over the summer.
• Another course now available, "Rediscovering the Book of Faith," will be offered this Spring/Summer as well.
• Lutheran Study Bible is now available. Those that were pre-ordered will be showing up soon. More will more than likely be ordered for those that would like one.
• Pastoral Team – I continue to be very pleased with the partnership Pr. Bruce and I are developing as a pastoral team. We agree on all the important things, but a different perspective and viewpoint on something from time to time keeps conversation interesting and our minds open to one another’s insight, experience, and wisdom. I am hoping members see us as two unique pastors — with some overlapping gifts and skills, and some which are unique or stronger in one or the other of us — who delight in working together as a team.
• Report on Continuing Education –
• Feb. 19-20, Women’s Spirituality, St. Benedicts – excellent speaker (Megan McKenna).
• Part of her presentation, and a book I bought, is contributing greatly to my teaching of the Weds. AM Bible Study, March-May, on Esther.
• Feb. 26, "Generous Hearts" – biblical basis for financial stewardship.

• Welcome Center/Narthex – What happens when a visitor enters our narthex? What are the first things a visitor sees? Our narthex isn’t particularly welcoming with all the sign-up sheets set up on tables and the desk. I suggest we put up a sign-up bulletin board on the wall opposite the Celebration Center and all sign-ups must be on that board. The Council discussed a desk or kiosk as a possible solution. More discussion to come.
• Outreach/Evangelism – would like to get this Evangelism subcommittee up and running again. Meeting with Erin Karlgaard and others to get a chairperson/s for an evangelism group.
• Focus on new member classes – to date, we have eight families for the next New Member Sunday. Bill and Carol Campbell are our "new" New Member co-chairs.
  
• Focus on Stephen Ministry – need to come up with $1675 that is required to enroll as a Stephen Ministry congregation or this opportunity will be dead in the water for at least this year.
• Focus on a third worship service – possible Saturday evening service by summer, should we still have an 8am Sunday service this summer? Looking at an additional Wednesday evening service by Fall. Presently discussing with Pastor Joan, will also be discussing with Worship and Music Committee.
• Focus on education – looking at new curriculum for 2009-2010 Sunday School year for Preschool through Sixth Grade. I’m planning on reallocating the time our Children’s Ministry team is spending on writing/developing curriculum. Over the coming months our focus will be recruiting and training teachers for each grade.
• Confirmation - looking at new curriculum for confirmands.

• Bids on the sanctuary skylights were received from Thelen Heating. One panel has a lot of cracks; the other three panels are not as badly cracked. Cost to replace one panel is $4,800. To replace all four panels would cost $12,400. Hopefully, none will have to be replaced soon. Additional bids will be requested from other glass businesses.
• There has been a roof leak in the computer lab. When the ice melts, the problem can be found and will be repaired. At this time, the roof is not leaking.
• The furnace for the Celebration Center quit and was restarted with a service call.
• Plowing of road from Smiley to Crossroads – Church will determine the cost to plow the extra section of road and will continue discussion at that point.
• Fire Chief recommends that while the kitchen is not being used, the counter window metal shades/doors be closed.

• The Children’s Ministry Team Meeting scheduled for 3/10 was canceled due to weather and has been rescheduled to 3/31.
• The Bridges of Hope dinner went well although an exact count or amount raised was not available.

• New personnel handbook has been drafted.

• Attended several committee meetings to be briefed on activities and needs for each.
• Lenten supper attendance is up from last year.

• Many individuals prepared for and assisted with the Concordia Chapel Choir visit for the Lenten service on March 11. Thank you to all!

• Shawn Hanson has taken over communications ministry for Arlene Rice.

  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